Royal Wedding Wrap Up

What's a blog without a post recapping on the royal wedding?
I, like MOST women out there watched the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton last night.

I was initially only watching to she her dress (which she didn't disappoint), but I got drawn in by the excitement and romance of the day. Even Baker Bob got suckered in, and at one point mention that he was going to "sit on the couch, eat chocolate and have a cry." Stereotype much?

One of my favourite points was when William arrived at Westminster Abbey. He was smiling and chatting to Harry but his hands gave him away. He was constantly clenching and unclenching them. I thought it very romantic that even the future King of England is nervous on his wedding day.

And then he endeared himself to me forever when he whispered to Kate as she arrived at the altar "You look beautiful". So sweet. When you're a prince getting married there is so much protocol and 'correct' ways of doing things that it was romantic to see him step away from that for just a second to reassure his bride. I think everyone watching held their breath as as he struggled to wiggle Kate's tiny wedding band on to her nervous clammy finger. It was so 'normal'.

They also spent the whole ceremony trying to rein in their smiles too. It was obvious they were very happy and very much in love.

Of course Kate's dress was stunning and very reminiscent of Grace Kelly's wedding dress. But I think it was perfect. She didn't over do the train. I mean you can't get married to a prince with out a train on your dress but it was very understated, as was her boutique. Her tiara was gorgeous and was borrowed from the queen herself.

On the balcony, being watched by the world they had their first public kiss as man and wife. A nervous little peck that barely met people's expectations. But, as everyone looked up to watch the military plane salute, they kissed again, obviously more relaxed with the idea that less people were watching.

So much pressure to do everything right, I think they pulled it off with love and grace. What a lovely beginning to a fairytale.

Yesterday We....

...had an unexpected visitor drop by.

I think he had an owner as he had a ring around his leg. He let me get close enough to stroke his back but when I tried to pick him up he'd hop away. I hope he wasn't lost and made his way home safely.




Then we did a bit of this...

To make these...

Inspired by Tonya at Multiples.....and More!
I adapted it a bit to something the 3 under 3 (and I) could manage without the tearing off of a limb or chunks of hair. They may not be as stunning but they are just as special to me.

Daddy's Girl ~ (And my 100th blog post!)

Eva is the definition of a Daddy's Girl.
Other than the fact that I'm still a bit of a milking cow, she only really has eyes for her father and apparently that's the way it should stay... forever.

Though, I don't like his chances of sheltering her from attention when she's older. She has him wrapped around her little finger and all she'll have to do is batter an eyelid and Daddy will melt.
Even now she crinkles up one corner of her mouth and off he goes, instant puddle of goop!

Redrawing Memory

I thought, in the lead up to Mother's Day, that I would write a few posts dedicated to my mum. In honour of everything she put/s up with while I was/am growing up and of all that she does for me with out compliant . It's only since I have had children that I've really developed an understanding of everything my mother is. After all grandchildren are a mother's ultimate revenge. I love you, Mum.


There is a vivid memory that I have from my childhood.
It's probably my earliest memory too.

When I was 3 I drew all over our bright yellow toilet door with a silver paint pen.
BUT, this is not my memory.

My memory starts when I got up the next morning and did it again. Yep, again!

I remember getting a chair and climbing up to get the pen down.
I remember vividly the vindictiveness behind my actions, knowing damn well what I was doing was wrong but wanting to get back at my parents.
I remember thinking, "This will show them for telling me off."

Because in my under developed but cunning three year old mind I had the brilliant idea of getting back at them by going over the original drawing and therefore getting away with it.

I remember thinking, "They'll never know."
I remember looking at my handiwork and assuring myself they won't notice the 3 different areas I strayed off the lines.
I remember the smug, satisfied feeling that spread from my face to my toes.
I remember climbing up and putting the pen back, covering my tracks.

Of course, according to my mum, the drawing was completely different. So obvious that I'd done it a second time that it was almost laughable. (That's not how I remember it).

I don't remember the punishment I received either times. Or ever having the desire to draw on the giant canvases that were the walls and doors of our house again but I do now have sympathy for my mum. I can only imagine how exasperated she would have felt when she got up to go to the bathroom that morning and found my revenge.

And what really worries me is Eva becomes more and more like me everyday.




Me at 4 - Butter wouldn't melt.... yeah right.



Photos from January

Just wanted to share some nice photos of the kidlets taken in January outside my parents place.
I took them with my mum's camera and have only just managed to get copies.

I'd really love to do a photography course and learn how to use photoshop to its fullest. I won an award in Year 11 for my portfolio using a SLR but that was a long time ago and DSLR combined with photoshop adjustments is a little out of my league. I'll add that to the To do list.

Family Time

Yesterday we took the kids to an indoor play centre. (See I told you I'd make sure we did something.)
They love it there. As soon as they realise where we were they were champing at the bit to "Go, go, go!"

Eva toddled around the toddler area and had a grand old time learning her way around and exploring.
We had a bit of an incident were a little boy a few months younger than Mans and Linc kept hitting and pushing Eva over. His mum was kind of watching but didn't do anything to stop him. I only stepped in when he was getting really rough and she was starting to get a bit stressed. I just removed her from the situation. He didn't seem to have an issue with the boys though. They actually kept going to him and encouraging him to join in.

They are so good with other kids. It's only their siblings they tend to tear to pieces.

At lunch we had a massive domino meltdown. Linc lost it and sent the other two off. So I called it a day and we went home.

Then when we arrived home Linc insisted on going down for his nap early. Reason for meltdown identified.

Mundane Freedom

Most regular readers of my blog will have realised I am, unfortunately, a glass half empty kind of girl.
I can't help it. It's in my genes. And I think the fertility issues I faced just compounded my natural tendency to always see the negative.

I also suffer from anxiety. This made itself quite obvious after the boys' were born and I go periods of time were I'm paranoid that something terrible is going to happen, to the point of shortness of breath, sweaty palms etc.

But today, more so than any other day, I've tried to stay positive.

ANZAC Day has a way of putting things in prospective. People I don't know, or will never know, put their life's and futures in danger for this country and her people. They have fought in many a war to preserve our freedom and way of life. And in true Australian spirit, they have fought in the past and today to help bring that way of life to oppressed nations.

It is truly a breathtaking sacrifice.

At one point today I lifted Eva on to my hip and wandered to the letterbox to get the junk mail. A thought hit me and I stood looking at the sky. I can safely wander to my letterbox with my daughter without the fear of war on my street. I can leisurely read junk mail or make the decision to dump it in the recycle bin. I can have hopes and dreams for my children's futures that don't involve simply surviving tyranny but instead involves raising their own families in a safe and happy environment, surrounded by loved ones.

So I hope that this ANZAC Day that everyone not only reflected with respect the sacrifice people have made in the past, but also thought of our current serving men and women who sacrifice the everyday mundane things with the aim of giving others the chance for a bright and happy future.

Baker Bob's Pop - Serving in WWII

The Day The Rabbit Came

My plan was to take the kids to the movies to see Rio for Easter. The kids aren't big chocolate eaters (not through lack of their trying) and any Easter chocolate they get is more than likely going to be consumed by Baker Bob, (okay and me). But the fact of the matter is I chickened out.

I realised over the last week that Eva never watches TV. The boys will sit for 30mins or so, by themselves and intently watch Cars, Toy Story or children's TV programming, but never Eva. She'll play happily near by but the only program that gets half a glance is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and that's only so she can dance to the songs.

So I reneged. Mans and Linc we could battle, but combined, they outnumber us and Eva would not be content to stay docilely quiet for that long. It's just not in her.

I compromised. I thought we could take them to an indoor play centre instead. With Eva walking now, even she could participate in the toddler play areas. Fun to be had by all. Except one problem. No local play centre was open today.  I feel guilty. We will do something special before Baker Bob returns to work. I'll make sure of it.

Lucky the Easter Bunny came to shed some joy on the day.
We had an egg hunt this morning and although the kids are still a little young to get the concept that a strange giant rabbit breaks into our house and leaves chocolate eggs, the boys certainly got the hang of hunting down eggs and sharing them out between themselves.

  

 

Eva followed them and Baker Bob around with a bit of bemused smile on her face, wondering what was amazingly important that you needed  to make such a fuss and spectacle of yourself.

Surely not the foil wrapped chocolate.

It was soon recognised that chocolate was available and Linc's catch phrase for the day was "Choc, choc, peeeeeeease!". But they were good and I was tough and once again no sugar highs or metabolism lows. We ate lunch out and spent some time together. It was a good family day.

 

Easter Saturday at Grandma and Grandpa's

This year it was arranged to spend Easter Saturday at Grandma and Grandpa's with all the aunts and uncles in attendance.

Grandma supplied tasty salad sandwiches and pears for lunch and Grandpa whipped up some yummy southern spiced chicken with sweet potato chips and veg for dinner.

And because Easter isn't full of enough sweet, sugary goodness I decided my contribution to lunch / dinner would be a dessert table. (Hence the baking on Good Friday).

The kids were spoilt regardless of the fact that I told all aunts and uncles not to buy them easter presents but they only ate one egg between them so there was no sugar high, thank goodness otherwise I probably would have had a melt down.

They love going to Grandma and Grandpa's place, but it was a long day for them, (and us) because they refused to have a nap for fear of missing out on any fun and were very cranky when we arrived back home at bedtime.

But it was a great day with lots of adult conversation and lots of people to watch the kids, so I had a bit of a relax. I think Grandma and Grandpa had a good time too!

Dessert for Easter - Because Easter just isn't sweet enough

All the baking I did on Good Friday was with the intention of making a 'dessert table' for Easter Saturday.

I have been reading on a lot of event planning websites about dessert tables and, when executed well they look gorgeous. I'm not sure my first attempt was anything to write home about but it was for 'home' so what better people to try it out on than your own family...

Inspired by Nigella Lawson's caramel croissant pudding recipe (which by the way is one of Baker Bob's favourites) I made puddings using hot cross buns. (Hot cross buns supplied by Baker Bob himself.) It's very similar to bread and butter pudding, with all the spice from the hot cross buns coming out into the caramel custard. These were a hit.

These cupcakes were just a plain vanilla cupcake, almost the consistency of a pound cake but I put a light but super sweet mallow mousse icing on them. Unfortunately the longer the icing was out of the fridge the runnier it got. But I think because of the colour, the cupcakes looked kind of sweet with the dripping icing.

It's not Easter without Easter shaped cookies. This is my most favourite vanilla cookie recipe ever and so easy to whip up. Although jammed packed with butter and sugar, I couldn't resist icing them in a tart lemon icing. If you can't eat sugary crap at Easter, when can you?!

Lastly, inspired by Stef at The Cupcake Project I attempted to make chocolate cupcakes baked in egg shells. A few things I did learn doing this is
1. Don't use a dense cake mix, a light one would hold the egg shape a lot better.
2. Make holes and drain eggs on the sink because it makes a mess and...
3. Don't use a cake recipe that has half melted chocolate chips in the mixture because a piping bag clogged with meshing chocolate chips is not going to fill your eggs. Instead, in protest to your frustrated squeezing, it will spew forth it's rich chocolate goop all over your hands!

It was fun to do something different though but it's definitely not as easy as it looks ( for this novice anyway.) In the end I got the desired result though. Everyone was fascinated and I had to explain 6 different times during the day how I'd accomplished such a feat.

I also downloaded the ultra-cute cupcake toppers and tags from Hostess with the Mostess for free.
My table was not as fancy and well put together as some but I'm happy with what I managed. And of course my family oohed and aahed over it, like any supportive family would. It's nice to be appreciated.

Guess I was too subtle

Staring at my easter baking destroyed kitchen, getting ready to clean it for the 4th time today, while Baker Bob sits on the couch and plays video games.


Me ~ "You know why I like baking when Dad is here?"

Baker Bob ~ "Why?"

Me ~ "He cleans up after me as I go. I'll turn around and the dishes I just dumped in the sink are clean, or the floured bench I've finished with has been cleared away"

Baker Bob ~ "Guess you better bake when your Dad's around then hey....."

Friday Fundraiser

Next Friday is Good Friday and (for those that live in Victoria and are not overly religious) that means the Good Friday Appeal. And it's been running for 80 years!

This year, more than any other year, I feel an intense desire to lend my support. Without this hospital (and the fast thinking emergency Dr at the Austin, who also works at RCH) we would not have Eva. I am asking everyone I know, everyone who reads this blog, everyone who has a child, to donate.

My siblings aren't buying easter eggs for the kids, they are donating the money to the appeal. My family, and friends of the family also spend Good Friday tin rattling. Slot that 20c sitting in your car console into that tin, don't ignore them.

If you call the appeal hotline, donate more than $2 and leave your address, you will receive a receipt so the donation is tax deductible. (It's a pledge so if your strapped that weekend but flushed the next donate more.)

There's a Kids Big Day Out at Ethaid Stadium with celebrities, rides and family entertainment and all proceeds go to the appeal.

You can donate online.

Buy a Good Friday Appeal product.

Have a Parma this week.

There are so many ways you can lend your support. There is no excuse. Even my kids are donating.

The Royal Children's Hospital touches so many people's lives and helps so many children. Those children need your help for just one day. Surely you can contribute.

Fat People are Human Too

This post at Shakesville has hit home and opened my eyes to twitter account #thingsfatpeoplearetold

I thought I was the only one. I thought I was the only overweight female that felt insulted by a health care professional.


When I was splayed out on the operating table for my csection with Eva, completely nude, after having 3 epidural attempts, just after the sheet had been drawn up, exposed to the whole theatre, the back up anesthetist turns to me and says...
"Are you planning on losing weight after this baby is born?"
"I actually lost wieght while I was pregnant?"
"But you're going to lose more right?"
"Yes, I'll try."
"You need too."

I wasn't already feeling horribly exposed... and frightened... and stressed. Thank-you for spoiling what should have been a serene and beautiful experience.

The Other Side of Dawn

After 3 days of Linc waking up in the worst of moods and causing havoc all day, today he seems better. More responsive to the word 'No' and more eager to please, even using his manners. It's such a nice change. Life is so much easier when these 3 are on song.

Due to his destructive attitude the last few days Mans has 4 bite marks in various places all over his body. The sets of drawers are now 'knobless' as he was using them like rock climbing holds and scaling them to the top. Several times during nap time I came in to find him standing on top. His unsupervised access to the top of his drawers meant that their CD player got broken, their ceramic elephant had his tusks broken off (seems my boys are closet ivory dealers) as well as the FJ model car Uncle Dave bought them for Christmas now has a broken case. I walked in to find Linc stomping on it so he could get the car out.

What is more frustrating is that he knew what he was doing was wrong. When he heard the bedroom door open he started stomping harder to try and hurry the process up. Another time I walked in and he started crying because he couldn't get the drawer closed before I busted him.

On Tuesday it got to the point were I was doing that manic laughing/crying thing, were you start out laughing and end up crying. I was at a loss. In a combined effort, they even managed to break the TV unit door off it's sliders.

I think they were suffering from a bit of cabin fever as they hadn't been out of the house since last friday until yesterday. We braved the drizzle and went to the supermarket. Nothing too exciting but I think it was enough that it has calmed them down a bit. I have to admit it was nice having a reason to get out of my PJs.

Cake Balls

I attempted making cake balls / pops today.

I have a bag of cupcakes in the freezer, so I thought I'd defrost 4 or so of these to give it a try and that way I'm not wasting a whole cake batter. It was a technique trial, not a taste one so they were simple vanilla and chocolate balls dipped in white or dark mint chocolate.

They are not as easy as they seem. But I now have some tricks and I know what does (or rather doesn't) work so I've started thinking up some taste combinations to try. Stay tuned...

Munching on Mexican

The kids love mexican. Nothing too spicy mind you but they are happy to tuck into anything with a mild tang. Which surprised me as they usually prefer rather bland food.

I always make it as healthy as possible.
I grate carrot in with the lean meat. Not only is it a hidden veggie but it makes the meat mixture go a lot further.
I also use salt reduced seasonings and salsa, as well as wholegrain tortillas.

I wrap them into little burritos for the kids and they hardly make any mess. I try and hide tomato and lettuce in the wraps too but they usually get found and fulled out. But at least I'm trying. Next time I was thinking I might try hiding avocado in them.

My boys hit two and decided that anything resembling a vegetable, previously accepted with no resistance is now the enemy. Tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, corn are scorned. Even the poor old pea is squished and tossed aside. It's exasperating. I know it's something that they'll grow out of and as long as I don't offer them an alternative they will eventually eat it but still annoying.

Any meals I can hide veggies in are now my allies.