Last Sunday the sun finally decided to make an appearance down here in Kent. We didn't waste any time, and decided to pack our bags and head out to another National Trust property. I love that our memberships give us this freedom, as it means we have somewhere to go without much planning - and it's so affordable too!

We decided to head back to Ightham Mote, as our last visit back in January was such a wash out. We didn't take food this time, but looking back I really wish we took a picnic. The weather was just so beautiful - and the fact you can borrow deck chairs would have made it much more luxurious too!

As it was so wet last time, we really didn't see much. I was surprised that there was actually so much to do, despite it being a rather small property. First stop for us was the natural play area for Indie to explore. This is made out of all natural products, and many from the property too!

It is aimed more at older children, so unfortunately Parker couldn't enjoy it much - but I think adding anything man made would spoil it. Indie loved jumping, climbing, exploring and even got muddy (much to her disgust haha).

I think this is so much more fun for children, as they are free to use their imagination. There was no waiting for a swing or climbing up the slide. Indie just got stuck in, and when we finally encouraged her out, she left with a stick magic wand to carry on the fun.

There were also other bits for kids to enjoy, such as trails and quizzes. I'm sure Indie would love to join in these kind of things in a few years, as she's definitely still too young to understand them now.

We wandered over to the lawn in front of the house after a good play - not before we'd gone over every bridge, picked daisies and watched the water in the streams. There are a number of large areas of grass to sit and relax (although most do have open areas of water nearby).

As Parker has recently learnt to properly crawl he was in his absolute element. It was lovely to let him crawl around (under our watchful eyes of course), and let him be free, as he's usually stuck in his pram on days out. He loved following after Jack and Indiana on their little adventures. Although he did take a particular liking to eating the grass haha.

We could have sat there for hours, and many families had come prepared with frisbees, footballs and even bubbles - something we'll try to remember next time! We topped it off by enjoying tubs of ice cream, bought from the little gift shop.

Once again we never made it into the house itself, as we simply ran out of time. The courtyard was beautiful though, and we managed to capture this month's Siblings Project photos (make sure to look out for them, Parker's pulling some amazing faces haha).

There was even live music and dancing in front of the house as we walked passed. They did try to get us involved but it really wasn't for us haha. It looked like fun though, so I'd keep an eye out if you do visit!

We had such a lovely family day out - and although we had fun when we visited in the rain, Ightham Mote in the summer is just something else! I just hope the sun sticks around so we can have our picnic on the lawn one day this summer.

Keeping Warm During Winter Days Out

If you're a regular reader of my blog, then you'll know how much we enjoy getting out and about as a family. Not much stops us, especially the weather! Even if it's a chilly Winter's day or raining outside, you will still find us enjoying the outdoors - even our Me and Mine photos in September were taken on the beach in the rain! Over the years, we have just learnt how to wrap up warm, so that we can still get out and enjoy ourselves.

Dress Everyone in Layers
If you're unsure what the weather will do, dressing everyone layers is the best approach. If it is cold in the morning, just wear extra clothes and then remove them as the day warms up. Retailers such as Simply Be sell a wide range of jumpers, coats and even thermal underwear, which are great for this type of dressing. I've found I now naturally leave thick and heavier items on the shelf, and instead opt for lightweight jumpers or cardigans that are I can pop over a t-shirt or shirt.

Keep Wellies and Spare Clothes in the Car
If you're planing on going out when the weather is wet, definitely go out prepared! During the winter months, we usually keep wellies and spare clothes in the car. It is also worth keeping an old towel in the boot (this is also handy for if you've taken your dog for a walk too). This way you will be able to dry everyone off a bit, and then the towel can be used to protect the inside of your car from the worst of the dirt too.

Remember Hats and Gloves
Make sure everyone has a pair of gloves as well as hats (and scarves if it's extra chilly). Studies have shown that keeping your hands and head warm will make a huge difference to how comfortable you will feel. If you're like me and need regular access to your phone or camera, it might even be worth buying touchscreen enabled gloves. They are far more convenient as you don't have to constantly take them on and off!

Wear Suitable Footwear
I have already mentioned that we keep our wellies in the car, but we also make sure that everyone´s regular footwear is at least showerproof (especially Parker's who as you can see, always manages to find a puddle wherever we go)! Boots or closed shoes are much more comfortable to wear too. It's worth keeping in mind that winter footwear usually needs to be a little bit bigger too, so that you can wear thicker socks / wellies socks with them. This boot buying guide explains what you need to look for when choosing winter footwear.

How do you keep warm on Winter days out?

This is a Collaborative Post

Indiana's 6 Month Update

When I look back on this month it's crazy to see how much Indiana has learnt and changed, it's amazing to see what a few short weeks can do! Now we're at her half birthday and I can't help but feel a little sad. These six months have flown by and I just know the next half of the year will too, and then she'll be a whole year old! But anyway, back to her six month update...

Weight

I had Indie weighed last Wednesday (when she was 25+1 weeks) and my little chunk weighed 16lb 8oz! She's getting so big now, and I'm proud to say she's doubled her birth weight exactly! This was something I heard was supposed to happen by six months so I was so happy when I found out.

Daily

Routine is something that has be thrown out the window a little this month haha. Through teething, days out, and just because she's a little monkey, Indie has been all over the place with her naps and bottles! I still try and put her down for a nap 2 hours after she wakes up, but some days she would scream blue murder and I'd have to pick her up and give up haha. She loves to play now and could spend all day playing with her toys or with me. However separation anxiety is at a high and I just have to turn my back on her and she's screaming haha. We have been busy with baby massage this month, and we've had lots of play dates with my sister and nephews and other family members. 

Bedtime

With these lack of naps we have one tired little lady at bed time haha, bless her. A few days this week she's even been asleep in bed for 6.30, and still slept through until 7! Not much has changed with this routine, apart from she now has a bath seat so bath time she loves even more (but now hates getting out as she's having too much fun haha). She now sleeps on her side with is so so cute.

Eating

We finally managed to make the swap back to Cow&Gate First Stage, halle-bloody-lujah! This time we just completely changed from Comfort to Stage 1 in one go and she didn't even notice haha. The only thing we have noticed now is that as it's not as thick she's getting hungrier quicker, and will down an 8oz bottle pretty swiftly. We did swap back to size 2 teats when we changed as it was coming out far too fast. 

The most exciting update is that now she's six months weaning can begin! We're so excited to start baby led weaning (which you all know from my previous updates), and will definitely be keeping a diary on her progress. We have given her a couple of bits up until now and she's loved it all... well apart from the broccoli she tried last night, but I can't blame her for that one haha!

Sizes

Little miss is still rocking 3-6 months clothes, although certain bits are becoming very snug (especially her sleepsuits). Size 3 nappies are also becoming super tight and as soon as the packet we're on runs out we're making the switch to size 4s. 

Milestones

• She did it! Indie finally rolled back to front, and now has not intention of ever stopping haha. Only downside is she hasn't mastered getting back the other way so gets stuck often haha.
• Sitting up - she can sit happily on a flat surface (she loves sitting on tables) for a good 5 minutes without wobbling now!
• We moved up to stage 2 on the Jumperoo now haha.
• She is a mover now! While on her belly she spins and moves about the floor to get whatever she's after now.
• She no longer has her headhugger in the car seat (it made me SO sad taking this out).
• The bath support is also gone, and she no sits up in the bath in a bath support seat.
• She has great hand eye co-ordination and will grab things and never miss and pass things easily between her hands, and always into her mouth haha.
• We almost have a tooth... about time too!
• She's much more vocal and had started making a lot more sounds!

She's teething so badly she even thought it was a good idea to use her cousin's head a teether haha, she is such a funny little monkey. She also had her first proper cold this month which was horrible to see. She was so blocked up she couldn't sleep and we had to all snuggle in bed, she fell asleep in my arms which I must admit I secretly enjoyed!

"mmm... your head is tasty!"

I've loved everything she's done this month, and now with weaning about to begin I know from now on it's going to be even more fun and exciting! Everyone keeps saying she'll be crawling soon as well which I am not looking forward to... only because it's another step closer to her being a toddler and not a baby, and she's too big already!

What was your little one doing at 6 months?

Emily xx

Christmas Gift Ideas for 5 - 10 Year Olds | Christmas 2021

 The products featured in this post were sent for inclusion in this gift guide, however all opinions are honest and my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

It's that time of year again when I can finally start sharing all things Christmas! And after last year's festive period being so different and disappointing, I think I'm going to try and make this year as Christmassy and special as ever! For my third and final Christmas Gift Guide this year I'm going to be sharing some products that I think would make perfect gift for older children and 5 to 10 (and beyond). Hopefully this gives you some inspiration this festive season.

Science Optical Illusion Set

First up we have this fun Optical Illusion Science set - sure to excite young minds and keep them busy! Made in Italy, the box contains a whole selection of products including 3D cards and glasses, a periscope, spinning top and puzzle. Lisciani is a worldwide educational company that has designed developed and produced games for children for over 30 years. 

Kuhn Rikon Children's Knife Set

My little ones love to help out in the kitchen, but of course their safety is always on my mind. This fun knife set by Kuhn Rikon has been designed to be safe for children (and its design is super cute too). The set contains a knife with straight edge, a knife with a serrated edge, and 'duck snipper' scissors. They are made of strong Japanese stainless steel, making them sharp enough to cut soft food, but safer than adult knives. They also feature 'ears' to act as hand guards to keep little fingers away from the cutting surface. 

Tybo Tie-Dye Set

Tie-dye seems to be a popular craze at the moment, so I know this Tybo XL 'tidy tie-dye' set from Tybo would be a big hit this Christmas. The kit includes everything you need to create fun and colourful tie-dye designs in a mess-free way! All you have to do is load up the mixing chamber, add the dye (there are 6 dyes included), and then turn the handle to transform items such as t-shirts, hoodies and even jeans. 

Science Mad! Chemistry Lab

A gift for slightly older children, this Chemistry Lab set from Science Mad! would made a great gift for inquisitive minds. The lab set is well equipped with a selection of 10 different chemicals (however you do need to supply household items such as salt, vinegar, etc for some of the experiments). There are more than 80 experiments to enjoy so your child really can go wild with this one!

The Adventurer’s Activity Journal

Personalised gifts are such a lovely idea for Christmas, as they really do add that extra special touch. The Adventurer's Activity Journal by BookBlock is packed full of ideas to get little minds thinking and creating. The journal takes the reader on a journey across the globe, to learn about new cultures and countries in a fun and exciting way. There are 192 interactive pages including puzzles, crafts and games throughout, and even stickers to add when a task is completed too. The cover is personalised with your child's name too so it really feels like a special book for them!

Red Letter Days Experiences

With three children of varying ages and only a small house, there's only so many presents and gifts we can add to the collection each year. That's why we love to ask for days out or experiences as gift instead - and Red Letter Days have a whole host of fun days out that both children (and their grown ups) can enjoy. We are currently a Harry Potter obsessed household, so I know Parker would be over the moon to receive this The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour and Afternoon Tea voucher.

The website is super easy to use as you can filter not only by the recipient, but also by budget and age, making it really easy to find a suitable gift. From animal experiences, climbing at GoApe!, and even a chocolate experience day with Hotel Chocolat - there's so many to choose from! Vouchers have to be claimed and booked by the recipient, so they can pick a suitable date for them to go too.

Skid Markz

If you have a child that finds the word poo hilarious, then this one is for them. A fun and silly game for all the family, Skid Markz combines drawing with crazy instructions, to create works of art that your fellow players have to guess. There are 100 'bone cards' with 400 'doodle words', so the game can be played again and again without getting repetitive (a big flaw with other games on the market). Are you a 'poo-caso'?

Personalised Artwork by Emma's Botanicals

If you're looking for an extra special gift for a loved one, then these prints from Emma's Botanicals would be a great choice. Emma hand paints the flower or plant of the month of your child's birthday, so if your little one has a December birthday for example, you can ask for Holly like the artwork pictured. The artwork is beautifully presented and of incredibly high quality. Such a special gift!

Tomy Mache Magic

Another creative gift, the Mache Magic from Tomy allows children to create unique paper mâché crafts by just using toilet paper and water - how easy is that? You don't need to buy or use messy paste or batteries, and everything else is included to get creating straight away! Simply add layers of toilet paper, twist & press, leave to dry over night, and then once dry it's time to decorate. The box contains instructions and ideas of what to create, but I think this is a great gift for encouraging self expression and creativity.

Prints from Ink & Drop

If you're buying from a child who already has plenty of toys, then why not treat them to some gorgeous prints or canvases from Ink & Drop. They create high-quality, beautiful art prints in a range of styles and price ranges - there's something for everyone! I loved these fun animal canvases for younger children, and I think any of their children's designs would look fab in a child's bedroom or playroom. Sizes range from 21x30 to 100x150 and you can choose from a range of frames too, including these clever magnetic wooden hangers that are really easy to use (these come as standard with canvas prints).

That's Magic! Big Box of Magic Set

If your child likes to entertain and amaze, then this That's Magic! Big Box of Magic Set would be a perfect gift for them. The bumper set comes with (nearly) everything they need to perform 325 amazing illusions and tricks - some everyday objects such as cotton thread, a spoon and pencils and paper will be needed for certain tricks. The easy tricks are supported by online instructional videos, so your budding magician can perfect their craft before giving you a spell-bounding performance!

Double Ditto Game

Double Ditto is a fun party game that older children and adults will love to play together - ideal for around the table at Christmas! The player picks a card, reads it out loud and then everyone has to quickly write down 2 answers that they think the other plays will write. The fun then arrives as everyone has to read out their answers to see if there's any matches - who knows what crazy, funny or even rude answers could be shard! There are 400 category cards so it's a perfect game to play again and again.

Ladybird Books

Books always make fantastic Christmas gifts, and these two new releases from Ladybird books would make a fantastic choice this year. My Skin, Your Skin by Laura Henry-Allain MBE (and illustrated by Onyinye Iwu) is a really powerful book, created to help children and adults have meaningful discussions about race and anti-racism. The book also explores how important it is for children to celebrate their achievements and greatness. Such an important book to have in any child's bookshelf.

Everything Under the Sun by Molly Oldfield is a beautiful collection of 366 questions asked by children from around the world. We all know that children ask everything weird, wonderful and sometimes unanswerable, so this book aims to answer some of those questions in a fun and joyful way. A lovely touch with this book is that famous faces have also got involved - you can find out 'where ideas come from with award-winning illustrator, Rob Biddulph. Find out why you taste things differently when you have a cold with Michelin star chef, Heston Blumenthal. Learn about everything from how astronauts see in the dark to what the biggest dinosaur was with experts from the Natural History Museum'. I know this one's going to be a big hit!

ReaXion Xplode Game

ReaXion sets take dominos to the extreme! The tiles are built in an innovative X shape and are light weight with thicker edges, making them easier to set and up and use. The shape also allows them to be connected together to make epic set ups - made even more extreme with the use the linX connectors to make even larger constructions. This Xplode set contains 150 tiles, 75 linX, 2 cubes, 2 spinners and 4 wheels, so there are hours of play to be had!

If you're looking for more inspiration, why not check out last year's guides here and here!

National Trust days out in the South East | Kent, Sussex + Surrey

We have been National Trust members for a few years now, and I still believe it's the best money we spend each month. And living in Kent (and the south east in general) we are lucky to have a whole selection of different NT properties and gardens, right on our doorstep!

I have shared posts about many of these locations on my blog before, but I thought it was time I collected all of these posts in one post. Creating somewhere you can come to read about all of the different locations, and what they have to offer. I also enlisted the help of some fellow bloggers, so you can see what they think too!

Kent

Scotney Castle, Tunbridge Wells

Scotney Castle features a 14th century moated castle, country house and a romantic garden all inside a beautiful wooded estate. With over 770 acres of woodland and parkland to explore there's plenty to keep the whole family busy! You can read more about our visit here.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden, near Cranbrook

We mostly visit the grounds outside the castle gardens (buggies aren't allowed in this area), but there is so much to see at Sissinghurst. Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson fell in love with Sissinghurst Castle and so created a world renowned garden. You can also visit the top of the Tower, where you can see vast panoramic views of the land and area, as well as enjoying woodland walks outside of the castle gardens.

Chartwell, Westerham

Chartwell was the much-loved Churchill family home and the place where Sir Winston drew inspiration until the end of his life. We've never actually made it into the house itself, but the gardens have so much to explore. If you venture out to the woodlands there's also natural play areas that little ones can explore. You can read more about Maria's visit to Chartwell here.

Emmetts Garden, Sevenoaks

Emmetts Garden is an Edwardian estate that was owned by Frederic Lubbock. It stands on one of the highest spots in Kent so offers panoramic views over the area, as well as some great walking opportunities. The biggest draw for us is the lovely natural play area at the top of the gardens - it's opposite the cafe too, so win-win for everyone!

Knole, Sevenoaks

Knole Park is probably our favourite and most visited National Trust properties - it's where we were when we signed up for our memberships. Set within Kent’s last medieval deer park, Knole offers something for everyone. You can explore Knole House with it's grand courtyards and tranquil Orangery, or wander the winding paths in the parkland - just watch out for golfers! The best thing about Knole is that you don't even need to be NT members to visit. You can park by one of the many outer gates, and enjoy a walk in the grounds completely free!

Ightham Mote, Sevenoaks

Ightham Mote is a romantic moated manor house, previously owned by Medieval knights, courtiers to Henry VIII and high society Victorians. The house is surrounded by lovely gardens with an orchard, water features, lakes and three estate walks. For little ones there also the natural play area - complete with stream for paddling! Lauren had a fab day out there recently.

East Sussex

Sheffield Park and Garden, Uckfield

Sheffield Park is another property that we still haven't explored to the full - it's huge! The gardens themselves have been created through centuries of landscape design - four lakes form the heart of the garden, with paths circulating through the glades and wooded areas surrounding them. Outside of the main property there are woodland walks and a children's trail, as well as a family friendly tearoom. You can read more about our visit here.

Bodiam Castle, near Robertsbridge

Bodiam Castle is definitely a place to relieve your childhood dreams! Built in the 14th century, it is one of Britain's most picturesque and romantic ancient monuments. Although a lot of the castle is ruins now, you can still explore some of the towers, see the giant fish in the moat and wander through the impressive gatehouse (which is actually the castle's original wooden portcullis!).

Bateman's, Burwash

Bateman's is a 17th century house, surrounded by the wooded landscape of the Sussex Weald. The family home provided a much needed sanctuary to the world-famous writer Rudyard Kipling. The house has been left to feel as if the Kipling family have just popped out, and is lovely to look around. The gardens have lots of explore, as well as the three estate walks - all of which are perfect for families and dogs.

West Sussex

Nymans, near Haywards Heath

Nymans is one of the National Trust's premier gardens, and was a country retreat for the Messel family. Located just off the London to Brighton M23 / A23, it was probably the easiest properties we've driven to from Kent! We've only been lucky enough to visit during the summer, but have absolutely loved both visits - exploring the ruins of the old house, the beautiful gardens, and enjoying an ice cream in the beautiful outdoor cafe. There's also the woods to explore, although we've not made it into these yet.

Standen House and Garden, East Grinstead

One of my favourite prosperities to visit over the festive period is definitely Standen House. Each year the courtyard is taken over by a large Christmas tree, and the house is decorated beautifully. It's just as lovely in the warmer months though, as the grounds are lovely to explore. There's the natural play area, croquet on the lawn, and a hidden play room which are all perfect for little ones. Make sure to take a carrier with you though, as a lot of the estate isn't buggy friendly.

Surrey

Winkworth Arboretum, Godalming

Winkworth was created in the early 20th century by Dr Wilfrid Fox, and has built up an internationally significant collection of more than 1,000 different species of shrubs and trees, over the last 60 years. The most impressive displays are in spring, with magnolias, bluebells and azaleas in bloom!

Boxhill, Surrey Hills

Boxhill is the perfect place to discover a family walk and explore the Surreyhills. Forming part of the North Downs, Boxhill has views across the surrounding countryside. The are a number of different walks, suitable for all different abilities and ages. Kate enjoyed a visit with her family, and took one of the family-friendly routes.

Hopefully this post has given you some inspiration for wonderful National Trust days out in the South East. And if you're still not so sure, why not check out this post to see why you'll love the National Trust if you have children!