So much has happened!

It has been over two years since I have posted to this blog and so much has happened!

The biggest change, of course, being the addition of another little one to our family!

He is the sweetest, most delightful boy and I am totally smitten!

Meet Daniel...

This little rascal is 15 months old now and is getting more and more confident walking around.  He still drops to his knees and does his super fast crawl if he's in a hurry but mostly does his cute 'Frankenstein' walk around the house.

Here's 15 things about our little Daniel:
1.  I think he is the most spoilt little boy in the universe!  His big sisters completely dote over him!
2.  He is completely into balls!  Ball was his first 'real' word.  He will crawl over the most uncomfortable things to get a ball!
3.  He is a Daddy's boy.  He'll come back around.
4.  When he doesn't want something he will throw it, and his has a really good throwing arm!
5.  Like his sisters, he's a really good sleeper.  He sleeps all night and goes down really well for naps.  At the moment I put him into his cot on his tummy, give him his dummy and he curls up into a little ball and does a little giggle.  I just lay some blankets over and say good night.
6.  He loves to annoy his sisters.  If he can get his hands on something they want he will laugh and crawl away as fast as he can.
7.  He loves opening cupboards and finding anything breakable or opening draws and throwing the contents across the room.
8.  He says a few words - ball, mumma, dadda, more, no, wow, o-oh, nana (banana), broom-broom.
9.  He's a little show off.  If you give him attention he completely laps it up!
10.  He loves music!  He will clap, raise his hands and sing along.  He loves church!
11.  He's a people person.  Although he's cautions, he doesn't mind going with new people.
12.  He loves being outside.  If he hears the back door open, his is outside in a flash.
13.  He loves to play with his sisters.  His favourite game is throwing the ball back and forth.
14.  He loves to ride his little three wheeler bike and can go quite fast!
15.  He is loved!

And there you have it, probably the biggest change since I last posted :)

Ruth

So much has happened!

It has been over two years since I have posted to this blog and so much has happened!

The biggest change, of course, being the addition of another little one to our family!

He is the sweetest, most delightful boy and I am totally smitten!

Meet Daniel...

This little rascal is 15 months old now and is getting more and more confident walking around.  He still drops to his knees and does his super fast crawl if he's in a hurry but mostly does his cute 'Frankenstein' walk around the house.

Here's 15 things about our little Daniel:
1.  I think he is the most spoilt little boy in the universe!  His big sisters completely dote over him!
2.  He is completely into balls!  Ball was his first 'real' word.  He will crawl over the most uncomfortable things to get a ball!
3.  He is a Daddy's boy.  He'll come back around.
4.  When he doesn't want something he will throw it, and his has a really good throwing arm!
5.  Like his sisters, he's a really good sleeper.  He sleeps all night and goes down really well for naps.  At the moment I put him into his cot on his tummy, give him his dummy and he curls up into a little ball and does a little giggle.  I just lay some blankets over and say good night.
6.  He loves to annoy his sisters.  If he can get his hands on something they want he will laugh and crawl away as fast as he can.
7.  He loves opening cupboards and finding anything breakable.
8.  He says a few words - ball, mumma, dadda, more, no, wow, o-ow, nana (banana), broom-broom.
9.  He's a little show off.  If you give him attention he completely laps it up!
10.  He loves music!  He will clap, raise his hands and sing along.  He loves church!
11.  He's a people person.  Although he's cautions, he doesn't mind going with new people.
12.  He loves being outside.  If he hears the back door open, his is outside in a flash.
13.  He loves to play with his sisters.  His favourite game is throwing the ball back and forth.
14.  He loves to ride his little three wheeler bike and can go quite fast!
15.  He is loved!

And there you have it, probably the biggest change since I last posted :)

Ruth

Sometimes I wonder....

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever post on this little blog again.  It's been about 18 months!
I would love to pick this up again but it don't really do any of the things I did before.
Life has changed quite a bit in the past 18 months. The major change was me returning to work as a full-time teacher and the other changes are pretty much what we now do to keep up. Apart from that life has just kept chugging along.

I was thinking yesterday how returning to work for me and my family was like dropping a rock into the water. The change was huge at first but now everything seems to be settling down and this new life is becoming 'normal'.

I do really miss my 'stay at home mum' days. I miss Jessie most of all and sleeping and of course catching up with friends, browsing petty blogs and making craft!

But that's enough for now Jessie has just put body lotion through her hair while she was supposed to be napping! Cheeky girl! I would put a photo but I don't know how to do that I my iPad!

Hope you had a great weekend :)

Cassata Recipe

I have wanted to make cassata ever since I was a little girl but I did not realise how easy it can be!  A friend of ours used to make it for my mum fairly often and I have been meaning to ask her for the recipe!  Anyway, I googled cassata and found this recipe and was happy with how it turned out.  It is extremely easy to make and can be tweaked to add your favourite ingredients.  I will definitely give it a go again!

The original recipe is from Woman's Day and I found it on the Interenet here. I tweaked it as the recipe did not seem to fill the pan enough.

Cassata

2L vanilla ice-cream, softened
2/3 cup halved glacé cherries - red and green for fesitive colours
2L chocolate ice-cream, softened
200g Toblerone, finely chopped
1/3 cup toasted slivered almonds
Grated chocolate, to serve


Line a round 23cm spring-form pan with baking paper.  Spray a little bit of oil to help the paper to line the pan properly.

In a large bowl, combine 1.3L vanilla ice-cream with cherries. Pour into prepared pan.  Cover and freeze until firm.

In another bowl, combine 700ml chocolate ice-cream and remaining vanilla ice-cream with Toblerone. Spoon evenly over vanilla ice-cream layer. Cover and freeze until firm.

In a third bowl, combine remaining chocolate ice-cream with toasted almonds. Spoon evenly over Toblerone layer, smoothing top. Cover and freeze until firm.

Remove from freezer 5 minutes before serving. Remove from pan. Cut into wedges to serve. Sprinkle with grated chocolate.


I hope you all had a wonderful blessed Christmas!!
Ruth

Tiny Teacup Gingerbread Houses

Have you seen these tiny teacup gingerbread houses around on the Internet?

(source)

Aren't they just gorgeous!

 I was wondering the other day who came up with this super cute idea and as far as I can see it was Megan from Not Martha.

You can find her recipe and tutorial here.

Looking around for a recipe and tutorial I also found this Aussie recipe!

I think these are just gorgeous and are held together with white chocolate!

The basic gingerbread dough is here and the template is here.

I have not made our gingerbread house this year, but this might end up being as far as I get!  In fact, I am super keen to spend a whole day in the kitchen making our favourite Christmas recipes!

Ruth 

The littlest rascal

I am in denial that this little baby is nearly 2!  Well she's not nearly two, it's almost two whole months - but still!

I wish so badly that I could step back in time and kiss the sweet cheeks of this newborn baby, but at the same time I'm just loving watching this girl develop her own little personality!

Last week Jess experienced her worst fall.  It was so sad!  I held myself together when it happened then cried all the way home!  She stepped backwards down the playground steps at the preschool and fell all the way to the bottom.  It was a terrible fall and I was sure she had broken her neck as I watched her fall.  After taking Jessie home and stripping her off this was the only bruise I found.

Which looked like this after hitting the same eye on the corner of the table at her daddy's work two days later!

And now is just a huge browny coloured black eye!

A few days ago, mum and dad were moving into their house, Sarah took the day of school to help.  She was outside with Jess taking pictures and I was so pleased when she showed me!  I really think my 8 and 10 year olds are better photographers than me already!

Ruth 

Christmas Tablescapes

I love a beautifully set table!  Here in Australia Christmas day can be scorching so we tend to have a more casual BBQ style Christmas lunch with the Aussie favourite prawns on the barbie!

For me, I love a traditional formal Christmas lunch (with the air conditioner going on full!)

A beautiful table scape can be a bit impractical if you serve buffet style from the table but I think it is well worth the inconvenience and finding ways around it.

I have been pinning gorgeous table settings recently and have no shortage of inspiration thanks to some incredibly creative people out there.  I find myself pinning the same gorgeous table setting over and over.






1.  Gorgeous red and white theme - Pinterest
2.  I love the gift idea, especially for the kids to keep the busy between courses - Source
3.  Such a simple way to dress up a topiary for the table  - Source
4.  I love lanterns on the table!
5.  Gorgeous colours once again - Source

Mum and dad have only just moved in to their new house and there is still a lot of work to be done, but I think we will have Christmas there and mum is always happy to have the table set beautifully!

Star here : Napkin with greenery here

Below is one of my favourite table setting at the moment.  I love the neutral colours and the Christmassy feel.  have not found any old sheet music but will scour my favourite op shops later in the week :)

Here

Well the count down is on now!!  6 sleeps til Christmas!!