Roman Dress Up Day at School

Today Holly's year had to go to school dressed in a Roman theme and Holly went as a Roman Empress. She looks absolutely amazing and so grown up with her hair straightened and crown on as well. Knowing how hot it has been lately, I dare say she was quite cool in her Roman dress today. Not everyone at school made an effort, but Holly was really looking forward to her dress up day and had a great day at school.

Holly the Roman Empress.

Also on a recent visit to Southend Holly had a couple of nice pictures taken by the Scoops angel wings. Firstly the rainbow coloured ones.

A more traditional white angel wings, but Holly preferred the rainbow ones.

Finally the End of Brandon's 2022/23 Football Season

Finally Brandon's football season ends and I can have a few weekends free to do something other than chauffeuring kids around. Knowing my luck I will get an email saying Joshua's rugby pre-season training starts next week!

Anyway at the weekend Brandon finished his season with the Academy summer tournament. His team didn't play great in the group stages with 2 wins, 2 draws and a loss, but it was enough to get them in to the semi finals. In the semi's they won on a penalty shoot out taking them in to the final against Runwell FC. Academy completely outplayed them during the final and had multiple chances to finish te game off but just didn't hit the back of the net. So as with the semi-final, the final also went to a penalty shoot out which unfortunately the boys lost.

Still it is a another final they have made and another trophy for Brandon's ever growing collection. Holly is also going to be at the Academy tournament next weekend, so we've got to do it all over again yet!

Brandon receiving his runners up trophy.

Not the end to the season the boys hoped for, but they can't complain. It has been an amazing year for them.

Tina's 50th Birthday Celebrations

A little bit late to post this blog but just over a week ago we celebrated Tina's 50th birthday. The day was relatively low key as the main part of our 50th celebration and anniversary was the trip to Vegas which we had back in April. So for Tina's birthday we had a glorious morning down on the Chelmer doing some paddle boarding and enjoying some strawberry cream scones, then in the afternoon we met up with some of the family for a nice meal at Tina's favourite place - Wagamama.

Holly was given some money whilst we were in Vegas to buy me and Tina some birthday presents. She done so well with her money and managed to buy lots of nice presents which she hid away in her bedroom and kept them completely secret for over 2 months. She was so excited to give her mummy all of her presents as soon as she woke up.

Whilst paddle boarding me and the kids were on the water and Tina walked along the riverbank. So we made Tina wear her birthday sash and 50th birthday tiara which was so funny. Everyone was wishing her happy birthday and whilst paddle boarding along we would frequently shout out something like "anyone seen a 50 year old", or "where's the birthday girl" etc just to embarrass her.

Decorations up for Tina's birthday.

The birthday girl turns 50.

A little bottle of champers for the birthday girl.

Wearing her sash and tiara and showing off her 50th birthday coffee cup/

As a joke I had to get this for Tina.

Me checking the menu at Wagamama and having to use Lisa's glasses to see.

Birthday hugs from Holly.

Additional headwear from the birthday cake.

My ladies....

Picture of the family that came along to help celebrate Tina hitting the Big 50.

Always nice when use 4 get to have a get together. I really hope Josh, Brandon and Holly remain close when they grow up.

Out comes the triple chocolate birthday cake.

I didn't do the 50 candle thing to make her really feel old.

Holly on the Newsletter AGAIN

Once again Holly has featured on not one, but two school newsletters. Firstly during her recent residential she was pulled out for a day to compete in the school swimming gala placing 4th overall out of 7 schools. Then she was also on the newsletter with her picture for all her end of season football trophies and medals which she received. My little super star keeps smashing them out.

 

Brandon is No Gordan Ramsay

Brandon's food tech work at school has been pretty poor to put it bluntly. There was a time where I looked forward to trying the kids food that they cook at school, but that went down hill when Brandon once tried making muffins at school which were pretty much inedible. 

Well this week he stooped to a whole new low in cookery. He was supposed to be making a lemon cheesecake which I was actually really looking forward to trying. I cannot repeat by words when he walked in the door with this baking tray of "something". I know you are supposed to give the kids positive encouragement, but I genuinely couldn't think of anything positive to say about this other than "at least you have no fear of cats or dogs trying to eat it out of the bin". It tasted even worse than it looks.

Luckily for Brandon he is academically inclined and good at football, cooking is NOT his thing!

Would you be brave enough to try this?????

Holly's School Residential at Wat Tyler Park

Holly has just come back from 3 days away at her residential school trip at Wat Tyler Park this week and what a glorious week they have picked with the weather. Unfortunately with the hot weather comes all the gnat bites and Holly's legs look like she has had chicken pox!!!

It has certainly been quiet around the house for the last few days but we missed her a lot and judging by the big hug we got as she stepped off of the coach, she missed us just as much. We haven't really had much out of her so far about what they got up too. There are a couple of pictures which the school sent through and then yesterday she had to break away from the residential to go and compete in the school swimming gala. The head teacher then treated the swimmers to a McDonals before returning them to the residential.

Holly all packed and ready for her first school residential trip.

The coach arrives and they all head out of school to load their bags.

Holly was very excited and had no hesitation getting on the coach and then grabbing the back row seats!

One of the pictures sent from the school. Not sure why Holly is giving this potato such a weird look!

One of the activities from Wat Tyler, I assume they were making a tube for transporting water from one end to the other?

Holly's 1st Trip to Legoland

Everyone knows that Holly adores playing with Lego and we have been saying for ages that we need to take her to Legoland, Windsor. However we have always put it off as we can't really go as a family as the boys have kind of outgrown Legoland and the type of rides they have there. Given how expensive the entry tickets are we just cannot warrant the cost of paying for all of use to go when the two boys really wouldn't get much out of it.

Anyway last Monday Holly had an inset day at school (the boys didn't) and Tina was off of work. So I said to her why doesn't she have a mummy / daughter day and both go to Legoland. Anyway it looks like the two of them had an absolute blast of a day and got to go on most rides despite all of Essex appearing to have an inset day and going to Legoland as well (apparently sell out tickets for the day!).

Holly spent her pocket money on another Lego set of a horse stable and also acquired her Lego driving licence which I recall the boys getting many, many years ago. Anyway as I didn't go with Tina and Holly I can't really say much more than that, so this blog is going to be a picture fest without all the usual comments to accompany each picture.