Our half term holidays!!!

Well, I don't think I'm alone in the thought of panic as half term approaches!! Just about every mum I know admits they dread school holidays. Not because they don't like spending time with their children, but because it can be very hard work. The days feel very long with the lack of school routine. Children bicker and argue over everything and anything. The cost of the things children most want to do, such as cinema, bowling, soft play etc cost as much as a small mortgage by the time the week is over!

February half term is one of the harder holidays. Generally the weather isn't great so getting out and about can be difficult. I'd decided this half term we would try and do something everyday. It didn't take long for our diary for the week to be chocka block!! The things we'd planned wouldn't cost alot of money. I don't have enough disposable income to overspend during holidays. So we made plans with friends to visit parks and do forest walks etc. Darren managed to pick up a virus or flu that had knocked him for six so it was lucky we had such a busy week planned as it left him alone at home to get better.

Monday 13th.
We made plans to go to moors valley for the day with friends. The children were very excited!!! Ethan didn't have any wellies that fitted so a quick trip to asda to buy a pair was needed. The cheapest pair were £5, bargain!!! We made up our picnic and in convoy with our friends we headed off.
When we got there it was lunch time so we had lunch at the car and then headed off round the play trail. All the kids had great fun and we took many pictures!!
Trying to keep the children awake on the way home was hard, but we managed it!!

Tuesday 14th.
Today was the day we had planned our IKEA trip with friends!! I was so excited!! I've never been to IKEA before so this was a new experience. I was nervous about the drive to Southampton but once we were on the road I was fine, the excitement took over!
We arrived at about 10am and headed straight for the cafe for breakfast. Lovely breakfast and so so cheap! 99p for 6 items, you can't go wrong. All the children ate and behaved so well. One lady even approached us to comment on how nice it was to see such well behaved children.
Once breakfast was finished we headed off round the shop. IKEA is huge!!! It took us hours looking round and adding to our trolley. The children enjoyed running round to find each play station that are randomly dotted around the store.
We had finished our shop so went to the tills and paid. I managed to buy so much for so little. The value was excellent.
Hungry bellies rumbled so back to the cheap cafe for lunch. Gorgeous meatballs filled the gap. We then loaded the cars and started the drive home.

Wednesday 15th.
Today our plans were to do a tour of some parks in Poole with friends. We left home fairly early and went straight to the first park. The children enjoyed playing with the park equipment and as this particular park is on the seafront they couldn't resist but to play in the sand. Georgina had to be the one to take her shoes off though. She ended up with wet, cold, sandy feet. Luckily I had spare clothes in the car, including socks.
We had our lunch at the harvester, yummy and good value to say the least.
With our tummies full we went to the next park. The kids loved it and we found it hard to keep a track of where they all were as they all went in different directions.

Thursday 16th
Today we were going to go to the new forest. Unfortunately illness decided to visit instead. I felt so so poorly. The worst I've felt before in my life. I assumed I'd caught what Darren had and headed back to bed. When I woke I had a feeling I had an ear infection in my left ear so Darren rang and got me an appointment at the doctors for later that day. Turns out I had ear infections in both ears and tonsillitis!! No wonder I felt rough. This put an abrupt end to the rest of our plans for the last of the holidays.
At least I know the children had a good first couple of days enjoying different activities. Hopefully I'll manage to stay fit and well throughout Easter holidays and we can have some more action packed holiday fun!!