Our Christmas tree

 Our Christmas tree went up on the first weekend of December, like always. Eva was very helpful this year, helping me with those annoying branches and hanging up the baubles. Every year since Eva was a baby we have added a new bauble, normally she makes them and this year was no different. She painted two clay baubles - one for her and one for Archie to hang from the tree. Her first bauble on the tree was her name on a clay angel. I searched high and low for the same one for Archie but no luck so his is a green one with his name on. I love my tree, simply because it's filled with so many memories. As they get older I can look at the different things on the tree with a smile on my face. 

Bean xo

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas..

December 1st.. what!? Already! I'm starting this month with a Christmas Themed Bucket list.

- Make lots of Christmas decorations. 

- Bake! Cake and Cookies (and of course ginger bread men) 

- Make chutney. 

- Make Christmas cards for family.

I'm already on project felt gingerbread men, to hang on the tree. They shall probably turn up in another post. This year I am using this blog to share my Christmas, and the run up, with you. And of course I am planning on making as fun as possible for my two children. 

On december 1st : 

Advent calenders are from Thorntons 3 for 2 (£6 each)

Christmas reward chart from The card factory for 99p (in store only)

Bean xo

Holidays are coming!

It completely true what they say, once you have children time just fly's by! I can't quite believe we are nearing Christmas already - 32 sleeps to go. Eva has of course already sorted out her Christmas list, since just after Archie turned one (September), she's been telling what she wants Santa to get her. On the top of that list was of course Frozen dolls. I think everyone has gone mad for Frozen this year, in a way I'm glad she's so into something, it makes buying her presents easier. I know if it's got frozen on it she'll love it!

The kids presents (so far)

Eva :

• Frozen dolls - Elsa, Anna, Olaf and Sven 
• A new scooter - Frozen theme of course.
• Anna dress
• Frozen necklace.
• Frozen dinner set
• Leappad game.
• Frozen mug

Archie :

• Musical set - including a drum which I think I may live to regret.
• Two cars - Fire engine and dumper truck.
• wooden Noahs Ark set.

Eva is done other then a few stocking fillers, chocolates and clothes. But I am completely stuck what to get Archie. His birthday wasn't all that long ago.. Another shopping trip is certainly in order.

Bean xo

Old photos.

After living in her house for about 20 years now, my mum finally brought it from the council and has been doing it up ever since. One sunday afternoon I went around to help her, we had to pack up her things from her bedroom - things she wanted and things she didn't - while we were doing this we came across an old box of photo's and spent about an hour looking at them and giggling. I wanted to share just a handful of my favourite ones.

We've always said Archie looks just like his uncle mark, after finding photo's of me as a baby it's quite clear he's my double. Right down the matching smiles and hair.

A photo a day : Slimbridge wetland centre.

Okay so I am day late with this one, but lets just pretend that it is still Friday.. 

We had been planning this trip since last summer when I was heavily pregnant with my boy. Slimbridge (or duck land as Eva calls it) is one of our favourite places to visit. As a toddler Eva adored birds and this being mainly a duck / bird place was the perfect place in her eyes. I would reccommend checking out the events before you go as it's a seasonal place, meaning not all activities are available due to weather etc. 

One new feature was the "passport". Each child was given a passport and every activity on it that they completed they were given a sticker. If they collected all of them, then they got a certificate. Sadly we weren't able to complete all the activities due to the closing hours of each one (check before you go and plan your day - had we been aware of the new passport we'd have done just this) Still Eva completed, feeding the ducks (with the bird seed provided), looking for bugs in the mud, holding a Fire Salamander, Pond dipping and another one which I have forgotten completely! 

We had a lunch in the cafe and the food is amazing! if a little pricey, but well worth it in my opinion after all you get what you paid for. We had a lovely day, Eva loved bird watching, Archie loved watching Eva feed the swans and us adults had a lovely time too.

Bean xo

A photo a day : The Forest Of Dean

After our lazy day yesterday we decided today, we'd do something very active. Walking. Of course living at the edge of the Cotswolds, we are completely surrounded by many perfect walking sites. However, we fancied something different, so headed over to The Forest Of Dean. We have been here many times, and each time we do it rains, so I was somewhat surprised and pleased that the weather stayed hot and sunny the whole time we were there. 

We decided to take a packed lunch with us, for Eva this was a egg and cress sandwich, some fruit (Mango) a pack of ready salted crisps and a drink. I had a ham and egg sandwich, malt loaf with butter, one ginger cookie and a bottle of water. Archie enjoyed Red Pepper, sweet potato and apple for his lunch, washed down with a bottle of milk. We ate our lunch over looking Cannop Ponds, Eva fed her crusts to the ducks and swans who were swimming on the lake. I remembered we still had duck feed left in the car from our trip to Studely Grange on Tuesday, so once the bread had run out we switched to that. 

After lunch, we began our walk. Honestly, we had no plan where we were going, just walk till we were tired out and then head home. We ended up somewhere, in the woods. I have no idea where if I'm honest, it all looks the same. In the end we had a 1 1/2 hour walk and then went home. I love the drive back through the Forest and much as the walking through it. This place is beautiful, it's on our list for a long weekend away next year.

Bean xo

Weaning Diary.

7 months old.

Two meals a day

+ snacks.

 Breakfast : Baby porriage, I also mixed in a a spoon of his berrie baby cereal for a bit of extra flaour. He loves this (although it looks a little too sticky in this picture, I did add more water before feeding it too him)

 Lunch : Yesterday I made apple and pear puree. It was meant to have beetroot but tesco delievered the hot and spicey ones instead of the one's I ordered so I have to skip them.

 Snack : Strawberry in his Nuby. I love this thing, I normally give it to him which I am getting on with housework as it keeps him busy and I don't have to worry about him choking!

He also has his milk, I am still breast feeding him on demand, but during the day now he'son food, this tends to be only 3 times and normally around 30 mins after his meals. As of today I am adding a third meal also around 5pm.

Charity shop haul

 Shopping trip, Saturday 26th April

 Tesco 'I love pugs' T-shirt - £1.99

This is actually in a 6-7 years but it was just too cute to not buy, plus it will last that little bit longer. Eva isn't actually a fan of Pugs, she likes them yes but that's as far as it goes.

 George at Asda 'Robot dancing' outfit - £1

Tiny Ted ip front hoodie - £1.25

Both of these are in 9-12 months, but at 7 months Archie is already fitting into some 9 month clothing. I haven't got him any jackets that fit him yet so I had to buy this.

 Books all 99p each.

Duck soaps - £1.59

Mini bath bombs - 99p

I am re doing my house at the moment and the bathroom is a kind of vintage / retro feel. These super cute duck soaps aren't to use but instead shall be displayed in the bathroom. The bath bombs however, will be.

When to stop breast feeding.

When I decided I wanted to breast feed Archie I discussed with boyfriend how long I would do it for. We both agreed that 6 months would be long enough, what with my returning to work when Archie was 8 months this would give me two months to wean him on the bottle and to get him on solid meals as well. However, Archie is 7 months old tomorrow and I am still breast feeding him and I have no plans to stop any time soon. I feel very positive about this, he's happy I'm happy so why should I stop? Work is no problem. I shall be returning May 31st to do evening and weekend hours meaning I can continue to breast feed while I work. The only real problem I have is deciding when to stop, I certainly don't want to be one of those mother's who breast feed their 5 year olds because in my view that's taking it one step too far but at the same time I don't want to stop before I'm ready to and totally regret my decision. So I have a question (or two) 

When did you stop breast feeding? 

What was the reason? 

Did you regret it?

~

note : I plan to do a post on my breast feeding journey, the good and the bad soon.

A girl called Eva.

Eva Ann Hopkins,
Age 5 years.
Favourites-
TV show : She's crazy on anything to do with animals, always has been, her favourite being any David Attenborough documentary. Cartoon wise she adores Tom and Jerry or Scooby doo. 
Food : Jacket potato. She could live off them given half the chance.
Colour : Pink. She does like purple too but pink is always her first choice.
Animal : She's Owl crazy, I think her obsession with them began as a toddler when she saw a barn owl for the first time. By the age of 2 she was able to tell you all the breeds. Her favourites still remains the barn owl.
Dislikes-
Having her hair washed. Flys or spiders. Meat. Wearing trousers. Dirt. The wind blowing her hair. Not getting her own way. These are the main things that can cause a melt down. She's beginning to get that teenage temper already, many days I've had her bedroom slammed in my face! She's a diva that's for sure.

What's in my bag?

I thought I would do a completely different sort of post today, the what's in my hand bag post. I actually had no idea what was in my bag, I tend to just stick things in there and forget there even there!

My bag is from New look, I love it because of it's size. As a mum I have to carry all sorts of things as well as my own so having a larger bag is a must. I also love the metal corners at the bottom which make it a more sturdy bag. 

- Tesco Love Baby fragance free wipes.
- Little big nappies.
- Hair bands.
- Tigger teddy.

- Teetha Teething Granules.
- Ibuprofen.
- Elemis Sp@home Hand and Nail cream.
- Vaseline Aloe Vera Lip Therapy.
- My spare glasses.

- A book ; I have no idea why this is in my bag. I read it at home not while out and about.
- Nikon DX 55-200mm lens ; my Nikon D5000 camera with a 18-55mm lens attached to it is also normally in my bag too.
- My purse, from Next
- My house keys.

- Spare clothes for Archie.;; T-shirt & socks both from Tesco. Jogger's were a present and the bodysuit is from Asda living.

Easter illnesses.

Easter is almost here and I am drugged up to the eye balls due to getting the flu. I feel like rubbish, honestly I am never ill, I'm a mum.. who has time to be ill? Normally it's the kids or Boyfriend who are unwell and me running around looking after them. I hate being ill, it makes me sad, more so now because it's Easter and I had so many plans of things I wanted to do for Archies first one and now it's looking very unlikely that I'll get to do anything for easter at all. I feel sad reading all these amazing easter blog posts and wanting to be more active and baking cakes, painting eggs and having fun with the children. Being ill makes me feel selfish because I can't just go do things with the kids like I normally do - Although I have been getting lots of snuggles from them! I am hoping that by Easter Monday I'll be fighting fit and I can do the whole easter thing in one day, if not I may have to have a late easter instead. Oh how I hate being ill.

Sunshine and parks.

Sunday morning I woke up early and full of energy, this could only mean one thing the gym. I haven't been since my birthday - not out of choice I may add - with Sean at home with Archie and Eva still sleeping at her grandparents house I thought I'd go annoy my mother and drag her along too. The most amusing thing that morning was my mother's face when I turned up at her front door all bright eyed and bushy tailed, put it this way she is not a morning person! We had a good hour in the gym, laughing at how stupid we looked and probably looking like two people who've been let out for the day rather then two regular gym goers, but we had fun and I think that's what it's all about. We normally head for a swim before steaming the morning away in the health spa but as boyfriend didn't have any milk for Archie we decided to skip this grab some food in the little cafe and call boyfriend to take us food shopping. Yes that boring weekend task that turns old ladies into crazy shoppers and have other's diving out of the way of their trolley driving. I won't bore you with what went on here, I'm pretty sure you can guess - pick up an item stick in trolley and repeat - but we decided it would be a shame to waste the rest of the day doing housework, yet another glam weekend chore, so after dropping the food off at home we headed to the park. Archie's never been, well he has but he was a few weeks old and slept the whole time so I'm sure I'll not be counting that one. Eva ran off to play with some other children the moment we got to the park followed by the boyfriend who was told to keep an eye on her while I headed to the baby swings with Archie. He cried, the moment I sat him in the swing he cried. I quickly snuggled him back up and realised there was an awful smell coming from his nappy. A quick change and back on the swing and he was laughing and giggling. He loved it! Eva and boyfriend spent a good hour or so playing (boyfriend being a huge child was loving his day out maybe more then the children) We ended the day with a walk by the river while eating ice creams.

A day at birdland.

Saturday we took the children out for the day to Birdland (Bourton on the water). Archie's finally better after having a bad round of chicken pox and the sun was out so we thought there was no better way to spend the day. We last went here when Eva was smaller, a year or so ago. She's a massive fan of British birds, mainly owls, and loved coming here back then, Saturday was no different. We planned to leave around 9am but it ended up being 12pm as Eva and the boyfriend decided to watch his birthday gift from the children "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs 2". Archie slept the whole journey down the car while Eva enjoyed eating the travel sweets I'd brought that morning. I love driving through the countryside, Eva and I like to spot how many animals we can see on our way. This time we saw sheep, horses, pheasants and a ginger cat. This game keeps Eva happy so we don't have the whole "are we there yet" routine which drives me insane!

The first thing I noticed while walking around was how many wild birds there were hanging around. We saw three herons sitting around watching and waiting for fish, lots of small birds eating from the feeders in the woods and then the black swans and ducks (I didn't take any photos of the last two)

They have lots of different birds here, from the common to the uncommon, birds from all over the world! Eva enjoying finding them all and loved how funny some looked. Archie found the noises the parrots made very funny.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eva's favourite part of the day was finding the baby chicks, We had to back and see them again before we left just so she could say goodbye!