Meet Santa and his Antarctic creatures at The National Sea Life Centre Birmingham this Christmas

The Sea Life Centre is a great and momentous attraction to visit anytime of the year, but throw in a chance to meet Santa (experience and visit is available to book until 23rd December) and it turns into a magical visit. All admission tickets  (starts from £12.75) to the Sea life Centre include Meet Santa experience with children under 3 going for free!

Our family has visited the Sea Life Centre a few times in the past but this time everything seemed much more exciting.

 As your enter the first segment of the attraction- the Gentoo penguins! However unlike previous visits they seemed to interact with us more than before, even though they are through the glass. L and I were particularly elated as one penguin took a liking to her and decided to move when she moved, like a cute mirror image.

I personally found the penguins elegant in the way they moved, with an element of playfulness and cuteness.

The general layout of the Centre is the same with some superb fishes and underwater creatures to see through the looking glass, ranging from "Nemo"- as L calls them (clownfish) to the streamline sharks and rays.

                                     
We also gave the starfish a stroke! A staff member was offering passing visitors the chance to touch the sea creatures. They vary so much to the touch, the first I stroked had a hard and rough surface, but the other starfish was soft and delicate, very interesting as I have never had the chance to stroke underwater creatures before, so definitely an experience I will not forget.

                                        
As we continued our walk we passed "Dory" and "Nemo" and the wonderful, yet slightly creepy giant octupus. L seemed too excited to stand still so it was a matter of taking a look when we had the chance whilst she dragged us to each window!

Next up were some very cool white and black spotted rays and a very strange fish with crab legs, it was very interesting and the topic of conversation for several minutes with L. As she too found it bizarre but that makes sea creatures so interesting.

We then passed the jellyfish which are elegant when you look at them in their glowing tanks.

Halting at something which we noticed people queuing for- a chance to have a 4D Polar Express experience. Now I am yet to have experienced anything in 4D, so this opportunity was not to be

missed. We were given prior warning of what to expect: loud noise, lighting and the possibility of water! I would say this experience would be more suitable for older kids as some of the noises and effects might seem too loud and frighting for little ones.

Back up the winding path passed the cute little frogs and turtles, we knew what was coming next- the awesome 360 Ocean tunnel with sharks, rays, fish and a turtle. You simply do not know where to look, there is so much going on around you that you end up spinning on the spot and forgetting to walk forward.

Eventually when we did manage to pull ourselves away from the brilliant tunnel, we arrived at a queue. We knew what this queue was for, but tried to keep it a secret for L for as long as possible, it

lasted about 10 seconds. L was very excited to see Santa in his "Antarctic" cave!! She already had a list of what she wanted, but tried to lower expectations a little. Just before we meet the man himself, there is a final opportunity to see the penguins again through a glass window whilst waiting to see Santa.

Santa was sat on his sleigh surrounded by Christmas trees, and it looked great! L got a little shy but happily interacted with us for the pictures and when Santa gave L a cute crab plush toy. The experience in general was brilliant and seemed to build on our previous visit.

Just to add- you can purchase the images (inc. a keyring and other printed items) for £20, which seemed reasonable.

Once we said our goodbyes to Santa we had a choice of either let L have a run around in the indoor play area or do some painting with her (2 separate rooms), we opted for soft play room as this seemed small enough to be able to watch L without following her everywhere.

L was quite literally drained of energy when we left the Sea Life Centre, exhausted by her incredible and energetic experience she had at this truly memorable attraction!

Would I recommend it on a normal day, yes, however add Santa into the equation and you have a "definitely"!

Disclaimer: I was offered to visit the attraction with my family for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Arts & Crafts: handprint and footprint salt dough Christmas

                             

I wanted to do this for a while now, as I thought it could be a lovely way of explaining to L basics of Christmas and could be a great Christmas present for our close family members. 

I tried to create Santa and Rudolph as seen on Pinterest but I have decided that I should let L decide what will be created on the ornament as family will appreciate it more than my weird artwork. As it is work in progress here are 2 ornaments we (I) made so far.

It is very easy to do if you follow the correct recipe:

- 1/2 cup of salt
- 1/2 cup of flour
- 1/4 cup of water
- mix and knead the dough, add a little bit of flour if sticky
- cut the dough onto small pieces/balls
- use rolling pin or a bottle to create a round shape
- put your little one's hand or foot firmly onto the ornament
- cut the excess 
- put in the oven for 2-3 hours under 100 degrees
- paint once dry

What I have learnt from the process: I need to relax and let L create the ornaments, I need to find better paints (I used acrylics).

It's the most wonderful time of the year with Webbs of Wychbold

GROTTO
Last Wednesday was a truly magical for us! We were invited to the Webbs Garden Centre in Wychbold to visit their newly opened outdoor Ice rink and Santa's Grotto.

Families with young ones or just the young at heart can visit the Winter Wonderland, which has been created at the award-winning garden centre, and see the animated elves in their workshop, the polar bears skating on the ice rink and enjoy songs and dance from the playful electronic penguins before being greeted by elves and taken to meet Father Christmas himself.

After telling him their festive wish, children will then enter the toy warehouse and choose their own gift as an early festive treat – but only if they’ve been good!

The grotto will be open from 9am – 4.30pm on Saturdays until 20th December, 10am – 4.30pm on Sundays until 21st December, 1pm – 5pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 26th November to 5th December, 1pm – 6pm on 10th, 11th, and 12th December, 9.30am – 6.30pm from 15th – 19th December, 9am – 6.30pm on 22nd and 23rd December and from 9am – 2.30pm on Christmas Eve.
Grotto tickets are priced at £7 per child, which includes one accompanying adult and a free gift worth £5. Booking in advance is recommended, and can be made in-store or online at www.webbs.co.uk.

I have never been to the Grotto before therefore didn't really know what to expect apart from the obvious bits- meeting Santa and a present.
Prior to the visit my expectations were not high, I thought that we will be rushed throughout our visit to the Grotto and thought that Santa would be friendly but I didn't expect him to be nice. 
How little did I know! We were really impressed with the welcoming service, decorations, animated polar bears, penguins and elves on the way to Santa, staff members dressed as elves and of course Santa!! I take it back, he was great!!

When we walked into the room where Santa sat we were greeted by a girl elf, who took pictures of us all with Santa, we were also allowed to take our own pictures.

As L is tiny and can't talk Santa asked me what I want for Christmas, I couldn't think of anything at that moment so said that I wish for L to have lots of presents this Christmas. 
After all the pictures were taken we were offered to visit Santa's toy warehouse to pick a toy. 

Oh my, it was tough! We were told that one boy spent more than half an hour trying to pick 1 toy out of 6 he had picked as well! Not surprised!
Further more, in the next section staff members offered us to pick and purchase photos which were taken earlier by the elf.

ICE RINK

Unfortunately we didn't use ice rink which is a shame as I really wanted to, but with 4 months old it was impossible.

Here is a little it more about it from Webbs Chairman, Ed Webb “There’s nothing to make you feel festive more than skating outdoors on real ice. And this year we have our biggest rink ever plus a great clear roof covering so you can skate whatever the weather. It’s a great activity with family or friends and we are thrilled we can bring such a cool experience to our customers again this year.”

He added, “It’s magical skating outside in the early evening with lights twinkling and frost in the air and just as much fun in the quieter sessions, perhaps teaching your children to skate.”

The ice rink will be open seven days a week until Sunday, 4th January (closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day), including some evening sessions. Each session is 45 minutes long and ticket price includes skate hire. The rink-side Christmas Café will make the experience complete. Ice skating tickets are from just £6.

Disclaimer: I was offered to visit Webbs of Wychbol for the purpose of this review. All thought and opinions are my own.