Ten Pin Games

Most people are probably expecting today's blog update to be about our visit to DiggerLand. However that will have to wait until tomorrow whilst I sift through the hundreds of pictures taken! Anyway remember the other day I mentioned Joshua's hip and trendy abbreviating language skills? Well his two new ones are "nap" used in the context, "Brandon you need you nap changed" and even better than that, today he started calling his brother "Brand". I am not aware of anyone calling Brandon, "Brand", so this is a completely new one thought up by Joshua.

Anyway how much fun can you have with an over sized set of garden ten pin bowls. Well see below. I started teaching Joshua and Brandon the art of bowling yesterday evening.

Brandon never quite got the idea and the pins that the first ball did not knock over were subsequently either brutally kicked or whacked down!

We had to be a bit lenient on Brandon's distance to the pins as he is a bit small. So he ended up virtually standing on top of them and throwing the ball downwards.

After the conventional bowling we tried out a few new games with the pins. First was to place them all in one big line and play in and out the dusty bluebells. Obviously the name of the game was to try not to knock the pins over.

Joshua passes the test.

Brandon failed the test and instead went along the line knocking the pins down!

The next game we played was called the wall. Faced with a wall of pins the 3 of us linked hands and then after a "1", "2", "3" we charged into the pack trying to knock over as many as possible.

The last game was called the race track. A circle of pins which you had to run around and around. Then when I said "In the middle" you had to jump into the ring without knocking the pin over.

The boys seemed to enjoy the games and we had tears and temper tantrums when it was tidy time and ready for bed. But the games were a major success, both boys got some exercise and wore themselves out before bedtime.

Once upon a time.........

Here is a picture taken a few weeks ago of the boys meeting their old buddy Big Chris and Roary at Festival Leisure Park. Whilst the boys love Roary I think the Big Chris character was a bit overwhelming for them.

One thing I have prided myself on is maintaining the bedtime routine of reading at least one or two stories to the boys. Brandon now also enjoys story time so often I end up with Josh on one knee and Brandon on the other as we read through some books. I treasure this time with the boys and use it to to quiz them on identifying pictures in the books.

In this book the story is based around the hand puppet called Dudley. Joshua used to be a little scared of Dudley but now loves this book and finds it hilarious. Brandon listens intently but will not touch Dudley or give him a good night kiss. The real funny page is where Dudley is driving his car and has to sing an awful song - Joshua starting singing "roooaaaar rooooaar roooaaar".

We always finish the story with the words "The End" which both boys now understand. I often turn the last page and both boys will say "The End".

My Dad is SUPER Dad

I couldn't have put it better myself (especially after last weeks 24hr Thunder Run). Here are both my boys sporting matching t-shorts which read, "My Dad is SUPER Dad"! And yes Brandon was having that fresh out of bed, bad hair day. aka the hedgehog look.

The Invisible Castle

This weekend’s adventures saw us head off to Hadleigh Castle. Unfortunately due to where we parked and the terrain not being very buggy friendly we never actually made it as far as the castle. But the boys both had a great time running around the woods and playing football and Frisbee etc. It is really nice watching the two boys running around outdoors and bundling each other etc. Anyway next week’s objective is to park a bit closer and to take the bike trailer so that we actually make it to the castle this time.

Joshua has also started shortening or abbreviating certain words as if his is some super cool rap star. For example the other night after his dinner we asked him what he wanted for pudding and the reply was “a yog”, not a yogurt. Am I that old already that I do not understand the new trendy language used by 2.5 year olds – god help me when he gets to a teenager!

I think Brandon should now be nick named Mr Bump! He is at the age now where he wants to do everything his elder brother does and subsequently copies him all the time. This often results in him falling over, or falling off of something etc.etc. I have lost count of the number of times he bumped his head last week. Brandon is also showing signs of having a right little temper and if he does not get his way then he lets you know all about it. Is this the start to the terrible two’s again………….?

Brandon has now actively started to get involved with mine and Joshie’s night time aeroplane game. Basically we each hold a toy plane and run around the loft conversion like idiots flying them up, down, around, sideways and every other way. We have also started to incorporate commands such as “freeze”, “sit-down”, “lay down”, “other way around” etc so the game is kind of “Simon says” but with all 3 of us running around with toy planes. It’s a great way to tire the little ones (and me) out before we have our night time story.

Tour De Wick

For a while now Joshua has been showing signs of being ready for his first 12" bike with stabilisers. We was going to wait until his birthday, but that would have meant him waiting until October and thus he would lose out on using a bike this summer. So we managed to get hold of a Lightning McQueen bike off of e-bay at a very good price. Anyway here is Joshua with his first try on the bike. Brandon has now taken the old Lightning trike so that there is no jealousy or fighting.

Although I say there is no jealousy or fighting - Joshua is very very possessive over his new bike and will not let his little brother anywhere near it.

Within no time at all Joshua was off and running, pedalling and steering on his own. He has even learnt to use the brake when he gets to the road. What a clever little lad.

I think this smile is permanently engraved on Joshua's face now! We have struggled to get Joshua off of his bike all afternoon. He has riden all over the park (and turned down going on the swings and slides to stay on his bike longer!!!!). Then he cycled around the block. Needless to say he is very very tired tonight!

Anyway it has been a while since I uploaded some video files on the blog. So since Joshua's first ride of a bike is a major milestone then I think it is worthy of some video clips.

Ready, steady, go - yes its Race-O-Rama time as Joshua and Brandon have a drag race.

Brave Soldier

Here is my brave little soldier proudly holding up his certificate for courage. This was awarded to him a week or so ago when he had to go for another blood test. My little soldier was ever so brave and didn't even flinch when the needle went into his hand.............and he sat and watched them do it as well.

Domino's

Earlier tonight I was sitting down with the boys reading some stories books. Somehow we ended up on the floor staking the books in a long row like domino's. Both boys absolutely loved taking it in turns knocking the first book over and then watching as all the others fell. Guess I will be out shopping this weekend for a set of domino's for the boys to play with before I end up ruining all their books!

We even advanced to wiggly snake like domino tracks.

After each run both boys would raise them arms and cheer loudly. Then I would get a finger pointed at me with the words "one more"! Of course one more never seemed to end as after each run it was "one more"!.

Doidy Cup

Just lately Brandon has started to become a bit of a "Daddy's boy" - more so than Joshua if that it at all possible. Of a weekend the little guy just will not leave my side and cries whenever I leave without him. Its a lovely feeling to feel wanted and needed by your children. Of course Joshua gets jealous and often I end up with both of them climbing and clambering all over me.

Anyway the first picture for today's blog was taken a few weekends ago. Its one of those pictures Brandon will hate me for when I dig it out in years to come. Yes, he is wearing a wig with hair curlers in it! The reason, well we was larking around with brave Auntie Nicky who is rapidly losing her hair due to the evil Big C and all agreed to try out some wigs/bandannas.


The next set of pictures are of Brandon playing "In and out the dusty bluebells" but using large pick up sticks to run through. As you can see the sticks are actually taller than he is. Remarkably the little guy somehow managed to break one which is pretty incredible given the thickness of them and the size of him.

And for the final pictures of today here is Brandon making use of Joshua's old Doidy cup and learning to drink all on his own.

Joshua is constantly reminding him - "two hands Brandon"!.

Joshua continues to get smarter each day and has now started to count items in pages on books very well. He has also started to complete some of the puzzles in magazines, like the mazes, and joining up the dots etc. etc. Also Joshua was back on top form at his football club today. The last 2 weeks he has lacked interest which I assume was due to the hot weather. Today his level of participation was very good indeed and he scored a record breaking 8 goals.

I wish I could be beside the seaside........

One of the things we all take for grantage living in this part of the country is just how close we are to the coast. Joshua has been nagging for several weeks that he wants to go to the beach and since today was such a beautiful summers day we headed out for a pleasant afternoon down Shoeberryness. The boys absolutely loved playing in the water, sand and mud and came home soaking wet and filthy - but that's all part of the fun with the beach!

The little dudes seem to have amazingly resilient pain threshold's when it comes to walking on the shingles. Maybe it is their small feet or light body weight. But Joshua was absolutely insistent on not wearing his sandals.

Little Brandon with a couple of handfuls wet muddy sand to throw at Dad and the camera - thanks buddy!

What a cheeky grin.

The tide was in when we arrived but within about an hour and a half the tide was rapidly going out. This was actually quite nice as it left a nice, large soft sand area with a few inches of water for the boys to play in relatively safely.

We managed to find a few live muscles and cockles which I opened up for the boys to show them the animals living inside.

Brandon seemed to enjoy tipping the water all over himself. Maybe this was his way of cooling down on the hot summers day.

But then Joshua wasn't any different.

And if tipping a bucket of water over yourself doesn't work, then just sit down in the sea.

Joshua doing some "dig dig".

I was dead impressed that Joshua recognised the big rocks in the background but even more impressed that he then remembered our "diggers and dumpers" book that we read which has a rock breaking machine. He was telling me how we needed a rock breaker to break up all the rocks.

Once the tide had gone out completely we moved base to the pool area so that the boys could continue playing in the water.

And here is a lovely snap of Joshua giving Brandon a hug. Brothers in arms.

All good things come to an end. And what a perfect way to end the trip than with a walk to the ice cream van.