We were invited to a @dynamoscricket session at Lord’s over the weekend and M had the most amazing morning. It was the perfect weather for cricket as he took part in a coaching session on the actual pitch. Not only that, he got to meet some @londonspirit players and got his @londonspirit top signed too. This was such an incredible experience - we are SO ready for @thehundred this summer. #TheHundred #Dynamoscricket

#ad | We loved getting involved in the Every. Bake. Counts. challenge - showing what @thehundred means to our family. The Hundred is an exciting 100-ball cricket competition held during the summer holidays (23 July—18 August). We’ve been to watch it over the last few years, and it’s a fantastic day out for the whole family! What you can expect: 🏏 World-class cricket 🏏Concourse entertainment - plenty of activities to take part in 🏏 Live music in partnership with @bbcintroducing and Resident DJs Prices are just £5 for under 16s and from £11 for adults. Tickets are available at The Hundred website or you can tune into the matches on Sky Sports and BBC Two.   @thehundred @ovalinvicibles @londonspirit @mattyedgell #TheHundred #EveryBakeCounts #OvalInvincibles #LondonSpirit #EnglandCricket #FamilyCricket #CricketFamily #CricketCake #FamilyBaking #BakeOff #BakingWithKids #CricketKids #TheHundredCricket #FamilyTime #KidsBaking #BakingWithChildren #BakingFun #BakingFun #LondonBloggers

🏏Dynamos Cricket🏏 M was ecstatic to be invited to Oval Cricket Ground to try out Dynamos Cricket. They had a fun indoor session learning how to catch, throw and bat. If you’ve not heard of Dynamos Cricket, it’s an 8-week programme suitable for kids aged 8-11. Dynamos is the perfect introduction to cricket, so you don’t need to worry if you’ve not played cricket before. It’s a great way for kids to make friends and learn new skills. Adults are also encouraged to join in, so you’d be having some quality family time together. There are thousands of clubs across the country taking part in Dynamos - you can find your nearest programme on their website. #dynamos #dynamoscricket #cricket #2024 #youthcricket #TheHundred #TheOval #ECB #YoungCricketers #CricketForKids #cricketseason @dynamoscricket @thehundred

[AD - Press visit] We enjoyed the glorious sunshine this weekend with a trip to Brighton. We went on the @brightoni360official which is right by the sea front. The i360 pod take a slow journey up, allowing you to take in views across Brighton and the South Downs 450ft above ground. There’s a bar inside with drinks and snacks available to purchase and the experience lasts 25 minutes. Afterwards, we headed to the open air roller rink for a roller skating session! The roller rink is: ⭐ Suitable for over 5s ⭐ £6.50 if you have your own skates or £9.50 if you need to hire them ⭐ 45 minutes per session Full details to visit the i360 + skating 📍 Brighton i360, Lower Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2LN 🚗 Parking nearby (we parked in the Regency Square Car park) 🎟️ Prices start from £25.40 for an adult and £16.90 for a child 🕐 Opening hours are currently Sun-Fri 10.30am-18.30pm and until 19.30pm on Saturdays ☕️ Bar inside the i360, cafe and gift shop Book tickets here: https://tickets.brightoni360.co.uk/tickets/?_ga=2.195305772.1869001490.1689671753-1757164059.1689671753/#events?eventid=157

***WIN a Family pass to Laser Quest Kingston!***⁠ ⁠ I've teamed up with the lovely people at @laserquestkingston to offer you the chance to win 1 of 2 Family passes to Laser Quest Kingston!⁠ ⁠ The Family pass is valid for 4 people at and includes:⁠ ⁠ • 1x 20 minute game of Laser Quest,⁠ • 1x VR experience⁠ • 2x Amusement tokens per person⁠ ⁠ To enter simply:⁠ ⁠ ⭐️ LIKE and SAVE this post⁠ ⭐️ FOLLOW @suburbanmum and @laserquestkingston⁠ ⭐️ TAG your friend⁠a ⭐️ Bonus entry - SHARE this post to your story & TAG @suburbanmum⁠ ⁠ The competition ends on Sunday 6 Aug at 11.59pm. The winner will be contacted shortly after. This competition is not affiliated with Instagram.⁠ ⁠ You can also read about our visit to Laser Quest here: https://www.suburban-mum.com/laser-quest-kingston/⁠ ⁠ If you can't wait and would like to head down to Laser Quest to try it out, use the code SUMMER20 for 20% off your booking. The code is valid from now until the end of August 2023 and can be used on Laser Quest games and birthday party bookings.⁠

[AD] ***Summer of fun at Barracudas Activity Camps!**** There is plenty for kids to do at @barracudas_activity_day_camps From Tennis, Archery, Swimming, Motor Sports and more you can be sure that there will be something for kids aged 4.5-14. ⚽🏈🥅🎾🏓🏎️🏹🏊‍♂️🏉 You can book on a day by day basis - so it can fit in with any other days out/activities you have planned and there are early drop off and late pickup options available. Barracudas are also Ofsted registered so you can use your Childcare Vouchers too. ⭐⭐⭐Get £20 off a week or £4 off a day using my discount code: MARIA20⭐⭐⭐ #BarracudasActivityDayCamp #BarracudasActivityCamp #BarracudaAmbassadors #SummerHolidays #SchoolHolidays #Summer2023 #SummerCamp #DayCare #Camp #KidsCamp #surreymummy #surreymums #SummerOfFun #ActivityCamps #HolidayCamps #Childcare #SchoolHolidays #schoolholidaycamps

Pic 2 of 2⁠ ⁠ It's been a while since we had a family pic on the grid! This one was snapped over the end of May bank holiday weekend. We went to Gunwharf Quays for a spot of retail therapy and stopped off for lunch. The weather was 👌 and it felt like we were on holiday! Speaking of which - we still need to book somewhere to go over the summer.⁠ ⁠ If you're going abroad this summer, let me know where you're going. We need some inspiration!!⁠

Pic 1 of 2⁠ ⁠ It's been a while since we had a family pic on the grid! This one was snapped over the end of May bank holiday weekend. We went to Gunwharf Quays for a spot of retail therapy and stopped off for lunch. The weather was 👌 and it felt like we were on holiday! Speaking of which - we still need to book somewhere to go over the summer.⁠ ⁠ If you're going abroad this summer let me know where you're going. We need some inspiration!!⁠

The boys are growing up fast, and with that comes a new set of challenges - navigating the tween/teen years, giving them more independence and responsibilities, etc. I sometimes miss them being smaller and cuddlier (even though they were more demanding). Parenthood certainly is a whirlwind of emotions, but it's a privilege to be able to watch them grow and turn into young men.⁠ ⁠

[AD] We have some super exciting news...we have been chosen to be Laser Quest Ambassadors, and the boys are over the moon!⁠ ⁠ We are really lucky that our local Laser Quest (@laserquestkingston) is just around the corner from us. It means we can pop in of a weekend or anytime during the school holidays, and with summer just around the corner, I know Laser Quest will be one of our go-to places for some family fun.⁠ ⁠ As well as games of Laser Quest, there are also VR experiences and arcade amusements too. To find out a bit more about how Laser Quest works, you can read my blog post: https://www.suburban-mum.com/laser-quest-kingston/⁠ (clickable link in bio) ⁠ Don't forget to keep an eye out for our Laser Quest posts - I'm going to be giving away two family passes to use at Laserquest Kingston!⁠ ⁠ If you can't wait and want to head down to Laser Quest to try it out, use the code SUMMER30 for 30% off your booking. The code is valid from now until the end of August 2023 and can be used on Laser Quest games and birthday party bookings.⁠ ⁠ #LaserquestAmbassador #Laserquest #LaserquestKingston #ActivitiesForKids #FamilyFun #DaysOutWithKids #Lasertag #LaserquestVR #Kingston #ThingsToDoInKingston #SurreyFamilyDaysOut #ThingsToDoWithKids #RainyDayFun #SurreyMummy #SurreyLife #LifeWithKids #LifeWithBoys #familyfunday

**Reel of our super busy May** May is always crazy busy for us with three birthdays (Mr H’s, E’s and mine), Eurovision and half-term. This year E turned 13 so the celebrations were extra-special. We also packed in a trip to Alton Towers (one of our happy places) and ended it with a joint birthday party for both boys (belated for M as he fractured his arm in Feb) Phew... now May is over I can catch a breather and prep myself for end of school year madness! #MayBirthdays #13YearOld #Teenager #AltonTowers #adventuresofchildren #myfamilyadventures #surreymummy #surreydaysout #surreylife #surreymums #familydaysout #Familygoals #Familyof4 #familydayout

[AD] The sun has finally made an appearance and the boys have been making the most of it by spending it in the garden. They’re go-to is always football and they’ve been trying to improve their aim and accuracy with the new Messi Foldable Footlball goal from the #MessiTrainingSystem range. I love the fact the goal is foldable, making it easy to store away when not in use. It is also lightweight so you can effortlessly pack it up  and take it to the park or to a friend’s house. The Messi Foldable Football Goal retails at £36 and can be purchased from @argos You can read my full review here: https://www.suburban-mum.com/messi-foldable-football-goal/ #TrainLikeMessi #FoldableFootballGoal #FootballSkills #OutdoorFun #LionelMessi #LeoMessi #FootballAtHome #OutdoorKids #JustGetOutside #OutdoorsAndFree #ScreenFreeKids #WhateverTheWeatherKids @flair_gp

***EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITY IDEAS FOR OLDER KIDS**** Trying to keep my two boys (aged 12 and 10) entertained over the holidays is so much harder now they’re older. They’re happy to just stay in and play computers games, which is fine for a bit but they need to get out and do other things or their brains will turn to mush! Here are some ideas for you: 1. Bowling. @tenpin offer 50% off bowling and selected drinks every Tuesday - even during the holidays. 2. Theme Parks. If you want to visit Merlin attractions (Chessington, Thorpe Park, Legoland, Alton Towers) collect vouchers on Kelloggs cereals where Adults can go free. Or you can collect tokens with The Sun for 2 free tickets. 3. Trampoline Parks. We love @airhopguildford and @jumpinesher 4. Laserquest. Head to your local @laserquest for a game, there are arcades and VR experiences to try too. 5. Adventure Golf. Some of our local favourites include Jurassic Encounter in New Malden, Jungle Island in Epsom and @safari_adventure_golf in Hersham. I also have a list of places to visit in London/Surrey in my blog post https://www.suburban-mum.com/where-to-adventure-golf-in-london-surrey/ (link in bio) 6. Go Karting. We love @surbitonraceway but there’s also @daytonamsport in Esher and @teamsportkarting in Mitcham MORE ACTIVITY IDEAS ⭐ VR Experiences (see https://www.suburban-mum.com/the-best-vr-experiences-london/ or link in bio) ⭐ Arcades - check out @highscorearcades ⭐ Water Parks like @waterworld.sot.official or local swimming pools that run inflatable sessions ⭐ Geocaching see https://www.geocaching.com/sites/education/en/ for how to get started ⭐ Try the world’s longest tunnel slide at the Queen Elizabeth Park @arcelormittalorbit ⭐ Ride the IFS Cloud Cable car and see views of London https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/london-cable-car/

[AD] We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we are Barracuda Ambassadors again this year. With Easter just around the corner, the boys were sent the @barracudas_activity_day_camps new camp kit in preparation for the school holidays. There’s a wide range of activities for kids aged 4.5 - 14 including Tennis, Archery, Basketball, Arts & Crafts and more. If you like the sound of Barracudas, find out more over on their website. You can also save £20 a week or £4 a day, using my discount code: MARIA20

We can achieve great things if we put our minds to it.⁠

If you’re looking for something to do over the Easter holidays, why not head to @brooklandsmuseum? I’ve been taking the boys here since they were toddlers, and there is so much to see and do. M is obsessed with aeroplanes, so we spent most of our last visit going on the aircrafts they have on display. We did the Concorde Experience too. There’s also a wide range of motoring exhibits, and the London Bus Museum is here. We plan on returning soon to see all the exhibits we missed last time. I got our tickets through Buy a Gift, as you can save over £25 on a family entry to the museum (see the link in my bio) Full details to visit Brooklands Museum below: 📍 Brooklands Drive, Weybridge Surrey KT13 0SL 🚗 Parking is free 🎟️ Adults £23, Children 5-18 £12, Family Ticket £57.50, Under 5s are free 🕐 Opening hours 10-5pm ☕️ Cafe and gift shop

[AD - Gifted] Last weekend we were invited to try out @tsarettaspice’s new Bottomless Brunch menu and I can tell you it was thumbs up all round! There’s a good choice tapas on offer from Punjabi fish fingers, Indo Chinese Chicken to Spiced Lamb Scotch Eggs and Manchurian Cauliflower (which was amazing!) If you’re local to Twickenham and fancy giving them a try here’s are the details. Tsaretta Spice Bottomless Brunch ⭐️£37.50 per head for bottomless Prosecco or cocktail of the day ⭐️£55 per head for bottomless Champagne ⭐️ Food included: 4 tapas selections and dessert or 2 tapas selections, a pav or naanwich and dessert ⭐️ Non-alcohol brunch is also available Tsaretta Spice 55 Church Street Twickenham TW1 3NR You can also read our full review over on the blog (link in bio)

[AD] What does family look like for you? ⁠ ⁠ I am fortunate to be surrounded by strong, powerful women in the form of my mum, sister and mother-in-law (along with many others). With Mother’s Day just around the corner, @BootsUK want to celebrate all the different mums and mother figures we are lucky enough to have in our lives. They have a huge range of Mother’s Day gifts to choose from so we can show them how much they mean to us. (swipe to take a look at some of my choices)⁠ ⁠ If you want to express love and appreciation for the mother figure(s) in your life, head to Boots.com to find the ideal gift. They have a whole host of gifts, so you can be sure to find something to suit all tastes. Celebrate the #LoveForAllMums this Mother’s Day with Boots.⁠ ⁠

Someone wake me up when the sun decides to stay!⁠⁠

📚 Are you ready for World Book Day? 📚⁠ ⁠ [AD - Gifted] I don't know about you, but I have never made the boys a costume for #WorldBookDay. I just don't have it in me to be creative that way. Their costumes have always been bought or cobbled together with what we already have, and luckily, the school allow you to wear pyjamas to school, which makes things a lot easier!⁠ ⁠ M has been living in his @TheRealTomGates pyjamas recently, and I think he might wear these when his World Book Day dress-up day comes around (the school celebrate with Book Week rather than just Book Day)⁠ ⁠ The boys have been fans of Tom Gates for a while now. M has always loved reading books that make him laugh and contain humour - they tend to keep him engaged in reading.⁠ ⁠ Did you know that there are now 20 Tom Gates storybooks to get stuck into? Ideal for kids aged 6-12, the series consists of feel-good, hilarious books full of photos and stories about Tom's life at home and school. Best of all, you can read them in any order.⁠ ⁠ The latest book is Tom Gates: Happy to Help (Eventually), and along with the pyjamas, you can pick them up from @GeorgeAtAsda just in time for World Book Day!⁠ ⁠ There's also a range of Tom Gates items, including games, puzzles and greeting cards at major retailers.⁠ ⁠