Five minutes of Christmas Eve .....

I'm grabbing 5 mins to sit and write a post......

Before I start many wishes and joy to you all. 

So, here we are or rather here I am!!! In the kitchen.....radio 4 on......goose sizzling away in the aga (big thank you to my sis-in-law for Jamie Oliver's day before goose recipe), oranges sliced, cinnamon and herbs crushed and then the distant background noise of the children giggling and dancing to Christmas tunes whilst Mr Loveliness lounges feeling the need to rest.

I have another companion here with me in the form of a Giant African Land Snail.....an early christmas gift! he is munching through the banana and cucumber the girls gave him and seems in good festive spirit, I wonder what he thinks of all the sounds and aromas that fill the room.

The children have made some creative festive treasures and I thought I'd share this one and hope you've all been especially good this year and he visits you later tonight....merry Christmas xx

happY aDvent sUnDay

1st December or as mini1 shouted out "it's December once today, yippeeeeeeee". I recall posting this day last year and I cannot believe how the year has flown by (yes I'm sounding old-er) we've enjoyed happy adventures, changes, developments, moments that have made us stop and think and here we are all a year older and our three mini1's have a different understanding about Christmas and his time of year.

As always though excitement flows through the house as we celebrate the first day of this month, this year we have no traditional advent calendars I decided on making each day a game of sorts and today's game is to hunt the parcel. The girls had their clue and off they went to return shortly with the parcel number one!

Here is the findings.......

mY LiTTle sUnShinE

With less than a week to go until our little sunny bear turns one, I got thinking today about cake, decorations and what he would like? Honestly he is not bothered one jot, all he ever needs as every child is a loving family and big cuddles which he has an endless supply of. I did think though that he is always smiling he makes you feel warm, happy and his big beam and giggles are generous and get passed on and in return everyone smiles with him. So all that in mind i think something bright and sunny will play a part in the cake and decorations, i now just need to get my little sunshine to keep still for more than five minutes so I can get a making!

Holiday memories

Well we are back to the daily routine or as much of a routine as we have but we had a lovely summer and have new adventures ahead of us. Our family time together was super and the children just loved it, mini1 holds family so very close to her as some of her picture postcards show. These pictures will always be special as I recall her in her own world drawing away, we posted them on but I couldn't help take an image ...... thought you'd like to see, a child's drawing always a favourite of mine...

A giant snail came for lunch.....

The girls had a surprise today, a giant land snail popped by for lunch!

We discovered that we could have a few similar food types to munch on so cucumber was chopped and bananas followed, all were happy.

Not our usual play date or friend for lunch but very well behaved, polite and Lizzie is welcome to come again!

a cake for a brother & sister

Today we are doing a little colourful baking for a brother and a sister who have a summer tea party.

We are looking forward to all the jolly activities and the girls think the cake is jolly too to fit the occasion well!

Of course I knew they'd be keen to have some of the multicoloured rainbow layer cake so we dolloped  three of the colours together to make tri-colour fairy cakes.

Mini hats have been favourites in the past so we made some of these to decorate the top and also a personalised bunting cake topper. 

                                

                           

                                    

    

    

     

Little phrases and precious moments....

I love overhearing the girls chat and be a fly on the wall and watch them play.

They have their squabbles but on the whole they are happy best friend sisters and very kind and thoughtful to baby brother too.

Putting them to bed in a shared room the other night I stood under the window only to hear their conversation about us, momma and dad.....

Mini1 "but I love mommy too"

Minimini1 "noooooo, I love momma mostest"

Mini1 "noooooo we can both love mommy the same, and dad too because dad he is sooooo funny"

Tonight mini1 said to minimini1 after a lovely play session together "goodnight my little pastry dove"

I haven't idea where this came from but I thought it was so very sweet and didn't want to forget it.

Mini1 is also into the whole entertaining of friends and family and pre dinner aperitifs and nibbles and tonight being a quiet Monday evening I found a smile on my face when she turned around and said "nibbles and a crisp tonight?"

I like many many others cherish these moments and will miss them immensely when they grow, of course a new development of chat and conversation will start but the innocence and charm will move on and be different and I hold onto these moments with great affection and warmth.

Here is mommy and I love her too....

stOry stiCkS & tWiggY taLes

Our French retreat is in 'the sticks' just outside of Faucon near Vaison la Romaine.

The pool provides entertainment, the woodland adventure and the wildlife great excitement.

Yesterday we gathered sticks and twigs and made up our stories and tales through pictures. The girls found it great fun sitting in the shade of the olive trees retelling the pictures into story form.

The favourite one was about a butterfly who lived in a magnificent castle but when she ventured out she discovered the outside natural world of flowers and more butterflies even more beautiful!

Breast to bottle ......

If only it was as easy as it sounds, and how it has been in the past!

My first two mini ones happily breast fed solely for the first 6-8 months, somewhere between the 6-8 months a bottle was introduced firstly with expressed breast milk and later with formula. They were fine, they liked the Tommee Tippee teat which is the closer to nature one and all was good. 

Well I thought it would be the same with miniminimini1, no!!!! I have tried expressed milk in almost ever brand including disposable bottles, sippy cups, open cups and straws with no success but this week we have breakthrough and why am I not surprised as this wonderful brand has always helped at the beginning with the fabulous nipple cream, have you guessed who...."Lansinoh" yes their momma bottles and sippy cups have happily been accepted by Miniminimini1 at almost 10 months old! 

I'll let you know how we progress but with the heat we currently have I'm so happy he is taking water and he is not completely attached to only my nipples!

Show and tell...,

Tomorrow is mini beasts and bugs lesson and mini1 will be taking in her homemade banana and honey loaf with the honey from our very own honey bees. 

Photos of the process and a few props; honey!, frames, honeycombs are ready to be passed around as is the loaf. 

We also thought a little simplified doodle of the processes would be fun too.

Look at my jewels

Following on from a week of indoor craft and makery fun, the sun arrived friday and has continued to shine so today we enjoyed taking our makery tools outside and minimini1 got busy making pipe cleaner and bead bracelets.
This is a really lovely little makery project as it helps concentration, colour picking, coordination, portable, no mess and a lovely piece of jewellery afterwards.
Here's what we used, minimini1's pieces and a bit of the action too....

another tent, new dolls and a vintage snoopy called pedro!

So we have a hanging circular tent today, quickly made from a hula hoop a double duvet covers (with self fabric ties at opening which made this super easy and quick!), thread and a 4m length of thick bakers twine.
The girls are happily playing together in this new hanging den with their new friends named Rose, Rosemary and Pedro the vintage snoopy who has hurt himself?!

If you'd like a go a making this hanging tent it is so easy and with little or no sewing.
If your duvet cover has no self ties at opening you can quickly thread on some ribbons to then attach to the hoop.

Boris is 389 and....

is wearing very nice purple trousers ("this purple" minimini1 says pointing to a purple felt pen), has blue hair, no top on but lots of hearts allover his body and pretty falers (flowers) for his shoes. We then doodle this imaginary friend and think helots very good for his years and funny too!
At a similar age mini1 had a friend like this except hers was called PeeHee and only wore yellow!
Love their imaginations, encourage and enjoy together.

tents & tiaras

Friday was a teacher training day, Monday was a bank holiday, birthday weekend in between so today is the official first day of the half term holidays ......it's raining!!!
That's ok as we have lets make an indoor tent and lets make our own tiaras to the rescue.
It's worked a treat and princess picnic lunch and afternoon snacks have been happily consumed under the canopy tent too.

If you are stuck for a rainy day indoor activity I recommend them as im sure you will have a happy time with your little ones doing one or both.

A birthday .....

Minimini1 celebrated her 3rd birthday today and before the house came to life with all three mini1's i reflected on that very special day at 6am 3 years ago, abd it was lovely doing so.

Thankfully I can look back with great pleasure and fondness and feel very lucky to have had a perfectly healthy baby, a fast, successful home-birth followed by the cheery meeting and greeting from big sister whilst I enjoyed tea and toast in my own bed.

Today was similar and different...

the sun shone just like it had 3 years ago,

we as a family were altogether, happy and well, we laughed, blew bubbles, ate cake and played with the additional little brother, rolled down grassy banks and had a wonderful day. 

I look forward to the years ahead and cherish those that are whizzing by. All three of our children are wonderful in so many and such different ways but the happiness they give us and enjoyment they bring makes me feel incredibly lucky and fortunate and I will have this and more for years ahead. 

The circus cake....

Okay so it's done! and on the first day of the holidays with all three wanting my attention I'd say its not bad and I deserve that glass at the end if the day!!

So visually it's not exactly to plan but as a designer by heart and profession I have the ability to go with what I have! The frill was not planned but it hides what I wish no one to see beneath!

Bunting, my performing elephant topper and sprinkles as imagined and happy I did these last night whilst the mini's were sleeping. Mini marshmallows I recommend should be in every families cupboard along with other store cupboard essentials than i'll talk about another day!

All in all I'm happy, my 3 year old baby (no more) will be grinning and that is what we only wish for....happy mini1's. 

Here is how it went....

Say hello to our performing elephant ...

The podium mould I made yesterday was a success and the plaster has now dried so tonight I had a podium to decorate ....

and an ellie in need of a neck ruffle!

I think when the duo takes it's place in top if the cake the ellie may be positioned on its back legs but this gives you an idea of minimini1's cake topper.....

In the absence of pen and paper .....

You can't beat pens, crayons, paint and paper however there are times when both me and the mini1's have fun doodling via a few of our favourite apps, these were created using KidSlate and Drawing Carl....

Thank you bees....

it was only a few weeks back, Easter Sunday I recall! where I had laryngitis, sore throat, no voice but fear not, patience and spoonfuls of manuka honey got me through.
Well since then we have had the mini ones (middle and baby) have high fevers, croup, ear, chest, throat infection and an awful virus so I guess it was only a matter of time due to my lack of sleep and the constant being coughed, sneezed and spluttered at that I may get something else....I have!
However with another big thank you to the wonders of manuka honey and a certain anti bacterial antiseptic throat spray, hot fresh lemon and honey drinks I have managed to blow that throat infection that had started to attempt to take residence on my tonsils too and turn it around.
I look forward to the day when all three mini1's can have a spoonful of honey to naturally help and assist their immune systems if need be, and really it tastes so good it's like a little daily treat that's doing good. I recommend a pot on everyone's shelf, also a good supply of lemons, hot lemon and honey or homemade lemonade, delicious!

So different...

I'm always amazed by the girls being so very different, same genes, upbringing, family, even friends to a degree yet they are so very very different ( as we all are!)
Mini1 straight into drawing, imagination delightful and clear to see through her drawings.
At just turned 2 she did the most wonderful people with fantastic expressions and actions, yet never counted to 20 or even 10 until almost 4.
Now minimini1 not yet three counts superbly, she is precise and has had her nursery teachers stand in awe whilst she carefully colours in with her delicate and accurate pen control.
Of course whatever they do we applaud and stand proudly by them with lots of praise, and yesterday was one of those days as minimini1 handed me her first person (yet to be named!).

So here we have the art piece and just like when mini1 did her first one this masterpiece will soon be framed.

Here you go....

we picked these for you.
Thank you girls, the day is a lovely one.

What a beautiful start to the day, happy healthy mini1's, sunshine, flowers and later a big family meal when nanna, poppa, granny and grandad all come over and join us.

Sunshine...just add chalk!

The sun is out and everyone is cheerier, the people out and about whilst I shop for groceries, drivers, the children and even the dog (if she can be any happier than her usual self!)
So after groceries, dance and stage class we have a family lunch, enjoy the sun and add some chalk.....
Happy days and lovely footpath drawings enjoyed by us all. I just hope we have a dry night!