Harry started high school last September and if you remember, I was really quite anxious about him starting high school. I really needn't have worried because Harry has taken to high school like a duck takes to water. On Thursday I had parents evening. I saw lots of Harry's teachers and every single one of his teachers said how well he's doing, he's learning, he's confident, he's polite, kind and helpful. Which made me burst with pride. He has made lots of friends and is very sociable. His P.E teacher told me that Harry is going to be in the top set for P.E after half term, which doesn't surprise me because he is very, very sporty indeed. His french teacher did say that Harry is only just average for French and he needs to work a bit harder. He's never learned French before and he's only been doing French since after Christmas (before that he did German - They seem to swap them around after X amount of months), so I do think he will get there with French. He also needs to work on his spelling. We can work on that together, I think some word apps might help! There were a lot of his teachers I didn't get to see because the appointments were all taken but I'm sure I'll see them next time!
Harry was also diagnosed with acne last week, the doctor has prescribed him some medicated cream/liquid stuff for his spots, we're hoping it will help otherwise we'll need to go back and get it changed. He's only twelve years old so there are only certain medicated creams (and what not) he can use at this stage.
I can't actually believe that Charlie is going to be starting high school in September. He was on the waiting list for the same school as Harry but thankfully a space became available. That's a relief. I'm anxious about him starting but I know that he'll settle in just fine and he already has his big brother there! Charlie is very excited and can not wait to start! He'll be able to catch the bus to and from school with Harry every day which is good!
Charlie has his SATs coming up at school soon, he's been busy preparing for those and has been attending homework club after school once a week, he actually enjoys that club. I think he has an end of year/end of primary school trip coming up but I'm waiting to hear more about that. I am going to start buying his uniform for high school within the next month because it's going to be expensive! With two boys at high school, both needing blazers, shirts, trousers, P.E kits, rugby tops.. The list is endless.
Ellie has joined choir club after school once a week. She starts this coming week! She is super excited! Her spelling is coming a long great as is her reading. She's been reading a lot recently ad has started reading Goosebump books. I use to love the Goosebump books when I was a child and teenager. She loves playing outside on her bike and roller skates. She's SO good on her roller skates now. I'm quite impressed, I think I'd go flying if I was to try and skate now, haha. I can't believe how fast she is growing up! She's eight years old. It doesn't feel like eight years ago since she was born. It's a bit... crazy! And bittersweet, too!

I'm so proud of all three of my little's (who are not so little any more!) They're all doing so well and trying so hard with school. They really are my whole world and beyond. ♥

Arts & crafts is one of our favourite things to do. We love being creative. Baker Ross sent us some lovely sand art arts and crafts kits to review. We were sent 6 bottle of pastel sand and a set of five teddy bear sand art bottles to fill with sand. Ellie and Charlie were VERY excited about these!


The teddy bear bottles are made from clear, hard plastic and have screw on lids, each bottle is 6cm in size. Each pack costs £2.99 and contains 5 bottles and a small funnel. You can fill the bottles with sand or glitter. The sand (or glitter) is sold separately.

The sand comes in six different pastal colours. Purple, pink, blue, peach, green and yellow. Each bottle is 350g. You can also mix this sand with PVA glue to make textured paint!



We used the funnel (that comes supplied in the teddy bear bottle kits) to place in teh top of the bottle and then poured in the sand. Ellie and Charlie both decided to make there sand bottles stripey. "I really like making these sand bottles" Charlie told me. "It's so much fun!" Charlie is ten years old but he really enjoys little activities like this. And they make lovely keep sakes. I'm really making the most of Charlie participating in craft projects because before long, he won't be interested any more. That makes me sad.
Ellie is eight years old and really, really enjoys being creative. These sand bottles were no exception! "I really LOVE this sand and the teddy bottles are SO cute" Ellie declared. She really took her time on her bear and poured the sand in easily enough by herself.
 Charlie decided to also create a multi colour sand bear. "I'll shake it up so all the sand mixes" he decided. And so he did (see above picture). I think they came out wonderfully! Ellie was like "I bet Nanna would like one of these, I am going to give her one for a present" She told me proudly.

These little teddy bear sand bottles make really lovely keep sakes. They're affordable and there's plenty of sand left for other sand projects, too! The kids really enjoyed being creative with sand. Baker Ross sell a very wide range of kids arts and craft supplies for every occasion and season. You can also follow Baker Ross on Twitter.

Have you ever been creative with sand? Or what's your (or your childs) favourite arts and craft activity?





We received a sample of these products for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own, honest, personal opinions. I was not paid for this post.

"Two women kidnapped by infamous Cleveland school-bus driver Ariel Castro share the stories of their abductions, captivity, and dramatic escape
On May 6, 2013, Amanda Berry made headlines around the world when she fled a Cleveland home and called 911, saying: “Help me, I’m Amanda Berry. . . . I’ve been kidnapped, and I’ve been missing for ten years.”

A horrifying story rapidly unfolded. Ariel Castro, a local school bus driver, had separately lured Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight to his home, where he kept them chained. In the decade that followed, the three were raped, psychologically abused, and threatened with death. Berry had a daughter—Jocelyn—by their captor.

Drawing upon their recollections and the diary kept by Amanda Berry, Berry and Gina DeJesus describe a tale of unimaginable torment, and Pulitzer Prize–winning Washington Post reporters Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan interweave the events within Castro’s house with original reporting on efforts to find the missing girls. The full story behind the headlines—including details never previously released on Castro’s life and motivations—Hope is a harrowing yet inspiring chronicle of two women whose courage, ingenuity, and resourcefulness ultimately delivered them back to their lives and families." 

I read this book a few weeks ago and I have had it on my kindle for a good few months, which I purchased myself. I just haven't had a chance to read & post blog about my review until now. 
This is a true story book. Two women were kidnapped and had been missing for ten years. I remember hearing about this story on the news a couple of years ago. One of the women manage to escape after TEN years! I can not even begin to imagine what those poor girls went through. The way they were abused and neglected. It's truly horrifying to even begin to imagine. How that must still effect them today. These women are survivors of horrible, unimaginable abuse and it must have taken a lot of courage for them to share there story! 
I rated this book four stars. 

What have you been reading lately? Let me know in the comments! I'm always after book recommendations, too. :) 

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Sarah xXx