
Ahhh, the Term 3 school holidays. Full of the promise of daylight saving, spring in full effect, summer around the corner…………the reality is often drizzle, cloud and southerlies with a touch of rain.
Pessimist? Never. Realist and Auckland native? Ahhhyes.
The dynamic between my two boys is constantly changing. With an 8.5 year age gap Ethan has quickly moved past the “he’s soooo cute, let me carry him everywhere and kiss him ’til he giggles” phase and we are firmly entrenched in the battlezone that is “HELP, he’s biting / scratching / hitting / pulling my hair / breaking my stuff! Poor Ethan.
Poor ME!
Nixie is embracing stereotypical two year old behaviour with all of the gusto of a bingeing P addict. He is voracious and methodical in his destruction, his love of climbing, tumbling, wrestling and tackling (the joys of an older rugby-playing brother lol) knows no limits that we have yet discovered. I love it, his energy is infectious but he does require monitored downtime to regroup before his over-tired alter-ego comes out to wreck havoc play.
I feel very thankful to be at a place in my parenting journey where I can poo-poo the perfect mummy model and freely admit that Nixon and Ethan watch TV. Every day. Multiple times if the need arises. OMG!! I said it. Now shoot me.
As such, I’m keeping an ace up my sleeve to whip out over the holidays – NEON, I welcome you and your sweet programming onto our devices!
To be honest my (poor) kids are a bit starved when it comes to their Disney intake, not intentionally, I just really, really dislike DVD storage, clutter and the inevitable heartbreak and expense when Nix slams them in the Xbox tray and they are destroyed. This is only one of the reasons why I LOVE a good digital subscription service like NEON. No messy cases and pesky disks to inventory, plus, wonderful family movies and shows that all live ‘up there’ in the ‘cloud’ or something. All I know is the when I hit Airplay on the iPad we are in Disney heaven!
To make sure I’m ready for when the first meltdown of the holiday times itself perfectly with me making a Croquembouche or something (HA!), I’ve already made a Watchlist of 30 shows and movies so I’m not scrambling at tanty-time;
I picture our NEON time playing out in one of two ways;
- It’s gloomy outside, the fire is on, everyone’s happy. I’m snuggled on the couch under my handmade crochet blanket, Ethan on one side, Nixie on the other, everyone’s excited as I introduce my kids to some Classic Disney movies such as Cinderella, Dumbo, Lilo & Stitch………there’s probably popcorn and lots of giggling.
- Ethan’s yelling because his two year old brother bit him, Nixon’s roaring like a lion and chasing Ethan around the couch, I’m screaming “WHERE”S THE IPAD???”, find iPad, throw it at kids screaming “find the new app, and watch ALL the shows!” whilst running to the bathroom and locking the door so I can rock back and forth in peace.
Either way, the kids end up happy and so do I – provided I can get out of the bathroom as someone’s probably jammed Play-Doh in the lock again.
While I’m in self-imposed Mummy Time Out I’ll probably knock back a couple of shows myself, because I can watch NEON on my phone people! I’m thinking Girls (I’m ashamed to say I’ve not seen one episode yet!), Game of Thrones (we’ve only seen Series 1) and The Real Housewives of Melbourne (can you imagine an Aussie version of this show? I die). There’s new shows and movies becoming available all the time so binge-watchers exhale, it will be ok, OK?
You can get your own holiday contingency plan sorted quick-smart, just sign up for a 30 day free trial at neontv.co.nz and start streaming now.
To make your holidays that much sweeter, NEON and The Best Nest are giving you the chance to win a $100 Prezzy Card that you can spend wherever you want! Enter via the widget below. Competition closes Sunday October 4th at 12am.
Sep 28, 2015 6:41 am
petrol in the car to take the kids swimming in the heated pool, give the kids some money to buy something from the warehouse – one practical thing like felts or paper and one thin that is a treat like a packet of lollies or a silly hat and perhaps get the ingredients for some baking that we can all do together
Sep 28, 2015 7:52 am
Would spend the money towards buying an annual membership family pass to Orana Park, as the kids love the animals, but always such a big expense for our tribe!
Sep 28, 2015 8:06 am
Love the holidays…. no lunches and sleep ins! 🙂
Sep 28, 2015 8:27 am
Would send the prezzy card up with Miss 5 when she goes up to Auckland to visit her Grandparents.
Sep 28, 2015 8:36 am
That would be great, it sure does get more expensive in the holidays. I’d use it to go to the movies and swimming pool.
Sep 28, 2015 8:49 am
Thank you Best Nest and Neon for this prize. Great FB pages, great information.
Sep 28, 2015 8:59 am
It seems the last couple school holidays the first couple days are wet,dull and the kids can’t get out and play .Going to the movies is very hard the prices are so expensive so to be able to watch the classics at home is great .Neon have a great play list for kids to watch and its such a great family time with out going out in the rain.
Sep 28, 2015 9:05 am
Something for the children – would be awesome to make the little ones happy by purchasing their favorite things
Sep 28, 2015 9:10 am
Would spend the prezzy card on some treats for all
Sep 28, 2015 9:30 am
holiday fun for GC
Sep 28, 2015 9:36 am
For petrol to go to my Gt Grandsons 5th Birthday in Rotorua
Sep 28, 2015 9:42 am
Would be so awesome to win this. it would really come in handy!
Sep 28, 2015 10:01 am
Awesome prize…would be great to use for petrol for a school holidays road trip!
Sep 28, 2015 10:18 am
I would share the prize with my family!
Sep 28, 2015 10:19 am
Well it is also Halloween season, and while we do not trick or treat; I do take any excuse to bake so will be making cookies and cupcakes and would love the extra to put towards some truly gory but yummy topping ideas:)
Sep 28, 2015 10:24 am
A couple of new bike helmets for going to the park and some baking ingredients would pretty much do it.
Sep 28, 2015 10:38 am
Cool prize…could take the kids to the movies and 10 Pin Bowling with this!
Sep 28, 2015 11:17 am
Awesome! I definitely can’t wait to watch some more classics with the little ones, will definitely bring back some memories
Sep 28, 2015 1:24 pm
Making a fun holiday for my kiddies!
Sep 28, 2015 1:42 pm
Would spend it on taking my son to my Aunties 70th so he can meet family that he hasn’t met before. Thank you 🙂
Sep 28, 2015 3:46 pm
great wet weather gear as its our first school holidays since shifting to Wellington!
Sep 28, 2015 4:52 pm
I would use to buy groceries for my family as my partner has just been made redundant and things are pretty tough at the moment
Sep 28, 2015 6:10 pm
I would take my nieces to burger king then the movies love love love
Sep 28, 2015 6:15 pm
would be great to have a bit extra 🙂
Sep 28, 2015 6:15 pm
would be great to have a bit extra 🙂
Sep 28, 2015 7:28 pm
I’d love to shop for some new books at Whitcoulls, some cooking books for me, and Thomas books for my little boy 🙂
Sep 28, 2015 7:29 pm
I would spend the money on me for a change, as is normal kids come first and sometimes its nice to put Mum first.
Sep 28, 2015 8:21 pm
I would spend the card on having good fun times with my darlings, whether it is sunny or wet, we’d go to the movies or stay home with a favourite dvd eating our favourite snaxs or if sunny go for walks along the beach, collecting treasure.
Sep 28, 2015 9:49 pm
I would spend the prize on a much needed family day out 🙂
Sep 28, 2015 10:20 pm
I would start my Christmas shopping, with six kids things get tiiiiight!
Sep 28, 2015 11:19 pm
I would stock the freezer and help my daughter as well
Sep 29, 2015 1:20 pm
a voucher so the boys can download some cool games / movies on their tablet! <3
Sep 29, 2015 11:01 pm
Neon TV sounds like a life saver! Your style of writing cracks me up 🙂
Sep 30, 2015 11:52 am
Id love to buy me the 4 ingredients cook book and my children some art and crafts
Sep 30, 2015 1:03 pm
I’d spend it on a day out with the kids to orana park to see the gorillas ?
Sep 30, 2015 3:17 pm
It is both of my boys birthday’s coming up so I would love to get them a present each and take them to the zoo 🙂
Sep 30, 2015 4:30 pm
I would use the money to take the kids somewhere fun during the holidays!
Sep 30, 2015 7:58 pm
Oh how I’d love to win and start my xmas shopping! Neon sounds fab for little people
Sep 30, 2015 9:15 pm
Love it !
Sep 30, 2015 11:24 pm
This would be a huge bonus over the holidays, so much more to do!!! Yay!!!
Oct 1, 2015 1:06 am
yes please amazing prize
Oct 1, 2015 10:26 am
An awesome read!
Oct 1, 2015 2:01 pm
A bit boring, but I’d buy some summer pajamas and shoes (for the 1.7 times they will wear them in the summer!) for my two kids
Oct 1, 2015 3:27 pm
I would spend it on a high chair we desperately need for our little one who is starting her solids journey!
Oct 1, 2015 7:42 pm
I would love to buy some new gym tights as my old ones are quite raggity
Oct 1, 2015 9:35 pm
Oh man, I would be all over those Disney movies!
Oct 2, 2015 12:16 am
I would spend it on my 3 awesome boys to actually go do something for the holidays instead of walking everywhere and going to the park or making stuff at home (I mean we love it and have fun but I know they would love to actually go somewhere for once, even just a movie).
Oct 2, 2015 1:46 pm
Would love to win this please!
Oct 2, 2015 5:49 pm
Man I’d take my girl clothes shopping .. For summer dresses 🙂
Oct 2, 2015 7:22 pm
I’d love to win the prezzy card! I’d take my wife and four kids out for a treat and get some family games so we can snuggle in and enjoy some snacks and play a game together!
Oct 3, 2015 7:21 am
I would use this to get into splash planet, my kids are dying to go here
Oct 3, 2015 10:32 am
So needing this now, running out of ideas ( and patience). They’ve seen the Lego movie 3 times already! I’ve been singing everything is awesome in my head. The prezzy card would be awesome to win too, I’ll use the prezzy card to buy the kids some summer clothes. Won’t be long before its summer holiday!
Oct 3, 2015 10:56 am
With the weather being so volatile at the moment, having this is a great backup to keep the kids entertained. Love it!
Oct 5, 2015 9:28 am
love to win for my 3 boys to keep entertained
Oct 5, 2015 4:44 pm
I would do something FUN with my kids because I’ve been working all holidays *sad face* starting at 6.30am!!!! And they are fun to hang out with.
Oct 6, 2015 7:50 am
The holidays have gone so fast.
Oct 6, 2015 8:51 am
Movies!
Oct 6, 2015 3:24 pm
Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Oct 6, 2015 7:37 pm
What an awesome prize to win 🙂
Oct 6, 2015 9:43 pm
Thanks for the opportunity to participate , would be a lovely treat for the grandchildren
Oct 8, 2015 9:59 am
We are using the Neon app and loving it!! So many great movies and tv series too. Kids are loving the movies and Im loving the Satisfaction series’, used to watch it
Oct 8, 2015 11:11 pm
Would love to win a $100 prezzy card, my daughter Ruby celebrated her 5th birthday during these holidays and is due to start school next week. I would put this towards buying her some extra school uniform and supplies. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity 🙂