Quality Time with Mini - Face Painting!

Mini and Maxi usually got to football practice on a Saturday morning, but mini has a bit of a cold after starting school, so we decided that we would spend the morning together and let MadDad and Maxi go off to Saturday Club together, whilst we had some quality time together.

So we got out the face paints we had been given as part of the TRU Toyologist programme and had a morning of painting and fun.

Mini decided that he wanted to try out some different ones for Halloween, so I give you the skeleton and vampire looks.

But before you think I got out of this scot free, just being the painter, then think again.  Mini decided that it was only fair that he have a go at painting mummy..............  So let me present Mrs Mad the wicked witch of the North.

The paints are so easy to use and watch off very easily and I removed Mini's first design with baby wipes.  We had such a fun morning.  Plus we are going to look really good at this years Halloween Party.

Review

We were provided with a set of boys Snazaroo Face Paints from Toys R Us which retail at  £9.99.  They are really easy to use and the accompanying booklet gives you loads of ideas for images which you can copy and step by step instructions.  The only issue is the booklet uses both the girl and boy pains which contain different colours and paints.

The pack comes with both a sponge applicator and also a brush and both are very easy tiouse, as you can see from the photo of me, which Mini did all my himself from the book.

Citroen C3 Picasso 1.6 HDI - Review

We were given the opportunity by Citroen to test drive the C3 Picasso for a week during the Mad awards. We drove the car to Bognor Regis from where we live in North Yorkshire, which is a journey in excess of 340 miles each way!

The Citroen C3 Picasso is substantially smaller than what both MadDad and I drive, but it didn't feel it. The inside feels just like a bug car and the boys car seats fitted very well in the back and they travelled to Bognor in real style with their portable DVD players on the back of our headrests, which plugged directly in to a power socket in the rear leaving the front one free for our Sat Nav or Ipod charger, as the radio had a connector for the MP3 player.

The technical specification is here.

What I thought of the Citroen C3 Picasso

I found driving the C3 a real dream, the only gripes I had was the handbrake seemed really low and it could have done with a sixth gear (but then that is what I am used to). It was great on the motorway as it had cruise control and it was very economical too.  It was nippy round town too and handled the twisty village roads well.  It was great to park, as it was smaller than mine, but the back looked a little like a van!

The boot space was brilliant and we had all our bags in with lots of space to spare and as a passenger the room in the front was brill and there are lots of storage space and cubby holes in the car.  I loved the fact that there was a storage area on the top of the dash board, as the sat nav fitted really well in to the space.

What MadDad thought of the Citroen C3 Picasso

MadDad was pleasantly surprised by the size, the internal space was deceptively large.  He thought the front seats could have been stiffer, as he did feel a kick in the back quite often from behind (Maxi).  Overall the drive was quite responsive, however, he agreed with me that it lacked a sixth gear for the motorway (which is something he always said about his 307 which had the same engine.  

This is car we would consider buying in the future, as it is a good compromise between a full sized MPV and a small runaround.

What the MiniMads thought of the Citroen C3 Picasso

C
hildren really do look at things differently from adults and their opinions on the C3 were that the blacked out windows and built in blinds made watching the DVD player much easier and that they could also see the screens on their leapsters better.

The loved the lights above the trays in the back of the seats in front, however, would have liked holes in the trays to pop their drinks in and the little indentation didn't keep them upright.

TopThat Publishing

I love books, let me say that again for effect, I love books.  I adore the smell, feel and joy you get from books and I am hoping to instill that in both the boys.

I am lucky that both the both the boys adore visits to the library and having books read to them, but even better they are both really starting to enjoy the ability to read themselves too.

So when Top That! publishing got in touch asking if the boys would like a couple of books I jumped at the chance.

We received Magnetic Mission to Space (£6.99) and Learn with Neddy Teddy and His Phonic Friends. (£5.39)

The first thing I notices is how wonderful and firm the books feel, which really does make a difference where children are concerned, They are well made and are bright and colourful too.

Magnetic mission to the stars really captivated Maxi, he loved naming the planets (even though the names are not in the book), whilst Mini had loads of fun turning the rocket through the pages. 

This book has been picked up again and again since we received it.  A wonderful boy to received and give.

Neddy Teddy and His Phonic fiends is a great book for any child starting to learn phonetically, but it is a little easy for my boys and didn't hold there attention once they had read it once. But saying that it is a wonderful concept for a book with spiny wheels which reveal words and images which link to the phonic sound and then a poem which uses all those words that the child has revealed.

It supports UK national literacy standards and contains all Reception age high frequency words and also includes year 1 and 2 key words too.

Would we buy from Top That! Publishing? - yes I would, they are lovely books, something to really treasure and enjoy.