New Year's Eve sleepover

General 

Elliott was good today.

Activities

In the morning we had a lazy time playing with toys and watching Nativity 2. We played a lot of table football games. We also popped in to Wokingham to do some food shopping and when we got back we had sausage hot dogs for lunch.

After lunch we watched School Of Rock before heading over to a friend's house in Wokingham for a New Years Eve dinner party. They have two daughters Beth (who is 10) and Emma (who is Elliott's age). Also there were some other friends who have two daughters Alice (who is 3) and Hetty (who is 1). He played with the girls really well and was particularly good with Hetty. After a while Hetty and Alice left him and the older girls to watch a film together and Elliott also taught them how to play table football. There was also a dog called Max (a very well behaved cocker spaniel) and a cat called Katie and after being a bit nervous at first he was really good with both and enjoyed stroking them and playing fetch with Max. They had sandwiches for tea and also some popcorn snacks. He then decided that he wanted to sleep in the same room as Beth and Emma for a sleepover (rather than his own room) and they went to bed really nicely and when we checked 20 minutes later (and 20 minutes after that) were already asleep.

Table football

General 

Elliott was really good today.

Activities

After he arrived we made his table football together and he did a great job screwing the parts together and adding buffers to the player rods. After his table football was built we had lots of games while we watched the film The Tooth Fairy (starring The Rock). We also had cheese on toast for lunch while we watched the end of the film.

After lunch and the film finishing we went to Wokingham where we got our hair cut. Then we headed over to The Peel Centre in Bracknell to look at toys and sports gear in Sports Direct. After we got home Elliott wrote his first 3 thank you cards quickly and without any complaining. Then we played more table football and Elliott watched some Ben 10 Omniverse while I cooked tea. We had chicken fajitas for tea. After tea we played with the James Bond Scalextric before bath time and then some more table football and Scalextric. Then he brushed his teeth, read some of his Skylanders book and I read him some of a Jack Stalwart adventure. Then it was bed time.

Piccolo Arco

General 

Elliott was really good today. 

Activities

In the morning Granny and Grandpa came to visit and bought some more presents for Elliott including a Star Wars annual, a book about lots of different things, a junior electronics kit and some Lego from Kate Weale (my Godmother). I also opened my birthday presents at the same time and Elliott had got me table football which I then spent some time putting together while he made his Lego set (a small space set). Then we went outside to show Granny and Grandpa his drone flying before we went for lunch at Piccolo Arco, an Italian restaurant in Wokingham. Andrea's Dad also joined us for lunch and Elliott was very well behaved and had fun. 

He had chicken in breadcrumbs with chips for his lunch but was less keen to try Andrea's Dad's whitebait

After lunch Granny and Grandpa left and we went outside to fly the charged up drone. Then we played lots of table football before it was time for toast and a bath. After his bath Andrea's brother Graham Jenkins came to babysit so we could go out for a few birthday drinks and Graham said he went to bed with no fuss after playing some more table football and reading some of his Skylanders book.

Boxing Day

General 

Elliott was good today. He did get a bit hyper later in the day when we were at a family gathering at Andrea's brother's partner's Dad's house where he was playing with Harry and Jack and also two girls called Emma and Rebecca. But he did calm down when asked and was the first to calm down (although the oldest there) so I was quite proud.

Activities

After he arrived in the morning he opened his presents from Father Christmas which included a Star Wars book with his name as part of the story, a fossil, some gem stones, Star Wars binders and cards, Match Attax cards, a make your own volcano kit, a "knock knock" joke book, some jumpy toys, pick up sticks, a pin art toy, a Skillet CD, some Star Wars micro machines, a ghost rider figure and, of course, a little mini cargo drone. We also swapped presents amongst ourselves and he got a snap together Poe's X-Wing Fighter, a Star Wars encyclopedia and a make paper aeroplanes history of aeroplanes book officially from me. After all the present opening he played with a lot of his presents including making the snap together X-Wing Fighter and then we went outside and tried out the drone, which he really enjoyed:

He was also very careful and cautious (although it doesn't go very high and is quite slow so is perfect). Then we had some toast and sandwiches for lunch.

After lunch we went to the family gathering and luckily Andrea's brother's family had bought along some presents for Elliott so he wasn't totally left out and he got a new tin of March Attax cards and a new Darth Vader dressing gown. He also took his tablet and enjoyed creating dubstep with everyone. All the children had a lot of fun playing with each other's toys and eating buffet food including nuggets, mini pizzas and cheese and biscuits. They had cake for pudding so then became predicatbly hyper but not long after it was time to go anyway. After we got home Elliott had a quick bath and brushed his teeth before we played with the re-charged drone again for a bit and then it was bed time.

Cinderella

General 

Elliott was good again today.

Activities

We had a lazy morning and Elliott watched Ben 10 and played with his car loop the loop track. Then we all headed in to Salisbury where we had lunch at Pizza Express. Unfortunately Pizza Express were out of pasta so Elliott had an American pizza with pepperoni instead which he really enjoyed.

After lunch we went to the pantomime at Salisbury Playhouse which was Cinderella this year. Afterwards he said he hadn't enjoyed it because it was about love and was Cinderella but during the show he was giggling a lot and also joined in - though this year enjoyed shouting the opposite of what he was meant to shout. He also said afterwards that he thought the bit where the ugly sisters were in the bath was good, and the bit where Buttons and Dandini (the Prince's best friend) do ballet dancing and the bit where the ugly sisters are chased by the swamp monster so I think he did enjoy it quite a lot really. After we got home we had sandwiches and home made sausage rolls for tea before bath time and then reading more of his Skylanders book. Before bed time he did some good impressions of Dandini from the pantomime.

The Force Awakens

General 

Elliott was very good today.

Activities

In the morning Elliott woke up slightly earlier than hoped (around 5.30am) but he did manage to amuse himself with his toys for an hour. Then we had breakfast, got ready and set off for Harbour Lights cinema, Ocean Village, Southampton to watch The Force Awakens. He seemed to really enjoy the film and seemed to take the more scary moments fine. After the film finished he talked quite a lot about it, particularly Kylo Ren. After the film we dropped in to MacDonalds for lunch and he had chicken nuggets.

After lunch we went shopping in West Quay for some presents. It was really busy there but he was patient and didn't complain. While we were there we picked up a Ben 10 magazine with lots of free gifts that he was pleased with. After we got back to Granny and Grandpa's we watched some of the film Nativity before spaghetti bolognese for tea. Then it was bath time and after his bath he read some of his Skylanders book before watching some Ben 10 on the iPad and then bed time.

The Little Fir Tree DVD

General 

Elliott was good after being picked up today.

Activities

After we picked him up we drove straight to Granny and Grandpa's in Downton. He had a quick snack after arriving and then we watched The Little Fir Tree DVD together before he went to bed.

Christmas carols in the school hall

General

Elliott was really good after school.

Activities

After school we went to ASDA for tea where we also picked up some presents for people. While we were there he told me he was getting really nervous about singing with the choir in front of people and at one point didn't want to do it anymore. However when we got to the school he seemed much happier and as we got there quite early to help set up drinks he read more of his Skylander book. When it started the carol singing was great and after he'd warmed up a bit he looked like he really enjoyed it. Afterwards he seemed pretty happy and we went home for a quick bath and bed time.

Year 3 Christmas party

General 

Elliott was a little bit excitable after school but as it was their Christmas party today and we'd brought in biscuits it wasn't a surprise. He was still good though.

Activities

We went home for tea after school and he had some toast while watching Ben 10. Then he read some of his new Skylanders book that he'd won in pass the parcel in the school party (he also had a mini Angel Di Maria figure as a present from Mrs Davies). After some reading it was time for training which he decided he wanted to go to and they played a seven aside game with both teams mixed up with Panthers and Tigers for the full hour. He played well, particularly his tackling which was really good. After training we went home for a quick bath and he read some more of his Skylanders book before teeth and bed time. 

Base Ace Lego base

General 

Elliott was good after he got back from Brick Festival and he told me what a good time he'd had.

Activities

After he arrived Elliott made his new Base Ace Lego base and then played with some of his Lego mini-figures on the base. We had crumpets for tea and after tea we watched the latest episode of Dengineers. Then it was bath time and after his bath he finished reading his latest Ben 10 school book before brushing his teeth and bed time. 

Stampy's Christmas Cake Caper

General 

Elliott was really good after school today. He had made a nice Christmas card for us with pictures of Ben 10 and lots of kisses and love hearts.

Activities

After school we went to ASDA to do some shopping and Elliott spent some time looking at the toys. When we got home we found that his Goo Goos had come from Amazon so he spent lots of time opening them and playing with them. Then it was time for toast and bath time. After bath time he read more of his latest Ben 10 school book before we watched "Stampy's Christmas Cake Caper" on iPlayer. Then it was time for teeth brushing and bed. 

The Little Fir Tree

General 

Elliott was really good after school today. He said he had been nervous about being on stage in front of lots of people before they performed The Little Fir Tree to the rest of the school in the morning but he felt more confident in the afternoon when they performed to parents (although he said he was still nervous).

Activities

The Little Fir Tree was really good and Elliott played a child in hospital with a bandage around his head. He said his line really well and the singing was really good. It was a really enjoyable production and a good choice as everyone was involved:

After school we went to swimming lessons and at the end of this week's lesson Elliott's teacher said it was now time for him to move up to Stage 4 which is brilliant news. After his post swimming shower we went home and Elliott read for a while and finished his latest Ben 10 school book. Then he watched some Ben 10 Omniverse before tea. After he brushed his teeth and it was time for bed. 

Thunderbirds magazine

General 

Elliott was good after school today. He did say he his tummy hurt a little this morning (and yesterday), but he seemed to get through the day totally fine.

Activities

After school it was straight to swimming lessons where he focused and did a good job. After his post swimming shower we stopped off in Tescos to pick up some shopping before we went home and he had toast for tea while we watched the Dengineers. We bought a Thunderbirds magazine while we were in Tescos and after tea he was solving the puzzles in the magazine before he read some of his Ben 10 school book. Then he brushed his teeth and it was time for bed. 

Heading practice

General 

Elliott was really good after school. 

Activities

After school we went home and he played with Amelia for a while before getting ready for football training and having toast for tea. Football training went really well tonight. They practiced headers and he became much better and braver at heading by the end of the session. Then it was back home for a quick bath and bed time. 

Wokingham Winter Carnival

General

Elliott was mostly good today. He had a few moments during the Wokingham Winter Carnival when he would ask to do something and I'd say no. He sulked for a bit twice because of that, but he did cheer up quite quickly and we had a chat about how many good things he had done and how it was a bit spoilt to sulk when he couldn't get what he wanted.

Activities

After some lazy time in the morning we walked to the Wokingham Winter Carnival. The first thing we did was go to see Father Christmas in the library and Elliott asked him for a Drone for Christmas. Then we headed outside to the stalls and rides. The first thing Elliott did was an exercise bike riding challenge:

After the exercise bike challenge we wandered around the stalls and Elliott won some colouring in books and when he hooked a duck he won a toy bow and arrow. He also had a go on a bugee trampoline where we met Sarah (old childminder) and Emily in the queue:

Then we had hot dogs from the German sausage stall for lunch before we walked to Andrea's Dads house.

After Elliott had played with Jack and Harry for a while and showed them his spoils from the Carnival we all walked back to the Carnival. Elliott went on a fun bus with Harry and Jack and then Harry and Jack wanted to go on the Ferris Wheel with their Mum and Dad so I went on the Ferris Wheel with Elliott which he really enjoyed:

Then it was time for the procession (lots of old cars and some floats) before we all sang some carols and walked home. After we got home we had pasta with bacon and tomato sauce for tea before bath time. After his bath he read more of his Ben 10 school book and then did some colouring in with his new colouring books before bed time.

Skatepark

General

Elliott was really good today apart from some moaning about his homework. He did get a little upset at one point while doing his Maths homework but after a quick break he cheered up and when he resumed he had no problems.

Activities

Football was much better today and it was good to see him getting a decent amount of game time. I thought he played pretty well both at the back and in right midfield and hopefully his confidence will start building more. He was really pleased about his passing in particular. After we got home from football he did the first part of his homework (most of the Maths which was all about multiplication and division) and then we had sausages and rice for lunch.

After lunch Elliott finished his homework and the English was much quicker - he had to add apostrophes to sentences where they were missing. After homework we went to the local skatepark on our bikes and he had a lot of fun. After the skatepark we rode home and watched some "Dengineeers" on CBBC while we had crumpets for tea. Then it was bath time and after his bath Elliott read some of his Ben 10 school book, played some guitar and watched some iPad before bed time.

Where's Wally

General 

Elliott was good after school. 

Activities

After I picked him up from Paul's we went straight home and Elliott had toast for tea. After tea he read lots of his Ben 10 school book before bath time and also he got his Where's Wally book out and we enjoyed searching through the pictures. Graham Jenkins came round just before bed time to look after him while Andrea and I went out for an hour or so and he was no trouble going to bed apparently. 

Flying drones

General 

Elliott was really good after school. He has also been telling me he's going to ask Father Christmas for a Ghost Rider hot toy. When I looked in to this unfortunately the cheapest one I could find was about £450 (it's a limited edition collectors toy). So I told him today that unfortunately I'd had a letter from Father Christmas saying that because it was a limited edition toy there were only so many parts for the toy available and they'd run out, so his elves wouldn't be able to make Elliott one. He seemed ok with this (he does want to see the letter so I've written one to send to myself). After watching Blue Peter I think he now wants a flying drone (these are actually affordable and you can get ones designed for children).

Activities

After school we went straight to swimming where he seemed very focused. Then we popped in to Tescos for some food shopping on the way home and Elliott bought some Match Attax cards with his pocket money. After we got home we watched Blue Peter which featured some children racing flying drones and we had some bagels for tea. Then Elliott spent about 20 minutes reading his school Ben 10 book before brushing his teeth and bed time.

Teen Titans

General 

Elliott was good after school and quick to get dressed after swimming. He said he'd had curry for lunch.

Activities

After school it was Elliott's swimming lesson and when we got home it was just light enough for 15 minutes of cycling. After cycling he watched some Teen Titans before cheese on toast for tea. There was no need for a bath after tea as he had a shower after swimming so he read his school book "Home Invaders" instead which he found interesting, especially a fact about work men finding poisonous spiders under Windsor Castle. Then he watched another Teen Titans episode before bed time.

Tooth gap

General 

Elliott was good after school and quick to have his bath and get ready for bed after football training. Before school one of hit top front teeth came out and when I picked him up from school the other tooth next to it was also missing and he had it wrapped up in some paper.

Activities

After school we went home and covered the Dangermouse car frame in papier mache. Elliott helped with this but not for very long as he didn't like getting messy. He did cut out the Dangermouse badge, Dangermouse and Penfold for when the car is finished. Then we had toast for tea and got ready for football training. He concentrated really well in football training and they practiced dribbling at pace and passing. After football training he had a quick bath, brushed his teeth and we wrapped up both his teeth to leave under his pillow for the tooth fairy.

Dangermouse car

General

Elliott was really good today.

Activities

In the morning we went cycling at the local skate park to make up for missing out yesterday. Elliott was riding up and down the smaller ramps with lots of confidence.

After he got back from the meal with your parents we started making the Dangermous car and he did most of the cutting out and helped with some of the sticking. We still have lots more to do tomorrow and probably the day after including covering what we've put together so far in papier mache. Then he had toast for tea before having his bath. After his bath he read some of his Ben 10 book and then I read some of his Ben 10 book to him before bed time.

Hobbycraft

General

Elliott was a bit up and down today. In the morning we were going to go cycling before football but after I asked him not to I found him watching "Annoying Orange" on the iPad so I cancelled the cycling trip as punishment and he was quite upset. Also in the afternoon getting homework done was quite challenging to begin with, although after quite about 20 minutes of procrastinating and sulking he did get on with his homework and seemed to even enjoy it.

Activities

In the morning before football we were going to go cycling but I cancelled it because he'd been watching "Annoying Orange" after I asked him not to. After he'd recovered from being upset about this we practiced tying shoe laces before football. Then it was off to football where they were beaten soundly in the Plate competition by a team from a higher league. Elliott played right midfield for the first half of the first half and played pretty well. In the second half he volunteered to go in goal where he made some good saves, but also a few mistakes. He is definitely getting more confident and less scared of being hit by the ball. And, as ever, it was great to see Panthers enjoying playing whatever the result and score and afterwards none of them were disheartened which I think is brilliant. After football we popped in to Hobbycraft in Reading to get the remaining materials to make the Dangermouse car from Blue Peter and on the way home we dropped by Andrea's Dad's house to say hello and see Harry and Jack Jenkins. After we got home we had ham sandwiches for lunch.

During the afternoon Elliott did his homework and was diligent after a slow start. He also played with various toys. We had chicken fajitas for tea before I left to go to London to see Chas's band Flowers In The Dustbin play. Apparently he was good and went to bed with no trouble after his bath.

Children In Need

General 

Elliott was really good after school and we talked about how he was finding school - he said not really easy, but not really hard. We started practicing his 4 times table. 

Activities

After school we bought some cakes from the Children In Need cake stall and then we went straight home so he could do some cycling while it was still light. While we were cycling Amelia came out and they started playing together. After it started to turn dark Amelia came in for a visit and Elliott and her did some diary writing (Elliott's diary entry was all about the missions he'd done during playtime at school). Then Elliott played her some guitar before they watched Blue Peter together. Then Amelia left for her tea and Elliott had toast for tea followed by a bath. After his bath he finished reading his Ben 10 school book and watched the first 10 minutes of Children In Need before bed time.

James Bond

General 

Elliott was really good after school and he got changed for and after swimming quickly. 

Activities

After school we went straight to swimming lessons. Unfortunately this week one of the teachers was ill so Elliott's teacher had to look after 2 classes at once but Elliott still seemed to get some good attention. After swimming he rode his bike for 20 minutes before we quickly popped in to Boots for some shopping. After the shopping he played James Bond with one of his action figures and a car and was talking lots about Spectre, James Bond and James Bond's Aston Martin. Then we had toast for tea and watched Blue Peter before he did some reading of his Ben 10 school book and then brushed his teeth. Before bed time we watched the first half of the Jonathan Ross's James Bond making of programme on ITV player and then it was time for bed.

Avebury stone circle

General 

Elliott had a really good day at Avebury stone circle and was in good spirits when I picked him up. He did say lunch was the best part but he also told me about how Avebury was really interesting and how they'd walked around the stonehenges and how they were the world's oldest and biggest stone circle ever found. We also looked at some pictures of Avebury on the internet and he told me lots more - for example did I know that in ancient times they didn't have lawn mowers and sheep kept the grass short by eating it and did I know that the trench at Avebury was dug using animal horns, etc.

Activities

After I picked him up we went to swimming where he did really well. After swimming we went home and had pasta for tea (as he'd only had a packed lunch). Then we watched some Blue Peter before he did some reading. Then it was time for tooth brushing and then bed time.

Football training

General 

Elliott was good after school. He was also really looking forward to his trip to Avebury stone circle tomorrow.

Activities

After we got home Elliott got changed in to his football kit quickly before he had toast for tea. Then we headed off to Tescos to pick up some shopping on the way to football training. Football training went quite well, but I think they all got a little distracted today. They were practicing passing mainly and Finn's Dad helped Sally out. Then it was back home for a quick bath, brushing teeth and bed time.

Curry buffet

General

Elliott was mainly good today. He did whine and whinge a little after it was time to put his bike away because he wanted to do more cycling, but after I was firm about it being time to put the bike away he moved on. We also talked in the morning again about how upset he'd been last night and he said he'd been more upset than it was worth being and we talked about what things were really important again and how money and buying things weren't as important as lots of other things.

Activities

We had a lazy morning and Elliott played with Lego, watched some iPad and played some Match Attax games. At lunch time we headed to Wokingham where we met up with Andrea and her Dad at Barunda curry restaurant for a buffet lunch. He had rice, naan bread and also some chicken tikka chicken which he really seemed to like (he had seconds).

After lunch I picked up a bike from Andrea's Dad that was surplus to requirements and we cycled to the local skate park together. Elliott was a little timid at the skate park which wasn't surprising as it was full of older boys on skateboards and bikes, but he did ride up and down some of the gentler ramps and is looking forward to going back at a time when it's less busy. We rode home together after the skate park on a more roundabout route to have some more cycling time and then after we got home he was a bit upset to have to put his bike away at first, but fortunately not for long. Then he called for Amelia and they played outside together for a while before they both came in and made some Halloween decorations Granny had bought us from her visit to Hong Kong. After Ameila left it was time for tea and then bath. After his bath he read some of the Roald Dahl mini book he'd got with his most recent MacDonalds Happy Meal and then it was bed time.

Swallowfield Village Hall

General

Elliott was good today. However he did get really upset at the end of the day before bed time about having spent his pocket money and wanting not to have. I started off by being quite assertive with him over this and saying it was his choice and decision making, but as he wound himself up more and more I focused more on cuddling and trying to get him to calm down. He did calm down after a while and once he had we had a constructive conversation about money not mattering as much as other things (Like spending time with you and me and Libby and grand parents and his friends, etc) and also about making choices. I'm not sure if the pocket money issue was really the driver for how upset he got, I suspect it's also to do with tiredness and school being back soon, etc.

Activities

After I'd picked him up we went food shopping in ASDA where he was really well behaved. He spent his pocket money on some Match Attax and a Micro Machine Star Wars blind bag. After we got home he had a croissant for lunch with bear fruit.

After lunch we did some cycling before we went to Swallowfield Village Hall for a friend's 40th birthday party. There were lots of other children at the party and Elliott got on particularly well with Josh (6 years old) and Hugo (7 years old). There were playgrounds outside and also an all weather football pitch where quite a lot of Dads and sons had a kickabout including us. Then it was time for a sit down meal (Pork) before it was time to go. After we got home he had a quick bath and then got upset about having spent his pocket money. After he'd calmed down we watched a Dangermouse to try and help distance him from how he was feeling and then it was bed time.

Dragon making

General

Elliott was really good today.

Activities

In the morning we had a lazy time at Granny's watching the iPad and Elliott also made a Ghost Rider poster and coloured in some Star Wars pictures. We headed to Salisbury for lunch and had ham sandwiches from Tescos.

After lunch we met up with Peter, Charlie and Alice Sladen and went to Salisbury Cathedral where they were running a afternoon of craft to make a dragon's head. Charlie and Elliott had a lot of fun and made some good dargon's heads:

After the heads had been made we went to Boston Tea Party in Salisbury for some tea and met up with Carla and Poppy Sladen as well. Then we headed back to Wokingham via MacDonalds where Elliott had a chicken nuggets happy meal and enjoyed reading is free Roald Dahl mini book. After we got home it was straight in to the bath and then he finished reading his Wolverine book before bed time.