#Blogtober Day 8 Holidays

So I have made it to day eight of Blogtober 2017 and so far so good! I am proud of myself getting this far! Although I would like to be publishing earlier in the day but it always depends on what time I can get the laptop on and if I have remembered to charge it up the night before.

So yes day eight and the prompt is Holidays!

My last holiday was actually my honeymoon just over six years ago! I know totally shocking isn't it! Not having been on holiday anywhere for over six years! In fact James is five and Freddie is almost two and neither of them actually have passports yet!

So our last holiday was actually to Orlando, Florida, USA! It was absolutely brilliant! We were there for ten days and we literally crammed in everything! We had planned what we wanted to do before we went and since we had pre booked our Dolphin swimming at Discovery Cove for the Tuesday which was also Andy's 29th Birthday! 

So we arrived on the Thursday afternoon and was evening by the time we got to our hotel which was in the suburb of Kissimee. We went to our room and unpacked then headed out to find somewhere to eat! We found a McDonalds up the road so we ate there then went back to our hotel.

The Friday we got up and went to Florida Mall. We had a look around the shops and had lunch. Then we chilled out round the pool and then ended up in our room during a big, but short storm! We had dinner at IHop and looked around the little gift shops by the hotel. We also stocked up on drinks and snacks for our hotel room!

The Saturday we were up early and on the hotel transport to Seaworld! This was one of the day I was really looking forward too as I had been reading up about the different shows we could see and all the animal interaction! My favourite bit was getting to stroke the Dolphins as they are definitely my favourite animals!

Sunday was spent at Universal Studios. It was also the tenth anniversary of 9/11 so we were expecting there to be a lot of extra security but to be honest there wasn't any extra at all!

Monday was our first day at a Disney park when we went to visit animal kingdom! Due to me being on crutches and using a wheelchair in the parks we did get to go on a lot of the rides quicker as we didn't need to queue! My favourite thing at Animal kingdom was the Kilimanjaro Safari! We also tried frozen lemonade for the first time while we were waiting for the parade to start! We also met Tigger, Pooh Bear and Eeyore!

Tuesday was another early start as it was our pre booked day at Discovery Cove! It was also Andy's birthday! This day was truly amazing! We got to the park and checked in and got our id cards! We then went to put our bags into the locker and get our wet suit jackets! We then made our way to our hut to have the briefing before we did the dolphin interaction and swim! As we had an early swim time we were in a really small group! which meant we got so much interaction! Once we had finished with the interaction and swim, we chose our Photos and DVD. We then went for our breakfast which along with lunch was included in the package along with all our drinks and snacks!

Wednesday was going to be a very long day as we had decided to go to Magic Kingdom! This day was amazing as we met Mickey, Minnie and Pluto! We were in the park till gone 11pm as we stayed to watch the electrical parade and also see the wishes fireworks show!

Thursday we had a chill out day as we were exhausted from all the parks! We also went to one of the designer outlet malls while was pretty cool! Friday we went to mall at millenia. Saturday was our last full day so we did the rest of our present shopping and visited the other designer outlet. We also did our packing! Sunday we just chilled out in the hotel, had a last meal at IHop and waited for our airport transfer after lunch. 

This really was the holiday of a lifetime and I really hope we get to go back with the boys when they are a little bit older!

#Blogtober Day7 Goals

Now what can I say about goals? For me when I think of goals I always thing back to 1999 when Manchester United scored two last minute goals to win the European Cup.

I was 14 years old and in year nine at school. I was so excited that my united had reached the final of such a historic competition.

When the day came I was so excited. Looking back now I feel so sorry for my friend's as it was all I went on about that day. I remember being on the sofa watching kick off.

The horror that struck in the sixth minute when Bayern Munich of Germany took the lead really upset me. It got to the stage where I couldn't watch so I went to my room. My mum was downstairs and my dad was in their room. 

As I watched the clock I decided to put the match on in my room, even if we were to get beat I still wanted to see my team collect there medals. Then United got a corner. We had everyone behind the ball, even our goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichael, came up! That confused the Bayern defence, suddenly the ball was in the net! Teddy Sherringham had equalised! I started screaming! We were heading for extra time, play kicked off and United were on fire! The players knew they had a chance! I still remember the words of the itv commentator "Giggs! Sherringham! And Solskjaer has won it!" 

With in minutes I can vaguely remember jumping on my parents bed and mum coming running up! We were all so happy! Seeing my team achieve their dream was amazing! I still go back onto YouTube now and watch the goals and show the boys.

So yes goals, two goals from SaS! Sherringham and Solskjaer! 

#Blogtober17 Day 6 Flowers

The prompt for day six is flowers.

To be honest I'm not really a person for flowers! I don't buy them, and to be honest when James was born my aunt and uncle sent us a massive bunch of flowers as they were on holiday at the time. We had to put them into a bucket as we realised we did not have a vase!

The only flowers  I have ever really liked were my wedding flowers. I had red roses as my main flowers. I even had my flowers preserved and framed. We still do not have them on the wall yet and we have been married over six years!

I'm really not that green fingered either, my dad bought me a plant a few years ago and I managed to kill it! 

James hates bees, so we are trying to eliminate the amount of flowers in our garden as well James literally freaks out when he sees a bee!

So yes flowers are definetly not my thing!

Photo from www.ivtography.com My dads website!

#Blogtober17 Day 5 Education

The prompt for Blogtober day 5 is education!

For me this means everything I have done! So where I grew up it was a three tier school system with kids starting school at four rising five, then moving to middle school at the end of the school year you turned nine. Then again moving to high school at the end of the school year of turning thirteen.

So after completing my GCSEs at high school I had the option of staying on at school for another two years and doing sixth form or I could leave school and go to the local college for two years. I chose to go down the college route. I did a BTEC National Diploma in Media Production.

I then chose to go onto Manchester Metropolitan University, but the course I started was not the course I had been told about at the open day, so I chose to leave the course after the first year.

I then worked for a year for the camera shop Jessops where I learned so much about photography and digital cameras and also how prints were developed. 

I then went onto Salford University and did an HND in Media Production. I absolutely loved my time on the HND. Sadly when I went back to the university to do the one year top up degree it was a horrible experience, which ended up with me appealing my results and eventually resitting some of my modules.

I eventually graduated in 2012, but I was pregnant with James at the time so deferred the ceremony till the July 2013. James was eleven months old when I walked onto the stage in the Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays to receive my degree. So I ended up with a BSc Hons Professional Broadcast Techniques 2:1 Degree.

Do I want my boys to go to university? Well I would love it if they did, but it will be there choice. If they dont want to then I wont force them. Its their happieness that means the most to me.

#Blogtober17 Day 4 Date

The day 4 Blogtober prompt is Date.

Me and Andy try to have a date night at least once a month. Normally it is a Friday night.

My parents will come down in the afternoon and pack the kids stuff into their car. Then they will load Freddie into his car seat then drive around to James school and collect him then drive to their house! They live 40 minutes drive from us, so its easiest if they go straight from school to try and avoid most of the rush hour traffic going north!

Our last date night was for Andy's birthday. His birthday had been on the Wednesday, but with it being a school day for James we decided to have a meal at home on the actual day and they have our couples meal out on the Friday night!

We started with Tea/Coffee and birthday cake at home with my parents and the kids. This meant I was also able to get James changed out of his school uniform and get his uniform into the washing machine!

Once the kids left we got ready and headed into Newcastle city centre for drinks and our meal! 

We went for a drink first at a little bar next to Greys monument which was lovely and it was somewhere we had never been to before as a couple, in fact I don't think either of us have ever been there before. 

Eldon Square opened a new restaurant section almost a year ago i think it was, and we are trying a new place every time we go out for a meal! This time we had chosen to book Giraffe World Kitchen!

After our meal we then headed off to start our drinking! We first went to Wetherspoons and well we actually ended up in Flares! Lets just say mixing drinks is never a good idea and this mummy had a very sore head all day on the Saturday! 

We need to start planning our next date night but it will probably not be until the end of October at the earliest as Andy has been doing overtime on Saturday mornings at work.

I'm really looking forward to our next night out, but this mummy will not be mixing her drinks
again!

#Blogtober17 Day Three - Cars

So the prompt for today is cars!

Now I actually don't have a car as I cannot actually drive! Yep that's right I'm 32 and cannot drive! But I do plan to change that and learn to drive in the next year! I think if I learn to drive then it will be easier for me to take the kids to my parents to visit! It would mean my mum and dad would not have to come down and pick me and the kids up! We would also be able to drive down to Surrey to see Andy's family rather than having to rely on trains, which are expensive and have to be booked at least three months in advance or the coach, which is cheaper but it does take at least six hours just to get into central London, then it is two trains! 

But if you get me onto the topic of cars then Formula 1 cars have to be my favourite! I love nothing more than sitting down to watch the Grand Prix. My favourite team is Ferrari, obviously because they are red lol. I can remember watching the F1 with my late nannie who used to love watching just to see how many cars would crash on the first lap!

I do love Aston Martin cars as my lovely cousin works for them. He even brought a DBS to our wedding.

As a boy mummy we do have lots of toy cars in our house! James absolutely adores hot wheels and other match box sized cars! But he is always leaving them all over the house, so I am forever rescuing them from the jaws of Freddie who thinks they make the perfect teether!

If I had to own a car through I have no idea what I would have, but as long as it had four doors I would be happy though! 

#Blogtober17 Day One - All about You!

So here it is, 1st October 2017 and the first day of Blogtober 2017!

Today's prompt is All about you, so here goes!

My name is Victoria, but everyone calls me Vicki or Vic.My dad is the only one who really calls me Victoria!

I was born in April 1985 so that makes me 32! And yes I think I actually look my age now, especially since having the boys!

I've been married to Andy for six years and we have been together nine years!

We live in a suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne and bought our current house two years ago!

We have two boys, James who is five and Freddie who is almost two. As it is babies tomorrow I will be talking more about my two monkeys then!

In our nine years together, me and Andy have lived in eight homes together, Three down in Surrey and the rest up here in the North East! Twice living with my parents!

We have no pets although James is desperate for a dog, but it has to be a big dog he says!

Blogtober 2017 Prompts!

So Blogtober 2017 has started today! The lovely Mandi over at Hexmumblog has done this wonderful graphic with all the post prompts for the next 31 days of blog posts!

Let the Blogtober 2017 fun begin!

Blogtober day Eight!

So favourite TV programs!

I'm such a boring person and don't really change the channel much! We either have Netflix on for James so it's Paw Patrol, Dinotrux or Bubble Guppies on! 

If it's not Netflix then it's either Sky News I have on. During the week it's normally channel five so James can watch milkshake before school then I will watch the Wright Stuff and then turn over for Sky News.

So yep it's official I'm a boring news junkie! 

Blogtober Day Seven!

So what made me start blogging? 

Well we had not long moved house and I was spending more time at our house with James. He was 21 months old and I thought it would be a good way of recording our memories of him growing up.

He is now four and we have obviously added Freddie to the family and I recorded my pregnancy and his birth and so far his first ten months of life.

I think it will be lovely to look back on when the boys are older and they can see photographs of things we did and places we went to.

Blogtober Day Six

So favourite birthday/Christmas present well that would have to be my eternity ring that Andy got me for my 30th birthday last year.

When I turned 30 we were in the middle of buying our first house together and I was also pregnant with Freddie. We were basically living out of suitcases at my mum and dads house.

My ring is absolutely gorgeous and I never take it off.

Blogtober Day Five

So when I was really little I wanted to be a footballer! Yep odd career choice for a girl but when I was a kid I was football daft! I was the only girl in my junior school who chose to do the football coaching in pe.

As I got older though I wanted to be a photographer and I actually have photography qualifications to my name and also own a part share in a photography business (www.ivtography.com) with my dad.

So it was to be a photographer that was my main career choice and it did come true! I absolutely love getting behind a camera and taking photographs of my family. 

Blogtober Day Four

So it's day four and it's a secret about me! 

Oh now this is a tough one but not many people know I have a brown strip in one of my blue eyes! 

I can't remember how old I was when I first noticed it, but I think I must have always had it as I get my blue eyes from my dad and my mum has brown eyes so I think the stripe comes from my mum.

Ok that's not a very good one, I'm going to admit my love for Westlife! There's I've said it I absolutely loved and still do the Irish boyband!

I first got into them when I was about 14 and I never looked back! I met some of my best friends through Westlife too!

Blogtober Day Three

So day #3 is 'Ifyou won the lottery you would'

Oh this is a tough one, but if I won the lottery I would probably do boring things like pay off the mortgage on our house and learn to drive and buy a car!

But the big one would definitely have to be go on a holiday to Disney world Orlando!

We went there five years past September on our honeymoon and it was actually the last time we went abroad! The kids have never been away and now that James has started school it's going to take a lot of saving for us to actually get away during school holidays!

We always said we would love to go back to Orlando,but obviously now we have the kids it will be a lot more expensive and we would probably have to take my mum and dad with is to help with the kids. 

When we were there the last time, we went to Discovery Cove and did dolphin swimming. The minimum age for that is six years old. So we basically have six years to save to take the kids!

But yes would definitely be the boring stuff first of the mortgage and driving and a car!

Blogtober Day Two

So today's Blogtober prompt is An Old Photo Of You!

So this is a very old photo of me! I think I was about three when it was taken! 

I remember my mum and dad had it on the wall in our house! I have shown this photo to friends and a lot of people have said it's like James just with long hair!

Blogtober Day One!

When Mandi over at Hex Mum Plus 1 suggested blogtober - a blog post every day in October I thought I would try and give it a go!

Admittedly I'm not very good at these type of challenges but I am determined to succeed in this one!

So day one is 'Who Are You'

I'm Vicki, I'm 31 and live just outside Newcastle upon Tyne city centre.

I have been with my husband Andy for just over eight years and married for five!

We have two gorgeous little boys James who is four and Freddie who is ten months! 

I'm a stay at home mum to our boys mixed in with a bit of web designing!

I have a BSc Hons degree in Professional Broadcast Techniques from Salford University.

I've lived in the north east my whole life bar three years in Salford and two years in Surrey.

I think that is as much information about me as you need 

My boys!

http://www.hexmumblog.com