Magic Moments 6/7/15

The lovely Jaime over at The Oliver's Madhouse is having a break this week, so she has passed the Magic Moments torch on to me.

As I was writing this post it suddenly dawned on me that we are in July, how did that happen?! Only few more months and my daughter will be starting school, a bitter sweet time which I am trying to put to the back of my mind!

Anyway, enough of me wittering on, without further ado its Magic Moments time! 

Don’t forget there is a Magic Moments page on Google+ to, so if you are on G+ feel free to pop over and add your link and visit … also I have just created a Magic Moments collaborative Pintrest board too which you are more than welcome to pin your post onto too! Feel free to email me directly  ( jaime@theoliversmadhouse.co.uk ) so I can make sure I am following and that I can add you to the board too.

If you are new to Magic Moments you can find more information over HERE.

Don’t forget that linkys only work when people take the time to visit and share with others. With such a large crowd linking in please don’t think you have to comment on every one. I know many of you don’t have time for this and it’s unrealistic, however please visit as many as you can manage to share some love and build community spirit.

If you would like to join in  I would love it if you would pop on the Magic Moments badge or a link back to me as it also helps others to see where you are linking up and they may decided to pop over and link up too! Remember the more people who take part and link up, the more people who are likely to visit, but this is only a polite request not a prerequisite.

 

  <a href="http://theoliversmadhouse.co.uk/magic-moments/"><img src="http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag146/theoliversmadhouse/magicmoments150x150_zps58f60c40.jpg"/></a>

An InLinkz Link-up

Magic Moments 8/6/15

The lovely Jaime over at The Oliver's Madhouse is having a well earned holiday this week, so she has passed the Magic Moments torch on to me for a week, she'll be back next time though.

The thing I love about Magic Moments is that it gives you time to reflect on the week, from your child learning to write their name for the first time to learning to tie their shoe.

So without further ado its Magic Moments time! 

Don’t forget there is a Magic Moments page on Google+ to, so if you are on G+ feel free to pop over and add your link and visit … also I have just created a Magic Moments collaborative Pintrest board too which you are more than welcome to pin your post onto too! Feel free to email me directly  ( jaime@theoliversmadhouse.co.uk ) so I can make sure I am following and that I can add you to the board too.

If you are new to Magic Moments you can find more information over HERE.

Don’t forget that linkys only work when people take the time to visit and share with others. With such a large crowd linking in please don’t think you have to comment on every one. I know many of you don’t have time for this and it’s unrealistic, however please visit as many as you can manage to share some love and build community spirit.

If you would like to join in  I would love it if you would pop on the Magic Moments badge or a link back to me as it also helps others to see where you are linking up and they may decided to pop over and link up too! Remember the more people who take part and link up, the more people who are likely to visit, but this is only a polite request not a prerequisite.

 

  <a href="http://theoliversmadhouse.co.uk/magic-moments/"><img src="http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag146/theoliversmadhouse/magicmoments150x150_zps58f60c40.jpg"/></a>

An InLinkz Link-up

Remembering Summer

Last year we went back to a beautiful spot in France, today I am remembering our beautiful holiday and thinking about the sunshine and happy memories with the children.

We spent many a happy hour by the lake on the inland beach...

Building sandcastles...

Splashing, exploring and looking at wildlife...

Bonjour Monsieur Grenouille...

These are the moments that we treasure, these are our magic moments etched on our memories forever...

Snow Fun at the Park

Boxing day evening came with some snow, so not only did we head out that evening to play in the snow, we also headed up to the park in the morning to play and do some sledging.

We headed up to Woodthorpe Park, it has a few huge hills and smaller ones for my daughter, who was climbing up and riding down on her own. We built snowmen and made some snow angels, had snowball fights and drank hot chocolate.

I'm not sure whether we'll have any more snow this winter, so it was good to make the best of it while it was still fresh.

Did you have any snow, if so did you manage to get out into it?

Magic Moments 29/12/14

Whilst the lovely Jaime over at The Oliver's Madhouse continues her well earned rest over Christmas, I am back with Magic Moments.

I really enjoyed reading everyones Magic Moments last week, it was lovely to see so many Christmas posts as the magic built up to the big day, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

So without further ado its Magic Moments time! 

Don’t forget there is a Magic Moments page on Google+ to, so if you are on G+ feel free to pop over and add your link and visit … also I have just created a Magic Moments collaborative Pinterest board too which you are more than welcome to pin your post onto too! Feel free to email me directly  ( jaime@theoliversmadhouse.co.uk ) so I can make sure I am following and that I can add you to the board too.

If you are new to Magic Moments you can find more information over HERE.

Don’t forget that linkys only work when people take the time to visit and share with others. With such a large crowd linking in please don’t think you have to comment on every one. I know many of you don’t have time for this and it’s unrealistic, however please visit as many as you can manage to share some love and build community spirit.

If you would like to join in  I would love it if you would pop on the Magic Moments badge or a link back to me as it also helps others to see where you are linking up and they may decided to pop over and link up too! Remember the more people who take part and link up, the more people who are likely to visit, but this is only a polite request not a prerequisite.

<a href="http://theoliversmadhouse.co.uk/magic-moments/"><img src="http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag146/theoliversmadhouse/magicmoments150x150_zps58f60c40.jpg"/></a>

An InLinkz Link-up

Christmas Magic

I love this time of year, so many magical memories being made and moments to share with our children, I just love the smells, smiles and fun that surrounds it.

So far, in the run up to Christmas, we have built a gingerbread house, which amazingly is still waiting to be eaten...

Also, this weekend, we took the children to the local garden centre to visit santa. He was the perfect Santa, jolly, kind and really took time to listen to both our children. They were both ecstatic to meet him, got to tell him all about what they wanted and they let us take as many pictures as we wanted.

Finally, because we all love the Christmas tree, I think it has to be my favourite part of Christmas, because of the smell, the lights, spending time decorating it, admiring its beauty but mostly because it is the place where all the presents go on the big day.

There are so many beautiful things to look at and remember, hopefully making magic for the children in years to come.

Magic Moments 22/12/14

The lovely Jaime over at The Oliver's Madhouse is having a break over Christmas, so she has passed the Magic Moments torch on to me for a few weeks, she'll be back in the new year though.

The thing I love about Magic Moments is that it gives you time to reflect on the week, from your child learning to write their name for the first time to learning to tie their shoe.

So without further ado its Magic Moments time! 

Don’t forget there is a Magic Moments page on Google+ to, so if you are on G+ feel free to pop over and add your link and visit … also I have just created a Magic Moments collaborative Pinterest board too which you are more than welcome to pin your post onto too! Feel free to email me directly  ( jaime@theoliversmadhouse.co.uk ) so I can make sure I am following and that I can add you to the board too.

If you are new to Magic Moments you can find more information over HERE.

Don’t forget that linkys only work when people take the time to visit and share with others. With such a large crowd linking in please don’t think you have to comment on every one. I know many of you don’t have time for this and it’s unrealistic, however please visit as many as you can manage to share some love and build community spirit.

If you would like to join in  I would love it if you would pop on the Magic Moments badge or a link back to me as it also helps others to see where you are linking up and they may decided to pop over and link up too! Remember the more people who take part and link up, the more people who are likely to visit, but this is only a polite request not a prerequisite.

<a href="http://theoliversmadhouse.co.uk/magic-moments/"><img src="http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag146/theoliversmadhouse/magicmoments150x150_zps58f60c40.jpg"/></a>

An InLinkz Link-up

Passing on the Past

I have a love for all things 80s and am lucky that my mum and dad kept some of my old books from when I was younger.

I have added to the collection with some fabulous charity shop finds and although these are only a few I wanted to share their magic.

So, do you remember any of these?

The top four are ones I have found, I loved Rainbow Bright, the Gummi Bears and the Fluppy Dogs the Care Bears are back now so that shows how timeless they are.

The bottom three were mine as a child, I remember buying The Nite Glo Gang at a school book fair, the front glows in the dark and it is so well read, even now the kids both love it. Snow White and Sleeing Beauty are classics and my daughter loves to look at them. 

I love that I can still read these books to my children and that hopefully I can pass them on to my grandchildren too.

We were going through some toys the other day to giveaway and it suddenly dawned on me that I should save some, my husband still has a box of cars at his parents house, from when he was a child, they always get played with our the kids go round.

It is these moments that are magic, magic because I had them and now my children are enjoying them too.

Goose Fair - A Family Tradition

Every year Nottingham is host to Goose Fair, I remember going as a child and have made it a tradition to take my children now they are old enough to enjoy it.

The lights, the smells and the atmosphere has always been electric. From the moment they put the goose up on the roundabout close to the fair site, it's the perfect opportunity to get the kids excited about the forthcoming event.

We play spot the goose for the few weeks running up to it and then on weekend of the fair we park a few streets away and the excitement builds up as you walk towards it and the screams and shouts can be heard.

Then you see the flashing lights and really tall rides, it's a bit more commercialised these days but with the traditional helta skelta, train rides and dodgems there is plenty to do for younger and older children.

Then you have the famous mushy pea stall, which apparently is a Nottingham thing and candy floss and toffee apples a plenty.

Memories are made at things like this and even if you don't go on lots of rides, the lights are beautiful to watch.

Magic Moments - 13/10/14

The lovely Jaime over at The Oliver's Madhouse is on holiday this weekend, so she has passed the Magic Moments torch on to me again. It was an absolute pleasure last time and I got to read some wonderful posts and find some wonderful blogs.

The thing I love about Magic Moments is that it gives you time to reflect on the week, from your child learning to write their name for the first time to learning to tie their shoe.

So without further ado its Magic Moments time! 

Don’t forget there is a Magic Moments page on Google+ to, so if you are on G+ feel free to pop over and add your link and visit … also I have just created a Magic Moments collaborative Pintrest board too which you are more than welcome to pin your post onto too! Feel free to email me directly  ( jaime@theoliversmadhouse.co.uk ) so I can make sure I am following and that I can add you to the board too.

If you are new to Magic Moments you can find more information over HERE.

Don’t forget that linkys only work when people take the time to visit and share with others. With such a large crowd linking in please don’t think you have to comment on every one. I know many of you don’t have time for this and it’s unrealistic, however please visit as many as you can manage to share some love and build community spirit.

If you would like to join in  I would love it if you would pop on the Magic Moments badge or a link back to me as it also helps others to see where you are linking up and they may decided to pop over and link up too! Remember the more people who take part and link up, the more people who are likely to visit, but this is only a polite request not a prerequisite.

  <a href="http://theoliversmadhouse.co.uk/magic-moments/"><img src="http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag146/theoliversmadhouse/magicmoments150x150_zps58f60c40.jpg"/></a>

An InLinkz Link-up

Reading with Children

My son really didn't enjoy reading when he first started school, in fact it's safe to say he hated it and just couldn't get in to it.

But now he is a reading superstar and I love hearing him read, we didn't really push the whole reading thing and instead he just grew to love it.

He now reads to himself and is so enthusiastic about finding books to read, his current favourite are Beast Quest.

Reading is such a great gift for a child, for anyone in fact, it offers independence and is an important part of learning. There is a great video over on Netmums about reading with younger children and books for younger children, it's a bit of self promotion as I am featured on it but it also has some great tips from some other amazing bloggers.

Anyway I digress, this was about my son and the magic moment that is hearing him read. Sometimes it feels like after learning to walk and talk the milestones stop, but they don't, this is a wonderful milestone and a great way to enjoy time together too.

Linking up to Magic Moments on The Olivers Madhouse

Dinosaur Messy Play in the Garden

My daughter loves getting messy in the garden so last week when it was just too nice to be inside I got out the Tuff Spot and filled it with mud, sand, shells, leaves and dinosaurs and she got to get messy and play.

She absolutely love doing this and spent at least two hours getting in there with the dinos!

Not sure about getting in but soon getting down with the dinos...

Lots of fun, it didn't stay looking this near and tidy, by the end of it there was just a mass of sandy mud which I think means it was lots of fun.

It is the perfect activity for getting them to explore and learn about different textures.

Linking up to Magic Moments with The Olivers Madhouse

Painting with Water

My daughter wanted to do some painting the other week but it was late and I didn't fancy getting all the paint and brushes out so instead I offered the chance to paint with water.

She had a little think but liked the sound of it so I got her a pot of water and some paint brushes and outside we went.

I showed her what to do and within a few seconds she'd understood what I was going on about and was painting on the wall outside.

The perfect mess free outdoor activity and great for summer.

Linking up to Magic Moments on The Olivers Madhouse

Strawberry Picking Fun

I have been wanting to go strawberry picking with the children for a few years now and the weather has been nice we decided to go and get some as a treat for my birthday.

The kids loved looking for the biggest juiciest strawberries...

Daddy helping them look...

Lots of strawberries picked, we also picked some rhubarb on the way back to the car...

We had lots of fun picking strawberries, i've got a couple of recipes planned to use up any we don't manage to eat. But it was lots of fun and I can highly recommend stopping buy your local pick you own farm if you have one.

If you are local to Nottingham we visited Hills pick your own in Kirklington.

Linking up to Magic Moments on The Olivers Madhouse blog.

Open Farm Sunday

For the last two years we have been visiting Open Farm Sunday, this time of year farms across the country open their doors to members of the public, to get a taste of what the do, try and encourage people to buy local and so you can see what goes in to farming.

Manor Organic Farm in Long Whatton just outside of Loughborough is as the name suggests, an organic farm, this means that they can't use any chemicals on the land and it is all natural. As we walked through the fields Graham the farmer explained to us about how, instead of using weed killer to control unwanted plants, they have introduced a beetle that eats, dock leaves. They are a big problem within the cow fields and the cows don't eat them. We also got to see a sheep dog herding the sheep into a pen, very fascinating how it works and the different commands.

We got to learn about bees and how they make the hives, breed and make the honey. It was a really interesting talk and we all learnt a lot. We knew bee's were special anyway but the whole cycle of a bee is amazing, getting to see inside a beehive was also pretty special.

There was sheep shearing too, it was amazing to see the fleece come off in one go and then to touch the fleece, you could feel the lanolin in it which makes the water run off when they are out in the rain (I had always wondered why we'd never seen a soggy sheep). It was really fascinating, sad though that the farmers don't get much for the fleeces, about the same as it costs them to shear them. Surely for the cost of proper wool items you'd expect they'd get more!

The children both had a great time, learning about the different areas of farming, getting to know the animals and playing on the old tyres that made up the playground.

It was a really great day, we got to try some of the farms fabulous produce from the BBQ stand and the children both had a go at bread making, lots of fun and they got to eat their creation once it had been cooked.

If you didn't get chance to go on a Open Farm Sunday trip this year then do look out for it next year, it's a really great idea to help members of the public have an understanding of the time and effort that goes into farming.

We prefer to buy our meat from local farm shops, simply because the meat is so much better but we are also supporting a small business and our very important farmers.

Linking up to Country Kids on Coombe Mill and Magic Moments on The Olivers Madhouse.