Curse of Pandora's Lunchbox

I came across this article from last year, and it made me laugh out loud. With us all starting to scramble around trying to find skulking PE Bags, lost jumpers and suddenly necessary reading books, it feels very appropriate!

The Importance of 'Good Character'

I came across this article; 'Society's Challenge: To Build Character' in last edition of The Sunday Times and thought it worthy of a mention on here.

I am a Mum who is constantly swinging between a position of hyper-over-analysis about the importance of my role in moulding and a laid back stance of; "Gah, they'll be what they'll be despite my neurosis". So.... I found this article rather interesting and now has me back as the Whittling Mother who WILL raise her boys into fine, upstanding men (wish me luck, yes?).

Paultons Park Reveiw

... is now live on LittleStuff!
Oh, we had SUCH a great day at Paultons Park (in the new Forest if you're not sure). The review is excessive, so I'll not add to it here - just wanted to share some pictures (of course).

This is Ella practicing her regal wave from the ladybird ride


Joe and Toby driving the Digger
Cameron in the back, me in the front, and Josephs arms ju-u-ust peeking out in front of me
Toby and Joe in the Flying Saucer ride

Mr Laura and Cameron making a splash

Mr Laura & Cameron going over the top on The Cobra
and Cameron's face as the ride comes to a halt

Automoblox Minis Review...

...is now live on the site. I just had to follow it up with a couple of pictures - this is Toby with an illicit Automoblox Mini car in his bed 'after hours'... (apologies for the poor image quality, these were taken by the light outside the door!)

Feather Down Farm Days - Our Top Ten Tips

Okay, the review is over on LittleStuff, but here's our top tips:

1 - LIGHT THE FIRE FIRST. Be generous with kindling and firelighters, and do not turn your back, it will take offense.

2 - Take a thermos flask – your fire will be burning merrily at bedtime – boil a kettle, fill the flask, and you can have hot tea when you wake whilst you wait for the fire to heat.

3 - The fire takes an hour to get to cooking temperature – factor that in when you plan your days, arriving back at the tent at 6 will NOT see your children in bed by 7 with a hot meal inside them.

4 - Take a torch – the tents are BLACK once the nightlights go out.

5 - Did I say to LIGHT THE FIRE FIRST?? Sorry, I think I may have said that already. Of course, you can always choose to eat out. We did that too :D

6 - Don’t over pack. You need no implements from home, and there is simply no need to dress up for the cows. We lived in our crocs, but we noticed other families using wellies. Keep your ‘nice’ shoes in the car for when you leave the farm – the cows won’t mind.

7 - The frozen hot water bottles are great at keeping things cool – but they do not create a fridge, so don’t expect to keep a week’s worth of food nice and chilled.

8 - Allot jobs – despite the fact that it rarely feels like it, you ARE camping, and therefore there are many manual chores to be done. Make sure everyone takes a share.

9 - Whilst you’re eating, put the kettle on the now-burning-happily stove, By the time you’re done, the water will be hot enough for washing up. While you’re washing up, add more wood and put the kettle on again for your evening mug ;)

10 - Be prepared to relax. Properly. Before you know it, you find that you’re not worried about the fact you can’t actually see the children - and haven't done so for an hour or so. That you couldn’t care less when they come back coated to the knees in mud (there’s a handy watering can we put to just such a use). That they’re down at the pig pen in their pyjamas. That it's 11 o’clock and you haven’t actually done anything with your day yet.

Repeat after me - Light the fire, light the fire, (come on baby) light the fire...

Feather Down Farm Days review

is now live on the site! You can see it by clicking on the title - but here's a few extra family images, for you, to go with the ones we posted back in July...

Our tent on the left

Toby & Joe escaping to the woods
Hotly pursued by the Ellaroo...


Toby got lost on his way to the toilet
Ella making free with Mummy & Daddys bed

Teletubbies Are Back :)

We're so happy that Teletubbies have made their way back on to prime time TV - we've missed them! The slot after In The Night Garden on Cbeebies at 11 is just perfect for a pre-nap snuggle up on the sofa. I have missed watching Laa-laa, Tinky Winky and the rest with Ella, having watched them with all the boys it didn't seem right to not have a toddler waving and calling 'eh-oh at the screen. But I'm happy to report that they are as popular as ever, despite being 11 years old now if you can believe it.

Simple they may seem, but the programme is cleverer than it looks - have a browse around the website to understand just how much thought goes in to entertaining your pre-schooler with some happy soft and silly oddballs - http://www.teletubbies.co.uk

Now there's an interesting thing...

There was a great article in the Telegraph today, written by Cassandra Jardine, about the benefits of larger families. She talks about the findings of Sky News presenter Colin Brazier, who has spent the past five years assembling evidence that supports the idea that larger families are A Good Thing. Telling me I'm actually doing great things for my children by having four of them - finally! Being one of four myself, I always knew this, but find it hard to explain the genuine benefits to others who think I'm simply doing my bit for global warming and over-population...
The bigger the family the better

Steadyco Competition Winner!

Abi was one of our lucky winners of the Steadyco competition, winning herself a complete table set. She was lovely enough to send us some pics of her prize in use this week:
"Charlie is 16 months and is fascinated by the legs on the plates and pots! His sister Ruby is 4 and really likes the plates and the cutlery. I'm sure we will get lots of use out of the set."

All together now - collective "oooh!" at the delicious pic of Charlie, and a smattering of envy of Rubys gorgeous curls!

Welcome to Hamill Baby!

We're so pleased to welcome Hamill Baby to the LittleStuff pages. Specialists in baby blankets, bibs, burp cloths, hooded towels and organic baby comforters - a really fresh new company, with a lovely website just full of deliciously yummy baby things (worth particular note are the Aden & Anais swaddling cloth range, and my own personal favourite the gorgeous-but-practical toddler bibs).
Go have a look - I dare you not to oooh just a little.

Beach Factory in August

We love the Beach Factory! You can see our review on the main site, but even though the Great British Summer is now officially pants, plenty of you will be jetting off to warmer climes in the coming weeks - and you never know when the sun might poke its nose out in your own back garden either... This is the latest news from the Beach Factory:

UV Swimwear to Keep Everyone Safe in the Sun

August and there’s still plenty of time to get ready for your holidays and order your UV protection swimwear on line today! This month save money on Lion in the Sun one piece UV sun suits and find other end of season lines reduced to clear throughout the site.