Big Monkey is 7!

Today was Big Monkeys seventh birthday. I think she had a lovely day, they had a school trip arranged to see a play about walking to school. A topic which made me grumble seeing we live 6 miles from school with no direct public transport. But alas it's important to make an effort if you live round the corner. In any case the play was canceled so instead they spent the morning at the playground in Hampstead Heath. After they had their picnic they went back to school to have some more play time in the garden. Sounds like a birthday during school time should be.


When big Monkey came back from some more playing at her friend's house it was finally time for presents.
She got her very own pets, four Indian Stick Insects. At first she thought she had received a plant and didn't look at them at all. I asked her whether she liked her stick insects to which she said but where are they? In there! But where? she cried... Like I said, there will be lots of fun playing the where-are-they-game... She was very pleased with them once she found them but noticed that they didn't move around a lot or better said, not at all.


You can see them here on the photo, can you spot them? They are the thin sticky things hanging from the leaves. It's easy to find them once you know what you're looking for.
Among other things she also got a Lego game. From Grandpa as you'd expect, he the master of amazon has ordered the Minotaur game. We had to build it before we could play which we enjoyed very much, especially as there were three Minotaur horns and three arms for him which threw us a little. Big Monkey won of course. So that made her like the game even more.

Mushrooms

Three of those were in the organic veggie box this week. So pretty. I just like the look of the mushrooms, so soft.

Another attempt at the "new" playground

Yesterday was another drawing club for big monkey and my turn to do the pick up. Hence Little monkey and I drove to the playground again. This time it was much more of an success. Little monkey realized the fun that could be had here quickly. We started with my handbag taking a quick whirl on the merry-go-round then he ran off to find something more exciting.


He had a good time and contrary to his attire and the sign in the background it was not very cold.



This is really a lovely little playground for little monkeys, I wish ours was like this.

Devon Days - Sunday

It was still cold and wet so we went to Bicton Park Botanical Gardens as there are Glasshouses and an Indoor Soft play centre.
And there were lions to ride on



Bubbles to blow

Rules to follow


Pretty scenes to see


Palm houses to visit


More rules to follow


Petals to run through


Blooms to cradle

More from our days in Devon

In the afternoon we took a ride on a tram from Seaton to Colyton. Of course we had to sit on the open deck upstairs. It was very cold though, I was glad I had little monkey to cuddle up to.


He loved the ride and was busy pointing everything out he saw. Mainly cows and water in the form of a river.
At the end of the line was a big climbing frame which big monkey loved.

Days in Devon

We've been away over the Bank holiday weekend. Sadly the weather wasn't as good as we'd hoped for. Still, that shouldn't stop any monkeys from watering gardens, right? Luckily the cottage we stayed at not only had a little watering can, it also had a little bucket. So much more efficient in distributing water. Dino hat - mandatory. It's cold and there were raindrops...


The little village had a scarecrow festival. The theme was "Australian" although this one had a sign round its neck saying traditional. There were many scarecrows on surfboards and with sun hats though.


Our first proper stop was in Beer to have a walk along the beach to throw pebbles into the sea and collect pieces of crab shells and pretty coloured stones.



It can never be too cold to have ice cream and no trip to the beach can be complete without a cone of ice cream.

Monkeys