What sort of holidays do you like? I love busy ones. Fun holidays full of new and exciting things to do. I like to go to different places and learn something new or gain a skill I didn’t have before. I like a bit of time to laze by a pool or in a hot tub but mostly I want to come back feeling like I have packed as much as possible into my break. I tend to come back feeling like I need to sleep for a week.
I find my mind turns to holidays at this time of year. The combination of dull weather and Christmas stress means a holiday somewhere exciting is so tempting. After meeting the Mark Warner team at Mumsnet Blogfest their holidays have become my day dream of choice. I didn’t think I would get to try wind surfing in the middle of a conference centre in London but at least I didn’t fall in!
As we can’t actually go on a Mark Warner holiday right this minute we did the next best thing. For us that is to make a small world out of cardboard and lots and lots of glitter. Over the last few days we have built a mini ski resort so we can pretend we are actually there. As it’s winter it is the perfect play landscape for the girls.
We made some little Here Come the Girls skiers who are all having lots of fun on the slopes.
Our ski resort has lots of fake snow and a big ski ramp to slide down.
I can’t wait for Molly to see it as I finished it while she was at school with the twins. Well I say with the twins but there contribution was mainly to throw snow all over the floor. Sigh.
Just like Mark Warner holidays our miniature ski resort offers lots of fun and thrills for all the family.
We also have beautiful chalets (although perhaps I need to build in doors.)
Mark Warner has two types of holiday: Sun and Ski. I have to say I would find it hard to pick which one to go on if given the choice. However, I grew up by the sea and always need to go near water whenever I can – you can’t get much further away from a beach than Birmingham. It is a silly place for a beach lover to live! I made sure the twins had a first taste of the sea early on – even if it was only on the Gosport ferry.
I was incredibly lucky growing up in that my best friend had several boats and would often take me sailing. She was always trying to teach me but I was too lazy when I was younger and just want to lie back with my hand in the water and let her do the hard work! I’ve always wanted to learn some water skills – go scuba diving or learn to wind surf.
This is about the nearest we get to windsurfing near us!
The thing I love about the ethos behind Mark Warner is the emphasis on the whole family being active. I love my girls to try new things and be adventurous. Molly is six and loves to do everything. She wants to play tennis, scuba dive, swim, learn to wind surf – you name it she wants to do it. We went camping for the first time and Molly loved Kayaking and is always asking when she can go again. It’s that passion for life and for trying new things I want to foster. The only problem is I don’t think we’d see Molly from morning until night – she would want to be in all the children’s club all day. Well I say it’s a problem….
Charlotte is a very similar character. Although only 3 she is desperate to do everything her sister does.
I would love to see them out on the water, trying something new. I think it is so good for your self esteem. My girls can all be really shy but in the water they are fearless.Knowing you are good at something is really powerful and each new skill adds to that feeling of self belief.
I’ve always loved the water and the girls do too. being confident in the water is one of the things I really want for them. Molly has had lessons since she was a baby and the only problem has been getting her out of the water.
It’s always been harder to take the twins swimming but we go as much as possible. This was their first ever time swimming. One of them, I think it was Charlotte, slept through the whole thing. She didn’t even notice the water on her.
Much as the twins love swimming they spend a bit too much time swimming around in circles and drinking the water and not enough time actually kicking their legs. At least they enjoy it I suppose!
There is nothing more thrilling than swimming in the sea.
Or splashing in a fountain.
The thing Molly nags me about constantly is when she can do tennis lessons. She loves tennis but already does ice skating, swimming and ballet – which is more than enough for a six year old and too much for my rather empty wallet
She did a day lesson over the summer at the local leisure centre and loved it so much.
i would love to improve my own game to keep up with her.
The twins as ever copy Molly in everything but aren’t quite there yet.
There is definitely more bashing each other than the ball!
One of the things we love to do on holiday is travel by bike. It is such a good hobby for a family and means you get to see the place you visit from such a fun angle.
The twins are the lucky ones though. They get to travel in style.
The times I remember most as a family are when we are trying new things together. The twins are a little cautious at first but they are getting much braver and even tried ice skating.
Of course everything is more fun when you have a twin sister to do it with.
Or a big sister!
Although they all agree that Daddy is the most fun!
Things are just better when you do them together.
I like to think of the family as Team English and get the girls to look out for each other and encourage and support each other. It works most of the time.
So why should I be chosen as a Mark Warner Mum?
I am a passionate advocate of keeping active as a family – of having fun together and trying new things.
This is how we would feel if we won!
My three girls keep me pretty busy. They never stop. I have to tire them out else they are up to all kinds of mischief. After a day spent swimming, windsurfing, playing tennis and going for a bike ride they would sleep like babies. It would be nice to have a smiley photo for a change without them all pulling a duck face.
This is my entry into the Mark Warner Mum blogger competition.
For our 100 favourite outdoor activities look here.