Friday 30 November 2018

Me and Mine in November


November is coming to an end and in some ways it feels like December has already begun as our tree is shining bright in the living room and today is the day of the school Christmas fair.  November has been fun and busy with lots of time outside whilst it isn't too wet and windy and a couple of fun days out having some one on one time with my biggest boys.  My diary for December is looking incredibly hectic with fun festive plans and it begins with three parties on the 1st so we are diving straight in!

This month we were sent a pair of pjs each from the Original Factory Shop and they were perfect for taking our family photo.  £2 is donated from the sale of each pair (and the kids pairs are only £5 each!).  


This month I have loved having some special time with both Dylan and Archie, going to Harry Potter studios with my Mum and sister, afternoon tea in London with some blogging friends and representing TotsBots at the Mother and Baby awards and collecting the gold trophy

Ed has loved seeing Less than Jake in Birmingham, chocolate orange mochas, showing the kids some of his favourite childhood films and halloumi cheese.

Dylan loved sleeping over at the National History Museum, auditioning for parts in the school nativity, talking me into buying bright spinny things at the light switch on and pre-bedtime art sessions

Archie has loved training to be an Avenger at the Avengers Station, watching videos of other people playing Roblox, parent art sessions at school and having his friends over for after school playdates.

Finn has loved his new train set that he got got finally wearing his glasses, camping on his bedroom floor, walking Bella the dog at the weekend and the colour pink.

Cora has loved the feisty pets scary toys, dresses with pockets, going back to baby gymnastics and scooting through puddles when it has rained.



December, I think we are just about ready for you!

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Monday 26 November 2018

Being in the Picture

The first photo of my family is less than 24 hours after Dylan was born.  My Aunty took a photo of the three of us and it is so special.  We look so young and in total shock that the hospital actually let us leave with this small baby.  The setting it our messy living room, not quite prepared for a baby as we were convinced that first babies are always late and not, as it happens, two weeks early.

The next one is exactly a year on, and that tiny baby was a giant one and we are celebrating his first birthday.  We still look a bit shocked, I look just as round thanks to a little brother for him taking up space in my womb but we had relaxed into it.  Fast forward another 6 months and Archie is born - another photo worthy moment.

It was coming up to Archie's first birthday when I decided to change things and start taking a photo every month of us all, documenting our changing family and making sure that whatever else happens that month, I am getting in the picture so that when these little children of mine look back, they will see our family as it was and remember how present we were.

Some months (more than I intended) it is a family selfie taking on my phone in the fading afternoon light on the last day of the month.  It isn't always easy to find the time and even harder to ensure everyone is happy enough to get in the picture.  Sometimes the camera is balanced on the edge of something and the children allow me two shots where they will remain in the picture before they need to move on to the next adventure.

Last month thanks to Splento, a photography app that allows you to book a photographer with as little as 24 hours notice for any occasion, we had wonderful family photos captured which we will treasure forever.  Not only are there are plenty of the six of us (and we all know that is a lot of people to cram into one frame) but there are some of just me and one of the children, candid shots which don't happen as I am always the one behind the camera. 

Our photographer stayed with us for an hour, snapping away whilst we ran and played.  She took things at our pace, understood how to work with children and captured so many special photos for us.  You might have seen some in last months' Me and Mine post but here are a few more that I need to print out for the wall.   

Splento are offering 10% off with the code 'mummyadventure10' so if you have an event coming up, or if you are just overdue some family photos to capture you as you are right now then check them out!











I was provided with an hour's shoot in exchange for a post on instagram 
but all thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
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Monday 19 November 2018

Outdoor Fun with Little Green Radicals

Sometimes I have words with no pictures and sometimes I have pictures with no words.  These photos are from a day out recently at our favourite park and I love the way they show the children exploring the new season.  I have sat for ages staring at the pictures willing the words to come but I think I need to let the pictures tell the story. 

These children are so curious about the world.  They want to know why the leaves fall from the tree, how are they all different sizes, what do the bugs eat and where does the sun go at the end of the day.  They want to find the biggest leaf, run fastest down the hill and everything is a race, even if the other person isn't playing.  This part of childhood is fleeting, exhausting and utterly magical at times

little green radicals aw18, organic fairtrade kids clothing, themummyadventure.com

Little Green Radicals let us choose a few items from their new collection and I couldn't resist this amazing checked dress, the stripy top for Finn with the star shaped elbow patches and the navy trousers which are so fun and still go with everything.  The clothes are super soft made of organic cotton and everything is fairtrade.  They are perfect for little children on big adventures and they are a brand we have been buying for years.

Of course I couldn't write literally no words, but really it is the pictures that make this blog post, pictures of their innocence and colour and the gorgeous outfits.

little green radicals aw18, organic fairtrade kids clothing, themummyadventure.com

little green radicals aw18, organic fairtrade kids clothing, themummyadventure.com

little green radicals aw18, organic fairtrade kids clothing, themummyadventure.com

little green radicals aw18, organic fairtrade kids clothing, themummyadventure.com

little green radicals aw18, organic fairtrade kids clothing, themummyadventure.com

little green radicals aw18, organic fairtrade kids clothing, themummyadventure.com

little green radicals aw18, organic fairtrade kids clothing, themummyadventure.com

little green radicals aw18, organic fairtrade kids clothing, themummyadventure.com


This photo is from another day but this is one of the Little Green Radicals reversible jackets which we absolutely adore as the inside is sherpa fleece! 

little green radicals aw18, organic fairtrade kids clothing, themummyadventure.com


little green radicals aw18, organic fairtrade kids clothing, themummyadventure.com
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We were sent some of these items for the purpose of this post 
but some of them I also paid full price for as we genuinely love the post!


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Monday 12 November 2018

Dinosnores Sleepover at the Natural History Museum

I don't remember exactly when I first heard about Dinosnores, the sleepover at the Natural History Museum in London, but I thought it would be the perfect way to spend some time with my then six year old and I booked in to go in November once he was seven.  Dinosnores is a sleepover experience for children aged 7-11 years that takes part after the museum has shut for the night and involves sleeping under the great blue whale skeleton in the extraordinary Hintze Hall.

We arrived at the Natural History Museum at 6:45pm in the rain and were assigned our team (blue raptors) and shown an area of the main hall covered in sleeping mats so we could choose our beds.  There was an excited atmosphere as the children laid out their sleeping bags and browsed the animals and skeletons that line the main hall.  There was plenty of time to go and change into comfy clothes (most children were in either warm pyjamas or a onsie for the evening) and have a drink.

Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum, sleepover in the history museum, Dinosnores, themummyadventure.com

There were three evening activities and different groups did them in a different order.  I was worried that Dylan wasn't 'into' dinosaurs enough for Dinosnores but I loved the way the activities meant you didn't need to be (although a light interest is quite useful) as you could focus on the other aspects of the activity instead.  Our first one was a torchlight trail around the dinosaur area finding the clues to find out our Dino.  The children were all given torches and sheets and Dylan loved looking for the green dinosaurs to complete his sheet and learning some facts about the answer.

Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum, sleepover in the history museum, Dinosnores, themummyadventure.com

After this we could go to the Natural History Museum cafe for a snack. You need to bring in your own food which has to be kept in the cafe at all times and there was tea and coffee on hand too.  We had eaten dinner before we arrived so had some light snacks to get us through the rest of the evening.  After snack time was our second activity.

Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum, sleepover in the history museum, Dinosnores, themummyadventure.com

The event says children must be between 7 and 11 to participate and it was the science show that we watched next that really showed me why.  It started at 9.30 and was incredibly interesting and interactive but it was pushing the limits of Dylan's concentration to engage in a show at that time of night.  It was run by Scientists from the museum and was fantastic.  

Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum, sleepover in the history museum, Dinosnores, themummyadventure.com

Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum, sleepover in the history museum, Dinosnores, themummyadventure.com

Our final activity for the evening was creative and the children were taught how to become dinosaur artists, interpreting the fossils to discover how the dinosaurs would have actually looked and it ended in them creating their own t-shirts to take home.  I was so impressed with how this activity was run as there was plenty of space and materials and all the children looked really involved.  Dylan loves art so I think this was his favourite t-shirt and my job this evening is to iron the t-shirt to secure his art on it!.

Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum, sleepover in the history museum, Dinosnores, themummyadventure.com

We went back to the main hall afterwards to prepare for lights out at midnight and got cosy in our sleeping bags.  Thankfully it wasn't cold despite the pouring rain outside and once the lights went out it was very dark.  Sleeping on the floor isn't the comfiest though and whilst Dylan got a full seven hours I certainly didn't (and I hadn't expected to).  He is a child that needs a lot of sleep so the next day was quite challenging by the end of it despite his hour long nap on the way home! 

Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum, sleepover in the history museum, Dinosnores, themummyadventure.com

Lights came up at 7am ready for breakfast and there were small packs for each of us with a small muffin, a yoghurt and juice.  I would definitely recommend packing something more substantial like croissants/pain au chocolate of breakfast bars as we were still hungry and unprepared.

After breakfast there was a live animal show featuring a skunk and a meerkat amongst other things.  It was really well done with humour for the adults alongside interaction for the children.  Once the sleepover officially finished, we were left to either leave the museum or stay in it and some exhibits were open (and of course empty) so we could enjoy them in peace before the crowds arrived!

Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum, sleepover in the history museum, Dinosnores, themummyadventure.com

The event was organised amazingly and there were so many staff on hand at the Natural History Museum who could help return lost families to their group, guide the activities and chat to the children.  If I had a question there was always someone close by to ask it too and all the staff were enthusiastic and knowledgable.  I was really impressed with how well run it was.

Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum, sleepover in the history museum, Dinosnores, themummyadventure.com

We had an absolutely fantastic experience at the Dinosnores sleepover event and I would really recommend it to anyone with a curious junior school aged child.  Dylan was so happy and it was a great way for us to enjoy some one on one time together without his siblings.  It would be a brilliant birthday party idea for a small group and there were beaver/scout groups there as well when we visited.  I hope that in the future I can repeat the experience with the other children although I will definitely be waiting until they are at least seven as it was exhausting and I want them to get the most out of it.

Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum, sleepover in the history museum, Dinosnores, themummyadventure.com

You can find out more here about Dinosnores sleepovers at the Natural History Museum


Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum, sleepover in the history museum, Dinosnores, themummyadventure.com
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