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SpencersARC

Nina A Spencer – The Chaotic Mum Mentor. Mum Of Twins Twice! Placenta Accreta Survivor, Mental Health Champion, Wild Swimmer, Allotmenteer, On a simple living Journey filled with adventure and travel . Embracing The Imperfectly, Chaotic moments of motherhood.

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Adventures

500+ women camping in the forest  – can only mean one thing. 

Yes two weekends ago it was The unofficial WI camp “Tea & Tents”

For months us young uns of our WI have been planning for our 3 night camping trip to Walesby scout camp with over 500 other members of The Woman’s Institute.

This year Tea & Tents is in its 3rd year and our 2nd year of attending.

Last year we were newbies not only to Tea & Tents but also to the WI. This year we sort of knew what to expect.

We put our names down to volunteer at a slot over the weekend.

We ordered our merchandise.

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And then on the Friday we packed up my VW and off we went.

We arrived not long after 6pm,  the camp opened at 5pm yet there were already loads of camp areas already set up with pretty bunting and lights.

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We finally found a space to park Delilah ( my VW)  And set to putting up our tent and making our area look pretty .

Then we changed into our new T-shirts and grabbed our picnic and headed over to the main marquee to listen to the “camp opening meeting” unfortunately we were only able to listen from outside as it was already full inside.

We sat and listened through the canvas while we ate our picnic.

There were still people arriving as it was turning dark.  A few of us went to help one lady set her tent up as she was on her own and had arrived in the dark with the biggest tent on site I reckon.

Afterwards we headed back to the tent and snuggled down for the evening.

Saturday we got up and after we had made breakfast & had a Cuppa We headed to put or names down for some of the workshops. Unfortunately by the time we arrived our first options were already full up. So me & S decided to go for a facial.

After a late lunch it was time for the market place.

Lots of lovely stalls selling craft packs, homemade items, jams and cakes.

While a couple of our group went to do their volunteer slot I ordered pizza for us all.

We were going to join the camp fire but we just ended up chatting and made a little fire in the BBQ to have our own little bonfire. We even toasted some marshmallows.

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Sunday  morning was my volunteer slot. I was in charge of the photo booth with another lady but it seemed after Saturday night 9.30 was too early for anyone to want their photos took.

When I had finished my slot I rejoined my friends who had brought me over a bacon buttie and we lined up to get our names on a workshop. Myself and H booked onto vintage curtain ring brooches and S & E booked onto square weaving.

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Before our workshops started there was time for a bit of yoga.

In the afternoon we had booked a dip in a hot tub. By the time it was our slot it was quite windy and the hot tub didn’t feel very hot!

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While in there we got talking to one of the *squirrels she was telling us about her own WI in London. She also gave us a bit of inspiration for our position in our own WI.

By the time we got out I was shivering and couldn’t seem to get warm.

Sunday night was the Big Quiz.

We cooked some jacket potatoes warmed some beans and took them up to the quiz.

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We did quite well in the quiz. And we’re quite impressed with ourselves. Especially on the Tv themes round.

There was one theme that hit with all of us. If I just say “In west Philadelphia born and raised on a playground is where I spent most of my days…..” Leave in the comments below if you know what this is. 🙂

A marquee full of women singing was one of the highlights of the weekend!

Monday morning came and I actually forgot it was my birthday! Until I came out of the tent and the E had put some gifts out on my chair. 🙂

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Everyone woke up and we slowly took down our home for the past 3 nights.

We got bitten to hell on camp and there were a couple of things that were a bit rubbish but all in all the camp was amazing. A great time to get to know one another and to meet new friends.

A chance to take part in activities you might not take part in any other time!

We just found out yesterday that the organisers are taking a break in 2017 but the camp will be back in 2018 and I for one am looking forward to doing it all again!

 

It seems I didnt take as many photos as I thought! I must try better next time!

*squirrel – one of the volunteers that help in the running of the event. Making sure the other volunteers know what they are doing and generally making sure the camp is going ok.

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Screen Free Weekends

Screen Free Weekends –

A couple of weeks ago my family and I stayed at Finca de arrieta In Lanzarote.

While we were there I shut down my phone and any form of tech, Other than my camera – I’m a blogger after all, I can’t very well not take pictures.

It was great spending the weekend “offline” I was able to connect better with my children, I wasn’t bothered by news, and I was able to take in the beautiful surroundings.

It seems we have become a society or even a world where having a phone or tablet in our hands is the norm. From sitting at home to passing time on a flight even while we are walking down the street Think Pokémon Go.

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It’s not just the younger generation that is screen obsessed either – both my mum who can’t go half an hour with out her phone and my In-laws who’s house rules used to be no screens while you’re visiting – otherwise what’s the point of visiting. It’s a different story now however with candy crush being the game we play as a family replacing the old favorites like monopoly & snakes & ladders.

My mother in-law it seems has even started catching Pokémon

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I am also screen obsessed Maybe even as far as addicted. I am often telling the children ‘just one more min while I scroll down my Instagram feed or message friends.

In a bid to gain back some control over the screens and give myself that feeling I had back at Finca de Arrieta, I am launching screen free weekends.

I know if I say no screens over the whole weekend we are bound to fail. So my plan is to limit our screen time throughout the weekend.

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Adventures

Traveling with Twins – In Flight.

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Today I am back with another Traveling with Twins post for you following on from my at the airport this how to make sure your flight goes smoothly.

Our twins first flight was just before their first birthday since then we have been lucky enough to travel at least twice a year.

I know sitting in a confined tin can with any amount of children can seem like a daunting prospect but it doesn’t have to be.

I have even managed to take J & M on my own on a couple of occasions,

So here is what I do to try and beat the cabin fever.

Toileting

  • Make sure you use the toilet before boarding the plane. – even if they insist they don’t need it I still make my two try you could be a long time with seat belts on!
  • Sometimes if the kids are desperate the cabin crew will let you use the toilet before take off!
  • Make sure you have a spare set of clothes just incase they can’t hold it in.
  • Now I’ve been in a situation where I need the loo and I have two children with me – My advice is If they are happy in their seat leave them. They can’t go anywhere. And there isn’t a lot they can damage in their seat.
  • Otherwise you could take them up to the toilet with you however there isn’t a lot of room for three in those toilets. – Cabin crew may talk to your little ones while you go to the loo. All you have to do is ask.

Activities

  • We pack the electronic nanny with us in our hand luggage but remember you will need them in flight mode so download what you can beforehand.
  • Make sure you have kid’s headphones – you don’t want to be on a 4 & half hour flight with peppa pig on a loop in your ear! Kids headphone will often have limited volume too so no need to worry about little ears being damaged
  • Pack a new thing – a magazine, small toy, coloring book. – It doesn’t have to be expensive.
  • I once packed a lucky bag – The excitement of something new and not knowing what is in the bag was enough to keep them busy for a while!

 Reverse the role.

  • Kids love a bit of responsibility I tell mine to let me know when the seatbelt sign is off. This doesn’t always work they still ask for the tray table down or their bag but I get them to keep an eye on the light and tell me when its gone off!
  • While the cabin crew are doing their safety spiel I get the kids to watch if they are old enough and then let me know what to do with life jacket, and how to put on my seatbelt!

I’m Hungry

  • So there is often a trolley of snacks up and down the aisle, on our journey of 4.5 hrs we see the snack bar three times! It can cost a small fortune.
  • Pack some snacks in the kids hang luggage – fruit, popcorn, juice, crisps, even a sandwich!
  • Chose one thing off the menu and don’t veer off.
  • If you only have a short trip eat before you travel.

Getting off

Wait until the end – If you get out of your seat first your going to be holding people up behind you and if you have more than one child your more likely to get split up due to everyone trying to rush off

Take off  & Landing

  • To prevent ears popping and hurting little ones make sure they have some sweets or a drink they can have while taking off and landing
  • For babies I recommend their dummy or feeding them the sucking will relies the pressure in the ears and sooth them during this time.SAMSUNG CSC

So they are my tips for the flight, can you think of any more?

If you have a great tip leave a comment below and don’t forget to follow me on bloglovin of wordpress for more Traveling with twins.

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Health & Fitness

How do I explain death to my 4 year olds?

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In the four years my children have been alive a number special people in our lives have died. The Twins had been a little young to know whats happening. When I lost my Nan my twins were only two. They will have noticed she wasn’t here anymore however they don’t really remember her! 

A couple of days ago however the next door neighbour of my nan (who I have known since they both moved there about 30 years ago ) died – She had been having a few health issues over the past year but had such a positive outlook! She was in her 90s and so much more agile than my nan was at 90!

As I came off the phone to my mum I realised I was crying and J & M were looking at me!

I tried to explain but I don’t think they understood!

I tried the well “Mrs G” won’t be here anymore she has gone to be with my nanny somewhere in the stars!

Can we see her they asked! – I told them that we wouldn’t be able to see her again now.

I didn’t know what to say –  I think many of us are inept at dealing with death. I was talking to someone the other day who said I the olden days death was just what happened. In fact in times of poverty it was probably a bit of a relief as sick couldn’t work so therefore were a burden!  These times we as family dealt with the funeral ourselves.

Nowadays that job is usually  given to a funeral home so we only ever talk  about death through closed doors!

I am one of those inept people – I don’t deal with death very well and therefore am a little scared of my own mortality or selfishly the mortality of people around me (what will I feel when there gone?)

So with all this in mind I want to do the right thing by my two. I don’t want them to grow up with this fear that I have and that my dad had that death is something to fear so much so that it interferes with living!

Googling how to talk to a preschooler about death I came up with many don’ts

  • Don’t tell them that the person has gone to sleep – This may cause the child to not want to go to sleep
  • Don’t tell them the person has gone away – Leaving the child may then be an issue as they may think you have “gone away”
  • Don’t tell them the person has been so good that jesus wanted them – The child might start playing up so they don’t get chosen
  • Don’t tell the child the person is happy now they have gone – the child might question why the person is so happy when everyone around them is sad!

So what do I say instead?

What do I say to my 4 year olds about where this person who was a part of our lives is now?

How do explain death to them?

If you have any words of wisdom please leave in the comments below or message me on facebook.

Thanks

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Health & Fitness

Fitness Friday – So close!

If you follow my instagram feed and My Fitness Pal account  you will see that from Monday I started logging my food & tracking my steps –

I started the week quite terrible – It was my birthday on Monday so my food included chocolate cake! and as we had been camping over the weekend my watch was flat so I couldn’t track my steps either!

However as the week progresses I have done a lot better. I got up to 8500 steps on Wednesday – This was walking J & M to holiday club I also managed to fit a swimming session in too!

This morning I was hopeful that I could have hit the 10000 with a holiday club run and some free time for a walk around the village – Unfortunately M was poorly in the night and having a day off from Holiday club so you will have to check out my instagram feed later to see how I got on!

I thought I could also fit in a swim today but again with M off I couldn’t take her with me! Also My time of the month just arrived and she’s makes herself well-known so I’m just going to end up having a lazy day I think!

Updates

I’ve rejoined the Spa! – The motivation to swim there is so much better I feel so much more relaxed there!

Next step is to get up earlier and get a yoga sequence in before J & M get up. Yoga makes me feel so much better for the day ahead.

This past week knowing that you are following my progress has been my motivation, so this week my plan is a “a week of yoga” vlog on my YouTube channel.

The video will hopefully go live at the same time as next weeks Fitness Friday post.

To see how I get on don’t forget to subscribe to my Channel, Follow my Instagram feed & Follow me here on my blog!

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Where to next?