Summer wrap up

We've made it!!! *cheers* The end of the summer holidays. I am so very very glad. That was a long 7 weeks trying to entertain two small children. Caleb needs to go back to nursery; he's bored, Aaron annoys him and his behaviour has gradually deteriorated through the course of the 7 weeks. Last week was a hellish week i have to say (he wasn't well). He's excited about starting his new preschool nursery and seeing his friends. I am excited to be getting back into a routine and not having to come up with morning and afternoon activities day after day (he's only there 9-11.30, but it's a great help!)

After saying all that, we have had fun and kept very busy.

We spent a lot of time:

At various parks

Out walking

In the garden

In the sunshine (there was some sunny weather!)

A few trips (to Loch Lomond and the Fire Engine Museum)

And to the local soft playcentre (which made a small fortune through July with all the wet weather)

Of course we also spent a lot of time at friends houses (i'd have been lost without my friends Bev and Becky this summer), had people over to play, got to know our neighbours better and spent time with family.

This week Matthew is away on business so im prepared for a busy, exhausting week ahead but at least every morning will be tantrum-throwing-toddler free! Now just to off load the baby somewhere ;-)


p.s Do you know how hard some of your blogs are to comment on? The settings are crazy and the cryptic word codes impossible to read at times!

50 things to do before you are 11 ¾.

"Research shows that fewer than one in ten of today's children have played in a wild place compared to half of their parents' generation."

Daily Mail online

Isnt that crazy? And sad? 

Here's the National Trust's 50 things to do before you are 11 ¾ list designed to inspire both parents and kids alike. I like it!

For Caleb (age 3), we're doing not too bad....

1. Climb a tree

2. Roll down a really big hill

3. Camp out in the wild

4. Build a den

5. Skim a stone √

6. Run around in the rain √

7. Fly a kite

8. Catch a fish with a net

9. Eat an apple straight from a tree

10. Play conkers 

11. Throw some snow √

12. Hunt for treasure on the beach √

13. Make a mud pie

14. Dam a stream

15. Go sledging √

16. Bury someone in the sand

17. Set up a snail race

18. Balance on a fallen tree

19. Swing on a rope swing

20. Make a mud slide

21. Eat blackberries growing in the wild

22. Take a look inside a tree

23. Visit an island √

24. Feel like you're flying in the wind √

25. Make a grass trumpet √

26. Hunt for fossils and bones

27. Watch the sun wake up 

28. Climb a huge hill 

29. Get behind a waterfall

30. Feed a bird from your hand

31. Hunt for bugs √

32. Find some frogspawn

33. Catch a butterfly in a net

34. Track wild animals

35. Discover what's in a pond

36. Call an owl

37. Check out the crazy creatures in a rock pool

38. Bring up a butterfly

39. Catch a crab

40. Go on a nature walk at night

41. Plant it, grow it, eat it √

42. Go wild swimming

43. Go rafting

44. Light a fire without matches

45. Find your way with a map and compass

46. Try bouldering

47. Cook on a campfire

48. Try abseiling

49. Find a geocache (this weekend hopefully!)

50. Canoe down a river

We're off to Loch Lomond today to have some more outdoor adventures!