Meeting His Heroes

 From the age of about 8 months I would let Burton watch In The Night Garden once a day, as up until this age I had not let him watch any television. However, I figured that one programme a day would be ok and this show seemed to be the one that I was familiar with from hearing about it from other parents. From the first moment he saw Iggle PIggle and the other characters on our big TV screen, he was captivated! He would happily sit on the sofa next to me or on my lap and watch the entire show from start to finish and before long he would smile and giggle and point and almost jump up and down in excitement on the sofa.

Needless to say he soon gained a collection of ITNG books and toys and it was by far and large his favourite thing to watch and I recorded episodes and if he had nights where I could not settle him maybe because he was teething, him and I would sit together and watch some to take his mind of the pain. When the programme was made into a live show, my Mum and I took Burton to see it in Birmingham when he was 2 years old and he loved it, although he did cry when the charcters left the stage in between scenes as he thought they were leaving! 

As he approached his third birthday, although he did not watch it as often as he once did, he still liked it enough for me to book tickets to take him again just after he turned three, but this time in Cardiff. For its second year, the shows attendees were now allowed to meet and greet their favourite characters, and I knew that Burton would be thrilled to meet Iggle Piggle whom he had adored for the last 2 1/4 years of his young life. 

He was a little nervous to begin with but slowly walked over and embraced Iggle Piggle and then didn't want to let him go! It was so sweet but also a little bittersweet at the same time, as I knew that it would probably be the final time that my eldest would want to meet this character or see a live show.

Since his third birthday Burton has grown a fondness for Peppa Pig, as has Jenson as he copies what Burton likes and as they watch the same programmes it is inevitable this would happen. ITNG is a distant memory for Burton now and, along with a couple of other shows which he enjoys watching, Peppa and her family and friends is a firm favourite for him and his little brother in our house. 

Some time last year while watching some Peppa Pig on You Tube (we did not have Sky then), Burton stumbled across a review of the brand new attraction Peppa Pig World. After watching the video clip a few times in a row (just one more time please, Mummy), Burton asked me if he could visit it and I told him that I would take him one day soon. Well, finally after about a year since he first asked me, yesterday I (with my Mum in tow) took Burton and Jenson to Peppa Pig World! I will go into more detail in another post about the attractions and what we thought of it and our fun day there.

 However, a highlight from yesterday was that he was able to meet some of the characters - Suzy Sheep, Zoe Zebra, George and Peppa. To begin with he and Jenson, although very excited about seeing their favourite friends from Peppa Pig up close and personal, they were also a little wary and would not approach Suzy (the first one we met) and cuddle her as the other children were. Excited shouts of mummy, quick come with us were exclaimed and I had to go and shake her paw and wave! 

However, eventually, Burton (and Jenson although he only shook hands and showed her monkey!) over came his shyness and embraced Suzy and then later on Zoe, George and Peppa as if he had met them a few times! It was so lovely and sweet to see - it really made me smile.

How completely magical and amazing to meet your favourite friends from the TV in the flesh - Burton and Jenson were so excited and thrilled to be meeting their heroes. Just like with their belief in Father Christmas,  it is such an innocent and magical age and I envy them the happiness that meeting these characters brings them. I hope they continue to believe and want to meet them for a good while longer yet.

This post was brought to you as part of Flashback Friday

  <a href="http://mummymishaps.blogspot.co.uk"><img src="http://s1091.photobucket.com/albums/i384/mummymishaps/flashbackbadge1.jpg" alt="flashbackbadge1" /></a>

Remember a flashback can be from any time whether it be yesterday, last week, last month, last year or yesteryear! It can be a flashback of your own, your children, your partner or your friends. And if you don't want to write a post, then just link up a photo with a date. If you don't have time to write a new post.