Number punch maths game

I bought a cheap single hole punch today and inspired by a counting idea I had seen on Pinterest I made some Maths cards for Joplin. He had to punch the answer to the sum on the card (re-cycled Christmas cards!) - the no. of holes as to the answer. It certainly made maths a bit more fun with the physicality of it and also helped co-ordination at the same time. Kept him occupied for a bit anyway!!

Christmas Treasure Hunt

We started this tradition last year as a hunt for the boys' Christmas presents. Last year we took it over to the park and ended up back in our garage for Joplin's bike which was a great excuse to get out in the air on Christmas morning. We were planning to do the same this year but unfortunately the rain was too persistant and with the park flooded I didn't really want to risk it. None the less the treasure hunt went ahead around the house.
As Joplin loves maps I made a rough plan of the house and photocopied each floor a few times. Each envelope contained a map with a trail to the location of the next along with a clue. A few of the ideas included a small book leading to the boys' book shelf, a toy bike leading to the conservatory, toothpaste leading to the bathroom sink and ended up with a envelope containing a sock and a map to the washing machine in which we had hidden the presents.
Last year I was prepared and painted all of the envelopes gold so they were easy to spot. This year I left it to the last minute (9pm Christmas Eve!) so I needed a little help decorating the envelopes and my mum and dad did a great job! Actually I think they secretly enjoyed getting to draw santas and snowmen and thinking of new designs for all of the 15 envelopes!
During the hunt I managed to retrieve and collect all the envelopes and clues so it should be easier to prepare again - hopefully with a bit of outside hunting too next year.

Peg dollies kit - Quick fun pressie

When I found dolly pegs in Wilkinsons I remembered what fun it was to make dolls from them! After we had some fun making our own I put together these kits for some of of our friends. With some pipe cleaners, pencils, wool and squares of fabric along with the pegs I they made a cheap but definitely fun creative presents.

Christmas Food

Dan took care of most of the Christmas meals. We had a jerk ham with eggs and chips on Christmas Eve, then a stunning Christmas dinner of roast chicken with tons of veg and yorkshires, with a prawn cocktail starter and sticky toffee pudding for afters. Perfect! Eden loved chomping on the chicken bones as much as the meal I think!

Boxing Day we had mostly cold meats when my sister came over. There was tons of leftover ham (still is!) and Dan cooked an extra chicken with leftovers in mind. I made a Christmas cheese board with olives, blueberries and tomatoes amongst the different cheeses and sprigs of thyme. (The star was a babybel). 

 Eden helped out too by making decorating gingerbread christmas tree cookies!

 I also made chocolate covered marshmallow reindeer with raisin eyes, pretzel ears and smartie noses - (another pinterest inspired along with the cheese board!) - they really should sell just the red smarties at Christmas for reindeer noses!

All in all Christmas was a real feast as well it should be!

Box Frames

I put together a couple of pictures this year - one for Dan, and one for my sister's family. Both needed shadow box frames, and as I didn't have any I made them from other frames using this tutorial as a guideline. For both I used wall paper as a backdrop - both free samples from B&Q! Result! I used gaffa tape rather than the sellotape the tutorial suggested as I wanted them a bit more sturdy.

For Dan's I wanted to have a place for him to put all the gig tickets he keeps. They are great to keep but do end up stashed in various places so I thought it would be good to semi-display them and after I saw an similar idea on Pinterest I thought I'd replicate it!

My sister loves word games so again after an idea I saw on Pinterest I thought this would suit her family down to the ground. I found a couple of travel scrabble sets on Ebay - annoyingly there are a lot of 'K's in our family and just the one in a scrabble set! Anyway here is how it turned out!

String, sewing bits Snowman

Here's my little sew bits snowman - I made one for my Auntie Peggy and then couldn't resist making myself another!

Hobby Horses

Here are the hobby horses I made the boys. I originally only intended to make the first one for Eden but I had so much fun making it that I made one for Joplin too. Dan is now sporting a pair of odd socks!

They have had lots of use and been very much played with - Eden shouts 'Horsey Moo!!!' every time he rides his! Joplin doubles his as a guitar too and my niece even used it as Cinderella's mop in her boxing day 'one girl play'!

Chalkboard mats 2

I made these chalkboard mats back in November here for my boys and a few friends. Here are my boys having fun with them!

Home made Christmas bits

I have been a bit crazy getting everything ready for Christmas and enjoying the festivities, so I haven't been posting much lately. I also couldn't put in sneak previews of Christmas pressies before the day! So a few posts to come now with the home made bits I managed to do this year!

Coombe Hill Monument and a New Year's stroll

It was a lovely day today so we drove to a spot near where Dan goes riding that he had wanted to check out - Coombe Hill Monument in Buckinghamshire. 

The best bit for the boys was definitely the muddy trek to get there! Joplin stepped in one puddle and got a shock when it nearly went over his wellies! I steered Eden away just in time!

There was a lovely view from the monument for miles around. There was a good wind up there too so took the opportunity to try out Joplin's ladybird kite he received from my cousin for Christmas. 

 There were some good tree climbing opportunities on the way back to the car which was a great end to a lovely walk.