Review: Little Tikes Riga Swing from Asda

Last month we were so lucky to be sent the Little Tikes Riga Swing Set from Asda to complete our garden. Since then the children have been putting it through its paces so here's what we thought.

Fairies, Frolics and Family: Our Holiday in Derbyshire

We have spent the last week in the magical world of Derbyshire. We have searched out the Gruffalo, held guinea pigs, explored an old train line, found a fairy door, popped bubbles, said hello to a squirrel and laughed. A lot.

We decided after a difficult holiday abroad last year that we would remain in England. There are many beautiful places to explore in our own country and although you can't rely on the weather, I want our children to know our heritage and be proud of it.

Fallen Logs

Today we had a lovely time just enjoying the outdoors. We visited our local National Trust property, Dunham Massey and armed with a blanket and a few nibbles we set out.

H loved the freedom of being able to roam where she wanted and we saw lots of lovely nature as we ambled along, including ducks and deer.

There were lots of fallen logs that had been left in inviting piles so of course we had to have a little play amongst them - even Pops couldn't resist a climb!

We enjoyed our little picnic in the woods and Baby J enjoyed some buggy-free time. I am looking forward to the next few months when he begins to walk as he hates being strapped in and I can sense how much he would love to be running alongside his sister.

The sun only popped out behind the clouds for a minute here and there but it was relatively warm and it was great just to get outside.

Family Time

This weekend my sister and her boyfriend came to visit. After a night of a few drinks, some fresh air was just what we needed to brush the cobwebs away, so we donned our coats and shoes and head outside.

Because we often have the children plus buggies when we go for a walk, we are quite limited to where we can go, but today H walked and we put Baby J in his carrier on Mr H so we could do a bit of exploring.

It was really great as there are lots of fields near us when we manage to get off the beaten track, and it was nice and quiet.

H loved the freedom to run but I think she loved having her Auntie L to run after more. They played chase, hide and seek and piggy backs and it was lovely to watch. I'm looking forward to the future years when both children will run after each other and we can all go on these walks more often.

As my family are over the Pennine's I don't always see my sister as much as I like, so I do cherish these moments together.

 

 

Phobias

The other day we went to our local reservoir to feed the ducks. It is a well-known spot for this activity and as a result the ducks are very tame and VERY huge! I chose a spot that wasn't used as the main feeding location, thinking maybe not quite so many ducks would flood to our feet and maybe they wouldn't be quite as...eager. I was wrong.

Garden Envy

Yesterday we visited our good friends who moved house not long after us so are also in the throws of settling in. Unlike us their house is about five years old and reasonably established - it also came with a good size, mature garden filled with flowers, a pond, a summer house, a vegetable patches and even frogspawn! Jealous? Moi? Yup, more than a smidge.



Frogspawn always makes me smile

Me & My Shadow

Lately we seem to be going to the park quite a bit! Most times J sleeps soundly so H gets some mummy time and we can both go on the swings and slides together. At one stage the slide was her favourite, but lately she loves mummy and H swinging side by side together, or mummy giving her a 'big push'!

One day last week, whilst my mum and dad were at an appointment, we walked to their local park and had a quick swing. Baby J was awake so he joined H on the swings and loved being pushed next to her, his smile was a picture!

Although it was bitterly cold, the sun did keep coming out to say hello so I showed H where her shadow was and how she could move it about. She loved watching it dance as she swung her legs and arms about and then chased it around the park.

When the sun went in we learnt about how our shadows only come out to play when the sun comes out, she was most upset when it went bye bye!

The weather may be terrible but we are going crazy being stuck in all day so I am trying my best to get out as much as I can. I want to make the most of these days, I am becoming increasingly aware that they don't last long - soon I will have a toddler and a pre-schooler, the baby days long gone.