Our Back To School Favourites

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It's back to school is in a matter of days and if you are anything like me then you'll still be scrambling to get everything sorted. I like to think that it will all come together when it's ready. That said, I hope this blog post will give me the nudge that I need to be more prepared, and maybe it will introduce you to a couple of new bits and pieces.

First, on my list are the new BIC Gelocity quick drying pens - RRP £6.49 for a pack of 3. They have been my first port of call as they are ideal for making back to school lists. Noah has also been practicing his handwriting with them and likes how there are so many different colours to choose from. They also dry super quick and are suitable for both lefties and righties. You can buy them at Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Ryman or online at Amazon.

We are all delighted with this personalised art set from I Just Love It. It retails at £29.99 and contains everything needed to become a little artist. In fact, inside are an impressive 63 pieces; coloured pencils, crayons, markers, pastels, paint, a ruler, paintbrush, eraser, and sharpener. I had it personalised with both of their initials and I'm sure they'll use it for years to come.

I adore books and thankfully, so do Noah and Ava. We have our day to day picture books, bedtime books and themed books for events like Christmas and Halloween. Then we have books which are designed to help children through different stages in their lives, like Mummy having a new baby, potty training, going to school and so on. I won these two books in a competition a while back and they've been perfect for Noah and Ava with school and nursery coming up. The sticker book is from Galt and the board book is from Campbell books. I'm not sure on the RRPs but I'm sure you'll find them on Amazon for a great price.

My kids are constantly eating so these Squeezie fruit snacks from Del Monte made our list in a heartbeat. These pouches are 100% real fruit, great for lunchboxes and after school treats. They are great for snacking on during long journeys, enjoying as a refreshing fruit burst or added to cereal or porridge in the morning. They come in in three fantastic flavours, Apple, Strawberry & Banana, Apple & Mango,and Apple, Strawberry & Blueberry. They also contain no preservatives, no added sugar and one pouch is 1 of their 5 a day. You can buy Del Monte Squeezies from ASDA for just 50p a pouch.

Next, we have two essentials that are a must-have for school, for days out, for picnics at the park - lunch boxes! These personalised lunch boxes are from The Gift Experience and cost £12.99 each. There are a variety of different designs and colours to choose and can be personalised with up to 15 characters. They are a great size and fit right into lunch bags.

Name labels are essential for every parent when their child is starting nursery or going to school. These stick-on and iron-on name labels are from Stickerscape and I received them last week as part of a Peppa Pig back to school collaboration. I've already labeled half a dozen things ready for their big days and they seem like they are such great quality.

Noah and Ava are milk fiends, even more so if it's milkshake! Shaken Udder sent us half a dozen of their school-approved kids milkshakes, to pop into their lunch boxes, or to enjoy after school and they've already guzzled most of them. They contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and come in two yummy flavours, strawberry and chocolate. Find out more about them here.

Last but not least, I have a toy that we reviewed a while back, one that is so fantastic that I just have to mention it again. The Super Sorting Pie is from Learning Resources and is one of the kid's favourite toys, however, it's not just lots of fun, there are lots of benefits to it too. It's great for shape, number, and colour sorting, for building hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and much more. The grippers have really helped Noah build the muscles in his hands, which are needed for writing and they also use them in his school. Read our review of the Super Sorting Pie here.

What's your favourite item on this list? Are you ready for back to school?

Noah - The End Of His First Year At School

Time flies when you're having fun, and when you have children. I suppose both of which go hand in hand. That's something that all parents grasp from the get-go, how fast the time seems to pass you by. That said, I thought that time would slow down a little when they get little older, but if anything it's going even faster.

Noah's first year at school, his Reception year has flown by in the blink of an eye. It's scary how fast it's gone. I was very emotional on his admission day when he got his first choice of school, on the eve of his first day at school, starting school and I'm just as much of a wreck now that he's finished his first year at school, Reception class. It's such a huge milestone in his life, and it's now over just like that.

Noah was very anxious about starting school, which is something he's struggled with since he was a baby. He's always felt anxiety when it comes to new places and being away from me. He knew that most of his friends from nursery were moving over to the same school with him, but he still struggled with the transition. For the first few weeks, he would cling to me, sometimes he would cry but he overcame it after some time, a lot faster than he did with his nursery transition.

As weeks and months went by I watched Noah blossom before my very eyes, in many different ways. Academically, he's at the levels that he should be, which for a boy who never sits still, who daydreams away into Noah-land, is really impressive. In the space of one year at school, he's learned to read, write, do basic maths, and much more. He's grown so much in himself, in his self-esteem and confidence. He's worked hard and has won a few awards over the year, the role model cup and medal, he's had lunchtime awards and star of the week.

His end of year report really made me smile because it was evident that they got to know him well. They noted how much of a people person he is, how he always strives to make new friendships and has many friends in class. They said that he's well mannered, kind and a joy to be around, which I think is something that all parents want to hear.

He'll be starting year 1 in a couple of weeks, but for now, here's to the summer holidays and all the adventures we have in store.

Living Arrows #21 - Sunny Days & Spring Fairs

It's been a while since I last published a Living Arrows post, so to make up for it I decided to choose a couple of shots taken at the spring fair a few weeks ago. I had intended to post them sooner, better late than never! The kids always enjoy going to the fair and it's become a yearly tradition of ours. Their Great Grandad visited in the morning we planned to go and kindly gave them both £10 in £2 coins for rides, they were ever so excited! Here are a couple of my favourite photos of the day.

Living Arrows #20 - Happy Easter

We had a lovely Easter break this year. Noah had two weeks off school and the weather was glorious. We pretty much spent every moment outdoors, enjoying the weather and we had lots of days out too. I took these pictures one afternoon before one of our many egg hunts. I lost count of how many times I had to rehide those eggs! The kids had so much fun! Did you have a nice Easter? 

Living Arrows #19 - Children In The Trees

Noah and Ava, like most children, love to be outdoors. It doesn't matter about the weather, it could be raining or snowing for all they care, they just want to be outside. I don't know if it's the fascination of their natural surroundings and all the fresh air, or if it's because they have more freedom to explore and to play. Perhaps it's a bit of both! They both have an interest in climbing tree's at the moment too, though they are both still too young to be able to do it properly and safely. That said, Ava is only two and I swear she's able to climb better than Noah!

Living Arrows #18 - The Birthday Girl

On the 3rd of March, it was Ava's 2nd birthday! I know, where has the time gone? I honestly could cry! I took a dozen photo's on the day like all parents do and didn't know which to go for. In the end, I chose these two (kicking myself that I shot these in portrait and not landscape) as they were both in their element, chowing down on Ava's Baby Shark birthday cake! That's the best part of a birthday right? 

Living Arrows #17 - Ice Cream And Sunny Days

Living Arrows has become a personal highlight for me. I love having the time to sit, and share memories of my kids, being kids. I did have another set of photographs to share for this week but decided to use a different set. I had a plethora of photographs of the kids, playing in the snow and making snow angels, but with the drastic change in the weather, I decided to scrap the idea and share some snaps of the kids enjoying the sun instead.

These shots were taken at Edisford Bridge on a spontaneous afternoon out. It was a few days before the heat struck, but it was warm enough to wear shorts and T-shirts and to eat lots of ice cream! I think that Noah and Ava would live off ice cream if I let them and I could spend hours watching them enjoy it.

Keeping The Kids Fit And Healthy In Winter

As a mother, my children are always at the forefront of my mind. Getting the correct nutrients into their diet is detrimental to me and I'm conscious of their vitamin and mineral intake. When it comes to their diet I don't have to worry much because they are fabulous little eaters, enjoying very balanced meals and preferring fruit and veg over most foods (I know, I swear they are aliens!) We are also always out and about, soaking in the natural Vitamin D that the sun provides, however, it's so much harder to do in the colder months. Not only is there less sunlight on a whole, but it's that cold that sometimes we would all prefer to stay at home in the warmth.

That said, we wrap up warm and brave the cold every day. It's great to stretch their legs, get some fresh air in their lungs and to enjoy one another's company. Even the smallest of walks end up a huge adventure for Noah and Ava. Sticks become swords, stones become gems, and flowers become magic wands. That's probably one of my favourite parts of parenthood, watching my children find joy in objects that I often overlook. It's kind of a reminder to slow down and to enjoy the small things.

Vitamin D is important because it helps to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate within our body, which are needed to keep bones, teeth, and muscles healthy. It also supports the normal function of the immune system in both children and adults.

Everyone in the UK, aged 1 and over requires 10 micrograms (μg) of vitamin D a day and 8.5-10 micrograms a day for infants under 1 year, particularly during the winter months. Formulated specifically to meet the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s (SACN) and Public Health England’s (PHE) new recommended vitamin D guidelines is Fultium Daily D3. Fultium Daily D3 is a new, high quality, pharmaceutical grade supplement. 

Fultium recently sent us a box full of their Daily D3 capsules and drops, enough to see the whole family through Winter. I'm hoping that they help ward off some of the cold and flu bugs that Noah continuously brings home from school. Also included in the gift box were sunflower seeds and a grow your own salad kit, to bring a bit of sunshine indoors. The kids are so excited about planting the seeds and I'll make sure to share our progress on social media.

Fultium daily D3 is available in pharmacies only, in packs of 30 (RRP £3.99), 60s (RRP £7.49), 90s (RRP £10.99) and as 15ml drops (RRP £7.99). The capsule gelatine is both Halal and Kosher certified and the drops are suitable for vegetarians. Both are both free from artificial preservatives and sweeteners and can be purchased in store, or online at Boots.

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Living Arrows #16 - One Little Girl And Her Colouring Pot

This is my first Living Arrows post of 2019 and I thought I'd share these really sweet photo's I took of Ava a few weeks ago. Christmas had been and gone, and Nick and Noah were back at work and school. It was just Ava and me, at home, alone together. I love having one on one time with her during the week, moments which sometimes are hard to come by with second (and third, fourth, fifth) children. Although I miss Noah while he's at school, this is truly a benefit of having a three year age gap because otherwise, we'd rarely get some time just the two of us. I try not to feel the Mum guilt either, as Noah had me all to himself when he was a toddler and I make sure to set aside some one on one time for him too. 

Ava - 22 Months Old

I've been a bad Mum. The last time I wrote an update for Ava was back when she was 17 months old! Everything has been so hectic lately, in the best kind of way, and well, it's second child syndrome for you! Those are my excuses, and I'm sticking with them! Anyway, I'm here now, to fill you in on everything Ava is up to lately, but more importantly, for us to read back together when she's older.

Character 

I've lost count of the times I've said this, but Ava is well and truly one of a kind. People always comment on her personality, how charismatic, entertaining and funny she is. Her aura would be yellow like the sun, she just radiates happiness and is honestly a pleasure to be around. She is confident, independent, intelligent, determined, charismatic, creative, friendly and affectionate, yet feisty and stubborn too. She is quite easy going, like her brother, which makes being her Mummy a very rewarding and enjoyable experience.

Speech
She is a little chatterbox and likes to speak in her own little language. That said, she knows countless words and is also putting two and three words together now. She could say hiya, ta, hi, Mam, Mama, Mummy, Dada, Daddy, Nanna, Grandad, cat, hat, cheese, shoes, car, ta ta's, choc choc, tea, that, wee wee, poo poo, baby, dip dip on the last update but is learning new ones every day. Her new words include NOAH, bye bye, orange, strawberry, apple, coat, socks, bath, ice cream, drink and please. Joined words include Hiya Mama/Dada/Noah and Bye Bye Mama/Dada/Noah.

Size
I've not weighed her in a while, but she's quite solid. I predict that she's still following the 91st centile nicely. Clothing wise she wears a mix of 18-24 months and 2-3 year old clothes. She wears a size 6 nappy and size 5 shoes.

Health
Ava has 16 teeth and is waiting for the last four now, the two sets of second molars which tend to come through from 2 years old. She's handled teething like a champ, none of them have bothered her, so I hope that will be the case when she gets those four too! Teeth aside, she had her first full-on cold just before Christmas and it seemed to last weeks. For the first couple of days, she really struggled with it, it was horrible to see her poorly.

Feeding

Ava has two 12oz bottles of cows milk a day, one in the morning, one at night. I'm in no immediate rush to cut the bottles, they are only little for a short amount of time so I'm letting her enjoy them while she can. Food wise, she loves the stuff, just like her Momma! She tends to just pick at breakfast but has a decent lunch, dinner and then some supper too. Favourites include; all fruits, all veg, especially carrots, green beans, beetroot, and gherkins. Fish, especially salmon and tuna. Pizza, chicken, cheese, cereal, chips, crisps, dip, rice, pasta, yogurt, and chocolate.

Sleep

Ava loves to sleep, usually sleeping through the night but she is still in our bed and she can stir occasionally. She tends to have an hour or two nap during the day, but sometimes she skips it. We are currently renovating the kids' rooms so in the next few weeks we hope to settle her in her own bed, in her own room. Wish us luck! Although I think I'll really miss out nightly cuddles.

Milestones and new tricks

* She is starting to put two and three words together.

* She has a great pen grip and has fantastic control when mark making.

* Her imagination is next level and is constantly role-playing in a realistic manner. 

*  She likes to try to put her own clothes and shoes on, and brush her own hair and teeth, which of course I have to help with too, despite her protests!

* She can now recognise her first colour; orange!

* She knows countless animals and the noises they make.

* She did her first wee on the potty this week, though we haven't started potty training just yet as I don't think she's 100% ready yet.

Likes and dislikes
Her entire family, she loves spending time with us or visiting other family members houses. Going for walks, exploring, jumping in puddles, running, jumping and climbing. Drawing, colouring and mark making. Playing with playdoh, or anything creative. Her dolls and playing Mummy. Animals. Reading books. Her wooden kitchen and role-playing. She loves listening, dancing and singing to music. Her favourite cartoon is Peppa Pig and she likes to watch nursery rhymes on YouTube. Alexa. Baby Shark. Bath time! She doesn't like having her teeth brushed because she wants to do it herself and she doesn't like insects.

Living Arrows #15 - Merry Christmas!

Christmas as a parent is one of the most amazing times of a year, a truly magical time. It's almost as though we can relive the wonder all over again, through our children. Christmas Eve is probably my favourite day of the whole season because I love building up the excitement for the kids and asking them to help prepare everything for the big man's arrival.

This year we had our annual Christmas Eve boxes, filled with lots of yummy treats, Christmas jumpers, a book, bath bombs, and a few more bits and bats. We also did the usual tradition of leaving out a glass of milk, a mince pie for Father Christmas and a carrot for the reindeer. We also left some reindeer food (oats) in a bowl and hung a magic key on our front door. The kids went to sleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow and they were up at the crack of dawn, it was still pitch black outside! We had the most amazing Christmas and we hope that you all did too! Merry Christmas!

Living Arrows #14 - The Countdown To Christmas

Can you believe that Christmas is just four days away? We are all so very excited and I bet you are too! We've crammed so many festive activities into the past few weeks, it's been none stop, but we wouldn't have it any other way for the kids. We've watched Christmas movies together, read all our festive books, visited Santa at his Grotto, met elves, took care of donkeys, celebrated Christmas jumper day, had our own Christmas light switch on party, been two not one, but two other Christmas parties and watched Noah in his first ever Nativity play! It's been such a magical time so far, and with Noah finishing school today we have a few more surprises up our sleeves. I hope you all have the most wonderful Christmas.