#22 Meeting your idol

We went to Peppa Pig World as a surprise on our way to our holiday at Center Parcs.  We got there early because you were invited by Peppa as a special guest to meet her and George.  It was a daunting sight to see a six fiord version of your idol come walking towards you and at first you were a bit wary of them, preferring to play on the slide in the indoor play area rather than go to meet them.  But you soon decided you liked them and you stroked Georges tummy and grabbed his tail

Meeting George

I had to be a "pushy mum" & elbow our way through the other parents to get our turn to have a photo with Peppa & George!

And I had to a bit of wrangling to keep you in place to have your photo taken with Peppa as you weren't feeling very cooperative that morning! But you did stroke her and you looked very pleased to have got so close afterwards.

 You loved the indoor soft play area and the big slide that you went made Daddy go down with you about 10 times because when you went down it by yourself you got a hot bottom!

Unfortunately it was a rainy day but we managed to get on the rides inbetween showers. The only one you didn't want to go on was George's Dinosaur ride because you thought the dinosaurs were scary. Mummy, Daddy & Nanny enjoyed it too, but the perpetual playing of the TV show theme tune was a bit much. 

The duck pond - I think this was your favourite part of the whole park!

Driving Daddy Pig's car

We waved at Zoe Zebra ...

... Rebecca Rabbit ...

... Danny Dog and lots of others as we drove around in Daddy Pig's car

Miss Rabbit's hot air balloon ride in the foreground, and Miss Rabbit's helicopter ride in the background (Miss Rabbit is a very busy rabbit you know)

Grandpa Pig's boat ride.  It was quite a bumpy ride on the water but good fun.

Grandpa Pig's train ride

I think the day was a bit overwhelming for you really and you didn't fully understand the concept of a theme park (you are only 2 of course!) but you did enjoy it.  Daddy & I loved watching your smiles as all your favourite characters came to life.

#21 Our "Holiday in a holiday"

For our last week in England we had a 'Holiday in a holiday" at Longleat Forest Center Parcs.  We stayed in a cabin in the woods with Nanny, and Grandad, Aunty Jane & Uncle James stayed in another opposite us.  

Playing Fishing with Grandad

Exploring the woods behind the cabins (all great explorers have a stick!)

The highlight of the holiday park was the sub tropical swimming complex that had a wave pool, slides, flumes and a toddlers pool with a water slide in it. You loved it!

it!

Swimming by yourself!

On the slide - "Ready Steady Gooooooooo!"

Walking up the steps to the top of the slide by yourself.  You did this countless times - up.down, up, down!

With Aunty Jane

Nanny & Aunty Jane

Aunty Jane, Grandad & Uncle James

The holiday park is next to Longleat Safari Park so we spent a day with the animals.  You got up close with a beautiful Giraffe and really enjoyed going round the safari section in our car (mainly because you were allowed out of the car seat so you could kneel up and see the animals more easily).  You decided that seeing the lions was your favourite part of the day.

We hired bikes and cycled round the holiday park through the woods.  I got to ride in a trailer (or "Tent bike" as you called it) attached to Daddy's bike.  You loved it!  It was so much fun.  Although you did upset whenever Mummy disappeared from view.

#20 Renewing relationships with the Rele's

This trip to England has been all about renewing relationships with your English family. Some you know well from previous visits and keeping in contact via FaceTime. Some you don't remember at all. You have accepted every introduction with a little shyness at first, then lots of smiles. Essentially, if someone is willing to play with you and read you books you don't seem to mind not knowing them all that well. They fast become friends.

I have loved watching you reconnect with your Nanny.  We speak twice a week on FaceTime and she visited us in NZ earlier this year so you are very familiar with her and took to her straight away.  Your relationship has got stronger and stronger.

We speak to Grandad less often due this working hours and as a consequence you didn't really remember him, but you were quick to accept he is a special person for you and were ready to play and be read to.

You remembered Aunty Jane from our frequent FaceTime calls and quickly held her hand, say on her lap and got her to entertain you.  You found Uncle James quite scary I think, and it didn't really get any better the more we saw him! Hopefully next time you'll be less wary.

We only managed to catch up with Uncle Gary, Aunty Suzanne & Barnabyonce during the trip which was a real shame.  You had know idea of their significance to you unfortunately, but you really enjoyed our day out in the woods together searching for the Gruffalo. You even gave Barnaby a cuddle goodbye!

We spent a lovely couple of days at Great Aunty Sheila's house. You last saw Sheila and Ray when you were 7 months old so you couldn't be expected to know them at all, but as Sheila is so good with small children you quickly became at ease. Sheila had found some toys and books that once belonged to her grand children, she made playdough for you and we took you to the park. You also got to sleep in a big girls bed for the first time which was so exciting for you!

#19 When extraordinary becomes ordinary

We have just finished travelling & visiting for 6 weeks on the other side of the world.  We've stayed in numerous hotels, slept in planes, in an apartment in London, at family & friends houses, and even in a cabin in the woods. You've taken going to sleep & waking in different places in your stride. We've coped with jet lag, being ill, acclimatising to hot weather when we've been used to winter at home, and then piling on the jumpers again when the weather turned.

We've been on planes, trains and automobiles. You've met new faces & faces you only remember from iPad calls.  We've been living out of bags, you've had nothing but small portable toys to play with and you've become a tele addict as a consequence! But you have had few complaints and lots of smiles.

6 weeks is a long time to Daddy & I to be away. For you it's almost enough time to make you forget about home. Extraordinary became the ordinary for you and you have been an absolute star and the perfect travelling companion. Thank you for making my trip home even more memorable.