Things To Do - May 2017

A new month and even more activities needed to keep Sophia entertained! I've been looking around online and managed to create this little list of things happening in and around Aberdeen during May! If you know of an activity, run an activity or even attended one of the events on this list I would love to hear from you! Hopefully this helps some of you grown ups out there, I know how difficult it can be thinking of ways to keep the kids happy and it's also nice for us adults to do some socialising. 

NCT Sling Meet

Crown Terrace Methodist Church

3/5/17

Now personally I never tried baby wearing when Sophia was younger, before I had Sophia I never even knew this was a thing. I remember how popular it was amongst parents on baby groups/pages I was part of. The NCT sling meet starts at 10:00 and is on until 12:00, you have the opportunity to meet other parents which is always a plus, you can try slings and I believe you can even hire slings. Every parent I've known to attend a sling meet in and outside of Aberdeen has always had very positive things to say and found the meets very useful. 

May The Fourth Be With You

Castle Fraser Garden & Estate

4/5/17

Now I wasn't 100% sure about including this event as I know it's way past Sophia's bedtime, but saying that it may help some of you out who have older children or you might be huge Star Wars fans and want to do something different! This is a drive in cinema experience ( I love that more of these are happening around Aberdeen!) and according to the National Trust Scotland website the film begins at 19:30 although cars can appeared 45 minutes before the film is due to start. 

Hit The Road - Motorbike Enthusiast Meet Up

Haddo House

6/5/17

We are really looking forward to this one and it's bound to be a great family day out. Bruce no doubt will be bringing his motorbike along to Haddo House and we will be trailing behind in the car! We are keeping everything crossed that it's a lovely day! This is a free event but a donation would be help the organisers continue this event next year! You can also enjoy a walk around the grounds, let the kids play in the park and check out the delicious cafe! 

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 35th Anniversary Outdoor Cinema

Crathes Castle, Garden & Estate

6/5/17

I feel like all I have done is give you film options but I am loving these outdoor cinema experiences. Why not relive the 80's and grab the chance to see E.T. in style! Again this is a later event so maybe better for older children, the film starts at 19:00 and finishes at 21:00.

Movies For Juniors

Cineworld

Saturday & Sunday mornings

A trip to the cinema can be super pricey, throw a child into the mix and it's not long before the sweet smell of popcorn has them crying out for a snack. Movies For Juniors is a great time to take your children to the cinema, my reservations with taking Sophia to the cinema is the thought of, "will I spend a fortune and she won't sit still or perhaps she won't be interested in the film.". Thankfully the super discounted prices starting from only £2 mean that if Sophia does decide she's not in the mood to sit still, we can quite easily leave and not have paid a small fortune. I believe the films change weekly so I recommend contacting your local Cineworld to find out what's on & times! 

Special Requirements Evening

Hoodles Playbarn

25/5/17

I love the fact more places are holding sessions for children who may find the usual soft play experience too much to handle. Hoodles Play barn hold an event on the last Thursday of every month from 17:30-19:30. I can imagine it's a fantastic opportunity for your child to enjoy the Hoodles experience without it being overbearing. Mum's & Dads also have the opportunity to relax a little. Wouldn't it be amazing if more establishments had events like this? I would also love to know if you are aware of any similar events in and around Aberdeen! 

Messy Play

What child doesn't love some messy play!? Held in various locations on all different days and times I didn't want to list just one option. A quick look on google can help you find the best option for you and your little one. You can even try some messy play at home from painting to making your own slime, Pinterest is a gold mine for messy play ideas. Messy Play classes are a great way to get out & about and meet new people and tend to be fairly inexpensive!

Doonies Rare Breeds Farm

Only 15 minutes from Aberdeen City Centre by car, Doonies Farm covers 134 acres from Nigg Bay to Cove.  Open 10:00-16:00 with last entry at 15:00. Doonies Farm is closed Monday & Tuesday expect on School Holidays and is a great day out. A family ticket which permits 2 adults and a maximum of three children is only £10, children under 2 go free  and you can even bring a picnic along for when you start to feel a bit peckish.  You will see a big mix of animals and now is the perfect time to visit, why not go and see if you can spot any of the new arrivals at Doonies Farm?

Mini Tennis

Westburn Tennis Centre & Ruthrieston Outdoor Sport Centre

Introduce your child to the world of tennis! Suitable for ages 3-10, With smaller courts, nets and rackets and lower bouncing balls, LTA Mini Tennis offers the perfect introduction to the sport, with all the fun and energy of the real thing. There are four stages of LTA Mini Tennis; Tots, Red, Orange and Green, each with their own court size and type of ball. This tailored approach enables players to develop vital skills and techniques at an early age. You can take a look at the timetables and how to sign up here! 

Newburgh Beach

Why not come along to Newburgh and visit our beach! Nicknamed seal beach it's a quiet beach compared to Aberdeen. Only a 15/20 minute drive and you can take in the views of the colony of seals that like to rest at the mouth of the Ythan River. You could also take a short trip to the Forvie National Nature Reserve and stop for lunch at the Newburgh Inn. You could also venture along to Ellon and try out the new dessert parlour, Ice Dreams!

I am not affiliated with any of the events or companies mentioned above. These are my personal suggestions and I hope that some may come in useful!

Things to do in & around Aberdeen

It's holiday time in Aberdeen, this always stirs up mixed emotions for me. First I'm excited I get to spend lots of time with Sophia and then I panic! How the hell will I keep Sophia entertained!? She has all this energy and is constantly on the go. I decided to set up a list of activities to try and help you plan some fun things to do with your kiddies! 

Deeside Activity Park - Megga Fun Day - 08/04/2017

This Easter family event is the perfect family day out. It promises a day of fun with activities such as a climbing wall, bouncy castle, body zorbs, face painting and a huge Easter egg hunt. Complete with a BBQ for those rumbling tummies, tuck shop and candy floss. This event is to raise funds for the Aberdeenshire Geo caching Mega which will be coming to the area in 2019! For more information on the event you can click here!

Melting Medals Craft Workshop - The Gordon Highlanders Museum 11/04/2017

Described as being suitable for children ages 4-12 years old, booking is needed for this event but at a low cost of only £3 per child. Children will get to see and learn about some of the museums medals and get to design their very own medals using a mix of materials. There are two sessions, one runs from 11-12:30 and the second runs from 2:00-3:30. For more information you can visit The Gordon Highlanders Museum website. 

image from gordonhighlanders.com

Haddo House

If you haven't visited Haddo House before or maybe haven't been for a while then make sure you pay it a visit soon. This is one of our popular destinations, Sophia loves the park and the grounds themselves are fantastic for walking around. If you do want to see inside Haddo House make sure you visit their website and check what the latest opening hours are as these change depending on the season. You can also visit Mrs Smiths shop, grab yourself a drink, some cake, a sandwich and can even grab yourself a hot roll.

You could even take part in the Cadbury Egg hunt, This event can get super busy but it doesn't make it any less fun. Adults & Children love this egg hunt.  This runs from 14/04/2017-17/04/2017 between 11:00-16:00. All the details are available here!

Ranger guided children's walk: Pond dipping - Castle Fraser Garden & Estate - 12/04/2017

One thing I learnt working with children is that they LOVE pond dipping. Give them a net and the chance to find some creepy crawlies and they are entertained for a good while. The website recommends wellies, it's £5 per child and this event will be ran on two sessions. The first session is 10:30-12:30 and the second session is 13:30-15:30. Booking is essential and according to the website this event isn't suitable for pushchairs. However they haven't stated a recommended age group. For more information you can visit the website here!

Codonas

I know I have great memories of this place from when I was a child. From rides to indoor games, indoor and outdoor adventure golf, bowling and now the brand new Smugglers Tree Huts. I have only seen photos of this new attraction but it looks amazing. There are plenty places in and around Codonas to grab a bite to eat & something to drink. You could venture out onto the beach front or even head towards Fittie for a stroll around. For prices & to see what attractions are on offer please click here!

image from codonas.com

Linx Ice Arena

Ice Skating was on of my favourite things to do as a child. I loved it so much it was one of the rare activities I would venture out of my bed at a ridiculously early hour on a Saturday morning to do. If you would like to view the timetable please click here! (This timetable was correct at time of writing but is subject to change) They even run parent and toddler sessions on Tuesday & Thursday or if you child is extra keen to take up Ice Skating or perhaps even Ice Hockey as a hobby you could always contact the arena for more details on lessons and clubs.

image from www.sportaberdeen.co.uk

Aberdeen Science Centre

Known as Satrosphere to locals, children love this place. There are plenty of hands of activities for children to do, it seems to be entertaining for all ages. Younger children love being able to get stuck in where as slightly older children enjoy reading about the actual activities/experiments. I can go here with Sophia who is three and her older cousins, each of them enjoy it but for different reasons. They always have different events going on so I highly recommend checking out the website!

image from visitscotland.com

Charleton Fruit Farm

Found just one mile north of Montrose Charleton Fruit Farm has a lot to offer. I first visited here with my work, this included a group of at least 50 children and it was still fun! You can pick your own berries, visit two play zones which include a fortress, peddle go karts on a pretty big track, they even have a mini track for the smaller ones with smaller trikes and ride on toys. You can visit the coffee shop & gift shop. Visit here on a beautiful day and you won't want to leave. I'm pretty sure you can bring your own picnic along but the cafe also has light lunch options. To see the website please click here! This place is guaranteed to keep your children well entertained.

salt dough fun

December has meant Sophia's nursery hours have been all over the place with Christmas parties, nursery plays and Christmas activities. Usually she is in during the afternoon but this month a few sessions were swapped to morning sessions. Then I get the dreaded call that they had messed up with the dates and could I have her in nursery within 30 minutes. 100% not happening, I'm in my pj's, she is running around refusing to wear clothes whilst occasionally paying attention to her breakfast. Even after being a mother for just over three years I haven't mastered how to get ready and out the door quickly. I need to plan in my head and work to a schedule, it is like a military drill. Instead we decided to do a food shop together and plan some activities we could do. Then the light bulb moment happened and salt dough Christmas decorations were on the itinerary for the day.

If you haven't used salt dough before it's simple, literally salt, flour and water. A cup of each adding the water slowly to get your dough to the right consistency and then it's ready to squish, roll and cut into whatever shape your heart desires. For us it was hearts and gingerbread men shapes. Now I forgot to leave my dough to rest but they are currently in the oven, they have raised slightly but not too much. You can add food colouring to the dough or paint them using acrylic paint. I'm hoping ours can be used as decorations for the tree. 

Sophia had great fun playing with the dough, mixing everything together and getting her hands a bit messy. So there you have it, a cheap, cheerful and easy to do toddler pleasing activity! I would to see some of your creations!

Out of the oven and ready to paint! I am slightly concerned my gingerbread men have grown boobs... cant really see it in the photo and i'm hoping that its not really obvious when we paint them!

Weekend Edit - 11/12/16

Why do weekends fly by? It's been a great weekend but I'm not ready for it to come to an end! Saturday Sophia and I were pretty lazy and lounged around in our pj's nearly all day, Bruce was needing to fix the alarm system on his car, it kept going off constantly during the night/early hours in the morning last week. I'm sure our neighbours loved us, me stumbling out onto the street, half asleep, falling out with the noisy alarm and bright bloody lights flashing on & off. Well in case any of my neighbours read this, I can report that Bruce's car should now be silent! We can all crawl into bed and not have to wonder if the antisocial car is going to rudely waken us all up. Yay!

Whilst Bruce dealt with that we added some finishing touches to our Christmas decorations. Eventually showered and wondered out for a drive down Union Street to see the Christmas lights, Sophia was more fascinated watching the buses and people. This meant I'm driving along going "wooooow" & "ooooo look at that pretty one" for absolutely no reason. Somehow Sophia and myself ended up grabbing a takeaway from our favourite Chinese takeaway place. I just couldn't deal with cooking!

On Sunday we were off out to see Frozen on ice! This was Sophia's first big show, she tends to hate loud noises so we weren't sure how it would go. Thankfully she LOVED it! Sophia's Grandma, Auntie and Uncle also joined us. I actually think I watched Sophia more than I watched what was happening on the ice because watching her little face light up was just priceless. She was dancing along, trying to sing and doing that crazy bounce toddlers do when they are so excited they just don't know how to express it. On the drive home Sophia decided to have a tantrum ALL the way home. So imagine driving round the corner and on to your street to be faced with Santa, bright flashing lights and the song "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" blaring from a car following Santa and around ten children handing out free sweets. All whilst Sophia is in mid tantrum, you have sat crazily for around two hours singing Frozen songs and now Santa is cornering you. I'm not sure who was more confused... Sophia or myself. Once our brains registered what was actually going it was great fun!

Deck the halls!

I finally convinced Bruce to pop up into the loft and bring down our boxes of Christmas items. Last year it was our first Christmas in our new home and we had ended up with a mash up of bits and pieces from all of our family members. This year however I have been slightly more prepared. What started off as a deep clean of the sitting room turned into a full blown deep clean of the entire house, I got a tad carried away and even ended up sorting through our wardrobes, cupboards and all our little hiding places. Thankfully Bruce was with me to give a helping hand and keep me calm or I think I would still be sat in a pile of Sophia's old toys & clothes now if he hadn't been with me.

This year I got all of our tree decorations from The Range and Homebase, nothing expensive or overly fancy. I didn't want to spend an absolute fortune and end up having a mental breakdown when and if Sophia knocks something off of the tree. Our silver baubles and the fancier ones all came from The Range, even better the large jeweled silver one is an almost foam type material. I've always found that individual baubles can be quite delicate but these are completely Sophia proof! Yay! 

I cannot wait to see Sophia's face in the morning, I also hope Bruce comes to terms with the pink... I did ask him if he had a colour preference and his reply? "The tree is your thing, do what you want!" So I did and tonight he started questioning the pink. Sorry darling but you live with two females and you were out voted! Now all I need to do is convince Bruce that Sophia and I would really love lights up outside too. Wish me luck!

Welcome!

Hi everyone, I would like to welcome you to my new blog "Mummy Trials", Some of you may know me from my other blog liner,lippy,life and for those of you who don't I just wanted to introduce myself & my daughter Sophia. I won't go into a huge life story for my first post but if you do have any questions feel free to leave them as a comment and I can do a Q&A style post in the future.

My name is Sharon and I am 25, I live in Aberdeenshire with my partner Bruce & our three year old daughter Sophia. I worked in childcare until recently when finding childcare for Sophia became a struggle so now Sophia is graced with my presence all day every day, apart from the few hours she ditches me for her friends in nursery, I'm pretty sure she is sick of the sight of me now! 

Hopefully with this blog I can share things we get up to, I want to share the good & the bad because lets face it... parenting always easy, I know I had high hopes for always cooking home made meals, doing loads of arts & crafts, having family adventures but sometimes I like to hide in the toilet on my phone, a trip to Tesco is like a holiday and youtube can literally save a parents life with a toddler running around.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin