half term Archives : Me, Annie Bee.

How to entertain kids at half term

Anna — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 12:57:51 +0000

It’s that time again…Half term is here. If you’re not knee deep in it now, you will be next week. Sorry. We’ve all got to do it. I have written before about how bloody awful I am at half term but the February one is my weakest. The weather is terrible, I’m still skint from Christmas and it’s just all very grey and bleak. I struggle to be motivated. I’m sure I’m not the only parent in this position so I’m going to do you a favour and share with you my suggestions for entertaining the kids this half term! You’re most welcome. Playdough My children are ALWAYS asking to play with their playdough, I normally think of a thousand reasons they can’t. By half term I give in and am SURE they’ll play for hours given their previous desperation. They get out the ten tubs of doughy delight and get creative. Within minutes all colours are swiftly mixed together and firmly trodden into the carpet. There are utterances of dismay because you can’t seperate the blue from the white and then they are bored. Home Cinema You will suggest the new DVD purchased for just this very situation. Your vote will be vetoed and after 20 minutes of bickering they will agree on that film that they watch EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. You’ll grab the popcorn, make sure everyone has a drink, close the curtains and turn out the light. The kids will eat the popcorn in a fashion that suggests they’ve not eaten in a week and are unsure as to where their next meal is coming from. The popcorn is gone and so are they. You realise you’re watching the film, in the dark. Alone. Leaving the house Don’t get ahead of yourself here, nothing exciting, just a trip to the shop. If you’re lucky, you’ll have Pets At Home around the corner for a ‘cheap zoo’ trip. You then pop to the supermarket for the necessities. The children will come over all demanding. They will pick up anything remotely breakable and will swing from you like you’re some human Maypole. They will loudly proclaim their annoyance that you won’t buy them the thing they want and one will refuse to walk. You pay for your wine and head back home. Big Colouring Clever you, putting the left over rolls of wallpaper to good use! Not only creating a fun activity they can do together but being resourceful. Big pat on the back for you parent! The eldest will create an immaculate masterpiece at one end, the youngest will grab the black pen and create something that makes you wonder if you should keep hold of it for future therapy sessions. He will then make his way along to the other end where he will proceed to use his black pen to ‘amend’ the eldests masterpiece. Tears in abundance. Baking A real fun half term activity! They will put on their aprons and be really eager to help you. They will completely disregard the fact that baking is a precise science and all measurements will be slightly out. There will be egg shell in the mixture and you all know they’re only in it so they can lick the beaters clean at the end. You will turn the beaters off. YOU WILL. Crafting You will inevitably have a wobble, you’ll doubt your ability as a good parent and so you’ll bring out the big guns. Crafting. You’ll choose an age appropriate project and meticulously sort tiny pompoms and googly eyes into piles. After cutting out shapes and prepare paints you’ll sit down and show them EXACTLY what to do. They will ignore all instruction and advice. They’ll glue pompoms to their hands and glitter to your table, declare themselves bored and leave you to tidy up. Funducation A bit of education in the school holidays is always good for that parenting ego. I find learning to tell the time is the easiest lesson to teach. “What time is it?” “Is it lunchtime yet?” “How long until lunchtime?” “What time is it now?” “When is dinner?” “Has it been an hour yet?” All of these questions can be used to encourage your child to look at the bloody numbers on the clock and realise that if the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 9 it really is far too early for lunch. It will also help you with your mental agility in working out that it’s only 10 hours until wine o’clock. If done correctly, you should find that these activities will keep your child busy until approximately 11.30am, Monday. You’re on your own after that I’m afraid. Pass the wine.

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Weekly Winedown #7 Luis Felipe Edwards Favoritos Malbec

Anna — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 18:50:23 +0000

Welcome to the Weekly Winedown. Each week I selflessly drink wine for you offer a review. Please don’t expect anything professional, I consume a lot of wine but I’m no pro. The only real ‘rule’ I’m putting in place is that the wine is to be under £8 a bottle. #keepitclassy. This week has been half term and you know what? It wasn’t entirely unbearable! Unfortunately I can’t take credit for that. I haven’t suddenly upped my parenting game and become an amazing school holiday mum with crafting, baking and educafunal (you’re welcome) trips. Rather my cousin came to stay for the week (who, it turns out, is way cooler than even Rachel, Sorry Rachel – Aoife’s a fickle sort) and Aoife had two play dates in a week. The pressure was off me, I just had to make sure food was made and things were passed to them when demanded. You know, the only bit of parenting any of us were actually prepared for! We played in the paddling pool, we went out for coffee, we visited horses, went to the Meanwood Family Festival and drank beer brewed from a new, local microbrewpub, The Meanwood Brewery. I would strongly recommend anyone local to here check out their story and try their wares! We achieved and tonight I’m feeling pretty smug about my first ever successful school holiday. For this weeks wine choice I have ventured back to Chile. I was truly taken in by the Carmenere and so am hoping that a Malbec from Chile beats one from Argentina. (I’m probably never going to let that go – Sorry). So today I will be unbottling Luis Felipe Edwards Favoritos Malbec – £6.66 (hopefully this isn’t an ominous sign) The official blurb “Favoritos Malbec is richly-flavoured, smooth and juicy, packed with blueberry and blackcurrant fruit. A great wine with pizza, pasta bolognese and of course a juicy steak! Favoritos are Edwards family favourites for any occasion. Classic wines we like to drink at home with friends and loved ones.” Sounds a bit tart doesn’t it? Also, a wine to drink ‘at home with friends and loved ones’. Pfft. My favourite wines are the ones my loved ones DON’T want to share with me! Rory doesn’t like wine so luckily that’s not an obstacle I’ll have to hurdle tonight! It’s also ‘great with pizza, pasta and steak’. As today is National Fish & Chip day, I am going to pair this wine with a big filthy pizza, we’ll see how much of an all rounder it really is! The label is clean and neat. It contains nothing but fact. Straight and to the point. The precise requirement of any label. The smell was interesting, kind of wet and woody. This isn’t a bad smell, it’s a warm the cockles kind of smell. It does taste a little sharp but smooth too. It’s a rich ‘full’ taste. Remember when I declared a wine a bit ‘thin’ a few weeks ago? Well this is ‘thick’ but, in this instance, thick is good. It’s a very berry and a little peppery taste. It’s a bloody good glass of red! Name – Luis Felipe Edwards Favoritos Malbec Price – £6.66 Colour – Red, the dark kind I like Smell – Wet and woody, like nature but not quite camping. Taste – Rich, tart and fruity (oi, oi) Goes well with – Life and a successful half term. Overall score – 4.5/5

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(S)he who does not ask remains a fool forever…..

Anna — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 10:21:00 +0000

It’s that time again, HALF TERM. Time for me to do some of that ‘proper parenting’ that I’ve heard about…. Obviously it’s blowing a hoolie outside (well it IS June) so we’re mostly in house. Aoife being here full time has made me realise exactly how many questions she asks me and this led me to think about all the questions I ask in a day… Why do children never use their indoor voices indoors? Why do Thomas the tank engine & his friends have drivers if the drivers don’t actually control them? Why aren’t the humans scared? Why does Seth need to walk up the street backwards leaning on my legs? Why must Aoife pick up every feather she finds on the street and rub it on her face? Where are Max & Ruby’s parents? Why does Seth need to start eating stones the minute we’re going to cross the road? Why do drivers get a grumpy face on when you don’t want to cross the road into fast flowing traffic just because they were kind enough to stop for you? Is sausage roll and popcorn a balanced and nutritious lunch? Do the Bananas in Pyjamas eat other fruits? Why does Seth touch his food or cup to his neck before he eats it? How can Aoife suddenly dislike the very meatballs that she’s loved for the last three years? Why is Blaze the only monster machine with a driver? Why aren’t the humans scared? What time is ‘too early’ for wine? Why do children need less sleep than me? Why do you get an itchy nose when you’re holding hands with two children and trying to carry a heavy bag of shopping? Why can’t my children stay on their feet? Why do they have a delay in responding to anything I say but have bat like hearing when food stuffs are being opened in a different room? Why does Xabi give teeth kisses when he wants to be stroked? Why do I have a conservatory full of toys when they show no interest in them until I want to get rid of them? Why do they have more clothes than me? Why does no one tell Peppa Pig off for being rude? Why do they have better social lives than me? Why don’t they sleep when they get tired? Are we really the rulers of our own destiny? Why do they make that awful ‘I’m actual choking’ noise every time I go to the loo? Why are they allowed to talk and sing constantly but I’m not? Why in Paw Patrol is an 11 year old boy in charge of emergencies and a woman with a chicken voted in as Mayor? Why is no one worried about talking dogs? Why are they willing to attempt to scale bookcases to reach something but aren’t able to reach for their own drink right in front of them? How did I fill my time before children? Why can’t they walk around people in shops instead of trying to walk through them? If all the male fairies are adults and they only have daughters, who will eventually rule the Little Kingdom? Why do they shout ‘HELP’ in their ’emergency’ voice for non emergencies? Why don’t children like to try new things? Why does Seth like Postman Pat the movie so much when it’s so very clearly flawed from start to finish? Why do the good things taste so bad and the bad things taste so good? Why don’t diet and exercise work right away? More people would stick to it I’m sure. When will the Wise Old Elf and Nanny Plum get together? Ugg boots and shorts-how can your feet and ankles be cold but your knees and thighs be warm? Why do children say “look at this….NO CLOSE YOUR EYES” Should I worry that it’s quiet in there or just appreciate the peace? Why does Seth kangaroo kick me in the throat every time I change his nappy? Why do they insist on standing on my feet? Why can’t they get off my knee without using their elbows/pointy bits? If they accidentally kill me by constantly leaping on me will anyone be able to get in the house to retrieve my body before the cats start eating me? Is it time for bed yet? Why is my wine consumption directly related to their behaviour? How can the sun go on holiday if it’s got no hands to use the internet? (This is Aoife’s contribution) The Tale of Mummyhood

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