This is why I am missing the football season – no I don’t enjoy watching the glorious game.  No, I don’t like sky sports constantly on and the battle that follows when Erin want’s to watch CBeebies.  However it does give Dylan a reason to get out of bed.  During the season he wants to know every result from the premier league to the conference league.  Therefore he will get out of bed in order for his feet to be touching the floor (he has a cabin bed therefore HAS to actually get up) to find out the previous nights score.  Without football I am struggling.  He sees little value in getting up quickly and starting the day eagerly. 

He is not the only struggling with the mornings.  As the end of term draws near I have a mountain of admin to carry out.  Stock orders for next year, reports for students, UCAS refernces the list is ever growing.  Therefore my mind wanders….

Yesterday I dropped Erin at nursery grateful that they had opened the doors to harrassed parents three minutes early.  It was like an early present wrapped up in ribbon.  I had three extra minutes before the bell would start my school day.  However I obviously zoned out, as I looked out the window I was startled by my surroundings.  I was driving past GCHQ, I was temporarily halted by the red glow of a traffic light.  I looked at the rising sun at those driving into to GCHQ and thought  ‘what the hell am I doing’ I had just driven to the wrong town.  I had joined the early morning Cheltenham traffic and yet I was supposed to be in Tewkesbury.  A drive I have done three times a week for the past six years.

I was now on a road that I had to continue on until I could go around the roundabout, join more sets of traffic lights before I could get back on the bypass and back track up the road to the junction I had whizzed by.  Oh how I nearly cried – those precious minutes had gone and were replaced by the knowledge I would be rushing in the gates, joining students on the bell, just like Waterloo Road protrays the arrival of teachers to school.  If only.  If only we came and left with our students. 

Oh early mornings how you challenge me.

On arriving at our accommodation the older two stripped to swim suits and were out the door before we had even unloaded (this is an advantage of having teenagers). Waiting for us in our lodge was a family hamper welcome pack.  The hamper was full of more than just basics, it included eggs, sausages and all the trimmings for a fry up.  We had welcome drinks including wine, beer, squash, fizzy and water – everyone was catered for and I was rather surprised by the vast amount included.  Bread, crisps, cookies and made up our lunch time snacks before the planned meal we had booked for Saturday night.  I had cooked up a big bolognaise that just needed to be reheated for Friday’s meal which I recommend as it means less cooking to do on your break.  We had chosen to take Northern Mum as our plus ones! Like us they have had a tough year health wise and lots of playing and fun for the children was just what the doctor ordered. Therefore we grabbed extra chairs from their lodge and eleven of us tucked into a lovely meal – even if my portion control was a bit generous. I have no idea how much pasta eleven people need!

Pre cooking also means that you can have a treatment booked for when you arrive!  I slipped off and had my pre arranged lime and ginger scrub. My legs haven’t yet left the comfy confines of jeans this summer. Therefore having my lovely therapist sloughing off the dead skin was lovely. I felt really refreshed afterwards and couldn’t believe what a difference it made to my skin. I did see comment about not drinking for six hours after treatments to get the best results – I failed on two accounts as I was given a glass of champayne after my treatmet and invitied to relax in a soft room adorned with loungers and blankets – a little slice of heaven.  Secondly Jane met me walking back to the lodge with a large glass of prosecco in hand!

The evening brought lots of giggles, drinking and a very late night! The children enjoyed chilling out – the littles loving the chalkboard in our lodges.  However we up at a decent time for a fry up cooked by Jane before we all headed off swimming. Swimming with so many children was fun and they whooped down the rapids and even jumped in the freezing plunge pool. Dylan gained confidence in the water and was soon swirling around in the rapids and even trying the slides. Then it was a quick lunch before dropping the two littles off at the princess party that was going to entertain them for three hours. After filling in the medical forms (we had alot to write) the girls were settled whilst we drove down to the farm for our horse riding adventure.

The horse-riding was quite relaxing once we had gotten over the initial nerves of getting on a horse. The kids thought it very funny when Liam’s horse decided to have a massive wee! Although we did enjoy the riding I think next time I would choose something a little more adventurous. The horses just walked on in single file for half an hour before turning back. We were beginners but there wasn’t much challenge – apart from getting on and off the horse!  Having done the aerial challenge last time I should have stuck to something more adrenlin based!

Once back we collected the girls who had had the best time. Both left with party bags, faces painted and were tired out. Erin had won a dancing competition too. It was heartwarming to see two little girls who this time last couldn’t walk due to DDH and operations, together they held hands and kept saying that they were best friends. They even compared scars – not too competitive then!

We then went for our evening meal at the Grand Cafe which was divine. There was live music playing and the playground next door meant the kids were able to nip out between courses. The menu had something for everyone – although the adults all went for a fillet steak. There was a children’s menu too and they were happy for Dylan to eat off the children’s menu but have a starter off the main menu too. The puddings were lovely and the drink kept flowing.  I have definately discovered that fizzy rose or prosecco keeps the hang overs away – another top tip!

After a slightly earlier night, we woke up (with no hangovers – result!!) and Jane and I were so kind as we gave the men full responsibility ofall  the children, allowing them to spend some quality time with their children on Fathers Day whilst we swanned off to the Aqua Sana for three hours. It was pure bliss as we tried out all the different experience rooms. The steam rooms were well fragranced, there were heated beds and also water beds in which I could easily lost total track of everything and slept for hours!

We all met up again at the pancake house as I promised the children we could go again after sampling them last year. Then it was time for a quick play in the adventure playground before packing up and heading home. The adventure park bought out the child in all of us as we all tried the zip wire. Obviously I fell off which was luckily not captured on camera!  Due to teaching were we not able to make use of the last night but it didn’t really matter.  It was great to have the lodge all day Sunday and not have to pack up until we were ready to leave.

We absolutely had a blast at Center Parcs as the pictures show and I am so glad that through Tots100 I was selected as an ambassador.  I think it is an amazing place to spend time with family and friends.  I just wish we could do it all again!

Disclosure: The visit to center parcs was complimentary for the purpose of the ambassador programme.

Each week I shall share the highs and lows of my training and how I am feeling about it all.  This past week I have been given lots of encouragement from friends that had seen my announcement.  I have just spent the weekend at Center Parcs with Jane – who has three marathons under her belt.  I spent the weekend having great fun and between copious wine drinking Jane gave me some good advice from apps that can help with a training programme to telling me I actually need to start bloody running!  I was a bit taken aback that I needed to train four times a week.  Four times? What’s more Jane thinks it will even put me off drinking wine.  Now, I’m not sure that is a side effect I am wanting.  Considering she didn’t get me on a bike all weekend, she now knows how much I avoid physical exercise! 

Whilst on Twitter the other evening I found a couple of fellow parent  bloggers discussing the Chelt half marathon.  I jumped in and said I was doing it too.  They asked how my training was going.  I said hmmm I’m going to start this week.  Then I was asked what half marathons I had done before and how far I could run?  ummmm none and umm probably to the car.

I still wasn’t worried!  Afterall it cannot be that hard surely.  Otherwise people wouldn’t do it -right?  Steps have been so encouraging and will be supporting us all the way.  They are sending us running vests a=which show who we are supporting.

Today was the new start and I actually got on the treadmill and ran.  I put on the stereo and I ran for fifteen minutes.  It was hard, I got hot and my legs were weak.  I kept setting myself little goals.  I aimed for 10 mins as I got near that I thought I’d keep going to 1 mile.  Then I stopped for a glass of water and got going again.  I managed to get to fifteen minutes and 1.4 miles.

My legs were shaking after finishing and I am seriously wondering what I have let myself in for.  However it has made me more determined and I know that as I am writing this I will do it.  I can’t bottle it when I am telling everyone I’m doing it!

1.4 miles run on the first effort.  Now I just need to keep upping it.  I would love your encouragement and your sponsorship.  Just click the Just Giving below to sponsor Lee and myself. 

I became a carer in a heartbeat last year and it was the most terrifying job that I have ever had.  When Erin was diagnosed with DDH my world changed.  When I sat with her consultant two weeks later and learnt what her treatment needed to involve I collapsed.  Yet in that nano second I became a full time carer.  Now that seems an odd thing to say as I was already a mum of three and caring for them is part of the job description.  As a mum we care – it’s what we do.  But my new carers role involved even more, it meant providing additional physical care whilst Erin was bound by spica for several months.  It meant liaising with surgeons, physio’s and occupational therapists.  It meant getting and filling in forms and getting up in the middle of the night when she had cramps.  It meant bathing her on a kitchen sink, it meant giving up my teaching career for a year.  I was lucky, my school and collegues couldn’t have been more supportive – I was placed on a sabbitical which protected my job but meant we, as a family dropped my salary.   A family of five used to two incomes, suddenly, without any time for extra saving bacame a family of five living off one salary.  As a carer I was paid just over £50 a week.  Yes £50 for 24 hour care, seven days a week.  No days off, no holidays, no sick days for me as Erin still needed that extra care.  She couldn’t go to nursery, we simply could no longer afford it.  I was forced to take the sabbatical as she was having surgery every six weeks.  It wouldn’t have been fair on my students to try and work – it was too disruptive.  Plus my baby needed me.  Not only my ddh baby, but my other children needed me whist they struggled with watching what was happening to their little sister.

Carers save the NHS and welfare state so much money.  Imagine how much it costs to provide that level of care.  Being a carer can be lonely and isolating.  It was difficult to get out with Erin so often we didn’t bother.  Many of my friends were working and therfore Monday to Friday was a long week.  I did enjoy being at home for the other two as I was able to go to their school things and was able to be at home when they walked through the front door.   That was lovely.  You forget that having a sibling going through medical treatment and surgeries is actually very stressful for them too.  They worry and have fears that need to be allayed.

After a year I was able to return to the day job and therefore I count myself as lucky.  For many carers the job lasts years if not decades.  Whilst it is a job bourne out of unconditional love it is a tough job.  So I want to thank carers everywhere and do my own little tribute to you.  I had a glimpse of your life and I know how difficult, rewarding, exhausting, satisfying and really is. 

Most people think that their dad is the best and my daughter is no exception and you can read why here. However although my husband is infact a wonderful father I am nominating my own dad as the greatest father.

My dad is quite simply my rock and always has been. We clashed when I was a teen and would argue and I would refuse to talk to him – when I think back I can’t believe how he put up with it all!  Unconditional love I guess which I understand myself now that I am a parent.  However I also have really special memories, dad travelled globally with work and would be away for several weeks at a time sometimes.  One such time saw him returning on my birthday and he had bought me a small box of luxury chocolates.  They meant the world to me because he had thought of me and yet I knew that mum is the one that does the present buying.  That small box of choc showed he was thinking of me.

Dad spent three years driving up and down the motorways taking me to and from University each term and I would ram his car full of stuff and he would patiently load and unload it each time!

Dad is such a family man and nothing is too much trouble for him. I know that no matter what time of day or night he would be by my side in an instant if I needed him. When my car broke down on a major road last year it was my dads number I called in a panic. Not my husband but my dad! When I wanted to Dylan’s bedroom wallpapered it was grandad he asked.  When our electrics tripped and I didn’t know what switch to flick (yes really – blonde moment) he was there to flick the switch for me.

One of the greatest things he does is each and every Monday he looks after Erin and her cousin Olly.  He looks after two preschoolers for 9 hours, he takes them to the park, to the coffee shoop, prepares their lunches and spends hours playing games with them.  This has enabled my sister in law and myself to save a day of nursery fees.  They children adore Mondays and I am sure they run dad ragged and he is tired by the end of the day but he never lets on.  Dad has been doing this for the past 12 years.  In turn he has taken a day a week to first have Chloe, followed by Dylan and now he has the little two.  He deserves an osiris chrono watch from John Lewis for that alone!

The children have all been in hospital this past year and my dad is there when they need recuperating.  He drops his own work schedule (he is self employed) to pick up the pieces for me and be there for the children. 

When Erin was diagnosed with DDH it was his words that calmed me down.  When I feel overwhelmed it is dad and his calm manner that keeps me focussed.

Dad believes in my brothers and I and is always quietly encouraging.  Dad is very quiet to outsiders but is one of the most caring, calm and supportive people I know.  He doesn’t get anywhere near enough recognition for all he does for me – but he does know how much I love him.  Dad will read this post because he follows my blog and takes an interest in everything I do.  So if you don’t win this competition dad – I’m sorry but too me you really are the greatest dad.

My dad, a photo from 9 years ago.

Again I love that Erin has a dress none of her friends will have.  The bow detail is lovely and makes it special.  The dress is really well made and although it is a party dress it is not over the top.

When we were at the meal another family commented on the dress and said how beautiful it was.

The photo’s really don’t do the dress enough justice!  But you can see the attention to detail is great.  Lace is very much on trend at the moment and it looks really summery.  The dress is not heavy even though it has layers.  It being pink it matches her little kickers. This dress costs about $50.  It arrived quickly and was well presented.

I would like to see what you have been reviewing or wearing this week. Do grab the badge in the sidebar or link back to here if you don’t mind!

Disclosure: I was gifted the dress for the purpose of the review.

Therefore it is no surprise that social media fascinates and has entrapped me so much.  I feel that social media is my medium for getting it out and capturing the moment.  Be it through a post, a status update, instagramming or a tweet.  It’s all put out there to share. 

When I started blogging three years ago I did not expect it to take me on the journey it has.  It has given me some amazing opportunities that have enabled my family and me to do some pretty amazing things and be part of some amazing campaigns.  However, one thing I didn’t expect was to find so many friends in the computer.

When I started this my family didn’t really get it and my real life friends (I hate that phrase) certainly didn’t and probably still don’t. When I first went to cybermummy, as it was called, people thought I was mad.  They couldn’t believe I was going all the way to London for two nights to hang out with bloggers I didn’t know.  Yet it was one of the best things I did. It opened new doors for me and encouraged me with my blog which I really believe in. 

After Erin was diagnosed with DDH I used my voice and platform to shout about DDH and its implications.  Through my experience I met Jane, we tweeted and then Jane rang me.  This was all because of blogging and a shared experience.  We both drove for an hour to meet in a play area for the children.  We drank coffee (we had the kids with us) and Jane lost Erin whilst I went to the toilet!  Internet friends don’t have to stay in the laptop – you can get them out!  When I went to a conference last year and blog summit last month more firm friendships were made.  Friendships that mean we chat on the phone, go out for meals after the conferences, get drunk together and chat frequently via social media.

These are real friendships and for me that is one of the best parts of the conferences it is a chance to spend time together.  Therefore if you are coming to Britmums Live for the first time, do make plans about who you want to meet.  The place is big and there is so much going on.  Make arrangements to meet those that you have been tweeting or sharing with.  Use the ‘Butterflies’ if you are feeling a bit ‘gah’ about anything.  Enjoy it.

I never thought that blogging would get me where it has and it has made me more confident.  This weekend I’m off to Center Parcs as a blog ambassador for them. I get to take another blogging family with us and I cannot wait for the weekend fun to start.  The following weekend is Britmums Live where I am speaking on the ambassador panel.   Blogging is great and I cherish the friends I have made throughout blogging – they are epic. And they are very real!

Through the tears I turned to google and the internet.  I found support from Steps they provided DVD’s on how to care for Erin in spica, they provide phone support when I needed to know more  They are a small charity but the work they do for children and families with lower limb disabilities is inspiring. Erin is not in the all clear yet, infact we have just realised that a leg length difference is back.  Throughout it all STEPS have given me so much support and advice that I want to give something back.  I am passionate about raising awareness of DDH and do whatever I can to shout about it.

I could therefore, have organised something to raise money, I could have done something adrenlin based because I quite enjoy those types of activities.  I should have done a sponsored drinkathon as I love wine!  I would have been good at that.  Except I haven’t. I have probably done something stupid.  My friends know I don’t run.  Plenty of my friends run and rave about it.  They are disappointed when they can’t get out.  I have tried it a few times – I don’t enjoy it.  I cannot imagine hitting that point where suddenly you enjoy running. 

Therefore I have set myself the challenge of a lifetime – and I have roped in Lee. 

Cheltenham are having their first half marathon in September and I have today signed Lee and myself up.  We are going to run some 12 or so miles.  Seriously.  Me Run.

I decided that I need to do something that is really challenging, something well out of my comfort zone.  But I’m not doing it for nothing I need sponsorship.  I need you all to sponsor us and raise money for steps and for families like us.  For children like Erin.

Please dig deep.  Just click on the link below to make your donation.

Therefore when we were offered a trip to Brimingham’s Sea life centre courtesy of Superbreaks it was a day out too good to ignore! Birmingham is just an hour away from us so it was a quick trip down the motorway and a promise of the Villa Park and the Villa shop for Dylan on the way home!  We arrived and parked up in the car park which is right next door to the sea life center – just a short walk over the canal bridge.  We were able to use the fast pre booked lane as we had tickets e tickets – top hint – do this!  The line next to us was long as people queued to pay and enter.

The fish are so beautiful and Erin was enchanted straight away.  She couldn’t believe the size of some of the fish, there was a activity sheet for the older two to complete on the way around which kept them entertained and encouraged them to read all the ‘Did you know’s ‘ that adorned the walls.  Once completed the children could swap there answer cards for a medal in the shop.

Erin found herself some seating areas where she could watch the fish and sea life swimming about. She also got to hold a starfish with one of the rangers helping her. She was little hesitant at first but pleased when she had done it.

The jellyfish entertained her for a few minutes and she enjoyed the interactive displays which were very tactile. We had a great time although I am surprised by how quickly we got around. The experience lasted about an hour and twenty minutes and once done there is no need to go back and see anything else. We couldn’t have made it last any longer, so like many of these attractions it is quite expensive for a family of five. There is not as much to do as say at Cadburys World which we reviewed last Christmas.  However buying tickets in advance through Superbreaks is ideal as you avoid the queues and get straight in which is ideal when you have toddlers who are impatient!  The attraction was fully buggy friendly which is important for us as Erin cannot walk far.  She was able to hop in and out of her transport as needed.

Disclosure: We were gifted entry to the Sea Life Centre from www.superbreak.com

Due to Erin’s hypermobility it is really important that she does regular excersise but getting her running is not easy. Therefore I encourage her to play in garden and help by giving her little jobs that are a stealth way of working those muscles. Money Supermarket have given bloggers the chance to show how they make the most of their garden with their children.  I thought I’d showcase how we also upcycle to give give old items a new lease of life – afterall I do like saving money!

We recently updated the kitchen on a budget with our room for improvement this left us with our old ceramic bread bin. It had a few chips and cracked lid but seemed to good to throw away, often these things live in our garage for years on end with no purpose! Therefore I decided to upcycle it into a new flower pot. I simply used some heavy duty tape to cover the the text and had a ready to go plant pot! Erin got busy filling it with soil and planting some bedding plants.

The pot looks great nestled among the other pots. Erin is responsible for these and waters them each day. This is good for her as she fills her watering can from the waterbutt and carries it to the pots. She then has to walk back to fill it up! Her watering can is quite small so it takes several journeys and hey presto before she knows it she has done some walking! 

After all that gardening she gets to play on her new slide which also helps her mobility.  Afterall that hard work you need playtime!

This post is an entry for Britmums #kidsgrowwild challenge.  I would love to know how you get kids active in the garden.