August 2025, our family holiday was to Menorca. I woke at 2.30 and didn't go back to sleep as we had to be up at 4. The M25 had road works but luckily it opened up as we headed towards Gatwick. We queued in the baggage queue and then headed through security which was pretty quick. We decided to go to Wetherspoons 'Flying Horse' and had breakfasts. Rich and Thomas got a full English, I ate half a sausage sarnie. Emily had eggs and Alex jam and toast. Then we went to Pret and got croissants and baby chino and water. The guy offered the baby chino for free which was kind so I got 2 in case Alex wanted one. Him and Emily didn't like it. We then headed for our Gate which was at the end of airport where Americans flights used to go, Richard said. The kids loved watching the planes. On the plane I had Alex on my side and Emily was with Richard and Thomas. Alex fell asleep after a while but Emily got restless after an hour so had to help entertain her. On the way out Alex said bye to the pilots which was sweet.

It was 20 mins to the hotel in a big black bus. We stayed at the Insotel in Punta Prima. We couldn't get in the room so went and had lunch. We then had fun trying to get some swim stuff out and changed. We first went kids pool which had the slides next to it, big pool, small pool down the bottom then up to the top pool which had a splash area and another big pool. We checked in around 3. We played with pool toys and Emily liked jumping in and tried to run off. Thomas had a fright and started to sink a bit but I pushed him to the side. He was not very confident and wasn't using this swim techniques he knew so I kept reminding him. We then went for shower and dinner. We needed an early night after the early start, For dinner it was Chinese and sushi food. Emily liked watermelon. We were in bed at half 7 (half 6 UK time) Emily went to sleep quickly and the boys were fighting it. We had to sit in the living room at the table whilst we waited for Emily to go to sleep each night. She was still in the travel cot in our room and the boys were on the sofas and we had a good big bed.

On Thursday everyone slept until half 7, well after Thomas wet the bed at half 5, luckily didn't wake anyone other than me. We went for breakfast. Thomas ate sausages and bread. Alex had chocolate cereal. Emily had a bit of egg and sausage. I had a massive omelette. I love the freshly cooked ones and had quite a few over my time. We went to the local shops which was about 10 minutes away and got milk and water. It was nice coastal view and there was an island a bit further out with a lighthouse on it. It was a small parade of restaurants and shops. We went to the down big pool and also checked out the other side which was much deeper. We got the new shark toy out which was a hit and it had a remote control to direct it or auto pilot. We had lunch and the kids enjoyed the ice creams from the freezer and the slushies. We all went back to the room but Emily didn't go for a sleep. We went to the slides and Alex had run off but we found again quickly. Alex called one slide the love slide as was relaxing and was an open flume one. There were 2 high slides and an enclosed slide which went around and around. It had a pirate ship with slides and was very wet. There was a lighthouse which poured water down and a smaller climbing frame with slides. Later on we went to the splash pool at the top and there were little babies and Alex was chatting to one. It was a shallow paddle pool. Then I went on the slides and tried all 4. For dinner, it was curry and prawns so I enjoyed those. We went to the kids disco, the kids didn't dance at first but then joined in. Richard had his first beer and I had my first cocktail. A little girl was screaming and I went to check on her but the Mum was no where. Another mum came over and said she had fallen. After a bit the little girl ran off and managed to find her mum at the top section. After the disco the lighthouse was lighting up so the kids enjoyed seeing that. There were bats around.

On Friday, we didn't wake until 8.30. Emily was coughing in the night, badly. I went to check on the boys and there were some ants where the kids had dropped a crisp on the sofa. I scooped them up as wasn't too far from Alex. Rich went to boil the kettle and it tripped the electricity. We went to the big pool and got one sun lounger and chair. For breakfast the kids had cereals we brought from home. Emily still had a bad cough. At 11am there was a pool party with about 20 entertainers and did a Barbie theme all in bright pink/purple - men and women. They were dancing around and then jumping into the pool. We did a bit of water aerobics. Boys played with shark in little pool. Same girl took the shark when the boys were playing and the mum wasn't really taking it back off her. We don't mind sharing but the boys had only just started playing with it. We had our lunch, we popped into the grill place but then decided to go to the buffet restaurant. Emily had a long nap and I went back with her. In the meantime the boys went to the disco room for a chill time, but the entertainers would practice their set for later, then to the big pool then to the slides. Thomas made a friend. He couldn't speak English but they seemed to bond and went on the slides together, running around. I went on two with Alex. Later for dinner it was nachos and chilli which was really good. Mango moose and peach crumble and apple tart. They did a good bread and butter pudding. I tried a pink lady as my cocktail but not nice. They played Alex's fav song chit chit wow and the kids were dancing.

On Saturday we woke around 8.20 but Emily around 9. Had omelette and went to the beach, we went to the pharmacy first and got cough medicine. It didn't smell great and very honey heavy. On the beach there was lots of seaweed near shore but was nice further out. The beach was white sands. Kids didn't last long as saltwater hurt Alex and Thomas's ouchies but they liked looking at the boats and lighthouse. We went back to the down pool for a swim and jump with kids. And the small pool. The great thing about the hotel was there was no shortage of sunbeds and we moved around over the course of the day and could find a bed to put our stuff on. The kids enjoyed jumping in the pool on holiday. And Alex made friends with a baby George. We went to get ice cream at the pool restaurant. Went for lunch around 1 and had nice pizza and wraps. Emily was not eating much. Rich took her to the room. Me and boys went back to the pool and chilled for a bit under shade and then went to the pools. Emily went on slides and thought funny to push Thomas down. Emily Wanted to watch phone for a bit so we chilled whilst the boys chased and played together. Alex had 4 ice creams that day. We went out for dinner €90 and left 10. We had special cod in aioli and Rich had squid. Kids liked chicken nuggets and chips and shared an ice cream with 3 flavours. We finished with caramel vodka shots. We went to the beach to take pics and got some of the kids down by the rocks. I took one for a family and they took one of us. We went to the disco but Emily was not feeling it. Rich took Emily back and the boys and I sat upstairs watching.

Sunday we were awake around 8. We brought cereals from home the kids tucked into. We went to the slide pool first and Emily had a go. We played in the small pool with toys. Went top pool for ice cream and red pool. A wasp wouldn't leave us alone. We went into the spa which families could use for a few hours and Emily liked the hot jacuzzi and Thomas practiced his swimming. The kids loved our trip there. For lunch Emily ate carrots and some pasta and crisps from home. For lunch I had coleslaw and battered fish and Yorkshire pudding and beef. Emily fought her nap but finally fell asleep, then I had to wake after an hour. She didn't want to go in the pool so sat and watched kindle. I played with Alex and toys and Rich played tag with Thomas. We went to down pool and did jumping and swimming then big pool but Emily was not happy. We went to get slush puppies but no red water so tried lemon flavour which wasn't as nice. We went to the apartment and got ready. Had dinner but not great. They had spag bol but the kids wouldn't eat. I had fajitas and Thomas was eating too much bread. At the disco our kids were not really dancing, apart from Alex and his friend Frankie. She looked like Becky's daughter Evie. I spotted a table closer to the dance floor but there was an almost empty bottle so wasn't sure. After a bit a guy did come back but he joined another group of friends who already had two tables so wasn't to bad, whoops. Had my honey deuce cocktail with sugar rimmed glass which was a holiday special for me.

Monday went to the top deep pool and did jumping with boys. It was deeper I think then the bottom pool. Had a wooden walk way around the top of it. Emily went to splash area and went on the swing and trampoline near the kids clubs area. We then went back and sat and chilled for a bit whilst the boys did more jumping. Then we went to the splash pool and had ice cream. Emily did one slide then was told she couldn't do anymore by the girl lifeguard. We played with toys near the pirate ship and she went on the pirate boat with Thomas. We went to the spa pool. Emily was throwing the torpedo in the pool. Had lunch and there were nice prawns. Emily loved eating wraps and they had crisps from home. We went to chill but the entertainers were practicing the show which was loud so we sat outside. Alex knocked glass over when climbing near the steps and didn't see the glasses so I cleared that up with a broom I found in the kitchen. We then then went to the slide pool. Me and Alex went on the slides and played with toys. Thomas watched kindle. After a while Thomas joined in and met his friend. Richard and Emily joined us. Emily went on slide but I accidentally hit her head lifting her to avoid the splash at the end of the ride. Rich played tag with Thomas. We went back around 5.15 as had the Italian booked at 6.30. At the table we had bruschetta and tapinade. We ordered the chicken fingers and pasta to start for the kids. Richard ordered some cheese dish but he was disappointed it didn't come out bubbling like others. I had a wrap thing to start. Richard had pizza , the kids had chips and hake and chicken for their main. Everyone had ice cream to finish. There were 2 birthdays in the restaurant. Thomas got into a mood as wanted to go get toys at a shop We had said we would go look the next day. We got some pictures at the top pool with a sad Thomas. We then went to the disco and sat upstairs. Alex saw his friend Frankie. Emily was not asleep when we went into the room so she fell asleep in our bed then I managed to transfer her.

Tuesday, we went to leave towels by the down pool then went for breakfast and walked to 4 different supermarkets that had toys in The boys eventually chose their toys, Alex went for a little dinosaur cage and a pteranodon, Emily chose a princess ball and Thomas a white gun with noise. We got some cheetos and pom bears. We went to a small park near the beach and the boys went off to get Alex's toy. We saw the train/car go past. Then headed back to the hotel. The kids had an ice lolly and we went to down pool. We joined in the pool aerobics in the big pool. The kids enjoyed playing with new toys, particularly Alex and Emily. Alex liked adding the rockets into the cage. Then we went for lunch at the grill place and I had burger and pork chop and some salad and Emily liked the potatoes. Kids had chips and crisps. We then popped to the buffet and saw Frankie but Alex was a bit embarrassed as Thomas was teasing him. I went to the room with Emily. I went and sunbathed and watched a film (with Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh- We live in time). When Emily woke, we went to the slide pool and Alex had a little German friend who liked playing with his toys. Thomas was watching his kindle, he was over our trip now. Emily went in the pool. The woman lifeguard was back on watch and I snuck her up twice and Rich managed once before she was spotted. Emily was getting more adventurous and was going face down on the small slide. There was a party down at the down pool but we didn't go down for it. We went to get ready. We went to have tapas at the restaurant that was down by the deep down pool. We had a 6.30 booking and I accidentally went around the side as didn't spot the front entrance and the manager made a point of saying it. We did a no kindle dinner which is always interesting. We ordered a big portion of chicken fingers and chips. Thomas demolished his, Emily ate some but obviously Alex ate the chips. Richard and I chose a few dishes; Prawns, squid, nachos, balearic potatoes, ceviche and bao buns. For dessert, we had apple pie. Thomas had chocolate ice cream which he got down his top. Emily had strawberry and Alex vanilla. When we left we saw some people dressed up in the Frozen theme for the show later that night. Me, Alex and Emily had a picture with them. During the disco the kids were running around the top of the room and sitting on the sofas.

On Wednesday, we woke around 8. We went to the deep deep deep pool at the top and did some jumping and got some videos. We went to the park and trampoline in kids club area. Went and had slushies and ice cream. We went to the spa but Alex was naughty and jumping and splashing others in the pool so couldn't use pools for the last part. Emily was jumping in and with her ball. When we went back to the top pool they were finishing up the mat laid out on the pool for kids to run and jump off. They wouldn't allow any more kids to join so the kids were disappointed. Shame we hadn't seen this activity before. We went for lunch at the top restaurant. It was a buffet. There was pizza, chips, mac and cheese and avocado, salad. We were sat outside and it was very hot. We went to the room to tidy up and rest as Emily wasn't napping as needed to get up early the next day so no late night tonight. We then went back to the splash pool. Thomas was being grumpy and Emily didn't want to wear her swimsuit. Alex played a bit and we did slides with boys. I was telling the kids to enjoy their last few hours as it was almost home time. We then went to the down pool and did jumping and swimming and went to the deep pool for the last time. Emily was jumping off the waterfall wall and the boys went play fighting in the baby pool. Unbeknown until we got home, Alex left behind his goggles probably in the pool. At the buffet it was Chinese style and cake. The kids had some prawn crackers. Frankie was at the next table but Alex wouldn't say bye after Thomas's teasing which was a shame.

On Thursday I was awake at 4 then again at 6.50. I had a shower and we went for breakfast and took the last pictures. Richard dropped some cases over to reception. I had my last yummy omelette. The kids were talking to Harry the fly, they did that a lot on holiday. We then went to finish packing. When we were busy Emily trapped her finger in the door. My poor little lady. Thomas was complaining of ear ache so gave him some nuorfen. I think all the jumping had caused the issue. In the taxi the kids were doing a disco with their feet. There was an hour delay. We went to a kids room and there was a few bits in there and a toilet opposite which had a kiddy toilet in it. Getting through Menorca was a dream, no queues and lovely and easy and very clean. Alex got scanned again with extra checks, he always gets it but loves it. We went for a look at the kids areas. There were two at different ends, they had computers on the wall with different games on (like what bin do you put the different rubbish in) There was a little aeroplane seat and steering wheel. They had these computer screens with a game you had to hook the sea animal on as well and virtual snooker. Eventually it was time for our flight. I was sat with Thomas and Emily. I managed to keep her fairly occupied until the last part. Snacks are always a friend on aeroplanes. The boys got to go in the cockpit and take a picture but Emily had already cleared the plane with Richard sadly. Waited for the stroller as always when we got through to the baggage carousel. When we came out of arrivals we got a Greggs gingerbread and sausages rolls and Richard got a Pret sarnie. We headed home but got caught in rush hour traffic which was annoying so it took 1 hour 40. When we got home we were sorting the kids some food and unpacking the essentials and loading up the washing. It was a great holiday and a shame to be over but I think the kids were ready for it. We decided 8 days would be enough next year as well, they go hard out there then get a bit knackered and they miss their food from home.Always love making memories with my family.