Daddy Day Care at Maldon Promenade

The football season started back yesterday and today should have been our first friendly game of the year. Unfortunately the other team cancelled which was fortunate as it gave me the opportunity to spend some quality time with the kids and make the most of another gloriously sunny day. I think Tina has been feeling the strain of having the kids 7 days a week through the summer holidays so she decided to stay at home and crack on with some ironing whilst I took the kids out for the day.

Brandon was quite late getting up and then once breakfast was finally done we had a bit of a debate about what to do for the day. We contemplated golf, Brandon wanted to go canoeing, we spoke about going to Hadleigh cycle park but then finally agreed on Maldon Promenade where we haven't been yet this year. The canoeing was tempting but that would have meant Tina coming with us as well to drive the car back to Papermill Lock.

Anyway we had a good 5 hours or so out and enjoyed the BMX track, the splash park, the pirate ship play area, a picnic, some crabbing and of course an ice-cream. A pretty perfect day really and the kids were all so well behaved and listened to me. I must have tired them out as Holly was sound asleep on the way back home.

Brandon on the BMX track using Joshua's old bike and wearing Joshua's old Westham kit, the joys of being the second child.

Despite wanting to go canoeing, Brandon really enjoyed the cycling.

Joshua using his BMX on the track.

As usual Joshua picks appropriate footwear for the activities (NOT)!

Action shot of Joshua.

Head on shot of Brandon.

Not many pictures of Holly cycling as I had to push her around the track so I couldn't get actions shots as well.

Joshua mastered the skid today and was doing 180 degree skids at the end of each lap.

The track is a reasonable size and plenty of humps, bumps and bends.

The kids were all a bit sweaty after the cycling and wanted to sit in the shade for a picnic before going in to the splash park.

Selfie of me and the kiddies.

Wet suits on and time to cool down in the splash park.

Holly didn't last long even with a wet suit on. About 10 minutes and she was freezing even though it was very sunny.

Holly running through the snakes tail.

Perfect timed picture as Holly gets a good drowning.

Holly about to run through a twisting fountain.

The 3 kiddies in the splash park (just before Holly and B bailed due to being cold).

Holly catching some rays to dry her wet suit out.

The crabbing was unsuccessful and Joshua soon gave up having not caught a thing.

More interesting than crabbing was the radio controlled sail boats which were taller than Brandon.

Anybody would think we was on holiday what with the splash park and then building sand castles.

Holly is now big enough to climb the pirate ship on her own which saves me chasing around after her.

Holly was up and down like a yo-yo on the slides.

Holly on the curly slide.

And again....

Brandon getting cocky on the zip wire and standing up for more thrills.

Brandon chasing after Holly to make sure she doesn't fall off at the bump stop at the end.

And this is why you have two older brothers - to push you back up the hill for another go!

Joshua's turn to spot Holly.

Time for an afternoon snack, ice-cream and cheesy chips.

Just a few calories in the cheesy chips. Holly helped Brandon demolish these,

Love this picture of the kids with an old barge in the background (Holly was actually flossing in this picture).

More flossing from Holly.