Country Kids

 I love being outside, and I love taking photos of the children when we're outside so when I saw that Coombe Mill were starting a new linky called 'Country Kids' it instantly appealed to me!

Being outdoors is fun, free and healthy!
I remember last year we biked to school and back everyday no matter what the weather, was about 20 min bike ride either way, and so many people asked why we biked rather than a 5 min car journey, and I used to say 'its good for us, good for the environment, and its good for my wallet!' who needs more reasons than that...

Anyway I regress, Being out in the Country is surely something everyone should do more, and something we should all celebrate and encourage, so go out take some wonderful photos and link up to Coombe Mills Country Kids, and you may even get a free Kids hat if you are the favourite entry of the month!

These Photos were all taken this Saturday, we're lucky enough to live a stones throw from the most beautiful countryside and you will often find us just walking through the woods and fields

 

 

and if we're lucky sometimes there are puddles!

 

There isn't much else which you can do no matter what the weather, that costs nothing at all but is so much fun!

So grab your camera, and your wellies and go find some puddles, take some photos and link up to Country Kids!

Listography - Top 5 keyword searches

The wonderful Kate, over at Kate takes 5 has a really fun listography this week, what are the top 5 most searched for keywords, except for your blog name...

I do check my stats from time to time but I very rarely check the traffic searches, after laughing at Kates Peas, and Naked Blond search results I was intrigued to see what mine were, I don't actually have many posts with funny words in so its not surprising that my all time keywords are pretty boring ones, mainly variations of  childhood rash, or spots on feet or mollescum, from this post here : ugly truth to being a parent, which hands down gets most google traffic, but if you by pass these keywords and look into the keywords from this week instead of all time or month as they simply involved several variations of the above mentioned, then they get more amusing, and I think I will have to start keeping check on what brings people to my blog more often!

Ok so I have used the top five from this week for the fun factor sorry to bend the rules slightly but it would have been no fun otherwise, so here we go...

1,  LeapPad Explorer : Pretty obvious really and I hope everyone enjoys my reviews on this, it is a highly popular item, sure to be in alot of peoples Christmas stocking this year,  my two you tube video reviews have had over 18000 and 15000 hits!

2, Zoobles come in next, Seems these will be a big hit this Christmas with the girls! coincidentally if you want zoobles its this months prize in my competition which you can find here : 'Zoobles giveaway'

3, Annoying Monster, pips in next which will land you at this post 'We've all got an annoying little monster'... wondering if the people searching were actually looking for these toys or some other annoying monsters!?

4,  Then comes my favourite strange search term... and I kid you not.. 'Harry and the Hendersons doll with Pencil in its head' which made me laugh!! I do not have any reference to Harry having pencils in his head! but I do have this post here :  Memories

5, Then comes 'Games like PVZ' which is obviously Plants vs Zombies... and if you don't know what game this is you are definitely missing out! I'm assuming this search would bring you here: Pop Caps Plant vz Zombies

Ok so thats my top five searched keywords from this week... now I'm going to go look at everyone elses which can be found over at Kate Takes 5's blog

Silent Sunday

Melissa and Doug Dinosaur Stamps

We received a set of dinosaur stamps made y Melissa and Doug as part of the Toys R Us toyologist program.

 If you remember we received the Melissa and Doug Jumbo colouring pad, and Triangular crayons in our first box, and they were a huge success, Melissa and Doug quality is brilliant, they really do make things which work well, like the crayons, the stamps actually stamp, which is not always the case with cheaper versions.

The pack consists of  8 perfectly childrens hand sized stamps, each with a colourful Dinosaur themed design on, you also get one ink pad which has a blue and red ink section, and  5 coloured pencils, all stored in a lovely wooden box, however there is no lid which is worth noting and is about the only thing that would have improved this set.

My three all have used this set, my elder two taking abit more thought and care in designing scenes, and using just an odd stamp to add to a picture, my youngest has enjoyed stamping away in no particular order, the ink pad is now rather mis coloured but it still produces a pretty good result, even with my youngest rather over enthusiastic stamping!

We have had this set for a nearly a month now and it has been used a good few times, the ink is very much still functional and I can see it lasting a good while yet so the value for money is good.

If you have a little dinosaur fan, or an older child who is interested in crafts then this is a great set, look out for it at Toys R us now priced at £8.99

The Gallery - Inspirational People

When I saw this weeks gallery prompt my initial thought was, oh dear I have no photos of inspirational people, I have not traveled the world to see amazing people doing amazing things.

But today I went to the hospital with my Mum, as shes going through a really tough time of ill health at the moment, and right there in front of me were two truly inspirational people.

My Mum and My Dad, who have not always had things easy, but have always done their very best, who have always been there not only for each other but for anyone else too.

The fact they stay together through the most difficult times, support each other and carry on is so inspirational, so this post is dedicated to them. Thank you Mum and Dad, for being YOU!

Molkky - Outdoor family fun.

Tactic are the makers of some wonderful family games, one such game which has been a huge hit in Finland is Molkky, a outdoor family fun game.

 
Made from wood, sourced from replenishable forests and low packaging and air miles to the UK it is an eco friendly toy which is sure to be a big hit for everyone.

It's always the simple things that get people interested, Molkky may be hard to say but it is easy to play, takes minutes to set up then hours of fun can be had, with all the members of the family joining in.

The rules are simple with the first player to knock down 50 points worth of skittles using the wooden throwing pin becoming the winner.  The secret of Molkky’s success is the fact it can be played on many levels with a variety of skills and strategy, ensuring mum and dad can happily play along with the teenagers,and even very young can join in!

Tactic Games also has giant versions of Yatzy, Giant Tower and the lively Ten Sticks on a Board, all made from replenishable wood and ideal for family games outdoors no matter what the weather!

Be sure to look out for Molky which can be purchased online from  The Carousel toy Shop for £29.99 

This game would make a great Christmas gift, and although the weather might not be that great at the moment there is still plenty of fun to be had outdoors and there isn't much better than a game to give people that extra push needed to get them out and about in the fresh air, having fun no matter what the weather!

Be sure to check out Molkkys very own website here: www.molkky.com 

and the other great games from tactic here www.tactic.net

What do you wish for?

Everyone has a wish don't they? It would be wonderful to do all sorts of things, I have always been a very easily pleased sort of person my wishes and dreams rather small, I wish for health and happiness for my family, and friends, people to smile and have fun.

These are simple things that sometimes we take for granted, and things which can be so hugely swayed from something great to not so good in a blink of an eye, health and happiness are both so fragile.

Happiness means so many different things to everyone, it would obviously make us all amazingly happy to see the numbers drawn out of the lottery match up with the ticket in our hand, but it also makes us happy when small things happen, like when you see your child smile in the morning, when you watch them achieve something new, a kind smile in the local shop and a passing wave on the school run, and that feeling of goodwill when you help out a friend, can all increase happiness.

So it's made me really happy recently to be able to help a friend out with something very close to her heart. Helping her achieve a dream for her little boy, which will bring so much more happiness to their lives.

I for the past few months have been tirelessly designing and making www.willswish.com  for my good friend Michaela who blogs here : Meeting myself coming back, and now here: Wills Wish, She is the mum of William, an adorable 4 year old little boy who was born with Cerebral Palsy, a condition which limits his mobility, at the moment he can only walk with the aid of a Kaye walker, and frequently has to use his wheelchair, he has to wear splits which means he can't put on wellies and go jumping in muddy puddles with his friends, he often has to stand at the side lines and I can't imagine how heart breaking that must be to have to watch as a mother, and not only that but it is likely as he grows, and goes through pubity his mobility may be lost.  However there is hope, A wonderful Doctor - Dr Parks, performers a surgery on children with Cerebral Palsy which can have tremendous results, it enables the mobility that children have to not be lost as they grow, but also offers so much hope in possible improvements to their mobility, the results of children who have under taken this operation have been fantastic. However this operation comes at a price, Doctor Parks is all the way over in America in the St Louis Children's Hospital, and so for children like Will in the UK it means there is a price tag for this operation, Will need £50,000 to enable him the chance of  continued mobility, a chance of greater happiness.

His wish is the same as mine, health and happiness. Simple things..

Can you help us make his Wish come true? share this post, share his website, donate anything you can, small change really can and really will make such a huge difference, and you never know by helping others you may well make your self happier too.. share a little love lets make some wishes come true,  just a pound from everyone who can spare it really could make a big difference in this little boys life. Thank you.