In every stage of the boys' little lives books have been at the forefront.

From a memory journal recording their pregnancies to a baby plastic photo album, to touch and feel collections, to building up a classic children's library on their bedroom shelves, not a day goes by when they don't pick up a book and read.

The baby album has been passed onto their little cousin and the photos updated with all her family from both sides and now Sammy has learnt to read at school, books take on a whole new adventure.

In an age when 6 months old know how to swipe a touch phone and our 2 year old can unlock our phones and casually find Disney films on YouTube, books have never been more important.

As someone almost permanently glued to a laptop, sitting down with a book is a real treat. It feels so much more of an experience, to thumb the pages and my current obsession is finding vintage party games books, inspired by my birthday present from my brother and sister in law in America last year.

So it was a resounding yes when I was contacted by Miles Kelly Publishing to join in with 25 other bloggers to celebrate World Book Day and exchange secret choices for their children. You can read all about it here.

Parents - World Book Day is Thursday 6th March and I am sure every school around the country will be encouraging the pupils to dress up so if you are anything like me and school notes get left in car seat pockets and gym bags, put a note on your calendar now!

Last year Sammy was inspired by a rather quirky children's book, Anyone for Tennis?! Don't you just adore the broken glasses he wore?!

But this year it is all about sailing on the seven seas!

What a wonderful choice for my two - whoever the blogger was! Thank you.

Bright, colourful and above all sturdy! And hopefully Sammy is only a few months away from being able to read it all by himself. The illustrations are young and the story isn't frightening for a bedtime read, which is my complaint about a few pirate tales. 

The boys loved stretching out on the floor and what's great about this book is that it's long enough for no squabbling! Sharing is a real issue at the moment and this has engaging content in spades.

Pirates - An activity and story book in one and a ship made for two :) 

Have a read of the other posts for some inspiration for books to add to your children's libraries. You can find them on the Miles Kelly Twitter feed. A link to all of them will be posted on the Miles Kelly website. (I will update this post once it's published.) 

Do start with this one from Lauren and her lovely boys.

Family Dynamics are interesting and challenging.

We are very much the modern family. My parents divorced when I was at university and my husband is the only child of a happy second marriage. He has a half sister and brother who in turn have children and step children from a first marriage of their own.

The boys are lucky that through this familiar family set up, they are blessed with extra cousins, and a wealth of Aunties, all of whom they love and adore.

In one generation of our family, there is an age range of almost 18 years. From the eldest cousin, leaving home and choosing a university to spend the next 4 years at, to the youngest, our little Ollie, who cannot write his name.

You would think that the fact that one quarter of the family live in Penzance, one in Southampton, one in Poole and us in Weston super Mare, the distance could lead to distant relationships.

But no. Despite only spending what amounts to a few precious weeks together across a whole year, last weekend we watched as they all became as thick as thieves. It was the first time we had all been together for about 2 years, yet by the end of a jam packed day, all of them were contented in each other's company, all on Apple products, legs splayed out on the sofa!

We went for a lovely Spring walk on the beach at Branksome Chine, close to my in laws and it gave me the chance to show you the beautiful boys jackets by Joules.

How smart are they?! Like proper little gents! 

I love the quilted fabric and the fact that the coats are longer length than your typical coat. Protecting their bottoms from the cold winds. The poppers are really good quality and there are more pockets than Sammy has little figures to stuff in them!

They received lovely compliments from strangers and the high collar gives their necks some added warmth. The lining is unmistakable Joules and it makes me wish their wardrobes were exclusively from their collections! 

The coats are a slim fit in style so I would recommend going up a size to get the maximum wear out of them. I ordered an age 6 for Sammy, who usually wears an age 5 and an age 3 for Ollie. 

They are absolutely worth the extra investment against a supermarket or high street brand. They scream quality and luxury and are made to last, beautiful sticking and the attention to detail is beyond compare to their cheaper competitors.

It was great to see how the eldest children knew exactly how to charm the little ones, jumping on rocks and running along the beach. Maya, who is 11, is a natural carer with a maternal instinct that puts me to shame. Her half sister Ellie has grown into an eloquent and captivating young woman, who I will always remember as the 5 year old on holiday in Spain, who kept pinching our aviator sunglasses and looked cooler than we did!

Matthew who towers over them all, is patient and willing to let them wake him up in his makeshift bed on the lounge floor, far too early for his teenage body, to watch Lego Star Wars, for the 10th time.

Gemma is on a pedestal, having found a selection of new games for the iPad with repetitive theme tunes (Thanks Gem!).

It made me feel incredibly proud and incredibly old, seeing them all lined up, hand in hand for a 'cousin's photo', the last being when Ollie was born.

Although the hand holding may have been more than slightly encouraged, I realised the secret to building successful family relationships is to not try so hard.

Children have a far greater ability to find a common wavelength than grown ups. Sometimes we all are so busy worrying if everyone is having a good time, forcing the fun, that you miss the opportunities for the natural relationships to blossom.

What you need is time. Time to just be together, not feeling like you have to watch what you say, all be on your best behaviour. 

One of my favourite parts of the weekend was actually just sitting in silence together.

Comfortable in each other's company. 

Marriage, divorce, remarriage, doesn't have to divide a family, it can unite it. Forever.

Oh and Joules didn't forget me! I actually chose a fabulous poncho from their brilliant women's range because it's exactly what my wardrobe is missing. Easy to fling in the boot as it folds into the front pocket, lightweight, rainproof for trips around family theme parks on days out and on the walk home on a soggy school run. Plus I look super cool right?!

What are your tips for nurturing close relationships in extended families?

I was kindly sent the boy's jackets and my poncho for the purposes of this post.

When I was first pregnant with Sammy I rushed out, I'm sure like millions of others, and bought the huge travel system with it's enormous frame and bulky, heavy wheels.

I was quite delirious in fact, at the 10 piece wonder that stood proudly before us complete with it's matching changing bag. 

But as time went on I realised that what we needed for our travels and lovely holidays was a lightweight buggy that collapsed to the smallest size possible. And so the travel system went in the loft ready for a number 2 someday and the changing bag gathered dust. My handbag then became a makeshift changing bag, filled with crumbs and odd wet wipes stuffed into pockets.

Now Ollie, our number 2, is rising three, and the list of "essentials" is slowly getting less and less by the day. I end up grabbing a nappy and some wipes and sticking them in the back of the seat pocket in the car.

Not at all satisfactory when we have an emergency 2 person situation, which still happens on occasions.

So when I was sent this beautiful soft grain leather Coco changing bag from BabyBeau, it made me realise that, whilst he's still 2, I do need somewhere to store all his bits, a snack, maybe a drink, just not one that screams "I am a changing bag!"

I often go straight from the school run to a supermarket and this bag is perfect for the ever changes stages of motherhood.

For me now, it's making the most wonderful camera bag complete with pockets for spares and big boy pants!

Stage 1

The Newborn Stage - oh I remember it well! The cotton wool pads for the first few weeks, the bottles, the milk cartons for emergencies.

Then all of a sudden you start to slim down a little.

Stage 2 

1 years old and you have snacks available at all times, I carried around plastic cutlery for cafés that think an 18 month old can use grown up knives and forks and tissues. Is it just me or do they seem to always have runny noses at this age?!

Stage 3

Then by 3 you suddenly give your bag a new lease of life. Less crumbs at the bottom more room for your beloved bits, your phone/ultimate distraction toy/soother, keys, hairbrush and the zipped pocket can be an easy to find purse, instead of rooting around on the floor in the Post Office queue.

This bag not only looks divine but it actually smells divine too. Soft red leather that is flexible and so many inserts and pockets you will be spoilt for choice.

Apart from the striped organiser insert, which can be removed to be used as a separate smaller bag, my favourite feature is the changing mat. 

I have bought and wrestled in the back of the boot with awful cheap plastic ones that you end up throwing away after a week. The BabyBeau changing mat is in a league of it's own! Contemporary but above all comfortable for tiny ones. And tiny toes :)

Have a peek at the rest of the BabyBeau collection too. There is something for all modern tastes. Simple and sophisticated.

And the best thing about the Coco, now my babies are growing up, is that I can fit my laptop in it with ease. Psst it's also on sale now too.

A bag to last you through the early years and beyond is a worthy investment and with this bag you get so much for your money. Bottle holder, removable organiser, secure zipped pocket, changing mat, detachable zip pocket pouch, enormous dust bag and an adjustable strap.

How has your changing bag changed as your children have grown? Or do you still feel feel you carry around the kitchen sink?!

I was very kindly sent a Coco for the purpose of this post.