this moment

{this moment} -  A single photo  - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Thanks SouleMama

christmas lunch in the backyard

B gave me this cute cutlery set for Christmas and it's now the official summertime set.

 

 There was just the four of us for Christmas lunch but we still made a special effort.

 Ham, salad, potatoes and wine/grapetise.

 The table was looking cute with it's shabby green paint.

Pudding was dairy free trifle, made with coconut whipped cream, soy custard and left over birthday cake in place of sponge.  As a big time custard and cream lover, I was impressed how good it was.  The kids and I finished it off in the evening after dinner.  Shame there was none left for boxing day breakfast.

now we are six

Pressies wrapped in play cloths.

Some from rellies down south.

Dana's chocolate cake (destitute gourmet) for morning tea with the grandparents.

Lego time with NanaRobyn.

Dinner out at a Thai restaurant with an engrossing activity book. 

 Followed by some general tomfoolery on the way home.

 and some tree climbing (wearing his new SuperMario learn to tell the time watch).

I can't quite believe that he's six.

christmas traditions - gift wrapping

Something else new this year... reusable fabric Christmas wrapping.  I hate making more rubbish than is necessary.  We managed years of washable nappies, use cloth napkins and stopped using paper towels last year, so why not fabric gift wrap?  I sewed up a few bags (some with ribbons attached) from bits of fabric and they turned out really well.  Maybe I'll get some more Christmas fabric from Spotlight when it's on sale (surely that's soon?) and do a few more for next year.

I found the cute red material for 50 cents at a school fair recently.  Love it!

what did you get for christmas?

 so many wonderful presents

this game is seriously fun (and sweaty)

christmas eve in pictures

christmas traditions - granola

We started a new tradition today...

 making crunchy granola for Christmas breakfast.
It's sticky but delicious in the making.

 Here's the recipe if you'd like to try it.  From one of our favourite kids recipe books Salad People.

 Doesn't it look delicious?  Cherries and almonds yummo.

What are you having for breakfast?

christmas traditions - the gingerbread house

While I was bed ridden with the flu last week, DaddyB did an awesome job making us a gingerbread house.  The boys took some photographs on the wee camera so that I had something to blog...

 Best husband ever.

This is how we get our dough to an even thickness. 

Great process shots boys!

I was conveniently feeling better by the time it came to decorating.

The toffee roof shingles and windows were B's clever ideas.

Quickly gobbled up on Tuesday by five boys and two mummies.

dinner on the deck

A few beans and herbs from the garden, lots of other veges, some couscous and chicken kebabs, made a delicious dinner the other night.  Our first dinner on the deck this summer, just the boys and I as B was working. Little brother did a lot of the cooking too.  Harvesting, washing, cutting, and serving (for some reason wearing 8 pairs of underpants!). 

My crazy wee loves.

My favourite beer.  Yummo!

things I'm loving

Loving nature... he spent his savings on this bird feeder and bird seed from the garden centre.

Loving doing kid swaps so that us mummies get to go to the gym at least once a week during the holidays.

Loving big boys who still happily play fairy princesses.

 Loving my mother in laws old Tupperware (I got a matching yellow one at the op shop yesterday).

I got this sprouter (I hope!) for $3 from the op shop too.  I'm giving it a go but the sprouts seem to be under quite a bit of water.  Does anyone have one of these?

Loving helpers.

 Loving almost six year olds who take a nap sometimes...

 even if a bath is needed afterwards.