Looking Back & Looking Ahead

2017 was a funny year.

It started well, we had just moved into our dream home and started up a new life in a beautiful Norfolk village.

The boys all settled well into their new schools and everything was just perfect.

Roll on a couple months down the line and Jon was down in London for a month learning about his new pain device that was going to be inserted into his back, yet another operation on his back!

Whilst there he witness the Westminster attacks and hasn't really been the same since.

One of his biggest fears unfolded right before his eyes and he couldn't do anything about it.

A few months later we suffered two miscarriages, one after the other.

The final one having to be removed surgically.

After getting our heads around that Jon had a back spasm which ended up with him on the ground not being able to move, paramedics and the air ambulance all had to see to him and he ended up back in hospital for two weeks!

Even after all the heartaches and pain we managed to end the year on a happy note by finally getting married.

It really was a great day and we were over the moon to be able to spend it with all the people that we love dearly.

2018 is a brand new sparkling year and we already have lots to look forward too.

After 10 years of being a stay at home mum I am finally starting a new chapter and going back to work!

January 5th I start in the reception class training to become a TA (teaching assistant)

It will be voluntary to begin with, with the aim to do a college course and finally get on the pay role.

We are heading off to Centre Parks towards the end of Jan and then some time during in the year Jon and I will take a weekend break up in Edinburgh for our proper honeymoon, we just have to wait for Jon to be feeling 100% better.

Jon has started a new venture and that seems to be paying off, so we're hoping 2018 is the year of doing and not just being.

I don't really do New Years resolutions but I am going to try to read more books and be more crafty this year.

What are your goals for the new year?

Festive Baking With Num Noms Series 4

The mini beasts were sent a festive baker parcel to keep us in the festive mood after Christmas.

In our parcel we had a stocking filled with series 4 Num Noms and a jar filled with scrummy cookie ingredients.

We were making rainbow cookies with our Num Noms.

The cookie mixture took no time at all mixing together but waiting 40 minutes for the dough to set in the fridge was the hardest part for the boys.

To keep them entertained we sat down and watching some classic Christmas TV.

We go so engrossed in the programme that we forgot about the cookies, so the dough had a little longer than 40 minutes,

After we had scooped out our cookie balls we sat down to find out what was in the stocking.

The twins picked first and then Ru had his turn.

The twins unboxed some new Num's which we'd never seen before,

Lizzie Lasagna 

Hearty Spaghetti

& some glitter Noms

Nana Swirl

Razz Cookie.

Ru unboxed his first ever polish it Nom!

Ru rather enjoys having his nails painted so was over the moon to finally have his very own bottle.

Ru's Num was Citrus Blizzard and Lime Polish it!

Baking up a treat.

Ru was more than keen to get his nails looking snazzy and made me paint them straight away.

Once all the nail painting was done our cookies were finally done, so we all sat down to enjoy the boys handy work!

They were extremely tasty and didn't take long to polish off!

Num Noms Series 4 available in most toy shops!

... Christmas Inspiration From Peppa Pig and Ru ...

Ru is still 100% Peppa Pig mad and was over the moon when this amazing bundle of gifts arrived just for him.

I didn't tell him what was inside so his face was pretty priceless when he opened it up and saw everything for the first time!

I thought I would share with you incase you too had a Peppa Pig obsessed child and were struggling what to get for Christmas...

This George pig hat and mittens set is super cute and is nice and cosy, just perfect for those winter walks!

RRP £8.99

Available from VMC Accessories

I wasn't sure if Ru would like the Peppa Christmas jumper but as soon as he saw it, he wanted to put it on and has pretty much wanted to wear it every day since!

RRP £13 

Available from Sainsbury’s.

From ages 9 months to 6 years.

 

Along with the jumper and hat set we were also sent;

·       Peppa Pig School Bus

·       Peppa Pig: The Official Annual 2018

·       Peppa Pig Build a Boat Bath Gift Set

·       Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience DVD

·       Peppa Pig Top Trumps Activity Pack

·       Peppa Pig Alphaphonics™ Campervan

·       Peppa Pig Space Adventure Case

Peppa Pig Alphaphonics™ Campervan

RRP £22.99

Available from Argos, Tesco, Amazon, Morrisons and more.

Peppa’s Alphaphonics™ Campervan features fun games to help learn letters and words. 

Select from 8 options – find the missing letter, choose the word that begins with a letter, or repeat what Peppa says.

With light-up keys and melodies, the Alphaphonics Campervan is sure to inspire little ones to learn and have fun.

 

Peppa Pig School Bus

RRP £27.99

Available at all good toy retailers.

Have fun with Miss Rabbit's free-wheeling School Bus! 

With lots of fun phrases and the Bing Bong song, you'll can sing along. 

Includes an articulated Miss Rabbit figure. 

Also includes 2 x AA demonstration batteries.

 For ages 3 years and over.

 Peppa Space Adventure Case

RRP £10.99

Available from Argos

Ages 3+

Get ready for lift off. 

This Peppa Pig astronaut shaped case includes glow-in-the-dark stickers, a build-your-own rocket and light-up projector torch with 3 discs to project different themed space designs on to your walls. It encourages imaginative play and when you're finished, all the accessories pack away inside the case for tidy away play and fun space adventures on the go. 

Unique Peppa Pig astronaut shaped carry case - perfect for peppa pig fans. 

Includes play accessories to promote imaginative role-play, enjoying space adventures with peppa pig!

 

Peppa Pig: The Official Annual 2018

RRP £7.99

Available to purchase in most book shops / supermarkets or you can buy online here:The Peppa Pig Official Annual 2018 is a treasure trove of fun for Peppa fans! 

Packed with puzzles, stories, activities and songs, it is the perfect gift for little ones!

Peppa Pig Build a Boat Bath Gift Set

RRP £7.50

Available from the Entertainer, Amazon, Debenhams, Toys R Us and more.

A fun bath gift set containing everything you need for a happy clean child Peppa Pig Fan,

The set contains: Grandpa Pig Boat and bath / shower gel.

Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience DVD

RRP £10.99

Available from Amazon.co.uk and all good DVD retailers.

Peppa Pig splashes from the big screen to the little screen in Peppa Pig My First Cinema Experience on DVD. This unique interactive Peppa experience, now brought to you at home, is perfect for pre-schoolers, so get ready for plenty of snorts, giggles and jumping up and down in muddy puddles!

Peppa Pig Top Trumps Activity Pack

RRP £4.99

Available from Amazon

You'll find 5 great games and exciting activities to explore with this Peppa Pig Top Trumps activity pack. The ideal travel companion, Peppa Pig Top Trumps is packed with fun features to help develop memory, observation, reading and counting skills. 

Games include the memory game Pairs, Take 5, Spot the Difference, an Observation Quiz and a mini version of Top Trumps. Includes instruction card, pencil and 28 playing cards.

Ru's favourite by far was the Peppa pig space adventure case, he takes the torch everywhere with him and we have put up all the Glow in the dark pieces on his wall, and he looks seeing them glow when he's in bed.

He also really likes Grandpa Pigs boat and plays with it every night when he jumps into the bath!

I was pleasantly surprised at how well it floats.

Even Ru has tried to sink it many times but it always pops back up again.

We haven't watched the DVD yet but it's on our to do list as this was something I really wanted to take him to see in the cinema but I just wasn't sure if he was ready.

I have heard amazing things about it and next week when he finishes nursery before lunch we are going to sit down and watch it together.

I like that there is a nice selection of Peppa Pig goodies here, something for everyones price range and from stocking fillers to main presents.

**A massive thank you from Ru to all the lovely License to PR guys, you made him a very happy Chappy!**