CharlieBeth's "My Life As Mumma Walker"

Books! We love books in our house. Jack (8) and Tom (6 next week) have more books on their birthday wish lists than they do toys or games, George (4) demands stories be read to him daily, and Fred... Well, ok, Fred likes to eat books but he is only 1. At least he's enjoying them! It's a start right? Reading has always been a big part of our family time. Even Jack still enjoys a good bedtime story along with his younger brothers. Sometimes we read a chapter of something like Harry Potter, sometimes we read something lighter like a Julia Donaldson or Sam Lloyd book (or two or three). It depends on their moods, how tired they are, and how well I think they'll listen that evening. We like funny books. We like adventures. We like books with a twist.  These Elli Woollard books, illustrated by Benji Davies, check both those boxes! I sat down with my younger two to read  The Gaint of Jum  after nursery one afternoon and they loved it. They already know so many versions of 

I tried a little run tonight. I took it easy with plenty of walking, but I ran further than the first time so I'm happy with myself.im gaining a little more confidence with it now. I do look a bit like a wounded octopus minus half its legs while a flail my way down the road, but everyone has been very supportive and commended me on just giving it a go. So I figured to hell with anyone who sniggered at my wobbly butt and flappy arms. I ran about half of the distance to the Scout Hut (which was mostly flat because I went the sort way) and about a third of the way back (the long way, with hills, I ran the flat bits). I wasn't even too knackered when I got home, so I'm taking that to mean that I am doing it right and not over stretching myself. Walking tomorrow. Might do an hour if the weather is ok. I'm in meetings all day at work so doubt I'll get much done while I'm there. Facebook has changed it’s policy for posts to Facebook pages like mine. They a

Now we have two kids coming home with creative homework! I still love crafting and making with them and we have fun doing it. I feel sorry for George because he wants creative homework too but doesn't start school yet. It's a shame they won't always feel this way about homework! It's not how I remember it! Jack's topic is Romans so he wanted to make a shield. Judging by Facebook a lot of his pals have gone the same way. I think they're planning on making themselves into a Roman army! Tom's topic is the Geat Outdoors and he needed to make a tent or shelter that would protect some Lego men from the rain. He says they are going to pour water on them to see if they work! Fun foam was their material of choice. PVA glue just doesn't hold it together well enough so Freddie and I went on a little trip to town this morning to buy a glue gun. I only burned myself once (over three fingers and a thumb) which was enough for the kids to not want to touch it.

They're here! I've been as kiddy as one of my kids today at work waiting for confirmation that my new running shoes had arrived. I couldn't wait to get home and try them on. They take a little getting used to - they feel very different to the walking boosts I'm used to. But I like them. So this evening, after helping the kids with their homework for a bit and getting them into bed, and went for a wander. I needed to get some steps I'm because my Fitbit was having a problem (think the battery was low / flat and the app didn't pick it up) so I had no log of my steps between 7:45am and 6pm. And I had promised to help out with the Scout Hut again. I walked to the hut, a bit too shy to try a run or even a jog. But a few of the folk there were supportive and encouraging so I held a bit braver by the time we'd finished. I flicked on my C25K app and selected the beginners "4 weeks to 1 mile" option (I think I'm a bit far off 5k just now) and

Monday's are long for our Jack! Right now he and Tom are both at Beavers, and Jack has Cubs afterwards too. This time next month he will be a proper Cub! Tonight we visited another Beaver group and shared their hut while the floor gets ripped out of ours. Tom is now the proud owner of his very first Nights Away badge! His first proper badge! He is totally thrilled! Jack's Cub group was at the Priory so we dropped him off on the way home and then I walked out to meet him afterwards. It's been a fantastic day for doing outside stuff with their Scouting sections, and while there have been dark clouds in the distance we've had sunshine. It was just starting to rain as I walked home with Jack and we caught a snap with a rainbow in the background - and a very happy, very tired Beaver / Cub Scout who is just enjoying walking the long way home. via Facebook http://ift.tt/22mlDtg

Call me crazy.... But I'm considering taking up the "Couch to 5K" challenge.... I don't do running as a rule. But I find myself thinking about it loads. I see people out running when I'm taking my walks and think "I could do that... I really could!" But I'm nervous, shy even! But I've chatted to other Weight Watchers on the Connect App and loads have done it and now run on a regular basis. If they can do it, so can I! I already have a couple of strong sports bras to stop my mummy bosom from flapping about. I've found a sale on at Sports Direct, and I'm seriously thinking about investing in some running shoes - I can hardly run in my heavy walking boots. So I am adding this to my diet and fitness bucket list along with sorting out my bike and getting riding again. I wonder how soon I can get hold of my running shoes..... No reason why I can't use them for cycling too, is there? #excited! Facebook has changed it’s policy

I'm a bit annoyed that Fitbit and ITTT stopped talking to each other and stopped sharing my daily update on here - although I suppose it would be annoying to my readers after a bit so I'll live with it. In truth I only wanted to show off that fact that I am still taking this walking lark seriously. I am getting my steps in every day! I am tracking my food every day! And it is paying off! One thing I didn't do was sort my bike out. I simply haven't had time, what with work, kids, walking, volunteering to help out the scout group. But since it will take money to fix and I have none spare this  month I guess it can wait for now.... I'll try to dig it out and see what state it is in but I am still rushed off my feet. This week I dropped 3lb! That's 7lb this month, 10lb since I rebooted the diet last month, 40lb over all.... But still a good way from where I was before I let it all slip. I'm really happy with my progress and I can see myself getting ba

2pm I rolled up at the camp site and was met my a host of leaders from different Beaver groups. I was asked which child was mine and got shocked looks when I said I was picking up SIX! But one of our leaders spotted me and all my charges were found and bundled into the car. He also told me that my cakes were the first to get scoffed (which always pleases me to hear, especially when other parents are having cakes shoved back at them to take home - really can do without the temptation). Somehow we crammed all the stuff back into the car. Jack called some of the mums to let them know we were on our way back to the scout hut, and with the only exception of one Beaver feeling a bit ill as we came round the town centre, it was a thankfully uneventful drive back. I did at one point ask if they'd had fun, and who had earned a new badge, and was almost deafened by the reply! They had fun! Very quiet for the rest of the day. I chucked my boys in the shower when they got home and th

It's true. I drove 6 kids out in to the country side and ditched them at the side of the road with a bag full of cakes and said "See ya later" before driving off. Two of them were even my own kids! Hahaha! For anyone who hasn't read my blog before, I've just dropped a load of Beavers off at Camp where they are staying for the night. Along with around 60 others! For my eldest this is probably his last camp as a Beaver, he swims up to Cubs next month. For my second son this is if first Beaver camp. It's a bit of a worrier and gets a touch homesick at night so I'm glad he's got big brother Jack on the same camp. Today has been a bit of a rush, I'm amazed I haven't met myself coming back! Up with the lark to get the kids ready and the car packed. Jack was picked up at 8:30 of taken down to the Scout Hut to help sell plants. I took Tom and George to the sports centre for their swimming lessons. Then back to the Hut to drop Tom off, and home

I'm spending more time at the Scout Hut than the kids at the moment. Last night I was there helping to clear out some of the rubble and dust while the whole of the inside gets ripped out ready for the renovations - which start in a few weeks. Loads of fun watching folk pull down plaster board, wrenching away at wooden and metal frames (certain areas of H&S I'm pretending I didn't witness) and I'm really glad I went to help out even if I mostly just swept up and moved wood and metal into stacks ready for the skips. Tonight I went to help unload and sort the plants for the plant sale, only for the last hour but it's all I could manage after taking Jack swimming. In fact it's all scouting all the time in our house right now. I've spent that last two days sorting, washing, and packing for Jack and Tom's camp, and most of today has been spent baking. I've made Rocky Road, and chocolate cupcakes with Spiderman themed sprinkles for them to take with t

This is the cheeky chappy I picked up from nursery today. Just for a change I arrived bang on time to pick George up (more luck than judgement as I'd been out for a walk with Freddie and a friend of mine). As I waited for George to come out I was passed by a few kids with their faces painted - including one of Georgie's two best buddies. He was done up like a Turtle (Donatello apparently, the purple one). And I just knew  that George would be a Turtle too! I turned to my friend and said "bet you anything he say's he's Michaelangelo!" Sure enough George came bursting out of the nursery with a green face and orange eyes! (Yes I know it looks red in the photo). "Mummy! Mummy! Look! I'm Mikey! I'm a Turtle!!!!" One seriously happy boy! Until bed time and it had to be washed off. And it really did.... after an afternoon at home, and his tea, it was less Ninja Turtle and more Horrific Zombie! He had snook up behind his dad to show him his

May 18, 2016 Total steps: 14027 Floors climbed: Calories burned: 3323 Elevation gained: feet Traveled: 5.86 miles Sedentary minutes: 1107 Lightly active minutes: 225 Fairly active minutes: 2 Very active minutes: 106 via Fitbit

Went for a walk this evening with my step-buddy (who bought me a naught little Gin & Slim in a can for our walk home!) and thought I'd give MapMyWalk another go - it's been over a year since I last used it. Always quite liked it but I got out of the habit of walking. Tonight MapMyWalk thinks I walked over 7 miles this evening. But my FitBit thinks I walked less than 6 miles ALL DAY. So who do I believe? (without getting out a proper map and tracking my route. I'm too lazy for that. That's why I have  apps!) Then I took a closer look at my map. It looks like I crossed the river a few times. I didn't..... So there I think is the answer to my question. I don't remember having this problem last time I used MapMyWalk, but then again I used to use my mobile internet data and this time I kept it off line. So perhaps it's struggled to know my exact location? Anyway.... I still like the app. I've installed it on my iPod (sim free hense not usin