Photo a day challenge: January

I gave it my best shot, but didn't quiet complete January's. 

Thanks Chantelle for putting together a great challenge, was lots of fun! 

Pop over to Fat Mum Slim and check out February's challenge. 

I'm still not sure if I'm going to do it or not yet, are you? 

xx

Sunny Sunday

And just like that, the weekend is over once again. Thank god for sunny Sunday's.

How was you're weekend?


xx

I am going to...

Ok, I am just a little bit excited... I won a ticket to the Digital Parents Conference!! All thanks to the gorgeous, super generous Danimezza!! I couldn't be more thrilled!! Such an amazing opportunity, so many amazing people attending. So many bloggers I'd love too meet. I can't help but feel a little nervous...

So tell me are you going too? 


xx

Australia Day

We swam, ate, slept, picnicked at the park, drank, chatted and ate some more, pretty sure I'll be sleeping again soon too.

I hope your day was as perfect as mine.

xx

Our Family In Chalk

Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday.

xx

Tuesday's Treasures

Just a quicky for me today. My mother in law passed away almost five years ago and I recently discovered this cross-stitch she had made. I wish I had taken a before shot,  it was in a heavy dark frame, with a dark green boarder {no wonder it was hidden under a bed}. I re-framed it, giving it a brighter, lighter new life and I just love it!

It is nice to have reminders of her in our home. For us and our children. Simple treasures.

I'm linking up with Rach over at Picklebug. Do you have any treasures to share?

Warming Up

It's been pretty warm here the past few days and it seems to be only getting hotter. We have been laying low and taking it easy. I enjoyed a nice quiet weekend with the family, my brother came over for dinner on Saturday night and hubby cooked the most delicious rosemary and fennel pork on the spit, it was amazing, we served it with a simple homemade coleslaw or two. My brother and I had a coleslaw off, to see who's dressing was better. He won, but I still think mine was better, it was. We do things like that.

Sunday was a lazy day, hubby and I decided we should have one computer/phone/gadget free day a week and this was the first of many, it was nice to leave my phone at home and just fully focus on the family. We took Archie for an early walk to grab a coffee and wear the little ones out, it was hot and they tired easily. We are all loving having a puppy in the house, he is so gentle and full of life. The lazy continued well in to the afternoon, a nice big nap for us all and a movie, Up again, of course, it is the little mans most favorite, at the moment. And that's ok by me.

I'm enjoying being at home with the kiddies, avoiding the heat. R doesn't start kinder until Feburary, so i've spent a little more time just being with them, making up games, reading, playing and watching Up. Although they are starting to get a little sick of me, so were all looking forward to a few play-dates this week!


What have you got planned for this week?
Do your little ones have a movie they just can't get enough of?


xx



Image by little red photography.

Roast Baby Beet and Carrot Salad

A few people have asked for the recipe of this photo I posted on Instagram the other day. So here it is...

Ingredients

Fresh baby beetroots

Fresh baby carrots
Rocket
Fetta cheese
Balsamic vinegar
Olive oil
Garlic
One orange
Fresh thyme
Salt and pepper

Method
. Heat oven to about 180-200 degrees
. Peel or scrub baby vegetables to your liking, trimming tops and ends.
. Tear a piece of foil large enough to fit your veg in. Do each separately otherwise the beetroots will turn everything pink.
. Place the carrots on foil with some whole cloves of garlic and a couple of sprigs of thyme, drizzle with olive oil, a squeeze of the juice of half an orange and salt and pepper.
. Fold the foil so it becomes a little parcel of sorts, keeping the seal at the top!
. Do the same with the beets but use balsamic vinegar instead of the orange.
. Place both parcels on a baking tray and cook in the oven until tender should take about 45mins-1hour depending on how big your veg is.
. Remove veg from oven and allow to cool slightly.
. Place washed rocket on serving plate.
. Chuck the roasted veg on top along with the fetta crumbled.
. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Add and extra crack of salt and pepper.
. Toss around and serve!

I am sure there are plenty of recipes out there like this, but I just kind of but this one together on the day with things I had in the fridge. Everyone really liked it, as did I, but I felt it could do with something a little extra, maybe some toasted sesame seeds or dukah for that extra oomph.

What do you think?


{apologies for the not very good iphone photo, it was all gone before I could get the real camera out}


xx

Three Cheeky Monkeys

There always seems to be lots of bed jumping going on at our place, this particular night my two monkeys were joined by another, cute Miss P!

Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday.

xx

Tuesday Treasures

I have been wanting to share these with you for a while now, and the lovely Rach over at Picklebug has given me the perfect opportunity.

These simple treasures were rescued by my Mum from my Grandma's house, after my Grandfather died. 

They remind me so much of my childhood. They donkey always sat on the window ledge of my Grandma's kitchen and the frame is a picture of me she kept beside her bed, I probably bought it for her from one of those school fete's I can't quiet remember, but it has a sweet message I wrote for her in the back. I love them, they bring back so many fond memories. I am so thankful I can have them in my own home now.

These are just a couple of things my Mum collected for me, she saved them from the rubbish, she remembered how much they meant to me and I am oh so grateful. Other family members obviously don't care much for sentimental objects. There are more things I could show you too, but I will leave them for next week.

Do you have any treasures you've been waiting to share?

A Letter From Miss Jess

I had almost forgotten all about this... 

On Riley's last day of pre-kinder his teacher handed us an envelope, inside was some lovely artworks for Grandma and Gramps, who had arrived to spend Christmas with us and a letter from his favourite teacher. This is what it said - 

It puts a smile on my face every time I read it. Sure my family like to have a drink or two but not enough to make us incoherent! Lucky my Mum and Dad thought it was just as hilarious as I did! Just makes me wonder all the other things he must be telling them!!

What funny stories have you're little ones told their teachers or carers?

x jody

Late Night Ramblings

It is late. I'm lying with the little man, snuggled up in his bed, he has a sore tummy. The room is dark, quiet and peaceful. I can hear Lyla's sleep sounds from across the room. He speaks to me with his warm sleepy breath close to my face. With great pause and consideration this is what he says to me:

. Mama can you rub my tummy?

. Your hair is getting long, I think you should get Joann to cut it for you, call her in the morning and you can go and see her, I will stay with Dad and Lyla.

. Can I have eggs for breakfast, Dad can make them for me and you and Lyla.

. But we can have cereal too, maybe weetbix or cornflakes or bubbles or mini's or O's if I have a good sleep.

. Can you rub my back now?

. You can go back to your bed now.

. Sweet dreams, I love you anyway.

And I say 'yes' to it all. He is the sweetest little thing. And even though he is growing up so fast, he will still always be my first baby.  I love him so.

I love the late night ramblings.

Don't you? 

xx

Spit The Dummy - Update

Yesterday we decided it was time to ditch the dummies in our house. So far i'm pleased to say it has been relatively successful. I usually like to plan and strategically organize these types of operations, put yesterday we just jumped in feet first without really knowing where we were headed. The night wasn't too bad it took them about an hour and a half to fall asleep with lots of help from us, it was a pretty unsettled night, but we stayed strong and didn't give in too the dummy pleas {even though I felt so mean!} Riley was up and climbed in with us around 5am but on a whole wasn't too bad. 

They were very happy to start the day with yummy pancakes and a trip to the toy store as promised, a simple reward for making it through the night dummy free. We spoke about how proud we were of them both and how they didn't need them anymore, but one question kept poping up 'where had they gone?' I simply replied that I had put them away. Because I hadn't quiet thought out that part of the plan. We had discussed previously dummies being for babies and that they no longer needed theirs. And we had missed the fairy and Santa options. But then the idea came to me, that we could post the dummies to the babies that needed them. I put it too the kiddies and they loved the idea. So after lunch and a nap {which was short for them but a nap none the less} we searched the house and collected all the dummies, they decorated their envelopes and we put them all inside. I wrote on the envelopes and helped them attach the stamps. Because three year old's know you can't post anything without a stamp.

We piled into the car and drove to the post box, got out of the car and said goodbye to the dummies as I lifted each to shove their envelope into the box.

And that was that. There were no tears or tantrums. Part of me is sad though, with the realization that my babies are no longer babies. They are growing up. They sent their dummies off happily for 'the babies'.

You are probably thinking I am slightly crazy for doing such a thing, but I'm thinking some postman will get a good laugh when they find them, an un-addressed envelope of dummies.

But I don't care, it seems to have worked, I don't want them anymore, we don't need them and the little people really don't need them, they are adjusting and I know it won't take them too long, already tonight it only took them an hour to fall asleep and I'm hoping the overnight is better too.

So there you have it my improvised dummy evacuation plan.

So far its working for us!

xx


ps. thank you for all your great comments and advice on my last post, I truly appreciate and value every single one. x

Spit The Dummy

After months of talk and procrastination we decided today was the day to try and get rid of the dummies.

Both my kiddies love them*. We had weaned them down to pretty much only sleep times, but they both love them so much, they would have a sneaky suck whenever they could, have them stashed around the house in case of emergency and slept with at least five each. We new it would be a struggle to get rid of them.

We have tried various approaches before, mostly with Riley since he is almost three and a half {its starting to get a bit old for a dummy in my opinion.} But only half heartily and nothing has ever stuck.

Can I tell you these little suckers are the bane of my existence. Riley has quiet a few favorites he just has to have, he has names for them and everything like 'glassy one' and lighty one' he also has procedures for each which prolongs the whole bedtime routine, he likes lighty ones need to be lighted up {so they glow in the dark} and others often made juicy.. don't ask! Lyla has to have one in her mouth and one in her hand so she can rub her nose with it, cute i know, but not so cute when you have to get up five thousand times a night to find them. I don't even think they really 'need' them anymore they just like to have them, its a security thing I'm sure of it. I mean I don't have such a problem with them, I just know we will have to do this at some point. And I couldn't get rid of them for one and not the other at this age, it has to be both or nothing.

So with Riley off to kinder this year, today seemed like as good a day as any. The morning started off pretty well, we chatted about getting rid of them, how they don't really need them anymore. There were no major objections and both seemed happy enough. That was until Riley got stung by a bee. He wanted his dummy and I couldn't say no. I felt so bad for him, the poor little thing. A minor setback in the strategy. Which made their afternoon sleep tricky. I tried to hold back on the dummies but they weren't buying it. I gave in and and they had one each. Now who's the sucker?

The afternoon was dummy free, Riley had even chatted about trying again when the 'moon comes'. Mr S was home for backup this time. So we decided to give it another go. There were tears. LOTS of them. From both. Did I mention they share a room, cause this totally added to the intensity. There was lots of back and forth, negotiation, promise and bribery. Thank god MrS was here, he was great with them and really saved the day.

But now after an hour or so, all is fairly quiet, the night seems somewhat promising. Fingers crossed they make it through without them. If they do i'll be making pancakes for breakfast in the morning followed by a trip to the toy shop.

That was the deal after all.

Do or did you're little ones have dummies? If so how did you get rid of them? What tricks did you use? Or did they just give them up on their own?


Wish me luck. {I think we must be crazy doing this now, when were busy cleaning up and looking after our new puppy, it must be the year for changes, so far we have already got Lyla out of her sleeping bags and I am thinking of toilet training her too! Seriously there must be something wrong with me...}

x jody





*I dislike those damn dummies so much I found it hard to find photos of my kiddies with them!

Beach Days

The day was dark and cloudy, but hot none the less. 

We relaxed, played, walked and splashed.

Perfect day with my sweet little family.

Hope your having a wonderful weekend.

x jody

Lyla Vs Dumplings

She always wins...

And Riley doesn't do too bad either...

Joining My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday. 

Or Somethin'

At almost three and a half, this little guy is like a sponge. He surprises me daily with new reasoning, logic, questions, conversations, words and phrases. It's these words and phrases that have been troubling me of late. It seems this little sponge is picking up all my bad habits. I'm not just talking about the odd swear word, more the fact he is highlighting my bad English and lazy pronunciation. I am shocked when I hear him say words that sound, dare I say so ocker, like 'nahh' 'dunno' and 'or somethin' {there is more i just can't remember them right now!} I was puzzled and wondered where he could have got these bad habits from? That was until I caught myself saying the very same things... I never knew my English was so poor. But it is true, i have noticed I add 'or somethin'?' to the end if almost every sentence these days, for example 'would you like some lunch or somethin'?', 'do you want to go for a walk or somethin'?' - when did this happen?! 

I don't know where I picked it up, but now Riley is saying it too. 

Time to stop and think before I speak. Time to remember little ones hear and repeat everything! 

Has this happened to you? What funny things do your kiddies say?

x jody

image by Little Red Photography.

Meet Archie

The newest addition to our little family. Archie is an eight week old Boston Terrier. He is one of the sweetest little things I have ever seen and we couldn't be happier.

Welcome Archie. We only just met you but we love you already.


Tell me, do you have any pets?

x jody