Half Term Activities

I have had a lovely week off of work for the second week of Easter and have been trying to spend quality time with the kids. Keeping them entertained and amused on a limited budget has been challenging but we have managed well and the kids seem to have had a good half term.

 

Earlier in the week I dug out the old easel and paints for Holly as she wanted to do some paintings. Tina would never do something like this with the kids as she hates the mess, needless to say Holly loved this and made four huge paintings.

 

We have also taken the kids to the Colchester Leisure World swimming pool which has the water slides, lazy river, pirate ship etc. What with swimming and having the jacuzzi setup again it seems like most of the week we have been soaking in chlorine!

 

We also managed to sneak in a quick game of bowling earlier this week at the Hollywood Bowl in Festival. Joshua was leading all the way until the last round when he came under pressure from Holly who scored a strike with her final ball. She went from last place to finish on 83 points, just 2 behind Joshua.

 

Messy play as Holly does some painting during half term.

She absolutely loved the painting and did 4 big pictures in the end.

We tried various different brushes and stamps to be as creative as possible.

The kids enjoying a pitcher of slushie before starting their bowling game.

In order of how they finished, Joshua just beating Holly with Brandon coming in last (but still smiling).

Holly meets Skye from Paw Patrol



Today was my 46th Birthday and the day started with an hour and a half Crossfit followed by about an hour in the Jacuzzi. As I have taken all week off work for half term it was a nice chilled morning until the 3 kids all woke up and then joined me in the hot tub.

 

The rest of my Birthday was pretty low key as I desperately need to save pennies to cover my Budapest Crossfit competition in about 4 weeks time. So after breakfast and Holly's swimming class we nipped in to Basildon to do some shopping, grab some lunch (Taco Bell) and then Holly went to meet Skye who is one of the characters she likes from a Children's programme called Paw Patrol.

 

Despite really looking forward to meeting Paw Patrol characters she actually went all shy and wouldn't her picture taken unless I went with her. After meeting Skye Holly also got to do some Paw Patrol crafts and made a little Paw Patrol sign with some cutting, sticking and colouring.

 

 

Spending my 46th Birthday meeting Skye with Holly.

I think the over sized character was a bit intimidating for little Holly.

But Holly really enjoyed her Paw Patrol arts and crafts.

And here w=is her finished craft activity.

Me, Holly and Bee blowing out the candles on my birthday cake. The Superman shirt was Holly's birthday present to me.

Tina ordered a football cake, but Tesco's delivered a Batman cake. Still we got it free of charge due to their mistake.

Out Comes the Jacuzzi



After months of nagging from Holly we finally got the jacuzzi out this weekend. Now that spring us upon us, the sun is threatening to come out, temperatures are back in double figures and more importantly the heating is turned off - it was time to get our Intex out of the shed.

 

New for this year is our half hexagon decking step which I built with help from Holly. Its incredible that I have two strong, fit young boys who would rather play on the PlatStation than help their old man, yet my little 4 years old girl was happy to get her hands dirty and help me build the step. Mind you I guess it is only right that she helps given that we built it mainly because her little legs struggled to climb in and out of the jacuzzi last year.

 

Yesterday was the first day it could be used after letting the chlorine settle down. So as soon as football was over we was all in there. Then late in the evening as the sun was going down it was time to put on some music and chill in the hot tub. I'd forgotten just how much I enjoyed spending the evenings soaking in the tub and listening to some tunes.

 

 

The hexagon decking step that Holly helped me to build. I think we did a pretty good job on that.

 

The kids couldn't wait to get back in the hot tub. And no PlayStation in site!

On go the bubbles for the first time in 2018.

Me and my babies enjoying family time in the hot tub. I think we overfilled it a little!!!

Holly's School Uniform

Well we are only days away from the 16th April when we find out what Primary School Holly will be going to. Although if ever you wanted to place a bet on a "sure thing" then you wouldn't go wrong with betting on Abacus. Given that Holly's two brothers both go to Abacus and it was the only school we added to her application form - then it should be a dead cert.

 

In preparation for starting school in September Holly has already received some uniform from some of Tina's friends who's daughters have outgrown them. Holly was dead keen to try on the school dress and cardigan and I have to say it is shocking just how grown up she looks. Where has my little baby girl gone?

 

Holly looking very grown up in her school uniform ready for this September.

Lamborghini Picture



I keep forgetting to post this touched up picture of the boys with the red Lamborghini which was taken recently at the Cubs hall.

 

Southernd Pier Easter Egg Hunt

On Easter Bank Holiday Monday we were in two minds whether to actually bother leaving the house as the forecast was rain all day. But surprisingly once breakfast was out of the way it actually looked OK outside, albeit a little overcast. So we decided to take the kids to Southend Pier for yet another Easter Egg hunt. We have been promising them that they could go on the train to the end of the pier for some time now so this seemed the perfect excuse.

So we jumped aboard the Sir John Betjeman train and chugged down the 1.33 miles to the end of the pier. I think it must be well over 20 years since I have been to the end of the pier myself and a lot has changed – but I guess that’s a result of it burning down 4 times! I had no idea that there was a Jamie Oliver restaurant on the pier along with loads of very colourfully painted beach huts. We also got to see the RNLI lifeboats and a large Dutch sailboat which had anchored up at the end of the pier.

The Easter Hunt was pretty cool and the kids had 10 eggs hidden all over the pier to find which referenced wildlife that you can see from the pier. As a reward they received a certificate and a Cadbury’s Cream Egg (not bad for £2 each). After the Easter Egg Hunt we had a picnic inside whilst the kiddies (and adults) all did an Easter colouring competition. Brandon absolutely nailed his Easter Chick / Egg picture by using the RNLI them and colours – surely he is on to a winner with this.

We arrived at the right time for the train as when we came back the queue was huge.

Holly enjoying the weird concept of travelling by train over the sea.

At the end of the pier and the Easter Hunt begins.

Congratulations on reaching the 1.33 mile end of the pier (oh and finding the first Easter Egg just above Brandon's head)|.

Not too many people ventured out in the morning. Notice the Dutch sailboat anchored up as well.

Another Easter Egg found on the buoy.

We visited the RNLI at the end of the pier where I was ended up spending some of my hard earnt money on toot for the kids in the shop (still I guess its a good cause).

Loads of little birds camped up on part of the pier.

Holly was gutted as none of thew ride-ons seemed to work (maybe they hadn't been converted to the new £1 coins).

Joshua and Brandon actually struggled to find all 10. This wasn't as easy as the other Easter Hunts we have done.

Holly and Josh by one of the colourful beach huts.

Holly liked the rainbow and sparkly gold on this one.

Quick family picture at the end of the pier.

Warming up with a picnic and some colouring inside.

Brandon submitting our entries to the competition wall.

Brandon's rather clever RNLI themed Easter colouring.

Joshua's was neatly done and the colours went well together.

Like Brandon by colouring was themed (Southend United FC) in hope of getting a few extra votes. Not sure 45 year old men are allowed to enter the kids Easter colouring competition!

More colourfully painted beach huts on the pier.

And at the end of a fun afternoon it was time to catch our train back again.

Easter Hunt at Audley End House

Continuing with our Easter themed weekend we decided to make use of our English Heritage cards and spend Easter Sunday doing another Easter trail at Audley End House. The trail involved searching the grounds for 6 questions to answer and then at the end of the trail the kids were rewarded with a large chocolate coin.

 

The 3 kiddies really enjoyed the trail and exploring the grounds and the house. Holly was wearing welly boots and her Treehouse rain suit which was perfect for her to jump in as many muddy puddles as she could find! Luckily it wasn't too cold outside and we even managed to have a picnic in the outdoor play area.

 

Prior to going to Audley End the boys enjoyed another speciality Easter breakfast. Joshua had the Kit Kat soldiers and Cream Egg, Brandon had half an Easter Egg filled with Cocoa Pops and milk and Holly had a Kit Kat and a chocolate Crepe! But that was nothing compared to the special Easter pudding I prepared for tonight - half an Easter Egg filled with cheesecake containing a mango and strawberry yolk. Just delicious.

 

 

 

 

Brandon's Easter Sunday breakfast - using an Easter Egg as a breakfast bowl.

We arrive at the spectacular Audley End House for another Easter Trail.

This was one of the 6 clues that the kids had to find scattered around the grounds.

Joshua carrying some Laundry.

Holly climbing in the laundry trailer.

Heading to the organic kitchen gardens for clue Nr.2.

And we found clue Nr.2.

Lot's of nice spring flowers in the kitchen gardens.

Clue Nr.3 was hidden in the stables by the carriages.

Holly practicing some hose riding skills.

In Joshua's words, Holly was a complete savage jumping in muddy puddles.

Me and my kiddies, Easter 2018.

Holly taking a page out of Jes Ennis's book and biting down on her gold chocolate coin for completing the trail/

All 4 kiddies with more Easter chocolate. At least they had exercise running around finding the clues.

We found Holly the ultimate puddle to jump and run through. She loved it.

And after all that running around we had earnt ourselves the ultimate Easter pudding. Easter Egg cheesecake.

Perfectly runny mango and strawberry yolk. Absolutely delicious.