Photo of the Day. Ed's Pirate Hat

We were asked to make pirate hats for a party his class will be having on friday, so I knocked this up and he drew his own Jolly Roger (cute!). I thought he'd want to decorate more, but no, he's happy with it like this (I can already feel my reputation as a 'crafty' mum going down the pan...but if he's happy I won't interfere).

Photo of the day. Advent Calendar

I made this advent calendar a few years ago, and every year we hang it up on the evening of the 30th so that Santa can send his elves to fill it for us. Unfortunately this year I completely forgot to get it out of the loft in time, so we had to write a special note to Santa to ask him to fill it a day late. The next day when they saw it, each pocket with two chocolates in, one for each boy, their little faces lit up and Ed exclaimed; "even the note has gone!" Toooo cute.
The usual "are you sure we've had our counting chocolate today?" has of course ensued, and a measly 2 days in, someone stole 2 chocolates, one from the 6th and one from the 14th. No-one will admit to it so the those pockets stand empty until someone does (I removed the leftovers from those days in the hope their love for each other might push them to be honest with me, since the one who didn't steal will be missing out. Probably a bit optimistic, they are only 3 and 4 after all. Worth a try though haha).

Photo of the day. Homemade Headresses

Wearing their headdresses, made by Bean at messy play. (Bean & I made one for Ed now that he has to go to school now-we'd hate for him to feel left out at all).

Photo of the day. Cold Day at the Zoo

a cold day at the zoo, pulling silly faces.

Photo of the day. Tip for Mum

Taken from the latest free Morrison's magazine.
It's so very true, I get so excited about Christmas & it can be so easy to get distracted their christmas lists, but every year we make their friends & classmates chocolate gifts, which they decorate & gift box. It's quite cheap, fun and with my collection of ice cubes trays we can make all sorts.
I'm so looking forward to doing it again in a few weeks.
We also make cards & decorations, so hopefully they won't just be focused on what they'll get out of it.
There'll be no spoilt little brats here! Haha

Photo of the day. Ed Playing the Uke

Ed playing my uke. I taught him two chords and how to strum today to save him bashing away at it.

Photo of the day. Tree Lighting Montage

This is a montage of Ed and I, and our trip to see the Christmas tree being lit at our local shopping centre last Thursday.

Photo of the day. Winter Berries

Winter berries in my garden

Ed's First Show & Tell

On Fridays Ed's class have show and tell. They only started doing it a few weeks ago, but I hadn't yet managed to help him sort anything for it.
I finally remembered at 7am last Friday morning.
Over half term, I found the time to note down some of Ed's crazy thoughts & we wrote a story together, inspired by a dream he had. Him & Bean drew the pictures, I printed it off & made it into a book for them. They were so proud of themselves.
So when I first heard they were starting show & tell at school, I really wanted him to take his story. But could I find it when I needed it? Nope. I ended up faffing with the computer, printing off a new one & putting together a book at 7:30am. I so don't have time for extra jobs in the morning, we barely get to school on time.
So I proudly sent him to school with his book & when we sat together after school I asked him how show & tell went. He pulled these items out of his pocket. Bloody hell. I didn't even know he had them. Oh, did I really let my son go to school with cotton buds in his pocket? Bit dodgy on the motherhood skills.
Anyway, while I tried to put aside how gutted I was about his story, I asked him how it went & to be fair to him, he gave the most detailed description of his items, why he likes them & what one can do with them, so I'm sure his teacher will be pleased with his wide vocabulary & world knowledge regardless of the danger factor of a 4 year old carrying these around all day.
So I'm still proud. But maybe he could do his book next week?
Bloody hope so after all the effort I put in.

Dinosuars Bite Back at Chester Zoo

We love Chester Zoo, and we Especially love the dinosaur exhibition. It'll be gone soon, so I thought I'd post some photos and these awesome beasts.

365 Photo. Day 14 - Recipe

I've had this recipe in my scrapbook for years, but only tried last night for the first time. It was so yummy I thought I'd share it.
I belong to the dollop and splash school of cookery, so please bare with me.

Ingredients:
150g cous cous
lemon (to be honest I used lime juice coz that's what was in the fridge)
200ml boiled water
1x egg
15g melted butter
2x large chicken fillets, cut into strips (you could use any meat/fish)

Add the juice of a lemon (or a good slosh of lime juice) to the cous cous, mix then add the water. Leave for 20 mins, then fluff with a fork.
Beat egg, add butter.
Dip meat in butter, then into cous cous and place individually onto a baking tray. Bake in the oven until cooked thoroughly (about 180 degrees c. for about 20 minutes).
I served them with homemade chips and peas. Yummy!

365 Photo. Day 13

Oops, had a week off. On the plus side, I've been busy. I finally made the curtains for the bathroom (fabric has been sitting around for a wee while), which means that it's one more room that's a little closer to being finished. Whoop! I've gone for a tropical escape look, with a fruity colour scheme; purple, lime, pink & teal. It's only a dinky room, but since I live with boys, I decided to make the bathroom a girlie escape where I can have a quick pamper session, even if it's just to throw on a facemask & paint my nails.

365 Photo. Day 12

I had a lovely day at Bean's Pre-school today.
When the rain finally stopped, we found a damp butterfly amongst the outdoor toys, so I picked it up, showed it to some of the kids and then we put it up here to dry off in the breeze. Happily it soon fluttered away. It was a lovely moment, and a fabulous chance to encourage anyone small to look after their world. Sorry the photo isn't better but I was on the hop and I took it with my phone.

365 Photo. Day 10

Yesterday, as I went to school to collect the boys, I was holding my car keys instead of shoving them into my bag. I usually put my handbag on the buggy, but I’m trying to get Bean to walk sensibly with me (rather than run off which is what he normally does grrr), so I left my bag at home in order to be more hands-free. I glanced at my keys and realised that the photo of the boys made me an official 'Mummy', if you know what I mean. I don’t know many parents these days, who don’t have photos of their kids on the keys. Isn’t that odd? I don’t know when it happens, it just does. I think I got a photo pack when the Tempest lady came to our Mums’n’Tots group and there happened to be little photos and I happened to have a spare key ring for it to go in.
So anyway, that lead me to think about the concept of the contents of a person's pockets or a woman's handbag says a lot about who they are, and I reckon keys are the same. So I thought I photograph mine.
So there's my car key of course, still quite new to me as I only got my licence a year ago. My house key, keys to my Mum’s, a butterfly trolley thingy, Tesco clubcard swiper (love Tesco), the photo of my boys and a monkey my mum bought me donkeys years ago (it was in my Xmas stocking one year, no idea when. It's being washed as I type since looking at it made me realise quite how dirty it is).
So, there you have it. What do your keys say about you?

365 Day Photo. Day 9

Bean in his uncle's garden yesterday. He's the biggest animal lover I know (he's not sure about preston the pug though, who licks him in his face - yuk).

365 Day Photo Challenge. Day 8

I made this for my nephew's first birthday yesterday, using 'up-cycled' cards. I'm really pleased with it, it's so cute & cool.

365 Day Photo Challenge. Day 7

I spent my day finishing off my superhero capes and giving them a good press. So now they are all hung up over a door for fear of getting them creased again haha. I'm really pleased with them, they look fabulous. Just need to finish the red ones and them i can put them in my shop. Lovely.

365 Day Photo Challenge Explained

I thought I’d take the opportunity to explain the whole 365 day photo challenge.

It’s something I came across on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Framed365) completely by accident. I don’t even remember how, but I was immediately struck by it. I might be wrong, but it seems to be an idea either invented by, or taken on by therapists/analysts, and can be used as a method of self exploration.

So the general idea (which changes from person to person as everyone amends it for their own uses) is to post a photo a day which is either; a photo taken by me, a photo of me taken by other people, a self portrait, a family album photo or a found image.

365 Day Photo Challlenge. Day 6

My 4 year old, spelling his own name over dinner, without any help. Finally.

365 Day Photo Challenge. Day 5.

In rememberance of Nana, who we lost yesterday, just 2 and half months after losing Grandad.
Here's both of them with Ed.