kids Archives - Journeys Are My Diary

Decoding Dreams

November 11, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

Dreams have been a huge topic in our house recently, especially as both my girls tend to have them every night. For me, I don’t ever remember having dreams as a child (though I’m sure I did) and for the majority of my adult life I barely had any either. Many times my friends would talk about their dreams and all I could say was “I don’t really have any”. However I’ve noticed over the last few years I do seem to have more and as I’ve always known, its my brains way of processing everything that happens. I don’t know if I have a more stressful life nowadays, or maybe more things happen that need processing – but whatever the reason, I definitely have dreams more often than not these days.

Last night, I had one of those dreams that you’re not really sure if it’s good or bad. The dream itself was good I suppose. I don’t remember it clearly now (and honestly I’m trying not to as well) but my dad was in it and it was happy and I was happy and there was love. However when I woke with a start this morning, I realised it was just a dream. Then there was that bittersweet moment as reality set in that my dad wasn’t around and that I couldn’t talk to him or see him, or hug him as I had in my dream – as he died twelve years ago. All morning I’ve felt a bit shaky, a bit like I want to cry and the truth is I know why I dreamt it, as there is family drama going on – especially that which involves my mum and I can only imagine how much she might be missing him right now.

Luckily though, Lily came down this morning and was all chatter about a weird and wonderful dream that she had. The girls always make me smile with their dreams as they’re nearly always happy, but if not then at least strange and funny. They used to have nightmares a lot when they were younger and I put most of that down to the fact they had good imaginations so they worked overtime when they sleep. Now I’m glad they are better at enjoying their dreams and can make the most wonderful stories based on them. Sometime we try to pick apart what their dreams might mean and I’ve sometimes even googled the odd thing when it’s been a really specific dream.

In association with Adjustamatic adjustable beds, I wanted to share this video about explaining kids dreams. I love that as a child, your mind sort of protects you from the bad aspects of your thoughts and puts them into more relatable stories in your dreams. That said, as far as my bad dream went last night, seeing my dad and being able to hug him again was actually a really special part of my dream – so maybe our mind is always looking out for us, in its own way.

Life Lately (Summer Holidays)

August 5, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

I’ve been a little quiet lately and that’s partly because I’m busy with Closet Geek but also because the kids are off on Summer holidays. While we haven’t done much so far, we have been camping (last weekend) and we’re going to a Harry Potter convention this weekend (followed by a Yule Ball).

I have updates to make including my round up of July, our camping trip to Staxton (near Scarborough), of course the Harry Potter convention and maybe even a review of Curlformers. Please understand that it’s not because I don’t want to be here, its just that I want to enjoy my time with the kids and of course, complete my orders!

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Should You Have New Year Resolutions For Your Kids?

December 15, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

At this time of year, we’re all pretty busy with getting Christmas just right for our children. We want them to have a memorable time and all the presents we can afford. As parents, we’re probably dreading the battle of the Brussels sprouts, though. Why is it kids just won’t eat their vegetables? Still, the tree is up, the presents are wrapped, and my shopping list for food is prepared. I’m doing pretty well!

Being this organised gives me time to think about next year. I know I had some New Year resolutions last year that I was determined to stick to. I didn’t manage it. But I’m convinced next year will be my year. I will lose that weight. I will move my life in the right direction. While I’m thinking about fixing my own life, I can’t help but think about all the things I would like to happen for my kids in 2016.

I’m not sure that New Year resolutions are the best way to encourage your kids to do well, though. I would love them to start the year full of optimism and drive to learn new things and better themselves. But I think it needs to be their choice, not mine. We’ve talked a little about some of the things they should be working toward next year. Most of the conversations end up discussing the possibility of visiting Disneyland though!

We’ve talked about learning new things. Music has been important in my life since I was a little girl. I would love the children to have a passion for it. Starting music lessons could be an option but I know they need to be keen to see the lessons through. I don’t want to be buying expensive instruments if they’re going to quit within the year. I know that you can hire clarinets and flutes. You can even take on a piano hire. It’s something to talk about.

There is, of course, the problem of noise when you live nearby of the neighbours. When you think about most instruments, they are pretty loud. With pianos, you can, at least, choose between an acoustic and a digital piano with a headphone socket. It might be worth hiring a piano to see how we get on with it. Who knows, I might even take up some lessons too!

Dance classes and swimming classes have come up as well. Doing something active would be good for the kids to do. It can improve their fitness as well as help them meet other kids. I would have loved to take dancing classes and be elegant and graceful in that way. It’s such a creative thing to do. Will my kids enjoy it? I don’t know. Anything that they do is great at first. But like most kids, boredom can set in, and they lose interest.

Taking on new interests and hobbies is a great New Year resolution for anyone. When it comes to the kids, though, perhaps you can steer them in one direction or another. After all, they won’t know if they like it until they try it. What would you love your kids to be doing in 2016?

My Fave Fun Things to Do With the Kids

September 22, 2015 by Bel 1 Comment

This post is contributed by Alex.

When you have kids, your world completely changes. You’re not focused on entertaining yourself anymore, you need to keep them happy and entertained. It can also help if the way you entertain them also teaches them a thing or two! Here are my fave fun things to do with the kids. Take a look for some inspiration!

Picnics

I love going for picnics with the kids. They love it too, especially on a nice day somewhere beautiful. We take a cosy blanket, and healthy snacks as well as a few treats. I like to take flasks of tea too. I always invite other members of the family to see if they want to come along too. If the weather is bad, no need to panic; indoor picnics are fun too!

Hiking

Hiking helps you to stay active and get some exercise as a family. I have a book that I like to pick routes from, so we only do one twice if we really enjoyed it. It’s always nice to explore new places in the area!

Arts and Crafts

I love doing arts and crafts with the kids. It helps to expand their imagination and improves so many skills depending on what we’re doing that day. We make jewellery, cards, and even just paint pretty pictures. It can get messy, but that’s what you sign up for when you have kids.

Theme Parks

If you want a fun day out with your brood, theme parks are a must. There are so many theme parks dotted all over the UK, so you have a lot of choice. There are nearly always bits especially for kids there too, with rides themed around programs like Wallace and Gromit. There’s nothing like watching your kids have an amazing time somewhere like this. And trust me, they’ll sleep well when you put them to bed.

Gardening

Gardening helps us all to get some sunlight and fresh air. The kids love to help me get rid of weeds and plant flowers. Even just water the garden! They learn all about bugs and things and take a real interest in gardening. You know what they say too, it’s good for them to get their hands dirty.

Cooking

Cooking teaches kids about what foods go well with other foods, different flavours, healthy meals, and so much more. They love creating things with me in the kitchen and then eating what we’ve made! We don’t always bake cakes and things; sometimes they just help me with the dinner.

Reading

Reading to kids helps them to expand their vocabulary and listening skills. If you take it in turn to read, they also improve their reading and speaking skills. Not to mention you both get to enjoy a great story together!

I guarantee you’ll have so much fun with your kids and love spending the quality time together. Make time for things like this at least a few times a week to help them develop and grow. Thanks for reading!

Book Review – Mister Cleghorn’s Seal by Judith Kerr

September 18, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

You may well have heard of Judith Kerr before and if you have, the chances are it’s because of the childrens book “The Tiger that Came to Tea” or the Mog books. However I was offered her latest book “Mister Cleghorn’s Seal” to review and since it’s aimed at 7+ years, I figured it would be perfect as my girls are 7 and 10.

Lily and I read the book together as a bed time story, over 3-4 nights. It’s not a big book and it isn’t broken into chapters, but it’s more than you’d want to read in one sitting, unless you were sitting down for maybe 30 minutes or so.

An exquisite new story to delight readers young and old, from a much-loved writer and illustrator.

What do you do if you find an abandoned seal pup on a rock in the middle of the sea? Well, take it home with you to your flat, of course.

At least that’s what Mr Albert Cleghorn thought, though perhaps he hadn’t considered all the complications…

This is the story of what then happened to Mr Cleghorn and Charlie the seal in their determination to find a home for Charlie and, incidentally, happiness for them both.

Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, Mister Cleghorn’s Seal is a classic in the making from the inimitable Judith Kerr.

Lily and I both enjoyed the book – a story about Mister Cleghorn, who now retired, is lost for something to do and takes a vacation by visiting his brother. While there he find a seal and decides to take it home with him. The story is cute and endearing, it’s also well written and enjoyable. However, I’m not entirely convinced that the target audience is 7+. Lily did enjoy the book, but it wasn’t really on par with a lot of the other books we’ve been reading recently – James and the Giant Peach, Matilda etc. It was probably the right reading level for her – as in, she could have read it herself – but the storyline probably wouldn’t have been something she would have picked.

As a massive fan of stories like Catch a Star, Lost and Found, Room on the Broom, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and even The Tiger that Came to Tea, I didn’t find this book in the same league. It’s a good story and I enjoyed reading it, but I think it’s still a young child’s book when being read to a child, and unfortunately not the right topic to attract 7+ years.

Things No One Tells You About Divorce (From Someone Who Knows)

September 15, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

This post has been contributed by Alex.

...And Then Sometimes Valentine's Day Sucks!

As you know, I’ve had a divorce, and so I know how it feels. Some people think that a divorce is the end of the world, but that is not the case. Despite what you may think right now, you will carry on and live your life. When a relationship comes to an end, it is best to let it go. Trying to hold onto something that’s no longer there is not healthy. In the long run, it will only cause you more pain than you need to feel. If you are thinking about getting a divorce, I would like to offer some advice.

Your kids should be your priority

If you have children, you need to put them first. Many children find it hard to cope with a divorce. That is normal. The most important thing on your part is that you support them. They need to know that you both love them no matter what. Kids tend to internalize things and think that everything is their fault. You need to make it 100% clear that is not the case. You don’t want your children blaming themselves for this issue. Instead, you need to show them that you care no matter what happens.

It doesn’t have to be painful

Most people think that divorce has to be super painful and long. In reality, you can get a divorce that is almost painless.The experts at Quick Divorce say that it can be much faster than you imagine. If you and your partner agree that it’s the end of the line, things will be quite simple. All you need to do is talk to your spouse about what you both want. If there is no bitterness between you, there is no need to make things hard. You should help one another through this time.

It will be hard to explain

When you get a divorce, there is one thing you will notice. Everyone will expect you to explain why you’re getting it. Don’t worry – people just want to see that you are okay. If it all gets too much, you can tell people to back off a little. They will understand why you need space. Of course, you need to explain the divorce to your kids. They have a right to know. Don’t worry too much about everyone else. You can talk to them when you are good and ready. Before that time comes, you don’t owe them an explanation at all.

You will feel better soon

Believe it or not, you will feel better again soon. When you end a relationship, it can be tough. It’s hard to get over a breakup. It’s even more difficult than that to get over a divorce. When you file the paperwork, it will all feel a little surreal. Just go with it. In due time, you will start to feel like yourself again. That is all you can ask for in the long run. Remember, sometimes marriages don’t work. That’s not as bizarre as you might think. You need to make sure that everyone is happy, including yourself.

Game Review – Dobble Card Game

September 15, 2015 by Bel 5 Comments

Have you ever heard of Dobble? It’s such a fun game and this last week I played it with the kids. We had such a good time that I wanted to share it with you!

Dobble is what I would call, a quick game or a starter game. It’s ideal as a travel game or something to do with the kids, but if you were having a gaming evening, Dobble would be a good game to start with, to get everyone in the mood. Inside of the box, is round cards. The cards are made up of multiple symbols, different on every card but always with one overlapping to another card. There are 5 suggested mini games that you can play with these cards, so the girls and I gave each one a go.

I don’t know if you can read the instructions, but set up is really simple. One face down card in front of each player and a draw pile in the middle with face up cards. On go, players turn their card over and try to match a symbol from their own card, to the card on the draw pile. As soon as they spot one, they say the name of the symbol out loud and take the card. This continues till the draw pile is gone and the person with the most cards wins! Simple right? But honestly a lot of fun. The other games are all similar, but with a slight variation to make a different game.

After playing all of the games, the girls and I loved Hot Potato best. This got us shouting and screaming and in turn laughing loudly. It was a lot of fun and actually the girls were much better at this game than me. Megan also liked the first one, while Lily liked the last one. As you can see from each of the instructions, each mini game is just a little different and you can even make a tournament using all five games.

While the game is totally suitable for children from about 7-8 years old upwards, its also fun for adults. I had a blast playing it myself with the kids but I can’t wait to play a game with my friends too.

Do you like the sound of Dobble, would you like one for yourself? Well obviously you could buy one from retailers such as Argos, WHSmiths, John Lewis or Tesco and Waterstones on the High Street (RRP £12.99)… or you could just enter my competition! The conditions are really easy! Enter with the rafflecopter below, until the end of September, when a winner will be drawn at random. Only open to UK residents I’m afraid, as the item is being directly shipped from Esdevium Games.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Week 36 – Monday Round-up

September 9, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

I am so behind on everything right now that I’ve realised its Wednesday and I still haven’t rounded up last week! To be truthful it was the usual mix of nothing some days and loads the next, but I will try to recap as best I can remember!

Monday we were still in London and I posted about that day here. Since we were actually back by Tuesday, life pretty much returned to normal. The girls went to their dad’s house and Chris was at work so I had a day of sewing, blogging and watching TV (not necessarily in that order!). I made some decisions about the month (that sadly haven’t really happened yet) and tried to take a determined approach to life since it was September 1st!

In the evening I sat down to make loads of hair bows and watch Grimm. It was actually pretty awesome ;)

In the morning I got up and headed out for the girls, about the same time as Chris headed out to work. I picked them up and we headed to Asda Living to pick out some school uniform for Megan and a few last minute bits and pieces they needed. Afterwards we went home and while the girls sat and played on their computers (and Disney Infinity on the Xbox), I made more bows and watched Grimm… right up till bedtime. Other than that there was the odd bit of getting ready for school etc. but that was pretty much it.

On Thursday the girls were back at school and we had the usual mad rush in the morning. After dropping the girls off I came home and started to sew. Nat came around for the day and although we mostly sat and chatted, she helped me cut out pattern pieces etc. until we both needed to pick up the kids from school. After school we all just flaked in front of the TV and computers, recovering from a busy day! Friday was fairly similar, except that I dropped the kids off at school and went on a ribbon hunt in Lincoln. I realised Nat was off so called her to meet up for coffee and we spent the morning chatting and drinking coffee/hot chocolate. I headed home as I needed to go to the post office and get a few bits done. However it wasn’t long before I was back out to get the girls. That evening I spent sewing, getting both a Woody dress done and also working on a Wendy cosplay.

Saturday morning and it was the weekend. The girls had no school and Chris had no work, so it should have been heaven – except I felt awful! I had a headache all day long and this resulted in me crying on and off through frustration. However I managed to get some work done in the end and my headache finally cleared by about 7pm. Sunday was another day of sewing and another day of everyone being off. We spent the day doing our own thing but sat down to a family dinner of fajitas in the evening.

It was a lovely week but as always, highs and lows. This week is fairly crazy so far but I’m beginning to think that’s the new norm!

Planning a Family Trip to London

August 1, 2015 by Bel 3 Comments

As you probably know, we live in Lincolnshire and sadly not an awful lot goes on up here (especially when it comes to Blogger Meets and Events… but that’s a different story!). However this summer we’re lucky enough to be heading down to London for a weekend and honestly I can’t wait.

Although I’ve visited London several times, both with and without the kids, I still get excited at the prospect of going. Living near a city like Lincoln, is not the same as actual city life and for me there is just nothing quite like London for a day in a “real” city! This particular trip we’re taking down to London is specifically because a US friend is over for the week and we’re tying in seeing him. However we’ve decided to make the most of the Bank Holiday weekend and actually get a few days holiday in!

As I don’t currently work (and we’re trying to get the house ready to sell), we’re having to take the trip on a budget. I’ve bought train tickets and booked a Travelodge already, as those are the things that prices go up on if you leave them too long, but everything else is still open for deciding upon. I had originally hoped to take the kids to the theatre (we’ve seen Wicked twice, Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Starlight Express) but even though its Kids Week (kids go free throughout August), there doesn’t seem to be anything reasonably priced that we’re interested in. Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were both options, but these are coming in over £100 for the three of us. The Railway Children is still a possibility though, but even that will be £60.

With that in mind, I took to the internet this morning and decided to find out what exactly there is to do in London, that the kids might enjoy.

Now before everyone shouts museums and art galleries, I want to point out that these things don’t especially interest my kids. We have done the Science Museum before and they loved that, but other than the Museum of Childhood out at Bethnal Green, I really don’t see them enjoying any of the others. This is sad however, as most are free.

I asked the girls what they would like to do and the London Eye was pretty much the only thing they could think of. For the three of us, this would be £47.25, or if we wait for Chris (he’s traveling down on Sunday to join us), then it would be £66.60. However Chris isn’t great with heights so we’d probably do this without him. I did also find a couple of alternatives to the London Eye. They are The View from the Shard – which is actually Western Europe’s Tallest Building. This is actually more expensive than the London Eye, coming in at £131.80/£95.95 (with/without Chris) if we go in the daytime or £91.80/£65.85 if we go at night. The other option would be ArcelorMittal Orbit (better known as London Orbit Tower) which is the UK’s Tallest Sculpture. Prices for this would be £26/£20 depending on whether or not we went with Chris.

The London Orbit Tower is in Stratford, which is also where Beach East is. This is a summer only event, which is free entry and includes Beach bars, paddling pool, funfair and more, all on Stratford Waterfront. If the weather is nice, this is definitely a possibility and it would be great to tie that in with the Tower too (which is also the cheapest of the “tall” sight-seeing options).

Aside from these attractions, I also discovered some others that you may or may not have heard of before.

– Ripley’s Believe It or Not
This is probably high up the list of things to do as Chris and I would enjoy it too. Ripley’s Believe It or Not is a sort of museum, filled with amazing art, unusual artefacts and strange experiences. It’s on 6 floors and though it’s existed for AGES, I have never been before and that makes it quite unique for me. Prices for us with/without Chris would be £59.96/£50.13 though Tesco Clubcard offer discounted tickets, as do places like Groupon from time to time.

– Shrek’s Adventure
This awesome attraction has not long opened in London and personally I think it looks fantastic. Similar to the type of rides and attractions you get in places like Orlando, this is something London is probably lucky to have. A 4D adventure, including ride and walk around, you meet several of the Shrek characters on your adventure. Prices £84.24/£60.84.

– Harry Potter Studio Tour
We’ve been before, but that doesn’t stop me wanting to go again – especially now the Platform 9 3/4 section is open and with it being Summer there is a special Sweet and Treats exhibition on. There is only availability on the Sunday at the moment so that would mean going with Chris too and the family ticket price is £101.

– The Enchanted Mirror, Hidden City
To me, this sounds absolutely amazing and even the kids are a little intrigued. A mystery/clue trail that runs from the V&A Museum and ends a “hidden” location. The trail is set around a fairytale story, loosely based on that of Snow White. The trail is said to be aimed at adults (i.e. the clues are hard) but that kids are welcome. It’s supposed to take 3-4 hours, depending on how easy you solve the clues, if you get lost and how many “taverns” you stop at along the way. Teams should be up to 4 people (though I have no idea if that includes kids or not) and the price is set at £60. I would absolutely love to do something like this but I would be worried the kids wouldn’t actually enjoy the walking and that Chris and I might not be smart enough to solve it all, without other adults in our group!

– Kidzania
I’d heard mention of this before but I had no idea what it was until my search today. A 75,000 square foot child-size city has been created, where kids can take on over 60 roleplay roles and experiences. It looks like parts of Eureka Museum but on a greater scale and honestly if I was a kid I would be itching to go. It’s a 4 hour experience and for a change adults are cheaper than kids (I imagine because it’s not really aimed at us). Prices are £89.00/£72.50 with or without Chris.

The weekend we’re visiting London is also Bank Holiday weekend. This means Nottinghill Carnival which is also a free event. Running from 10am till approx 6.30pm on both Sunday and Monday, the Nottinghill Carnival is apparently spectacular. I don’t know whether or not it will fit into our plans but I’d definitely like to catch a glimpse of the parades!

Finally something else I have wanted to do for quite a long time, is visit Harrod’s Disney cafe. Ever since getting back from Florida, there has been a distinct lack of Disney in our lives. While I’m sure it’s nothing like being in WDW itself, its probably the closest we’ll get for several years now. From what I’ve seen the reviews are quite good and the food is reasonably priced. Apparently it’s the drink prices you need to watch out for though!

Sadly most of the really fun sounding stuff carries quite a high price tag, so I’m not exactly sure how many of these things we’ll end up doing. However I’m convinced there is something for everyone and I’m sure that no matter what we end up doing, we’ll have fun!

Does anyone have any “visiting London” tips to share?