I have already written about my most read posts of 2018, but none of my favourite moments of the year featured, possibly because they were special to us, rather than everyone else.
When I initially started my blog, it was my diary of the family as they grew, a record of those moments that made us feel proud and a reminder for the kids of all the fun activities we got up to throughout the year.
My favourite moments of 2018
Women’s FA Cup Final – Wembley
As football fans, any visit to Wembley is a great day out for us, but this one was extra special as Eliza was going to be a player escort for our beloved Chelsea as they took on Arsenal in the Women’s FA Cup Final.
Eliza proudly walked onto the Wembley pitch with Chelsea defender Mille Bright and must have been a good luck charm as we went on to win 2-1.
This is something that Kian has done too, so fingers crossed Isaac and Sebby will get a chance to do it too one day.
Kian’s 18th Birthday
I cannot quite believe that my millennium baby turned 18 this year and we celebrated with a family day out at Dorset Water Park. where we launched him into adulthood in style……..literally!
This has to be one of my favourite photo’s of the year!
Our first Mermaiding Experience
Eliza adores mermaids and has always dreamed of becoming one, so when we discovered that there was a Mermaid Academy in Bournemouth, I booked her in for a lesson for her 7th birthday.
She loved it so much that she now has her very own mermaid tail and can swim brilliantly with it. We are looking forward to her mermaid party later this month.
An Unexpected Snow Day
Living in Bournemouth we have come to accept that we just don’t get snow, however, in March the Beast from the East hit us and we actually got enough of the white stuff to play with.
The snow only lasted a couple of days, but we broke out the sleds from the shed and made the most of the hill at the end of our road, built a snowman and did some snow painting in the garden.
Isaac’s 10th Birthday at Avon Tyrell
Isaac turned 10 this year and chose to have his party at Avon Tyrell activity centre for the second year as he loved it so much.
This year he chose activities that would really challenge him, including the zip wire, raft building and the climbing wall and it was lovely seeing him and his friends working together and encouraging each other to complete the activities.
Even an unexpected dip in the lake from the raft didn’t put anyone off!!
Riding the Pierzip
Another feature for my little daredevil, Isaac. He has wanted to ride the pier to beach zip in Bournemouth for ages, but due to his diminutive stature, he has never got the chance.
This summer, he finally reached the magic 130cm and got to ride the Pierzip with none other than Nigel Clarke from CBBC!!
Junior Zookeeper for a Day
Isaac is at the age now where he doesn’t want toys for his birthday, so we were on the hunt for the perfect present to get him for his birthday.
If you ask him what he wants to do when he is older, he will always say a zookeeper, so we decided to get him a Junior Zookeeper for a Day Experience at Marwell Zoo.
He absolutely loved his day, where he helped to muck out the giraffe, prepare a meal and feed the gibbons and even stroked a rhino!!
Sebastian’s 5th Birthday Party
I still cannot quite believe that the baby of the family turned 5 this year and for his birthday he combined two of his loves – Star Wars and Balloons, with a party hosted by Dr Balloonman.
He had almost the whole class from school at his party and they all had a brilliant time, with lots of fun and laughter. Sebby loved being the centre if attention, of course!
Halloween at Disneyland Paris
Any visit to Disney is special, but this October half term we surprised the kids with a visit to Disneyland Paris during our holiday in France.
We were completely spoilt with glorious weather and loved seeing all the Halloween decorations and shows.
Christmas at Coombe Mill
This year we headed to Coombe Mill for Christmas and it is probably one of the most relaxing Christmas’ we have ever had.
It really was a great way to finish the year!!
What are your stand out moments from 2018?
Wow, sounds like you had a lovely action packed 2018. Halloween in Disneyland looked like so much fun!
Your favourite moments sound amazing! We love that Eliza walked out onto pitch! I’ve just started playing football! The zookeeper day and of course Disneyland and Coombe Mill created some wonderful memories for you too x
it looks like you’ve been able to fit in so much in a year. I would love to go to Disney around Halloween time, I bet it is even more fun 🙂
Such a fun post! I always love looking back on all of the fun moments and experiences from the past year. 🙂
Oh what a lovely idea for a post and what a lovely year – mermaid academy!
Looks like you had a lot of fun experiences! CHeers to 2019. Hope there’ll be lots more good times
This mermaid academy looks incredible!! What a fabulous year you’ve had with your lovely family – hope that 2019 is just as amazing for you.
It looks like a very fruitful year that you have. I love most of the thing that you did and the mermaid experience look so fun. The colorful tail is so stunning and great that you have also captured it in the water. Love it.
These all look like such amazing moments of last year, I can’t pick one I like the sound of most! So nice to see so many happy memories and smiling faces! Hope 2019 is just as great for you!
So many fun things in one post. That 18th birthday party sure looks fun!
These all sounds so amazing and what lovely experience and adventures you have had. The mermaid swimming- didn’t even know that was a thing but it’s brilliant
What an amazing year to look back on, the kids have got to do some incredible experiences
You guys obviously had a fantastic and adventure packed 2018.
It sounds like you had an amazing year! The mermaid experience and water park sound awesome! I’d love to visit the water park myself!
This must have been so lovely to look back on! I love the pic from the waterpark and I love that we were there to watch Eliza at the Women’s FA Cup final. That was a highlight for us too
Oh wow, what a great year 2018 was for you guys! Scary isn’t it, millenium babies are all now 18!! x
What a fab year you have had for sure. I am loving the sound and look of the Dorset water park – so much fun I bet xx
I love the idea of a mermaid class, so cute!
Katie xoxo
WOW it looks and sounds like you had an amazing year! Lots of fun parties and Disney at Halloween looks awesome! I have been considering getting me and my son a zoo keeper experience to enjoy together too!
It looks like you had an incredible 2018. The mermaid experience looked especially mer-mazing!
Louise x