Extraordinary moments with Cow & Gate
There is nothing I love more than spending time with the children, even more so when we can get outside. Throughout the warmer months we live at the beach, the park, or in the garden, just enjoying the outdoors, playing game’s and using our imaginations. It never ceases to amaze me just how creative the children can be, and together they can play for hours.
With Eva starting school and Megan at pre-school, I worried how Harry would cope at home each day with only me for company. So used to playing with his sisters, and going along with their demands, I wondered how we would pass our days.
And yet the thing with a two year old is that their imaginations know no limits. Even during the ordinary moments, sat in the shopping trolley at the supermarket, he can be driving a racing car, bombing along the aisles, sounding his imaginary horn, throwing his head back and laughing as we race around the corners.
Walks in the park become a safari trek in the jungle, hunting for lions and tigers, hiding in make shift dens from make believe grizzly bears, screaming at the top of his voice, “Watch out!! It’s behind you!”.
Splashing around the paddling pool in the garden becomes a deep sea dive, thrashing away from sharks, diving for treasure, singing with imaginary mermaids. And for me, those are my favourite moments.
So when I heard about the Cow & Gate Extraordinary moments campaign, encouraging parents to turn every day moments into extraordinary ones, it was definitely something that we wanted to take part in. And it couldn’t have come at a better time.
This last week the weather has been utterly miserable, grey and raining from morning ’til night, and it has put a real dampener on our adventures. We have been unable to do our usual trips to the park, down the woods or even just play in the garden, and after far too many days sat on the couch, watching television, we were beginning to get cabin fever.
“Who wants to go to the moon?” I asked Harry, hiding a special ‘spaceman’s helmet’ behind my back. As he dragged his eyes away from the television, and spotted the silver glint of the helmet, his eyes lit up, “Me!”.
And as he placed the colander on his head, I brought in our alien adventure supplies, tin foil ‘meterorites’ and gold glitter ‘stars’. “Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon!” Harry sang, as he sat down in his imaginary rocket and patted the floor beside him, “You can come too”.
And with the grey skies behind us, and the sound of the rain just a distant patter, we counted down to rocket launch, “Five, four, three, two, one…..BLAST OFF!!!” and shot into space. “Aliens are coming!” Harry shouted, as we ducked and dived in our rocket, blasting the aliens with our special (cardboard tube) laser guns, “Got them! Harry saved you!” he told me, throwing his arms around me, his little face so sincere.
By the time we landed back down to earth we had met six legged aliens, three eyed monsters, dodged meteorites, eaten space food and floated through space. And it was perfect, just Harry and I, enjoying our own extraordinary moment.
And thanks to the Cow & Gate story book video maker, we were able to download a video of our space adventure to watch later that night at bedtime.
As I read aloud the story, Harry watching in amazement as he flew through space, and by the time we had read it, twice over, my tired little space explorer was closing his eyes. “Night night Harry,” I told him as I planted a kiss on his head. “Harry is a spaceman!” he mumbled, falling asleep, no doubt dreaming of our cosmic adventure.
To make your own extraordinary moment visit the Cow & Gate Website >>>> here <<<<<
Loving this I love the colander and off to the moon really made me giggle brilliant as always Laura x #dreamteam
Haha thanks Nige, the colander has now become known as the space helmet!! xx
This is brilliant! Alfie is just starting to use his imagination so much more and it’s so exciting. Definitely going to try the extraordinary moments maker! #TriumphantTales
It’s fab, I’ve made one for the girls too as they felt very left out! xx
Oh Laura this is just so precious! My little ones would love a trip to the moon – I am so dusting off my colander tomorrow. What a brilliant idea! Thanks for sharing with #DreamTeam x
Haha dust it off and get yourself in that rocket, I love these moments! xx
It’s amazing how you adapt to time with just one at home and children’s imaginations are the best at turning ordinary situations into adventures. #Best&Worst
They make every day so much more fun! xx
What a fabulous idea 🙂 We had loads of trips to the moon in cardboard boxes when the Tubblet was small 🙂
A cardboard box is the best toy ever isn’t it? xx
Love this. We can learn a lot from kiddos about letting our imaginations run wild and not being boxed in by reality 🙂
I totally agree, their imaginations are amazing! x
Great photos and great imagination, happy memories together #BloggerClubUK
I love how children can make a normal situation something so much fun! #TriumphantTales
Me too, its so lovely to just see them play! xx
That sounds like such fun. He is very cute and I love the colander photo. We have a similar pic here with things sticking out of it. I love kids imaginations. There’s nothing else like it. #BloggerClubUK
Thank you Suzy. Who knew kitchen utensils could be so much fun? xx
Oh I loved this!!! I love the imaginations of children. What a great thing to be able to watch and read back too. I’m going to bookmark this and give it a go! Fantastic! And a huge thank you for linking up to #TriumphantTales this week. We’d love to have you again next week. xx
Thank you Jaki, it’s good fun to do, Harry loved it! See you next week! x
awww that photo of Harry with the colinder is adorable! I’m glad he doesnt seem too alone now the girls are at school. He is such a cutie!! I do love it when companies like this do campaigns escpecially when it is to encourage kids imaginations!
Thank you so much for linking up to #TriumphantTales. I hope to see you back next week.
Thank you. It’s great to encourage children to use their imaginations, I shall definitely be back next week! xx
Love it Laura, you are so creative! Thanks for linking up to the #bestandworst please do stop by again.
Thanks Helen, I’ll be back again tomorrow! xx
This is exactly what we do – my 2 year old has the most amazing imagination. He woke up very early this morning but has taken himself off on a dinosaur adventure, complete with safari hat! Thanks for linking to #sharewithme
Aww bless him! A childs imagination is amazing! xx
Aw it is so lovely that you love spending time with your kids and that Cow & Gate helps you make even more memories. I loved that you could download a video of your time x
Harry loved doing this, so much fun! xx
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