Bowls and Stones

So its the day after Jacob's birthday party (#1) and he's got some lovely new toys and what does he play with?

Mummy's baking bowls.....


putting it on top of his head and testing the acoustics...


and putting the car in and out and swishing it all about!

And stones!!!!


Will someone get that child some toys to play with!

First Birthday Party (#1)

Well today was the wee man's 1st Birthday (#1).

The boys came up with Granny and Grandad as well as cousins Soph and Rob with their mummy and daddy. The weather was beautifully warm so everyone played out on the patio, followed by pass the parcel...

Which Jacob won of course!

Then there was loads of food, enjoyed by all....

I wonder does his mum realise how many E numbers that food colouring has?!

Of course there was cake (any excuse to practise my sugarcraft)...

And the whole day I think Jacob just wondered what on earth is going on????

(I would have taken more pics but I was working frantically in the kitchen with the food or trying to prevent Jacob from eating stones on the patio!)

We've got a surprise for you!!

Hi Honey,

Just a wee reminder that there's a wee surprise coming your way this week as a thankyou for all your love and hard work.

xoxoxo

From your two hungry men!!

A Special Stovetop Espresso Maker

This is my special stovetop espresso maker. Strange thing to write about, I know, but it's on it's last legs (see the melting handle) and it holds so many memories. I just love the pale blue colour of it that matches perfectly with my kitchen. I loved the holiday to Nice 2 years ago where I saw it and just couldn't go home without it (I had melted the handle of my previous one a couple of days before we left). I loved the quaint coffee shop in Nice that I bought this from, shelved with beans and coffee equipment, which I visited every morning for my caffeine 'fix'. I love the baby that caused all the night-wakings and early mornings that drove me to rely on this precious piece of equipment. And I love the husband that got up 5mins before the 6:30am alarm clock yesterday morning just so he could put this little machine on for me.

My Tank Has Arrived!

Well, it finally arrived today. I have tutored and saved for this and hopefully it will be worth every penny. Since I've been full-time at home I've been baking so much more and hardly a week has gone by when I haven't thought of how much time one of these would save me (not to mention how much less frustrated Jacob would be when I'm not holding a mixer in one hand and a bowl in the other so that he has to watch from the floor). Now I can just hit the button, pick my baby up and watch it all come together, together (I imagine the novelty will wear off after the first mix).

What will I bake with it first? Bread. It has to be bread. Much and all as I enjoy kneading dough, this will make the process so much easier on my muscles (Jacob's already working them enough at the moment).

They say these machines are built like a tank - my mum still uses the one she got as a wedding present nearly 30 years ago and its still going strong. I imagine one day it'll just be the heavy, old-fashioned eyesore of a mixer in the corner so it'll be interesting to have a record of the day I got it and how pleased I was.

Learning To PhotoShop

I have recently embarked on a quest to learn to PhotoShop. Much and all as I'd like to go to a class I'll have to do with teaching myself! It'll be interesting to see in 10 years time whether I'm still at it or how long this endeavour lasted. For now anyhow here are the before and after shots of my new found skills acquired tonight.

Robbie's Birthday Party

My cousin Robbie was 2 this week and his party was today.


I had fun playing with Grandad...



Uncle George made up lots of silly games:

Cousin Soph makes me laugh.....

We had lots of fun, food and birthday cake!

An Addition to the Family!

Yesterday we received details of our sponsorship child, Mutati Mawia. He is 8 years old and from Nguni, Kyayuka, Levakoo (I have absolutely no idea where that is apart from being in Kenya). He is now at the Curran Clinic Orphanage run by FAME. He has six siblings (including a set of twins). His mother, Mawia Katui, is not married, has a big family and a hearing problem. We look forward to corresponding with this little man and there will be valuable lessons for Jacob to learn through this endeavour.

Teeth!

Who would have thought these gorgeous little pins could make my baby go from this ......

(notice the double back left)

To this......

There have been tears.....

And tiredness.....

I call this the Neurofen effect.

Its been a long day!

I Love My Tulips

My husband is far more patient and long-sighted than me. He went out in the cold, wet winter weather and planted some tulip bulbs. I wouldn't have bothered. It was much too cold. And they're so little in the vast expanse of our 'wild garden' (i.e natural mess). But they make such a differnce. They brighten up our 'garden' and they make me smile every morning when I look at them out of the kitchen window.....

Blowing in the wind.......

Two lonely stems.....

A helping hand.....

But most of all I love it when my two men surprise me with one!

(Yes, I know the tulip is out of focus but Jacob wasn't playing ball at all with getting his photo taken.)

Does Jacob Like Tomatoes?

Look what I found in mummy's shopping bag.....

I wonder what it tastes like?

Oooohhhh!

Maybe I'll try that again.....

But I don't like the skin.


Want some mummy?

He managed to eat quite a chunk!

For You Ritchie!

This is for you Ritchie! I thought about waiting until your birthday but I couldn't. Remember the discussion we had at the weekend about how much we'd forgotten of our life together. Well this is my attempt not to let it slip so easily through our fingers. Little remants of our seemingly mundane existence stored away for us to look back at next year, in 10 years time, in 50 years time and pass on to the kid(s?). It won't be everyday. It mightn't even make it every week but it's something. To show our kids (and remind us at times) how much we are in love and the wonderful life we share together.

I love you honey xoxoxo