Oddsockosaurus Review

My children love having stories read to them, yes they might be old enough now to read stories for themselves but nothing beats tucking your children into their cosy beds and reading them a bedtime story.

This evenings story was called Oddsockosaurus by Zanib Mian and Bill Bolton and published by Sweet Apple Publishers.

Oddsockosaurus is a fun filled book about a six year old boy who compares his daily moods and feelings to those of dinosaurs and in turn renames himself various different dinosaur names like 

Cheekyodon, 

Fastosaurus

and Oddsockosaurus.

When I was reading this book to my five year old son his little face kept lighting up every time he saw a dinosaur in the book that reminded him of himself, I keep saying is that you and he'd reply "no daddy" with a little smile on his face.

This book was a really fun and enjoyable book not only to read but also to use to interact with my son with. 

This book is priced at £6.99 and I think it is a good price for a fun bedtime story book.

I was sent this book for review purpose only and all views are my own.

Dettol Surface Cleaners Review

As we all know Autumn leading into Winter brings with it many changes in the weather and with these changes in the weather it inevitably brings with it those dreaded winter cold and flu bugs.

As all of us with children are fully aware by now this time of year sees the playgrounds and play group centres full of little ones bunged up with those lovely winter colds and flu viruses, one way you can help prepare yourselves at home to help prevent the spread of bacteria in colds and flu viruses is by using Dettol Surface Cleaners which helps kill 99.9% of bacteria.

Did you know that according to the Office of National Statistics over 27 million days of work are missed each year and close to 15 million school days are missed too due to colds and illnesses.

During the season of colds and flu viruses, the flu virus can spread on unclean surfaces with the flu virus living on your surfaces for upto 2 days and the cold virus living on your surfaces for upto 7 yes 7 days.

 So this winter fight back with Dettol Surface Cleaners and prevent your surfaces and your house becoming a virus breading ground.

To help prevent the spread of winter viruses this winter in my house I shall be using Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser and Dettol Antibacterial Surface Wipes.

Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser kills 99.9% of bacteria, including E. coli, salmonella, MRSA and the flu virus. The gentle yet effective, non bleach and no taint spray is safe to use where food is prepared and around baby equipment.

Dettol Antibacterial Cleansing Surface Wipes kills E. coli, salmonella, MRSA and the flu virus (H1N1). The non bleach and no taint wipes are suitable to be used around baby equipment and food preparation areas. Convenient and easy to use format, they are ideal for fast and hygienic cleaning.

I would say that for a deep clean the Antibacterial Surface Cleanser is the more effective product but equally the Antibacterial Cleansing Surface Wipes are a quicker and easier alternative.

I was sent these products free of charge for review purpose and at the time of this post the products ranged between £1.00 on special offers to £3.00 in various super markets. 

I do honesty believe this reflects other products prices out there so they are good value for money and even better if you can help protect your family for less whilst their on special offers.

#Wicked Wednesdays

I asked him to smile this was his response lol. 

If I Could....

I've been tagged by the lovely Laura at My Life As A Mummy to take part in the 

"If I Could" tag

So here it goes...

If I Could Live Anywhere

If I could live anywhere I think I'd like to live somewhere without modern technology or mobile phone networks and get away from all the modern work and live amongst nature for a while.

If I Could Have Any Home

Although I'd love to do what Derek did in Greys Anatomy and build my own wooden house on a hill side somewhere at this moment in time I'd love a call my home one of those huge American motor homes and travel around the States.

If I Could Have Any Garden

I'd love to have a massive garden containing my very own maze which would eventually lead you to a beaut summer house with its very own swimming pool. I'd also like to have a big play area for the children (well children of all ages) with its main focal point being a large pirate ship climbing frame with rope swings and slides galore.

If I Could Go On Holiday Right Now

I would whisk my children off to Disney World, Florida as every time a advert comes on the television for it they shout "Daddy can we go there?" and I always answer one day maybe so today would be that day lol.

If I Could Have Any Job

I already have the best job ever being Daddy to my wonderful children but that aside I'd like to work for NASA, how cool would it be that work on projects where your exploring things in space, exploring life on other planets etc.

If I Could Live One Day Again

Errrm a tricky one but I think without a shadow of a doubt I'd relive my first child's birth, a strange one you may think, although obviously it was an amazing feeling to hold my first newborn in my arms I'd change the fact it took 19 hours for him to be delivered resulting in his mum ending up being pulled from pillar to post on a theatre table because some student mid wife didn't realise things weren't going right in labor, so to not put her through all that pain and to let her hold her newborn baby like she should of done instead of having to wait for hours afterwards yes I'd change that day.

If I Could Have Any Superpower

I think I'd like the power/ability to understand women as that's a superpower you need daily lol only kidding I'd like to be able to heal things so when my kids get hurt I can heal them quickly.

I now tag the following people to take part...

Polly.      ourseasidebaby

Martyn.  insidemartynsthoughts

Beth.       plasticrosaries

Tony.      papatont

A Open Letter To My Children

Daddy writes this letter to you with deep regret in my heart, why may you ask? 

Simply because Mummy and Daddy are no longer together and it must be so confusing for all three of you especially when you occasionally ask why don't we all live together? and why don't you love Mummy no more Daddy?

When I married your Mummy I was the happiest and luckiest man in the world because I was marrying the the most beautiful fiancee anyone could ask for, this day was only ever topped off by the birth of each of you three wonderful, beautiful children.

Unfortunately as is in life all good things seem to come to a end at some point and Daddy being married to Mummy is another to add to that list.

I won't lie to you kids, Mummy and Daddy hadn't been good for a while before Mummy decided to call time on our marriage. Due to various reasons we didn't see eye to eye on things here and there and instead of sitting down and talking to each other about our problems we let them fester and build up to the point where enough was enough and your Mummy decided the time was right to leave.

Maybe Daddy wasn't a good enough husband, friend, best friend, lover, soul mate etc but I know I'm going to be the best ever Daddy you'll ever have.

Over time various reasons might come out about me and your Mum separating, some truer than others but I want all three of you to know that I truly love you. In fact I've loved you deeply from the moment you were born.... No in fact I've loved you right from the moment your Mummy told me she was pregnant with each of you.

I will never stop loving and caring for you guys wherever you may be. Yes you might be little pains at times and no doubt you'll grow up to bigger pains in time but my love for you will never ever die, in fact it will grow stronger as each day passes by. No matter who entered or leaves my life you three will always be my number one well my number one's lol.

Love Daddy.

Daddy & Daughter Day Out

Today I decided that as the boys were at school all day I would take my daughter out for the day, so I picked her up before the school run and took her to Drayton Manor Park.

We arrived at the park before the rides were open so we took a steady walk round the zoo and went and said good morning to whatever animals and birds had come out to say hi, well that's what L-A was doing every time she walked past any of the enclosures lol.

Once we had finished our wonder round the zoo and by now the rides were all open we made our way round to Thomas Land to begin our day of theme park rides.

I won't go in to boring details of what we went on and when but I'll just say we went on many many rides, on the train twice, once pulled by Percy and the next time pulled by Thomas himself, we went on the tranquil boat ride round the lake and also watched Yogi Bear in 4D which was really good to be honest.

L-A was a little scared on some of the rides yet moaned when it was time to get off of them cause she was enjoying them but the biggest thing I was most proud of today was the fact she went on the Buffalo roller-coaster and really enjoyed it because she said she was "like mummy" because her mummy loves roller-coasters.

Well that was our day out at Drayton Manor Park which we both really enjoyed.

#WICKED WEDNESDAY'S

This needs no explanation just because we could we did lol

OKIDO - Magazine Review and TV Programme Trailer

This issue of OKIDO is all about having friends and making new friends.

(Here is Messy Monster and his friends Zoe and Felix.)

This issue to be honest has come in handy just at the right time as my boys are both going back to school where they will be going back to both old and new friends alike.

Back to the magazine before I get side tracked lol, this magazine as I said is about having and making friends. The first section if the magazine is about the lead character Messy Monster and his friends Felix and Zoe making friends with Grumpyko.

This is a good little story that my boys enjoyed because it taught them that even if people don't initially want to be your friend don't be nasty in return as like Grumpyko they may still need your help and then through that become your friends.

Also in this issue there is many other stories telling the children about how to make friends and cool activities they can do with their friends like secret handshakes and how to make picnic food that they can share with their friends.

Okido magazine, created in 2007, is an illustrated bi-monthly arts and science magazine printed on FSC paper using vegetable inks and contains no adverts. Okido magazine costs £4, retails through over 50 independent shops, galleries and museum stores, has over 2K subscribers and is distributed via Intermedia. Each issue of Okido contains scientific questions and theories, which are answered in the most creative and artistic manner, for children to explore at home with their families and with regular leads into the national curriculum. 

Starting on Monday at 4.20 on Cbeebies Messy Monster is brought to life in his very on show.

Messy goes to Okido is an animated TV series, directed by Bafta winner Liz Whitaker (Bob the Builder, Pingu and Timmy Time). Messy Monster is brought to life by lead voice talent Adam Buxton (The Adam & Joe Show, Bugged, Son of Rambow, Hot Fuzz). Each episode of Messy goes to Okido is based on themes drawn from the OKIDO magazines; gravity, snow, floating, rain, hunger, germs, magnets, atoms and colour. The show is aimed at pre-school children and is a mix of CGI and 2D animation combined with live action. The series is produced by Doodle Productions in London.

Here's a trailer for your little ones to enjoy.

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (Giveaway within)

Don't know what to do this holiday?

Don't know what to do this weekend?

Then why not head down to the International Balloon Fiesta 2015 which is being held in Bristol.

This weekend sees the return of the 37th annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, which is a spectacular, free four day event running from Thursday 6th - Sunday 9th August.

This year the Balloon Fiesta will not only feature one but TWO Mighty Morphin Power Ranger hot air balloons, they have been designed to replicate the the iconic Pink and Red Power Rangers Helmets. 

As well as Power Rangers hot air balloons, on the ground all five Mighty Morphin Power Rangers will be there for a meet and greet with the fans and they will be giving away some exciting merchandise too, so whether your a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers fan, a hot air balloon enthusiast or your just looking for something awesome to do this weekend why not head on down to the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and have a awesome weekend.

In the mean time why not take part in my competition I've got a fabulous Mighty Morphin Power Rangers bundle up for grabs including Power Rangers Megazord and Costumes.

Power Rangers Giveaway

Model Making Friday

Father's Day weekend started for me on Friday at my sons nursery school as they held a Daddy and child model making session.

As Mummy was attending BritMums Live I put L-A in her pushchair and we both headed off to TP's nursery school to see what fun activities awaited us.

Once we arrived at his nursery and finally found him TP took us over to an empty space in his playground and disappeared, then all of a sudden he reappeared with boxes, glue, scissors and sticky tape saying "Daddy, Daddy I wanna build a T-Rex, I wanna make a T-Rex Daddy" at this point I thought " God help me, how am I going to do that?".

So I grabbed the boxes and thought very hard about how to make a T-Rex or even something that might even resemble a T-Rex or even something that would look like a dinosaur to be honest whilst I was looking round and seeing other Daddies constructing wonderful looking model dinosaurs.

I began sticking boxes together and attaching toilet roll tubes to the boxes whilst TP disappeared off with his friends, playing and looking at what their Daddy's were making. "A T-Rex is what he wanted" I could hear myself thinking, "it looks more like a bloody robotic spider" I could hear myself saying aloud.

TP finally reappeared with an apple in one hand and a carton of milk in his other, he looked at his model, looked at me smiled and said "Daddy that's awesome thanks" music to my ears.

As well as model making the children had dinosaur related stories read to them, they played games based around dinosaur themes and everyone had a fabulous time right up till it was time to go.

Now was the time I have to openly admit that I enjoyed and enjoyed I did just that lol. I've not gone mad but picture the scene if you can, all morning the Daddy's had been making fabulous models for their little treasurers, obviously although they won't admit it they were competing against each other as Daddy's do to make the best and the biggest models going. Mine was about the size of a standard computer keyboard and easy to carry this is were it go fun.

The teacher pipped up with "the session is now over, thanks for coming, hope you all had fun and please can you all take your models home with you", boom that was like most of the Dads had been smacked in the face by the teacher herself as you could see the Dads thinking "great I made this bloody model big how am I supposed to get it home?" Whilst I just walked past them all with TP happily carrying his model easily home for everyone to see what we'd made at our model making session lol.