pretzels for lunch

Roll the dough into long sausages.

Shape the dough.

Simmer for twenty seconds.

Egg wash (optional), sprinkle salt, then bake.

Nom nom nom.

We were lucky enough to have Aunty Katie and Bridgette visit us for lunch today.  #1 and I spent hours this morning making pretzel dough, ice cream and pasta dough.  It was lovely.

The pretzel recipe is on my recipe page or just click here.

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

i hate the flu

Seriously, four and a half days in bed, I must be better already!  I have had one child or the other at home sick with me three of those days, which is hardly conducive to mummy's recovery.

I took these photos from my bed on the tablet.  With my eyes closed I don't look as sick as I thought, I must keep them closed.  I've been surviving on panadol, hot lemon/honey/cayenne drinks and boxes of aloe tissues.  I have really only been out of bed to organise food and wrangle small people.

The washing has been piling up and today I got the 7yr old to sweep the kitchen.  I let him take photos on my phone after breakfast and before school the other morning which is why I have this one.  Note the bench piled up with dishes.  Actually the fact that I cared enough to get him to sweep the floor has to be a sign that I'm improving.  Maybe tonight I won't be feverish and sweating or need cough medicine... you never know.  I'm hanging out to be outdoors and enjoy some of this beautiful autumn weather and light before it's too late. I've already warned the boys that a wee photo session may be required once I'm better.  Let it be soon.

Last week big brother was sick.
This week it's little brother's turn.
And now it seems I have it too.
What fun.

wired

It's been a long week.

430am Starship hospital.  

I was shattered.

He was high on steroids.

lego technic

 Turns out it's quite a lot trickier than regular Lego.

NanaRobyn picked it up (unopened) in an Australian op shop!  
Great find.  We love op shops too.

the homework thing

Homework is kind of a new thing for us.  Previously we've had reading books but that's been about it.  Now there's times tables and spelling and research projects and music practice to fit in.  I like the boys to be able to play and muck about after school so to be honest I've been pretty slack on the homework front, surely school is for school work?

Anyway, after talking with some mummy friends recently, I realised that maybe a bit of an after school routine involving homework would be a good thing.  And it really is.  We've been making an effort to spend half an hour on homework type stuff each night.

I'm spending about ten minutes listening to reading with the youngest and the same amount of time assisting with keyboard practice for big brother.

I've got a few other activities for them to work on (times tables, handwriting, activity puzzle cards) when they're short on assigned stuff from school.  Routine is good and it works for us (at least one week in anyway).

How does homework work at your place?  

Any tips and ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

kitchen aid

Do you let your kids use the super sharp knives?  I absolutely love that my six year old offers to help in the kitchen.  Yes things take a little longer and yes the knife handling thing makes me a little nervous, but it's just so wonderful to have a keen sous chef.  And his knife skills are actually pretty good these days... practice makes perfect after all.

It appears that winter still hasn't quite hit us yet (just noticed the lack of clothing).

loving technology

So we got a tablet, it's an android one. Like an iPad but no doubt a lot cheaper (although to be honest I wouldn't know).  It was an incentive/bribe/gift with purchase when we bought our new fridge/freezer recently and although it's cool I wouldn't miss it if it was gone... until this morning that is. 

This wee feverish love was able to be cheered up by my Mum and Dad in Christchurch via Skype, all while tucked up warm in bed.  Mum/NanaD read him a Paul Jennings story and it was so lovely.  I really miss my family a lot sometimes.  I know they're coming to visit us pretty soon but when you're tired and run down a wee hug or popping in for a cuppa would do wonders.  Skype isn't quite there but it's pretty damn good.

arty farty

 This is my little bro and I at the kids arts festival. Here we have done paintings with fluoro paint.

 We got to chase after lights with crazy capes on. It was super fun.

 Here is his painting.  It is glowing because of the UV light.

 Here I ham making some junk jewellery.  

We got a book out from the mobile library.  It was a library on a bus.  

It's full of books and it's a library that can move on wheels.

After the arts festival we went to the Improv Bandits show at the Q Theatre.

I won some tickets off the kids show.  There was a story where someone got to be the centaur king's back half.  I got to be his back half.  It was hilarious.  

This is the art  gallery!  We went there after the show for no reason.

                                                   it was very exiting  

the boys

sunday

 Some playtime after the fancy pancakes, finally tried out fraction bingo that the boys got for Christmas.  

Followed by a shoulder massage which got a wee bit too vigorous.

Quiet time involved tea, biscuits and Dominion with my honey (the usual weekend stuff really).

The boys read books and did some lego building.  Nice to just chill out at home.

kids art festival

This Saturday May 5th at Corban's Estate Art Centre  

10am-4pm

Free Arts Festival and entertainment for the whole family

You might remember we went last year... and we'll be going this time too.