February at The Cupcakes!

At the start of February our little pooch Peppa went in for an operation to remove some lumps on her stomach. Everything went well and the lumps were nothing to be worried about. The only thing that wasn't so healthy was the old bank balance! I've been visiting my Gran and Aunt every week for a while now, one week I went at the weekend with Midge and A to visit their Great Aunt and Uncle. It was a lovely day, we all caught up and ate some picky foods.

My Uncle passed away last month and it was tough for many of us. I traveled to Portsmouth with  Mum and Dad. We met my sister there and stayed with our grandparents for the night. Although sad, the ceremony was lovely. On the way home Dad treated us to a breakfast at a Little Chef which I haven't had in many years!

Peppa all better//Little A with his Great Uncle//Card I made for my grandparents//Uncle M's rose//My cousins boyfriend holding the beautiful flowers at the end of the funeral//Breakfast at Little Chef//Costa in the afternoon!

Little A turned six! We celebrated by going to Paradise Park a few days before. They spent 2 hours in the play area and then we enjoyed looking at the animals and riding on the little train. I loved the owls, I think I must have missed them when I last visited. I was sad we didn't see the red pandas but they don't come out too much, I think they have young. Such a beautiful day was had and you can read all about it by clicking the link at the bottom of this post.

We also visited Grandma and Pop's house on A's birthday to unwrap gifts and have a big family roast.

Flamingos and owls at Paradise Park//Penguins sunbathing//A on the tractor//Midge and I//A on the train//Mr B and Midge recreating an old image

 Baby A//Blowing out his candles//Opening gifts//A cut his own cake with hilarious results!//Big smiles from Little Man//Birthday cake//Kindle book The House of Screaming Skulls//Book review all wrapped up so pretty

 I got to bake a fair bit in February, pancakes featured heavily too! I spent a lot more time reading books and since signing up to a book reviewing site I've had to learn to embrace Kindle reading! I've really enjoyed reading more, I hope I can keep it up through March.

I hope you all had a lovely February. Do check out my posts from February which are all linked below! Here's to March and some Spring weather I hope!!

Midges Birthday Sleepover!

Giving Ourselves Something to Look Forward to This Valentines Day

January at The Cupcakes

Family, Money and Me- February

10 Good Things January

Making a Rented House a Home

I Don't Know Me

Paradise Park Birthday Treat

Recent Reads

Little Man, Now You're Six...

Book Review ~ One Little Mistake by Emma Curtis

How to make Gluten Free and Vegan Pancakes

Cupcake Mumma

Little Man ~ Now You're Six

Sometimes it feels like only yesterday when I think about the day you were born. How you were brought to the surface of the water, my own hands gently guiding you to air. My little boy.

Newborn Baby A

You've grown so much in this last year my Little Man. Your speech has just come from no where (actually it's taken the school and your lovely speech therapist a while but you've done so well) I find you as feisty and stubborn as ever. Sometimes I wonder if there's something else to you. I can't quite explain it but sometimes, Little Man you persist where many give up. You question things over and over, I am always afraid to upset you. You remember things that hurt you, upset you or made you sad long after they've happened and we have the same conversations over and over again. You are oblivious to how annoying this can be! I don't know if that's what every other boy does. I know how different we all are.

I enjoy your energy and your curiosity. Your love of animals and babies is wonderful and you make so many people laugh. At school the teachers fall for you, you have nice friends but you let others get away with far too much; all because you are afraid of getting told off (which you hate.)

On the red tractor at Paradise Park

Now you're six, little man. I can't lie, I'm glad you're a little older because now we can talk to each other. Now I understand you, what you want, need and feel and there was a long time when you were distressed, sad and very angry and I was lost, stressed and frustrated but now mostly that is gone. You frustrate me in many ways but still I wouldn't trade it for the early days.

Right now, you are getting into football, you are a Mums boy very much. You love penguins and Lego, The Avengers are your favourite toys. You enjoy books but love your tablet with all its silly games. It's difficult to get you off that thing sometimes! You are a kind boy, but very much a little lad too with a wicked sense of humor. Your Dads' humor I would say. Oh and you hate bedtime...It's 9.45pm, you are wide awake messing about, asking questions, up and down the stairs getting a yogurt, a drink, complaining about school, playing with your toy and demanding kisses and hugs..This is you, at six.

I love you my Little A.

Mummy xx

Paradise Park Cornwall ~ Birthday Treat Part 1!

Hi Cupcakes!

Yesterday we commenced phase 1 of Little A's birthday (which is in 2 days time...6 eek!) We decided to go to a place we have been many a time and is a favourite attraction of ours in Cornwall: Paradise Park!

We have celebrated at least 4 birthdays here in different years, the children just don't seem to tire of it! I actually really love visiting too. We were going by A's plan this time as he is much older than the last time we visited as a family and it was his treat after all. He wanted to play in the Jungle Barn before doing anything else. Normally we make a big thing of doing things in such an order but do you know what? Why do we!? The children must have spent 2 hours in the Jungle Barn then were more than happy to go and look at the animals. They enjoyed it more because they did things their way and I am going to take this approach again in the future!

Midge went around following the fairy and pirate treasure hunt and she enjoyed it. I'm usually the one doing it as we go around because they're more interested in rushing around to get to the play area! Here are some photos I took of just a selection of the parks beautiful birds:

Flamingos. Their colour is simply beautiful

Northern White Faced Owls So fluffy and cute but they'll nip ya!

Buffon's Macaw. He was so, so beautiful

Red Squirrel 

We looked at all the different birds, the owls were a big hit this year even with me. We saw the red pandas who were hiding away ignoring people (I don't blame them) and then we went to the farm area where we hung out on the play equipment, stroked a giant rabbit and said hello to the sheep.

A on the Tractor!

Oh yes...We found some dinosaurs again!

After lunch which was a nice little picnic from home and a few treats from the shop, we hopped aboard the little train that runs round part of the park. It takes you around twice and only cost us £1 each. I got a few nice snaps as we went around:

We had such a lovely day. Midge said she loved the whole park and couldn't possibly pick a favourite part. Little A loved the Jungle Barn, the train and posing with the dinosaurs and I loved chilling out with my children, taking photos of some truly wonderful birds and seeing a flamingo egg! Mr B was feeling rotten but didn't let that spoil his fun either. He enjoyed the train that took us around and watching the Mini Cupcakes run around the Jungle Barn.

Right now I'm preparing an Iron Man themed party so be sure to come back and find out how much fun preparing and hosting a party for 10 children was!

Cupcake Mumma