Ickworth House

General 

Elliott was mainly good today. There were a few moments where he got upset when we visited Ickworth House - one when he didn't want to leave the adventure playground and one when we were playing football and the Dawsons were winning. However these moments did not last long and he moved froward from them much quicker than he does sometimes.

Activities

In the morning we went to Ickworth with Alex and Lucas Dawson. This was really good. We played on the adventure playground there for quite a while and there were monkey bars there that Elliott negotiated very impressively - especially considering The National Trust recommended they were for ages 14 upwards:

After the adventure playground we picked up explorers packs and went to explore the grounds. We saw some butterflies and some birds before we came to the den building area where we built a den together:

Then we headed to Ickworth House for lunch in the restaurant and the boys had beans on toast. 

After lunch we went for a walk to the river and stopped to play some football in a field on the way which was good fun but did lead to both boys being upset about different things briefly. Then it was back to the adventure playground for a final play before leaving:

After we got home we did some handwriting practice and then a quick bit of bike riding in the yard outside the flats before having pizza for tea. Then it was bath time, another chapter of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and then bed time. 

Mythical Maze medal

General 

Elliott was good today and played very nicely with Lucas Dawson.

Activities

In the morning we went to the library to return the last 2 Mythical Maze books and because Elliott has now read 6 books as part of the Mythical Maze he collected his last 2 stickers, a certificate and a medal, which he was very pleased with. Then we set off to visit the Dawsons near Cambridge and stopped for a picnic lunch of rolls on the way. 

After we arrived Lucas and Elliott played together and showed each other their toys. Then we went into the garden and played football in an 11-11 game - the Spencers verses the Dawsons. Then it was time for a tea of spaghetti and meatballs which Elliott ate well before some more time in the garden playing after tea. Then the boys had a bath together and Elliott did his handwriting practice. Finally they both enjoyed a chapter of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" as well as being read one of Lucas's books about snails before bed time.

Jedi training zone

General 

Elliott was good again today. He did fall off his bike at one point and has a few scratches but he was not upset about it for long and bravely got straight back on his bike again.

Activities

We had a lazy morning watching television and playing. He also finished reading "Flat Stanley goes camping", did his handwriting practice and I read him some more chapters of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". 

After a cheese on toast lunch we headed for the local park with his bike and he cycled and played on the equipment which he pretended was the Jedi training zone (he chose to wear his Anakin Skywalker outfit today). He had lots of fun and expended lots of energy. He did fall off his bike at one point but he calmed down quickly and got straight back on. After we got home it was Chicken fajitas for tea before bath, more "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "Rescue-bots" and bed time.

Pizza Express

General 

Elliott was good today although he needed some encouragement to practice his handwriting.

Activities

After pick up and breakfast we watched the end of "Attack of the Clones" which we both enjoyed. Then we watched "Fantastic Mr Fox" which we also both enjoyed. Then we had lunch. 

After lunch and some encouragement Elliott practiced his handwriting and did some reading of his "Flat Stanley goes camping" Mythical Maze book. Then Granny and Grandpa visited and Elliott showed them lots of his toys and then showed them his cycling. Then we all went for a Pizza Express tea and Elliott had dough balls, burro and a chocolate brownie. Then we said goodbye to Granny and Grandpa and it was time for bath, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and bed time.

Via Beethoven

General 

Elliott was good and patient today as it was a travelling day so quite boring overall.

Activities

In the morning Elliott helped buy our final breakfast and take our rubbish to the rubbish area. Then we waved goodbye to William and it was off to the airport via taxi from Camping Butterfly's Beethoven Street:

At Verona airport we checked in and then had a quick lunch before getting on the aeroplane. The flight went well again with one small patch of Elliott having popping ears but he held his nose and blew and this helped (the second time). There was also a bumpy part of the ride but Elliott wasn't frightened and giggled at the bumpiness.

After we got back to Gatwick Andrea's Dad picked us up and gave us a lift home where we unpacked before a quick snack, bath, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and bed time.

Verona

General 

Elliott was very good today. 

Activities

In the morning we got up early and after Elliott helped to get the croissants again and we'd had our normal breakfast we caught the bus to Verona. The first thing we looked at in Verona was the Arena which was in the Piazza Bra where the bus dropped us off. This was a very impressive Roman arena and set up for the opera season although One Direction have also played here:

Elliott climbed to the very top of the seats and looked out over Verona as well as having a closer look at the stage:

After the Arena we wandered down the main shopping street in Verona to visit Juliet's house and balcony, although we discovered it probably isn't really the same house where Juliet lived, and also that there may never have been a real Juliet in Verona. We took a picture on the balcony anyway though:

Then we found a cafe on a street corner for lunch and Elliott had a ham and cheese toastie. After lunch we wandered around the shops and unfortunately it started to rain. Elliott said that when he got back to England he was going to make sure he told everyone it rained in Italy too. However it did give him an opportunity to buy a new Spiderman toy from Verona's Disney Store and after waiting ages for the bus back to Camping Butterfly he did a toy review of his new purchase:

Next it was time for diary and handwriting practice before tea. After tea we went to the Camping Butterfly bouncy castle area for the last time as it was our last night and Elliott went bonkers on the bouncy slide. Finally we had more "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" before bed time. unfortunately it was Daniel's last night on holiday.

Masters of pizza

General 

Elliott was good today. He did get scared of swimming in the lake in the morning because he saw a creature while he was snorkeling, but after a while he was very brave and went back in to the lake and was fine once he'd got back in.

Activities

In the morning Elliott helped buy the croissants from the Camping Butterfly shop and then we had our normal breakfast. Then we went to the lake where Elliott had a great time swimming, snorkeling and playing with the rugby ball, apart from about 10 minutes when he was scared after seeing a creature swimming around while he was snorkeling. After we'd been to the lake we had lunch at the cafe at Camping Butterfly and Elliott had a delicious pizza and declared that the Italians were "masters of pizza":

After lunch we played badminton at the Camping Butterfly badminton / volleyball court before we visited the swimming pool and Elliott did lots more jumps and swimming. Then we played outside for a while by our mobile holiday home with badminton, frisbee and football. Then we had burgers at the mobile holiday home for tea, we did the diary and handwriting practice and there was time for more "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" before bed time.

Bardolino

General 

Elliott was mainly good today but he was a bit sulky on the ferry ride to Bardolino as he wanted to stay at Camping Butterfly and play with William. However after a chat he did move on and enjoy the Bardolino and the ferry ride home. 

Activities

In the morning we had our normal breakfast before Elliott played catch with William. Then we set off to catch the ferry from Peschiera to Bardolino, a nearby town on Lake Garda where they produce nice wine. When we got to Bardolino after Elliott had cheered up we had a really nice lunch in a cafe there:

After lunch we explored Bardolino and saw the San Severo Church which dates back to the 800s:

Then Elliott found a playground where he had fun playing on Italian play equipment:

Then we had a quick wander around some shops before Elliott enjoyed the ferry trip back to Peschiera, wearing his snorkel for added maritime legitimacy:

After we got back to Camping Butterfly Elliott did some more swimming and snorkeling in the swimming pool before sausages for tea back at the mobile holiday home. Next it was time for Elliott to do his diary and some more handwriting practice. Then we finished the day by visiting the Camping Butterfly children's zone which had a bouncy castle, bouncy slide and trampolines. We met up with Daniel here and the boys had loads of fun but unfortunately it was Daniel's last night on holiday.

Snorkeling

General 

Elliott was well behaved all day today.

Activities

In the morning we our normal breakfast and Elliott helped buy the croissants and french stick from the Camping Butterfly shop. After breakfast we went to the swimming pool and Elliott played with Daniel, Nathan and William - they swam together, played table tennis and played basketball:

We had lunch back at the mobile holiday home and then we headed into Peschiera to have a wander round and had a drink on a floating cafe. After we got back to Camping Butterfly we bought a snorkel and Elliott tried snorkeling in the swimming pool which he really enjoyed. After Elliott did his diary and more handwriting practice we went out for tea to a nearby restaurant where Elliott had pizza. Then it was more "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and bed time.

Table tennis

General 

Elliott was good today. Unfortunately he did have a sore tummy in the afternoon but after we rested for a while in the mobile holiday home he felt much better.

Activities

In the morning we had a breakfast of croissants, french stick and Coco Pops outside on the decking again. Then we went to the swimming pool and Elliott did some really good breast stroke and front crawl swimming as well as doing underwater forward rolls, lots of exciting jumps and a sitting down dive into the pool:

Then we went back to the mobile holiday home for lunch and then back to the swimming pool. After we'd been back at the swimming pool for a while Elliott's tummy felt sore so we went back to the mobile holiday home where Elliott had some quiet time watching the iPad and playing with toys. Fortunately after a while he felt better so we went back to the pool and also had a go at playing table tennis as the table next to the pool was free:

For tea we had spaghetti bolognese in the mobile holiday home and Elliott did his diary and handwriting practice again. Then Elliott made some new friends from the other mobile holiday homes next to ours - Daniel, Nathan and William. William came to visit our home and look at Elliott's toys: 

Then it was more "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" before bed time.

Camping Butterfly and Lake Garda

General 

Elliott was really good again today.

Activities

In the morning we had a breakfast of croissants, french stick and Coco Pops outside on the decking of the mobile holiday home. Then we went to the swimming pool for the morning where we had to wear swimming caps and Elliott had a really good time practicing swimming and learning lots of new ways to jump in to the pool:

After swimming Elliott tried the adventure playground at Camping Butterfly before we had lunch back at the mobile holiday home. 

After lunch we went to a beach on Lake Garda just outside Camping Buttefly. At the lake we went swimming again, though this time we didn't need swimming caps. Elliott also met another boy called Jack and we played catch with a rugby ball with him in the lake and another Italian boy, but we didn't find out his name because he couldn't speak English:

After our visit to the lake we had a shower and then went to the local town Peschiera Del Garda for tea which was very nice as Pescheria Del Garda is lovely. Elliott had schnitzel and chips for his tea and a big slice of chocolate cake with smarties on it for his pudding:

After tea we went back to our mobile holiday home and Elliott wrote his diary with me, including doing copying a sentence for handwriting practice. Then it was time for some "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" before bed time.

Aeroplane flight

General 

Elliott was good today. On one part of the flight his ears popped and he got a little upset but this didn't last long and he didn't let it spoil his overall experience of flying.

Activities

In the morning Andrea's Dad took us to Gatwick where we flew to Verona. Elliott found the airport exciting at first and then quite boring but he was really patient and he found the flight exciting and giggled as we took off. After we landed the Captain let him into the cockpit for a look around:

After we landed Elliott enjoyed the bus ride to the airport and then we got a taxi to Camping Butterfly in Peschiera Del Garda.  

After we arrived we unpacked and then explored Camping Butterfly which was very nice and had two types of swimming pool, a cafe, a shop, children's activity areas (including a table tennis table) and lots of mobile holiday homes. Then we went shopping to get some food and Elliott had pizza for tea in our mobile holiday home before bed time.

Carnival Pool

General 

Elliott was really good today.

Activities

After breakfast we went to Wokingham where Elliott had his hair cut. Then we went to the library and returned his second pair of Mythical Maze books and he got his second two smelly stickers. Then we used the Mythical Maze app to look at the creatures in augmented reality and Elliott chose two new books "Flat Stanley goes camping" and "Jack and the aliens". After the library we went swimming in Carnival Pool and Elliott did some really good swimming, including swimming a whole length (25 metres) breast stroke. Then it was home for a lunch of cheese on toast. 

After lunch Elliott watched Penguins of Madagascar while I packed and then we went to the shops to pick up a few last minute holiday items including a pair of crocs for Elliott. After the shops we popped in to Andrea's Mum and Dad's house to say hello and Elliott had good fun playing with some transformers and playing "Subway Surfer" and "Hungry Shark" on Andrea's Dad's iPad. Then we headed home for a tea of Chicken Fajitas, some toy packing for holidays and some more "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" before bed time.

Making a castle

General 

Elliott was mainly good today. Unfortunately after we got home he got upset that there wasn't enough time to go out on his bike and he behaved a little childishly and stamped his feet. But he calmed down quickly and said sorry and he knew why he had behaved badly. 

Activities

After breakfast we got on the train and went to Reading. The first thing we did in Reading was go to Reading museum where Elliott made a castle as they were doing a make a castle activity. He used toilet rolls for the turrets which he cut and stuck to a cardboard base and then he built walls around these towers with clay. Finally he added a drawbridge and windows to the clay by using a tool to carve them. He did really well and enjoyed making the castle:

After we'd made the castle we met Andrea's parents and went to Cosmo for lunch. Elliott had chicken nuggets, onion rings, chips, poppadoms and prawn crackers for lunch. After lunch we said goodbye to Andrea's parents and went shopping, We bought a notebook and soldier pen for handwriting practice and a hat for the holiday. Then we had tea in Costa Coffee before we went home on the train. Elliott really the enjoyed the train ride. When we got home we watched the film "Small Soldiers" before bath time and we had toast as a snack on our knees. Finally I read some more "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" to him before bed time.

Hever Castle

General 

Elliott was good today. The only time he got upset  is when he fell over and hurt his hands landing on a path. There is a small scrape on his palm but he calmed down quickly and was brave. 

Activities

After breakfast we drove to Hever Castle for a day out where we met up with Chas Loft, Billy Loft, Sid Loft and their Nan Sandra. We started the day on a really good adventure playground where they had a wooden castle maze:

After the adventure playground we had a picnic lunch in the grounds which was very nice and Elliott played hide and seek and "it" after lunch as well as watching the swans and ducks on the river:

After lunch we had a look around Hever Castle itself and there were lots of bedrooms and lots of pictures of Anne Boelyn who had lived there. After seeing the castle we went to the water maze which was really good fun and Elliott and Billy ran around the maze in their swimming trunks getting wet. After the water maze we went for a walk around the grounds and then finished our visit with another half an hour playing at the adventure playground. After we got home it was chicken nuggets and chips for tea and then it was bath time. After his bath Elliott finished reading his "Mighty Machines" Mythical Maze book. He read this very well and then did the quiz at the back of the book. Finally I read him some more "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" before bed time.

Diving

General 

Elliott was very good after we got home.

Activities

We watched the Commonwealth Games diving competition on iPlayer after we got home and Elliott was quite engaged but also playing with Rescuebots. Then he had a snack of toast for tea before a bath and some more "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".