Dreaming Of Some Sunshine

It is safe to say that 2014 has kicked off with an frightful amount of rain. We have seen flooding and just general miserable weather. All of this rain has highlighted a certain item of clothing that both Leo and I have been lacking…Waterproof jackets!

If you are like me, you will shy away from heading out and about when it rains, but let’s face it… If you need to go out, you need to go out! Leo on the other hand is not scared of a little bit of water, he’s more than happy to slip on his wellies and find numerous muddy puddles to splash around in! It was only earlier this week after I picked Leo up from nursery, that he decided to jump through each and every puddle he came across, in his trainers no less! Suffice to say I didn’t anticipate that first splash, which resulted in grand smiles from the mischievous one!

By the end of the walk back to the car, Leo had drenched his shoes and splashed water (and mud) all up his jeans. He had managed to inflict the splashes in my direction just as much as his… So I too got to feel soggy and muddy. Of course Leo didn’t mind, this just made the puddle activities that little bit more exciting. Splashing in deep, muddy puddles is so much more fun… When Mummy gets involved too!

I recently came across Muddy Puddles, an online shop selling a wide variety of coats, and jackets that will help our kids weather the elements. They have jackets that will protect you from a rain shower, right through to warmer coats that will weather a snow storm.

Muddy Puddles have the coat (and footwear) for the job. I particularly like the rainmac’s as these little beauties come in handy throughout the year, living in Britain we know that we will spy rain even over the Summer months so it is a good item of clothing to have to hand.

As a parent I like to know that I have everything for Leo that I could possibly need, and as he is growing all of the time this can prove to be one demanding task. Sometimes I find that I only realise that we have a need for an item….In the instance that we actually need it! You can guarantee that if you have to pop into a high-street shop you won’t be able to find what you are looking for. I have found myself in this position on a number of occasions, they either don’t have the size, pattern or the entire item I am after. I guess this is why I do so much of my clothes shopping online these days!

Disclaimer: This is a Featured Post

Wake Up Leo

Wake up Leo we are going on an adventure!

Were up before the moon lay's down his sleepy head, and before the birds start their morning tune.

Were off to catch an airplane and fly way up high.

Were going to look down on the world from dizzy heights and in a few short hours we will be far from here.

We sped along the deserted motorway with hardly anyone else around.

No one but the man in the moon shining his light, guiding our way.

We dropped off Mumma's car and waved her 'bye bye' and hopped on a bus.

Your very first bus journey

You excitedly exclaimed to everyone around you, your joy of riding on the bus.

'Mumma! Bus...Wheels!' you happily chirped. 

Complete strangers were captivated as you were so excited, they shot you smiles and couldn't take their eyes off of the little boy, who's dreams had come true through the simplicity of a bus journey.

The bus was all you spoke about all day, and you told absolutely anyone who would listen all about your exciting adventure.

The airplane was far less exciting than the bus.. The plane left a lot to be desired in your eyes and I am sure you would have happily taken a bus journey to Cyprus over the boring plane.

When you arrived at the villa you were absolutely exhausted, completely not in the mood for playing.

Until you saw the swimming pool of course. If there is one new word you learnt over the week it is 'pool'.

We got you your very first rubber ring and your big cousin showed you how to use it. 

To start with you were not entertaining the idea, but after a few minutes you were using it like a pro.

Spinning circles around in the warm water and showing us all just how big and grown up you had become. 

You ate out with us each and every night, having your very own big boy dinner's.

You even had your very first virgin cocktail, because you were determined to have some 'bubble juice', we didn't stand in your way. You were on holiday after all.

In fact you were a cheeky little rascal all week, stealing Mumma's can's of pop, but you made up for it by sitting and clinking our drinks together exclaiming 'cheers' like we were clinking champagne glasses.

You did make Mumma laugh when it became apparent that you were actually taken the mickey. A bug had landed on my hand you see, and I let out a little girly squeal and flicked my hand out in order to get rid of the creepy crawly. Only to have you, yes YOU Leo shoot me that winning smile of yours. You giggled and flung your hand forward squealing. Even now over a week later you are still taking the mickey out of your Mumma!

One thing I really noticed about you during this week is just how incredibly sociable you are. Wherever we went you made friends. You ran around chasing them and then they turned around to chase you. I had children coming up to me and asking if they could play with you. In one restaurant we visited, there were two kids playing on scooters. They were the restaurant owners children, and before I knew it they had brought you a scooter to the table so that you could go and play with them. You were having so much fun, I truly hope this confidence stays with you for always and that you always make friends so effortlessly.

We took you back to the beach, your second beach abroad. Not that you will remember your first holiday little guy, you were only 5 months old. But even then we took you and showed you the sea lapping against the sandy shores. Your first proper beach encounter happened right here in the sunny UK, but now you are truly at an age to enjoy all of the fun that can be had down by the sea.

I tried to show you how to make sand castles but you were just set on knocking them down, I think in the coming years we will be able to build some incredible sand castles with moats leading to the surf. But for now I have to admit that I played all on my own... I have always been a big kid when it comes to the sand.

You absolutely loved the waves, and the sea quickly became known as 'bubbles'.

You didn't care as the sea splashed around you, and you don't seem to share Mumma's sea phobia. I am a big scaredy cat as you will soon find out. Seaweed and being out of my depth truly scares the bejeebies out of me!

 I soon found a natural water feed that had been hollowed out of the sand by locals. I decided this would be a better way to keep my sanity and give you the freedom you so craved to run and splash around.

The water clearing was so warm and the perfect depth for you to jump and splash until your heart desired. Although I still had to chase you when you decided to run back to the 'bubbles' on occasion.

You brought blankie along for the entire adventure, everywhere you went so did blankie.

I couldn't even prise it from your clutches when you fell asleep with it over you in the car. You spent the week looking very warm, with sweaty matted hair. The heat was just so humid and sticky, that I confined us to the air-conned bedroom on occasion just so we could cool down.

I think it is safe to say that your latest adventure has been an exciting one. With all of the new things you have experienced and memories you have made, now you are getting older you are getting so much more from every new adventure we pursue. 

Here is to future holidays, future pool trips and of course trips to the sea to see all of those bubbles. 

I have to wonder when I will be next awakening you to join me on an adventure?

Until next time Leo.

Happy adventure hunting.

A Sunny Evening In The Garden

With Summer finally here we have been making the most of the sunny days and the long evenings.

Tonight has been spent like most other nights.

Spending time in the great outdoors with the sun still beaming down on us at 7pm.

Late for bathtime.

Late for bedtime.

Only tonight I had the camera with me to snap some of the excitement.

Leo and Tigger chasing each other around.

The laughter as Leo dangles long grass for Tig to paw.

Leo following Tig in and out of the playhouse, 

Tig pouncing on Leo as he enters the play tunnel.

More laughter.

The moment Leo decided to run down the slide instead of slide...

Then of course climbing back up again despite being told not to...again.

The cat playing in the dirt.

Leo following the cat into the flower bed.

Leo standing on top of the slide to have a little chat with the little boy next door.

Telling him all about his cat.

All about Tigger's meow.

Stolen moments outside, when really the toddler should have been tucked up fast asleep in bed.

Stolen moments that were so worth the price of delaying the mundane bedtime routine.

That can wait for another night.

This Sunny Weekend We...

Summer has finally descended upon us. 

I write this post with a lovely shade of red upon my shoulders. The lobster look that tells me I probably shouldn't have started pulling weeds from the garden this weekend.

Leo has spent each day in and out of the paddling pool, watering the garden with his watering can and eating ice lolly after ice lolly (or Oio Oio Oio as he has been calling them).

He has been known to peep through the hole in the fence to spy on the neighbours kids as they have played out in the garden. Leo has stood and listened to every word they have said and then in typical parrot style, repeated word for word back to them. 

We accidentally discovered how fast the slide can be when you are soaking wet, and enjoyed it so much that we just had to do it all again! 

We have bought our first pair of sun glasses and actually enjoyed wearing them. 

We have had our first little cat scratch that required Leo's very first ever plaster to be applied just so that it didn't rub against his sandals.

We have ridden on our balance bike and taken in the glorious sunshine... and then of course retreated back to the paddling pool!

This weekend we even ventured to the Forest of Dean with Leo's Granddad for a whole new adventure. We hired bikes and a child cart and took off into the great un-known. All be it with a less than happy 2 year old who was not sold on the whole cart aspect, but less than 5 minutes in the crying was replaced with giggles from the bumpety bumps. With that said...I could have done with sitting in the cart on the way back...

Today on the hottest day of the year, I had the only child in the world who still wanted to snuggled up with his blankie. Leo was sweltered and even when he fell asleep in the car and I took blankie off of him, the little terror awoke and pulled it back over him! 

I can think of no worse comforter at this time of year then a cot duvet...

This entire weekend has been dedicated to the great outdoors. We have marveled at the sun as it has been a rather long time since we last saw one another. 

Sunshine, please stick around.

We have much more planned for you yet!