Lego Alarm Clocks

3 weeks after Easter and we still have a house full of Easter Eggs to munch through and that's despite the fact that this year we did not even buy the boys an Easter Egg. As they always get so many eggs from all the family we decided to get them a Lego alarm clock which they both wanted. Holly was just happy to get some chocolate.

 

Little Holly with one of her Frozen Easter Eggs.

When Joshua got back from Camber Sands the Easter bunny had left a Mini Egg and a Batman Lego alarm clock on his bed.

 

Such a cool alarm clock.

 

Holly desperately trying to get into one of her eggs.

Brandon tucking into one of his eggs and also showing the Emit Lego alarm clock that the Easter Bunny left for him.

 

Brandon's Emit Lego alarm clock complete with built in light.

 

 

Not much to report out from this weekend other than lots and lots of football. Yesterday we had our usual Saturday morning training and then Brandon had a friendly match which he lost. Then this morning Joshua's Under 7 Tigers had their 15th league game this season which was away to East Thurrock (unfortunately we lost 7-3 bringing our record to 11W, 4L for 2014/15). After the match me and the boys quickly nipped down the driving range before heading back up to the football club for a football themed Birthday parts for Darcy who plays on the U7 Leopards team.



 

Whilst Joshua was off playing football at the party, Brandon and Holly enjoyed some fun time on the bouncy castles.

Holly absolutely loved just standing up and diving onto the bouncy castle.

Owen, Darcy (birthday girl), Alex and Joshua causing mischief at the top of the bouncy castle slide.

Joshua giggling away as he pushes Owen down the slide!

After the football activities and the bouncy castle all the kids went inside for some food and Holly tucked in and helped herself to a nice iced donut!

Holly sitting outside chilling with Sam whilst they both tuck into their donuts.

 

First Fishing of 2015 + U7 Tiger Team Picture

Spring is in full swing as temperatures this week have been up around 23 degrees. As it was so nice the boys talked me into taking them over the Wick lake for our first fishing trip of 2015. As much as I dislike fishing, I have to say it was a really nice way to spend the afternoon in the glorious sunshine. We didn't catch too many fish today, maybe only about 4 little roach. Brandon seemed to be the star fisherman today who was getting all the bites. He even caught one roach that had one eye ballooned up like a golf ball!

 

First fishing trip of 2015.

Glorious weather over the Wick lake as we bait the roach with sweetcorn.

Both boys eagerly looking for the floats to get pulled under the surface.

Brandon with his first catch of the day/year a nice little roach.

A proper little fisherman, fearless of holding his catch and wanting to take them home as pets!

 

 

Slight change of subject but I now also have the official team picture of my Forest Glade Under 7 Tigers. Really proud of these boys who have had a fantastic season so far in the South East Essex Mini Soccer League. 14 games played to date with 11 wins and only 3 losses (no losses at home). There are only two more games left of our U7 season and then we are in to the tournament season. As we move forward to U8's in Sept we are also now looking to recruit 2-3 more players in preparation for changing to 7-a-side in a years time. We figure that these boys have now been playing together for 2-3 years and therefore we would like to take a year to try and integrate any new players into the team.

 

My second family - the 2014/15 Forest Glade U7 Tigers. Soon the 7 boys will become 9 or even 10 as we prepare for 7-a-side.

Halfords Bike Maintenance Course

The Easter Half Term is almost over and it has been a very jam packed and busy holiday for the boys. The first week we was at holiday in Pontins, Camber Sands and the second week has been no let up with activities every day. On Monday we was around Auntie Nicky's to celebrate Easter, Tuesday the boys were at a Sport4Fun football club all day. Wednesday I worked from home and took Joshua to a Halfords bike Maintenance course, and then Thursday and Friday the boys both went to Wizz Kids where they enjoyed the just bounce event and some cooking.

 

The bike maintenance course is something that Halfords run free of charge during the school holidays to children over the age of 7. Basically they had a bike that was rigged with faults ranging from wheels off, flat tyres, chain off, brakes not working, steering bars loose etc.etc and they taught the children how to fix each problem using an "M check". Once they had demonstrated all the fixes the kids where then split into two groups and sent off to fix up two bikes which again exhibited all of the faults.

 

Once the bikes were all fixed up and in full working order the kids where then taught how to put a tyre and inner tube onto a wheel and then finally they were given a badly punctured inner tube and in pairs they had to find and fix all the holes. For a free event it was really useful and Joshua learnt an awful lot. In fact driving home he kept asking me if he could go and repair all my spare inner tubes that I have hanging up in the garage.

 

Joshua learning how to fix a pedal onto a bike.

Getting tuition and guidance from one of the Halfords trainers.

Checking the back wheel alignment and brakes. All the kids were made to wear protective latex gloves.

In pairs using a bucket of water to locate the punctures in an inner tube.

Joshua gets pumping to look for the air bubbles.

 

Pontins Camber Sands Day 5 - Easter Friday

Not too much to write about for our final day of our Easter holiday to Pontins Camber Sands. Probably one of the best things was that we placed an Easter egg next to the beds of Joshua, Brandon and Holly once they had gone asleep and when Joshua woke in the morning he was thrilled that the Easter Bunny had been to our chalet and very excitedly work everyone up to show them the eggs and tell them about it. Anyway we had done about 50% of the packing the night before and then after breakfast Joshua helped me pack the rest of the gear into the car before our 10am checkout. We were planning to stop off somewhere on the way home but as the weather had turned and it was on/off rain we decided not to bother.

 

So after checking out the boys went to say farewell to Croc, they then had one final go in the arcades, another round of pirate crazy golf and then a few games of pool before having some lunch and heading home. Fortunately Joshua lasted all the way home without us stopping and without being sick, unfortunately Brandon listened and watched his One Direction DVD all the way home!!!

 

One of the arcade rides we saved until the last day was this thing called Typhoon which was kind of like a 4D cinematic type experience for two people to ride at the same time. The chairs moved, rocked and shuddered whilst fans blast you with air, music pumps out of multiple speakers and visually you get to watch digital movie of a roller coaster, car race, spaceship etc.etc. Brandon enjoyed the Typhoon experience so much that he wanted another go immediately afterwards but trying out one of the other movies.

 

 

Brandon smiling away on the Typhoon experience.

You have to hold the handles on the chairs to maximise the experience apparently.

Fans and speakers blast the boys whilst visually they are stimulated by the big screen.

Saying farewell to Croc and thanking him for a nice holiday.

Brandon and Joshua enjoying a couple of games of pool.

Lining up for a pot.

Brandon is getting pretty nifty at pool/snooker now. He has an unusual technique but it works for him.

Joshua trying a double into the middle pocket.

Whilst the boys played pool Holly was busy occupying herself on a ride on bus.

Time to leave the Croc club behind.

 

All in all I hate to think how much money I pumped into the arcades in order for Tina and the boys to win the 2,800 tickets that we had accumulated by the end of the week. After ages queueing at the tickets eater machine and then the shop, the kiddies finally exchanged their tickets for presents. Joshua got a Star Wars metal drink bottle, Brandon got an Avengers one and Holly got a Hippo teddy. Note to self : Just buy the kids the bottles and teddies next time as it would be much cheaper than the money invested to get 2,800 tickets!!!!

Brandon's Avengers drink bottle.

Joshua's Star Wars drink bottle.

And finally Holly's little Hippo teddy.

 

 

So another holiday comes to an end and it was absolutely fantastic to get away with the kids and without any WIFI and no work phone. I really needed the break and thoroughly enjoyed spending quality family time, especially with little Holly. Over the course of the week her swimming has improved dramatically and at just 16 months old she now pushes away from me and kind of does a legs only treading water almost as if she is riding a bike. But it is very effective and somehow she manages to keep her head above water and can swim about 1/2 a width of a pool using this technique!! 

Pontins Camber Sands Day 4 - Miniature Steam Railway

Day 4 of our Easter Holiday started with the kids all having breakfast in the Lunar bar with the Croc character from the Croc Crew. The kids had a great time getting their photo's taking with Croc and playing around with him, plus they were each given a colouring set and cap each. Then the icing on the cake was a nice cooked breakfast of sausage, beans, fried bread and hash browns.

 

The kiddies meeting Croc.

Croc crying as Holly wouldn't give him a high five.

Joshua settles down for his cooked breakfast.

Brandon was more interested on watching Croc than eating.

Holly polished off all the beans and the sausage.

Joshua caught on camera stuffing his face. He really didn't want anyone to see this picture.

 

We had heard that there was some miniature steam railways fairly local so after the kids breakfast we headed off to New Romney which was about 20 mins away to try and find the station. By now I am starting to get really sick of One Direction but fortunately this was only a 20 min journey. We eventually arrived at the RH&D Railway and them took a really scenic ride from New Romney all the way out to Dungeoness. At Dungeoness we got to see the Old Lighthouse and then the kids had a little play on the beach before we jumped back on the steam train and headed back to New Romney.

 



We arrive at the RH&D Railway.

This is what I call a proper miniature steam railway. Boys were very excited to have a ride on this bad boy.

This train is just about the right size for Brandon to be able to drive.

Inside the cabins is a bit tight for the adults, but the kids all fit perfect. Joshua is holding up the map showing our train journey to Dungeoness.

We were really hoping to be able to go to the top of one of the lighthouses at Dungeoness however unfortunately they were both closed. So instead we took a brief look at them, read a bit about their history and then went and played on the beach.

 



The Old Lighthouse rebuilt for the 4th time in the early 1900's.

Tina and the kids at the entrance to the Old Lighthouse in Dungeoness.

This was the other lighthouse that we found at Dungeoness.

Holly enjoying playing on the beach and trying to learn how to skim stones across the sea with me and the boys.

All three kiddies playing in Dungeoness beach.

Holly has got quite a throwing arm on her already.

Holly having fun walking back from the beach rather then being cooped up in the buggy.

What a beautiful happy little girl.

Holly on the carriage and ready for some lunch and then the 45 min train ride back.

And we are off........

Cheeky girl having her lunch on the miniature steam train.

She's growing up so quickly.

At the end of our journey the steam train lets off some steam, literally.