Summer

Ahh, summer. It's really hot. Sometimes I don't enjoy it, but I've decided to embrace it!

There's a lot to love, like pineapple mint sorbet....in a summertime glass ;0)

Fleshy, succulent cherries....so good!

Swimming!

And these beautiful crocuses on the footpath after a storm.

I hope you're enjoying your summer too. Or winter! xoxo

Just Squeezing in a Few More Christmas Things!

I thought the kids would really get into making these decorations. After all, stabbing pins into styrofoam balls...well, I thought they'd love it. They didn't. But I did! I made this:

Not that I'm saying it's better than what Jimmy made:

a cool little man.

But on Boxing Day, Uncle Ben surprised us all by giving out these reindeer treats, 

that he'd actually made himself!

His n Hers Mugs

This is Matt before he has his coffee:

This is Matt after he drinks his coffee:

It smelt so good it made me want one, so he made me this. Aw shucks.

And we enjoyed our coffee together in our very groovy matching mugs from the op shop.

The Love Jar

There's nothing like a bit of bribery to get you out of trouble with the kids. I have to say I was feeling a bit grumpy putting up with all the bickering and whining. And my reactions probably weren't helping either....I seem to recall something about boarding school...

Anyway, why not resort to a bit of "positive reinforcement" aka "bribery"? I slapped a love heart on a jar, got out some wooden beads and explained to the beasties - sorry, children - that every time they did something loving, or used nice manners, or helped as soon as they were asked etc, I would put a bead in the jar. Their reward would be a dessert of their choice when the jar was full.

I was pretty generous with the beads; it's hard for little people to wait too long and I didn't want the interest to wane! What a change in my children! When it was almost full (about two weeks later) Alfie the Elf helped out one night and filled it to the top.

Kees had chosen the dessert, agreed upon by Jimmy and wholeheartedly supported by me: 

 raspberry ice-cream. 

I took the opportunity and got him to write out a shopping list.

We bought the ingredients, and made the ice-cream and darn, it was good!

Now we're working to fill up the jar again!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas! 

We are thinking of all you dear friends and family around the world, especially in Canada and Holland. Missing you and wishing you much joy and happiness!

Love from Matt, Catherine, Kees and Jimmy.

Christmas Baking

I'm no great baker but I like to do a few things for Christmas. We've been baking up lots of treats and sweating it out around the oven. It's so hot lately! Typical Christmas weather, hot and sultry with the clouds sulking and holding out on rain.

I must've cut out a hundred of these little stars. Phew!

Fruit mince pies were a big hit - especially with the flies as you can see.

A little something for my dear husband - Thermomix "Luigi's 40 Second Biscuits" made with pistachios. They did take about that without the children's "help".

The teeny stars - they took lots of time but they're so cute!

Candy Cane Day

The kids were very excited when their Advent stocking for the day said "Candy Cane Day"!

First we did a very simple (a bit boring) experiment where we soaked the candy canes in water to see what happened. They dissolved and the water turned pink.

Next we watched this interesting video about how candy canes are made. We watched it several times and the kids enjoyed it.

After that, we smashed up some candy canes in a bag with a meat mallet, then put the crumbles into star shapes which we baked in the oven. I think we left them in too long....

...but it was fun. We hung them on the tree and they looked quite nice, but in the humidity they melted and dripped everywhere which attracted lots of ants.

And we hardly ate any because I've grown very suspicious of red colouring and it's influence on children's behaviour! Sorry kids!