Win a Picnic Hamper with Davpack

My children have a playroom full of toys, a garden full of ride-ons, buckets and spades and enough brightly coloured plastic to see us through for years.  Give them a cardboard box though, and the dun lasts longer, the giggles are louder and their little imaginations just blow you away.

Davpack, the packing company sent us some cardboard boxes, and I decided that what the garden didn't have, was a train.  With the aid of some cardboard boxes, some scissors and some felt tips, I made the boys their very own choo choo, and they loved it.

I have teamed up with Davpack to give you a chance to win this gorgeous picnic hamper from Not on the High Street, perfect for the end of the summer, and making the most of those sunny days.  Entry is via the simple rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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An Alphabet Third Birthday Party

When I asked my two year old what kind of birthday party he wanted, I wasn't expecting the answer he gave.  I suggested Lego, pirates, Mickey Mouse and other favourites.  He looked at me, thought for a few seconds and then announced that he would like a letters party - an alphabet theme.

In the past year he has gone from being able to recognise and read individual letters to reading whole words and he has loved the whole process.  He has always been a lover of books and I hope that this continues as he learns to read and understand whole stories.  As a party theme though?  It is a bit odd!

As we were throwing a picnic in the park party, I decided not to go overboard on the theme, but just use a few small touches.

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Summer Shoes

Picture the scene : It is twenty four degrees, the sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the sky.  We have a pleasant morning planned with a walk down to the beach.  Our buckets and spades are hanging from a bag on the handlebar, and there are towels in the underneath basket of the pushchair.  I dress Archie in a light romper, and pop on his sandals.

Dylan walks down from his room, his fashion choices in hand - a long sleeved T-shirt, thick lined jeans and socks, and as he reaches the bottom step he reaches for his rocket covered wellies.  'This is what I am going to wear today Mummy'.

The boy knows what he wants, and whilst 90% of the time he still lets me choose his clothes, there are days that he is determined to make his own choices and show his individuality to the world.  Strangely, this usually involves winter coats and wellington boots, I have even been known to remove a thick bobble hat from his head, much to his dismay - this boy is ready for winter!

Realistically, these fashion choices are not appropriate.  The wellies and jeans combo means his legs get sweaty, and we end up bringing half the beach home with us.  As he made it clear that he wasn't impressed with sandals, we took Dylan shoe shopping, and for the first time let him have complete control over our purchase.

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Nun Night Two Year Old

To my gorgeous boy,

Just as I wrote you a letter before you turned one, and before you turned two, I find myself here knowing that when we wake up, you will be three.  In the past year you have left the toddler days behind and you are excited and eager for something more.  Preschool beckons along with an independence from me that I am still reluctant to give.

As I put you to bed each night, and we sit on your dark blue bean bag and read a bed time story, I am already seeing changes.  The days where you sat cuddled in, listening intently to every line on every page have gone.  Now you pick the same stories every night, because you know them.  You can think of new questions to ask, new 'whys', and you can ask to read more words yourself.  You still have the same love for stories as ever, but you want to be a part of them now, not just a listener.

When you were potty training earlier this year, I used to tell you stories.  Between the two of us we made up a whole series of books, about Dylan, his friend Oscar and the huge castle that they lived in.  The first one was all mine, a way to make you sit still, but after that you wouldn't just listen.  You would interrupt to add bits in, or change the details and eventually it would be you telling me a story.

You love adventure, and find it everywhere, from the obstacle course at the park to underneath a blanket huddled with your brother.  You seek friends wherever you go and are such a sociable boy.  If we go to the park without your friends, you find an older child who will have a conversation with you, and play games with you.  I know how ready you are for preschool and I know that you are going to love the new backpack and lunch box that Mummy and Daddy have got you for your birthday. 

As a two year old you were cheeky, curious, chatty and cautious.  You are not yet riding a bike, scooting round or climbing to the top of the playground, but you are confident and I have no doubts that you will get there soon enough.  You are a (mostly) loving big brother, always checking on Archie, and sharing with him so well.  You don't always get along, but hearing the two of you in fits of giggles together is priceless, and I remember that the best gift we have given you is your mini sidekick. Archie brings out a different side of you too, as your personalities are so different, you become more daring, more silly and more cheeky around him.

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Me and Mine - July

Last July was swelteringly hot, the evenings were sweaty and it felt like summer was going on forever.  I remember watching it out the hospital window, consoling myself with the strong rays I was protecting my children's skin from.  We missed a whole month of sunshine, of being outdoors and this July we have tried to make up for it.

Our days have been spent outdoors as much as possible, with plenty of mornings at the beach, picnics at lunch time and afternoons in the park.  We have spent lazy evenings eating fish and chips out of paper cones watching the children build sandcastles on a deserted beach and if we need some quiet, we have driven motorbikes round the garden, enjoyed bbq's and played with the sandpit.

One evening we met a local photographer down at the local beach, and she took some lovely photos of our little family, capturing us now.  My not so little toddler who is excited and ready for new adventures.  My slightly crazy 17 month old, who would spend all day in the sea and loves to roar, and the bloke and I, enjoying the best side of the place where we grew up, and where we are bringing up our family.

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Archie at 17 Months

Suddenly Archie looks so big, I don't know if it is the fact he is walking so much more, the clothes he wears or the fact that I have been thinking of him as a baby until I was forced to face the toddler he has become.  

Archie is a boy who knows what he wants, is determined to get it, and will let you know how displeased he is if anything stands in the way.  No obstacle is too big, no mountain too high that he won't attempt to go over, under or through it in the pursuit of something he probably isn't allowed.  If I tactfully block his way, I am met with a mini meltdown, and I catch a glimpse of the terrible twos which we seem to have skipped with Dylan but are inevitable with this little dude.  He is by no means bad, but he is testing the waters.

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Beach Times

We love the beach (you may have guessed this already), and we have our beach bags ready to go with all our essentials, all summer.  I can grab the bags, hang them on the buggy and just go which is perfect when you have two toddlers in tow!

 We have been sent some lovely bits which have found a permanent place in our beach bags, the first of which is a pair of personalised towels for the boys from Stuck on you.

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