Intu Metrocentre Baby Brunch

When the invite arrived in our email inbox inviting mummy and Freddie to a baby brunch at Intu Metrocentre to celebrate independent retailers week we were thrilled.

We dropped James off at school and jumped on the number 7 bus and off we went to Intu Metrocentre. Originally we were going to have to leave the event a bit early for sports day, but the school cancelled that due to a soggy school field that morning.  

Intu Metrocentre has loads of independent retailers and I was so looking forward to browsing them without James! 

There was loads of activities for the kids like duplo, megabloks and Freddie's current favourite - cars! He had great fun going brum brum on the AstroTurf especially with a Blaze monster truck! 

They way the area was set out was fantastic! It was right in the centre of the village area meaning people could walk round it on either side, causing no disruption to the actual retailers.

There was a brilliant flower arranging demonstration from the lovely little florist that's in the village which mummy really enjoyed and there was even a visit from Rusty and Maggot two of the Metro Gnomes! Freddie was a bit unsure of them at first but then he had great fun grabbing their noses! We even got a fab photo with Rusty! 

We had an absolutely fantastic morning out at Intu Metrocentre and looking forward to our next visit soon! We are really lucky having this shopping centre on our doorstep and I'm planning on making more of it and visiting over the summer holidays with the boys.

Disclaimer: We were invited to this event by Intu Metrocentre. All words and pictures are our own

School Week Two

So week two at school is over! The first day of the half one pick up was so odd and I did find myself clock watching a little bit to see what time it was for pick up as I was so used to the 1200 pick up from nursery last year! I have had to remind myself after my groups to go home as I would normally have just waited around till pick up time. 

The full class of thirty have been in this week and James has made a lot of new friends! I was worried about how he would cope with the noise and his ears. He seems to be doing ok, but both his teacher and the TAs know the signs to look for if they causing him problems. He has started leaving me in either at classroom door or even one day left me in cloakroom! I'm hoping this will progress to him leaving me in the yard as the school are wanting reception to do independent entry from after October half term holiday. 

We are still struggling to get an interest in his reading book or his key words. I know he is the youngest, but it's such a struggle to even get him to look at his school stuff.

I think it's been a pretty successful week on a school meals point. He has not been coming home at half one wanting food. I think because Newcastle City Council have the rolling menu online I can tell him what there is so he knows what to expect. 

He has been absolutely exhausted with the half one finish so I am fully expecting lots of tears from tiredness on the full days pick ups. I will be attaching the buggy board back onto the pram to get him home quicker. Poor boy has been asleep by half seven at the latest and slept till at least half six every morning although Thursday it was after seven when he woke up! It was after half seven again on Friday morning, but I think that was more due to the disturbed night he had had with a massive thunderstorm waking us all up and keeping us up for a good couple of hours.

We have had a lot of tears after school due to pure exhaustion! Its been an extra two hours from the first week. Next week will be a full day with a three fifteen finish. So I am fully prepared for an exhausted little boy!

I am really stumped for ideas for an after school snack though for next week as we normally don't have our tea till about five o'clock and reception are taken to have their school lunch at twelve. James does like apples, but not the skin! So any ideas please let me know! 

The first week of school

So the first week of reception class is over, James has been in half days this week 9-1130 and he's really surprised me, we have had no tears on drop off, he's been going in happy and smiling! He was a little clingy on the first day but as soon as he got into his classroom and saw his friends he soon cheered up and went and sat down!

Day two he came home with his first reading book, his reading record and his first set of words to learn. I was pretty shocked at these coming home on day two! I thought they would maybe give them a couple of weeks to settle down, but I can see they want to get the kids started on their learning straight away.

Day three and we got our first accident form! Yep James and one of his little friends managed to run into each other outside and bang heads! They had also baked some biscuits which they then decorated and brought home on Friday! 

There has only been half a class in each morning, with the other half in on the afternoons. Week two however all the children will be in each morning till half past one, meaning James will get his first experience of school meals. Last year in nursery, they stayed and had a Christmas lunch at school, which James seemed to like, so I'm hoping seeing his friends having school meals might help his fussy eating.

James has been coming home shattered every afternoon and he's been in bed and asleep by half seven most nights. I know this week he will be exhausted due to the extra time hey are in.

He has not been very interested in his reading book or looking at his words, I'm putting this down to him being so young compared to rest of the class. Some of his friends were the age he is now when they started nursery last year. So if anyone has any tips on helping him learn to read please share them! I have already picked up some fab advice from fellow bloggers! 

Daddy's ten days off!

So daddy has had this week off work. It's been so great to spend a big chunk of time together as a family. So what have we done this week!

Monday started with a trip to Pikku in Gosforth to get James hair cut. He was such a good boy we then took him to captain teds soft play. Then it was home for lunch and a chilled out afternoon before tea bath and bed!

Tuesday started with daddy giving mummy a lie in before breakfast and daddy finishing off painting what will be baby boy number twos bedroom. Mummy was downstairs sorting out the washing on the dryer while James drove his man car around the kitchen floor! Mummy then sorted out the baby clothes we have so far while daddy played with James. We went for a walk to local shops in the afternoon before daddy sorted out the shed and mummy started preparing her half of the tea.

Wednesday was a chilled morning after a disturbed night from James. We then went to meet nana and gaga in town for a bit then we came home. Mummy was ordered to rest while daddy and James watched cartoons and a Thomas film. James didn't nap so was in bed fast asleep by quarter past six.

Thursday started early with James waking up at half five. Daddy took James downstairs to watch milkshake at seven am n told mummy to have a lie in. Next thing mummy knew it was eleven am and James was having a nap. Rest of the day was spent chilled out at home watching TV.

Friday we got up and had breakfast before jumping on the bus to meet nana and gaga at the metro centre before going to IKEA to get some bits and pieces we needed for the nursery and other storage for the alcove at top of the stairs. 

Saturday started with a Tesco food delivery. Then mummy popped into town to pick up a birthday present for a friends one year old. James decided to stay at home with daddy and mummy got home to find fireman Sam on. Then our IKEA delivery arrived and the rest of the day consisted of flat pack hell!

Sunday was a chilled out morning before a yummy roast chicken dinner. We then spent the afternoon at the 1st birthday party of my old school friends little girl Bella, who was born at 23 weeks. We had a brilliant time. James and his gaga met Mickey and Minnie Mouse at the party but James was a bit scared of them up close.

Monday James woke up after seven for first time in ages! Nana and gaga picked James up about 11 so mummy and daddy could finish the flat pack without little hands and legs in the way. Baby boy now has a wardrobe and a kallax unit in his bedroom and clothes have started to be put away. We spent the afternoon once James was home watching Thomas tale of the brave again! 

Tuesday an early start from James of 0530am. We went into town to get James outfit for my friends wedding n start looking for mine. Found nothing for me but James got shoes trousers & shirt. We bought a few more bits for baby boy too. 

Wednesday this is daddy's last day off so we walked up to the retail park to go yo a few shops and pick up a few bits for the baby from TK Maxx and Matalan. Then it was home for lunch and Ben and Holly on TV for James. Mummy made a lovely chicken curry for tea. Then it was bath and bedtime for James!

We have had a lovely ten days with daddy off work and we are really going to miss him when he's back at work. 

Week 7 project 365

The Day 40 biscuit time

Day fourty one chilling time before we go to bed

Day fourty two missing his daddy

Day fourty three having a pj day

Day fourty four someone is grumpy

Day fourty five just your normal hat for a trip to Tesco

Day fourty six yoga James