Guest Post...Stay At Home Mum In Training - Holidays, Home Or Away?

The lovely Sarah is someone I've known through Instagram for a while now...and, amazingly, we've just discovered we live about half a mile from each other!

She started blogging at the beginning of this year over at Stay At Home Mum In Training. It's a blog about her recent venture into the world of being a SAHM to two step-daughters and her husbands gorgeous little boy. 

Sarah has some great thoughts on sleep advice and has set up her own sleep diaries which monitors her little boys sleep - or lack of!

She is also a girl after my own heart and likes a good holiday so whilst I'm in Florida she would like to know your thoughts....

Holidays - Home or Away?

When I saw that Heather was asking for newbie bloggers to guest post whilst she enjoys a holiday with her lovely family, I instantly wanted to do it. I was following Heathers blog well before starting my own blogging journey and I couldn't think of a better way to challenge myself blogging wise. I was a little apprehensive, what would I write about? Would it be good enough? My own blog is just about my life as a Stay At Home Mum, I don't really post about groundbreaking initiatives or life changing events and I was worried that my post wouldn't be very appealing. Then I had an idea. Use the very reason for which I am writing this post. Holidays.

Until I met my other half I was firmly in the holiday’s abroad camp. To me there was nothing better than soaking up the sun. He loves the sun too and we have been abroad together and with the girls. However my husband has always said he wants the girls and the little man to have holidays like we did as a child. Here in the UK as well as abroad. It's his opinion that there are so many beautiful places here that we have yet to see, why venture further afield until we've exhausted all that our beautiful country has to offer.

Our little love affair with camping began about 5 years ago when my husbands Nan gave us some money to treat the girls. We couldn't think what to get them when they already had two of everything, at ours and their mums. So we decided to invest it in 'family' time. We bought a starter camping kit. It was a basic four man tent with sleeping bags and airbeds. That summer we went away almost every weekend. We found a little haven of a campsite in West Wales. There was absolutely nothing there but we loved it. We found we were spending quality time doing things as a family. Enjoying activities such as rounders or building campfires, just like we did when we were kids. 

Our first time camping

The following year we upgraded our tent to a ten man establishment. That year we decided our main holiday would be in the tent to Tenby in South Wales. Tenby holds a special place in my husband’s heart as it’s where he holidayed as a child. I fell in love with it too. It’s a place that we would love to call home. We had a great week. There’s a lot to do even when the typical British weather strikes!

Camping in Tenby

We even went camping whilst I was eight months pregnant. Not my best idea I admit. It was our last little trip as our family of four. However being eight months pregnant on an air bed isn't the most comfortable of places and one night really was enough! It’s a night I’ll never forget in a hurry!

8 months pregnant and camping in a field!

When the little man was eight weeks old we went back to Tenby, although in a cottage.  We decided that it was a little unfair on everyone, including our fellow campers, if the little man cried for most of the night.   

Last summer we went to Scotland. Another beautiful country with so much to offer.  As the weather wasn’t that great, despite the rest of the UK enjoying  rare sunny week, we had lots of day trips.  In fact both holidays were full of family time. This year we have booked to go back to Tenby, we just can’t help ourselves despite there being so many other places we want to visit. It will be extra special this year as my husband’s Grandad is coming too. I'm sure we will spend many a day at Saundersfoot beach reminiscing about my husband’s childhood. 

The little mans first holiday

Our trip to Scotland in 2012

I do miss my foreign holidays, lounging about on the beach baking, with a book in one hand and a drink in the other. However I know that my holiday in the sun now would not be like our holidays abroad in the past. With three little people to run around after I'm sure I wouldn't have much time to lounge about. That's why our next holiday abroad, and our first as a family of 5, will be in a few years when the little man is a little older. We have decided it will be following in Heathers footsteps all the way to Florida. An experience that we just couldn't get anywhere else! I think I will be more excited than the kids when we finally go!

You always hear people who say they wouldn't ever holiday in this country and there are those who say they wouldn't go anywhere else. It’s definitely a personal choice to holiday here or abroad and I for one can see the benefits of both. Where do you like holidaying Home or Away?

You can find Sarah here:

http://stayathomemumintraining.blogspot.co.uk
https://twitter.com/@sarbriony

#SilentSunday 96

#MessyPlay - Pink & Purple Jelly And Chocolate Stars!

This messy play was meant to be so special. I had so much more planned but time was against me.

I wanted it to be extra special as today is Jennie's first theme (pink and purple to honour the beautiful Matilda Mae) and it's also my 6th wedding anniversary.

Yes, 18th May 2007 - Matt and I said "I do" and I openly admit he's the best thing (children aside) that's happened to me.

He's definitely my soul mate.

*passes sick bucket*

Anyway, I'll admit, I haven't been able to join in Jennie's lovely Messy Play Linky as much as I'd like. Life's just too damn hectic and I feel so ashamed saying that but going on holiday for over 3 weeks at the same time as moving house wasn't part of the plan. I have to say, the thought of messy play is that last thing I need.

However, my kids need it.

They need it because they love it.

So I try to find the time.

And I usually do when I set my mind to it.

Yes, the kids love it.

So much so that MC keeps asking me when we are going to do some. She was really upset when she found out TC and I had done the last messy play without her!

So, it was time to get them both involved.

I did have plans to create pink and purple jelly stars, ice cream and get some fairy lights in a dimly lit room with music to create a real sensory (and edible) experience for them.

In the end I just had to make do with pink (raspberry) and purple (blackcurrant) jelly and some little white chocolate stars.

TC didn't like it at first. He got a bit upset when he first touched the jelly but it was so funny, as much as he didn't like it, he was totally intrigued by it.

He kept touching it.

Again and again.

Then he tasted some.

After about 10-15 touches he got more confident and dived in.

MC joined in and soon there was jelly everywhere.

And the stars came out!

I thought a lot about Matilda Mae while watching the pink and purple and the stars and wondering whether she was watching us somewhere.

MC poured them into the Tuff Spot and they both played with in jelly and chocolate heaven for ages.

It became very slippy in the Tuff Spot but great fun.

I think they both liked the feel of the jelly between their toes.

It wasn't the grand plan I had in mind but the kids enjoyed it.

I enjoyed watching them and I got some time to sit and think of how lucky I am to have two such happy, healthy and gorgeous children. And a gorgeous and amazing man who loves us.

Here's to the next 6 years of marriage.

And here's to Matilda Mae - a beautiful star in the sky.

Head over to Jennie's blog and check out all the amazing pink and purple themed messy play this week. Also, it's not too late to donate to Jennie's Just Giving page - raising money for The Lullaby Trust. 

Even just £1 will help. 

Thank you.