Baa Baa from Orchard Toys - Review

We received a brand new game from Orchard Toys called Baa Baa to review. This is colour recognition game with lots of cute little sheep wearing different pieces of clothing. Miss C couldn't wait to play it as she loves animals.

We made a video of us playing the game:



To recap:

• Suitable for ages 3 and over however, I think a younger child could join in with a bit of help. I don't think you would get past the age of 6 with this game, as it is quite easy to play.
• For 2 - 4 players
• Encourages colour recognition beyond the primary colours
• Encourages turn-taking
• Encourages matching skills as children have to match the colour of a sheep's clothing to the colours on their board
• Fun and easy to play
• Lasts about 10 minutes
• Costs £9.50 from the Orchard Toys website

Miss C really enjoyed playing Baa Baa and it was great to see just how many colours she actually knows as she doesn't really like to sit and show you in practise.

Overall we would recommend this game to parents with young children of a similar age to Miss C.

We give Baa Baa a big 10/10

We received Baa Baa for the purposes of a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Flashback Friday - Miss C's First Birthday

For Flashback Friday this week, I'm taking a break from my journey into first time Motherhood with Wee Z and writing about Miss C's first birthday, since it is almost her 4th birthday.

On the day of Miss C's birthday, as she turned a whole year old, we spent the day at home. She opened her presents with great fascination. She was too young to really enjoy present opening at Christmas time but she loved the paper crunching in her hands and the toys singing to her from inside their boxes on her birthday.

Wee Z was on hand to help her try her new toys and show her how they worked. She was happy to share (unlike now!) and watch her brother showing her what to do.

We had some butterfly fairy cakes and I put one candle in hers for her to blow out. She was a bit confused by the candle but enjoyed her first taste of cake.

We had a joint party for her and Wee Z since their birthdays are so close together (bad planning on our part!) and invited all of our friends and family. Miss C loved her party dress but wasn't so keen on her party shoes. She loved having everyone sing Happy Birthday to her and clapped her hands when they finished.

It was a brilliant day and Miss C really enjoyed herself.

I can't believe she is about to turn four now.

This post is for Flashback Friday which is hosted by the lovely Jenny from Mummy Mishaps.

My Daughter's Fourth Year in Photos

Miss C turns 4 very soon and, like last year, I decided to put together some photos of her from the last 12 months. As soon as I start looking at photos over a yearly period, it scares me to see the changes in my kids. You don't notice them when you see them every day!

July

August

September

October 

November

December

January

February

March

April

Drink #TheGallery

The last time I had a good drink was Christmas Eve Eve (so the night before Christmas Eve) when we organised a girls' night out with a few of the Mums from the school.

We met up at a local pub that sells quite cheap drink. I wasn't intending on staying too late as I didn't have a lot of cash and I was working the next day.

It obviously didn't pan out like that.

I didn't get home until gone 11pm and I was as giddy as a school girl.

I started the night on Sex on the Beach cocktails and ended it on peach snapps and lemonade. These are my two favourite drinks when I'm out for a drink.

We ended up in an old mens' pub. There was karaoke and we wanted to sing and dance and spend very little money - because the drink was cheap, not because the old men were buying us drinks.

It was a great night. I suffered the next day and barely made it through work although, because it was Christmas Eve, it wasn't very busy.

Our next night out is organised for this Sunday.

No work the following day!

It could be messy but it will definitely be fun!

This post is for The Gallery. The theme this week is Drink.

Our Favourite Walks

Walking is one of my favourite things to do. I love being outdoors, especially when the weather is nice and just going for a walk. It doesn't have to be a long walk; the school run is often just enough for me. However, I really enjoy our walks as a family and my favourite walk is the one we do in the local country park.

This is a pretty long walk with lots to see and lots of places to explore. There are plenty of trees to try to climb and plenty of things to talk about. There are lots of animals in the park too and a play area that the kids enjoy playing in. At the end of the walk, we are all tired but feeling good.

We've been doing this walk since Wee Z was a baby. It's great for the kids to be outdoors and getting some exercise through walking. Sometimes it can be hard to get the kids to do some exercise so having lots to see and do on our walk really helps keep them motivated. This is why it is one of our favourite walks.

The AXA PPP healthcare facebook page is filled with ideas and tips for families to keep walking throughout this month. They are also hosting a live web chat on Wednesday May 29th on the AXA PPP healthcare website between 11am and 1pm, discussing baby and child allergies to help parents prepare for the great outdoors.

We suffer with hayfever quite a lot during the Spring and Summer months, so I would probably ask health nurse Kamilla Doughery for some tips on easing those hayfever symptoms. Kamilla will be on hand during the chat to answer any questions parents may have in relation to allergies including symptoms and diagnosis.

If you have a question for Kamilla, you can leave it here ahead of the live chat on the AXA PPP healthcare website.

Here's hoping the sunshine stays for awhile so we can get out and enjoy more walks!

This is a sponsored post however the opinions expressed are my own.

What We Did Last Week #WeekTwenty

Last Sunday, the heavens had opened and it rained pretty much all day. The rain, however, did not dampen our spirits as we headed out to look for a new car. We went to a local BMW dealer and test drove a few cars and decided to go with a new 3 series. We did want the coupe version until Wee Z pointed out that the back of the car only had 2 seats so his friends would not be able to come out for his birthday. Practical won out.

On Monday, it was back to work for me and back to school for Wee Z. It was another miserable day and at one point I think it snowed. Miss C and I spent an hour together before Wee Z came home from school. We played a game after Wee Z had done his homework and then he read us his school book.

On Tuesday, after work, Miss C and I walked to school to pick up Wee Z and we walked home together. The sun was finally shining! The kids played on the trampoline and the seesaw together whilst I made dinner. It was nice to be able to enjoy some sun again!

On Wednesday, Miss C went with Mummy N and Wee L to a local toddler group. I picked her up after work and we played outside before going to pick up Wee Z from school. When Wee Z came home, he was complaining of a sore neck and he had a lump under his right ear with some bruising. Husband phoned the on-call Doctor to get some advice and they asked him to bring Wee Z out for a check-up. All was fine and he just needed to take some pain medicine before going to bed.

On Thursday, it was my day off. Husband and I took the kids to school and nursery and then came home to sort out a few of Husband's stepfather's things. After school, I picked up Wee Z and took him and Miss C to our new favourite coffee shop for some cakes. I had a lemon meringue pie and a smoothie and the kids had a cupcake each. A yummy treat!

On Friday, Husband and I dropped the kids off at nursery and school and went to pick up our new car. It was a gorgeous day which made it even nicer to be able to drive our new car home. Miss C and I went food shopping once I had picked her up and then we went to ballet after school. In the evening, after I picked Wee Z up from his Elite Squad Karate training, I went to Mummy N's house. We were all supposed to be getting a psychic reading but the person never turned up so we just drank our wine and had a good chat instead.

On Saturday, I woke feeling a little delicate. I went to work and then Husband picked me up. We decided to go to McDonalds for lunch as I always find it helps with a hangover. I felt great after my Happymeal! In the afternoon, the kids played with Playdoh and we watched some TV since it was such a miserable day.

#SilentSunday