Christmas 2013

Awaking on Christmas day slightly later than usual was a great way to start the day. Especially as I was still suffering from what I can only describe as the flu. Aches and pains, a sore throat and headaches were plaguing me, and I lost all hope of being 100% healthy when my voice decided it still didn’t want to come out and play. Symptoms aside I had been really excited about Christmas, especially now Leo was older and could really take part.

We spent Christmas with my family, and Leo was tucked up in bed and soundly asleep by 8pm. All ready to get a good night’s sleep and be ready for all of the fun and games of Christmas Day…

This year was the very first year that Leo was at an age to really get involved, it was the very first year that he opened presents himself with excirement and curiosity. Upon entering the living room to see the mountain of presents that Santa had left for the entire family, Leo’s eyes widened and he was soon traipsing through the gifts, stowing away with the ones that took his fancy. Even if they weren’t actually for him. 

We sat together and opened his stocking first, but waited for everyone to come in and join us so that we could all marvel in Leo’s reaction. Santa could have left lumps of cole I that stocking, Leo was so pleased by the Buzz Lightyear and Disney’s Car’s wrapping paper that it wouldn’t have mattered what had been inside of it.

Leo was handed his presents by his Auntie Alice, and he slowly but surely tore off the paper hiding away his gift. One of the very first things Leo opened was his new Buzz Lightyear doll, and as soon as he laid eyes on Buzz… Leo was no longer interested in opening presents. Buzz was the only toy he had eyes for.

The opening of presents took most of the day (and then some), but that was really nice as it actually gave Leo chance to play with the new toys that he had already received.

Having the whole family at home was a really great way to spend Christmas, the kids played, the adults watched and prepared for a tasty Turkey dinner. Somewhere amongst it all Leo discovered a very special gift, a gift from Mumma and Dadda….

Leo’s very own Lightning McQueen Electric Car. Suffice to say that when Leo pulled back the paper and realised exactly what was underneath, it was like all of my Christmas’s had come at once. His eyes lit up and his smile grew, and before I knew it Leo was sat in the seat and ready to give it a test run.

Granddad soon voiced his dis-pleasure at the apparent skid marks Leo may have left in the carpet, so both Leo and the car were soon zooming around outside…

After lot’s of driving, zooming and toddler fun, Leo was desperate for a nap. As soon as those tired eyes closed, Leo was asleep right up until Christmas Dinner was being served. I had to gently bring him around as I didn’t want him to miss the fun of eating with everyone, and pulling crackers!

This year really was the start of the magic for Leo, the understanding that Santa brings presents and that Christmas is a time full of wonder and excitement really shone through. As usual though the day went by far too quickly, but although next Christmas is still a year away, I hold special memories of our special day, and I look forward to building on the magic that Leo has already witnessed.

Next year Leo will be 3 and a half years old, and the magic will ring louder than it ever has before. And if this year is anything to go by, it is going to be very special.

It is the season

Since the 1^st of December we have welcomed Christmas into our home, we have embraced the season with open arms and happily taken part in this magical time.

We have dutifully helped you open your advent calendar each and every day, and you have munched your way through 16 chocolate coins so far. You wake up and tell me ‘chocolate draw’ until we head over to the Advent House and see what treats today has in store for us.

Your excitement about this season has been so wonderful, heading out in the car after the sun has set and the moon has risen is always a treat. You see Christmas as we scootle along in the car, and get so excited by the lights that everybody have placed to celebrate Christmas 2013. The big old Christmas tree at the end of the road and the big old house just around the corner who always have their lights up year in and year out.

Your little face when you finally tried your very first hot chocolate.

You mmmm'd and arhhh'd in all of the right places. 

You pulled the mug out of my hands,

You demanded more.

So I decided to share my hot chocolate with my little guy on a cold December's Winter's day, and now you have discovered this simple pleasure you can rest assured that we will be sharing many more this Christmas.

I don’t expect you will eat your Christmas dinner this year, but I know you will happily un-wrap presents, pull crackers and don party hats!

You will go to sleep as always on Christmas Eve not realising that when you wake up on Christmas morning, Santa will have paid us all a visit in the night. You will spend the morning opening all of your wonderful gifts and I will be there just watching your face as you realise what is inside each and every parcel. There will be lots of playing and lots of tidying up to do by the end of the day.

I love that each year you are gaining more of an understanding, looking back over your last 2 Christmas’s in photographs show me how grown up you now are. Your very first Christmas saw you as a baby in arms, just shy of 6 months old. Far too little to really know that anything was going on, but you shone so bright with each smile you beamed at us.

Last Christmas you were 18 months old, much bigger and much wiser. Back then you seemed so incredibly grown up, feeding your baby Josh and pushing him around in your new pushchair.. But now I can see that this year is truly the start of the magic. The start of an understanding that is going to get more exciting as each year goes by.

You know that something is going on, and have taken part in so much this year. But you don’t realise that this is simply the build up to one big day of magic and family. But next year.. Next year you will. 

The Wahl Power 2000W Hair Dryer

Heading to the hair dressers or taking that time to get something done for me is sometimes one of those things that I simply put on hold. It is so easy to just get wrapped up in day to day life that you simply forget to do these things. In fact these days when I remember to get my hair done (those roots speak volumes!) I have a mobile hair dresser come to the house… I find that it is just easier this way and often cheaper.

But just because you don’t step foot in the salon… it does not mean you have to wave goodbye to the salon experience!?

Until recently I had been using the same battered old hair dryer for many years, in its hay day it was probably an alright model.. But these days it cuts out when it gets to hot and the power leaves a lot to be desired.

I was very recently sent the Wahl Power 2000W Hair Dryer to replace my older dryer that seriously needed to retire to the greener pastures of…the rubbish bin. One of the first things that I felt I needed the check out about this model was not the actual power of it, but to see how far the cord would reach. For me this is always an important aspect of research before buying an electrical product that I will be ultimately needing to use by the mirror. I am pleased to report that this model has a very generous amount of cord flex and didn’t disappoint at all in this department.

There are 2 different speed settings, and also 3 heat settings. I tend to use the hair dryer on a the highest setting for the power and a medium for the heat. I don’t like it to be too hot and I find that if I do put it on the top speed setting that I can occasionally tangle my hair up (My own doing I hasten to add).

It dries and styles my hair perfectly and I am not for one moment pretending that I spend hours styling my hair. My only real aim is to dry it so that it does not look like a beehive! I use a brush and simply brush it with one hand while using the hair dryer in the other to try and dry it from the root.

This is my hair after simply using the Wahl Power 2000 hair dryer, I have to admit that I was really impressed with the results. It dried it all very quickly because of how powerful it is and gave me a result that I didn’t really have to run the straighteners through if I didn’t wish too.

As far as it goes for what I think of this hair dryer. I LOVE IT! I would definitely make comparisons against a salon hair dryer, and I am really impressed with it.

It comes with three different accessories for different styling techniques, but for me I don't tend to get to adventurous. It is nice to know they are there if for any reason I did have a little longer than usual to do my hair. 

The Wahl Power 2000W Hair Dryer retails at £29.99 which is a really attractive price and is firmly within my price bracket. I don't tend to spend a fortune on hair dryers and I think this is a realistic price for a quality item.

Disclaimer: I was sent the Power 2000W Hair Dryer for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

The Fisher Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm Review

As a kid I used to spend a lot of time either playing with my play farm, or hassling my parents to buy a real farm and move us all to the countryside… You see then I would have been able to keep a horse, get that dog I have always dreamed of and continue my tom boy ways…

But sadly buying a farm never really ranked on my parent’s agenda… So I grew up and moved on, somewhere along the way I obviously decided that farm life wasn’t really for me. But boy did I love that play farm as a kid…

Leo has been sent his very own Fisher Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm, and it actually reminds me a little of the farm I once had as a little girl (this may be part of the reason I like it so much). Another reason I instantly liked this particular model is because it is part of the ever popular Little People range. Leo already has a selection of Little People toys and they are all very much loved and get daily play action, so this addition I knew would be very welcome.

This model is already very popular and I have heard fellow parents raving about how great it is, and upon it’s arrival and getting a hands on inspection I was soon inclined to agree with them. The farm is a really great size and comes complete with farm animals, and of course Eddie the farmer.

In terms of putting the farm together, there is minimal assembly required. It is simply a case of clicking the base of the farm into the body of the farm and making sure it is all in place. The ladder at the back of the farm needs a screw fitting at either end, but that is as labour intensive as it gets.

Inside the box you are supplied with everything you need to get playing, and this includes Farmer Eddie, a Horse, Cow and Sheep. What kind of farm would it be if there wasn’t fencing to keep the animals from straying? So of course Fisher Price have thought of this and included one for the future conscious farmers out there.

I really like to solid structure of this farm as it is built to stand up to toddlers who like to play hard, and play hard… Leo does. The fact it is built to last means that it is a toy that can be kept and passed down to any future children that come along.

Leo is loving his farm, he found the button to make noises in the hay shed instantly.. Of course being Leo he hasn’t just stuck to playing farms, or playing with the animals. Leo has brought cars into the barn and runs them up and down the chute like a ramp, and he has involved all of his tractors while he plays…

There are so many different opportunities to let his imagination run away with him, and he can do whatever he likes happen while he is playing. The rules are entirely his own, and because it is free play, Leo really does get the chance to get creative.

The farm is currently set up at Granny’s house for him to play with while he is at her house, but I will be bringing it back home very soon so I can set it up on his farm table with all of his other tractors. It is going to look super on the table with all of his other bits and pieces, and I know that he will really enjoy that.

There is a dial at the top of the farm that plays a number of different tunes depending on which setting you currently have selected. You can switch between two different settings (night and day) that will give you different animal sounds and tunes.

The farm is perfect for Leo who is now starting to use his imagination in play more, and it is lovely to watch him making the connections and playing with the animals. Poor farmer Eddie has taken more than a few tumbles through the hay chute.. But luckily he is quite resilient and Leo can always breathe the life back into him.

I think the Fisher Price play farm certainly lives up to expectation and in usual Little People style they have presented us with another big toddler hit. It certainly pleased the inner child in me!

With Christmas coming up I think this would make the perfect gift under the tree. It opens up the door to imaginative play and then the rest is down to the little one at the helm. All we can do is provide our children with the tools to play and learn, and watch as they dream up new scenarios to act out. That for me is exactly why I am such a big fan of Fisher Price.

The Fisher Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm retails at £39.99 which may sound a bit more expensive, but for the quality and the play value of a set that will last the toddler fumbles (which always happen) I would say it is worth every penny.

So with Christmas growing ever closer, and if you are looking for the perfect present for your little one. This may be the perfect gift for the avid farmer.

Disclaimer: I was sent the Fisher Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Last Saturday I spent my evening preparing the living room for the 1^st December. I know there was no real rush to get it up and twinkling, but I was pulled into the excitement of everything this year, now that Leo is getting that little bit older and wiser to what is actually going on.

We have a new Christmas Tree this year, one we invested in a week or so ago and spent a rather pretty penny on. Last year’s tree was a hand me down and we wanted our very own this year, one that we had personally chosen.

We already had many decorations, some of which have become a familiar sight on the Christmas Tree since Leo’s arrival in 2011. Each year we have been adding a new decoration to Leo’s personal collection, and this year he chose a personalised Penguin charm from the local garden centre.

We have a number of new decorations this time around, from twinkly lights to some new baubles. I was recently sent a rather exciting Christmas box from Home Bargains to in-twine among our own festive decorations. I have to say that I have been impressed with the quality of the selection and of course the price! It just goes to show that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a decent/attractive decoration. To be honest they stand their ground next to some of our more expensive decorations, with nothing more to show for except we spent a few more pennies on them.

Who says you can’t decorate for the festive season on a budget!?

These are a selection of the goodies we were sent from Home Bargains to spruce up our Christmas Tree.

We have also been sent a festive addition from the LED Hut, their Red, Blue and Green Christmas Lights. The LED Hut have recently had a factory change around and the lights which were due to arrive on November 27^th didn’t actually arrive until 2^nd December. But this wasn’t an issue as they arrived promptly ready to help us tackle the rest of the house. Initially these savvy LED lights were going to be put onto the Christmas Tree, but as I was a little too excited and couldn’t wait any longer… We decided to use these lights in our glass vase for an extra Christmassy glow (one that we can actually use all year long!)

There are a number of reasons it is beneficial to opt for LED Christmas Lights this year:

- Save 90% on your lighting bills

- Long-lasting LEDs can keep going for more than 20 years

- A typical home could save around £30 a month by switching to LEDs

- LED bulbs are a direct replacement for your old energy-guzzling bulbs - just plug them in and save!

I was really impressed by these new lights, they shine brightly and look super. So even when all of the Christmas decorations have been packed back into the attic… We will still have some pretty lights bringing some colour to the backdrop of a dismal January.

How is your decorating going this year? Do you already have your tree up and ready for the big day? 

Disclaimer: I was sent the above items for the purpose of this feature. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

Christmas is coming!

Christmas is coming, December is here.

That familiar chill means Jack Frost is near.

Mulled wine and Mince pies, Christmas Trees and lights

All play a part in the festive delights.

As the tree was un-boxed and the magic swooned,

Little man stood there with a smile that simply ballooned!

Try as he might ‘mismas’ was all he could muster,

As the magic of Christmas began to fluster.

The Christmas tree stood covered all in snow,

And the fairy lights emitted a warm festive glow.

Little man tried to help his very best,

But Mumma completed it while he was having a rest…

The stringing of the lights put up a grand fight

And by the end, Mumma was a tangled up sight.

Sooner or later, they took their place on the tree,

And by morning little man couldn’t wait to see!

Little man jumped and bounded.

His entire being was completely astounded.

Little man’s reaction was one for the books,

His entire face took on the most magical of looks.

Beneath the tree ran the Polar Express,

The train alone was enough to impress.

As the train ploughed through the depths of Christmas,

Little man made sure he was taking care of business.

The train continued to toot and steam,

As that smile on little man’s face continued to beam.

Santa will soon be on his way, 

And until then the magic is here to stay.

Thomas & Friends - All Around Sodor Interactive Train Set Review

I have said it before, and I will say it again. Now that Leo is a fully fledged toddler the toys have become so much more exciting. They move, make exciting sounds and do so much more than they once did…

A real love for Leo at this present time has to be trains, and one of his favourite trains has to be the famous Thomas the Tank Engine. Leo was in his element on a recent visit to Thomas Land at Drayton Manor, and so his love for the most useful blue engine grew some more.

With Christmas coming I have been having a look into some big hit toddler toys, and after having a personal play with the Fisher-Price Thomas and Friends, AllAround Sodor train set. I can hand on heart see why toddlers would love to see this under their Christmas Tree this year…

This Thomas Set is a great size and is pretty simple to put together, it even comes with a motorised Thomas train and cargo car. There are of course instructions included within the box but as usual… I liked to look at the images on the front of the box to see where they would all need to be positioned. Leo was interested as soon as I presented him with the box, and instantly he was drawn to the Thomas train that is strategically positioned in a presentation box within the main box. So of course this meant that I could not get everything set up quickly enough, and I knew then and there that this toy was going be treasured.

This is my 2 year olds very first motorised train set, unless of course you count the Fisher-Price Animal Train that he had for his first Christmas… But in terms of a grown up/big boy train set, this is his very first. As soon as Leo saw that Thomas could move around independently, that was enough to bring the biggest smile to his face and put that beautiful twinkle in his eyes.

This set has had such a playing with, it has simply not been left alone since it rocked up. Leo seems to just adore pushing the buttons on Thomas’s back, sitting down and just watching Thomas run all around the tracks. In fact it prompted Leo to start saying ‘tracks’ and pointing to them so he could tell me all about them.

Thomas goes around the tracks smoothly and hasn’t been de-railed on many occasions, unlike the Christmas train we have running around our Christmas Tree this year! Suffice to say that when this Christmas train de-rails himself… Leo is far from impressed. Thomas sticks nicely to the track and goes around when you press one of the two buttons on his back. Thomas’s face is also motorised, his eyes move from side to side, and he can even open his mouth!

What I really liked about this set, aside from the rather super motorised Thomas, was that he actually interacts with items as he passes them. When Thomas goes down the slope on the track he exclaims ‘weeeee’. This gives the set another level of play value for me, and definitely for Leo.

There are 7 pieces of track to clip together, and then you have the train sheds with a sticker of Thomas’s friends. Over on the other side of Sodor you will find Cranky the Crane where you can place one of the barrels into the loading station. You can even put another barrel into Thomas’s cargo car and really set him to work as he steams around Sodor!

There is no real assembly for this toy, everything comes ready to be clicked into place. Even the sticker on the train sheds is already in place. This is always good when you have an eager toddler who wants to play straight away, and of course is good for parents like me who seem to avoid instructions…

It is a easy toy to store and we have got a reasonably sized storage box now so that we can keep all of the pieces together when we put it away. You could always keep it in the original box, but I find it takes up to much room, so when it is not in use we tidy it away.

This set would be a hit even if your little one is not a serious Thomas fan, but for Leo he loves it that little bit more because of who the train is. Ultimately this set offers so many imaginative play scenarios, and I love watching Leo sit and enjoy this set.

The Fisher-Price Thomas and Friends, All Around Sodor retails at £39.99, but I have sourced it on Amazon for £34.99 at the point of writing this review. If you have a little Thomas fan, or a little one who simply loves trains, I would highly recommend this train set.

Disclaimer: We were sent the Thomas and Friends All Around Sodor Train Set for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

The Lakeland Chocoholics' Christmas Hamper Review

Sometimes buying the perfect gift for someone can seem like a mammoth task. There have been times I have searched the very depths of my brain and not been able to come up with anything. I have to set myself budgets for friends and family as it is so easy to get carried away and suddenly part with ££'s... So I do think that it is important to think about setting yourself a budget, browse gifts in that budget bracket and then STICK to that budget...

Once you have that budget in mind get browsing, what does this person you are buying for really like? love? I have been giving hampers a lot of thought this year, as there is such a vast selection and some lovely packages available. Hampers give you so much more choice and variation depending on who you are shopping for and what they like. I have never really been a giver or a receiver of hampers and wasn't really sure what the contents of a hamper would  actually consist of. I did wonder if they provided value for money? And of course whether it would be a worthy gamble of a Christmas gift?...

I am pleased to report 'yes' to the above... and here is why.

With Christmas hype building up that little bit more with each day that passes, I can confirm that I am definitely feeling the Christmas spirit. Over the last week I have been personally munching my way through the Lakeland Chocoholic's Hamper, and it is every bit as good as it sounds! 

Nothing quite says it's Christmas like a hamper full of festive chocolate goodness, so this hamper is perfect for someone who likes to indulge from time to time...And who doesn't over the Christmas holidays? 

What is hidden away in this chocolate treasure trove?

English Tea Shop Chocolate, Rooibos & Vanilla Tea Bags (20 bags)

Now when I first read this I did wonder what this taste experience may reveal... I am not very adventurous when it comes to hot drinks and actually very rarely drink them. Now any doubts I had about this very different tea experience started to vanish as soon as I poured the boiling water into the awaiting cup. The sweet smell of the tea started to release from the tea bag instantly, the instructions advise you to leave it for 5 minutes so that the flavours have chance to really release... And of course it gives it chance to cool down somewhat.

So after being a little skeptical about the chocolate tea, I soon conformed to the unique taste of this blend. Now admittedly I don't drink much tea at all but when I do... I usually add a few tea spoons of sugar. This blend is sweet enough without and is subtle with it's flavouring. It's not sickly or too sweet and get's a big thumbs up from me! 

Romney’s Death by Chocolate Butter Fudge 

Now this fudge had me at it's name! Death by Chocolate, how can you not be drawn in to try it?  I was pleasantly surprised by the flavour combination, and it was hard to close up the bag after opening it. Luke definetly helped share the 'burden' of eating it all.. It was devoured pretty quickly by the two of us. 

Milk Chocolate Artisan Bar Topped with Fudge & Crispy Chocolate Balls

Now this was the first piece of chocolate that I set my sights upon when opening up my hamper, so naturally it was the first piece to get devoured! It's not a massive bar, but it is certainly worth tasting (and hiding so that you don't have to share).  I really liked this bar combined with the fudge and crispy chocolate balls. It was a good combination between the chocolate melting in your mouth, with the chewy fudge... *licks lips and looks for more*

Stir-In Hot Chocolate Fudge

This has to be a firm favourite of mine, and something I have never actually used before... A hot chocolate with a real difference, and how could it not be? Chocolate fudge on a stick ready to be twirled and swirled into your warm cup of milk! It's a creamy cup of heaven, but use it wisely... There is only one in the hamper.

What else is in the hamper?

- Cartmel Chocolate Sauce

- Chocolate Flavoured Ground Coffee (56g

- Shortbread House of Edinburgh Choc Chip Shortbread Bites

- Cole's Chocolate Steamed Puddings

It is all presented in a quality wicker basket, and is something that you will keep long after all of the chocolate goodies have been consumed. There is such a lovely selection of different chocolate experiences within this hamper and many are things that I wouldn't have tried had they not been included inside. I think gifting a hamper is actually a great way of opening up a persons ability to try new things, and discovering new tastes.

With Christmas now twinkling right in front of us, you may even be thinking about when you will be getting all of your wrapping done? Our Lakeland Chocoholics' Hamper actually arrived ready for Christmas in a rich deep Purple wrapping complete with a bow. For £3.99 you can have your chosen gift wrapped and delivered. Now I like this option for 2 reasons... It stops you having to wrap it yourself... and it will be wrapped in a much more presentable state than if I had wrapped it myself.

As you can see Leo was rather thrilled to have a present to open. So thrilled that he made a point of keeping his little cousin at bay when he got too 'in the present zone'. At one point Leo was actually pulling the present away and pointing at Josh saying 'NO JOSH'. There was no helping Leo open his present!

A sign of things to come.... I think so!

If all this talk of the Lakeland Chocoholics' Christmas Hamper has got your mouth watering to try it for yourself, then you can purchase your very own for £39.99. Maybe you know someone who would love this under the Christmas tree? 

Disclaimer: I was sent the Lakeland Chocoholics' Hamper for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

Santa Clause is coming to town!

This weekend Santa Clause came to town, so we wrapped up in our winter warmers and tucked Leo up in his pushchair. We took a slow wintery walk into town, where we patiently waited to see the first glimpse of the big man in red.. and his reindeer.

Leo was so excited at the prospect of seeing Santa again, and maybe even seeing the reindeer fly! His little face was a picture when he saw the biggest reindeer approaching. Leo kept pointing towards the skies as if half expecting the reindeer to suddenly leap off into the unknown.

We took our place among the forming crowds of people so that we could watch Santa parade down the street to the brass band that was getting ready to play. All of a sudden I was 5 years old again and the magic was well and truly alive. 

The band began to play and Santa began to stroll up the centre of the town, with his reindeer and the town squire. I positioned Leo so he could get a good view, but then Santa had passed us and the crowd who he had already surpassed began to follow him down the street. We ended up in the market square where the local radio station were putting on entertainment, and Leo even enjoyed some snow!

We took Leo down last year to see the big light switch on, but he didn't really take any of it in. This year he was in his element when the big countdown took place and then the pretty lights sprung up all around the market square. As if the Christmas lights were not enough, to mark the switch on... Fireworks boomed over head, making that big smile on Leo's face ever wider and brighter. 

It never ceases to amaze me the difference that a year can make. This is just the start of the magic this year, and we will be doing so much just to keep that magic burning, those eyes glowing and that smile shining.

The Little Tikes Play Date

Having a toddler has opened up a whole new world to me, one full of toys and wild escapades. One of our recent escapades was to visit Little Tikes for a rather exciting play date in Milton Keynes. A number of other children of varying ages were also invited along so that together, our cheeky kiddies could have a hands on play with all of the current Little Tikes range.

Leo and I are no stranger to Little Tikes, I as a child used to share my younger brothers Cozy Coupe! And although the years have rolled by, and the designs may have been made that little bit more modern… The Cozy Coupe is still going strong, and Leo darts around the house in his very own! When I first bestowed Leo with his Cozy Coupe, he would sit in it watching the television and playing with other toys. He was completely smitten!

Leo and I set off on this latest adventure bright and early, but if Leo was honest the bit he was most looking forward to about this day out, was that he could travel on the train! The main topic of conversation on our travels was that he was indeed on a train… Or ‘Choo’ as he likes to call them, over and over again. The train ride was so exciting that Leo decided there was no way he was going to give in and take a nap for me… Which of course meant that upon arrival at Little Tikes.. He was way past his best and I did worry that he may not play ball.

Luckily for me as soon as we got there, Leo let go of my hand and he ran right into the thick of it. He threw himself over the blow up Little Tikes inflatable… He flew threw the entrance and found all of the other children who were already playing together.

The purpose of this play date was to highlight the different play personalities, and with all of the children that Little Tikes had very bravely invited along, it was apparent that they were all at play right there in that very room. The room had been set up into the different areas for the different age ranges:-

- Little Learners

- Little Movers

- Little Builders

- Explorers

- Little Grown Up’s

In each area there were toys from each of Little Tikes ranges, and the kids were free to run around, jump, shout and do as they pleased. Leo did a lot of jumping and a lot of shouting, some good shouting… and some not so good screaming. My 2 year old quickly became known as the boy who could get stuck…anywhere. I don’t quite know what play personality this bestows upon him… But I very quickly became accustomed to listening out for Leo’s scream and promptly ran over to pull him out of the latest place he had become wedged…

He even managed to find the rather snazzy water play table, and while I was listening to the introductions he decided to take the opportunity... And get soaked! Hence the naked attire...

What I found really interesting about the day was that Maggie Redshaw (Little Tikes Play Expert) was on hand to answer any questions that we had. I had a lovely chat with Maggie and it was lovely to hear that the best part of her job was to actually just get down on her hands and knees and indulge in a proper playtime with the kids. She said that while they are playing like they were here, there is no wrong that they can do as they are just learning about everything around them, testing the waters so to speak.

Maggie has been helping Little Tikes discover why children play in the ways that they do, and I was really impressed that Little Tikes were taking advice from all areas of the playing field. When Maggie was talking to the bigger kids (i.e…Us parents) I found myself nodding along with everything she said. One point was that when they have held play dates in the past, they have thought that the kids would perhaps conform to their stereotypical roles… But what actually happened was the boys flocked to the playhouses and play kitchens (just like Leo does!) and the girls to anything with wheels!

Now this didn’t surprise me at all, Leo is often found playing in his play kitchen, and he even has his very own baby doll and a pushchair!

Of course throughout the play date Leo played with absolutely everything. He played with the lawn mower and the train set (which soon became a firm favourite!) and he even played with the kitchen where he served me ample supply of ‘chips’.

Then when the lack of sleep got a little bit too much… Leo decided he was so tired that he was going to inflict the ultimate toddler melt down on everyone in the room. Train track flew, Leo lay flat on the floor with a face as red as a tomato… I sat there watching not really knowing what to do with him. It went on for a little while… Until Santa. YES SANTA, walked in through the door with a big bag of presents for all of the kid’s.

What better way to end a play date!?

I managed to convince Leo to sit down on a bean bag with his blanket and his milk, and cuddle up until Santa handed him his very own gift. As soon as Leo laid eyes on Father Christmas I saw his entire face light up, and the toddler who only minutes before had been screaming… was now sat mesmerized right beside me, pointing at Santa and calling his name ‘Danta’.

I had to stop Leo from prematurely running up to Santa and stealing a gift, but he didn’t have long to wait until the man in red bestowed Leo with his very own present. Leo eagerly tucked into ripping the wrapping paper off so he could see what was inside. Santa had very kindly given all of the children their new play kitchen, and now whenever you point at his latest toy box addition, and ask him who gave him it… He replies concisely with ‘Danta, Present’.

What really made me giggle over the weekend was when I told him we would be seeing Santa again, and Leo replied ‘Present, More’. I think someone may have been a little bit spoilt at Little Tikes!

We had a lovely, and at times magical time with Little Tikes, and I would just like to say a big thank you for inviting Leo and I along. We have definetly added a few more Little Tikes goodies on our letter to Santa Clause this year!

Disclaimer: Leo and I were invited along to the Little Tikes Play Date. We were provided with lunch and our travel expenses were paid for us. Leo was gifted a present from Santa. I was not asked to write this post and all views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.