#MeAndMine - A Family Portrait (August)

August has passed by in a blur. I really can't believe how quick the summer holidays have gone.

It's gone that fast that even though we've had so many opportunities on days out to capture a special family photograph, sadly we haven't.

Big mummy fail.

Anyway, I've been taking a bit of a blogging/Twitter/Facebook break lately and today I realised it was the end of the month and I didn't have a photograph for Me and Mine. I thought I may skip this month but that's just crazy. Why let a whole month pass without a family photo when it's something I could get easily if I wanted to? So, armed with my iPhone and its reverse camera I took the photo below at 5.30pm.

We are all absolutely knackered but it was the first and only photo I took and it sums up the day for us.

You see, today was a special day.

Matt and I took Mini Cheddar to the cinema for her first time, out to lunch afterwards and then treated her to some Lego Friends. Yes, the day was just under £100 but it was totally worth it. MC starts full-time school on Wednesday and I will miss her terribly. It was lovely to get out and spoil her on her own as we don't get to do that. In fact, although I've been out with MC and Matt has separately, we've never been out with her on our own together since before the end of last March when Tiny Ched was born.

It did feel so strange being without TC though and the day has left me feeling somewhat emotionally exhausted. I kept thinking of others who have lost their children and it filled me with even more sadness than it usually does. The thought of not having TC in our lives just doesn't bear thinking about and I began to miss him so much. Judging by how clingy he's being with me this evening, I think he missed me too.

So this evening is a mix of emotions for me but I think you can tell from this photo that MC has had the best day ever.

And that's what matters most.

Guest Post...Toddles And Tantrums - May Bank Holiday at Bowood House

Last, but by no means least, is Millie. 

Millie is actually the only one of my guest posters who've I met in person. I was only introduced to her online the night before we met but when we physically met we gave each other the biggest hug ever. We were both at the funeral of Jennie's beautiful daughter, Matilda Mae.

Millie is just an all-round lovely lady and I'll be forever thankful for the love and support she gave me that day. I think it was that day that made her decision to enter the world of blogging...and so, Toddles and Tantrums was born.

Here Millie shares her lovely May Bank Holiday with us...

May Bank Holiday – Bowood House

How was your bank holiday Monday? Ours was pretty special. We spent the day with Craigs twin, Uncle Daz and his wife & family at the stunning Bowood House & Gardens, in Wiltshire. Home of the Marquis and Marchioness of Landsdowne – it’s a great way to spend a lazy sunny day. 

Adventure Playground

The site has a choice of fantastic adventure playgrounds which are set in 100 acres of parkland, designed by Capability Brown. It also has a lake, arboretum, pinetum and cascade.  The house itself is a treasure trove of fascinating items. Bowood is no ordinary country house, this is the ancestral home of a proper aristocratic family in the heart of beautiful rolling countryside. It’s absolutely breathtaking.

Death Slide

The Adventure Playground at Bowood was first opened in 1978. Designed and constructed by Cornish boat builder Alistair Guy, using timbers from the Estate, it has become one of Bowood's most famous features and has delighted hundreds of thousands of children ever since.

What I loved especially about this area is that it is restricted to children under twelve, it is without doubt one of the finest adventure playgrounds in the country. The playground has a full size pirate galleon called the 'Centaur', complete with rigging and a crow's nest. There are also several a very large slide, as well as high level walkways accessed by a huge scramble net. Most famous and popular of all is the 'death slide'! This vertical drop slide is a modern version of a Victorian invention and starts with a shocking 19- foot vertical drop which then levels out for an exciting, fast and slippery slide.

For Evan, and children of his age, the park had swing boats, trampolines, a Wendy House, a ball pool, see-saws, swings and a sand pit. The children in our party aged from 2 – 12 were kept happy here for a couple of hours playing in the sunshine. The park has lots of areas for you to camp out and have a family picnic. It also had many trees for you to hide under away from the sun. After camping out, playing & relaxing we decided to have a little wander around the estate. We stumbled across the house & had a look inside at its impressive chapel and antique treasures. We stayed inside for a well deserved cream tea which was scrumptious!

Bowood House

Evan and his cousins outside the house

We then ventured off across the lawns to the hidden cave, which led us out to a very impressive waterfall. The boys in particular were impressed with this and quickly undressed to enjoy the cool water. Evan had a little paddle in the stream too which cooled him down. Suddenly it was 5 o’clock and time to go home, but not before a photo to remember our lovely day.

Cascade Waterfall

Arboretum

I highly recommend this place if you are in the area, it’s lovely & relaxing & there’s plenty to do for everyone.

   

Evan, his cousins and their friends the Scudamores

You can find Millie here:
http://toddlesandtantrums.blogspot.co.uk
https://twitter.com/MillieBooLewis

"I Don't Like Dinosaurs" And More Memories Of Chester Zoo

Last Monday (12th September) it was my wonderful husband's birthday. Did we go out for drinks? A meal? A romantic break away?

No.

We did something much more fun than that. We went to Chester Zoo!

Now I feel very lucky to live in the area I do. We live in North Wales. We aren't far from the coast and rolling hills but are only about 7 miles from the beautiful city of Chester, England - I feel we have the best of both worlds (and free prescriptions!). I'm guilty of not appreciating Chester because it's on my doorstep but, if you've never been, have a look at the Chester Guide and tell me what's not to love?

We had planned to take Mini Cheddar to Chester Zoo for her birthday but she ended up in hospital.  Since then, through one thing or another we haven't got around to taking her - bad parents alert! So when the people at Superbreak offered to let us have a day out at Chester Zoo I have to admit, I jumped at the chance. It's only a 10 minute drive from our house...it's kind of rude not to go. Also, it was my husband's birthday, yes. He was 35. However, we obviously used the trip as a belated birthday treat for MC *cough*

Chester Zoo is actually the number 1 zoo in the U.K. and we love it there. Every time we go we have such a great day out. You may remember last Monday was a bit of a windy day, the remnants of Hurricane Katia were battering us but thankfully when we went it wasn't that bad although the lions weren't on display because of the wind.

I won't bore you with in-depth descriptions of what we did and what we saw, I'll let a selection of the photos speak for themselves. Highlights of the day included:

• Seeing one of the tigers (my favourite), really close up. 
• Seeing all the giraffes close up together. 
• A chimpanzee taking a shine to Mini Cheddar and splashing water at her. 
• A penguin taking a shine to Mini Cheddar - he kept coming back to the same spot to see her. 
• The Bat Forest (always a favourite for me).

What wasn't a highlight for MC was the 'Dinosaurs At Large' exhibit (open until 8th October). Lots of rather large (and some spitting) dinosaurs which terrified MC a bit. Since then all we hear from her is "I don't like dinosaurs"!

"Wait for me Mum!"

"Can't catch me Daddy!"

"Mmmmmmeat"

"RAAAAARRRR"

"I don't like dinosaurs"

"A cameral shortbread and cappucino please"

"My mummy seems to have turned into a pile of leaves"

"You looking at me?"

So, that was our day pretty much.  Doesn't it make you want to go?

I can actually recommend Superbreak as I've bought gift vouchers from them before for my parents and they had a wonderful short break away using them. If you fancy going wild at Chester Zoo then why not make it a short break at Chester Zoo.

This is not a sponsored post.  

We did receive entry to Chester Zoo but all views,

opinions and photographs are entirely my own.