Petits Haricots

well, we have guests for the new year!

So a mostly where shall we put the toys, contemplating what to put away for ever, and a bit of a clean up. the girls have made some christmas fridge magnets [from FC] and done lots of playdoughing, some shops, cooking [mostly BB].

I have made some thankyou cards for SB to put a minimal amount of writing in - which she has done. I also heard her working out words in a body book. We have read stories, watched some life of plants, the snowman and danced about a bit I am improving my hairbraiding technique. I think that may be it.

Another one bites the dust

Originally uploaded by Scrumbledelicious.

Number 3.

SB came down stairs after having gone to bed to show us the latest tooth to come out. It got knocked wonky over Xmas and I think she had spent ssometime in bed wiggling it about.

As has been mentioned before, Butterbean is having problems getting through the late afternoon when she doesn’t have a post lunch nap (which she doesn’t want post lunch…).

So today, got to about 4.30 when we had sat down with tea and cake to watch more Trials of Life DVD nd she fel asleep. so quickly woke her up and got her in the bath which was fine. But she still didn’t make dinner. She got grumpy again and wanted me to sit in the sitting room with her and watch TV, not really compatible with cooking dinner. So I put a Mr Men (argh!) DVD on the laptop in the kitchen. She was happyi;y watching it, when I turned round she’d curled up and gone to sleep again anyway

well, boxing day was lots of continued fun with a houseful. we had chris’s parents both days as well, and it was lovely to have all the grandparents. the christmas presents got played with, the children were lovely [mostly!] we didn’t overeat or overdrink too much.

jax and family dropped in on the way back from their xmas, which is always good - see we aren’t in the middle of nowhere [or is it that some people are at the far edge?] chris’s parents went home, we had another relaxing evening - and luckilly didn’t have to eat the dreadful chocs of my mums [a bushtucker challenge box from m and s - i thought they did nice food??]

my niece in particular was devastated to leave the next day. down to mum and dad only. we played more christmas games, we did the national geographic ice mummy - which was very messy fun! Some painting [as BB desperate to use her FC paints] BB enjoyed her leappad, they both argued over the gears dizzy funland and the new electronic till for shopping games and the kid k’nex. we read LOADS of books. A protracted chill out with 3 episodes of first series of little house on the prairie, which we all loved – though mum and I got a bit sentimental – blame it on the baileys!!!

mum and me then spent a bit of time ebaying - there was a cull in our wedding crockery over christmas - and since it is a discontinued denby [which seems to now sell for a fortune!!] it is a pain to add bits. mum told me the tale of her wedding coffee set. nobody liked her choice of denby arabesque, so bought something different which she has never used! So for her birthday she now has a set of 6 coffee mugs, which I am eagerly awaiting.

so there it was - my 12 days of christmas, the first 7 being very craft and cooking and intense parenting [i loved it] the next 4 being wider family oriented and rebalancing for me, then one close kiddie day again. I might gradually add bits, as I have been doing the blgging with the great help of BB – who has given up on sleeping! [its really the 29th but putting the posts roughly in right place!!]

we had christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lovely day. all the children loved the presents - FC, then post brekkie, then post cake! Chris loved his head to learn how to do girl hairstyle, and i particularly loved my boot slippers and fleecy hot water bottle. christmas dinner yummy. SB didn’t have to have christmas soup as her tooth stayed in.

lots of playing - some complicated game of bionicles vs barbies - rofl!! BB had a complete delight over choc choc money. i neeeeeeed chocchoc money. I did a braid for SB with her hair twister and it hurt. hmmm. so i came up with an alternative way of doing it which is fine, so good. it also combs out OK.

we played games - pass the parcel, pass the bomb etc and did some lego building, E played with her stephanie doll non stop. We sang carols around the piano - SB sang some to her own accompaniment [made up]
All too full to have much tea. BB slept in the wrong place so up till midnight, but hey, a lovely day.

loverley

Freestyling Rhyme says: I do really enjoy reading your photo you do such a Great Job ~ I love how You hang out with the kids ~ like making stuff with them, cooking and everything (some of your cooking looks very good - yummmmm) *laughing ~ I really enjoy reading family photo’s and seeing how close differant families are, that is why you are like an angel from above. *Smile* very Kool! Very Beautiful photo ~ the Greatness of your Photo’s are amazing to cause amazement: *winks* like a new art show that delights and amazes. if you would like, you may come and post this Photo here at this “New” Art Gallery located at the “quick” link below ~

All set, pressies wrapped, sprouts done, everyone else in bed, I’ve just been playing with the camera and enjoying the quiet. And by the looks of those stocking, Father Christmas has sneaked in.
The girl’s cousins arrived to day, so much playing has ensued, chatting , drinking of mulled wine, eating of food.

Happy Christmas everyone

oh the excitement.

we played games and my sis and family arrived. mayhem!!! all 4 children played well and got hyped. M and SB had fun playing battleships and other games.
we tracked santa - ok, i enjoyed that the most. sis cooked tea. A work friend - H popped round with presents for the girls - how lovely and thoughtful. He stayed and chatted with my parents, and would have been longer, except tea was ready.

way excited, the children put out the stockings and the mince pies, scones and apples for father christmas. eventually falling asleep after grandad did the stories. we did final wrapping and mass peeling of veggies - my B-I-L is a demon with a peeler!!!!

We chatted, had the odd drink or two, and followed far to late as I fiddled about with screenshots of santa on norad. ah well!!!!!!!!!

here he goes!!!

check it here NORAD tracks santa. I think SB might well love it!

migraine

music

mince pies

magazines

messing about!!

We fell off schedule [rough as it is], as my parents arrived at lunchtime, and I though they were coming eve, and a text at their halfway point had me scurrying around!

SO Chris took SB to shop for my pressie, and a few other things, and BB and I made some more scones at home together. It was really nice to have the chance to do that 1:1, and we both enjoyed it.

We then played games with little tykes people [unfortunate name] until my parents arrived, and BB went into a paroxysm of mad joy! lovely having Mum and Dad here, and Christmas now upon us. Did mean that i didn’t take SB to see a film this pm, which had been the plan. But as I hadn’t said that to SB, there was no harm done, and she and BB went suitably loopy for my parents approval!

We took a bit of redirection, and made chocolate icing and iced and decorated a lovely yule log. I cheated and bought the roll inside from the bakery. It is an arctic yule log - though as SB pointed out, it has polar bears and penguins. I then tipped too much icing sugar on it to my Mum and Chris’s merriment - so I growled at them. Its snowy in the arctic!

SB read a level 7 ORT book to my mum, a bit of stumbling as we haven’t read much for a fortnight, and this was a new [to us] book. But still, was happy to do it, and Mum a good encourager. We did some positive home-ed discussion.

BB was flagging at 4, so had a bath, and then made it until 8, even cuddled up watching beauty and the beast [free from the mail].

I have finished wrapping presents - always a good moment! Though SB crept down the stairs just at the point we were discussing the bits you don’t want overheard about the machinery of Christmas, so I am hoping that either not heard, or doesn’t make a difference. I went up to explain she needed to tell us she was moving, as she might overhear Christmas secrets, so the next time she told us. [insomnia again poor thing]

Anyway, with visitors - especially ones that don’t understand the lure of the blog!, blogging service may be interrupted . So Happy Christmas everyone.

and a big kiss. just for me from BB. First unsolicited I love you!!

Happy mummy!!!!

I think I see a pattern emerging for the people I have to get out of akismet. I think it might be the hyphens in your emails.

If when you comment you are moderated, try posting again with something made up without hyphens and see what happens???

makes 10 ish standard size

Chocolate banana porridge muffins

8oz [225g] plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 teaspoon bicarb of soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 3 large bananas, 4 oz [110g] sugar, 1 beaten egg, 90 ml milk [or water] 90 ml veg oil [or melted butter] 3 tbsp cocoa powder, 2oz [60g] porridge oats.

in ‘wet bowl’ put oats, egg, milk, oil, sugar, mashed bananas.

in ‘dry bowl’ but everything else.

pour wet into try and stir so just mixed but still lumpy, spoon into tins [i use those silicone muffin trays] and 20-25 mins top of oven at gasmark 5-6 [190-200c]

Recipe an adapted and combined one from Muffins by Susan Reimer. Really recommend this book as I did no baking until I got this book and started with muffins when SB about 18 months.

they are whizzing past aren’t they! slow down!!!!!

Anyway, mostly broken up due to the fact that I went into work at lunchtime and with some of my colleagues, took some of the secretaries out to lunch at expensive local restaurant that is seriously yummy! We had a really nice meal and chat.

made up for it in the afternoon by being crafty and bakey. Chris made pastry with the girls, but they never turned into mince pies. We made the marmalade muffins though - also yummy, and did some more hama deeds - 2 stars for the xmas tree, and SB is halfway thourgh a big heart. BB helped me with a star, but wanted to watch TV, so we put on ‘kleine hippo’ on the laptop and listened to the German as our hands were busy.

We then settled for a read - some red nose readers for BB, and while the bear sleeps solstice and nativity narrative for them both - with discussions around as usual. I do like that book. SB has done lots of jigsaws and playing with BB.

BB was seriously flagging, so attempted the bath thing, but she stood up in it and wailed ‘mummy, tuddle meeee, I need tuddle, mummeeeeeeee’ so I did, and she fell asleep. meanly I then dressed her, and she managed to make it through tea before falling asleep in my arms whilst I was on the phone - sweet.

SB was listening to little toe, and then we have watched some recorded robin hood together. It is the most adult thing we have ever watched with her, and I wonder what she makes of some of the subtexts - if they are noticeable. But she loves the gore and fighting! :rolls:

Must wrap pressies tonight. Meant to do the stollen - so have that for tomorrow, and somehow need to do the delia scones again as all gone!

Oh, and it was fudge - rather yummy actually.

Today was prob always a bit of a push! We are well behind schedule - does that surprise anyone? However, the aim of the game is to have a great family Christmas, so top of my list of to dos were some yoghurt pot bells for the christmas tree, and decorating some mugs for the grandparents, and some family baking.

BB was ecstatic about the bell making - which was good as the craft was pitched for her. Sb also enjoyed it, so they painted and glittered together, with a bit of sticking. I threaded the bells in [well, its more fun if they actually jingle!] when they had dried. Much singing of jingle bells [still usually to the bring me back theme by BB] and other Christmas carols.

SB moved on to decorating the mugs using ceramic pens in her own inimitable freestyle way. One was made up of a drawing of computer wires, one an exploding comet, the other a trajectory of a golf ball… BB carried on with the painting and sticking.

They both did some christmas sticker book before lunch, and general play - with all the noisy things BB could find [a lot!] including that ELC footpath thing. Chris went out, so we took the opportunity to wrap his present from the girls. Carefully chosen by SB, its the first pressie she has wanted to buy either of us!
After lunch we made choc/banana porridge muffins. yummy. SB and BB worked together very cooperatively [well mostly with a Christmas eye of faith!] and with a wing and a prayer were cooked and worked out. So one for them to eat, and the rest in the freezer for Christmas morning. I am making some marmalade ones for the grown ups. [mum is bringing gammon for the traditionalists!]. I quickly made the brandy butter with them too. SB doesn’t like it - good!

SO there we were, all achieved with lots of fun by 3! So we tidied and sorted SB’s bedroom - well overdue. Now my sister and family can sleep in their quite safely. SOme general playing, but BB in particular was getting fractious as we didn’t allow her a nap today as she has been being a nightmare. So we put on another episode of the great britain series with allen titchmarsh - the ice age [SB choice] and quickly gave BB a tea. bath and she perked up, so a latish bedtime after all, and will hopefully stay asleep.

I am waiting to see what my fudge has done, but early impressions are of toffee. i don’t get fudge right ever! in fact last time i gave up [edited aside, SB down as her egyptian and world war 2 now finished, so I’ve suggeted she goes for a longer cd!] and made fudge with soft cheese, but didn’t like it - I’m more of a tablet person. this time have used this recipe for the first [and probably last] time. Anyone with any surefire recipes! [i have a jam thermometer, so know the temps]

Chris now making soup. watched the battlestar galactica on mon - nice cliffhanger - and getting into bones as I forget the books! Must do some wrapping up, but feel can’t start anything till I ‘know the worst’ with the fudge! We have taken loads of photos btw, just haven’t yet flickred!

We had a Chinese takeaway the other day, and got given a free calendar - it rolls up like table mat, and has the different animal years on it. - in normal tasteful Chinese kitsch style

It’s been a great hit. Yesterday SB spent sges playing with it - she was selling the different animals off of it (pigs were on special offer…)  to us. This morning it is  map, and they have spent ages now on some sort of expedition using it. BB happily going along with her and doing what she is told.
Great stuff.

we remembered much loved older relatives, and went to visit Little Nanny.

Not really the best day to be on fen roads, as freezing fog and icy ground - very beautiful but moderately stressful drive there. Pulled over to get camera out of boot, as SB took pictures along the route of how little we could see! We imagined we were going through swirling mists of time, and had vignettes of mediaeval, roman and Iceni life, interspersed with a brief cavaliers vs roundhead battle with sound effects from SB [made me laugh anyway as the all went plop when they died!] rahter cool view of the ecocentre wind turbines, as the fog cleared a bit, so you could see just the very tips but nothing else - wierd. SB missed that picture though!

Little Nanny was pleased to see us, and though a fairly massive limp, is moving about in the house OK, but hasn’t left it. The girls were delightful - possibly because I packed the toy bag as well this time - noahs ark, paper fold away palace, colouring pads and crayon, etch a sketch, dolly and a few boks [for future reference!] They played with each other and with Nanny, being a good advert for near perfect children! SB having more of a go at Upwords [a scrabble a like game, where you can build up as well as off a word] putting ram, car, pig [going up!] and pen before stopping. BB made towers.

Always sad to leave, and Little Nanny was sad she won’t be seeing us over christmas - however she and aunty margaret and family were all invited!But i knew it was likely to be a dreadful drive home, and it was. Pitch black and dense fog. at one point going at best 5 miles an hour, looking out of an instantly etched appearance to the windscreen [it wasn’t as I checked!] totally blinded by oncoming traffic. nearly pulled over, but after 10 mins, as I was losing nerve [but with no idea where i was on the road] a car pulled out in front, and although still going 5 miles an hour, at least could see they were on the road, so much better for me!

So, totally hideous drive home in the end, though the bad bit was only about 30 mins altogether. Chris’s parents were here when I got in, and bought us curry for tea - lovely! And chose a nice digital camera online as a replacement for the one that is awful. Our camera working well - though some getting used to settings to do.

I am knackered now, just put SB to bed but BB awake, and Chris has just given her to me! I love her, but after 10pm, I would rather love an asleep version TBH.