Bye Bye Graco

Over the years we have bought several strollers but we have only ever had one buggy and it was our trusty old Graco that we bought for Joshua over 8 years ago. We have certainly had our money's worth out of the Graco as it was 8 years old and has serviced all 3 of our kiddies. The Graco has traveled the deepest darkest depths of England, covered miles across theme parks and football fields, but this weekend its fate finally came to an end. One of the front wheels finally snapped off at Forest Glade marking the end of an era. Arguably we could have tried to buy a replacement part or maybe even tried to glue the broken part, but sometimes it is better to just accept that an items useful life has expired and to part company and say goodbye.

So the Graco was put out with last night rubbish ready for the bin men to take away today. However by the morning it was gone and so someone, somewhere must have seen it and had a use for it, thus helping themselves!!!. So the Graco possibly lives on in another life somewhere...............

The Graco met its fate at Forest Glade after 8+ years or loyal service to the King family.

Archery Player of the Day

Another sporting achievement for Joshua as he was awarded Player of the Day certificate at his after school archery club tonight. Since getting his soft archery set for Xmas he seems to have really taken a keen interest in this sport and it was perfect timing that the school started an archery club this term. Apparently if any of the kids win the Player of the Day award 5 times then they are also awarded a £5 Sports Direct voucher. I think Joshua has his eye on that!

 

Also hot off the press - Volume 9 of my blog books arrived this week and looks really good. Volume 9 only covered up until about June last year so there is probably enough material on the blog for Volume 10 already as well!!!

 

Proud Joshua with his Player of the Day certificate.

1 down and 4 to go, then Joshua gets a £5 voucher.

Volume 9 of the blog featuring a family picture at Bodian Castle on the front cover.

School Swimming Gala

On Friday last week Joshua competed in an inter school swimming gala against 4 others schools and was presenting the year 3 boys. Joshua was picked for the freestyle race and as part of the team relay and he topped off a very good week by winning both his races. Furthermore the Abacus swimming team qualified for the district finals with their impressive times.

 

Holly's potty training has gone from strength to strength over the last week and Tina has really worked hard to get her dry. Through the daytime she now wears nickers instead of a nappy and asks for the toilet if she needs a wee or poo. She hardly even uses the potty and most of the time prefers to sit on the big toilet. She has done absolutely amazing and I don't remember it ever being this easy to toilet train the two boys.

 

Brandon has been learning about the royal family at school this term. So after making a Roman outfit for Joshua 2 weeks ago, this weekends task was to make a crown with Brandon. I think we did a really good job of this crown but Brandon was not really happy as he wanted it gold rather than silver.

 

Brandon with his homemade crown which he made as part of his homework.

Going back to Holly, she has really become attached to her bear which Auntie Nicky bought for her. It has to sleep in her cot with her and when she wakes up in the morning she gives it a big cuddle and then carries it in to our bedroom. She has called the teddy "big bear".

 

Holly with her favourite teddy - "Big bear".

Finally a lovely picture if Holly giving her two brothers a cuddle at the kitchen table.

Joshua gets Star Pupil Award

Very well done to Joshua. Today we had an amazing surprise as he got a letter sent home from school. When we opened it we were extremely pleased and proud to find he had a card from his teacher for being a "Star Pupil". She put a lovely message on it saying "Well done last term for all your hard work. Keep it up. Mrs Bright."

 

Proud Joshua with his "Star Pupil" letter from his teacher, Mrs Bright.

I think this one is going to cost me as surely this is worthy of a reward.

Zoe's 21st Birthday

At the weekend we enjoyed a really good night out at Zoe's 21st birthday. The theme for the party was to dress up as a character from a movie. So after rummaging around the house we managed to come up with the blue Power Ranger for Brandon, a Fireman for Joshua, a Frozen Princess for Holly, the Giraffe from Madagascar for Tina and I was Chewbacca from Star Wars. So basically a complete bunch of misfits!!!

 

The kiddies all had great fun with plenty of food, drink, party games and dancing. Holly had an extra late night by her standards and literally did not stop running around (and eating) all night long. Talk about Duracell bunny. It seems like only yesterday Zoe and Amy were about the same age Joshua and Brandon are now, it almost seems hard to believe that Zoe is now 21!

 

A young Zoe and Amy probably at the same sort of age that Joshua and Brandon are now.

 

We five King's all dressed up as movie characters.

Auntie Nicky dragging Joshua around on the dance floor with Holly sitting on top enjoying the ride.

From one Minnie lover to another, Holly poses with Auntie Lea.

Joshua testing his fireman's axe on Auntie Nicky.

Joshua and Brandon enjoying the silly face cards.

Brandon playing with the photo booth props.

Photo booth shot of Brandon with Auntie Lisa.

Princess Holly with some wonky lips!

Happy Holly wearing some Minnie Mouse ears on her head.

Brandon really got into the dressing up and photo booth props. The Brokeback Mountain look here!!!

Holly enjoyed playing with the mini shot bottles and sorting them out into colours.

Worryingly she then started to pretend to drink the little Vodka shots!!!

Holly at the front of the "Oops Upside Your Head" with Auntie Nicky.

Me, Lisa, Nicky and Min being photo bombed by Holly.

Brandon's turn to be dragged around by Auntie Nicky, only this time Holly loses her balance and falls back onto Brandon's legs.

Potty Training 101

Holly won't thank me for this blog update and picture in 20 years time, but it is such an achievement at her young age that I figured it was worth writing about on the blog. Anyway at just 2 years old she has shown a lot of interest in becoming potty trained and has been asking for the potty or toilet if she needs a wee or poo. She sits on the toilet quite nicely and even gives herself a wipe afterwards. I am still shocked that she has used a potty at just 2 years of age as the boys were both over 3 before they started potty training. Fingers crossed she becomes potty trained soon and then its farewell to nappies forever more..............

 

Holly at 2 years of age using the toilet like a big girl.

Roman Day

This term Joshua is learning all about Romans at school and today he had to dress up as a Roman. Tina tried to order him a Roman costume off of Amazon and unfortunately by yesterday evening it had not arrived. I asked her to check up on it and it was still in the shopping cart - she had forgotten to check out!!!! So with no time left me and Joshua had to come up with a plan B. So with a load of coloured card and a few pictures from google we decided to make him a homemade Roman costume.

 

I have to say that given the limited time and materials available I think we did a good job and nailed the brief. Unfortunately the Velcro on the sides didn't hold together for long at school and it sounds like he didn't wear his costume much. I hope he gets credit for making a costume though rather than just buying one like everyone else.

 

Joshua in his homemade Roman costume.

Last Day of the Xmas Holiday Ice Skating

So after an amazing two weeks off of work spending quality time over Christmas with my lovely family, all good things must come to an end. So the shirts are ironed, the school uniforms are out, school bags packed and tonight we go to bed with that horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach that tomorrow morning the alarm will go off and then its back to reality!!!

 

With today being our last day we made the most of it by getting up early and heading over to Chelmsford for the boys to do another park run. Due to football fixtures this is likely to be their last park run possibly until April time. So despite the cold, wet weather, both boys got up and gave it their best. No PB's today as the conditions were bad, but Brandon did beat Joshua with a time of 10:07, Joshua came finished in 10:29.

 

After the park run we dashed over to the Riverside Sports Centre to have a bit of festive ice skating. I think most of Chelmsford had the same idea as this was the busiest we have seen the ice rink. Brandon did absolutely amazing on the ice today and was really growing in confidence and skill. He had more falls than anyone else but this was because he was being more adventurous and trying to learn the technique and skills. He soon learnt that it didn't really hurt to fall on the ice and thoroughly enjoyed the skating staying on the ice until the very last minute before the session closed.

 

Joshua was not quite as confident and due to his heavier body weight he seems to fall heavier and will probably wake up with quite a sore bum tomorrow. He definitely wasn't as confident as Brandon and certainly relied on the side wall a lot more. 

 

Yesterday at Lakeside Brandon and Joshua met up with a Storm Trooper.

Joshua with the BB droid from The Force Awakens.

Brandon with BB droid.

Joshua looking a bit red faced on today's park run and being beaten by his younger brother.

Brandon absolutely flying in his new running shoes and if only the conditions would have been better today I am sure he would have been on for a PB.

Brandon immediately taking to the ice and not relying on the side wall too much.

Tina and the boys on the ice. I think shortly after this picture both Tina and Joshua were using their bums to test how cold the ice was!

Joshua trying to let go of the wall and free skate.

Quick selfie of me and Holly whilst Tina takes her turn on the ice with the two boys.

One of Brandon's many falls, but still smiling and loving every minute of it.



Tina trying to help Joshua but I think the expression on his face says it all.

Brandon starting to look like a natural on the ice.

Great picture of the two boys at the ice skating rink.

Me and little B spent more time on the ice than the other two put together!

Another action shot as Brandon races off with me in pursuit.

After a hard fall and a bruised bum, Joshua calls it a day after about an hour and sits outside playing with Holly and the ice. Holly was picking up chunks of ice and trying to eat them like a lolly.

New Years Day Bowling

For the second year running both the boys stayed up to see the New Year in. Neither really showed any sign of being tired and really enjoyed watching the London fireworks on TV and then singing Old Langs Syne. Surprisingly they only slept in until around 8am despite staying up until around 12:45 last night. Joshua and Brandon were both really getting in to the old New Year jokes like "I'm not going to school until next year!", "I haven't exercised since last year", "I haven't eaten since last year!" and so on.

 

To celebrate the New Year we had a really enjoyable round of bowling at Basildon Hollywood Bowl. I was letting Holly take about 50% of my goes and she was absolutely loving it. Subsequently I came last, but that being said I think I hit more "zeros" than she did so I can't fully blame her. Joshua finished 3rd, Brandon 2nd and Tina was 1st. This was my first visit the Hollywood Bowl since they have refurbished it and I have to say I love the old American Car table and chairs. I so want one of these for in the garden, how great would that be for summer BBQ's?

 

Me and the kiddies enjoying a New Years day visit to Hollywood Bowl.

My three superstars.

Holly enjoying her first bowling experience with the family. Although trying to lift a bowling ball is like a strong man lifting one of the Atlas stones.

Xmas Playtime @ Lake Meadows and Blow Pens

With such a mild winter and the nice sunshine we have had recently we took a drive over to Lake meadows earlier this week so that the kiddies could have a play in the park, have a kick around with a football and also have a cycle/scooter around the lake. It was just nice to get out with the little ones and burn off some of those Xmas calories. Although the boys have both been out running with me every other day since boxing day and doing between 1.2 and 1.4 miles. Joshua even cycle one of my run routes today and covered about 6 miles on his bike which is the longest he has ever cycled.

 

Whilst over Lake Meadows we found that they had added a few new wooden sculptures and also one of those park outdoor gyms.

 

Joshua, Brandon and Holly enjoying some time at Lake Meadows.



Happy little bunnies playing in the park.

Holly hanging on for dear life as her brothers spin her around.

All 3 kiddies on the giant rocking horse.

A new wooden sculpture of a dragon which has been added to Lake Meadows.

And Holly and Joshua with a wooden sculpture of the wizard.

Josh and B working those obliques on some outdoor gym equipment.

Brandon getting those hips going from side to side.

Joshua working hard on the X-trainer.

Joshua on a body weight rowing machine.

Brandon and Holly's little legs not quite big enough for the body weight leg press machine.

Brandon using a type of rowing machine.

 

As well as trying to get out and about over the Xmas break the kiddies are all having fun using their new Xmas presents. One of the big hitters for this year is the blow pens which Auntie Chris and Uncle Steve bought the boys. In particular Brandon who is getting very arty and creative and not only is he using the stencils, but he is adding his own ideas to his pictures, such as trees, sky, snails, grass etc.

 

Brandon's blow pen toucan bird that he painted tonight and added the tree, grass and snail. Love the idea that the blow pen box also acts as a holder for all the pens.

Brandon proudly shows his painting of a horse jumping a hurdle.

Nanny would have loved Brandon's owl picture that he did.

Little B using all his huff and puff to create his artwork.