My Captured Moment #34

Finley loves fire engines so when we went to the emergency services show and we got the chance to have a ride in one, it had to be done.

He rode up front with the driver and through the whole experience he had the biggest smile on his face.

His dream came true that day, however little they may be they still have dreams. And this dream became a reality and a memory for the whole family.



My Captured Moment #33

With Finley going into his second year at preschool and Tuesday marking a year since he started, this weeks My Captured Moment obviously had to be his first day of preschool photos.

Looking back on them have made me quite emotional for a few reasons. The main and most obviously one being how he has grown. He was still a toddler here to me but now he is definitely a preschooler. The second being that he no longer goes to that preschool as it had to close. This makes me pretty sad as he loved it there and he had the best key worker we could have asked for him, she was so kind and lovely and we couldn't have asked for a better lady to guide him through the start of his journey in education.

He now goes to another preschool and loves it, so as long he is happy so are we.

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.

My Cinema Date

On bank holiday Monday we had no plans. It was the last day of the summer holidays and Finley was back to preschool on Tuesday.

The summer has been lovely and I have loved spending everyday with him but it has been hard work. And I think he is looking forward to going back and learning.

As I have two little munchkins they both don't get my full attention unless one naps or one is playing at a friends house. Noah gets some mummy time when Finley is at preschool but Finley doesn't get much mummy time.

So with it being bank holiday and daddy being home I thought what better opportunity than to grab some Finley and mummy time.

We headed to the cinema to watch Minions. Finley is obsessed with the Minions and I was hoping this was the type of film that would keep his attention for the 90 minutes. On arriving at the cinema we went to get some popcorn and sweets. If you can't stuff your face with sweet things at the cinema when can you?!

Loaded up with goodies we went and found our seat. I had pre booked and had chosen our seat. I picked two seats at the end of a row and near the back. Just so it was easy to get out to the toilet if needed and also if Finley was to get disruptive we wouldn't annoy too many people behind us.

The cinema had booster seats for little ones which are great. We sat down and it was straight onto sweets. We shared them and once half had been consumed we swapped to popcorn. Luckily we had timed it just right to get comfy when the adverts were just starting. They lasted 20 minutes but Finley loved watching all the films coming up so didn't get bored.

As soon as the movie started he was laughing, loudly lol! But he was having so much fun I didn't say anything. He wasn't too loud I would like to add.

We both munched our way through a large popcorn and a pick n mix. We laughed and both loved the film. Finley sat for the whole 90 minutes and was still sat watching the end credits as there were some outtakes. He was so good.

I loved the time with him. Just us two and I could give him my full attention and interact with him. The film was great too.

I'm going to try and make this a monthly thing for us so we get some time together.

My Captured Moment #31

I'm linking up with Heledd at Running in Lavender for My Captured Moment. I love doing this each week as I really look at my photos and I actually give the simplest ones meaning.

This picture was taken last week on our bus trip back from town. Finley looks deep in thought and this was how he was most of the journey, before he fell asleep!

The bus route was through places which we haven't been before so he was just taking it all in. I really do love this photo, so simple but so meaningful to us.

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!

My Week At A Glance 17/08 - 21/08

 

This week has been just what we needed - chilled and relaxed with some fun thrown in.

 

On Monday we enjoyed a trip to Westonbirt. My friend was poorly so I said I would look after her little girl so she could get some rest. All three loved running around and we spent 5 hours there!! Couldn't quite believe it when I looked at my watch and it was 4pm.

 

Tuesday saw us spend the day with my old school friend. She has two boys like me and after they got on so well last week we organised another play date. Again they enjoyed themselves and there was lots of play fights - which is what boys do!! I then headed to the gym to burn off all the chocolate I plan to eat at the weekend with it being my birthday.

 

Well Wednesday was a total washout weather wise. We had a friend over for lunch with her children so at least the boys were entertained while we sipped tea and ate cake. They must have been so worn out from the playing they both fell asleep in the afternoon.

 

We needed to get out the house so on Thursday we headed in to town for some lunch with another friend and a play in the park. We took the bus home which the boys loved! I'll be writing about our bus trip next week.

 

To end the week we headed to Westonbirt again, but this time with a fully recovered best friend which I had missed all week! We also met my sister in law and nephew. Seeing all the children play was lovely. We found the new Gruffallo's Child and I obviously had to have a selfie.

 



I'm all refreshed now for my birthday weekend - yay!

My Sunday Photo 23/08/15

One boy and his scooter!

Wicked Wednesday #29

 Just a paddle he said.

Fully clothed, in the sea!!

Attitude

When did my 3 year old turn into a teenager? The last few weeks on his approach to turning 4 has been testing, to say the least.

 

Is this what I have in store for me when he is 4? I could handle the threenagers tantrums and demands but the attitude is something else.

 

He will talk back, ignore me, argue with me and generally be a grumpy bum at times. Don't get me wrong he isn't like this all the time and I enjoy spending time with him. He is still my loving and caring 3 year old but the attitude just takes over sometimes.

 

The ignoring part I am used to. He has done this since he was about 2 and I think all children do. The selective hearing and just generally not doing as he is told. I literally have to say something 10 times or end up raising my voice for him to listen.

 

He will argue with me on a daily basis. I don't mean argue as in shouting at each other he will argue with something I say. Like the other day we went to the park, I had said to him what the park was called and he told me it wasn't. He was adamant that the park was called something else. Not sure why but being the stubborn mother that I am we ended in a 'it is' 'no it isn't' stand off. But once we got to the actual play equipment it was all forgotten and he went off and played.

 

Then there is the instant want. He wants something that second. And if he doesn't get it he will shout and cry. Oh the crying. And there are real tears. They are tears of frustration for not getting what he wants or having to wait. I can handle this at home but when we are in town or in the supermarket I just get what I need to done and get home.

 

The whole attitude comes with the talking back. Just this morning he asked what I had just said. I told him that I had said 'Your crumpet is just toasting'. He replied with 'no, what did you say before that'. I hadn't said anything. Which I told him and he wouldn't take this as an answer and kept asking 'no before that'.

 

When I raise my voice he will say to me 'there's no need to tell me off all the time' or 'don't shout at me'. Well this makes me feel like a terrible mother even if it is the first time I have raised my voice that day.

 

And then there is the 'no more photos mummy!', lol!

 

He seems to think he is the boss and I am just the lady that looks after him. Sometimes I have to laugh as he is only 3 but my goodness this 'stage' is hard!!

 

The grumpy culprit

Before he told me 'no more photos mummy'