Confessions of a Summer Parent!

Summer holidays argh!!! This year Is the first year I have had to face the six/seven weeks holiday as before this year James had always been with me, but since he started nursery school last September and subsequently going to school this September, school holidays have become so important.

Our school finishes on July 22nd and goes back on September 6th so I have a grand total of six weeks and one day to amuse James. As each set of holidays have rolled round this school year, I have for it harder to amuse James as he has been desperate to go to school and see all of his friends. 

Lucky for us our local children's centre normally has at least one 0-5 group on, so I can take the boys along to that. But finding stuff to do the rest of the time is hard especially when daddy does not have any holiday off till the last week of the holidays and even then it's only two days and we will be down in Surrey visiting family.

Through James school we get a copy of a magazine called Primary Times and I find this fantastic as it has all the activities that are on at attractions in the North East listed! It also normally contains a few vouchers for money off entrance. We have used previous vouchers during other school holidays to keep James amused!

There is so much going to be on over the summer and these are just a few of the things happening in the north east, some of these I'm hoping to get the boys along too!

First off we have Warkworth Castle, which is literally a five minute walk from my parents house! They have stuff on every holiday and this summer is no different! Starting from the first weekend of the summer they have something on at least one day a week and also the village show is on 20th August. Primary Times also has a voucher for free child entry with a full paying adult. 

We also have Alnwick Castle, they again have lots on over the summer, for five weekends they have on Potter inspired characters. This is because Alnwick Castle was used as Hogwarts in the first couple of Harry Potter films. There is also the beautiful Alnwick Gardens too! 

For a child like James, who loves diggers then I think a visit to Diggerland is definitely on our list! 

We are lucky to have places like these a short drive away, so we will definitely be paying a visit to them. But for the days when we are at home mummy will be turning to good old arts and crafts and of course Netflix to amuse James. He's a real lover of Paw Patrol and Bubble Guppies so they will definitely be used to keep James amused on the days where mummy just wants to chill out.

So these are just a few of the things I'm going to be trying to do to keep my big boy amused over the summer holidays! 

This post is an entry for BritMums Confessions of a Summer Parent Challenge, sponsored by Anchor

Images supplied by www.ivtography.com

Freddie at Six Months Old!

Happy half birthday my gorgeous little man.

Your six month birthday has come at a sad time for mummy and nana as we have the second anniversary of losing your great nannie tomorrow (26/5). I so wish you could have met her. She absolutely adored your big brother and I know she would have adored you too.

You got weighed at 24 weeks and you were 16lbs 9oz. You are still in size 3 nappies and virtually all your clothes bar a few bits are 6-9 months. You have between four and five 7oz bottles a day plus your solids! You are a very hungry little boy! 

You normally start the day with a bottle between five and six am. You sometimes have a little sleep after but often don't! You have your breakfast around half seven you will have baby porridge or fruit mixed with baby rice. You then have a bottle between half nine and half ten. If we are at a group you will have a snack of fruit between ten and eleven am. You will normally have a sleep and then lunch around one/half one. Normally some vegetable purées mixed with baby rice. You then have another bottle and more sleep. Tea is normally between five and half five depending on when you nap. After tea is normally another bottle. You are normally asleep by eight then sleep right through. We have had the odd occasion where you have woken for extra feed at midnight, but I think that's been a growth spurt.

You are still sleeping in your crib in mine and daddy's room, but will be going into your cot in your own room soon. I will miss waking up to you giggling every morning.

You are still very much a mummy's boy. You often pretend to sleep for daddy then wake up when mummy comes up just so you can get cuddles. I love nothing more than being snuggled up with you either in the big bed or on the sofa! You saw you first FA Cup Final and mummy, daddy and James were very excited that Man Utd won! You also watched the FA Vase with us cheering on Morpeth Town AFC! They are the local team to where we lived when James was your age! 

Your brother is starting to play a bit with you. There have been times you are sat in your highchair while I am sorting your lunch or tea out and he's been sat next to you showing you his toys! We have learned some great songs at our groups which I sing to you in the kitchen and James often joins in. 

I can't believe next month we will be even closer to you turning a year old! Time is going so fast my little bear. You are also going to be experiencing your first trip to Morpeth Fair Day, where Morpeth Town are parading the trophy, and also your first trip to the hoppings fun fair! 

All my love

Mummy xxx