Kazoops Music

Have you seen Kazoops? If you have I bet you are singing the theme song right?

Well Cheeky Little Media, the folk behind Kazoops have launched an album full of similarly catchy child freindly tunes, Just Imagine Volume 1 released on 28th October has 20 songs our favourite is Dinosaurus Games ...

My kids think this is awesome and the Kazoops Youtube channel is a new favourite, Im surprised that I enjoyed it a lot too. Its not your everyday earsplitting manically chipper kids TV music that makes you want to stuff a cocktail stick in your ear! There are different styles of music and its quite educational too.

Check out the total engrossment from the girls ....

If you want to buy the album then digital service providers will include iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora and Youtube. You can either buy the whole album or individual songs or alternatively stream the music online

Preparing Your Family For A Terrorist Attack

Today I cried. Again! Over the awful terrifying horror of yet another terrorist attack.

Last June, packed for our holidays (three days later) I saw the horrific news breaking of Tunisia's Terror Attack 38 people we're shot on the beach and throughout the hotel in June 2015, this was not the first attack in the popular tourist destination but sadly it brought an end to Tunisia's tourist trade. UK holiday company's have cancelled all flights until then end of the 2016 summer season. We had to tell our children that we couldn't go and give them a brief but honest ( we try not to tell fibs) reason why not.

That is when the fear started, we have 3 YOUNG children! How do you protect them through the chaos and the carnage, they don't run fast, they are kids they scare easily. How the hell would we have survived. But you try not to think too much about the fear , or honestly I may never leave the house!

Then this year we had to talk to them about terrorism when Peanut was worried that her wee pal had been in Paris when simultaneous co-ordinated terror attacks killed 130 and left hundreds wounded. She was scared that her pal had only gone to see the Disney people but something awful could have happened. I hate that I have to talk to my 7 year old about why someone would want to kill people!

And so the worry gets stronger, the world is an awful scary dangerous place and I don't want my baby's in danger.

Then yesterday in a country I love and have travelled to numerous times, a country with a special place in my heart because my Great Nana loved it too, more than 30 people were killed by multiple attacks at the airport and on the Metro. Now I've been to Brussels airport and I'll tell you security has always been tight. I'm always searched (yes I'm the one who always sets off the buzzer!) So for this to happen is shocking and the images of pushchairs standing amid the wreckage have had me in pieces.

I know I worry more than most and if I'm honest I could let fear take hold of me just leaving the house because there really is danger everywhere if you let your mind wander. But my husband and I decided that for our peace of mind we need to talk to the kids about public emergencies, what to do if there is a fire or (we didn't give them these examples) an explosion or gunfire

When I was chatting on Facebook to a friend about Brussels and I mentioned it sickens me that my husband and I had planned a chat about this with the kids, her pal from Paris said she had similar conversations with her child and that a video had been shown in schools there, it turns out our government has made one to with the key points for a weapons attack being RUN HIDE TELL. 

The husband and I talked about being aware of our surrounding, knowing where the exits are and the importamce of knowing whats normal for where you are, without being paranoid, are there unattended parcels or bags, are people blocking the exits are the exits clear and available.

For the kids we explained that in public spaces and when we are away from home we need them to be listening and staying nearby, if there is a commotion with loud noises and screaming they are to

• Hold on to one of us (we in turn will shout to ensure the other knows that all children are accounted for) 
• That they are to do what we say with no questions if we tell them we are in emergency evacuation, and (and this is the bit that tears me up) 
• If Mammy and Daddy can not move to help them they must go immediately to the safety of a uniform. 

Don't get me wrong the idea of my kids fending for themselves makes me sick and I know they could get confused and awful things could happen but we needed some kind of plan in place so they and we know that we have to try to stick together and get out.

I will end by saying that as fearful as I am to travel any time soon, we must have trust that security will get tighter and tighter and that we can not live in fear we can't stop our lives because this is terrifying and there are families torn apart because of these attacks but we must just be cautious 

10 Signs That You Are Living With a Threenager

Today I have a guest post from the very lovely Chantelle, Mum to FOUR girls who writes at Mama Mummy Mum.

 

 

 

Today she describes what its like living with a THREENAGER! I swear if your kids are over four you'll be nodding along....

 

By definition a threenager is a child whohas reached the grand old age of three yet proceeds to act and sound like ateenager. There was me thinking the terrible twos were bad and really I thoughtI had a few years before I had to endure the perils that come with a teenager.Just incase you weren't sure yourself, here a 10 sure fire signs that you areindeed living with a threenager….

1. Your first sign, the back chat,the attitude, oh it's like hearing my former teenage self some days, the wordno gets said to me far to often these days!

 

2. Theword why becomes the main part of their vocabulary, trying to refrain fromreplying with the sentence "just because" is a real struggle attimes.

 

3. Tables are quickly turned when you want to talk tothem, the only answers you'll get are "I don't know" or "I can'tremember".

 

4. However in public they seem to have no filter,"mummy why is that man fat", "you have a really big spot on yourface", all the niceties come out then.

 

5. Stubbornness, I mean independence issuddenly a must, they can do it all for themselves, until they can't that is.For example putting their shoes (on the wrong feet) and then suddenly they areall but begging you to do it for them.

 

6. Leading to the fact that you now need anextra few hours in the day because getting out of the door takes twice the timeit used to.

 

7. Naps are a thing of the past and ofcourse they then get mad because they really do need a nap, why won't they justgo to sleep?? But when you want them to do something suddenly they become tired, convenient!

 

8. Thesmallest of things become the biggest of dramas (maybe because they need anap!), it could be as simple as you look at them "funny" and all hellbreaks loose, be prepared for those tantrums. Have you noticed threenagers tendto be rather moody!?

 

9. Mealtimes become a battle, foods that they used to love are no longer consideredacceptable and then there's the time it takes them to eat and don't even thinkabout giving them different cups orcutlery…

 

10. Gone are the pushchairs, of coursethreenagers want to walk everywhere until the "I'm tired" excusecomes out and they really need to be carried but they're not as small as theyonce were and carrying them becomes difficult shall we say.

 

So now you've gone through points 1 to10, the only question to ask is are you living with a threenager?

You can follow Chantelle on Facebook and Twitter

 

 

Posted with Blogsy by The Monkeyfooted Mummy

Tales of the Termite - 22 Months

I'm nearly 2! I know this because people keep telling me it is nearly my birthday, that's when I get cake and everyone brings me gifts and sings and helps me have a fun day in the garden with my friends!

 

I have started to get lots of hair on top of my head which is great because I've got really long hair at the back so hopefully soon mammy can give me a pony tail like peanut gets, because at the moment I look like a shark landed on my head!!!

This month has been a bit grumpy for me, you know I've never been a good sleeper and almost always wake up crying in the night with loud pumps (that's a fart if you are being crude or flatulence if you are being posh!) and stomach pains. After a particularly dairy heavy day or two I got really very poorly.

So after lots of varying ideas from the doctors we now think (after only 22 months of mysterious tummy trouble!!) that I can't have milk. So I've spent the last two weeks pining for Yoghurt and Fromage Frais, my favourite cheese and milk! It's made me sad and grumpy and I still don't quite understand why I can no longer eat these yummy things . But since I stopped eating them I no longer wake up with a hurty tummy which is great (mummy thinks so too)

In other news though I am developing brilliant mark making skills and can draw a cat , it looks quite wonky and a bit run over by a car! But it's definitely a cat, Mammy says it's the best at EVER.

I'm learning more words by the minute and I can sing the Winnie the Pooh song (well most of it, all by myself). I still like lots of cuddles and mammy claims she can't get anything done on a morning because I just want her to carry me around

I'm now in age 3 clothes and as tall as some of my buddies who are 6-12 months older than me. I love to run and dance and I especially like to copy Peanut when we do our shows at home.

 

This month I have spent lots of time playing with crayons and anything else I find in the craft box , my tigger toy and Peanuts baby dolly.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy by The Monkeyfooted Mummy

This weeks reasons to be thankful...

Read With Me - Oxford Reading Tree

This isn't really a review as such but I really wanted to share with you how wonderfully my Peanut is coming along with her reading.

She  is coming to the last term of Reception and has always done really well with her letters and numbers so I wasn't surprised when her teacher told us that she was excelling in reading group, her school chooses to use Oxford Reading Tree system which has a great resource for helping at home called Oxford Owl with loads of free ebooks and activities to support your child's learning.

Three weeks ago Peanut was on level 4 and this week she came home on level 7 ! This weeks book is called The Jigsaw Puzzle, part of The Biff Chip and Kipper stories, in this adventure the children travel to a far away time depicted in their jigsaw. we are relly looking forward to reading this one. Peanut has really enjoyed all of these books and found some of them very funny especially Monkeys Magic Pipe which she read last week, about a clever monkey who rescued his friends from a mean monster by making the monster dance and tricking him into releasing the animals from his bag.

Courtesy of www.oup.com

 If you have a little person learning to read these books are a great place to start. They have really helped build peanut's confidence in reading.

Musings of the Monkeyfooted Mini's

A recent conversation between the Peanut and I after I discovered 5 half eaten strawberry's in the box....

As if butter wouldn't melt! 

Me: 'it's not nice to bite the ends of the strawberry's and put half back, can you not do it again'

Peanut: 'I don't care' (full of petulance)

Me : 'this behviour makes mummy sad, where has my lovely daughter gone, the one who is nice to mammy'

Peanut (stomping up the stairs) 'she's gone to Dublin, BY HER OWN' (where her Grandparents and Aunties live) 

Mummy had no reply!

NappyKind Legwarmer Review and Giveaway

Baby leg warmers ? What's that all about then? I see lots of my mummy friends raving about them but I have to admit to not really seeing the point for girls, I mean pop a pair of tights on and job done.

But....

I actually quite love them, you see it means I can show off our cute cloth bottoms and change our nappies dead easily without the faff of taking tights on and off. 

So we had a little peruse of the NappyKind website and we chose a lovely cream pair with little hearts all over, they go on easily and look very cute...

They washed well in the washing machine and there was no shrinkage which is always a good thing . They are great to go under trousers as an extra layer and I think they will be brilliant in the upcoming 'crawling months'

The website also have a lovely selection of shoes, clothes and gifts. 

I have two pairs of these to give away simply enter via rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Theatre Review, Tallest Tales From The Furthest Forest

I love visiting the theatre and I love that the Monkeyfooted ones love coming  with me, so it's always a happy day when we head off to see The Under 6's Christmas  Show at Northern Stage.

Off we set on a Saturday morning with my children chomping at the bit to get to their seats. 

The show starts before any performance has begun, in fact as soon as you walk through the doors to a transformed theatre. Gone is the normal seating configuration in favour of a theatre in the round, not just any old theatre though thanks to some excellent set design by Andrew Stephenson you are transported into a magical forest complete with birds tweeting. Children can sit right down at the front on comfortable cushioned mats.  The excitement builds as the Theatre fills and then a hush falls as The Leshies appear. Leshies are story telling, song singing, forest dwelling creatures and today they are helping a lost girl. She's had a fight with her father and found herself lost in a forest where she is told lots of stories, all of course with a lesson to be learned. 

This show is amazing and all three of my children sat transfixed , yes even Termite at a mere 15 weeks old loved it, the story is beautifully written by Susan Mulholland and brought to life by brilliantly talented Director Mark Calvert. With excellent performances from Ruth johnson, Alice Blundell, Michael Blair and Tom Walton. There are songs strories, interactive bun fights and puppets, even a dancing dough child! I won't spoil that part but it was the highlight of the show for me. 

Tickets are selling rapidly but if you can get your hands on some I can't recommend it highly enough. The show runs until 4th January and you can book online or call Box Office on 0191-2305151 

Wreath Making with Hobbycraft

We are great fans of Hobbycraft, we've already enjoyed some of their childrens crafting sets, so when we were asked to have a look at their wreath making supplies we were very excited.

The kit arrived really quickly and we had been sent a wreath, a hanging acorn and a bunch of fruity and floral decorations.

We separated all of the individual pieces from the bunch so that we could spread them around the wreath, and in the spirit of fairness and because I had two little helpers, we each took a few pieces to take turns in adding. All of the decorative bits came on flexible wire which is really easy to attach to the wreath securely (although little hands will need some grown up help).

We attached the acorn using the hanging string at the top and I had some lovely Christmas ribbon left over from last year so we added our own little bow. I have to tell you I'm uber proud of our creation and its hanging in pride of place on our front door, giving a warm Christmas Welcome to all our visitors.

I can't think of any negatives of this project.  The  wreaths are reasonably priced, good quality and easy to put together. We all got involved and it has turned out smashing! Best still Hobbycraft have an amazing selection of Christmas bits and bobs on 3 for 2.

Will you be making your own Christmas creations this year, I'd love to hear about your projects in the comment box.




***Hobbycraft kindly sent us these products  to review but the opinions in this post are all those of Family Monkeyfeet

What Will You Be Having For Christmas Lunch

I bemoan the rising cost of food all the time, our food bill is high, I'm always looking for ways to save money and cut down waste but I'm lucky, I can afford to pop along to the shop and buy something for tea whenever I want. There are parents in this country, in your town maybe even in your street, who can't afford 3 meals a day, mums who sit and watch their children eat whilst they go hungry because there isn't enough food for them hoping there may be a scrap left at the end for mum!!! 

Picture credit mirror.co.uk

I've just signed an online petition started by Jack Monroe an amazingly inspirational woman who has been in this situation and tackled it with, in my opininion, a will of steel. She wants the government to look at the root cause of this problem and make changes and I'm with her, imagine sitting in the dark and cold with no gifts for your children this Christmas  because there really isn't enough money to have lights heating and food.

Food banks are being used 3 times more this year than at the same time last year which is a shocking increase. So I'm asking everyone I know to read this and sign if it moves you like it moved me. 

Travelling with 3 children

We've just returned from a lovely weekend in Dublin but man alive have I picked up some tips for easier and less stressful travelling. We enjoy travelling and we've been on a lot of family holidays but this was our first trip as a family of 5. 

This is what we had to get through the airports...,

1 pushchair

2 adults 

3 children

4 pieces of hand luggage

5 lots of hats, scarves, and gloves. 

I won't lie it was a stressful, tiring and sweat inducing experience! So here's what I learned .....

Travel as light as possible

packing and unpacking on the way out and back is time consuming and a pain so make a list and take only the bare minimum

Keep hand luggage to the minimum 

There really is no easy way to carry a baby, hold the hands of two toddlers, carry two suitcases one baby bag and a rucksack, and get up the airplane steps and along a teeny aisle with only 4 hands between you. So my honest tip would be to pack in hand luggage only what you need for the journey and check the rest in, even if you need to pay.  If you can say goodbye to it before the stress of security I promise you are in for a much smoother experience which in my humble opinion is worth the €40.

Prepare for security checks

Taking off the coats of two toddlers, folding a two part pushchair, separating iPads from other luggage, emptying pockets and then trying to remove knee length boots whilst holding a baby (because in my wisdom I'd sent the husband through X-ray with the eldest two!) and then doing it all in reverse is stressful enough but add an audience of similarly harassed people and unsympathetic security staff and you have a fully flustering situation. Next time I will be wearing shoes that don't need to be removed, I will have empty pockets and I will have had the kids remove their coats  before there are hundreds of people looking at us in impatience! 

Think about your pushchair

Ryan air ask for you to leave your pushchair at the front steps of the plane, this means folding a pushchair whilst holding a baby and hand luggage and stopping toddlers wandering off onto the runway. With a two part pushchair this is a nightmare so my advice is find a pushchair with an easy fold. We loved our Baby Jogger City Mini and missed it so much during this trip that we have come home and ordered a new one!!

Leave Plenty of Time

Leave Early , get to the airport with time to spare, it's not ideal to keep toddlers in an airport longer than necessary but as you can see you need plenty of time to do everything and the last thing you need is a frantic dash down the departure terminal with toddlers and a pram!

Most of all try to enjoy yourself