Johnson babies

Closing Time

2014-12-31T16:44:00.000+00:00

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end

As 2014 comes to a close, so I make my grand gesture.
Too long in the making, it has not be an easy decision.
But this is it, the grand 'Au Revoir'.
I hope it is 'Au Revoir' for you as well as me.

It was inevitable.
I don't think it's about my lack of commitment.
My blog, my baby, born in June 2011 to coincide with returning to work with my family complete.

And I've loved it.
It's grown with me.
And beyond all expectation.
I have been so grateful to everyone who has stopped by to read our journey.
But as the babies became toddlers, the toddlers are now children, and my blog is more a part of me.

So it's time to find new roots, roots to grow and find more of me.
To take the brave step.
Something of me.
New learning.
(To Wordpress- aarrggghhh).

And so, it's time to wave goodbye to Johnson Babies,
To thank you for reading so far.
I'd love to see you on the other side.
Please pop over to my new abode, I'd be so grateful of your support.

Running into the New Year with SportsShoes

2014-12-30T23:51:00.000+00:00

Exercise and me.
The imperfect pair.
I know I always feel so much better after exercising, but my commitment is often lacking.
I found a fab place this year which meant I could drop in any night of the week and enjoy Zumba.
But work got in the way, life got in the way, and now the classes have changed- and life isn't stable enough for me to book on in advance and I'm not fit enough at the moment to have confidence not to collapse in a heap.

The joy of this working mum is a lack routine. My working from home days and my working away, and overnights are not consistent, the expectation is for me to be flexible.
And therefore exercise and the hope of a healthy lifestyle need to fit this.
This is where I know I have an upper hand.
Because this is my extended back garden:

Available 24:7, regardless of my mood or inclination.

And what better way to take control of a routine than running it.... or jogging with a touch of walking for now.
SportsShoes got in touch to help me in my need to take control of exercise, and wow! was I impressed with their website. I already have a pair of basic sports shoes which I've been wearing to Zumba and Bounce but knowing that I wanted to take running seriously the offer to kit my feet out was gratefully accepted.
And of course, I never knew trainers could be so far ranging, further complicated by fantastic prices, and a price promise.
Reaching a decision wasn't easy, but eventually I fell for a pair of Asics, after a lot of researching various shoes, had good reviews and a thumbs up from Mr J.

And I love them, especially because they are blue and not too conspicious.
I quickly gathered from my browsing that sports shoes which are aestetically pleasing may not be kind to my feet if I'm not running as they are best designed to support me.
Taking running seriously meant considering where I would be running. And with this wonderful nature reserve it would definitely mean off road.

And with that decision made I was able to filter my choices a little more. Albeit there was still lots of choice.
With lots of elements (Gore-tex, 3M reflectivity and a sole support system were the main attractions) which I knew would be needed, I was impressed with all the additional features which would hopefully make my running experience a little less painful than anticipated.

So, how has it been?
The sports shoes turned up super fast, leaving little excuse.

And whilst I've not been as good as I've wanted to be (blame Christmas) I have started on my 'couch to 5k' journey. It's not great so far- but I remember the same when I started Zumba and wondering if I'd ever catch my breath again-I am unfit, and this does need to change.
Admittedly I've not been fit for photos, more a crumpled mess the minute I arrive back on the front door.
But on the other hand, I don't have blisters, I've yet to slip and fall on my bum, and I've not felt the morning after upper arch pain that I felt from time to time in my other trainers.

And so, here it is, the New Year, feeling a little bit better prepared, a little less behind the curve.
2015, I'm coming to get you!

Disclosure: I received a pair of sports shoes of my choice from SportsShoes for the purposes of this review. All opinions and views contained are my own.

When coffee makes the world a better place

2014-12-29T00:19:00.001+00:00

One of my highlights of 2014 was attending an event to celebrate all that is good about coffee.
An opportunity to get together with a bunch of fantastic bloggers local to Cardiff, relax and laugh in great company with some amazing coffee to keep the conversations going.

The event was focused on the partnership between Curry's and Nespresso, and maybe I fell a little bit in love with this machine:

And along with fuelling my love of coffee, thanks to the fantastic hospitality provided by the Waterloo Tea I may have discovered a fantastic new meeting place, I have taken on the recommendations of Becky and have become a fan of loose-leaf tea. The care and attention which is commonplace at Waterloo Tea (since attending this event I have revisited Wyndham Arcade as well as Penarth) means that you can get great recommendations on tea, coffee, and food!

And then, there was Nespresso, enough blends for every palette, enough variety for each day of the week, every mood, and in wonderful colours.

And so we got to put our palettes to the test, to try 'cupping'... think wine tasting antics with coffee blends.
And so we got to appreciate, the difference good blends make, and how great coffee can be enjoyed as the mood takes, as a cocktail, straight, or with milk.
And of course I got to discover latte art- or more specifically the talent of latte art.

Never again will I overlook the wonderful shapes which can be created at the hands of a barista.

And so the event came to an end.
One of 2014's life lessons.
Conversation, smiles and laughter should always be accompanied by great coffee.

Disclosure: I was invited to the Curry's Nespresso Event and received a goody bag. All views and opinions contained are my own.

Reflections on 2014

2014-12-27T22:28:00.002+00:00

As the year draws to a close, I know it's been a good one.
I know we have a great deal to be thankful for.

2014 has not been without it's tough times.
And, as I think they were all work related, it is difficult to spend time dwelling on them.
But they have forced me to learn some hard lessons.
Basic values have been tested; friendship, forgiveness, resilience, and personal responsibility.
The team has slowly been rebuilding and I am so proud of the efforts and patience, and understanding offered.
But, all is accompanied by the doubt of what might be.
And so therein is the challenge for 2015- to truly move on 2014.

Family wise, we still are hugely grateful for the benefit which has been gained from moving home.
My mum and dad being the best, my mum's text messages continue to frustrate and entertain in equal measure.
The little people have had time with both of their uncles this year, and I hope they continue to understand and appreciate the benefit of their wider family.
And of course, in themselves, the little people are an absolute joy.
I love how close they are, I love the imaginative play, and I love their questioning and their logic.
I could do without the squabbles, and the cries and screams, and perhaps in 2015 we might have a winter with slightly less bugs and illness.
But 2014 saw me discover 'Me and Mine' and 'Siblings', so I have some great photos to appreciate 2014. Hopefully in 2015 it might become a more regular feature on the blog.

And as well as this being the year the little people turned 3 and 5, it was also the year we got to dress all three in their school uniform as the boys began nursery in May. And, like their sister before, they have thrived in this new environment.

We burst with pride as the boys took on their roles for the Nativity and as Christmas has unfolded I have loved how much they have understood the Nativity and absorbed the magic of the Christmas season.

And of course Christmas has in itself taught me lessons, we need not buy the children so many gifts. They are each committed to their favourite things, and are happy with as much or as little as is presented.
I have learned, as I sat assembling lego sets at midnight, that I may be off work but there are still challenges to test me. But they are much more enjoyable ones.
I predict that lego will become my nemesis, a streaming for OCD, as the children play and, in the process, destroy, and I cannot sit easy before it is rebuilt.

As for Mr J and I, of course we don't spend enough time together, of course we continue to laugh at each other's misfortune, and celebrate in each other's success.
Mr J has established his squash club for young people which, in spite of his disdain of paperwork, has been successful.

And as for this little blog of mine,
It has been my sanctuary, my sanity, and continues to enable so much.
We have loved the opportunities this blog has introduced us to this year.
I am thankful for the friendships created.

This year I have not been as grateful as I should have, I have not taken enough time to appreciate the efforts which everyone makes to allowing our lives to be happy, and I have not taken enough time to reduce stress and enjoy life.

And so I hope, come what may, 2015 will continue to see everything continue to work out for the better and that I can become a better person as life takes us forward.

And I hope, whatever 2014 has been for you, you have the time to reflect, and 2015 is everything you need and want it to be.

Word of the Week

2014-12-26T21:48:00.001+00:00

It seems a natural choice for this week.
We have had a wonderful time watching the children enjoy their Christmas.
The excitement started last week when mum and dad treated us all to a break at Bluestone- and Kingdom of the Elves- it was a much needed break, and the little ones really had the magic of Christmas instilled.

Life got a bit more difficult after a phone call on Friday that Mr J's mum was to be hospitalised.
Tom and Seren had needed to take their last day off school as they were both under the weather.
And there was some stress in trying to figure out how various commitments would be kept with enough time aside for visiting hours.

And so things have been quite off piste.

After 5 days of struggling with my self diagnosed ear infection, a trip to the doctor's on Monday revealed a perforated eardrum- which had been aggravated further by my care of ear baths and otex!

But, as was inevitable, Christmas arrived.
A few hours found on Christmas Eve meant the wall decorations went up, last minute gifts were wrapped, and a sense of calm momentarily created.
We made it to the Crib Service, and we enjoyed our Christmas Eve traditions.
And of course on Christmas Day, the children didn't wake 'til close to 9am, so much is sleep valued in our home!

The Christmas unwrap has changed in our home this year.
Gone is the slow Christmas, where we are more eager for them to unwrap their presents as they take their time playing with each gift before moving on to the next.
Now, we have record breakers- equally in awe of their memory skills as their speed of unwrapping gifts. And then back to each of their favourite gifts in turn.

And this year, we had a Welsh Christmas lunch- Omelettes. Mr J went off to the hospital and left us lego building for the afternoon with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang remaining our Christmas film of choice.

Christmas dinner was had at tea-time, and was absolutely perfect- especially watching the children's choices- Tom seems to have found a love of parsnips and carrots, which is lost on me!

And today, we had Boxing Day at my parents, the children (and us) were spoilt rotten, Mr J nipped off to the hospital whilst we all got to laugh at the emotion my dad and brother throw into a good game of rugby- on the tv.

And around us, we do have happiness, amazing family and friends,
We have good health, it may not always be the best, but it is good,
And we have had a magical Christmas, where life as always has just worked.
At times, it may not be what we plan, or how we'd choose it, but it really is a life to be grateful for.

Chocolate favourites- Christmas party recipes

2014-12-16T08:51:00.000+00:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias

As Christmas arrives so the supermarket aisles fill with treats, some take me flying back to my childhood Christmases, of family gatherings over the festive period.

And as the list of Christmas parties we will be attending increases, so our grocery shop to Asda over the weekend gave us lots of recipe ideas so the children can go armed with party food for the table.

With lots of inspiration, Seb didn't know where to start:

I decided to try to incorporate the favourite products from Asda's Christmas Aisle with favourite Christmas recipes, which were simple enough for my eager tribe of chefs.

Chocolate Orange Brownies
I have been meaning to try this forever, if nothing beats Brownies as a party dessert, than what could make a better Christmas party dessert than Terry's Chocolate Orange Brownies?

Ingredients
175g unsalted butter, cubed
175g dark chocolate, segmented
Terry's Chocolate Orange, segmented
3 medium eggs
275g light brown sugar
75g plain flour
50g cocoa powder

Method

Preheat the oven at 180 degrees.
Create a bain marie and melt the butter, gradually add the dark chocolate until completely melted.
Add half the Chocolate Orange segments, and melt a piece at a time.
Remove the chocolate from the bain marie and leave to cool.
Break the eggs into a large bowl, add the sugar, and whisk until fully mixed and smooth.
Fold the chocolate mixture into the large bowl. Continue with the folding technique until all contents are mixed with a consistent dark brown colour.
Add the cocoa powder and flour into the mixture. Again fold into the mixture, gently, until the mixture becomes close to a chocolate fudge.
Line a medium baking tray and transfer the mixture into the tray. Add the remaining chocolate segments across the top at regular intervals.
Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes. When baked the brownie will look papery on top. Leave to cool and cut.

Next on the list was using Matchmakers, and as the children love making and eating gingerbread I thought I'd adapt this recipe with some new flavours.
Orange Matchmaker Cookies

Ingredients
350g plain flour, plus extra for rolling
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2tsp ground cinnamon
125g butter, cubed
175g light brown sugar
1 medium egg
4tbsp maple syrup
1tsp orange extract
Half a box of Orange Matchmakers.
Icing sugar for dusting

Method

Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon in a bowl.
Add the butter and blend until the mix looks like breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and combine.
Beat the eggs and syrup together, add to the main bowl and mix into the ingredients combine into a dough. Add the extract and combine. Lightly knead. Add the Matchmakers and combine.
Wrap the dough in clingfilm and place in the fridge for 15mins.
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper.
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, cut into shapes and place on the baking tray, ensuring finger space gaps.
Bake for 10-15mins or until lightly golden. Leave on the tray for 5mins and move to a wire tray to fully cool.
Sprinkle with icing sugar.

Our final Christmas recipe was inspired by the children's favourite Winter treat:
Hot Chocolate Christmas Bark

Ingredients
100g white chocolate
100g milk chocolate
Handful of marshmallows
Half a packet of Oreos
Edible glitter

Method

Separate the Oreos, and break the biscuits into pieces.
Melt the milk chocolate over a bain marie. Pour into a medium baking tray and spread across the bottom.
Melt the white chocolate over a bain marie. Pour over the milk chocolate, spread across and then use a skewer to create a marble effect.
Add the Oreos, marshmallows and edible glitter with the help of a child.
Put in the fridge for 30mins to an hour.
Tip out and break.
Devour.

And with all our of treats in airtight containers so we are ready for the first of the parties this week, as the school prepares for the Christmas break- lets just keep our fingers crossed the contained stay airtight!

The Ugly Duckling - This Christmas at ShermanCymru

2014-12-14T08:59:00.000+00:00

There are some things which make Christmas.
To me, a trip to the theatre is one of them.
More importantly a family trip.
And since we moved back to South Wales we have loved ShermanCymru's approach to Christmas.

This Christmas, "The Ugly Duckling" is the Sherman's Christmas performance for 3-6 year olds.
And so perfect for our Johnson babies.
And of course, as have Sherman productions over our years, this year's production really does provide meaningful themes for our little ones to take on board.

And, so through the laughter of the 'honk' came the journey, acceptance, friendship, belonging.
The themes mummy appreciated, which will be absorbed by my children without knowing.

The journey to acceptance, to true laughter, was a magical one.

The actors were absorbing, my children were transfixed, appreciating the humour, feeling the emotion and energy conveyed by their talent.

As always, I love watching my children.

And as I get to know my childrens personalities so I fell in love with Tom a little bit more.

Tom sat and watched, and laughed, and expressed sympathy and happiness, Tom was ready to join in with the song at the end.

I love how much the theatre allows me to understand my children.

I love the seats they take in the audience, how involved they become.

I love how much they take in, how the conversations afterward are wider ranging than I ever expect.

'The Ugly Duckling' has every aspect of theatre which I want my children to appreciate.

From wonderful lighting, scenery and props.

More so, the production had actors with multiple roles, musical actors who allow my children to observe how instruments can add to theatre, and song and physical theatre which makes my children laugh, with words being unnecessary.

Whilst this is theatre designed for children, the beauty does not escape.

The atmosphere created, the wonder of the seasons as they pass, as friendship is established, as friendships are lost, but the sense of self grows.

And a swan is created.

We all loved this production, whether observers or participants, there is much to take away.
There is a festive feel to the play, that whilst there is no reference to Christmas, a magic is created.

The Ugly Duckling is at the Sherman Theatre until 3rd January 2015 with Welsh and English performances. Ideal for ages 3-6 years. Tickets are available at £8. Visit ShermanCymru or contact the Ticket Office on 029 2064 6900.

Disclosure: We received three complimentary tickets for this performance for the purposes of this review. All opinions and views contained are our own.

Breville Family Blend Active #Review

2014-12-13T07:41:00.000+00:00

I am fortunate that my family love to eat and love to drink.
And even more fortunate that my children love fruit and vegetables, and drink plenty of water.
In saying all of that, at this time of year, as germs and bugs fly around more during Winter I am always on the look out for ways to boost immune systems and provide much needed energy.

The Breville Family Blend Active could not have arrived at a better time, we've had almost a month of bugs and infection circulating around our home, getting everyone back to full health- and maintaining health is a priority.
And, fortunately, despite Mr J's usually reservations about gadgets filling the kitchen, has seen fit to give this pride of place on our worktop.
Mr J loves the sports bottles, loves that they can be used whilst he cycles and plays squash, and the children in turn love their 'mini' versions.

The Breville Blend Active is really easy to use which suits me down to the ground.
The bottles come in 600ml and 300ml, the blend gadget fits on in place of the lid, fits into the main station and with 300w of power the blend is simple- and even slushes and ice-cold drinks can be prepared as (with liquid added to protect the blades) the Blend Active will also crush ice.
The bottles are all secured with a superseal leak proof lid, which does cause the children difficulty in opening the bottle, but I'm happy to open their drinks rather than find the random spills around the place.
The bottles themselves are impact and shatter resistant- which gets the big thumbs up from us, everyone is loving the sports look and the ergonomic design means they are definitely people friendly.

What I love about the ease of use is how much the children can get involved in designing and creating their own drinks.
At 5 years old Seren is able to make a smoothie with the assistance of an adult, and because she chooses the ingredients and creates her drink, she then sees its hers to drink, share and finish.

With Seren's smoothies I make sure the fruit we use are peeled or soft skin. Seren's favourite smoothies generally feature strawberries or raspberries, we use about 3 dessert spoons of yoghurt to thicken and top with milk. We've also added a generous squirt of honey, as at this time of year I am grateful of anything which might boost their health.

And, then it really is as easy as throwing it all into the bottle, adding the blender lid, blitzing, and swapping the blender for the drinks bottle lid. And voila:

The boys of the house have a far wider love of fruit, that or they find it hard to decide on favourites!
With green fruit we use squash as a top up rather than dairy.

And, whilst there's no doubt that the Blend Active is a really simple way to increase the fruits consumed by children- adding to those already a mainstay of their diet- it is also a great way to treat children as well, especially as you can engage their imagination!
Seren's school concerts finished this week, and for being a completely amazing cat she was given the choice of what treat she'd like.
So we substituted fruit with a few mini Wispa bits and chocolate milk powder.

And whilst it was a treat for consuming, most of the excitement was in the preparation.

And the cat definitely got the cream.

We have definitely welcomed the Breville Blend Active into the kitchen and our lifestyle.
It's great for adults and children to increase the fruit in daily life, which is something I definitely need.
At a RRP of £40.00 it is mid-price point for smoothie makers- for me the extra benefit of this model is the efficiency of the drinks bottle, rather than creating extra washing up. And, of course, there are always bargains to be found with Breville currently retailing the blender for £29.99. We would definitely recommend this gadget to your kitchen!

Disclosure: We received the Breville Blend Active Family Blender for the purpose of this review. All opinions and views contained are our own.

Word of the Week #WotW

2014-12-12T22:13:00.000+00:00

This week has been spent recouping and looking forward.
Despite worst fears I used my day off to get the decorations sorted and the tree up.
The tree was decorated overnight.
Needless to say Seren decided the fairies did it.
It seems, according to Seren, the fairies also installed video cameras so they could check on the children for good behaviour.
I wasn't disagreeing.
Although it makes me wonder about what goes on in school...

At work things are beginning to offer optimism.
I have spent this year in reactive mode, firefighting.
And I've hated not being allowed the luxury of planning. My comfort.
But now, now things are in place,
And great plans are forming.
For now, performance reviews completed, the line has been drawn under 2014.

So the focus is solely on home.
Presents are wrapped, decorations are up.
We are ready for Christmas.

Sunday night I will pack our bags.
We are escaping for a few days.
In search of Elves.

I have been looking forward to this and now, now I can almost touch it!

The Mum Meme

2014-12-10T23:01:00.001+00:00

I was kindly tagged in Sarah at Boo, Roo & Tigger Too. The Mum Meme is a set of simple questions about the Mum behind the blog, so without further ado this is my answers…

Who was your first crush?
Oh dear, Jordan Knight. Oh yes, NKOTB were completely my thing.

Fortunately life got better from this point.

What were the last three things you bought?
Does tea count? Thanks to lots of recommendations, I've discovered Waterloo Tea, and ended up spending a couple of hours there on Sunday and Monday. Since trying to give up coffee, I was recommended their Citrus Oolong tea and it really is the perfect drink to mull over.
I've also bought bits and pieces for teacher's gifts, we're going to attempt soap making!
And then I got ahead of myself, and bought Tom and Seb remote control cars for their birthday presents.

What are you secretly hoping to find under the Christmas tree this year?
Now this is so difficult- Mr J and I had a bit of a windfall this week and I couldn't think of one thing to spend it on. I think it's really difficult to spoil yourself, and my desperate plight to lose some pounds means I don't want clothes- I am an optimist.
So, if I could I'd love a GoPro, I'd love to capture a lot more of our children in 2015.

Where would you go on holiday if you could go anywhere in the world?
There are places we've visited which I'd love to go back to because I don't feel we explored everywhere- Cuba, Jamaica and New York would be on this list.
But, the one holiday I know I want to save to go back to first is Disney World, I would love the children to experience Walt Disney magic whilst they are young enough for their imaginations to truly be captured.

What are you reading at the moment?
I've just started reading Dorothy Koomson's 'The Rose Petal Beach'. It's been months since I sat to read a book, something I miss a lot.

What was the last concert you went to?
Does going to see Seren's Christmas Concert count- it was 'The Wizard of Oz'- I was a proud mum!
Whilst probably stretching use of the word 'concert', I did get to see Cerys Matthews 'Hook, Line and Carol Singing' last Christmas which was amazing.

What were you like at school?
I was probably, to use the Australian word a 'dag'. I probably just blended into the background. I think it was moving to college to do my A-levels which turned this around for me, being able to explore who I was and wanted to be, and having the confidence to challenge things to improve understanding.
The friends which see me through now are the ones I made in college, which probably says it all.

The Mum Meme tag…
I now tag – Twin Mummy & Daddy, Keep Up With The Jones Family and Mami2Five.

The best memories- Holidays: BC and AC

2014-12-08T23:54:00.002+00:00

Holidays keep us going.
We have always needed the date in the diary.
The date when we'll be escaping it all.

Mr J and I intentionally chose holiday destinations 'before children'.
We chose them on the basis we had no clue in our 'after children' existence when life would allow us the same luxury.
And we have been fortunate.
We have so many memories, from the adventurous- white water rafting in the Dominican Republic, Mr J's rope swinging antics in Jamaica, nearly capsizing our boat as we attempted the locks of Fort Augustus in Scotland and climbing Chichen Itza in Mexico in midday humidity (which was probably just stupid) to the more relaxing, our final holiday 'before children' was a cruise on the Nile for my 30th, in August, I was three months pregnant- some decisions weren't great!

We knew life would change when we decided to have children.
We thought we meant short haul.
Our first two holidays with Seren were to Anglesey- one of my favourite places in the world.
Followed by finally taking her on an aeroplane at 14 months old, our honeymoon to Kos.

And then we arrived home.
And a month later, the news- twins.

Holidays have changed more than we envisaged.
It hasn't stopped the enjoyment.
We continue to create the best memories.
But three little people and two grown ups has not the thought of a happy aeroplane journey made.

But as every trip out of our village involves passing the airport,
So the urgency of the children going on an aeroplane grows.
The Red Arrows flying over our house this summer only fueled their urgency to board a plane.

And as Tom and Seb turn 4 in January so the dream grows into a possible reality.

Holidays have always been about adventure combined with relaxation.
I will never overlook the opportunity to read a good book as part of my break.
But whether it's a fairground, fishing, body boarding, any new experience on holiday is a memory my children fail to forget.

And so, as I collect together a photo album of our favourite holiday snaps... so the dream of becoming a Mark Warner Ambassador grows.

Music Credit: The Boo Radleys "Wake Up Boo"

Disclosure: This post is part of our application to become a Mark Warner Ambassador in 2015.

Toy Story's Action Armour Buzz Lightyear Review

2014-12-06T23:58:00.004+00:00

I can't tell you how delighted Tom & Seb were this week when this space ranger turned up to greet them!

After their amazing performance in their school's Nativity performance I got to bring them home to Toy Story's Action Armour Buzz Lightyear. And excited wouldn't begin to touch the surface!

And, of course, mummy confounded the excitement as she insisted photos needed to be taken before Buzz could be revealed!

Their impatience was pacified by the attraction to the 'try me' options, the ability to see a couple of features in advance of the unveiling only fuelled their excitement.

And once Tom and Seb had their hands on their new friend they were quick to discover the features and fun they could have.

The Action Armour Buzz has three modes of play- Space Ranger: with classic phrases and sounds; Flight mode: ready to blast off with pop out wings; and Battle mode: light up mega blasters show off Buzz's upgraded armour.

Flight mode was the definite favourite once the boys figured out the wings expanded and collapsed.

The boys enjoyed playing with Buzz and have been having great adventures with him. Fortunately we have a robot of a similar size so we've been able to have lots of interactive play.

For Tom & Seb they struggle with only having one character either each or between them, so it's been really important for their play that we have associated figures. At 30cm in height Buzz is a formidable addition to the toybox and we have few toys to stand alongside him. So, of course, Woody was quickly sought as an additional item for the Christmas list.

The other struggle we had was Buzz doesn't easily standard on carpet. It's not a big issue as generally he's been held as part of playtime, and he stands on solid surfaces, but it's just one of those elements which frustrated Tom and Seb.

At a RRP of £49.99 Buzz is, in my view, an exceptional purchase, it would constitute one of the children's main presents for either birthday or Christmas.

And, with this mindset, it is worth the price in my opinion. It is afterall Buzz Lightyear, and as a devoted Disney fan, compared to Buzz Lightyear's of the past, the features of this model place it so closely to the film, and with the various features and modes allowing lots of different imaginative play, the toy has a great worth. Additionally, the toy itself is sturdy and of a good quality. Tom and Seb can generally break any toy which crosses the playroom floor. In the case of Buzz Lightyear it's hard to find any element which could give way under their play.

So based on authenticity, diversity and quality, this would definitely be a present worth selecting from a child's wish list.

Disclosure: We received Action Armour Buzz Lightyear for the purposes of this review. All opinions and views contained are our own.

Word of the Week #WotW

2014-12-05T08:33:00.000+00:00

Winter has arrived.
And like never before, my rose-tinted spectacles have failed me.
The sickness bug struck the Johnson's.
It's why there was no Word of the Week from me last week.
The word summarises both weeks.
Winter has arrived and our ability to keep healthy has wavered.
Seren and Seb seemed to get a mild bug.
Then it took hold of me.
And then Mr J.
And as always, finally and worse, Tom. Who ended up taking a couple of days off school last week.

The weekend was used to recuperate.
And we started this week afresh.
But something wasn't right.
Tom came home on Monday and fell asleep on the sofa- completely unheard of.
Tuesday and Wednesday was the Nativity- and fortunately Tom managed to make both performances.
And I was so proud of King Tom and Shepherd Seb.
But then the worst night.
And so Tom is back off school.

In brighter news, Seren had a letter from school congratulating her on her Callio 'Green' rating for 100% attendance. And she's also gone up a level of her reading books.
I am of course very proud of her reading ability.

Work is vaguely ok, it's swings and roundabouts, at the moment I'm happy- hooray!
And Christmas is, touch wood, in hand.

Maybe, if everyone's feeling up to it, the decorations might go up this weekend!

Treating pets in the run up to Christmas with PetShopBowl

2014-12-04T07:45:00.000+00:00

Since we've had children our pets are really are done by in the spoils department.
There are times of the year though that focus changes, especially Christmas, as the children begin thinking about who they need to think about gifts for and what would be appreciated.

For our pets there's a delicate balance, spoiling them without spoiling their delicate digestive systems. And fortunately PetShopBowl offers a fantastic variety of pet supplies to not only make sure every consideration can be factored in to treating your pets.

Seren was fortunate enough to receive a special package for her cat Jewelly, although as is the norm in our home, Fred & Ginger had other ideas.

And this is what I think Fred was after in the first instance. Dreamies are the favourite treat for our cats. As much as I can't vouch for their taste, I can vouch for the ability for them to be treated like a treat a bar of dairy milk- given the option the cats would make the contents disappear.
So for now, they are kept for when the children are playing well with them, and a treat is rewarded for patience!

Something the cats were very intrigued by was Nature's Menu cat food. Our cats have a dry food diet as the norm, the opportunity to get their paws on a complete and balanced cat food which has their advantage of being real meat is cause for much excitement- and as expected it was hoovered up.

The food which was greeted with most excitement (I had to photography it from the front as the cats had already used their claws to try and free food from the other side!) was Hill's Ideal Balance Cat Food. As with most cat foods which boast perfectly balanced nutrition, accompanied by natural ingredients, there is an associated price tag, however in the grand scheme of things it still works out at a reasonable daily costs, especially when buying in the bulk sizes you can purchase from PetShopBowl (which in turn can result in free postage!).

The cats were eager to get eating, and have not stopped with their urgency since. With a 4kg bag their ongoing enjoyment of the food is obviously critical, as well as enjoying their food it is crucial that the food looks after their digestive systems, Hill's Ideal Balance definitely takes care of their side of a cat's welfare.

The great thing for us about PetShopBowl is the range of foods available, catering for the varying dietary requirements and preferences you have to consider alongside the convenience of ordering for our pets online food that we know is appropriate to their needs.

Disclosure: We received a bundle of cat food for the purposes of this review. All opinions and views expressed are our own.

The Gallery - Babies

2014-12-03T07:22:00.000+00:00

With the theme at The Gallery this week being 'babies', of course I couldn't resist the opportunity to reminisce about those days- those days of intense happiness, weighed somewhat evenly by immense shock.

The morning I was told I could take my daughter home. Three days old, whilst she only weighed 7lb3oz this photo of Seren made her appear so big, compared to this tiny precious bundle I was too scared to drive home. I think I got overtaken by every car heading to my hometown as I refused to drive at more than 20mph!

And then, 22 months later, as if demonstrating why anything I thought I had learned should be thrown out of the window, these two came along. Boys! What would I do with boys? And what would I do if both of them cried? And what would I do when they were crying and Seren also needed me? And how would I possibly give Seren all the attention she needed with these two?

But of course.
Life has a habit of working out.
Seren welcomed her brothers with all the love and affection she has demonstrated every day since.
It was tough- when has raising children ever been easy?
But I have a team.
A team of Johnson's who look out for each other, who play together, who quarrel with the best of them, and who make up and move on.
My babies.
I miss them being babies, the promise not to overlook the moments, but overlooking some nonetheless.
But I am loving every minute of them growing up, and becoming.

Twins - approaching 4

2014-12-02T07:44:00.000+00:00

It is odd to think that this time next month we will be starting preparations for Tom & Seb turning 4.
I would say it is scary, and in some ways the time really has flown, but when I spend time with them, when I see them take life in their stride, it seems they are ready to be 4.

One of the things that has most surprised me in recent months is how willing the boys are to look out for each other, with such care and love.
I think I have focused a great deal on what they miss out on by being twins, and I don't focus enough on the gains they make.

I think they are so much more articulate than Seren was at the same age, and they have a much broader understanding of so many different areas of life.
Of course, a lot of this is due to having an older sister, and a lot is probably attributed to rose-tinted spectacles, but the conversations that they have, to witness them having a constant to explore thoughts, creativity, and ideas with- there are some really amazing moments created by being a twin.

Last week I got to see a new side again.
Tom was ill.
It was a Thursday, Tom & Seb sleepover at grandma's every Thursday.
Seb came into the office to let me know Tom was happy lying on the sofa with blankets, a bucket and Ninjago.
I decided to broach the subject. How did he feel about going to school on his own that afternoon?
Seb pondered, and asked questions as to whom would care for Tom in his absence.
And decided he would like to go to school on his own as long as Tom was ok.
I then decided to take a braver step- would he like to go to grandma's for a sleepover on his own?
It's a really odd one. Before Seren started school she was the one having sleepovers, but the boys have always gone together.
We discussed this, that it would mean grandma would bring him to school on Friday, like usual, but he wouldn't get to meet Tom there, he would probably need to do two sessions on his own.
Seb phoned my mum to discuss this.
It was amazing. He was determined, articulate, and he carried the conversation beautifully.

I received a similar phone call the following morning, to ask after his brother, to let me know he was going to soft play and then to school.

And yes, they still fight and squabble like the best of them. As a three with their sister, the allegiances and battles change, and I can rarely keep up.

But they do astound me.
They are happy in their independence, and yet a gravity seems to pull them back together for regular 'check-in's'.
They astound me with their happiness, their positivity, and their ability to see life through eyes long forgotten.
As we drove to playschool this morning, Tom began to tell me how God had created everything, more specifically the roads and the pavements. I decided to go with him (I was tempted to fuel the fire by mentioning 'Mr Bull') and watch him think, we got to the crux "but he didn't build the houses, the builders built them."
Because of course, there's some homebuilders where we live at the moment, and the boys are loving watching the progress they are making... and they haven't seen any roads or pavements being built yet.

My boys.

Jake & The Neverland Pirates- Fisher Price Pirate Ship Bucky Review

2014-12-01T07:33:00.000+00:00

The children have loved Disney's Jake & the Neverland Pirates for what feels like forever. Seren's 4th birthday party followed the theme, and so now with the boys approaching 4 in January, they were exceptionally excited to receive Fisher Price's Adventure Pirate Ship, Bucky to put through its paces.

As usual, I made the mistake of waiting until they were home from school to let them open their parcel, which meant trying to take photos whilst two excited boys tried to wrestle the packaging from the ship.

Fortunately, the boys who love to share came to their own conclusions.
Tom had his sights set on Jake.

The boys were quick to discover all of the features of the ship:

The 'poomers'- otherwise known as the cannon balls and cannon.
The hatch which can hide people (and valuables!)
The fantastic slide for speedy getaways
The door into the captain's quarters
The captain's ship which Jake can steer the direction
The swaying as the ship moves on wheels to adventure.

Since the Ship has been introduced I am amazed by the creativity it has evoked. Whilst the boys have played for hours with Jake and creating adventures on the high sea, they have also been amazing at introducing new characters (including Batman, Happyland and Shopkins!) and taking the ship to space and on many holidays, including one to the North Pole.

In terms of the toys itself, I am impressed by the sturdiness and the few detachable parts- I get really fed up with some toys that I am constantly reattaching doors- and this has not been a problem at all with Bucky- the children can play until they tire rather than giving up on it.
I liked the wheels on the boat and the 'sway', we have other boats which are static, as this is definitely a playtime toy it is great to have this dimension.
I like a common feature of most toys now, the holes in the feet, which means Jake can be posed at some of the locations around the ship.
I thought, as common with other toys, the product would be improved with the inclusion of at least two characters. I'm definitely ok with purchasing more characters and toys as we have with other playsets, but as a gift for a child it instantly becomes more engaging if there are two characters to play with, to really embrace the imagination and creativity of a child.

At a RRP of £39.99 it is definitely at the more expensive end of the toys we purchase. It is however a larger toy, and of course comes with the Disney tag which usually means the price tag is justified. As mentioned above the sturdiness of the toy means that it's unlikely this toy will be leaving our playroom any time soon.

Disclosure: We received Pirate Ship Bucky for the purposes of this review. All opinions and views contained are our own.

Fraser Bear's Snow Story

2014-11-29T23:42:00.000+00:00

House of Fraser is celebrating the Christmas season with a wonderful family story for little ones to complete.

The story focuses on Fraser Bear and his little brother, Baby Bear.

Baby Bear doesn't understand what snow is, and so Fraser Bear tries his best to explain.

Seren and I took on to complete the story.

Like Fraser Bear, Seren has experienced real, proper snow. Seren was lucky enough that her first Christmas was white, and snow fell on Christmas day, and on the Christmases that followed whilst we were living in Yorkshire.

In Wales, we've had snow, but not the proper 'crisp and deep and even' snow that is made for enjoying.

And so, with our memories relived, we took on to complete the story.

And whilst Seren was given the pens, it seems I wasn't getting off quite so easy:

I loved Seren's recollection, it was about the feeling inside and out. Seren talked about the feelings inside her tummy that she would have if it snowed.

But also the feeling beneath her feet when snow is underfoot.

And so she drew bouncing on a trampoline.

In true Seren style, before I could comment more she drew my attention to her words.

For it was time to have my own idea.

And so, mine was a bowl of cotton wool, that we agreed Baby Bear should put his face, because that would have the softness (but not the coldness of snow).

And now we wait- will we get a proper blanket of snow this Christmas?

Disclosure: We were invited to write this post as an entry to a fantastic competition to complete the story and have been compensated.

Giveaway- Win 1 of 5 Spirograph Optical 3D Studio Sets

2014-11-28T22:18:00.000+00:00

I have a fantastic giveaway for something I know my 5 year old would love!

The iconic Spirograph is back.

Kids of all ages can draw cool, geometric creations in bright colour. The new 21st century Spirograph now comes with eye-popping 3D technology, so kids can watch the drawings jump out from the page in an amazing display. Sets are available from £4.99 to £24.99 rrp.

I'm excited that this giveaway is for five readers to have the chance to win a Spirograph Optical 3D Studio Set, worth £24.99.

With it's geometric and swirling patterns, Spirograph has helped kids big and small to create beautiful art, stunning designs and wonderful memories for generations.

Spirograph continues this tradition in 21st century style with all new sets.

The Spirograph Optical 3D Studio Set also comes with cool 3D glasses that enable you to watch the different colours in your design pop out from the page in cool 3D.

The Studio Set includes:

· 12 Drawing Wheels and 4 Templates.
· 3D Effect Dual Colour Pen, 2 Florescent Markers, 3 Colour Pens and a Rainbow Pencil..
· Optical 3D Glasses - includes 3 LR44 Batteries
· Spirograph Design Book.
· 10 Drawing Papers and 1 Spirograph Sticker.
· Sealable Storage Bag.

· For ages 5 years and over

To enter the giveaway just complete the Rafflecopter widget - you must answer the question and leave a blog comment to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Gallery - Pets

2014-11-26T08:02:00.000+00:00

When I saw the theme for today's Gallery, and then went upstairs to bed at the weekend.

It was almost the step up from last week's post.

(I won't think about next week's theme!).

And I looked back at this photo of a much younger Seren and Miller.

And needless to say, children and pets.

Despite all the rough and tumble, they snuggle happily as sleep is welcomed.

Word of the Week #WotW

2014-11-21T08:09:00.000+00:00

The upward curve continues.
Sunday was spent with some wonderful people- bloggers- enjoying coffee and conversation with Nespresso and Joe Bloggers.
I always know in my heart how much better I will feel after spending time with friends, the trepidation as the time approaches remains, but with the buzz of caffeine and positivity seeping through me, my week began.

As always, work wise it has ups and downs.
Fortunately I have one positive, which has been so long coming, it has not yet arrived but now it is tangible, and optimism is allowed to seep into my thoughts, and aspirations once again come to the surface.
Time at work can now spent on thinking about the 'nice to-do's' rather than catching up on the 'have to-do's'.

I have been more able than ever to say 'no'.
My own aspiration to know my values, to challenge where I feel compromised.
To know voices are heard, to know that even if I have to accept red tape, I have had my voice heard (and maybe ignored) but I have remained true to my values.

And I see these values more than ever in my children.
As manners and acceptable behaviour become promoted.
As the excitement they have inside every breath is inhaled.
And brought back to me as love and concepts of life, through their eyes.

And then more blogging.
More planning for #BlogOnCymru
And another visit to the Sherman.
But not for conference talk.
But to have a glimpse of a script becoming a play.
And meeting Rachel O'Riordan.
And trying to remember in my head "She is a human being".
But to meet someone, with such a fixed sense of perfection, to appear that she beats herself up for every compromise made, to have such a clear vision of the communities, and people she serves, to fight with every breath for what the theatre can achieve- given a fighting chance, to be unaccepting of funding cuts- for the damage they can do to every child who misses the opportunities to explore their own imagination and creativity.

I breathe.
I appreciate the gravitas of life.
These little people I bring up as best I can.
The choices made, the path chosen.
And with no regrets- to only be true- to be the best I can be.

This week, a teeny kick inside me has been restored.
I hope it continues to guide me.

Arabian Nights - Inspiring Cardiff this Christmas

2014-11-20T23:10:00.001+00:00

I have heard bloggers talk about the 'money can't buy opportunities', and today I got to realise mine.
Invited into the rehearsal room at Sherman Cymru to witness one of the two Christmas productions being realised.

'Arabian Nights' will be Rachel O'Riordan's second production in our Capital, and in the same vein as 'Romeo & Juliet' this feels special, it feels like a unique stamp is being brought to the stage, designed only with a view to engaging and capturing the imagination of all who sit in the theatre.

And not only did I get to witness some fantastically talented actor-musicians take hold of the space, I also got the opportunity to talk to Rachel afterward about this Christmas production, and Rachel's vision for theatre and Sherman Cymru.

When speaking to Rachel about the blank piece of paper- where to start in choosing a production to bring to the stage for the Christmas season, the mystery and majesty of Arabian Nights becomes evident as the perfect choice, and what becomes clear is that this is not just about bringing Dominic Coke's adaptation to the Sherman, this is about producing with a Cardiff audience in mind. The dynamism of the City, celebrating the diversity. And so an extra layer is added to Arabian Nights. A music score has been added, and so the performance is transformed with actors taking hold of the stage through more than words- and seamlessly interweaving music as the storytelling of One Thousand and One Nights unfold.

Photographer: Kirsten McTernan

And so it becomes evident how much the need to create a bond with the audience at the heart of what Rachel is seeking in the productions which are brought to the Sherman.
The stage is on a 'rake', sloping toward the audience to ensure everyone can see all that is happening on the stage, making the most of the space and ensuring the audience gets to witness all aspects of the story.
The incorporation of music means not only are the audience engaged through the character portrayal and storytelling, but also the atmosphere through a variety of wind, string and percussion instruments.

Photographer: Kirsten McTernan

And whilst it felt in the rehearsal space that there is a great drama in the production, there are also hints of humour which I was allowed to catch a glimpse of, and with a fantastic cast, including Anita Reynolds (The Nurse in 'Romeo & Juliet) and Kieron Self, I now have a little excited anticipation in seeing how their multiple roles will be performed given the moments of humour which was balanced in the drama today.

And then to receive the following photo, means I have definitely seen only a snapshot of what 'Arabian Nights' will offer to audiences visiting the Sherman this Christmas!

Photographer: Kirsten McTernan

Arabian Nights will be at the Sherman Theatre from 5 December 2014- 3 January 2015. Ideal for ages 7+ and families. Tickets are available from £12-£25, with half price tickets for childrens and under 25s. Concessions are available.
Please visit ShermanCymru or contact the Ticket Office on 029 2064 6900.

Life right now- Moving forward

2014-11-20T07:26:00.000+00:00

I took this photo, trying to capturing the red skies as I passed through Newport, on the train to wherever.

The skies had been beautiful from starting my journey.
Although to others (sailors and the like), they maybe weren't as welcomed.

But for me, there was beauty, in spite of the circumstance.
The 5.15 wake up call.

It kind of summarises life right now. Trying but never succeeding in getting ahead of the curve.
Because. Really. Why is it even right that anyone should be travelling before sun rise?
Appreciating life, and the good, despite the things which are in the balance.

This is life. Coffee at the ready. Blackberry to hand. And Samsung charging so I am never without music nor access to the outside world.
As life is absorbed by work.

Accepting this has been a key part of 2014.
That life is better like this.

And whilst this is a bitter pill.
Because the best part of 2014 has been absorbed at work by HR 'opportunities'- you know because challenges really are opportunities in disguise.
I am going to stake my claim.

2015.
May I be so bold?
Could this perhaps be our year?
As the children all move into full-time education.
As finances balance,
As the opportunity for Mr J to take on work is explored,

That I might finally have a full team at work,
That I might enjoy my work again,
That a work life balance be established.

For physical and mental exercise.
For blogging and losing weight.

2015.
We're coming to get you!
Or something like that.

The perfect Chocolate Cupcake

2014-11-19T07:40:00.000+00:00

The perfect chocolate cupcake, and chocolate cake for that matter, has been a battle of minds.
I blame it on me and the oven;
Or, me and the mixer;
Or, me and the recipe.

But I have overcome.
Trial and error has got us here.
But how rewarding was the success!

I am constantly battling Seren's desire for 'Cinio' (school dinners) versus my ~~wish~~ budget for 'Brechannau' (packed lunches).
And last week Seren waved 'chocolate cake' in her favour for cinio.
And for me, the challenge was accepted.

A zillion attempts on, success is mine.
(staying faithful to my cupcake recipe).
And so, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Ingredients
175g golden caster sugar
175g non-salted butter
40g cocoa
135g self-raising flour

4tbps milk

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla essence

3 eggs (equivalent to 175g)

Method
In your main mixing bowl, combine the cocoa powder and milk into a paste.
Combine the flour and baking powder in a bowl.
Add the sugar and butter to the main bowl and whisk until combined.
Add one egg and combine, add some flour, continue until eggs and flour are combined.
Add the vanilla essence, and whisk.
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
With all the ingredient combined,
Line 2 12-hole muffin trays with cupcake liners.
Add the mixture to the cupcake liners.
Bake for 10mins or until risen and springy to touch.

Decorate to taste.

Being a Parent #TheGallery

2014-11-18T07:39:00.000+00:00

With this week's theme being a parent, this would be my picture perfect image.
Me and my team.
My amazing children.
Creating the 'teamwork' ethos in the face of all tantrums.

The reality, to me, of what being a parent is,
Beyond the wonder of the bond created, the love which knows no bounds,
Lies the unquestioned acceptance of projectile vomit and equivalent nappies.
The reality, that sleep is never your own again.

This is written from the voice of a child who would sleep anywhere,
For as long as possible.
For the teenager who would read into the small hours to finish a book.
But sleep all day in response.
The young adult who would go to sleep in the small hours, due to work or socialising.
But sleep through the daylight hours of the weekend.

I read wise words recently, that lost sleep can never be found again.

Oh, the sleep that I never appreciated.
How I miss you.

The sleeping hours are now spent with children in mind.
The little people know when mummy isn't working away.
Musical beds prevail.
When mummy is working away, the 5am alarm clock prevents a restful sleep.
And when mummy is staying away, the night is broken with sleep interrupted by dreams of a little person's cries.
Saturday morning lie-ins are compromised by gymnastics and squash sessions.
Sundays by Sunday School.
The reality is it need not matter, sleeping beyond 0745 is a luxury long forgotten.

But then, for all of this, my instagram and facebook page is filled.
By the beauty of my children sleeping.
Because when they are asleep,
They are beautiful.

And yes,
It is because,
They are mine.
Being a Parent.
Rewarded.
Sleep deprived.
Forever.