Category Archives: toys

Happy Easter

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I have not fathomed just how big and over the top America celebrates holidays.  Trying to find things to put in the boys’ Easter baskets proved this point to myself. There are lots of eggs, but no ‘baskets’.  There is also not a plethora of plastic green grass, needless Easter toys and egg dying kits.  I love the thought of just buying an Egg and the boys were both excited to get their own egg.  However I did pick up some extra little chocolates, a film, and a few items from the toy section so we can have some new things to do together while they are on Easter Break.

We really wanted to get out of the house today and do something special as a family.  We took the boys over to Chichester to go to the RAF museum.  The boys really enjoyed seeing the planes and it was really nice to do something that reminded me of my dad.  He would have loved going there with us.  I really wish I could have seen what he would be like with my boys experiencing something that was such a huge part of his life and who he was while he was alive. 
We ended up missing the last bus back and got to take a 2 hour nature walk back to where the train station is in town. Though not planned it was very enjoyable.  We got to see two large rabbits in the field as well as many other animals.  After a night of pizza we got our train and headed home. It was a great day to be with our family.
The Easter Bunny left his goodies for the boys. 
Ronan & Maddox with their Easter goodies. 
Ammo.
Engines…
Looking inside.
My three guys with the planes at the RAF museum. 




My kids’ Easter surprises. They do not do baskets in the UK, so I pieced it together from a few various shophttp://t.co/zBNM1u7c


Toured RAF museum in Chichester, took a 2 hr nature walk after missing the last bus, and enjoyed a family dinner before catching train home.

Buona Pasqua a tutti! Happy Easter ♥ xx

Field Trip Pt. I: Cuckfield Museum

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Today was a field trip for Maddox with his class from school. Since this was his first field trip for me to attend with him, it was quite a special trip.  We were a little early arriving to school, so we played a game of chutes and ladders while waiting for his classmates to arrive.  We took the mini bus to Cuckfield (pronounced ‘cook-field’) and went to the Cuckfield Museum.  The boys were very eager to see the actual dinosaur bones and fossils found right here in this area of England.  Afterwards they got to see the collection of historical items which include a lot of vintage toys.  The boys had been learning about toys from various parts of the world in class.  They got to take a turn playing with some of the old fashion toys.  We did a walk through where the boys got to learn information about different pieces in the museum and what they were once used for many years ago.  
Maddox reading a Biff & Chip book before leaving on the field trip.
Maddox beating me at Snakes & Ladders before class begun.
An old riding bridle and chest.
Fossils and Bones.
A bell that run the bell at the church. 
An old vintage Noah’s Ark toy set
A finding from Cuckfield
A key that was for the chapel that I thought looked very cool.
A vintage board game, much like monopoly
A vintage bear, sheep, and doll dated 100 years old. 
A dinosaur collection of findings from Cuckfield.
Maddox having a go at an old European lawn game of Skittles.
Bed warmer for the fireplace. 
The Dinosaur collection at the Museum.
The boys with the curator of the Museum. 
Vintage shoes and clothes.
Maddox learning how to play a game. 
Doing the tour of the Museum. 
Checking out a dinosaur egg shell under the glass.
An old clock face. 
The boys looking at the old toys.
Magnifying glass.
Lawn game of Skittles

Maddox runs the class store

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When Maddox and I got to school today, I found out I was in for a treat.  They set up a class store and Maddox was playing the store owner.  I got to choose items to ‘buy’ and let Maddox work out the change.  It was really cute and we had fun doing the role play activity.

Maddox plays shopkeeper. 
After getting to school I get to buy things from Maddox as he practices with money.  So cute. 

Football in the Park (and the rain!

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It is just the boys and I for the rest of the week while Ryan is away on a trip with his classmates.  Despite  not having their dad here, I aim to keep life fun.  Even though England is giving us some pretty miserable weather, I took the boys to the park straight from school.  I did not really plan on the mud and right away we were all slipping and slidding. Or to be fair, I was the one slipping and almost biting it hard in the mud.  To add to the theatrics, the boys afterwards were ready to take aim at my backside with the muddy football. It was lots of laughter and smiles and we had a whole bunch of fun.

I took the boys to the park after school to play football.
It was wet and muddy but we had quite a bit of fun never the less.
The rain really started to come down but frowns were nowhere in sight. 
After homework we watched TRON from the 80’s with dinner. 
Keeping the diet Ryan cooks we had Salmon for our meal. 

Indiana Jones Birthday Party

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Today was the much awaited birthday party for my newly seven year old, Ronan.  He loves Indiana Jones. We went to a leisure centre for his birthday party and all the kids got to play in the  soft play area which had two stories.  Afterwards we had an english tea with a lot of canapes and treats.  At the parties in England you light the cake, but send pieces home instead with the guests. You also do not open presents until you get home.  The boys had a great time!
      
Ronan in his Indiana Jones costume.  Apparently we were the first party to show up in costumes at this venue.

Time for food and treats! 
Ronan and his classmate and friend Chinmay with their party hats. 
Maddox with his classmates Felix and William.
The Reception age boys decided to make horns out of the party hats. 
Ronan’s birthday cake was a DS player. 
Ryan with party horns.