Where in the world is Jenny Woodenmum?

Well done girls .. and bye bye from the Madhouse Woodenmums !

2010-09-29T15:51:00.000+02:00

Well, when this blog started ...

... we had no idea where it would go ...

... whether it would fizzle out before it got off the ground ...

... whether the girls would run out of ideas ...

... or get bored ...

But they didn't ! A huge thanks to John Crane Toys for giving us the idea for this blog, which has given us many a giggle during the summer ...

Now everyone's back to school and the good weather's behind us, we'll say bye bye for now but maybe Jenny will be back on holiday with us next summer ! Who knows ?!

Bye Bye from Sophie & Juliette & the Madhouse Woodenmums !

Yee haw cowboy !

2010-09-29T15:43:00.000+02:00

Taking part in a rodeo - that horse looks more like a My Little Pony than a bucking bronco, luckily !

Some quick snapshots of the sights we've seen

2010-09-29T15:40:00.000+02:00

Thailand

Venice

Russia

Paris (luckily they avoided the bomb scares and didn't get evacuated !)

The Little Mermaid ? Must be Denmark then !

Um I think this might be an early prototype for the Sphinx !

How much fun can you have with a magazine ?!

2010-09-29T15:34:00.000+02:00

It looks like Jenny's ended up on some science fiction film set

Aaaaaggghhh get me out of here !

Every little boy's dream of being a train driver

Come and join me in my tree house !

Fun on a bouncy castle

2010-09-18T17:23:00.002+02:00

Look what Jenny's up to !

She's joined the girls on an enormous bouncy castle !

But it was a bit dangerous for the Woodenkids so they decided to go home and make their own using air-filled parcel packaging ! They all had great fun, even if Jenny did keep flashing her knickers !

They were so tired afterwards that they all had a snooze in the deckchair in the garden to recover !

Let's Go Fly a Kite

2010-09-18T17:14:00.003+02:00

First of all, the Woodenmums got together for a family conference to decide where to go for their day out. Jessica got so enthusiastic about putting her hand up to vote that she smacked poor Johnny in the head ! Jenny nearly got a black eye too. Calm down Jessica !

They decided to go to a kite-making workshop and watched Sophie carefully painting her kite.

Then they went to look at some of the other kites on show. They loved the big rainbow-coloured boat ...

... but Jenny got a huge fright when she saw this beautiful dragon kite !

She decided to create this much less scary-looking butterfly instead.

Shocking news

2010-09-10T09:36:00.003+02:00

Oh my goodness, Jessica and Johnnie were in serious trouble last night. They stole a car and went joyriding !

They were having great fun, hanging out of the windows with the stereo on full blast, doing laps of the car park.

The next thing you know, a very cross policeman arrived on the scene and gave them a good telling off.

Luckily for Jessica and Johnny they already had a prisoner in the back of the van so they were allowed to go home if they promised to be very very wood, I mean good !

Otherwise they'd have had to spend a night locked up in the police cells.

Naughty Jessica and Johnny ! What were they thinking ?!

Life's a beach

2010-09-10T07:29:00.005+02:00

Oooh look, Mr Woodenmum has found a starfish. And they rolled their trouser legs up so far, they didn't even get wet !

They listened to shells to see if they could hear the sea.

Yippee we've found a magic green pearl - we can sell it and be rich !

Time to go looking in the rockpools - don't fall in Jenny !

Putting the finishing touches to their enormous sand castle

Heeheehee we're the kings of the castle and you're the dirty rascals !

A family trip to the park

2010-09-07T08:51:00.002+02:00

Jenny can't stop giggling as she has to push Mr Woodenmum down the slide because his bum got stuck !

Meanwhile Johnnie and Jessica are playing on the roundabout.

"Mum, Dad, can you come and push us round ?"

Oh my goodness, they've all bundled on the roundabout now - I hope they don't break it !

Jenny drew the short straw and has to do pushing duty !

Off on a cruise

2010-09-04T08:49:00.002+02:00

Jenny poses in front of the Dunkirk tourist boat which gives her a good idea for a family day out ...

All Aboard ! Jenny seems to be having another Titanic moment - I think she must have a soft spot for Leonardo Di Caprio !

Mr Woodenmum soaks up the sun, Jenny's pulled up her skirt to get tanned legs but is flashing her knickers and Jessica seems to have fallen over so they must have gone over a big wave ! Johnnie's still leaning out of the window so I hope he's not feeling seasick.

The Woodenmums do ... Belgium !

2010-08-30T16:55:00.003+02:00

Here they are tucking into the national dish of mussels and chips. I'm sure Jenny sneaked off after this photo to try out the other Belgian specialities of chocolates, waffles with whipped cream and melted chocolate and beer !

Fun in the ball pond

2010-08-29T09:15:00.001+02:00

Johnnie's got fed up of posing for photos and wants to go off and play again !

Holiday food

2010-08-29T09:10:00.002+02:00

picnics in the garden

Jessica discovered churros and learnt that you have to wait for them to cool down if you don't want to burn your tongue !

Johnnie ate an ice cream almost as big as him !

Back to Dunkirk

2010-08-29T09:07:00.003+02:00

at Dunkirk train station

You probably recognise the flag on the left but the one on the right is the flag of Dunkirk.

A visit to a crêperie in Brittany

2010-08-23T08:56:00.004+02:00

Jenny (who has been swapping clothes with Jessica - have you noticed ?!) seems to be looking at the dessert part of the menu instead of the crêpes !

And what's this ? Jessica is checking out the wine ?!

Jenny decides to go local and drink the Breton cider that is the traditional accompaniment to pancakes.

Jessica (who looks like she might have come out in her pyjamas today !) gets an ice cream almost as big as she is ! Yummy - j'adore la glace vanille / fraise !

The Woodenmums do Brittany !

2010-08-23T08:34:00.004+02:00

It's a land of lighthouses ...

little fishing ports ...

and seagulls !

Look what was happening in Brittany this weekend !

2010-08-23T08:25:00.003+02:00

When we discovered that it was "le festival des oignons roses 2010" (the 2010 Pink Onion Festival) in Roscoff on the coast of northern Brittany this weekend, we had to go and have a look.

After Jenny being famous in Turkey, this time it was Johnnie's turn to get stars in his eyes ! Johnnies are what they call the French people from Brittany who used to take their strings of onions over to England to sell. There's even a "musée des Johnnies" in Roscoff !

Time to head off to the fields and help pick the onions - don't fall off Johnnie !

Time to come home again

2010-08-15T17:58:00.003+02:00

Jenny at the airport keeping a close eye on the plane to make sure they don't forget to load on her suitcase.

Oooh Duty Free. Just time to go and buy a packet of Woodendadbines and a bottle of JD (no, not Jack Daniels, Jenny's Drinkies !)

Jenny's still got the holiday spirit (or maybe she's been at the JD's !) and starts being naughty, making silly announcements on the airport tannoy system. "Bing Bong, would all Woodenmums please make their way to gate number 52. Don't forget your boarding passes" !

Awww it's been fun, back to reality now - I bet it's raining when we land !

Mum, why don't you make our bed like this at home ?

2010-08-15T17:55:00.003+02:00

"Can we have palm trees on our beds every morning when we get home, Mum ?"

"Sure", mutters Jenny, "if you sit there folding up the sheets yourself. The novelty will soon wear off !"

I'm not sure who was most impressed - the Wodenmums or Juliette !

It's Baywatch time !

2010-08-15T17:52:00.002+02:00

What's this ? Have Jenny and Mr Woodenmum found a dusty old park bench to sit on ?

No, they've taken over the lifeguard's chair and are keeping an eye on Jessica and Johnny swimming in the moonlight !

Don't forget the sun cream !

2010-08-15T17:42:00.002+02:00

Even Woodenmums and dads and kids have to be careful they don't scorch in the Turkish sun. Time for the factor 50 !

Now it's time to check out the pool - handy lifebelt in the background but Jessica isn't worried. She's made of wood so she knows she'll float if she falls in !

Jenny prefers chilling out in the shade of the parasols at the beach.

Jenny grabs Mr Woodenmum's hand because she's a bit scared of Pierre the Giant looming in the background - especially as he's suddenly started growing enormous teeth that make her shudder. Luckily, he's more interested in eating sand than trying to chew on Jenny's leg !

Jessica goes off to discover some Turkish delights

2010-08-15T17:35:00.003+02:00

Jessica thought the fantastic flowers were beautiful ...

... but then she spotted the citrus fruit (limes, oranges, grapefruit) growing on trees all around the hotel and thought that was really impressive.

Time for a well deserved cocktail after all that exploring - don't worry Jenny, it's non-alcoholic. It's Blue Sprite and all the kids at the Mini Club were guzzling it all day long !

Look, we're famous in Turkey !

2010-08-15T17:32:00.002+02:00

Pierre the Giant had a choice of colours of highchairs in the hotel restaurant but they all had one thing in common ...

Wow, they must have written Jenny's name all over them when they learnt that she was coming to stay. Even better than a red carpet !

The Woodenmums do Turkey !

2010-08-15T17:22:00.002+02:00

We made it ! We're in Turkey - for real !

Even Mr RealDad pitched in and helped take the photos this time (and he may be pretending he's not having fun but I don't believe it for a minute - just look at his smile !)

The view from the restaurant where we sip our cocktails each night as the sun sets

Jenny checking out the view from the balcony

Jessica couldn't wait and went running off with Juliette to sign up at the Mini Club !

Birthdays can be dangerous when you're old !

2010-07-30T15:12:00.003+02:00

It's Jenny Woodenmum's birthday - happy birthday Jenny !

Wow, look at that fabulous birthday cake !

Jenny jokingly says that there are so many candles, she'd better bring along a fire extinguisher because it might get out of control !

Oh no, Jenny was right - quick, call the fire brigade !

Forget the fire brigade. Jenny's back with a fireman's helmet to go with the fire extinguisher so she can brave the flames herself !

(All Sophie's own work while we were busy packing !! That really is the last post for a fortnight - see you soon !)

Off to a new country - Another guessing game ...

2010-07-29T09:49:00.003+02:00

We've had great fun on our American trip this week but for the next two weeks, we'll be off on some real travels with Sophie and Juliette having so many adventures that we won't even be able to come online ! Here's a little clue as to where we're going - can you guess ? At least you can't give me the evil eye if you get it wrong because my necklace will protect me !

Hut hut hut !

2010-07-29T09:40:00.002+02:00

No not Pizza Hut, American football !

Mr Woodenmum was really excited to see the stadium where the Washington Redskins play ...

and they invited him down to play along with them too. Don't get squished, Mr Woodenmum. You look a bit scrawny next to them !

Admiring the Manhattan skyline

2010-07-29T09:23:00.002+02:00

Wow, they skyscrapers are pretty when they're all lit up at night time.

The Streets of San Francisco

2010-07-28T08:08:00.002+02:00

We had a really good laugh today.

Mr Woodenmum was so busy posing for a photo in front of the cable cars ...

... that he didn't hear Jessica and Johnny telling him to hurry up and jump on ...

... so he had to run really fast to catch up with the rest of the family at the bottom of the hill !

The Woodenmums do DC !

2010-07-26T16:30:00.003+02:00

Family portrait in front of the Capitol

And another one in front of the White House. "Dad, put your camera away - you look like such a tourist" !

A romantic moment in front of the Washington Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial - "He's very big, isn't he ?"!

"Jessica ! Johnny ! Get away from there ! It's JFK's Eternal Flame at the Arlington Cemetery - not a fire to warm your hands on" !

Setting sail on a voyage of discovery ...

2010-07-25T14:42:00.003+02:00

We finally set sail yesterday and are all really excited ! Did you guess which country we're going to ? There's another clue in today's photo if not !

I was so excited I had a bit of a Titanic moment - "I"m the King of the World" !!

Off to the hairdresser's

2010-07-25T14:33:00.003+02:00

Sophie and Juliette (and little brother Pierre, who still looks very very big to me) all headed off to the hairdresser's yesterday (you can see their new haircuts here !!) and they took me along too.

This sink looks big enough for me to have a nice swim in!

Hmm I wonder what I'd look like with curly hair ...

On second thoughts, they look a bit painful.

Is it a comb or a toothbrush ?

My new hair-do !

Can you guess ?

2010-07-23T13:57:00.003+02:00

Jenny's dressed up as a famous monument to give you a sneaky clue where the Woodenmum family are going to travel to next week. Any ideas ?!

Jenny of Arabia

2010-07-23T13:16:00.003+02:00

After yesterday's donkey-riding escapades, Jenny's going up in the world - now she's riding camels in the desert ! Don't fall off Jenny !

Oooh Mr Woodenmum looks pretty swish as an Arabian prince too !

Giddee up, giddee up !

Ooooh it's Tutenkhawoodenmum !

A well deserved rest for our two desert-explorers.

Winter Wonderland

2010-07-23T07:37:00.004+02:00

It was so hot today we decided to head off to colder climes and beat the heat with a day out in Lapland.

Jessica had fun building snowmen with the local children.

Johnny practised his figure skating on the frozen lake.

Jenny went sledging.

And naughty Mr Woodenmum hid behind the trees and pelted everyone with snowballs.

The Magic Roundabout

2010-07-23T07:32:00.003+02:00

It's not just Barbie who has a Jeep !

Can I drive now please ?

Oh my goodnes, it's the police and I didn't have my seatbelt on. Let me hide down here for a bit !

Jenny on a Jenny

2010-07-21T14:38:00.001+02:00

Oooh it's a donkey. Did you know a mummy donkey is called a Jenny, like me ? Maybe this is Jenny Donkeymum !

Ewwwwww they certainly make a lot of stinky poo !

Even the sheep are pooing everywhere - but at least they only do Maltesers !

Don't eat my hair ! It's not straw, you silly donkey !

It's Jenny on a Jenny ! Gee up Neddy, don't you stop, just let your feet go clippety clop !

Look at Mr Woodenmum go !!

2010-07-20T18:21:00.000+02:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

or click here : http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/WktniGXdrKNB5rCF

I think this one is my favourite - I love the wiggly bum part of the routine !!

Move over Torville and Dean !

2010-07-20T17:25:00.000+02:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

or click here : http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/nSydDzNOGt8lJrjU

Why are parents so embarrassing ?

2010-07-20T17:15:00.000+02:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

If the embedded video doesn't work, click here to view it instead !

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/py4DXTyss5dUlqDj

Yippeee Hamburgers for lunch !

2010-07-20T14:12:00.000+02:00

Jessica and Johnny got very excited today - "Yippeee, hamburgers for lunch ! Jenny Woodenmum said it's too hot to cook so she's taking us to "le McDo" for lunch instead !"

Jenny Woodenmum likes McDonald's in France because you get organic apple juice and little fruit bags of apples and grapes in le Happy Meal !

And look how healthy Jenny Woodenmum has been in her food choices - Diet Coke and "Salade & Plaisir par McDonald's" !

But look ! Sneaky Jenny ! When the kids were happily playing in la Play Zone, she sneaked off to the nearby brasserie for a cheeky glass of vin rouge ! Naughty Jenny !

Well done Juliette - a first-class puppeteer today !

Decisions decisions !

2010-07-19T13:18:00.001+02:00

Woodenmum and dad called a family conference today to decide which parts of the world we should explore.

The unanimous decision was ... everywhere ! Time to dust off the suitcases I think !

Disaster Strikes !

2010-07-19T09:26:00.000+02:00

After a lovely day at the park with our cousins, it was time to head home.

We all piled into the train and set off on our way.

But then we were in a train crash ! There was a giant sitting by the side of the tracks who pushed our train over and pulled us out of the wreckage. We were all very scared but luckily, he was a very friendly giant and after dribbling all over our hair, he let us carry on the rest of our journey in peace. I think we might walk next time though because it was very scary !

Family Picnic Day with our cousins

2010-07-19T08:59:00.000+02:00

We had a lovely surprise today - the Woodenmum cousins came to visit us. As it was a lovely sunny day, we decided to go and have a family picnic in the park.

First of all we looked at the lovely flowers.

Then it was time to eat dinner. First of all we had lovely cold chicken.

Followed by enormous biscuits that Jenny Woodenmum had cooked in secret.

After all that food, it was time to burn off some energy so we went and played leapfrog for a while.

Then we had horse rides until Jenny and Mr Woodenmum started complaining about their knees seizing up.

So we all laid on the ground and watched the clouds drift by and tried to find pictures in them. It was the perfect family day out ... but unfortunately things were about to take a turn for the worse.

A quick introduction to the family

2010-07-17T21:46:00.001+02:00

Hello ! Welcome to the family : Jenny Woodenmum, Mr Woodenmum, Jessica and Johnny ! For our official blog, please visit the John Crane Blog. That was our official home but now we're living with Sophie and Juliette in the Madhouse !

If you'd like to adopt some of our brothers and sisters (and maybe let them start their own blog too), you can find them here.

See you soon !

Before we start a big thank you to John Crane ...

2010-07-17T21:22:00.000+02:00

In particular the lovely Helen, aka the "real" Jenny Woodenmum, who sent us a fabulous Little Cottage Dolls House to review (which you can see here) and gave us such a giggle reading the John Crane Blog that we were inspired to make our own !

Inspired by this blogpost, we've decided that Jenny, and maybe the rest of her family, will be accompanying us on our travels and days out over the summer (and possibly beyond).

I have no idea where she'll be going or what she'll be getting up to, mainly because 8-year-old Sophie and 5-year-old Juliette are the driving force behind this blog (you can't beat a child's imagination !) but also because Jenny seems to have a mind of her own !

I hope you'll have as much fun reading her blog as we have making it !