It's Party Time!!!

Today we have been to a Very Important Party for a Very Important Date with the Cabbage Patch Kids.....who are celebrating their 30th Birthday! In 1983 they made their debut in New York City at the International Toy Fair. They are still sold today.
The party was held at the worlds oldest and largest toy store Hamleys! We had a fab time as you can see from the photo's.

We were right at the front of the queue

The entertainers were fab. Daddy and the Monkeys loved today and this Cabbage Patch Kid!

Hi there!

This way Mummy! Fun and Games had by all

One for little monkey! Having fun and 'attacking' the Cats!

Grrrrrrrrr!

Fab 30th Birthday Cake

The Cabbage Patch Kids Party was held for exclusively invited people before the store opened it's doors to the public. So we all had the run of the store until then and there were party games, face painting, a buffet, magician and goody bags plus this fab cake, for us all to enjoy! The monkeys enjoyed the celebrations and were so well behaved.

We were invited by Corinna at NortonandCo and would like to thank her, the team and Hamleys for the fab opportunity today The monkeys and I had a ball :-)

Silent Sunday

Small Steps #1: He Makes Us Proud!

We are delighted to take part in the Small Steps Amazing Achievements linky with Ethan's Escapades.

Our littlest monkey has been having problems with his ears but last week we had an ENT appointment, and the news was good! 
"Well, our youngest monkey had his ENT appointment at the hospital today and I'm pleased to say there has been some good news!
He still has glue ear but there is a slight improvement in his mild hearing loss, so for the time being he won't need an operation to have grommets fitted. He will need to be seen again in 3 months time to see if there is further improvement and then a decision will be made regarding treatment or not!
We are very impressed with the treatment we received today at the hospital, very limited waiting, very friendly staff and a smooth appointment. We were in and out within 45 minutes! Little monkey was a super dude and very compliant and well behaved, we are very proud of him".

This is good news as he is starting Preschool in September and I am hoping his hearing and speech does not hold him back. So yesterday I took him for a visit to the Preschool, to have a little play and get a feel for it. He will be going 2 mornings a week. I'm trilled to say the visit was a success! 
"His big brother went there and we love it but little monkey is my baby and quite a young and small 2.5yr old, so I wanted to introduce him to it before he starts. I needn't have worried! He settled right in within a few minutes and played really nicely! So much so that he didn't want to come away! Little monkey does have more confidence than big monkey did at the same age but in other respects he just seems so much younger than big monkey did. He did me proud and I'm delighted he ran off to play with all the toys they had out.
I'm hoping he will settle so much quicker and better than big monkey did and it seems we might be on to a winner!
Well done little superstar"xx 

Why The Name Iris Is So Special To Me!

My lovely Nan, whom I loved so much was called Iris. Sadly she died in 2000 and I still miss her today. Now my Nan didn't particularly like her name but I think it's a lovely name and my parents must do too, for they named their narrow boat Iris! The boat was built after Nan passed away so she didn't get to see it but she would have loved it. 
Iris flowers are beautiful too and we have some in our garden that come up each year, the colour  purple is so vibrant and so beautifully deep and rich. I love Purple and not just because of Iris's (though that does help).

The name Iris means so much to me, that when I got married to the monkeys dad and found some new glasses with the design name Iris, I just had to buy them. They were perfect too, as they were very delicate, nice and neutral so went well with my wedding dress! I also chose the colour purple for my colour scheme so that I could have Iris's in my bouquet.......so you see the name Iris means a whole lot to me. Darling hubby also had a similar posy made up with the colour purple in for my 40th!

Should we have had a daughter I would have loved to call her Iris x
We have linked up with Edspire to enter Jennies fab giveaway.

My Mathematician Monkey!

Big monkey is 5 and learning how to add and subtract at school. They call it something much more fun (this escapes me!) but the meaning is the same! He is actually really rather good at this and is practicing lots at home, using the magicsketcher, his LeapPad or paper to do so. Here is some of his work!

How clever is he? No help needed for these sums and I'm afraid to say he does not take after me! Daddy is the maths genius in our house. (Well compared to me!) This is our Wot So Funee linky with
Actually Mummy

The Original Cuddledry® Baby Bath Towel oatmeal/white-Review

We have recently become 'Cuddledry Super Bloggers' and would like to spread the Cuddledry love!

What is Cuddledry? I hear you say. 
This it what Cuddeldry say: "This unique hooded apron towel makes bathtime safe, simple and snug - for you and your baby! Most babies enjoy bath time but for some it can be upsetting making you feel fraught and turning it into a bit of a juggling act! With this original, organic apron towel you stay dry, you can lift your baby from bathwater easily and naturally, he/she stays warm and tenderly wrapped so everyone is happy and calm!"
 
Our review was started some time ago when our youngest monkey was a lot younger but we still use it today and he still loves it just as much!
On receiving the cuddledry I opened the packaging to find the towel itself in a transparent plastic wallet that can be used and re-used if needs be to carry the towel about.
The cuddledry is luxuriously thick and soft and on giving it a 1st wash it came out just as soft and as luxurious. The quality is very good and on using it the first time with my 6 month old monkey I felt it was very absorbent and he looked very warm, snug and cosy in it. You barley have to dab or rub baby dry as the cuddledry does the work for you! 

The cuddledry is huge.....I’m only 5ft tall and on wearing it, it was almost down to my ankles. It’s really easy to use and no instructions were needed but they can be found on the packaging, also on the cuddledry website. The towel is fairly heavy as opposed to other towels but I believe this is purely because of it’s size, thickness and quality. It has poppers on it so that it can be secured by the wearer and is comfy for the wearer too albeit warm! It has been washed many times now and although now showing signs of age it is still as thick as it was and just as absorbent. I personally love it and we still use this every time little monkey has a bath. We are thrilled with it, I just wish they did one for adults! 
Why not like Cuddledry on Facebook or follow them on Twitter

*We received this cuddledry for review via Essex Mums originally, from but all opinions are my own*

Magic Moments 24/06/2013

Good morning. I'm linking up with The Oliver's Madhouse for my #MagicMoment today. It comes from taking little monkey, just now for a play at the Preschool he will be starting in September. His big brother went there and we love it but little monkey is my baby and quite a young and small 2.5yr old, so I wanted to introduce him to it before he starts. I needn't have worried! He settled right in within a few minutes and played really nicely! So much so that he didn't want to come away! Little monkey does have more confidence than big monkey did at the same age but in other respects he just seems so much younger than big monkey did. He did me proud and I'm delighted he ran off to play with all the toys they had out.
I'm hoping he will settle so much quicker and better than big monkey did and it seems we might be on to a winner! 
Well done little superstar xx

Silent Sunday

Ooh, look what's on it's way!

Premium Business Cards by Vistaprint 

We have a few blog events coming up so I've designed and ordered some cards to hand out!

You like?

*Original banner design by Sarah Lee* 

Walk the Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness

More than just another Walk in the Park!

Welcome to the fun and crazy world of The SunWalk London, organised by grant-making breast cancer charity, Walk the Walk.  But this is not just another walk in the park!

On Sunday 30^th June 2013, London’s Battersea Park will host a unique and wonderful cocktail of 3 amazing walking challenges, live stage music, circus sideshows, stalls, dancing, delicious food, stilt walkers, clowns and escapades and experiences for all. 

There’ll be plenty of entertainment for the children, including popular Children’s TV Stars Andy and Sid, who will be holding their own unique show! Stars from Strictly Come Dancing will also be hosting three exclusive “Dance the Dance” workshops, with the chance to get up close and personal and meet the dancers afterwards. Join Anton and Erin, Darren and Lillia, and Matt and Nicole for an unforgettable experience! Tickets for Andy and Sid’s shows, and for Dance the Dance are available at WalktheWalk or on 01483 741430.

For the whole family, there’ll also be free live music in the park from X-factor star Misha B, chart-topping band Sam and the Womp, singer/songwriter Sam Gray and the Urban Voices Collective, the singing group famous for performing at the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games. 

There is free entry into SunWalk City all day. But if you really want to do something to make your day extra special, sign up now for one of the three Power Walking challenges - a 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon. You are not only going to have a day of experiences and visual delight, but you’ll be getting fitter, reaching your own goal, and raising money and awareness for breast cancer. 

The whole family can take part, with a Power Walking challenge for every ability and as always all Walkers over the age of 13 will wear the Walk the Walk trademark of brightly decorated bras – with this year’s Circus theme, there promises to be some wild and wonderful creations!  

Walk the Walk has raised in excess of £86 million for vital breast cancer causes, since it launched 17 years ago, with money granted for research into breast cancer and to help improve the lives of those with cancer now.

The SunWalk London 2013

·         Sunday 30^th June 2013, Battersea Park.

·         Half marathon: minimum age on the day of the challenge  is13

·         10k:  minimum age on the day of the challenge is 6.

·         5K:  no age restriction!

·         Walkers are asked to raise a minimum of £100 in  sponsorship, with those aged under 13  
        raising what they can.

·         The entry fee for each distance is £27 (this includes one free place for a child under 13).

·         The entry fee for additional children under 13 is £15.

·         Enter at WalktheWalk

·         All participants aged 13 and over will receive a bra to decorate

·         The SunWalk London raised more than £250,000 in 2012. 

Mini Creations

Our youngest monkey who is almost 2.5 years old loves playing with Lego but until recently he used to get quite frustrated with it! He found it hard to separate the bricks and usually threw the Lego across the room in frustration instead. So I was very pleased when he showed me the other day what he had created all by himself. He was very proud of his creation and I have to say I am too! What do you think? A train builder in the making.

Ear, Nose and Throat Referral-Update

Well, our youngest monkey had his ENT appointment at the hospital today and I'm pleased to say there has been some good news! 
He still has glue ear but there is a slight improvement in his mild hearing loss, so for the time being he won't need an operation to have grommets fitted. He will need to be seen again in 3 months time to see if there is further improvement and then a decision will be made regarding treatment or not!
We are very impressed with the treatment we received today at the hospital, very limited waiting, very friendly staff and a smooth appointment. We were in and out within 45 minutes! Little monkey was a super dude and very compliant and well behaved, we are very proud of him.

Will keep you all posted in the future after his next appointment. Our original blog post can be seen here. What have your experiences of the NHS service been like with your little ones?

Magic Moments 17/06/2013

 
Happy Monday everyone. We have had a lovely weekend and my magic moment this week is the lovely day we had celebrating Father's Day yesterday! The monkeys were exceptionally well behaved all day, which makes it so much nicer when eating out and visiting places! Don't get me wrong, they aren't particularly naughty but are typical boys who like to play up at times and love boisterous fun, that can just be too much all the time! They were superstars yesterday and their daddy and I are very proud.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Father's Day

Daddy has been hinting at having a lie in on Father's Day for ages, so we started today by giving him one. After our eldest monkey handed him his Father's Day cards and gifts and wishing him a Happy Father's Day! 

The monkeys, with my help got Daddy some lovely bits including a daddy pig card which the eldest insisted on choosing him when he was with Daddy!! We especially love this print in the top right. So, after his lie in Daddy got up and once we were all ready and little monkey had his nap we went out for lunch.

We love Frankie & Benny's. It's so family friendly and has a great atmosphere. Today was no exception! They were offering 'Father's Eat Free' which was great as it kept the bill down. The monkey's were very well behaved and we all had a lovely meal. Yum, I could eat there every day. After our meal out, we all popped to the shops to run some errands quickly then went to the local miniature railway, as the monkeys love it there. Big monkey had a ball riding the trains with Daddy and Grandad but little monkey preferred to watch the trains. He isn't too sure of all the different noises they make. Tea and cake was had by all in the railway cafe, then we had a walk in the City Park, another place we love and a stone's throw from the trains.

As you can see, we have all had a lovely day, the monkeys and daddy have had a really special time and as my parents are staying the weekend too, I got to spend Father's Day with my dad also. The monkey's have been superstars and will sleep well tonight, poor little monkey could barely keep his eyes open come bedtime.
We hope all the others daddy's have had a lovely Father's Day.

Silent Sunday

My Nan lives on in our garden!!

My nan was called Iris and would have been trilled with the monkeys! Unfortunately she never even met my husband. These Iris's I look forward to seeing appear each year in our garden. Purple is my favourite colour :-)

 

Halos N Horns-Review

Halos N Horns is a range of children's toiletries especially designed for little one's sensitive skin. It was designed by a mother who has a child with eczema, who set about manufacturing her own range of products that were free from the chemicals that can irritate young skin.
We have been lucky enough to be given two Halos N Horns products to review. The Mango Melon Mayhem Shampoo and Conditioner and Zingy Orange Hair and Body Wash.

The Mango Melon Mayhem Shampoo and Conditioner
Smells divine and lathered up really well on the monkeys hair. It is a gooey green colour which goes a long way! The Product is very kind to the eyes, which is great as biggest monkey isn't keen on having his hair washed usually but you can see when using this he was more keen than usual! It's also mild and gentle and Hypoallergenic. Halos N Horns products are also dermatologically tested. I was really impressed with how lovely our youngest monkeys hair smelt after having it washed with this shampoo and conditioner in one.

Zingy Orange Hair and Body Wash
Is pretty thick and very bright orange, which also smells gorgeous and also goes a long way! When using it on the monkeys with a sponge I really did not need to use as much as I did. I should have looked this small detail up on the website! I can also confirm, having had a sneaky dabble myself this is a lovely body wash! As with the Mango Melon Mayhem the Zingy Orange hair and body wash contains no nasty ingredients like Parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Phthalates and more! This was good news for us as both monkeys tend to suffer with dry skin patches and those ingredients don't help. Halos N Horns products are not tested on animals.
We are loving these two great products and will certainly be looking to get more when they run out. If you would like to know more, why not like the Halos N Horns Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.

* We were sent these products free of charge for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own * 

Two Gorgeous Monkeys!

These two are mine, they are a part of me and I love them to the moon and back. Two gorgeous monkeys who don't sit still. My two darling monkeys, who make me proud to be their mummy :)

June 2013 Aged two and five

Silent Sunday

Saturday Afternoon in Maldon, Essex

We are pretty lucky to be close to some very good attractions that are family orientated. Maldon Promenade Park is on the Blackwater Estuary and about 25 minutes drive from home for us. The monkeys love it there as there is so much on offer! 
The Thames barges are based there and can be hired out for parties and trips. There is a splash park which was open today but far too chilly for the monkeys!! Lots of fun though for the hotter weather.
The promenade also boasts a large wooden galleon which the monkeys love to climb all over and slide down. Many families gather there for picnics and to catch the sun.

As you can see, the monkeys love it there and I managed to catch a picture of them racing with daddy after playing on the galleon.
There is also an ornamental lake down by the front where we sometimes feed the ducks and several cafes where visitors can relax, and what trip by the coast would it be without an ice cream! The tide was out today but that meant I was able to get some photo's of the boats residing there whilst we walked along eating our ice creams and the monkeys got covered in chocolate.

We got to Maldon quite late this afternoon so it was fairly quiet there but normally in the height of summer it is very popular and the place is buzzing with people. So we were able to have a stroll  and ended the outing with a special treat for the monkeys! They love having tea alfresco.

If you would like to visit Maldon Promenade Park there is so much more to do there than I have covered, but we were only there for a short while today. We shall however be visiting again very soon.
Have you ever been?
We have linked up with Family Days from Mums Do Travel: A Family Travel Sight for this post!

Competition Time! Win a year’s VIP Membership to Nursery Trader

Nursery Trader is the newly launched sister site to Pushchair Trader. Both sites offer a VIP annual membership that includes the following:
 

• 25 or more entries in all competitions run in the next 12 months, dramatically increasing your chances.
• They automatically enter for you, so no form filling.
• Free bonus entries available to all VIPs.
• VIP members also get chance to test new nursery and pushchair products and are given discount codes worth £100
• 92% of their competitions are won by VIP’s. *data from www.pushchairtrader.co.uk
• Only £6 a year!

Win a free years Nursery Trader VIP membership. Just fill out the Rafflecopter and the winner will be emailed. Good Luck!!

UK entrants only

*This prize was gifted to me by Nursery Trader*
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Day Trip to Ely

My parents live on a narrow boat and the monkeys just love to go and visit nanny and grandad and spend time on it, so last Friday we drove up to Ely, Cambridgeshire where they were moored!
I have to say I was most impressed with Ely and the monkeys had a ball. There is so much for them to see and do there and most of it was free!

The River
The river Great Ouse runs through Ely and that brings so much to look at for the monkeys! They love feeding the ducks, watching the other narrrow boats go by plus the other boats meandering past. There are geese who were trying to be rather friendly on the bank too and of course there are always people by the river, so there was something for me too, as I tend to be a people watcher! The day was pretty overcast to begin with but soon after we arrived in Ely the sun shone and it was a beautiful day!

 

The Trains
The train line runs right past the river, so the monkeys loved kneeling on nanny and grandads sofa and looking out of the window at the trains going past (and there were lots!) Little monkey in particular loves trains of all sorts so he was especially happy. We even sat up on the train station platform and did some train spotting! 

The Cathedral
Ely Cathedral is really impressive and can be seen on the skyline a little way outside of Ely. We didn't go inside but had a wonder up through the city and around the grounds of the Cathedral, both monkeys insisting on walking along the low wall and playing running games along the paths! We even did a spot of shopping and nanny bought chips as a treat for us all for lunch.....the simple things hey!

Aside from the Cathedral there are so many quaint little buildings and things to see.

Ely Country Park
Just past where the boat was moored and along the river slightly there is a gem of a country park hidden behind the trees that line the railway. The park is kitted out well for families and the monkeys loved the swings and the huge slide there. It was busy but we had a ball! The slide was on a tall rubberised mound with lots of steps leading up to it, little monkey was not fazed at all.

Tractors, Diggers and Planes!

The monkeys took great delight at seeing all the farm machines, planes flying over, trains going past, boats on the river and diggers working the banks. A Hercules flew over whilst we were at the country park.

Nanny and Grandads Narrow Boat
One of the biggest attractions for the boys has to be the boat! They love playing on it, helping grandad to start the engine, steer the boat when it's taken out on the river and generally spending time with nanny and grandad on it! It's named after my nan, whom they never met. The monkey's are pretty good at being sensible on the boat, especially the eldest one now he is 5. Little monkeys needs to learn a thing or two but I'm sure he will!

I can highly recommend a visit to Ely if you are ever near there...a real gem in our UK countryside.