Music to my ears...

There are certain classes that we loved so much when Honey was small, that we have either kept going to as she's got older or returned to now that we have Ace. Miniature Music is one of those classes.

As a music class, Matilda (for ages 0-4) is awesome! Zaphira uses real instruments which children of all ages are encouraged to pick up and experiment with and a mix of original songs and childhood favourites with a twist. As a parent and child group, it is amazing as the class is priced per family and not per child, it's also drop in so you don't pay if someone is poorly, you're away or just can't get out of the house in time one week! There is time set aside at the end of each class for free play with all the instruments and guess what, there's always tea and cake too!

As well as the ever popular Matilda classes, there are two new classes on offer, Owly and Croc (3 years and over). Ace volunteered to be a poster baby for Miniature Music's new Owly classes (for babies 0-6 months) and he had a great time being snapped alongside some gorgeous baby girls while enjoying songs, play and instruments.

If you haven't already tried Miniature Music, why not head over to their website or Facebook page for the latest class times, venues and prices.

Ace wears... Dungarees by Gap Kids

Photo credits to Zaphira Cormack

Bird is the word...

It was my sister's 27th birthday last week and where better to celebrate than at Birdland, one of her favourite childhood haunts? We got there just after the park opened and parked in the car park on Rissington Road then headed in painlessly, having bought tickets online (you save 10%) and having secured a free ticket for Honey from Explore Gloucestershire (offer valid until March 2017).

Almost as soon as you enter, you come face to face with the fabulous penguins! We spent a good half an hour here climbing up and down the steps, watching them waddle and swim and listening to the feeding time talk.

Honey had a cursory look at the other birds (stopping to stand on one leg in front of the flamingos) but was really excited to visit Jurassic Journey and led us all there as soon as she could! She was obsessed with the dinosaur sound stations and kept making us take her back there, she also enjoyed peeking at the dinosaur models through the hide slots but I think her favourite Jurassic activity was the Dino Dig where she got to use brushes to uncover dinosaur bones and fossils in the sand pit.

Another highlight for Honey was the Encounters Area where she got up close and personal with some giant tortoises (yes, she tried to ride on one), held a newborn chick and chased a flock of chickens (not really one of the activities offered but she enjoyed it all the same)!

The toilet facilities were limited but clean, the cafe menu was small but with something to suit everyone and the play area was tidy, safe and has equipment suitable for a range of ages. There were plenty of picnic tables dotted around the park so we were able to give Honey her lunch when she asked and we were also able to embarrass my sister with cake and singing (she didn't ask for that but it would have been rude not to - lol)!

Overall, a great day out and a lovely way to celebrate with family.

Honey wears... Straw hat by Tu at Sainsbury's

Pizza Friday...

Pizza Friday 'make your own pizza workshop' kept popping up on my Instagram feed over the summer, so with mere hours of the holidays left, we decided to give it a go. We arrived at Wayside Farm Shop and Tearoom near Evesham and secured ourselves a large table perfect for pizza construction! While we ordered some drinks and waited for the pizza oven to fire up, Honey made herself at home in the play corner which had a great selection of books, toys and even a blackboard wall.

Honey was intrigued by mozzarella cheese but we managed to suggest a few other toppings she might like to add too and we were all thrilled when everything arrived on plates and in bowls ready for us to put together. Honey loved spreading the tomato, sprinkling the cheese and arranging her toppings and she even added some things she wouldn't normally choose to eat at home, which was a bonus. Her favourite part was taking the pizzas outside to be cooked in the incredibly hot pizza oven, at over 300 degrees, the pizzas were ready in under 2 minutes!

You'll be pleased to know that the pizzas were absolutely delicious, as was accompanying salad, in fact we were so full that we didn't eat again until the next morning! The service we received was exemplary, everyone we encountered was so friendly and couldn't do enough for us and we are watching their Facebook page with bated breath in the hope that Pizza Friday returns in the future!

Honey wears... Denim shirt dress by Next

Grand plans...

We set off on our way to Weston full of grand plans to go to the beach, but when your best friend has a garden like this, there's no need to leave it! Ace had his first go on an outdoor swing and Honey fired her first water pistol! Sometimes all you need is friends.

Honey wears... Sandals by Timberland