A Lovely Christmas!

Well, what a lovely Christmas we have had! There was the usual host of school plays and celebrations in the run up to Christmas. Youngest was a star in her first school Nativity - "Whoops a Daisy Angel". She is the Snowflake singing louder than anyone else in the video below!

There was also eldest's Carol Concert where she sang really well too. Eldest then played Mary in the church Crib Service on Christmas Eve which she was very excited about, and also read a lesson at the Annual Carol Service along with me. She had to read to a church filled with people and did really well - we were all very proud of her!

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Christmas Eve was our traditional family Christmas Buffet, followed by a lovey Christmas Dinner the following day, and another Christmas dinner on Boxing day, followed by lots of Christmas Cake and Cheese - Yum!

We had a really fun trip to see Cinderella at the Alban Arena on Boxing Day. The Panto was fantastic and had Gareth Gates and Andy Day from CBeebies in it, along with Bob Golding who we think stole the show. The whole family was suitably impressed and it was a great day out. The girls also got to wear their new dresses which they were very excited about.

We were very lucky as we got given some lovely presents. The girls got stacks and I got some lovely things too. There was also the mandatory amount of fab TV which we have had the opportunity to catch up on.

I think the thing I have enjoyed most about Christmas, alongside the presents and the food and seeing family, is actually being able to stay in and not having to be anywhere. I haven't left the house in two days and it has been fantastic! I am now eagerly awaiting the snow season when we can have more time at home together!

Elf on the Shelf: The day the elves went to work with Daddy (The London Edition)

We have been doing #elfontheshelf for a few years - although not in a very intensive way. The elves come to visit the girls, but rather than creating mischief, they tend to lead quite sedate livcs - mainly because they are resting from all the toy making we don't have time and also mostly because our elves are stuffed dolls, so trying to prise them from the arms of the girls is nigh on impossible.

The girls look forward every year to having their elves come to visit them. They arrive in the evening on Dec 1st, to the sound of bells and bring a pre-christmas present from Santa. They do indulge in a few late night shenanigans which the girls find hilarious.

Hubby also typically takes them off for a day's adventure much to the delight of the girls, but this year, it seems that hubby has surpassed himself in elf ingenuity - I see a new career on the horizon!

He took them off on one of his client visits to London - hopefully he kept them hidden from view of the clients! but it seems that "Holly Star" and "Angel Snowflake" had a fantastic day doing lots of touristy things - riding a train, and visiting Big Ben and The London Eye - those lucky things!! I think hubby has now set the bar rather high for me to compete now!!

Here's what eldest thought of the elves mischief.

T J Hughes Featured Post: Luggage for the Holidays

As well as the great British traditional summer holiday, many people find their thoughts turning to packing to go away towards Christmas time. You may be seeking to escape the country and go off to sunnier climes for Christmas, or be travelling back home to visit family and friends. Wherever you are going, there is no doubt that a good set of luggage will make Christmas travel a lot easier, especially if you are travelling without a car. Whether you are transporting personal belongings, or your bags are stuffed full of family presents, something which is sturdy and durable will ensure that your belongings reach their destination in tact. There is a great range of cheap suitcases from TJ Hughes which would be perfect for travelling during the holiday season. You could even put them on your Christmas list, or buy them for someone who will be off on their travels soon!

A good tip for your suitcase is to tie a bright ribbon or piece of fabric or tag around the handle so that it is easily recognisable. It is also useful to distribute family clothes over several suitcases - in case one gets lost, at least you will all have some belongings to get you started.

On that note, as every parent knows, travelling with children comes with it's own set of challenges, not least that they seem to require so much stuff! Whether you are going somewhere for just one night or for a few days, there always seems to be a base amount of stuff they need to travel - and parents always seem to be the ones that have to to carry it! That's why a great set of lightweight luggage is ideal for travelling with kids. If you are having to carry your stuff and your kid's stuff, whilst trying to keep a hold of them or make sure you know where they are, it is essential that you have something which is lightweight and easy-to-use. 

Luggage Sets are great because then all of your suitcases look the same - better for recognising if you are separated from your bags, and they also can typically be carried together more easily.

Even if you are not going away, Christmas is a great time for upgrading luggage sets - and TJ Hughes certainly has a great range to choose from!

Disclsoure: This is a featured post which I received payment for. All opinions are my own. 

Models: The Next Generation

I don't know why, but it seems that whenever our girls enter a certain shop which currently advertises it's "Magic and Sparkle", it seems that they develop an instant compulsion to try their hand at a spot of modelling.

I don't know whether it's because there is so much room in the store and the models are at floor height so they make a perfect climbing frame for kids, but I will often turn around to find that I have lost the girls and they are standing with the models, trying to blend into the scenery - perhaps there's a future career there somewhere!

Anyone else's kids do this?

Featured Post: Zoggs Swimwear

My girls both love to swim. They have been taking swimming lessons ever since they were babies. When they were young, I used to get into the water with them and spend lots of time whizzing them around the pool, singing nursery rhymes and trying to get them used to being in the water. Swimming with your kids from an early age is a great way to have fun, bond with each other, and help them to develop a new life skill.  

When taking your kids swimming, it is important that you have some good swimwear for the pool. There is a great range of swimwear from Zoggs which is perfect for spending time in the water. Nowadays, my kids have reached the point where I no longer have to accompany them for lessons, although we still have lots of fun taking them swimming outside of their lessons, and so I need good swimwear for spending time in the water with them (and also for going swimming on my own whenever I can catch a moment).

The girls are progressing really well with their swimming and have now reached the point where they are developing their skills into something that resembles real swimming rather than lots of kicking and splashing. As they are in the pool a couple of times every week, they need decent swimwear which will withstand the constant use and exposure to chlorine and other chemicals in the pool.  Fun and colourful childrens swimwear is a must for children too in the pool. My fashion conscious almost seven year old is very concerned about what her swimming costume looks like, and how well it fits. She likes to feel quite covered up and uses other accessories like hats and goggles to protect her eyes and hair.

Having good swimwear is even more important when kids venture into the outdoors. Eldest spent lots of time swimming in the sea last summer - a first for her. Having decent swimwear which is good quality and durable for the beach and the sea is essential, as is ensuring that you have swimwear that offers good sun protection when required.

Although the stuff in the shops is an option for a casual swimmer, brands which research the swimming market are a must for the regular swimmer to ensure that they are able to perform their best in the pool. I don't know whether either of my girls will ever become olympic swimmers, but for now, using brands like Zoggs for their swimwear will ensure that I am doing my best to provide them with good quality swimwear for their extra curricular activities.

Disclsoure: This is a featured post which I received payment for. All opinions are my own. 

The One Where I Graduated From University!!!!

In case you hadn't heard, over the last few years, I have been working towards a Diploma in Antenatal Education with the NCT.

Recently, I got to celebrate the culmination of my study by graduating. For some, graduating from university is not a big deal when you are an adult, many having done it once already from going into higher education after school.

For me however, for a variety of reasons, I did not get to do the whole Uni thing when I was a younger and so for me, graduating was a huge moment of achievement, and something that along with having my children, I can actually feel really proud about.

I think that those who graduate from adult education can feel even prouder when they have done it with a family in tow. I started studying just after my second child was born and so juggling study around a new baby, a toddler, school. after school activities, and other work and commitments is no mean feat and I think it is even more of an achievement than those who did the Uni thing when they were footloose and fancy free. Studying when you are young, living in halls and have your parents to fall back on and no kids in tow is much easier than studying when you have other responsibilities.

At various times during the course I did wonder whether I was doing the right thing, whether I was being too selfish and ignoring the needs of my children. It's all of that mother guilt coming back again. I struggled to rationalise having to always study instead of being able to do things like take my kids to the park, or bake cakes. Do I feel guilty that I spent my days and evenings researching and writing essays rather than being down on the floor playing with the kids and their toys - of course I do. Am I sorry that I combined watching my kids swimming with writing essay plans - definitely. Do I feel regret about the trips taken to McDonald's to feed the kids and use their free wifi to cram in a bit of extra lesson planning time rather than cooking - this one probably most of all knowing how much I detest the food at the Golden Arches.

However, I knew it would be worth it in the end. All of the hard work would eventually pay off. Gaining a great qualification has meant that I have now embarked upon a new career. As well as the benefits for me, I think that the benefits for the children have outweighed the down sides. I think that teaching your kids that education doesn't finish when you leave school is important. I think that inspiring them to realise that going to university to study can lead to great things is essential. Having your child tell you that they are proud of you for going to uni and that they want to go to uni "just like you" is very humbling, as were the lovely cards that they gave me on the day of my graduation. I think that mum's studying can have benefits for the children and for the adults...

Now - where is that prospectus again?