Woofy Whoops is a dog who desperately needs to go to the toilet.
Each player takes turns spinning Woofy around and whoever he lands on has to pat him according to how many times he barks. You might need to pat him once, twice or maybe more.
You need to be careful as the last pat might mean you are the one that gets wee’d on. Thank goodness it is really only water (just pretend)
How to play Woofy Whoops.
I was not sure about the idea of a game that has a dog wee on you but thought we would give it a go. The twins love the game and so did their mates that came over during the school holidays.
All the kids were giggling and wondering when or if they would be the one to get wee’d on…. yes it was funny to watch.
Isn’t it always the way… kids like something that is naughty.
Woofy Whopps looks innocent, but he might wee on you so be careful!
You need to download the Woofy Whoops App
The game works with an iPhone or Android phones. Plug in for the kids to hear the sound.
With the app, you are able to record and save video of when Woofy Whoops does actually pee on a player. The faces are priceless when this happens.
When the game replays a video of a player it is called a “wee play.”
Includes fire hydrant water tank, spinning Woofy and free Woofy Whoops app
App determines at random who will get sprayed and features funny animation
App records the moment you get ‘peed’ on in hilarious slow motion
iPhone and Android compatible – requires operating software iOS 9 or later for Apple devices and 4.3 or above for devices for Android.
Multiplayer
3 x AA batteries required
Watch Lillian and Julia have fun playing Woofy Whoops
Personally I was not sure about the game. I was worried that the kids might see that dogs weeing on them is a good thing. They both know that this is just pretending and of course would not want this to happen in real life.
I was willing to test this game out and have realised that the kids actually enjoy it and love playing it with friends.
Having warmer weather is a help with this game as well since you get wet in the process.
Woofy Whoops can be played indoors and outside as well. Due to space constraints at my house and making sure there was no water everywhere we set it up in the garden. (Music is over the video of the girls due to so many cicadas chirping and making it hard to hear anything)
If you wish to get the kids something different for Christmas this game is something to think about.
Thanks to Childsmart, Australia’s leading distributors of quality kid’s toys, nursery and lifestyle products for sending me Woofy Whoops by Worlds Apart to test out. The kids had a blast and cannot wait to test out other toys.
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Theban mummy and coffin from the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum. Details of the Egyptian 'mummy' which was exhibited in 'Life Beyond the Tomb' Exhibition, 2005
I love museums and history.
History was one of my favourite subjects at school. Was it yours as well?
I liked thinking about what it must have been like in ancient Egypt or in the early days of Australia.
Going to a museum allows you to see treasures from explorers like Captain Cook and Sir Douglas Mawson, plus all sorts of other amazing things. It also allows you for a brief moment to experience what it might have been like for the early settlers of Australia, Explorers, allows you to learn more about animals and different cultures.
The Australian Museumhas a new permanent exhibition opening tomorrow (14th of October 2017).
Theban mummy and coffin from the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum.
Not only does the museum have a fantastic new exhibit, they have also restored the oldest part of the museum. Many people worked many hours to preserve the
The Westpac Long Gallery has been restored with a $9 million dollars of funding. This was in equal partnership with Westpac, the NSW Government and the Australian Museum Foundation. Below you can see the drawings and learn how long it has taken to revamp this historical space at the museum. This part of the museum is one of my favourite spaces as it has all the charm of the old original building.
The 100 treasures of history, science, and culture also include:
The body of a preserved Thylacine pup, dating back to 1886;
The Sydney funnel-web spider responsible for the only recorded human death by this species;
A bird-shaped stone pestle made in Papua New Guinea between 3000 and 8000 years ago;
A 2800-year-old Egyptian mummy in a wooden coffin painted with mythological scenes;
A sledge and ice pick from Sir Douglas Mawson’s expedition to Antarctica, 1911-1914;
A prehistoric Irish Elk skeleton with enormous antlers, discovered in peat bog deposits;
Australia’s first bank note, issued on April 8, 1817; and
A 10-kilogram gold nugget discovered in 1887, the only remaining example of its kind from the early gold-rush years in NSW.
The 100 treasured objects are matched by 100 people who have helped shape the nation through contributions to history, science, nature, sport or culture, such as Cathy Freeman, Sir Donald Bradman, Professor Fred Hollows, Eddie Mabo, Ned Kelly and Kylie Minogue.
A great video from The Australian Museum about conserving our treasures
DID YOU KNOW?
The Australian Museum marks its 190-year this year. Happy Birthday Australian Museum, not sure what card or pressie I get you for being 190. Maybe a nice cup of tea and a lunch might do.
Free after general admission. Adults $15, kids go free
Exploring a museum with kids is always fun. Everyone learns something, sees something new and it is a great day out.
Another reason to love museums is that they are educational, although the learning is not considered learning when it is a fun family day out. (Just don’t tell the kids this!)
I hope this gives you another fun place to take the kids or just for you if you wish to see this wonderful exhibition.
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I was approached by Healthygumsto test out the Systema and Kodomo toothbrushes.
Oral health is extremely important and impacts your health if you don’t look after your mouth and teeth. I am very conscious of making sure that the family look after our teeth and trying out a new toothbrush was of interest.
I make sure that the family look after our teeth and trying out a new toothbrush was of interest.
These toothbrushes are made in Japan and have been a huge seller. Healthygums is the Australian stockist for everything Systema and Kodomo. Read on to find out more. At first, I thought “isn’t a toothbrush just like every other toothbrush?”
The answer is NO, not all toothbrushes are the same.
Systema toothbrushes are super soft on gums, teeth and have tapered bristles that are 0.02mm at the tip, or 1/10th the diameter of regular toothbrushes. This means that the Systema toothbrush can get into the hard to get areas that other toothbrushes find difficult.According to the healthygums website:“This feature makes it possible to penetrate deep within the narrow crevices of periodontal pocket and between the teeth and gums to effectively remove the grime that causes periodontal disease, delivering a high level of oral cleanliness.”
Did you know?
Dentists recommend toothbrushes with soft bristles and a head size that will allow access to clean the sides and backs of your molars.
Systema has a toothbrush that is right for all different sized mouths. One size toothbrush does not fit all, and it is great to see that you have the option to get a regular, compact or super compact size if needed. Having a toothbrush that is too big for your mouth means that your teeth and gums will not be properly cleaned. The right size brush is needed so that you can access all areas of your mouth for an optimal clean.
“These toothbrushes are so soft and feel great mummy”
See my Review on YouTube
The Systema toothbrushes are also helpful if you have issues with your gums, If you suffer from sensitive, bleeding or receding gums this toothbrush is for you. Alexander loves his new KODOMO toothbrush. It is so soft and easy to use. He is using the 6mths to 2 years toothbrushes.
KODOMO is the children’s toothbrush range. Did you know that KODOMO is Japanese for child. The kids’ toothbrushes have different characters and are bright colours. To make it more fun for kids Healthy Gums also stock animal toothbrush holders. Nearly all of Healthygums customers are recommended by their dentist to use a Systema or Komodo toothbrush. Once you give them a go, you will want to buy more. If you wish to give these amazing toothbrushes you can purchase via Healthygums is the Australian Stockist. They stock both the Systema and Komodo toothbrushes.
It’s all about the bristles.
SYSTEMA’s bristles are patented and have been around since the 1990’s. They also have a 0.02mm tip for their full range, not just for Gum Care but for Orthodontics, Super Compact and Sonics.Give it a go today, your teeth and gums will thank you!A big thank you to Healthygums for sending myself some toothbrushes to test out and one for the kids too.
Outcome
I have been amazed at how soft the bristles are. It is really like a huge soft pillow cleaning my teeth and gums.
We love them. I cannot recommend a toothbrush more highly than these.
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I was at a function on Wednesday. I went to hear some great women speak at the Mums Society talks this past Wednesday.
There were many tables to sit at and I chose one that had two other mums to twins.
Yes, I must have known.
Maybe there was something in the air or the universe told me to sit at that exact table.
One mum had twelve-year-old twins and a two-year-old.
The other mum had a five-year-old and soon to be two-year-old twins.
Introductions were made and we all got to know each other.
The mum of the nearly two-year-old twins, I think her name was Sam asked me the following….”How do I manage to fit everything in”.
“How do I find time to blog with three kids and everything else that needs to be managed???”
Getting stuff done while I am kid free. Maximising my time for me!
Well, if this lady ever saw my house she would be in shock. It is a mess. Sometimes it is tidier than before but that tidy never lasts long.
I do get sick of it and have days that I go mad cleaning and sorting things out. On these days I don’t get a break and never get around to doing anything for me. I use the time for myself to try and sort the house out.
Once complete and the house looks at least like a whirlwind has not been inside recently and that finally, people care about the place that they live in. My happiness at the calm, the space that has been created by removing junk and finding places for things does not last. It never does!
In a blink of an eye or even quicker the mess finds a way back to my tidy rooms. The floor that you could walk on without checking what you stepped on are soon filled with toys, mess, clothes and anything really that does not get picked up (even after a million times that mummy asks and tells kids to pick these items up!).
I know prioritise my time without kids to do something for me. Yes, the house comes second. I do wish while I was off being me and not a housekeeper or mummy that I had a cleaner or helper making sure the house was spotless. Where for art though cleaning fairy? I need some help.
So due to not having a house cleaning fairy, I do what I can. I pick the major rooms to tidy, kitchen, bathroom, and living room. They might not be 100% but they are okay for now. I do give them a big clean every now and then but I do what I can when I can.
You cannot do everything you wish to do.
However, if you manage to do something that you are wanting to do, you will be a happier person.
A less stressed mummy, a calmer version of you. Not getting to do anything that makes you happy creates frustration and anger.
You end up resenting things, people and you start yelling and being an upset individual.
Timeout for you is essential.
So answering the question of how I fit it all in. I do the following:
While kids are at school and the baby is at childcare I blog. Before I sit down to my computer I put a load in the dishwasher and the washing machine. I clean a bit of the kitchen and then while the clothes are getting washed as are the dishes I write a blog post.
I try and ignore the mess and get work done. It does annoy me and I wish it was all neat and tidy but if I did that I would have no time to do work while alone.
I get back to emails in the evening or on my time alone without kids.
Once I do a few things I then put the clothes on the line and do a quick tidy around the living room. I also if I have time tidy around the kid’s room (although now I have decided it is the twins responsibility… they need to tidy their own room).
When the twins were babies I completed my postgraduate study in Project Management. This was all done via online delivery and I did one subject at a time to maximise success and to not overwhelm myself. I did well but it was a lot of late nights reading and doing assignments.
I am now trying not to watch too much television. Once the kids are in bed, hubby and I watch one show and then I am doing a few hours on my blog.
If I had the money I would have a housekeeper or nanny. This would free up my time to do more and be a massive help. Maybe when I get rich or my book is a best seller (yes world domination awaits me!)
In the holidays I put the twins into vacation care or they visit relatives for a mini holiday. This means that I have more time to concentrate on the blog, things for me, spending time with Alexander and organising the house without interruption.
If you have the cash getting a cleaner would be ideal. Help to sort out things that you never get around to, like floors, walls, windows and countertops are a huge help. Someone to tidy up and to sort so that you can work on other things or not feel like things are getting on top of you.
I do know what it is like having too many ideas and not enough time. It is annoying or the idea that if you could only not be interrupted all the time you could be amazing. I know …… it is hard.
Choose one thing that you wish to do and give it a go. You can do some things but not everything!
Start by putting in systems to ensure that you can get a few things done for you.
Tell your partner that you cannot be interrupted between these times. If the baby cries it is their job to help out.
If you are starting something start small. If it is a blog, maybe aim to do 1 post that is wonderful each week. This way it will not freak you out that there is too much to do and causes you to panic.
To the mums that have younger twins a schedule helped me. I had them up at a certain time. Fed, and then I took them out to exhaust them. Yes park, pool, playgroup and more. If we played at home I engaged with them and did as much as I could to stimulate them to make them tired.
If they did not sleep I set up what I called quiet time in the living room. I made the floor a bed with pillows and blankets. Then I put on a movie and told them to lie down and rest. At first, they wanted me to stay with them, but I told them that mummy had to get a few things done and once done will come and be with them.
Enforcing quiet time allowed me to tidy up the kitchen or sort out the mess somewhere else or write a blog post.
In response to getting it all done, I am not doing everything I wish to do but I am trying to do a few things on my list.
I hope this helps you out if you are struggling to do something for you.
Note: I have written this in a cafe while having an ice cold orange juice. The twins are at school for their last day of term and the baby is at childcare. I’m squeezing in some work and me time while I am kid free!
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My kids seem very happy when they are adding things together, but things get complicated very quickly when they have to subtract numbers from each other. You can see the stress and worry on their faces.
As soon as things start to get more complicated the girls seem to panic.
My technique is to be calm, to concentrate on the question being asked, and to work out little bits at a time.
I like many parents have shown the girls how to do various sums, and told them that it is just a matter of a little practice each day. In no time they will get better and be a champion at maths.
The one thing that I believe is not being understood is the carrying the numbers over or what I was told was carrying the one or another number into the other column.
The way I figure out subtraction, and the way I am showing the girls. Carrying the 1 or what is called borrowing in subtraction.
As you can see from the above example of 87 – 59. You cannot have 7 taking away from 9.
So to make it easier, you add a 1 to 7 and make it 17.
Since you have added the 1 to 7 to make it 17, you then need to carry the 1 to the tens column.
I add the 1 to the 5 and this then becomes 6. So then it will be 8 -6 and this gives you 2 in the tens column, and as it is now 17 – 9 in the ones column this means you get 8, and therefore the answer is 28.
This following video can explain it more easily to kids and explains the idea of borrowing or like I was taught carrying the one.
HOW TO BORROW IN SUBTRACTION FOR KIDS
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So what can you do to promote practice in subtraction or really any maths problem?
Education.comhave some great resources that will help your kids practice and also have fun doing so.
Crawl around these subtraction problems with the cute creepy crawlies in this worksheet! Can’t get enough subtraction practice? Check out the full collection of subtraction resourcesfrom Education.com!
Two-Digit Bug Subtraction from Education.com
Download the free subtraction creepy crawly worksheets:
Do your kids get a little worried when they move onto subtraction? It could just be the idea of carrying over the numbers to the other columns that gets confusing. I know my kids are still learning this, and are getting better the more they practice.
A big thank you to Education.com for this subtraction worksheet. If you have not checked out their website make sure you stop by, Education.com have excellent resources to help your kids be super clever.
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Australian scientists at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute have discovered that if women have Vitamin B3 during pregnancy it can prevent miscarriages and birth defects.
“Every year 7.9 million babies are born with a birth defect worldwide and one in four pregnant women suffer a miscarriage in Australia.”
The study found that a “deficiency in a vital molecule, known as NAD, prevents a baby’s organs from developing correctly in the womb.”
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is one of the most important molecules in all our cells. It is essential for energy production, cell communication and DNA repair.
Vitamin B3 is required and essential to make NAD. This is found in meats and leafy green vegetables, oh and Vegemite.
It is essential to have a good supply of vitamin B3 in the first trimester as this is the critical time for organ development.
New Born Baby
The Victor Chang institute found that at least a third of pregnant women have low levels of vitamin B3 in the first trimester and that is with taking vitamins, also in the third trimester 60% of pregnant women needed more of vitamin B3 as their levels were low also. This would mean that pregnant women would need to boost their intake of this vitamin.
The study found that before the introduction of vitamin B3 into the mothers diet, embryos were lost due to miscarriage and babies were born with a range of severe birth defects. After adding the vitamin to the mothers diet miscarriages and birth defects were prevented and babies were born healthy.
This is a massive breakthrough that will help so many people. It is just like the discovery of of adding folic acid to prevent spina bifida and other neural tube defects in babies. Mothers worldwide are all told to take folic acid to help their pregnancy. Adding folate to the food supply and making sure women have a more of this vitamin during pregnancy has led to a 70% decrease in the number of babies born with neural tube defects. The same will now happen with the understanding of Vitamin B3, and in turn lead to less miscarriages and birth defects.
If you are pregnant or want to be soon make sure you get your vitamin B3 to ensure all will be well.
I know things sometimes are not planned when you end up pregnant, but sometimes they are. My pregnancies were all planned and I made sure that I took vitamins well before I conceived and also had a good diet of fresh vegetables, meats, fruit and also exercised.
And sometimes baby number 2 or 3 is a surprise, or you were trying but thought it might take a while and it didn’t so time-frames might not work for all.
If you know you are planning for a baby, my tip is to make sure you focus on your inner health, vitamins and stay well. Having a baby is a huge job for you and your body. Carrying twins or more also puts another strain on vitamin stores. When pregnant with the twins I had to take more vitamins due to extra of an additional baby and their need for more vitamins.
One thing to do is if you are worried about your levels you can always go to a doctor and get them checked. Then you will know what you need to take, plus you can always get the vitamins from food too.
Isn’t it interesting that vitamins play such an essential role in our lives.
I hope this has helped you know more about this new discovery and if you are pregnant or want to be make sure to have a Vegemite sandwich or toast more often. (I love Vegemite and can live off it)
7.9 million babies are born with a serious birth defect worldwide every year
3.3 million children under five die from serious birth defects annually
Congenital heart disease is the most common form of birth defect, affecting 1 in 100 babies
42 babies are born with a heart defect in Australia every week
30 babies will undergo heart surgery in Australia every week
Heart defects account for 30% of deaths in children under five
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Lillian my little Animal Planet Ranger. She is having fun spotting all the animals at WILDLIFE Zoo in Darling Harbour.
I was invited to try out the new Animal Planet Ranger activity at SEALIFE and the WILDLIFE Zoo. This fab new exhibition that is run across both the aquarium and the zoo in Darling Harbour.It was super fun and the kids loved racing around finding all the animals and learning more about the animals on their collectible animal planet ranger cards.
A post shared by Suzanne (@mummytotwinsplusone) on
So what do you do when you are an Animal Planet Ranger?
Children get an Animal Ranger Pack that have animal planet ranger cards, facts on animals, colouring in and much more!
Once my girls and their cousin got their packs they were keen to find the animals on their cards. First we found a cassowary. It is a big bird like an emu…well not exactly but the size might be similar to an emu.
We found the cassowary that was on the Animal Planet Ranger cards.
Kids can dress as a ranger, swap animal facts to earn more ‘animal planet ranger cards’, and make it your mission to find the animals before anyone else does.
If you wish to be an animal planet ranger it ends soon so be quick to not miss out.
The baby lost it after this picture. So this was the best one with all the kids. Score really when you are out and try and get a group photo.There is a viewing area so that you can look at the big enormous crocodile. It is great that this is now built as the last time we were at the aquarium it was still under construction.
The kids mission pack. Armed with this they raced around to find the animals on their cards and to learn more fun facts about the animals too.So much in the animal pack…. the kids will not be bored at all!
Finding Dory and Nemo is always fun
Julia loved taking photos while on our adventures at SEALIFE and WILDLIFE the other day.
The Art Aquarium is so much fun
Just before you leave the aquarium you have the chance to colour in a fish or creature to appear in the art aquarium. Once you have coloured in your art work, you then get it scanned in and in minutes it appears animated on the projected wall of fish and other sea life.
This is super fun for kids and I must say adults too.
I was so pleased that this was still at the aquarium. My girls loved it and so did their cousin as well.
Make sure you add your artwork to the art aquarium before you leave.
The twins and their cousin colouring in fish for the art aquarium at SEALIFE Sydney.
The twins and their cousin. All the kids had a fabulous time and there was so much for them to see and do. Just perfect for weekends, holidays or anytime actually.
A HUGE thank you to Merlin Entertainment for our fun family day out. It was such a pleasure to be with family and to experience your fun new exhibition. The kids had a blast and raced everywhere to learn more, see more animals and to explore everything. Everyone was super tired after our huge fun day out.
Fridays are not the same when you realise they are just like any other day.
Every morning this week I have found it harder and harder to get out of bed.
I have even thought that every day was Friday or at least close to it.
Yes I thought that Monday was Friday, Tuesday was and so on. Strange but it is true.
Maybe it is wishful thinking. Maybe it is wanting the school holidays to be here now!
Fridays are not the same when you realise they are just like any other day.
However the school holidays tire me out. All the activities to keep everyone entertained and the constant whinging does my head in.
So thinking everyday was Friday was rather silly. As a mum it being Friday really has no meaning. It used to mean that I could rest on Saturday, sleep in and relax. However with kids, Saturdays and Sundays are the same as any other day.
Don’t get me wrong. Holidays are great. Not having to be anywhere or do anything is great.
I have booked the twins into some days at vacation care. This is for two reasons. Firstly, the days that I chose for the girls vacation care has special excursions or activities. The kids will also have fun with friends, be able to run around and have fun without me telling them to be quiet due to the baby sleeping.
Secondly, while the kids are at vacation care I might be able to get a few things done. Yep I can focus on the blog, tidying up around the house and maybe have some quiet time.
I have booked the kids in some days while the baby is in daycare so that this will allow full on rest or peace for me. Not totally but it will be a nice break in the holidays.
During the two weeks of school holidays I have many fun things planned. Taking the kids to the movies, a visit to the aquarium and zoo, plus seeing Frozen on Ice.
I have mixed it up for the two week break so that it gives the kids some fun things to do, and mummy some time out as well.
Have you been thinking it is Friday? Is it due to the school holidays approaching that this is happening?
It will be good to not have to do the school run and other things in the afternoon.
Today is now Friday and I am off to get ready to go to the kids school. The girls have learnt some songs in Gundungurra for NAIDOC Week. The twins can now sing heads, shoulders, knees and toes in Gundungurra. Very impressive indeed.
What are you up to for the holidays?
Do you look forward to Fridays or is it just another day?
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Are you wondering what to do with the kids during the Winter school holidays? Well this HUGE list that I scoured the internet for will hopefully give you some ideas.
NIDA – School Holidays Classes – In fact NIDA have classes for all states, so check out the link.
Scenic Skyway and Three Sisters. Photo: Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism. Image by David Hill.
Sydney Olympic Park have great activities for kids of all ages. Some are free and others are under $25. So that is great value. The below links are from the Sydney Olympic Park’s Website.
Taronga Zoo. There’s always plenty happening at Taronga Zoo. With over 4,000 animals to see, over 20 keeper talks and shows a day, tours, events & concerts, there’s always a new reason to visit Taronga Zoo.
Darling Harbour Quarter Playground– This is an amazing playground for kids. Make sure to pack a spare set of clothes and a towel for the kids. There is a wet area that they are drawn to and if you don’t have spare dry clothes you will suffer the whining of the child. Trust me!
Newington Armory – Discover one of Sydney’s most unique heritage precincts adjacent to the scenic Parramatta River. It is open every weekend.
Bathurst Winter Festival, From the 7 – 22 July 2018 – Staged in the beautiful, heritage CBD of Bathurst, the festival is a showcase of all that is vibrant, creative and unique in the region. Watch buildings come alive through static and interactive illumination breathing life into the historic architecture. Amuse yourself in the Winter Playground sampling the charm of the outdoor McDonald’s Bathurst Ice Rink, the giant Ferris wheel and magical two-story carousel every day of the Bathurst Winter Festival.
SEALIFE Sydney Aquarium – SEALIFE always has fun exhibitions and things to do. Keep your little ones entertained by taking them to learn more about marine life and our environment.
WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo – Visit the animals in the heart of the city. Learn more from the wonderful daily talks about snakes, Tasmanian Devils and much more.
Cockington Green Gardens– See miniature buildings within beautifully landscaped gardens. Why not stay for afternoon tea at the Parsons Nose Garden Cafe.
The National Dinosaur Museum – “Focusing on education and entertainment, the museum offers a wide variety of activities to schools and the general public. From guided tours of the museum, to birthday parties for the kids, there is sure to be something to suit your needs.”
SEMAPHORE AND FORT GLANVILLE TOURIST RAILWAY. Image from their website.
Botanic Gardens of South Australia – Find out all the fun things that the gardens are doing these school holidays. Creating crowns and masks, making fire, making glue, listen to aboriginal stories, and much more.
South Australia – Learn about all the attractions from all the regions within Adelaide and surrounds.
Drive-In Cinema at Gepps Cross. Stay in your PJ’s, bring your pillows and blankets and have fun watching a great film with the kids.
Granite Island – Take a family drive to Granite Island to see the penguins. Why not get a guided tour. Tours start at dusk every night. Costs
$12.50 Adult
$7.50 Children
$36.00 Family (2 Adults, 2 Children).
Bookings are essential.
Phone (08) 8552 7555
Adelaide Planetarium – “Come to the Planetarium these school holidays and take a journey to outer space. Travel to the moon and back this school holiday break. Adelaide Planetarium’s Night sky presentations and full dome movies offer educational entertainment for all ages.”
Sam Sunday’s Trek to the Goldfields – The Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder
Bookings required if more than 10. Phone: (08) 9021 8533
Light, Lenses and Luminescence – The Western Australian Museum – GeraldtonTimes: 9.30am – 4.00pm
“Discover the mysterious magic of light at the WA Museum – Geraldton during the school holidays. There is a range of fun, creative and challenging activities and workshops where you can explore what happens when light is reflected, refracted and blocked.”
Time Trekker – Dino Dig – Western Australian Museum – Perth
Time: 9.15am – 12.30pm
Weekday: kids only 8-12 years.
Weekends: Family friendly experience. Kids 6-12 years.
See website for costs.
Rottnest Island Map. Image www.rottnestfastferries.com.au
Surfing Lessons – Perth
2 Day Course – School Holidays ONLY
Our courses run Mon & Tue / Wed & Thur / Sat & Sun (great for getting dad and mum out there!)
Adventure World – Progress Drive, Bibra Lake
Little kids will love the slides, kingdom falls, pools. The whole family will enjoy the bumper boats, dragon express (rollercoaster), go carts, and the tunnel of terror.
Open every day from 10am to 5pm during the school holidays. You can purchase tickets online to avoid the queues.
Australian Aviation Heritage Centre
See the B52 Bomber and other exhibits from Darwin’s role in WWII
Open daily from 9am – 5pm
Adults $14.00. Seniors / Pensioners $10.00. Children (under 12) $7.00. Family $30.00.Students $7.50
Berry Springs Nature Park
“Whilst enjoying the pools, if you swim with goggles you can see many small native fish and other aquatic life that live in the clear pools. Wildlife is abundant.” Remember: Swim only where recommended, observe warning signs. Facilities: Picnic tables, walking tracks, Kiosk (open during high visitation periods but generally from late morning to mid afternoon)
The Park is open from 8.00 am to 6.30 pm daily.
Nightcliff Markets
Every Sunday from 6am to 2pm all year round
“Enjoy a relaxing morning, listening to some great entertainment while the kids play nearby in the playground. Sample our array of tasty foods such as curries, soups, crepes, satays, sushi, samosas, burgers, noodles.. and locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables.”
The Rock – Darwins Indoor Climbing Centre
Business Hours – Tuesday to Friday 12noon till 9pm.
Saturday & Sunday 12noon till 6pm.
Closed Mondays
Phone: (08) 8941 0747
email: helpnt@bigpond.com.au
The Rock – Darwin’s Indoor Climbing Centre. Image from Travel NT’s Website.
Indo Pacific Marine
Check out the tours that are offered.
Opened from 9am to 4pm
April to October and from November to March 9am to 1pm weekdays and 10am to 2pm weekends and public holidays. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday.
Showing the beauty of the Northern Territory marine environment. Image from Travel NT’s website.
Tours at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). Image from Museum’s website
The Phenomena Factory
“The Phenomena Factory is a free-entry interactive science centre providing hands-on education for kids of all ages. You can challenge yourself in the Perception Tunnel or test your reactions while you touch, switch, pull and crank your way around the Phenomena Factory, actively learning about science along the way.Exhibits also include Death at a Distance, Dice with Death, Sniff a Snack, and Squeeze and Serve – all from Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre in Australia. You will also find the Jaffa Machine donated by Hydro Tasmania which turns human mechanical energy into kinetic energy. Crank the handle and sustain the energy output long enough and you’ll be rewarded with a jaffa.”
Cost: FREE!
Times: Open 10am – 5pm daily
For all ages
The Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery
If you visit The Phenomena Factory the Museum is very close so why not pop in for a visit too.
Learn about the Heritage Trail, and how the railways transformed Tasmania, plus lots more!
National Automobile Museum of Tasmania
The museum is located at Cnr Willis & Cimitiere Sts, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250, Australia.
See website for costs for admission.
Open every day except Christmas Day, 9am – 5pm summer hours. Winter hours: 10am to 4pm.
Learn about more great activities for the school holidays, Zoo Doo (An African Safari just 6km from Richmond), Allport Library and fine arts, Maritime Museum of Tasmania, Museum of Old and New art has great holiday programs for kids, and Bush Kids that is a brilliant holiday program that takes kids on exciting nature-based adventures.
This is just a list of things I found online and thought looked interesting and fun. It is by no means a full list of everything in Australia.
If it was this blog post would be way longer than it already is.
I hope you have fun and some of these events make the holidays fun for all. We are on a holiday countdown in our house.
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The baby/child in question is annoyed, upset and in pain and likewise so are the parents. Oh and other kids who live in the same house.
Our little boy is teething again and it has taken a toll on everyone.
Mainly our little boy is affected but all of us have suffered from the following:
No sleep!
If you did get to sleep you are woken by screaming and crying from the baby.
Once up and dealing with the crying baby he is upset at you and not letting you help him.
Once up and trying to soothe him dealing with a very upset child that does not know what he wants due to being so much pain.
Hubby nearly falling asleep in a business meeting.
One of the girls nearly having a nap in maths class and the other girl has just been very tired and annoyed.
As one kid today said, “I would rather be sick than have an upset baby” Oh so true.
My little boy has been upset and unwell all week. This photo was taken on the 30th of May. He is getting more teeth and this makes him sick, throw up and just not want food. At least he was drinking water.
Although I don’t want to be sick to just have a happy baby, I understood what she meant.
Our little boy is not coping with teething well at all. On the 7th of June he will be seventeen months old, and every time he has gotten teeth this has happened.
He gets multiple teeth at the same time and due to this suffers very badly with the pain.
His reaction to this pain is to hit his head into the floor or to try and smack it on teddies, objects or anything actually.
I have been trying to reduce the pain by giving him painkillers, however last night he was spitting it all out and not wanting to open his mouth to accept any.
How can you help someone if they don’t allow you to give them the medicine.
Finally at about 11 pm or later he allowed us with some tricks up our sleeves to give him some painkillers. Once it kicked in he was a little happier and more calm.
Phew!
No more screaming in my ear. I really think his constant screams could make me go deaf.
I know he is in pain, I know he does not understand.
I cuddle him and try and console him the best way I can. However it is hard when he squirms like he does not want to be on my lap at all.
He acts like he cannot get comfortable. He really does not know what he wants. The only thing that he would want, would be the pain to go away and to not come back.
Have you had issues like this with your kids when they were teething? Are you going through this now? Let us know what worked for you.
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“Disney On Ice presents Frozen is inviting audiences across Australia to accompany Anna on her epic journey to save her sister Elsa and the kingdom of Arendelle this June-July. Featuring world-class ice skating and dazzling special effects, don’t miss this breathtaking ice spectacular when Disney on Ice presents Frozen comes to a city near you!”
We were invited to Canterbury Ice Rink to see former Disney on Ice skaters showcase their moves, the kids got some help with their skating and we enjoyed seeing Shelley Craft again. It was a fun day.
The girls checking out the ice at Canterbury Ice Rink. They were very excited to skate and to experience Disney On Ice, Frozen.
Before we entered the ice rink the girls were desperate to go play in the park that is right next door. I thought that would be fine as we were very early. However I did not think it through very well and the grass was soaked due to the non stop rain and muddy. Not good. One kid came back from the play equipment screaming and yelling and of course crying!
Oh no what had happened. She got her pants wet from one of the pieces of equipment. She demanded that I get her new pants. The problem with this was that I did not pack a change of clothes and could not get a quick replacement as there were no shops nearby. I of course was in an area that I was not familiar with and did not want to venture to far and be late to join in the fun with Disney on Ice.
My girls had so much skating.
If you can understand what kids are like she was not understanding that I could not fix it and I told her that I was sorry.
I even made a great Frozen joke.
Mummy to the kid with the wet pants,” Your pants will dry out soon, you will just need to wait”
Kid with the wet pants, “They are uncomfortable and wet!!!!!!!! I want new ones!!!”
Mummy to the kid with the wet pants, “I thought the cold didn’t bother you anyway.”
See what I did…. I quoted Frozen. I thought this was super clever. However the kid who was suffering with the wet pants did not see the humour in this at all. Pity really. One other mum next to me laughed and liked it.
Sad that the kids didn’t think my joke was worthy of a laugh.
They were being jokers and doing a dance. I’m glad they did not fall over after this.
Okay…. now for one of the Frozen jokes from the twins.
Q: “Why can’t Elsa hold a balloon?”
A: Because she will “Let it Go!”
Insert laughter… I know you are laughing…. I can hear you.
Happy girls skating and having fun with Disney on Ice.
The kids loved watching the professional skaters and marveled at how easy they made skating look. I know hours and hours of practice must go into being this good, and you just don’t suddenly get to be this good. If you are like me, I could watch professional skaters do their tricks and clever moves for hours as well.
The girls and I had photos with the lovely Shelley Craft and learnt about how she is the ambassador for Disney on Ice Australia.
Shelly Craft, Julia and Lillian at the sneak peak for Disney on Ice Frozen.
Shelley Craft, and me (Suzanne Robinson). Julia took this picture of us. Don’t look to closely but I am holding onto some icing from one of the amazing Frozen cupcakes that the kids wanted to still eat.
We even met Mickey Mouse. At first Alexander was not too sure but Mickey made us all feel comfortable.
The kids and I with Mickey Mouse at Disney on Ice Frozen Sneak Peak.Mickey Mouse was very nice and the kids loved him. Alexander was very tired due to not feeling the best. Also it was a huge day out for all of us.
The girls got a lovely goodie bag and I was even given the most amazing cupcakes we have had. They were from Black Velvet in Sydney.
Black Velvet Cupcakes Sydney. They are so yummy!The most amazing Frozen decorated cupcakes. They are from Black Velvet in Sydney.
I have purchased tickets so that the twins and can see Disney on Ice Frozen in July. We cannot wait. It is going to be a fun girls night out.
Would you love to go as well? Shows are from June – July and are happening all over Australia.
From the creators of Despicable Me, Illumination presents SING, a musical comedy about finding the shining star that lives inside all of us. Sing your way into stores today to pick up a copy of SING Special Edition on Blu-ray and DVD featuring 3 mini movies and more music!
We saw SING at the movies, however since then the kids have been asking to see it again.
The twins were so excited and happy to finally have their own copy of SING. Now they can watch it whenever they wish and can entertain friends during the school holidays.
SING is a heart warming film that kids and parents will all love. The music is fabulous and you will catch yourself tapping your feet and singing along. While others might want to get up and have a dance while the characters in the movie strut their stuff.
My happy girls loved sharing the SING film on DVD with their Meena the Elephant plushies.
Snacks and Treats for SING Family Night
To make the whole movie night more fun the twins and I made cupcakes.
Now these weren’t ordinary cupcakes. We decorated some as pigs for Rosita and koalas for Buster Moon.
Buster Moon (Koala) and Rosita (Pig) Cupcakes inspired by the movie SING.
If you wish to recreate my pig and koala SING inspired cupcakes here is what you need to do.
1. Make 12 cupcakes. I chose to have vanilla cake mix to make it easy. You can either have chocolate or make the mixture by scratch.
2. I added dark chocolate bits to the mixture. It is up to you, you might prefer to add something else like say banana instead. Be inventive and have fun!
3. Once the cupcakes cooled down I decorated them.
Koala icing: To get the grey icing colour I added some black icing pen to just icing sugar and water. You can add as much black as you wish to get the desired colour. I did read somewhere that you can get black food colouring but I have never seen or heard of this, so I did the next best thing. I think it worked out well.
Pig icing: I mixed icing sugar, water, and some red food colouring to get the pink colour for the pig cupcake. Mix until the desired colour of pink is achieved.
5. I created 6 koala cupcakes for Buster Moon and 6 pig cupcakes for Rosita.
6. Decorations for Buster Moon: Marshmallows for the ears, dark chocolate bits for the eyes and a chocolate coated almond for the nose.
7. Decorations for Rosita: Marshmallows for the ears (Pink), dark chocolate bits for the eyes, a marshmallow stuck horizontally with 2 dots of black icing for the nose.
8. Now all the SING cupcakes are done, the only thing left to do is to eat them!
All the SING cupcakes ready for our movie night. Rosita (PIG) cupcakes and Buster Moon (Koala) cupcakes.
You must have popcorn for movie night and that is why everyone had their own box of special homemade popcorn.
The girls loved watching the popcorn pop in the microwave and were amazed at how much each bag made.
To make it more of an event I got little popcorn boxes. This made sure that each person had their own popcorn while watching the film.
Having movie night with my girls. We are so happy and excited to be watching SING on DVD.
The SING DVD has great extras
They are:
• Gunter Babysits
• Love At First Sight
• Eddie’s Life Coach
• The Making of the Mini-Movies
Love at First Sight Mini Movie Sneak Peak
Movie Night is Great Family Time
Sharing a film with your kids is so nice. Laughing at the same things is also an enjoyable moment.
Do you love having family movie nights? For your family movie nights do you ensure that you have ample treats on hand to enjoy your film?
My kids love to have movie days also and more so in holidays.
The living room becomes one big bed. Pillows, blankets and more are added to the floor and then we all get very comfortable to watch some favourite films.
Soon it will be holidays and I’m sure your little ones will be wanting to relax and have fun watching SING. Have fun dancing, singing and more!
Movie nights are so much fun, especially with a fun film like SING.
Enjoy your home movie night. I hope that you all have a fun time.
This is when my little girl broke her wrist the first time. Let's hope that it is just bruised muscles this time around.
Summer has been unusually hot. As I write this we are in day three of three days of extreme heat. Catastrophic conditions have been predicted today and there is a total fire ban.
We have had 40 degree days and constant heat that never cools down at night. So, you can imagine after school the kids are desperate to cool down.
My choice this past Monday the 6th of February, (the start of the second week of school) was either the local pool or the sprinkler in our backyard. I chose the sprinkler option.
Lillian with her first plaster on after getting all bones aligned. They put it up the arm to restrict movement from the elbow down.
While I was taking clothes off the line and adding more to the line the kids organised and started playing under the sprinkler.
I watched them and every so often I popped my head up from the clothes line to make sure all my three little people were okay.
The girls were happy getting wet and the baby was having fun pouring a bucket of water on himself as well. They were dirty but cooler so dirt was not an issue. It’s easy to clean dirt and better to be cooler in this horrible heatwave we have been having.
At one point one of my girls decided to stand on a bench seat that we have in the yard. She was jumping up and down and did a jig like dance. Mind you this was wet and under the sprinkler. What could possibly go wrong right?
I of course told her that this is not going to end well and I would like her to get down. I was worried she might fall and hurt herself.
Cue the Benny Hill Theme…….Just picture the kid doing the jig on the bench seat. Water from the sprinkler and then…..
She fell and the bench seat fell on top of her. I saw part of the incident but not all of it due to hanging clothes on the line. This kid screamed the place down and kept on yelling, “My wrist, ouch my wrist”!!!
I knew the way she was screaming that she had broken something and my thought was that her wrist was well and truly broken.
I raced to see if she was okay, I got the bench seat off her and assessed her injury. Her wrist was swelling up and my little girl was screaming and yelling due to the pain.
The kind nurses bandaged “Bummy” Lillian’s teddy as well. He is still wearing his bandages like Lillian as to. I think he will get them off at the same time as my little girl. A long wait for both of them.
Her sister whizzed into the house to get her a towel as I needed to clean everyone up for the trip to the hospital (the doctors at this stage were all closed and if it was a broken bone as I thought the hospital would be the place to be anyway) and arrange a bag for the baby and some snacks for the girls. Our last few times at emergency we waited hours and hours. Mind you this was due to emergencies that took priority over us. You never know if this would happen again and being in a hospital waiting room with three kids it is best to be prepared.
The towel for the injured girl arrived and it was put over her like it was a blanket (Looking at my girl lying on the grass underneath the towel it sort of looked a bit morbid. Like a chalk outline of a body but done with a towel) I told her to lay on the grass and just wait a bit. I needed to get things inside the house, look at her hand and decide that it was really broken and then get all three kids ready to leave the house.
I lightly touched Lillian’s arm and she screamed like I was killing her. Yep it was broken in my head, but I am not a doctor. I was making sure that she could move her fingers (in hindsight maybe not a good idea but thought was important due to understanding what was wrong with her arm and wrist).
Finally, I got Lillian inside the house, gave her some painkillers and got her dressed. Julia was trying to get the baby dressed and tidied up as well (You must picture each child wet and covered in dirt and mud due to playing under the sprinkler.) I went and helped Julia out while Lillian sat crying in the living room. Looking at my girl lying on the grass underneath the towel it sort of looked a bit morbid. Like a chalk outline of a body but done with a towel.
Julia then got ready while I made more bottles of formula, packed the nappy bag and organised shacks for all three kids.
We all piled into the car and tried to reach hubby to let him know what was happening. We got seen to quite quickly at the hospital. The triage nurse gave Lillian a once over and asked what had happened. I explained and so did she. A doctor came to have a quick once over of Lillian’s arm before we told to go to x-ray and wait to be seen there.
X-ray was quick and confirmed my suspicion that my little girl has indeed broken her wrist. We then went back to the emergency waiting room to see the doctor. The wait was not long and the doctor said that her wrist was on a 15-degree angle and this would most likely need to be put in the proper straight position so that the bones can align and mend correctly.
Yes, the doctor said that he has sought an opinion from an orthopaedic surgeon on whether Lillian would have to come to Nepean to have the wrist re-broken to have it in the correct placement before they could put a cast on her.
The specialist was going to call the doctor back where we were so that was a long wait. I think we waited an extra 3 hours for this answer. Nothing we could do and most likely this doctor was super busy with emergencies where he was. (I know girls can be doctors but I was told it was a man)
It was decided that the orthopaedic surgeon needed to see Lillian so that he could re align the bones for the wrist to mend correctly. YUCK I say… oh no! My poor little girl.
I was told that Lillian would be put under to have this happen. I thought although terrible if she is knocked out that might be okay. She will not have a memory of it and it would be easier for everyone involved.
Getting the final x-ray to determine if all bones are in the right place. All was good and Lillian could get more plaster and then come home.
Lillian had to be at Nepean at 8am on Tuesday morning! Oh, gosh how do we do that? I must take one kid to school and the baby to care and get another to the hospital. This would never happen. Hubby took the day so that he could be with Lillian at the hospital and I took Julia to school and the baby to care.
Then due to the stress of the day I was a mess. I could not stop thinking about my little girl and the horrible thing that they need to do to her arm or more like wrist.
We were told that Lillian had to be nil by mouth from 4am, and of course had to be at the hospital for 8am.
Lillian and hubby did not see the doctor until after 11am.
I bet she was hungry and scared.
Remember I told you that the doctor said that she would be put under to have this happen. Well that didn’t occur. She just had gas. Yes, she was awake for it all!
The nurse and practitioners made sure that she had plenty of gas and they tried to do things that would help take her mind of what was occurring. Picture nurses and others laughing and trying to create a different situation than the one that was happening.
Hubby said that she looked distressed at times and upset but afterwards she has no memory of it all. Her memory is that she laughed all the way through it. (Thank goodness for that)
I know that it is a horrible thing to have done and the doctor was quick and according to hubby it was horrible and medieval. I told hubby, “How else would they do it?” I think hubby needed the gas as well. He is still quite upset about the whole thing and watching it all happen for him was very distressing. I know I would have been a huge mess if I was there but I would have liked to have been to comfort her during and after.
I was told that the doctor was very quick but forceful. He pulled and pushed and just snapped things back into place. Hubby heard bones re-break and move. He is very traumatised about the whole experience. During all this I was getting constant updates and was feeling sick about the whole thing as well.
After Lillian had the doctor do his thing with her arm they had to check it with another x-ray. This x-ray will make sure that the bones were all in the correct position. If not, they would have to do it all again.
The x-ray showed all was in the right spot and off hubby and Lillian went to get plaster put on. Yes, more waiting but at least she did not have to go through the trauma of bone re-positioning again.
2pm hit and hubby and Lillian finally could leave the hospital. Hubby took her to McDonald’s for much deserved treat and it was no surprise she ate all her food. Poor little thing must have been so hungry.
Wednesday Lillian stayed home due to recommendation that the cast needs an extra 48 hours to set. The harder the cast is the better things will be.
Next Tuesday the 14th is when I have to take Lillian for her check up. They have to do another x-ray to make sure that the bone has not moved and all is well. If all good she gets more plaster and hopefully we can come back in another six weeks to finally get the cast removed.
While we are at the hospital next week Lillian has been told she can either get a colour or a pattern on her cast. She is keen to find out what she can have.
Thursday, she went back to school and was rather popular with all the kids. She was even getting presents of cheesy scrolls due to her sore arm and more. One mate has nick named her the ‘wounded warrior.’ Geez I wonder what is next?
Lillian however is rather annoyed with her cast and it has only been a few days. Since she is a little kid they like to put the cast nearly up to the arm pit. This is to limit movement (the doctors like to make sure movement from the elbow to down the hand is limited) and to keep the bones in the correct spot. If she was older the cast would be smaller.
So now I have to keep her spirits up in the heat. She is not able to do sports, or swimming and more. She is not happy and is sick of me checking how her arm is feeling. I have stopped asking now and I hope she will tell me if it does start hurting. I have to told her to do so if she notices any changes.
Maybe now the kids will listen when we say you will hurt yourself if you climb that or this. I told her that she needed to be more careful and get off the seat. Hubby told both girls the day before that someone would break an arm or wrist and now it has finally happened.
I don’t like being right about this, I wish it never happened. I hate the fact that my little girl is missing out on fun things in the hottest summer we have had for ages.
Relaxing with Bummy after a huge and stressful day.
Also the other issue is that Julia seems to feel that she is missing out on things. Hubby bought Lillian a toy rabbit from the hospital due to her bravery in getting her bones put back in place. He did not get a present for Julia. The fallout has been horrible. She is just being upset that she is not getting things like Lilly.
I have explained that Lillian is not getting things just because, she is getting things due to the fact that she has hurt herself and in a lot of pain. Terrible pain. Horrible actually!
I told Julia that if she helps out and does things I will give her things as a thank you gift. She just wants to have the same things like Lillian. I again told her that if it happened to daddy we would be helping him, if it was her we would be helping her, and if it was me the family would help me also. She was just very annoyed and thinking she was still missing out.
I am not sure why they chose to give Lilly gas rather than putting her under anesthetic. There must be a reason the doctor did it this way. My thoughts on why are the following: The doctor wants to see a response in his patient and understand if he/she has the positioning right, or it could be that the patient heals better knowing what has occurred although slightly out of it due to the gas or other drugs but understanding that the doctor has fixed their broken limb. If you know why they use gas rather than knocking them out please let me know.
While looking up info on broken bones I came across these great links. They help you understand what will happen and break things down so that kids and adults can understand the jargon and process:
I am amazed that we got to eight years and nearly nine years old without more broken bones. This is the first broken anything that the kids have done. I hope it is the last but I don’t think that will happen. I think we have done well to not have any until now.
Did you break your leg, arm or wrist when you were a kid? Or has it happened later in life?
I fractured my left arm as a kid. It was a greenstick fracture and it was very painful. I must say that I am lucky to be here from my accident. I was riding my bicycle and smashed into an on coming car. My bike went under the car, my hip hit the number plate and I had metal fragments that needed a second visit to the hospital as they were not discovered until I came home. I had a broken arm, a fat lip, skin missing from my face and legs. Not great at all. If I was on a different angle or got bumped me and the bike might have ended up under the car rather than just the bike.
I think I hurt myself at a similar age to what Lillian is now. I will have to confirm this with my mum.
If are going to hurt yourself it is best to not be in a car accident and just be in your garden at home. Much less traumatic. I must say I’m still stressed about the whole experience. I wonder what would have happened if we went to the pool rather than use the sprinkler in the yard? Who knows maybe it still would have happened regardless of where we were.
This has freaked hubby and me out more than it has Lillian. I have to take Lillian back on the 14th for a final check up. They will do an x-ray to make sure that the bones are still in the right spot and if all good more plaster.
Have you still been stressed from your kids hurting themselves? Let us know.
Getting away is always great. A huge holiday to a foreign destination is fab but in my book just an escape to somewhere different and for a few days is just as good. It is even better when you stay somewhere where the cooking and cleaning is all done and you can just relax. As a mummy this part is one of the best, not having to do much at all.
On our way to the Hunter Valley.
The Hunter Valley is a great place for a quick weekend escape, and a great place for the whole family.
We drove to the Hunter and I thought that would not be fun with three kids but it was not as bad as I thought. The trip was broken up with a lunch stop and so that we could have a rest.
One thing that was said multiple times from hubby was that we were travelling in a huge heat wave. Predicted temperatures in the Hunter were meant to get to over 40 degrees. In fact, it got to 44.5 degrees on one of the days while at the Hunter… the whole family thought this was a good excuse to visit the dessert café and order a whole lot of very cold ice-cream and drinks. Mind you some don’t need an excuse to have ice cream at all.
I received tickets to go to the Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular this year. Luckily this year we could go, last year I was very pregnant with Alexander (at the time we had no idea if it was a boy/girl) and thought that a trip when we had no idea when the baby would come might not be a good idea.
However, the same time this year I’m not pregnant, or just had the baby and we can get about more easily with a family of three kids.
We were all looking forward to seeing the lights; on the Hunter Valley Gardens website, they have such lovely pictures of all the different gardens and videos so that you can experience a little bit before you go. A great idea to get you all super excited.
What Can you See at the Christmas Lights Spectacular?
There are many different gardens that are decorated with such lovely displays of lights and characters. Some of the things on display are:
Candyland
The Twelve Days of Christmas. This is a sound and light display. I loved this one. You need to stay for a little bit to see all the days and enjoy the full display.
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
Fairy Garden – the girls loved this one
Waterfall and lights – This was another one of our favourites. You can see dolphins, the waterfall and all the creatures lit up on the water. Very magical.
Underwater scene – whale, jellyfish, fish, and shark and much more.
Mega Trees – Trees had lights displayed in them and some were moving and very mesmerizing.
North Pole Scene
Santa’s Plane
Present Tree
Music Room
And so much more….Trust me you will be amazed at all the lights, work and detail that has gone into this wonderful event.
Tokens for individual rides in the Fun Zone are $6 each, unlimited rides* wristbands are $15 pp.
“This awesome Fun Zone includes: unlimited play on the super fun Jumping Castles, Obstacle Courses, Arcade Alley and the massive, colourful HVG Super Slide (weather permitting). Please note that the Fun Zone requires an additional entry fee alongside Christmas Lights entry).” Fun Zone is open during the Christmas Lights Spectacular from 5.30pm – 9.45 pm daily.
The girls loved the huge mega slide and the obstacle courses and the jumping castles. The Fun Zone is located near the food and beverage area. While the kids play you can relax with a drink and they can run wild for a while.
The mega slide at The Hunter Valley Gardens
The girls loved the slide and had about a million goes, I lost count.
My little photographer. She loved taking pictures with her new camera she got for Christmas.
This girl was amazed at the wonderful colours of the lights.
Alice In Wonderland. She is at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
Look Tinkerbell is behind the girls…. shhhhh they have no idea!
Cinderella’s castle and her huge wedding ring. Now where do I find a ring like this, and a real one!
I loved these pretty flowers.
Look dinosaurs! Be careful!
This was a huge tree and so pretty with all the different coloured presents.
So what did we do while we were at the Hunter Valley?
We had fun at the Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular. Did you know that the Hunter Valley gardens has over 60 acres of gardens to look at. No wonder we were all tired when we got back to the hotel, well we were exhausted after we got back to the car.
Enjoyed relaxing at our hotel The Mecure at the Hunter Valley – this was a great place to stay due to the fact that it was right next to the Hunter Valley Gardens.
We all cooled down in the pool at the Mecure due to very hot days. The pool was a huge hit with the kids and even Alexander finally felt comfortable enough to get fully into the pool for the first time. He had only ever wanted to put his feet into a pool before.
Relaxed! Did nothing for a while.
Where did we stay and why?
We chose to stay at the Mecure at the Hunter Valley Gardens. This was for two reasons, firstly that we would be really close to the lights and secondly that it looked like a lovely family friendly place to stay.
First I looked online to see what types of rooms they had on offer and we were lucky enough to book a family room. Our stay was with the lead up to New Year’s Eve and therefore many places were booked out as were many restaurants.
The people at the Mecure were so helpful, friendly and nothing was an issue. It was very family friendly and the room was great for kids and adults. We were in a huge room for just everyone and that was fine for us. Maybe next time when we have more time to book we will get a bigger room or say two rooms, one for the kids and one for us.
Breakfast at the Mecure was yummy and filled us up, the kids were happy that they could make their own pancakes and they had weet-bix as well. As per usual our little boy made a mess but we did our best to tidy up so that we did not leave a horrible disaster for the lovely staff. Make sure to get breakfast with your room package as it really made it so much easier.
Having a cold drink in 41 degree heat. It was much needed. We were waiting for our dinner at Harrigan’s Irish Pub.
After he had some strawberries Harrigan’s Irish Pub.
Jumping castle fun at Harrigan’s Irish Pub.
The kids loved the jumping castle at Harrigan’s Irish Pub.
NOTE: If you book make sure to organise dinner reservations. I did not think of this until we were at our hotel room. I normally do this but it did not happen until we were at the hotel. It must have been forgotten about in the rush to pack and leave the house.
We managed to get a booking at the Mecure for dinner Friday night, and the Thursday night we ate at local pub down the road at Harrigan’s Irish Pub.
The kids settled in well in our hotel room.
All three kids loved the room, and so did we.
Hubby had to cool down with a bath while the kids and I went off to the pool.
The buildings and grounds at the Mecure are just amazing. So looked after.
This is where we ate dinner at the Mecure at the Hunter Valley.
The area where we ate dinner had a massive fireplace.
My chicken dinner that I had at éléments
Steak dinner that hubby had at éléments
Dinner was good tasty food that hit the spot. The kids had fun at the jumping castle at Harrigan’s before and after their food and this allowed them to run off some energy that they needed to do due to our big drive to the Hunter Valley. Our plan was to eat something before we all went off to see the Lights at the Hunter Valley Gardens. I’m glad we did that as there is lots to see although if you did not manage to get dinner before going to the lights at the Hunter Valley Gardens there are some food stalls that you can purchase some food and sit back and relax while the kids have fun at the Fun Zone while you can relax with a refreshing drink.
Dining on Friday night at the Mecure was such a treat. The meal was divine and so tasty. The restaurant is called éléments and the Executive Chef Jean Marc Pollet fuses French cuisine with Australian produce. The soup for our starter was so tasty and our main meal was excellent as well. The kids loved their meals too.
A HUGE thank you to The Hunter Valley Gardens for the tickets to the wonderful lights. We all had a wonderful time. Also a big shout out to the lovely people at the Mecure at the Hunter Valley for booking us in with not much warning and giving us a room that we could all fit into for our two night stay. We loved our time at the Hunter and are keen to come back soon.
Make sure you check out all the things you can do in the Hunter Valley and keep it for a nice escape for just you and hubby or you and the wife, or a family getaway with the kids. The Visit NSWwebsite has a great list of places to visit, wineries, place to stay, drives to do and all things to keep everyone entertained.
Our Christmas Day was rather relaxing. Normally we go to my families house for lunch and then in the late afternoon we go to hubby’s side for dinner. My family decided to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve so that meant we could be at one place on Christmas Day. It was very nice for a change. Also trying to fit two lunches, and a dinner in on one day is not wise and hard to do. I did like the fact that I could just eat one meal and not have to do it again at another house.
The kids and especially the baby were spoilt with gifts this year and as it was Alexander’s first Christmas this was I suppose appropriate. I did find that I was unwrapping all of the babies presents and I found that there were more boxes that were not opened. I checked the name and thought maybe they were for me… no they were for the baby. Oh well.
Before we did go to the relatives house the kids, hubby and I opened our presents. I was very lucky to get a Macbook Air laptop from hubby and the kids. I also got a coffee plunger and coffee. One of the girls decorated a plate for me and it even comes with a stand so that I can display it.
Plate decorated by Lillian. It is also sitting on my new laptop and case. What lovely presents I got this year.
The kids got some LEGO, games, clothes, shoes and some other fun things. Hubby got some replacement Guinness glasses (I smashed the last one by accident. We purchased them when we were in Dublin on our honeymoon), I made sure hubby had Guinness that was cold so he could try out his new pint glasses, he also got some tea cups, and a lovely Santa shirt to celebrate Christmas Day with.
We were very lucky with our lovely presents and Santa also gave some thoughtful gifts. Santa gave me a notepad to help with my blogging in 2017. Thanks so much Santa.
Since I was so lucky to get a laptop I did not mind unwrapping multiple presents for my little boy.
Persian Fetta, Ham, Smoked Salmon and Mango were some of the things that our little boy liked to eat on Christmas Day. Of course our boy likes the expensive items.
Naturally these items are not found at my house. I do love them but have not raced to the shops to procure fancy treats for our little boy to munch on. This is where you say what a bad mother I am due to not having these items for him to eat!
It was great that he was trying new flavours and textures but I’m not sure I can keep up with his expensive tastes.
Mangoes have dominated the fruit shops lately and walking past is a wonderful experience. The smell of mangoes fills the air and makes me want to buy as many as I can and eat them like I did when I was a kid. When I was little I used to be in my swimsuit and take mangoes down to the beach, eat the mango and get it everywhere and then take a swim in the sea. Such a great way to eat a mango and a great excuse for another swim at the beach.
Since there is a huge amount of mangoes I’m sure that I could pick some up for myself and our boy to have. I will have to check out the costs of Persian Fetta and some other items, maybe if I buy a little bit it will not be too expensive.
Has your little one got expensive tastes? What foods did they like that took you by surprise?
What did you eat this Christmas? It was another hot day and the food we ate was mostly cold meats, seafood and salads. Perfect for a hot day.
The girls had fun on the slip and slide and tested out their new camera that can go underwater. It was a long and tiring day. We all slept in on Boxing Day and the baby did not get up till a quarter to 11. So he was very sleepy indeed.
I hope you had a lovely Christmas and Boxing Day.
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Stay tuned for our next giveaway. It it is to help you celebrate the new year. 2017 will be here soon and what better way to celebrate than have a drink. If you are a new mum and breastfeeding you most likely miss out. Don’t fret, my giveaway is here to help you celebrate and you can have one without the worry. Tune in soon to find out more and to enter!
I cannot believe it is Christmas Eve and for that matter will be Christmas tomorrow!
2016 has gone super quick for me. I suppose looking after a new baby and two older kids makes things speed up. I’ve been racing around taking kids to school, picking them up, taking them to after school activities and more!
One other thing that I cannot believe is that my little boy, Alexander is nearly one. Yes he will be having his first birthday soon. He was born on the 7th of January so just a few weeks after Christmas he will have his first birthday party.
Merry Christmas, and I cannot believe that 2016 is nearly over.
Lately I have been thinking about all the wonderful things that have happened in 2016:
Our little boy was born.
We were lucky to survive life with a newborn and no sleep all while looking after our twin girls. Well mostly me and getting everyone to school with me having little to no sleep was indeed a miracle.
The girls did well in school this year and both had important jobs. One was in the SRC (Student Representative Council) and the other was in charge of taking the roll to the office everyday.
Alexander hit all his milestones some earlier than expected and has been wanting to walk ever since he was born. The last few months he has been lounge surfing. He is standing and taking a few steps but that is it at the moment. It won’t be long
Alexander is climbing chairs and anything he can find to climb.
The girls love their baby brother and although we have had a few accidents we were incredibly lucky that everyone was okay. The baby fell and smashed his face on the concrete path and therefore his front teeth all got smashed in and then all his teeth were wobbly. One other incident was when he was only a couple months old he was dropped into the sandpit head first.
It is nice to watch the kids all together when everyone is getting along. Cuddles, kisses and of course giggles.
I have faced very naughty kids lately but they have tried hard and are generally good kids. So I did purchase Christmas presents and now we have many things under the tree. So my annoyance at cancelling Christmas was not something that has happened.
I am now wondering what wonderful things will be in store for us in 2017. Next year is the year of the Rooster and according to reports it looks like a great year for me.
Are you in disbelief about the fact it is Christmas already? Did 2016 fly by fast for you as well?
What do you hope to do in 2017?
I have big plans for the blog and life. Alexander is due to start childcare soon, and this will allow me to get more done. He will only be going a few days per week, I hope he likes it.
Below are some wonderful events to celebrate Christmas and the festive season. This is just a few events and is by no means a full breakdown of things to do.
The kids will love them and I’m sure adults will as well. Take the whole family and enjoy.
Christmas in the Sky at Sydney Tower Eye
Santa’s Highest Grotto 3rd December – 23rd December 2016
Santa waiting to hear what you want for Christmas. Come along to the Sydney Tower Eye to meet Santa and get your photos taken as well.
Who knew that Santa had a grotto 250 metres above street level. It is here that you can experience the magic of the North Pole in the heart of Sydney.
Parents and children will be amazed that Santa’s festive grotto is decorated just like it would be if he was at home, fireplace, Christmas tree and music to make you all feel welcome.
Santa likes to keep updated with the conditions for the reindeer for optimal toy delivery.
EVENT DETAILS: What: Santa’s Highest Grotto at Sydney Tower Eye Where: Sydney Tower Eye, 100 Market St, Sydney When: Saturday 3 December to Friday 23 December 2015 Hours: Weekdays: 4:00pm – 7:00pm Weekends: 11:00am – 6:00pm
11:00am to 6:00pm every day from Saturday 17 December Cost: Included in price of admission
SYDNEY TOWER EYE DETAILS: Where: Sydney Tower Eye, 100 Market Street, Sydney Opening hours: 9.00am – 10.00pm daily. Last admission at 9.00pm Cost: Best price guarantee when you book online. Walk-up price – Adults: $26.50, Children (4-15yrs): $17. Combination tickets are available with Madame Tussauds Sydney, SEA LIFE Sydney, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo and Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary PHONE: 1800 258 693
Gingerbread Village by Epicure – Melbourne 1st December – 24th of December 2016 FREE EVENT Corner of Little Collins and Swanston Street, Melbourne Town Hall, 90-120 Swanston Street
Gingerbread creations from EPICURE
The Gingerbread Village is now in its sixth year and looks like it is going to be bigger and better than previous years. EPICURE’s award-winning Executive Pastry Chef Deniz Karaca and his masterful team have spent about 2000 hours constructing the display, which requires 500kgs of gingerbread, 360kgs of royal icing, 150kgs of marzipan, and is topped off with 800 mini Christmas trees.
EPICURE is going to be including Melbourne landmarks such as, The Melbourne Cricket Ground, Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Melbourne Town Hall, Luna Park, and The Melbourne Zoo.
If you wish to get more into the spirit of the season, then why not bake your own gingerbread too. I have Deniz Karaca’s prized gingerbread recipe. Make your own and impress your friends with gingerbread gifts.
Christmas Lights Spectacular at The Hunter Valley
4th November – 26th January 2017
Closed 25th December
Christmas Lights Fun Zone (Please note that the Fun Zone requires an additional entry fee alongside Christmas Lights entry. Open from 6:30pm – 10:00pm, $7.50 per person) – This area is just for kids. Jumping castles, obstacle courses, super slide
Santa Photos these are at additional costs and are all supplied on 4GB USB. Santa Photos are only available from 4th November to 24th of Dec 2016
Location: Nestled at the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges, in the heart of the Hunter vineyards
Contact Details:
Open 7 days from 9am – 4pm and 6.30pm – 10pm (Closed 25th December). Phone 02 4998 4000 –
Emailwelcome@hvg.com.au – Fax 02 4998 4071
This event looks amazing and we wanted to go last year, however I was very pregnant with our little boy at the time. As we had no idea he would be born on his due date of 7th of Jan we did not want to be too far from the hospital. This year I’m keen to take the kids to the Christmas Lights Spectacular and I cannot wait to see their faces light up as much as the lights are already.
What great event have you been to in the lead up to Christmas? Let us know.
I hope you have a lovely time if you do go to these great events and if you have some other fab place to tell us about I cannot wait to hear about that too. Have fun!
Do you like to buy sturdy and long lasting toys for your kids? I know I do. Some toys are costly to only break soon after your child plays with them. With quality wood toys feel great and are also sturdy enough to last many children playing with them and can be passed down from generation to generation.
My kids are extremely active and into everything and have loved constructing magical empires and fairy homes with wooden blocks and much more.
My lovely friend from The Wooden Toy Box has some fabulous wooden toy products that would be a perfect addition for Christmas or in fact any time of year, birthdays or just because presents.
The Toddle-Truck from The Wooden Toybox
More about The Wooden Toy Box
Hello I’m Adrienne Smith a mum to three rambunctious boys aged two, four and six, and if there is one thing I am passionate about its providing every opportunity to learn while they play. Buying the best toys for these learning experiences can be a challenge which is why I created The Wooden Toybox where we aim to create lasting fun for little imaginations in a safe and environmentally friendly way.
All our toys are designed and made in from Australian timbers. They are hand finished and polished using homemade organic beeswax and Linseed oil which is extremely safe for little ones to chew on. All wooden toys are quality control tested by my little family and follow AUST/NZ safety standards.
All The Wooden Toybox toys are well made and built to last. The Toddle-Truck is ideal for little people trying to walk and for storing much loved toys in when they are on the move.
What’s inside The Wooden Toybox?
Our signature product is the Toddle-truck – a baby walker/pusher which helps babies and toddlers to stand and take their first steps. Made from Queensland Hoop Pine it provides a beautiful sensory experience and is very strong and sturdy. A handcrafted piece, the Toddle-truck can be handed down from generation to generation.
We have also created wooden blocks and wooden lacing shapes and continue to expand our product range. If you have any requests or like to see any classic wooden toys brought back to life – we’d love to hear from you.
Giveaway to Win a Toddle-Truck
The great news is for Christmas we have a special Facebook promotion open to all Mummy to Twins Plus One readers. We are giving away a beautiful, handcrafted Toddle-truck to one lucky family.
Please feel free to leave a comment. Terms and conditions can be found on the Wooden Toybox’s Australia Facebook page.
Entries close 11pm AEST Friday 25th November.
All Mummy to Twins Plus One readers have the chance to win this wonderful Toddle-Truck. Just go to The Wooden Toybox Facebook page to enter.
As a mum to curious and active little people I like Adrienne from The Wooden Toy Box love to make sure that my kids are learning while playing.
Wooden Lacing Shapes helps children with the following:
Spatial relationships – helps with understanding
Develops Visual tracking – helps children read left to right and not skip lines.
Strengthens wrist and finger muscles – this is helpful for using scissors and holding pencils/pens.
Develops hand eye coordination – helpful for buttoning and unzipping of clothes.
Wooden Lacing Shapes from The Wooden Toy Box
Did you know construction toys, such as toy blocks can help children develop the following skills:
Social skills/Cooperative Play – While they are building their fortress or town they need to communicate to the other kids
Language skills – Explaining their creation to mum/dad or their siblings.
Capacity for Creative/Divergent thinking – Creating their own construction without rules allows the child to think for themselves, and solve their own problems.
Spatial Skills – Children “who showed more interest in construction– and built more sophisticated structures–performed better on a standardized test of spatial intelligence (Caldera et al 1999).” http://www.parentingscience.com/toy-blocks.html
Math Skills – More play with blocks has been tied to higher mathematical achievement in high school.
Wooden Blocks from The Wooden Toy Box
As you can see there are many benefits of wooden toy blocks and the wooden lacing shapes for kids. I was so taken with the quality of these wooden toys I wanted to share it with my lovely readers. I hope you find them as great as I do.
With the lead up to Christmas it might be a great gift for a little someone. Make sure you enter The Wooden Toy Box’s great giveaway to win a Toddle-Truck. You might be the lucky winner and have one present sorted for Christmas.
Thanks so much to The Wooden Toy Box for showcasing their lovely products and sharing their latest giveaway with my readers.
