It's been a long while since we played any games, but this weekend we did. We tried a couple of new games, and the first is Can You Guess? from Orchard Toys. The game is suitable for age 4+ and was a really fun game, a hit with all of us, whatever age.

A little while back we were sent a pack of Zip Stix to play with and review. A new toy from Re:creation they're recommended for children aged 4+ and are set to be one of the most popular stockingfillers this Christmas. Our immediate experience was that our 4 year old just can't get the hang of them at all, but our 6 year old was the best in the house!

Okay, okay, so the weather has broken and it's flipping freezing out there just now, and it really isn't the time for sandpit reviews, but it couldn't be helped, and my 4 year old doesn't seem to believe that anyway...so the Flip 120x125cm Sand Pit from Wickey is a treasure.

When it arrived it looked a bit daunting...

At the beginning of Summer we were invited to the Chill Factore with our youngest little fella to the official opening of the Mini Moose Land. Mini Moose Land is the revamped Snow Play area within the Snow Park, which we've visited before and really enjoyed, so we were more than happy to return. Our previous review is here...

We've been reviewing books for the Little Tiger Press for quite a while now, and this month we've been sent two gorgeous 'Touch And Feel' books by M. Christina Butler and Tina Macnaughton. At first I thought they might be a little young for my 4 and recently 6 year old boys, but it's not so at all.

When Elspeth died we decided that we wanted to make her service as accessible as possible for her friends. We wanted them to be involved and be able to say goodbye properly. Sunflowers were mentioned and they seemed perfect, not only for her friends, but even her youngest siblings know what sunflowers are.

We mentioned that if anyone wanted to send flowers, then they could send a sunflower. Teenagers and everyone else didn't need to feel obliged to find money to spend on expensive bunches of flowers, they could just bring a sunflower.

What we didn't expect when we mentioned Sunflowers was that it would take on a life of it's own. We didn't forsee that to show support friends and family would change their Facebook photo's. We didn't realise that we would end up with so powerful and beautiful a symbol.

It's now 7 weeks since Elspeth died. 7 weeks. It feels like just a few days,and then I wonder how I managed to fit in her service, and going back to school, and all the other stuff we've done, and I realise it's true, it is 7 weeks.

In those 7 weeks we've been sent and shown some of the  most amazing, and beautiful, and personal sunflowers that ever could exist, and we cherish them all...







Thank you to Red Rose Mummy's Mum for the artwork
Thank you to the Foundation Unit at school for the wall of sunflowers
Thank you to Michelle and Karen for the candle
Thank you to the Bury bloggers for the Willow sunflower lady
Thank you to Mothergeek and Syd for the LEGO sunflower
Thank you to Jo, whose Father works at the loveliest Co-op you could ever have to use
Thank you to Blackpool Pleasure Beach for the very timely unexpected sunflowers on the Dora ride
Thank you to Ave at Beadabode for the wooden etched sunflower
Thank you to MintyB Works Of Heart for the sunflower artwork
Thank you to Alice for the line drawing
Thank you to Anthea and Gandalf's Beard for the felted figure
Thank you to Dave and Kate at Camper Tronic for the garden sunflowers
Thank you to all of Elspeth's friends for bringing sunflowers
Thank you to everyone for being there, whether online, on the phone, or in person x

Back in July we were given the chance to work with Galt on their Mini Masterpieces project. Every month they release a new free printable which is a line drawing of a famous masterpiece, and then your children can colour and decorate it as they wish, and compare to the original.

August's masterpiece was Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh, and it was our 14 year old girl, plus the 2 little boys, who decided to take part in the challenge. We were given the Galt Art Jar, which is a huge tub of craft materials and some felt tipped pens in order to create our own masterpieces.

We camp a lot. With modern phones and laptops and teenagers you have to have access to electricity in order to keep everyone happy, so being offered a chance to review the Ventura Portable Power PB80 Powerbank with Jump Start from Snooper was perfect for us. We also drive VW's. Volkswagen vans are excellent, but the older ones especially are notorious for being a little heavy on the battery, and on cold Winter's days or after a couple of days camping you can often find that you aren't going anywhere without a jump start.


As soon as my package arrived I knew this was something a bit special. I've used instant vehicle chargers before, and they were the size of a medium suitcase.  This box was so much smaller and lighter than I expected, and when I opened it, the smartest little bag/case you ever did see...

So, one of our younger children had their birthday at the weekend. It was always going to be hard and stressful, and we all knew it, although no-one said out loud. There were a lot of iffy tummies on Friday and Saturday - the atmosphere was more than a little tense. You simply can't escape the fact that his oldest sister should be there too, and we were all upset that she wasn't.

The day started well with a lie in until 9am for us, while a couple of the teenagers got up with the little ones, then croissants and chocolate brioche for breakfast.

Wrapping paper is the best thing ever for 4 year old little brothers apparently.

On the day it was released we bought the Volkswagen T1 Camper Van set 10220 and it is a fabulous set. It is huge, it's too big for LEGO minifigures, but perfect for the old Technic people. With 1332 pieces and costing £79.99 it's only a mid-range model pricewise, yet the work and design devotion that's gone into this vehicle is astounding. As such it's an incredibly fiddly build, and the suggested age range is a mature 16+.



The attention to detail is amazing. Right down to the petrol filler next to the rear air vents, the engine including alternator belt in the engine bay....


The bench seat, super long gear stick and authentic dashboard with no flat areas...


The drop down table and 'rock and roll' bed which actually works better than they seem to in real life - when you've had a couple of beverages and you're shattered and there are 3 bags of clothes and some small children in the way....



 

And the 'pop top' roof, plus genuine 60's roof rack - only missing the vintage 'Coke' cool box...


Not to mention the 'barn doors' with attached cupboards, and terrific curtains...


The rear wardrobe has a t-shirt hanging up which is visible through the window (spot on).


There are so many other details it would be ridiculous to carry on listing them.




One of the most beautiful parts of the build though is the front of the van. The front windscreen glass opens outwards as a real Splitscreen van does, the wing mirror is perfectly and ridiculously small, and the swooping V is beautifully done.


This is a model I never tire of looking at, and my children love it when we bring it down for them to have a play. There are so many moving and interesting parts, the design is absolutely fabulous. The Volkswagen T1 Camper Van offers exceptional value for money in my opinion, and is my all-time favourite LEGO model.

I could be biased though, I met my partner because we both had VW campers....

The LEGO T1 Splitscreen Camper Van set 10220 retails at £79.99 and is available from LEGO shops and LEGO.com at that price with free delivery and VIP points that add up for free LEGO, or you can buy it on ebay for more.

If that's beyond your price range or ability then I've also reviewed the LEGO City Camper 60057, which is a much smaller and more child-friendly model.