First Fishing Trip of 2014

Joshua and Brandon have been driving me nuts lately asking when they can go fishing this year. The fishing season officially started on June 15th (I think) and today was the first day we have had some free time to get over to the Wick Park lake for a spot of fishing. We had a quick reminder of the safety rules and then reminded Brandon not to jump in the lake to save is fishing pole like he did last season! It was an absolutely glorious day and fish were coming thick and fast as Joshua caught about 7 or 8 roach and Brandon caught 4. So whilst Joshua won in quantity it was once again Brandon who won on size having easily caught the two biggest fish of the day.

 

Both boys enjoying a bit of fishing for the first time in 2014 over the Wick Park lake.

Holly came over in the buggy to get some fresh air and see what her big bro's were up to.

Brandon like the chilled approach to fishing at sits down taking everything in his stride.

Joshua is always on his feet and enjoys castings out on his own.

Stretaching out to get his line out as far as possible.

Holly seemed to enjoy her little trip over the park.

Brandon shows one of the roach that he caught.

And another.........

Joshua caught more fish but overall they were smaller ones.

Yucky slimey hands but the boys are fearless holding their fish for a picture.

Joshua releasing one of his catches back into the water.

I would imagine that I will now be spending quite a few summer evenings being nagged to head over the lake for some fishing. Joshua in particular is a very keen fisherman and wants to take the next step from a roach pole to a proper fishing rod and reel.

Holly Backs England

Holly got fully behind England for her 1st ever World Cup. However despite all her lovely little England outfits our National team have failed dismally having lost to Italy and Urugauy in the group stages. Such a shame for Joshua and Brandon as this has been the first World Cup they have understood and England are out before it really even gets started. The boys have really enjoyed watching the games, tracking the results, learning players names etc and I only hope their interest doesn't fade now that England are out. I am sure they will enjoy our final game against Costa Rica and all three of them will don their England gear for one more hoorah before our boys jump on the long flight home.

 

Holly with her "Love England" outfit.

 

I think we may be getting close to seeing Holly start crawling soon. She is now easily rolling from front to back and back to front and is also doing the mini press-up movement to lift her head off the ground. Earlier this week she was sliding around and turning herself in circles so I think it is only a matter of time before she learns to get up on her knees and start crawling around. Time to start baby proofing the house again as the little girl will be mobile soon!

 

Holly rolling and sliding herslef around on her belly.

The Looms Craze of 2014

The latest craze for 2014 that all the kids are getting their fingers stuck into is called Loom Bands or Rainbow Looms. They are the latest craze to sweep the playground and the must-have toy (let's say accessory for the grown ups) of the summer. Ask anyone with children and they'll likely confirm Britain has gone loom band crazy and it's all since the Duchess of Cambridge was seen wearing one during the royal tour.

In a nutshell it appears to be as simple as wrapping little elastic bands around two sticks in some sort of pattern which you then slide off, add a link and hey presto you have a bracelet or ring etc. I have to admit that this is a craze that I have stayed well and truly clear of and wouldn't have a clue how to make them. Joshua seems to have learnt very well and is capable of "looming" on his own. Brandon enjoys the looms and likes wearing them, but needs a bit of help to create them.

 

 

Joshua concentrating hard as he makes his loom bracelet.

Wrapping little coloured elastic bands around chop sticks.

Brandon carefully sorting his looms to colour co-ordinate his bracelet.

Thankfully this is one kids craze that is a) cheap and b) creative.

Brandon shows the finished product with a blue look bracelet.

So popular are loom bands, that they occupy every top 20 spot on online retailer Amazon’s current bestselling toy chart. And in terms of the best-selling toys of all time on Amazon, they come eighth place - after classics such as a Rubik’s Cube, Monopoly, Scrabble and Tommy Pop Up Pirate.

Poorly Josh Visits A&E Twice

So we had a very eventful weekend with two trips to A&E for a very poorly Josh. It all started Saturday morning when he woke up with a burning temperature and saying he didn't feel up to going football club. As he had the Great Wakering Tournament on Sunday I decided to let him rest at home as I would rather he was fit and healthy for Sunday. So Sunday comes and he appears to be feeling much better and subsequently makes it to the football tournament where he played 2 games in goal and then 2 games in defence.

Then Sunday evening around dinner time we found him doubled over on the sofa, clenching the left side of his body, screaming in pain and with a temperature of 100 degrees. So Tina was down A&E for about 3 hours Sunday evening to get him checked over with concerns that he might have appendicitis. By the time they got to see him the pain had gone and the Calpol had kicked in thus reducing his temperature and so they couldn't really find much wrong other than saying it might be a urine infection or something. They advised us to bring him back immediately if it got worse or if the pain moved to the middle of his tummy. Joshua had hardly eaten a thing all day long and had been sick in the car as well, so we knew there was something wrong with him.

Anyway Monday morning arrives at Tina calls me at the gym at 6am saying Joshua is doubled over in pain again and this time it is in the middle of his tummy. So I rush back to take him to A&E again whilst Tina gets Holly and Brandon up to get Brandon into school on time. To cut a long story short I ended up spending 11.5 hours in hospital with Joshua where he was transferred from A&E to the Puffin Children's ward where they did loads of observations and checked his urine and blood. He was checked over by a surgeon, a paediatrician and numerous nurses throughout the day - but no more pains or temperatures again. After all the tests they concluded that the problem was viral tonsillitis and the tummy pains were caused by the bacteria which he had swallowed from the throat infection into his stomach! So eventually we were sent home with the advise to make sure he drinks plenty and keep up with the Calpol as required.

A very pale Joshua enjoying a ride in a wheel chair as a nurse takes him from A&E to Puffin ward.

A very poorly Joshua looking sorry for himself watching a bit of TV in hospital whilst we wait for the blood results to come back.

Fortunately his illness was nothing more serious and by Tuesday he had bounced back and was his usual self and eating us out of house and home. Amazingly the Monday we spent at hospital was Joshua's first day off school sick all year long. He was so close to making the whole school year.

Fathers Day 2014

Fathers Day 2014 started with no lay in for me. Instead we had a 6.30am Sunday alarm in order to get up and out of the door before 8am to head over to Great Wakering for another football tournament. Our Tigers started really strong today with a solid 5 - 1 win against Corringham Athletic. In our second game we took quite a heavy 5- 0 defeat against the Forest Glade Lions. Joshua played in goal for both of these games and in the second game he saved a phenomenal penalty - but he used his face to save it! End result was lots of tears and for the next two games he played defence rather than in goal. In the final two games our Tigers lost to Great Wakering 1-0 and then Leighwood 2-0. The Great Wakering loss was frustrating as we had many shots on goal and definitely played better, but just couldn't chalk one up on the board. Leighwood were the tournament champions having not lost a single game and to hold them to 2-0 was actually quite an achievement. Joshua and his mate Ethan eamed up well to hold a strong defensive line.

 

The team did is very proud and it was a really enjoyable morning. Yesterday at training we was drilling in midfield runs and then crossing into the box and today it was great to see the boys implement this strategy several times in the games. Their tournament medals were well earnt today.

 

L-R : Tigers Alfie, Ethan, Lorne, Ryan (Captain), Joshua and Alex.

And a picture of the Tigers with the coaches (me and Lee).

Joshua proudly shows his latest football medal, he will soon have more medals than his Dad!!

Later this afternoon we visited the newly opened Dog Trust on the A132 as you head into Wickford. We have been promising the boys that we would take a look in there for about a week and a half but just not had the time. Auntie Lisa and Uncle David have already been there and have lined up a new dog called Elmo to partner up with Gino. So it was a good opportunity for us to call in a see Elmo and take him for a little walk around the grounds. The boys both really want a dog but for now we have convinced them that we need to hold fire for a while until Holly gets a bit bigger and a bit less dependant on us. I would love to get a dog, but I just know the novelty factor would wear off with the boys and it would fall on my shoulders to do all the dog walking and muck clearing etc. and currently I just don't have the time.

Joshua meets Elmo and chills out on the grass as he didn't want to return inside to the kennel.

Brandon does his usual photo bomb in this picture.

Brandon outside the Dog Trust with a plant dog that he wanted his picture taken with.

And another picture of B with some plant dogs.

Apart from that the two boys made me some lovely Fathers day cards at school. Then Joshua, Brandon and Holly bought me some new Tapout shorts and tops which will be nice for holiday. We didn't go out for dinner but instead fired up the BBQ this evening and as a treat I had the most gorgeous piece of steak ever - perfect end to the day.

Seat Belt Pet

A lot of the old babies toys which are now on the third time round have started to surface again including these soft toy letter blocks. Holly seems to enjoy throwing them around and knocking down any towers that you build with them. Of course the added bonus is that she can write her name in the blocks as well just in case anyone forgets.

 

Holly with the soft letter blocks which have previously served us well for Joshua and Brandon.

She can spell her name already. Clever girl.

 

Holly can now sit-up completely on her own and shift her torso around to pick up items.

 

Anyway the title of this blog is seat belt pets which are a new type of seat belt attachment teddy which which has multiple uses. Kids can strap them to their seat belts with Velcro straps and then snuggle up to the teddies head as a pillow. Then the side has a compartment for storing a drink bottle and the front has two pockets for snacks, money etc. Brandon picked a doggie one and Joshua a lion. The two boys will now not go anywhere in the car without these and are also planning to take them on holiday to use on the plane and attach to there trunkie straps.

Brandon with his doggie seat belt strap/

Joshua demonstrates how the head can be used as a pillow when you need a nap on those long journeys.

Brandon jumps in on the picture of a sleeping Joshua with a silly face. He is so funny.

Changing subject again and today is England's first World Cup group game against Italy and as such we had a special England Training Day at Forest Glade where all the kids dressed up in England gear and some even had wigs and face paint etc. Unfortunately Joshua woke up a bit poorly this morning and decided to miss training to save himself for tomorrows tournament in Great Wakering. So it was just me and Brandon today. However even Holly has been supporting some new England attire in support of our nation.

Holly with her "I Love England" t-shirt.

Holly getting in on the football action.

Showing great footwork as she does a step over.

A bit random but here is a picture of my hands making a heart shape around Holly's little feet.

Finally for today I was in the garden this afternoon with Joshua, Brandon and Holly and decided to try Holly out in Brandon's old Little Tikes Lightning McQueen car. She sits up in it very well and can get her feet on the ground. She was all smile as she grabbed the steering wheel and even had a little chuckle when the horn was beeped.  

Uh oh, another lady driver. Underage I hasten to add.

A very happy Holly really enjoying playing in Lightning McQueen.

Reaching for the horn and turning the steering wheel.

Fathers Day Breakfast and Lunch

The boys school were today having some early celebrations for Fathers day by inviting the Dad's into the school to have breakfast and lunch with their children. I am sure my school never used to do things like this! Previously we have joined the kids for lunch, but having breakfast as well was a first. Of course it meant taking the day off of work otherwise I would have been yo-yo'ing between Chelmsford and Wickford all day long.

 

Breakfast was a bacon or sausage roll with a cup of tea. Very nice indeed. Joshua had sausage and me and Brandon had bacon. Joshua being the messy pup he is spilt tomato sauce all down his nice yellow school shirt. Then it was back at 11:45 for lunch where I had Coronation chicken jacket potato with salad and then vanilla ice cream for pudding. The boys had beans and cheese jackets, although Joshua did try the Coronation chicken and said it was a bit spicy but nice.



 

Breakfast time at school as me and my boys enjot sausage and bacon rolls.

The tables were decorated with nice Fathers Day balloons.

Obviously this balloon was specifically put on my table.

Back for lunch and Joshua wiped his plate clean in not time at all. Then he was worried about whether he would lose any playtime waiting for Brandon.

Brandon took longer but he did eat all his JP (except the skin) and his salad and ice cream.

Me and my boys enjoying a school dinner.

So today has been focused around early Fathers Day celebrations yet there was a much bigger occasion to celebrate - namely Tina's 41st. Joshua woke early as usual and was excited to come downstairs and give Mummy her card a present. Tina's main present this year was a new food mixer which is actually a wise purchase by me and the boys as it means we get more caked made for us. So whilst Tina was trying out her new food mixer this afternoon, I got the paddling pool out for the kids and spent some time playing in the garden. I let Holly sit on the grass for the first time and she was very inquisitive in touching it and trying to grab at blades of grass. 

Holly sitting up lovely and exploring the grass for the first time.

"Share the love Dad!".

Our 2nd Beaver

Finally Brandon has been invested into the Beavers tonight and now has his scarf, woggle and his first badges.So he is now officially a member of the 1st Wickford Scout Group Oak Beaver Colony having recited the Beaver promise of:

 

I promise to do my best

to be kind and helpful

and to love god.



 

He looked so adorable standing there holding the flag and reciting the promise in front of all of the other lodges. Then he did his 3 finger salute to the lodges and they all saluted back.



 

Brandon holding the flag and reciting the promise to the group leader, Dave.

Explaining to the kids that breaking the promise is like breaking the ring when everyone holds hands in a circle.

Brandon salutes his Beaver Scout leaders.

Brandon proudly holds the Beaver flag.

Finally he has his scarf and woggle. Note green woggle as he is in the green lodge unlike Joshua who is yellow lodge.