THE MAGICAL LANTERN FESTIVAL // BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS

After seeing the lantern festival unlit in Chiswick House gardens last year I knew that if I ever had the opportunity to see them lit in the dark I would have to take it.  And then as if by fate they appeared in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and it was a sign that I had to go.

A DAY AT THE FARM

A rather long while ago we went to Sandwell Park Farm for a birthday party. I had never been there before but it was perfect for the girls, i.e. big enough but not so big that they could run in opposite directions and I could lose them. 

A DRIVE ON THE WILD SIDE

I love taking the girls to places that I went to as a child.  It some how makes it seem more special that they will have the same memories as I did.  Although lets be honest they will probably remember none of this so I am really doing it for me.

CHOO CHOO

My little girls love playing with their train set, arguing over who is going to have which train and it ultimately ending in Ava's tears as Esme dismantles the track--the joy of 18 month olds.  So it seemed a natural choice to take them for a trip on the Severn Valley Railway.

Both girls have been on the Santa Special (big tick on the things you do if you are a good parent list) but I am not sure if they remember it, and also the whole gift from Father Christmas kind of overshadowed the old fashioned steam train, so it was about time they got to appreciate the glamour of old school train travel.