Our half term happy – swimming, forest fun, science, soft play, beach fun & a play session! – Mummascribbles

I usually forget to write up our school holiday fun, but this week has been so epic, I felt like I had to document it! I already documented the Bank Holiday in my last weekend happy post, so I’ll leave that out and stick to the actual non cheat half terms days!

Tuesday 28th May

I had booked the boys into a session that is run at our nearby park whereby they spend two hours running around the park and wooded areas, building fairy houses, making potions, and creating crowns. They had such fun and both took part in every aspect so well. Last time we did this specific one, Oscar was a whole year younger and not really interested (it’s mostly aimed at Zach but younger children can do it), but this time he was involved in it all and got right stuck in!

Once we were done with that session, we went and had our packed lunch in the car because it was pretty chilly. And then after the kids had crumbed all over the seats and pressed ALL the buttons, pulled ALL the levers, and moved the gear-stick A HUNDRED times, we went off to the animal bit because they were having a special mini-beast day.

We went in and had a little look at the animals, and then we went over to the Creation Station stand where the boys made some fabulous creations (Oscar’s with a little help from Mummy and the lady running it!).

While they were busy doing that, they also did a couple of other stuff that happened (we kept coming back to the craft bits), which was feed the meerkats and feed the fish.

With the animals fed and the outside craft stuff done, we then went into the undercover area where there was more crafting to be done. They each made a crown, Zach a bumblebee and Oscar a ladybird – and then we went over to the tropical house where the mini-beast show was taking place because it was raining. It did stop and so they moved back outside again, where it then started to rain even more, but the show was in full swing. They saw the giant snail, the millipede, and the tarantula all up close and loved it.

When that bit was over, I decided to take them to the cafe where Zach opted for an ice cream and Oscar opted for a juice and packet of biccies. And I had a cup of tea and a packet of biccies too of course!

After we were done there, we went over to the mound for them to have even more fun, and once they had been on there for a while, playing with a couple of boys they have met there before; we all headed in the direction of the car and went home.

Wednesday 29th May

Another session, this time inside our fave soft play venue. I booked both the boys onto a Lab Tots session. They are science based learning sessions for early years (although big kids are totes welcome too), and with both my boys being pretty keen experiment makers, I figured this would be a winner. And it was. The theme was dinosaurs so they got to do some fossil hunting, dinosaur building, dinosaur matching, learning about the different dinos, and then using the old bicarb of soda method to make a spewing volcano! They both loved every single part of it.

As part of the booking, all day soft play was also included, so we went straight back out to the play area and the boys got stuck in. Our fave soft play has had a refurb recently, so there were plenty of new aspects for them to discover and they just had a ball.

I kept suggesting times to leave and they kept not wanting to, and as the other half was working from home (which is a nightmare with both of them home and wanting him), I just kept extending it. I mean it was clear Oscar wasn’t going to nap, and I was quite happily sat doing a mixture of reading my Blogs Change Lives book by Aby Moore, messing around on social media, and researching wedding stuff! So we just stayed until I thought we really did need to head off, and so at 3.30, I rounded them up, got their shoes on, and we arrived home around 4pm.

The other half still had an hour of work time left, so I gave them all the technology and whilst doing the online shop, kept making sure that Oscar was awake. He did try to nod off pretty quickly, so the other half brought the playmobil castle down and that perked him right up!

Thursday 30th May

Initially we had no plans for this day, but I had seen a friend pop up some photos from somewhere we frequent to quite a lot and so I decided that I would take the boys there.

The other half let me go back to bed for a while because the previous day I had been up at 5.30, and then when I got downstairs, he got ready to start work (he has been working from home all week), and then I managed to get myself sorted with a lot of disturbance from the arguing boys.

I made us a packed lunch and informed them that we were heading to the White Water Rafting Centre near to us. There is a man made beach there, a play area, and a cafe, so I figured it was a good bet and we would be out of the house so the other half could work.

Off we eventually went and when we arrived, we discovered that their summer inflatable fun was up. It took some convincing, but I managed to get away with not taking them to that – we will save it for a day when we can both do it with them because it would be a bit of a nightmare with two totally different aged children in there. We would need to separate for certain things!

We went straight round to the beach because we had arranged that Daddy would come and meet us for lunch there, and the boys went straight into the sand, having a blast. I mean I may have had to tell Oscar off a lot for throwing and kicking sand, but they were very good otherwise.

Daddy soon joined us and we went to grab a seat to eat our food, and once we had finished, they wanted to go in the play area.

After a while in there, Daddy needed to get back home and so I took the boys up to the cafe to grab an ice cream and a cuppa. As we were in there, we bumped into one of my Sister’s bezzies and her kids, so we sat together and the kids were running around like loons. We decided that they were probably better off in the play area, so we went back down there. They had a small play in there and then decided they wanted to go back to the sand, which is where they spent the next couple of hours having loads of fun.

By the end of it, they were covered head to toe in sand and it was getting close to the gates that we have to use being closed. I really didn’t fancy walking the super long way home, so we got them all sorted and left. I managed to keep Oscar awake on the way to the train lines, and then once we had crossed, he decided between a mix of walking, running, and going on my shoulders.

Once we got home, the other half was finished work and already cooking dinner, and I got the boys straight in the shower before they got sand all over the house (they still managed to get quite a bit on their way through to the bathroom).

Friday 31st May

We had plans to go to the children’s centre that I always take Oscar to, as they had a stay and play session that you can take older kids to as well. Both boys absolutely love it, so as soon as I knew it was running I added it to the calendar.

It was starting at 9.30am and so we got up and ready (well Zach and Daddy got up first as Oscar and I were busy snoozing), and walked down there in time for the start. The boys had a fab time, playing with all the toys inside and out. Technically you aren’t supposed to take photos in there, but I managed a couple of sneaky ones!

Once that had ended with singing time, we popped to the shops where I bought the boys a new sandpit tray, along with some sand. We managed to struggle home with it all and immediately set it up in the garden where they had some fun playing with it.

The afternoon was spent with a bit of a mixture of them playing nicely, and then fighting. We did a spot of litter picking, which was a nightmare because Oscar wasn’t listening which meant I did quite a bit of shouting!

Once we got home, I cooked a shepherds pie, the boys played with Daddy, and then it was well and truly time for their bed!

And that was it. Half term was over. Just a weekend to go, and back to school.

It really has been a load of fun. The boys (while out) have been good as gold, and I have really enjoyed having them both around. I do just wish they could behave as well at home so I didn’t feel like I had to have them out of the house ALL of the time!