More from Half Term

The rest of half term was pretty low key and relaxing.  It is actually great staying at home and not having a routine to follow.  The boys had a good rest even though it doesn't really appear like it!

Nick did a chess course for 3 mornings

(and a lot of chess at home with Danny too)

Danny and I had some fun while Nick was busy with chess

(including some painting at a garden centre and Turbo at the cinema)

Nick also had a try at water polo

(the coach said he has to wait until he is a bit stronger)

Nick had a sleep over with Charlie

(his first all nighter away from us)

Bob and Isobel came for a playdate

(which ended up with an extended snowboarding session on the PS)

Other closed chapters

With Danny about to start school we had to think about how that would affect our daily lives. We just wouldn't be able to fit all our activities in any more.  We realised that some sports would naturally be replaced by others and it became important to find activities that both boys could do at the same time.  So it was with great some disappointment that we had to stop Playball.  Danny did Playball for 2 years and learnt a phenomenal amount from it.  I think every pre-school child should have the opportunity to do Playball as it forms a basis for many different sports and inspires a love for exercise.  It was also weekly 'playdate' for us, Danny with Ernie and Eli, and me with Ellie and Libby.  It was also kind of cool hanging out at the Roehampton Club!

We also made the decision to stop the Little Gym mainly because I just couldn't make the timetable work out.  Nicholas did Little Gym for 4 years and Danny did it for 3 years and both boys loved it and it really was amazing for them.  I feel that Nicholas has probably outgrown it now but Danny can still benefit, so if I can make it work I hope to take him back again for a while longer.  Either Little Gym or some other gymnastics!

Danny showing off at his last class

Also the last class for Nicholas

(camera's battery died after this first photo)

The rest of half term

I love holidays because it's a time to do different things that we can't usually do and take part in camps.  Every evening Nicholas went to swimming camp which he always seems to enjoy.  It's also a time when you can relax  - even though it may not sound like we did much relaxing, we did - and we had a couple of pj mornings which was great!

Our birthday present to Phillipa was a ticket to the theatre.  She came with us to watch the Nutcracker on Ice.  As everyone should know by now, Danny absolutely loves the nutcracker, and the music often plays in our house so it is all very familiar to us.  This always makes a big difference to the level of enjoyment at the theatre.  The fact that the actors were ice skating made it even more enjoyable and spectacular.  The extra special treat is that Phillipa stayed for a sleep over.  No midnight feasts though because all three kids were asleep by the time we got home!

One day Pete took us to a family day on space at the Royal Institute. It was an amazing event with so many educational things - including lectures, quizzes and experiments - all relating to space. The feeling of greatness is everywhere all around you, amazing being in the building where Michael Faraday actually lectured, and where so many great minds met. We had an amazing time and will hopefully be able to go to many more events there!

After dinner at a Chinese Restaurant in Soho we went for a wander through the heart of London (Picadilly Circus and Leicester Square).  It was unbelievable how many people were roaming the lit up streets.  We saw hundreds of people going to M&M World so we thought we would go and see what all the fuss was about.  A multi story shop all about M&Ms ... I just don't get it ... had to join all the tourists and take a photo though!

Football Fun

Ever since Nicholas started school he became football crazy.  He proudly tells us that, at break time, he is one of the 'football boys'.  I am guessing that is a good thing based on the look on his face as he shares the information.  He also does after school football with Pro Direct every Monday afternoon and on a Saturday morning we take him to Fulham Football Club's weekend football for kids.  They run sessions for all ages at the same time so it seemed silly not to let Daniel give it a go.  The little guy has taken to it like a duck to water.  He does everything with great determination and is really good at following his coach's instructions.  Hopefully it will put him in good stead to follow in his brother's footsteps and become one of the 'football boys' when he starts school in September!

The stop position 

(also means listening time)

A pirate game incorporating different skills

(scrub the deck = roll the ball back and forth)

Quick off the mark

(walk the plank = dribble to a coloured cone)

Team talk 

(after the skills session before the mini matches)

Penalty shoot out at the end of each session

(4 chances with 1 kick)

Friends and Activities

Daniel is a social little character and makes friends where ever he goes.  He has nursery every morning from 9am-12pm.  Then we usually have lunch together at home before we head out for one of our activities and most days we also have some special time together at home before it's time to fetch Nicholas from school.  I realised that this time with with my boy is so precious so I really cherish it!

This is Danny's best friend from nursery, Isla.  His world revolves around her at the moment and the great thing is that the feeling is mutual.  Pity that they will be going to different schools next year but hopefully we can do some activities together to keep their friendship alive.  The added bonus is that I really like her mom as well.

On Monday we have Little Gym.  Danny has been doing it since he turned one so it's all old hat to him.  I think he is actually quite agile and so good at it.  The class is quite big with a lot of familiar faces but he always seems to garvitate towards the teachers, who he knows really well, and Lily-May.

Swimming is on Tuesday.  Danny is a waterbaby and really amazing in the pool.  His teacher, Virginia, is one of his favourite people in the world.  After all they've known each other since he was born.  He is friendly with all 6 kids in the class, but the ones that stand out are Cecilia and Olivia.

Wednesday is Playball day and, as a result, one of Danny's favourite days of the week.  I am a huge Playball fan and believe every child should do it when they are this age.  Danny loves it and always does everything with great enthusiasm.  Ernie and Eli are Danny's playball friends and his best boy friends.

On Thursdays we have music.  We are trying a new music class this year, Colour Strings, which is quite a formal approach compared the music classes we've done in the past.  Danny participates nicely and seems to enjoy it.  Again, he is very friendly with everyone, but his favourite by far is Lily-May once again.

Fridays are our free day for something different and fun, or a playdate perhaps.  So far we haven't embarked on any organised weekend activities with Danny yet but if Nicholas is anything to go by we'll have enough of that before we know it!

Summer - Sports Camps

Also synonymous with holidays is a few sporting camps.  This summer we did a swimming camp where Nicholas had a double session and Danny had a single session every day for a week.  Both boys love swimming so it wasn't a chore at all especially since they were joined by Olivia and Ernie!

Nicholas and Olivia also did a week long tennis camp together. He understands most of the jargon and is starting to hit the ball really nicely now and it is clear that he enjoys tennis. We gave Danny a tennis racket for his birthday - it is the smallest real racket I have ever seen - he is also enthusiastic to get struck in. They do have lessons available for his age group but I feel that he is still too young. That didn't stop us from mucking about on one of the free courts while Nicholas was in his lesson. The rest of the time Danny and Ernie happily collected sticks and stones in the dirt!

This wasn't really a sports camp but just some fun at Dinosaur Golf with Francesco.  Subsequently Nicholas has started golf lessons at the adjoining driving range every Saturday.  It's a fun activity, and one of the favourites, for both him and his dad!