Tuesday, May 28, 2013

I Won, I Won!



As you must know by now, my favourite baking blog is Baking Makes Things Better.  Each month, through their Facebook page, they encourage their readers to send them a photo of something they have baked off their blog, and all entries go into the draw to win a fab Billingtons Prize Pack.

Well last month I won.  My pack turned up a few days before I left to go on holiday and I can't wait to do some baking with it.  Its all unrefined which I am most excited about!

Monday, May 27, 2013

A Holiday with Sprat

I miss Sprat.  Before he started school we spent so much time together. Since starting school we don't spend anywhere near the amount of time together as we used to, and I feel like there is a bit of a gap in our life together.  Its not anything I can specifically identify, but there have been changes since he started school and I felt like I needed to capture some one on one time with him, to re-connect, have some special bonding time, observation time (for me, on him) and to just have some fun together.  Just the two of us.



So we flew to the Gold Coast for a week.  Just Sprat and I.

We got to sleep uninterrupted by little sisters who like to turn on lights and play in the early hours of the morning, disrupting the whole house.



We spent a-lot of time together in the pool, Sprat learning to trust me and me learning to stay on my toes.



Sprat learnt about travelling - mainly the patience of waiting on public transport, transfers and delayed planes.

I got to observe him while he played alone, reminding me that first thing in the morning he likes to play alone until he 'wakes' up properly, which is why we often have tantrums in the morning as little brothers often don't comply to his alone time.  It also reminded me of how much he enjoys playing by his own rules and why he leads so much in playtime with Danger Mouse and The Girl.



I learnt just how far I can push and encourage him and I also learnt where the boundaries are before I push him too far, and the consequences of that.



We talked a-lot, again with no interruptions, and I was able to encourage him to talk to me about his frustrations, his likes and dislikes, about courage and trying new things.

I've come home feeling totally reconnected to him and so blessed that we were able to spend that rare time together.  Its definitely something I am going to do with Danger Mouse and The Girl when they turn 6 as well.




Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Danger Mouse is 4


Danger Mouse had a birthday today.  He has officially moved into the pre-school class at Kindy and has his Before School Check and 4 year immunisations tomorrow.

He is so excited to be 4.  As would only be true of me, I am in a tail spin.  Where is the time going?  He is growing into such an awesome little man though, and I am looking forward to seeing what challenges he brings to us in the next year.



Outgoing, daring, courageous, sensitive, extrovert and utterly gorgeous.

His choice of cake this year was a Hot Air Balloon.  Child of the Waikato huh!


He was adamant we were going rock climbing for his birthday, until the last minute when he decided Chipmunks was the place to be.  Great choice, as aside from 2 other children, we had the whole place to ourselves for the 2 hours we were there.


So head over heels in love with my children.

Op Shopping - Egg Beater



I have been after one of these for the last 2 years.  Yesterday was my happy day when I found this in a jar of can openers at Habitat for Humanity.  $2 it set me back, which made me even happier!  After a good clean (it has cake mix crusted in its crevices) it'll be a stunner.

Joining in at Black Bird has Spoken with other Op Shop Show Offs!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Op Shopping - A Tea Cup Find



My local Habitat for Humanity pulled through for me today.  I've not stopped searching for tea cup trios, but in the last 5 months or so none of my local oppies have had any worth looking at.

This Colclough trio was only $5.  A great buy.

Joining in over at Blackbird has Spoken with the Op Shop Show Off.