38/52: Silent Sunday

TheBoyandMe's 366 Linky Love All Blogs

36/52: Silent Sunday

TheBoyandMe's 366 Linky Love All Blogs

35/52: Silent Sunday

TheBoyandMe's 366 Linky Love All Blogs

32/52: Everyone should have a sandpit

I think it might be the best sandpit in the whole world – JD, 4

Summer’s here, sort of. Some days it’s raining, some days it’s like this – ridiculously sunny. Sunny enough to get out that staple of the British childhood summer: the sandpit.

Idealo sent us this Plum Products Large Octagonal Sand Pit – it’s very, very large (149cm x 149cm) but priced as low as £60 including delivery, which I think is great value.

The base is material, which lets excess water out. The only down side is the lid, which is plastic and not elasticated, so it doesn’t really stay on. When it rained it got weighed down in the middle and failed in its purpose, but Mark has taken on the challenge of improving on it this weekend with some cleverly (and carefully) placed eyelets.

Anyway, we grabbed six bags of sand and a cheap bucket and spade from the supermarket and set to work. Instagram is now playing host to some of our best sand castle creations.

Disclosure: We were sent a Plum Products Large Octagonal Sand Pit for review purposes. No payment was received for this post. All posts are 100% honest.

TheBoyandMe's 366 Linky Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

31/52: Silent Sunday

TheBoyandMe's 366 Linky Love All Blogs

29/52: A summer of recipes

Ovens are hot, so we can’t go near – JD, 4

We’ve been cooking. A lot. Miss J and JD parked at the kitchen table, kneading dough and tearing peppers, me running around shuffling pans and stirring sauces. We love it.

So this week’s pic is a montage of what we’ve been making and a taste of what is to come. Hungry yet?

TheBoyandMe's 366 Linky

28/52: Silent Sunday

TheBoyandMe's 366 Linky Silent Sunday

26/52: Those three little words

It’s because she listens to me and she gives lots of attention to what I’m saying – JD, 4

I don’t like boastful parenting. “Ooh, my child was doing dishes at 9 months and by two years old he’d moved out and got a job in the city. What has YOURS done?” No, no, no.

But I have to boast a bit about Miss J’s achievements this week, and how JD has supported her. I just have to. Because it’s been one of those big weeks where their relationship strengthened and she suddenly sprang forward developmentally. I want to share it with you…

She’s talking

All of a sudden, Miss J went from babbling the odd syllable to talking. She can say THREE WORDS clearly, “daddy”, “again” and “yeah” – the last of which she says in an enthusiastic whisper, mirroring the way we say it to her. JD is fascinated and spends careful hours coaxing words from her with gentle songs and smiles.

She’s clapping

With her feet planted firmly on the foot plate of her Tripp Trapp, her dexterity has improved noticeably and she’s clapping at everything from the offer of food, to Tree Fu Tom, to the arrival of Mark home from work – always accompanied by a huge cheesy grin. JD’s dances bring her out in a full round of applause.

She’s climbing and pulling herself to standing

Miss J launched herself at a beanbag and scaled up it like a pro. Then she climbed down, crawled over to the sofa and stood herself up, grinning wildly. I just sat there open mouthed, wondering where my helpless little newborn had gone as JD pulled on my sleeve and pointed proudly.

So yeah, she’s eight months, he’s four years old and they are both amazing. All kids are in their own special, wonderful ways.

TheBoyandMe's 366 Linky Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

25/52: Silent Sunday

TheBoyandMe's 366 Linky Silent Sunday