Our Day At The Emergency Services Show

We're very lucky to have a big Emergency Services show about 10 minutes from us which was on this Sunday. We have been in previous years but this year both the boys can enjoy it and experience it as they are older. We arrived about 30 minutes after it opened as we wanted to make a day of it. We did have to queue to get in for about 15 minutes but this was to be expected as it is such a big show.

While waiting to park we could see all the bouncy castles which the boys got very excited about and we could also see the fire engines and cars racing down a track with their lights flashing and sirens blaring.

We didn't have to really queue to get tickets and were straight in. Tickets were very reasonably priced at £6.50 for an adult ticket and £3.50 for over 3's. Once in the boys were mesmerised with all the different vehicles and sounds. There are loads of companies with stands raising money for their cause or just there to raise awareness. Our first stop was a pop up soft play area which Finley went into. It was £4 for a 10 minute play, which was just the right amount of time and great that there is a time limit so it was easy to get him off once the time is up. Noah isn't too keen on these types of things so stayed with us and my husband and I took it in turns to walk around with him while Finley was playing.

From here we headed to the fire engine rides. We thought by doing this first it would eliminate a long waiting time as last year the queue was just too long. The price for the ride was £2.50 per person. All money raised goes to worthy causes that they chose each year. So we got in the queue and waited, for 1 HOUR! The boys were starting to get restless but with so much going on around us we were able to entertain them to a point before we all went a bit potty. But it was so worth the wait, the boys (and us) loved it. Finley got to sit in the front with the driver and hubby, Noah and I in the back while we did a couple of laps in the fire engine. The driver had the lights on and sirens blaring for the full effect, it was a fantastic experience and one I am sure the boys will remember.

On our way off of the fire engine a wing walker was just coming into land before doing some stunts.

It was then lunchtime so we went to find some food. We decided on homemade pizza from a little stand and it was yummy. We again had to wait here but anywhere in a show like this we would have had to have waited. We found a spot on the grass and all sat down for lunch.

All refuelled with food we went on to find more vehicles to see and have a little play in. We stopped at a police bike which a police officer kindly let the boys sit on. Finley loved pressing and flipping all the buttons, I must have looked a little worried as the police officer assured me it wouldn't start.

They then had a sit in a police van and a police car. In the police car there was a very friendly police man that had a little chat with the boys and let them press some buttons and turn on the sirens.

From here we went and saw the ambulances and they got to sit in one, followed by seeing a teddy posing in a police car.

The boys had then had enough of looking at vehicles so we headed to some bouncy castles. We decided on some that looked suitable for both the boys and they were £3 per child, which they could go on all three of them for 10 minutes. Finley ventured between castles but Noah stayed on just the one, when they were both on the same castle they played lovely by climbing the stairs together and going down the slide holding hands.

They were then getting tired as we had been there for nearly 4 hours, so we decided to start heading towards the exit. We had promised them an ice cream so went to get one when Finley saw a mini rollercoaster that he really wanted to go on. While Finley went on this Noah and my husband went to get the ice creams. It was a very tam rollercoaster which Finley really enjoyed while Noah ate his ice cream.

We then made our way to the car with two happy boys and a tired mummy and daddy. It was such a great family day out with so much to do.

*I was not paid to do this review and we paid full ticket price to enter.*

My Photo Of The Summer

With the beginning of September and the summer coming to an end it has made me have a look through all our summer photos. It made me realise just how much we have done and how much fun we have had.

We have had lots of days out while daddy was at work but we also made sure we had some family days out.

This photo sums up our summer with two f's, Fun & Family.

I took this photo while we ventured to Millet Farm and did some fruit picking, you can read our whole day here.

This picture has the three most important people in my life and the ones that make me smile every day.

We will continue to have days out but they will be into the autumn and winter, so here is to what the summer bought us. It wasn't really sun but it was full of love, and that's the most important thing.

An Afternoon With My Dad, Their Grampy

My parents split up about 8 years ago and have been divorced for about 6. They now both how new partners which make them so happy and they are much happier people. Its sad to say but at the same time lovely to see. I see people with their parents still together and having holidays together and days out and I do envy them. I do sometimes wish I could have that but then I think back to how my parent were. They weren't happy. And that is not what I would want for them. They both laugh now and they have that sparkle in their face, and it makes me happy.

The boys are pretty lucky to have 3 sets of grandparents. It means 3 birthday presents, 3 Christmas presents and the love from 6 people rather than 4. They are lucky boys.

I don't see my Dad enough. There is no reason for this we are all just so busy. And him living about an hour away makes it a little harder to just pop in. He is busy and so are we.

But today we spent the afternoon with my dad and his partner. They boys laughed, they laughed, we laughed and I am now sat here so happy as it was an incredible afternoon. I am so thankful that his partner has taken us in and treats us as her own children and our boys as her own grandchildren. They play with them and make them giggle, and the boys look up to them.

We had a bbq, the adults drank wine (minus my hubby who was driving) and the boys ate their own body weight in food. But they were happy so what does it matter every once in a while.

After the bbq Dad got out the water bombs he had got for the boys. I wasn't sure how they were going to go down - it was amazing!! The boys were so excited throwing balloons that burst with water. I threw them at my Dad which had the boys in fits of laughter.

We did have one casualty!!

Then the hubby threw one at me! But as I was so high on the boys laughter I didn't care. We played for a good hour with the water bombs. The boys ended up running around in just their wellies. The joy in their voice and on their face was one I will cherish. Noah ran to my dad to protect him from the water bombs and that moment right there melted my heart.

The last bomb was thrown and into the shower the boys jumped. Once warm, dry and into their pyjamas they spent their last hour running around in circles through the kitchen and the living room.

6 o clock came and the boys asked for milk. Milk consumed and tea drank by us we loaded up the car and were heading home.

Both boys tucked up in bed, I sit here happy. Happy for the day I spent with my Dad and his partner, and for the day the boys got to spend with their grampy. To build a bond that is so strong and a bond that will never be broken.

I need to see Dad more and I will make more of an effort. I remember my younger years with my grandparents and my bond with my Nan, and my Gramp before he sadly passed away, is so strong that is what I want for the boys.

I love you Dad.

The Bus Ride

Last Thursday we had plans to have lunch in town with a friend and then head to the park. I would normally have driven but as Wednesday had been a total washout we needed to get out so we walked. It's a good 30 minute walk, up a huge hill but then down the other side. Finley walked nearly all the way and I had promised we would get the bus home. We have been on a bus before for not for a while.

When I first suggested this they were both so excited. Noah proceeded to sing 'The wheels on the bus'. So after lunch and a play in the park we headed to the bus station.

So we got to the bus station and I had done my research so knew which bus we needed but not which bus stop number to go to. So I scanned all the timetables until I found the right bus we needed to get on.

We were about 10 minutes early and a kind lady gave her seat to Finley, which I thought was very sweet of her. Finley was pretty excited to be sitting in the bus station seeing all the buses and so was Noah. He was asking a million and one questions which I didn't mind answering as he couldn't wait to get on the bus.

A bus arrived into the bus stop that our bus was going from but it had 'Out Of Service' on its screen but loads of people were getting on it. So we made our way over and I asked the driver if it took us to Sainsburys, which is the nearest bus stop to our house. He was pretty rude and grunted along with nodding his head so I took it that it did as he let us on. Also he told me it was £2 and tutted at me giving him a £10 note. Oh well this didn't bother Finley or Noah so that was the main thing.

I had to laugh because as I was putting the brake on the pushchair and getting Noah positioned Finley had got himself into the seat and was putting his seat belt on. He asked me to put it on and told me 'I'm safe now aren't I Mummy!'. I had to giggle as his excited little face that couldn't wait for the bus to move. I looked around as everyone could hear his excitement and Noah's singing and smiled but was greeted with straight faces or ignorance. Not to sure why people are like this but its sad when you feel you cant even greet someone with a smile. Maybe I am just too friendly.

Loving the bus

Happy Chappy

Finley was still asking questions and was asking about the bell. I told him you only press it when you want to stop. He turned around to look at it and the lady behind him told him in a very stern voice 'No!'. This made him sit back down very abruptly and I was a little annoyed as he hadn't actually gone to touch it. 

When we started to move the boys faces were a picture, it was like they had never been on a bus before. Finley was so excited to be sat in his own seat and had asked if I had my seat belt on, then looked around the rest of the bus to see if others had theirs on too. Thankfully he didn't ask anyone as I don't think he would have got a response.

When we approached the next stop there was a lady with a pushchair with a newborn in and a little girl. I got up and moved next to Finley and squeezed in the buggy in front of so she could get on. The lady behind had moved and a little girl sat there while her mum sat with the pushchair and baby. The lady then muttered, rather loudly, 'I moved for an older person and a younger one sat there.' The girl wasn't older than about 8 so didn't want to sit too far from her Mum. Not sure why some people have to be so mean and rude.

Mesmerised

Noah loved watching the world go by.

The boys were enjoying themselves and Noah was singing his song. We were about 5 minutes from our stop when I turned round and next to me Finley was asleep. All the excitement had tired him out.

Sleepy head

I had promised he could press the button so I woke him up so he could, and also we needed to get off the bus. Normally it takes a while for him to wake up properly but with the question of pressing the button he woke up instantly.

He pressed the button and 2 minutes later we got off the bus. I think the bus driver was a wannabe racing car driver as he took the corners and roundabouts rather quickly. Despite this the boys absolutely loved it and it was the best £2 I spent that day!