Holly gets her Ears Pierced

Today my little Princess took one more step towards becoming a little lady as she got her ears pierced. Diane and George (Nan and Granddad) treated her to the piercing as an end of school treat and Holly absolutely loves them. Whilst she looked very nervous in the pictures, apparently she hardly flinched and actually said it tickled. She has these lovely little earrings which she is very proud of. Tina now has her work cut out for the next few weeks to clean them 3 times a day for the next few weeks,

She looks so concerned.

On goes the hole making tool.

Not so much as a flinch.

Then on to the other side.

Holly's first ever piercing and it looks absolutely beautiful.

My Princess is growing up too quickly. Looks like I'll be buying more earrings soon.

Later in the evening we made the most of the nice weather and being close to the seafront and took a lovely stroll along Southend (plus an ice cream treat).

Such a nice way to start the weekend.

Holly enjoying herself at Southend and showing off her new earrings.

Joshua's Final Day at Juniors

Wednesday 24^th June was Joshua’s last official day at Junior school (well half day anyway). He wore a special T-shirt which was printed on the back and then spent most of the morning getting the whole school plus teachers signing his shirt and his leavers autograph book. The couple of days leading up to the final day have all been pretty exciting with the leavers meal, final assembly and so on.

The end of year assembly that the Year 6 did was pretty special and had most of the Mum’s and the head mistress balling their eyes out. The kids all sang versions of songs like “High Hopes” by Panic at the Disco and "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers. They even repeated a song that they had sung back in their foundation year assembly. Each of the kids had to get up and say something about their fondest memory, or funniest moment, or their career aspirations etc. Joshua had to tell of a memory from junior school and he recited the fact that everyone calls him “the silly 2 question boy” as he apparently is always asking silly questions (first I had heard of this).

One of the funniest moments of the assembly was an extended version of Carpool Karaoke that they had produced which was just hilarious. Joshua dressed up as a gangster with 2 of his classmates and was sat at the wheel trying to be all hip and cool for his section of the video. Even the teachers joined in at various parts and it culminated with a hilarious scene where the teachers simulated skidding the car and slamming their heads forwards and then the camera skipped to the bonnet where the head teacher was sprawled across it singing “Hold On”.

Anyway once the kids finally left school at around lunchtime the parents all made a tunnel with their arms and the kids filtered out 1 by 1 like celebrities, it really was a special moment as they exited the school for the last time. A lot of the Year 6’s had then arranged to meet in Wickford High Street where they seemed to hang around and grabbed something to eat in the Chicken place.

So it’s the end of a chapter for Joshua and he now moves on to the next stage in his education.

Joshua at his leavers assembly on his final day at Junior school.

Joshua stands up to tell us what he is thankful for.

The funny carpool karaoke with Joshua the gangster rapper.

Fellow school leavers, Tom, Ethan, Josh, Luca and Laurence.

And there I was saying that all the Year 6 students went to the leavers meal on a bus. There's always one person who thinks they are better and turned up in their Uncles Ferrari (still Josh and Jared used it an a photo opportunity).

Joshua's right of path as he leaves Junior school for the very last time.

Lovely idea of the parents to make an arm tunnel for the kids to walk through. Although Josh is nearly as tall as most of them and having to duck!

Not sure that Joshua could have got much more written on his leavers school shirt.

The back wasn't any better than the front, Oh well one for his collectors box.

The FAPS group alo got all the Year 6 boys a nice 2019 leaver t-shirt.

Joshua's Year 6 Leavers Meal

Tonight Joshua got all suited and booted ready for his Year 6 leavers meal which was being held at Reids in Billericay. The school had hired a double decker bus to take all of Year 6 which was an absolutely fantastic idea as it was inclusive for everyone and stopped all this limo hiring and people rocking up in Ferrari's etc.

Joshua picked his own outfit a couple of weeks ago and opted for a 2 piece blue suit with a blue shirt and blue suede shoes. I have to say he chose very wisely and really looks very smart indeed. Believe it or not the suit is an adult size 38 regular chest!!!! All it needed was the sleeves and legs turned up, but other than that it fits him nice. It is just a shame the weather outside is about 32 degrees today and all the kids would probably be much happier in shorts and t-shirts.

Joshua looking rather dapper in the outfit he picked for his leavers meal.

Mummy and her big boy.

Proud Dad moment seeing Josh suited and booted.

He has grown so much, seems weired sending him off for a Junior school leavers meal in the evening.

The school hired an old double decker bus to take all of Year 6 to Billericay.

And even decorated the bus with Class of 2019.

Joshua, Will and Jarad.

Balloons to decorate the reception area.

And soft drinks all lined up for them.

In they all head like celebrities with everyone wanting pictures.

All of the Year 6 in attendance.

Joshua and some of his Year 6 friends having their celebrity moment.

Great picture of Luca, Tom, Joshua, Ethan and Jarad. Great group of boys.

Day Out at Lee Valley Centre

We are trying to make the most of the football summer which means that in the short term we have our Saturdays and Sundays back and therefore it is a good opportunity to get out and have some family time. This Sunday we headed over to Lee Valley White Water Centre and had a really fun and really active day out.

We started off by walking the around the white water course itself and reminiscing about when we watching the Olympics here back in 2012. Holly then had a play in a sand pit play area while I got out the gas burner and cooked us up some nice sausage sandwiches for lunch.

After lunch we all headed over to the frisbee golf course and had a round of golf which seemed much harder than it looked. Not sure whether it was the wind or what, but there was no way those holes were being done in 3 or 4 shots. Holly didn't quite grasp the idea and would go running up the fairway and then launch her frisbee right at the end. Joshua seemed to like playing out of the rough a lot!

Once the frisgolf was done we had to split up a little and I took the two boys down on the River Lee for some stand up paddle boarding. Whilst we were doing that Tina took Holly over to the giant summer bounce area to have some inflatable fun.

Back at the scene where we watched some of the Olympics back in 2012.

Tina and the kiddies.

Joshua and Brandon with some of our Olympians.

Josh and B can't remember anything about watching the Olympics here!!!

Holly watching some of the rafting whilst I was cooking up some sausages.

That gappy smile!

Holly playing in the sand pit whilst she waits for her lunch.

Cheeky girl.

After lunch it was off to the Lee Valley Disc Golf Course.

Joshua tee's off on the 1st.

Great action shot of B.

And one of Joshua.

Holly seems pleased with her win even if she did run most of the way.

I think Brandon is cheating standing that close to the chain net.

Another hole done.

Brandon and Holly go racing off to the next hole.

Action shot of Holly tee'ing off.

Me, Holly and Brandon.

A little woodland walk to find the next hole.

And we are finished, a tricky hole 9 in the middle of the woods.

Frisbee head Josh.

Holly leaping off of an enormous inflatable at the summer bounce.

.....and down....

......and at the bottom.

Holly on a giant inflatable slide.

Running around like a lunatic for 2 hours getting hot and sweaty.

Holly getting some airtime.

Meanwhile I take the boys out on the River Lee for some SUP.

Brandon chilling and getting his feet wet before braving jumping in.

As usual the boys spent a lot of time in the water.

I managed to get some great shots from up on a bridge.

A rare picture of them both actually standing up on their boards.

Joshua heading up river in some lovely clear water.

Love this picture of Joshua in action.

Brandon about to fall in.

Action shot of Brandon and his skinny little legs.

A little nature watching as three geese swim past.

Eventually the boys made it all the way down to the next lock.

We saw these really odd coloured duck's which we had never seen before.

At the end of a very active day its time to settle down for some cake and coffee before heading home.