The Beach Hut

I have always lived close to the sea and my memories of summer growing up are the smell of sun cream, the sound of laughter, the feel of sand under my toes, the salty taste on my lips after swimming in the sea and our beach hut.  Every summer we had the same one, right in the middle of the strip, we shared it with other families, we brought picnics down, we spent whole days there, we never got bored of the beach.

My mum and dad kept hold of the beach hut, they renewed the rental each year and now I love the fact that my own children are growing up with the same experiences.  It isn't at our local beach but it is just a short drive away and they love it there.  I can keep Cora out of the sun, we can drink hot tea and coffee, we can stay down for tea and we can watch the glorious sunsets.

Because the tides come in higher in the winter, the hut is taken away and this weekend was our last chance to enjoy a day at the beach hut this year.  We were so lucky with the weather and Sunday was warm and bright and we spent all afternoon by the sea.

We intended to go home for dinner, now that school and nursery are back in we are trying to stick to the routine, but we ended up with fish and chips on the promenade and being barefoot on the sand as the sun set.  It felt like a perfect end of the season, and whilst I am still hoping on some bonus summer days before the end of the month, next time we are at the beach hut we may well have four mobile children!

I had my camera on me and hadn't used it all day but when the sun started to set and the light turned golden I couldn't resist having a play around and taking a few pictures.

cuddles with Grandpa

noughts and crosses with Daddy

I love that my babies are growing up in the same place that I did, having such similar experiences and enjoying the same things.  

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Our Adventure at Combe Haven

I knew exactly what I was looking for when I booked our recent trip to Combe Haven and we had a brilliant break at this caravan park. Travelling with four aged five and under can be challenging but the park seemed set up for families like ours and we loved how easy everything was, how much there was to do and how we had the weather on our side for once!

We chose a 3 bedroom prestige caravan which had plenty of space for the six of us.  The double bedroom had space for Cora's carrycot bed in and the two twin bedrooms were completely adequate for the boys.  We had one of the beds taken out to make space for Finn's travel cot and the staff were happy for us to bring our own. (If you want to hire one then you do need to book in advance as they are unable to accomodate you on the day).

The biggest issue we had was that although the caravan can sleep 8, there were only 4 chairs and four glasses for drinks, so we couldn't all sit around the table at once.  We made do though as well as eating picnic style on our blanket outside as the weather was nice.

The caravan had a great sized living area, perfect for scattering Lego duplo everywhere and for providing Cora with somewhere to lie and kick around whilst her brothers scooted outside.  Our caravan backed on to a small common area with logs and rocks where all the children from the local caravans played and it was brilliant to watch the boys scooting about with their new friends.  It was the community and friendships they made that reminded me so much of my own holidays growing up.

We picked a park with a decent sized indoor and outdoor pool although we only used the inside as it was a little chilly outside! Around half the pool is flat and suitable for children to stand up in and although it was busy the boys loved it.  The staff were happy for us to wheel the pushchair in so that when one of the babies was asleep they could stay on the pool side for us to keep an eye on them.  The pool sold all sorts of floats and rubber rings and we had a great time splashing and swimming.  (Cameras are not allowed by the water)

The boys need space to run and climb and Combe Haven provided it.  There were two main play parks, one set in the heart of the park with a ship climbing frame, zip wire and toddler area, and the other close to the entertainment hub and based around a large climbing pyramid.  Whilst the latter was less suitable for Finn in some ways, the sand floor meant he was happy digging and playing whilst his brothers climbed. 

Combe Haven also has lots of nature areas including a pond and bat boxes.  There are regular activities throughout the day including bug hunts for all ages and clubs for the older children like den building (Ours were a bit too young).  We ran out of time to explore properly, but we loved that there was something a bit different to do.

One of the biggest draws for me was the fact that Combe Haven run both fencing and archery classes for 3-5 year olds.  Many parks seem to seperate children as under 4 or over, but my 3 and 5 year olds are most confident together.  They absolutely loved the new experiences, it was easy to book onto, free to do and very quiet as well.  We tried out the messy art session too but the staff seemed to be getting a little bored of the activities so I don't know if they had been doing the same thing all summer.  The boys both enjoying creating though and proudly took home their fish and mobile.

We attempted to go along to the evening entertainment, but we arrived a little late and couldn't get seats.  It was so busy and with a newborn and an 18 month old as well as the bigger two boys, it just wasn't working out for us.  The boys were not too bothered to be missing out.

The entertainment complex included a Burger King and Papa John's as well as a pub style restaraunt and we enjoyed eating out at all three.  The arcades were a huge hit with both boys and they loved spending their pennies (and pounds) in the evenings.

There was a Spar shop on the premises too which was great value and we could pick up everything we needed for lunches, snacks and ice creams (they even sold multi packs of ice creams which saved us a lot of money!)

Whilst we wanted to make the most of the park and everything that was included in our stay, we also wanted to explore a little locally so we headed to Hastings for the day.  It is quite a large seaside town with a pebble beach and new pier (built after the previous one burnt down).  We had a quick wander around the town centre before disovering an underground skate park where we could watch older kids skate and scoot.  We went to the pier for a go on the carousel and to look out over the sea.  It was a windy day and the place was pretty much deserted and we loved having the space to run around.  

We really enjoyed our stay with Combe Haven.  There was so much to do and see in the park without spending any money and there were plenty of activities for older kids available at a surcharge.  The water walkers and pedal boats looked great fun and I know that in a few years it will be the climbing wall and den building that takes their fancy.  The age ranges varied with some clubs being for over 4,6,7 or 8.  Our holiday was relaxing, exciting and entertaining and we made memories that we will keep hold of.  I will definitely be booking to stay with Haven again and we would definitely consider revisiting the same park as it was a great set up for a young family like ours.

I decided to try something new and made a little video with clips from our trip

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How the UK used to look

My three boys were born in the same hospital that I was, and my Mum was born years before in the neighbouring town.  They are growing up surrounded by the same parks, beaches and high streets that the generations before them played in, but things have changed.  The seaside towns have had their ups and downs, the parks have seen makeovers, had to comply with health and safety and I am pretty sure the maternity ward that has such a huge part in our memories has been updated over the last 30 years.

I love looking back at images from my childhood, seeing the landmarks that are no longer, or those that have stood the test of time.  SunLife have put together some images of the UK 'then' and now, to show how much things have changed and it is wonderful to see how things have modernised but still kept their personality.  London has always been and always will be a bustling city, the majestic buildings of Edinburgh still stand tall.

Living down in Kent, one of the places that has really changed over the years is Margate.  Once it was a thriving seaside town, one of the biggest tourist destinations in the UK, growing up it was busy, bright and full of entertainment but by the time Dylan was born, the tourism had faded, the high street was shutting down and Dreamland, the iconic theme park had gone.  Now Margate is an up and coming town, recovering from years of neglect, attracting modern families, full of art and independent shops.  To see pictures of the town then and now, you see how much things have changed, whilst noticing that the beach is still as clean and busy as ever,  the clock tower still stands proud and the harbour wall still sticks out, even if there are no longer any boats residing there.

Disclosure - Collaborative Post

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18 months of Finn

Finn is now 18 months and it is just an amazing age.  There are things I love about every stage of course, but this one is so much fun.  This month he finally started walking and watching the concentration and pride on his face is just brilliant.  In all the photos I take of him walking he has a giant smile and that is because he really does walk around looking that happy!  He is leaving behind the baby stage and turning into a toddler.

At 18 months Finn only has a few words, but they include Cheeeeeeeese which he says as he picks up my phone and gives it his cheesiest smile.  You know you are a bloggers child when taking a selfie is the first thing you do! His lack of words he makes up for in his singing and he just loves to sing.  He is the most musical of my babies and you can tell what he is trying to sing from the tune and the hand actions.  When he isn't singing he loves to dance, always with a big smile of course.

At 18 months Finn is an amazing and caring big brother.  He couldn't love his little sister more, giving her cuddles and kisses all the time and stroking her hair.  I always pictured Finn as the baby of the family so I never imagined this was an adjustment he would have to make.  He has taken to it so smoothly and I couldn't be prouder.

At 18 months Finn has come so far from the fragile newborn that he was.  He was so tiny and ill for so long that I never dreamed that he would be so solid and strong at this age.  He weighs around 27lb, he wears age 12-18 clothing and his feet are size 4.  He is determined, he is starting to puzzle solve, he loves shape sorters and anything and everything with wheels.  He is desperate to be big like his brothers and looks so proud when he is included.  He knows that Cora is destined to be his playmate and he is impatient for her to grow up.  He knows how to make everyone smile and he is so very loved.

I can't believe this baby boy is already so big although it feels like longer than a year and a half ago that we were nervously wondering what his future would hold.  He is our little miracle, he is our beautiful baby boy.

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Holidaying with Four Children

We have recently returned from our first holiday with four children and we had a wonderful time.  I never expected to write this post feeling rested and refreshed but actually our short break was exactly what we all needed and I have come home with happy memories and significantly less stressed!  

We decided for our first trip with four aged five and under that we would stay in the UK and we picked a caravan park down in Sussex for a Monday to Friday break.  Being a family of six, caravans become one of the easiest places to stay as we can all fit in one unit, we have the space to eat our own meals and spend some down time and we can put the children to bed and still stay up together as a couple.

I chose Combe Haven site for many reasons, the location, the facilities and the fact it had a couple of clubs that worked for both the big boys ages.  I will be writing more about that soon though.  The boys love caravans and so they were really excited when we revealed where we were off to and they loved the lifestyle of a caravan park - having the doors open so they could come in and out, scooting around with new friends, eating bbq's outside and having all the ammenities within walking distance.

One of the best ways we found to enjoy holidaying with four small children was just to relax.  Usually I like to plan all sorts into our days so that we make the most of our time away, but we took it slower this time and followed their lead more and it made everyone a bit more relaxed.  We made the most of everything we had paid for already - the holiday clubs, the swimming pools and parks and the big open spaces that come with being on  a caravan site.

It was Cora's first holiday and being only 2 months old it is rather hard to say whether she enjoyed it or not.  Her brothers loved having her around though and asked for cuddles even more than usual.  In the absense of play mats and toys we put her down on a duvet on the floor or in her carrycot and they enjoyed having her as part of their play.  She had her first experience swimming and she was relaxed and content in the water and she slept really well in the caravan so we are considering it a good holiday for her too!

So after 5 days experience, I thought I would share my top tips for travelling with lots of little people.

1) Don't plan too much into your days.  Some days the boys just wanted to explore where we were, or they needed a lie in, or they just wanted to spend some time together without really doing much.  We went out and did something every day, but keeping it simple kept everyone happier.

2) Choose your accommodation wisely.  We went for the three bedroom above the two even though both would fit us all in and we upgraded to the prestige caravan too as I wanted us to be comfortable and to have space to spread out.  Obviously if you are planning to be out all day every day then it isn't so important but if you are just after a change of scenery and are planning on making the most of where you are then it is worth going for the best you can stretch to.

3)You don't have to go far to get away.  We ended up chosing somewhere that was less than a two hour drive from our home.  It meant that we didn't have to worry about a long car journey with a newborn but it felt far enough from home to be novel and we enjoyed exploring somewhere none of us had been before.  The boys would have happily had a holiday in the same town we live in, as they were just excited to have our undivided attention and a new home for the week.

4) Let the children pack their own bag.  Ours took a trunki and although I found the contents rather random (apparently they needed one pretend egg with them), they loved the build up excitement of packing and the toys all got played with (even the egg).  I added in some extra Lego Duplo which was a great idea as all three boys could play with it when they wanted some time inside.

5) Matching clothes are actually really useful for keeping an eye on them all and to help locate any children that have a tendency to wander off (Archie).  I can't resist a bit of matching anyway but I feel like I have a real excuse when we are on holiday! I pack one outfit for each of them into a fabric bag before we go so that each morning I just grab a different bag and know that I have everything I need to get all four ready for the day.

6) Whilst you have come away to enjoy family time, divide and conquer is still a great motto.  With four it isn't easy to give any of them one on one time, but there were evenings when one of us would stay at home with the babies whilst the other took the bigger boys to the arcade so that they could have different experiences. 

7) Staggered bedtimes can work really well.  Ours normally go to bed at the same time at home, but the small caravan bedrooms meant it was easier to put them to bed one at a time as they were not going to go to bed nicely if they went together.  It worked out quite well as they all had a little one on one time whilst one of us read them a story and tucked them in.  Each night the order changed depending on who seemed the most tired.

8) Try and pick one thing each to fit into your holiday.  You can't please everyone all the time, but everyone getting an input makes it a holiday for all.  Dylan was desperate to go to the arcades, Finn wanted  to swim and Archie loved the park.  Ed wanted to have a bbq together outside and I wanted to have a little time to sit outside and just read my book (Cora was too young to express her wishes but she loved having her naps in the pram outside during the day)

9) Time things right and make use of nap times to do things with the older children.   We went swimming a couple of times and never had to take all four in the water as there was always one asleep.  We were allowed to take the buggy on the side of the pool which made it so much easier and meant that the child to adult ratio was more favourable!

10) Relax and enjoy it.  It will never be as easy or relaxing as holidaying with one or two, but watching them explore and bond and enjoy themselves is amazing and having four children is no reason not to go away.  

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2 Months Baby Girl

At two months old I am already starting to see that Cora doesn't want to stay a baby for long.  Everyone warned me when she arrived that girls are often quicker to meet their milestones, that they don't stay babies as long and she is proving them right.  Cora's head control is quite impressive and she loves to be sat up with me just holding her waist.  She always looks so curious and inquisitive and I can see her taking everything in.  

At 6 weeks she started smiling, but it was 7 weeks before I got one my way (Her brothers are far more worthy of smiles it seems) and at 2 months she is still a very serious baby, only giving smiles at certain times of day and making you really work for them.

At 2 months old, Cora seems to be growing so fast.  She is filling out her 0-3 month clothing and she has definitely lost that weightlessness that newborns have.  I imagine she is somewhere between 12 and 13 pounds now but I haven't had her weighed for a couple of weeks.  She no longer curls up in the fetal position and instead prefers to spread out and push her legs out straight.

Cora is still happiest on me, she loves being in the sling, she feeds very regularly (but goes 6-7 hours at night) and she wants to sleep close.  She happily goes down in her crib at night though and can settle her self to sleep if I put her on her tummy.  She will only sleep on her tummy at all times still, although if she is really tired she will fall asleep in the car seat.  Her dislike for being on her back means she can do an hour in the car easily before she succumbs to sleep - My newborns really don't like the car very much! 

Two months in to parenting four and I feel like there are always going to be different challenges.  I was worried about the summer holidays and having all four at home, but it has been wonderful and we have made it work and carried on with our adventures.  Now my fears are around the school runs and being out the house on time.  I am sure we will find our groove and having some time with just the babies is going to be lovely too.  

Two month old Cora is very chilled out as long as she knows that I am close.  She is happy to sleep in her own space and I can put her down for short periods during the day too.  She adores her brothers already and the love is mutual.  She is growing bigger and stronger every day and losing the little things that make her seem like a newborn.  Slow down please baby girl!!

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Me and Mine August

August has to be my favourite month of the year, even more so now that Dylan is at school.  There is sunshine more often than not, there is so much to do, there are birthdays and cake and there is ice cream.  We are all together, we are always outdoors and we have had such an amazing month.

The sun really has shone this month, and I don't think the temperature has dropped below twenty degrees in weeks.  We have had so many late nights, afternoons on the beach, play dates with friends and mornings exploring.  Everyone is looking a little tanned, their hair has got a little lighter and their legs all seem to have grown a few inches too.

August saw Dylan turning 5 and I celebrated my last 20 something birthday too.  I can still believe that the return to school is ages away even though really it is only a few short days and we haven't quite finished our summer fun yet.

This month Mama is loving watching the sun setting over the sea, Cora's first smiles, all the family days and birthday cake.

Daddy is loving Folk Week, having more time off to spend as a family, drinking iced coffees and racing around the soft play centre with Finn. 

Dylan is loving having all his friends at his birthday party, picking fruit with his friends, spending his money at the festival and learning the diabolo at Folk Week

Archie is loving stripping off at the beach and running in the sea, his conversations with Cora, staying out past bedtime and sleeping over at Grandma and Grandpa's house

Finn is loving walking!!!, dancing at folk week, cuddles with his baby sister and eating chips at the beach. 

Cora is loving smiling at her brothers, growing into the next size clothes, Mummy and bathtime.

September is going to be a big adjustment with the earlier mornings, the school runs and the changing weather, but we have so many wonderful summer memories to keep us going.

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