Day 1 Of Half Term - A Relaxing Fun Filled Day

The first day of half term and we not only survived it by but have actually  enjoyed a lovely day.

I must admit when Husband fist told me he was working all week, including the weekend I panicked a bit. What on earth was I going to do with the girls all week? I thought about going to visit my parents but they are looking after my Nana. She has been really poorly lately and despite loving the girls, she is not up to being invaded by us all.

So what did we do?

Well we didn't get up until 8am so we were all in a happy relaxed mood. We enjoyed a leisurely morning staying in our pjs longer than usual.  The girls were thrilled to not have to rush around and Poppy actually asked if we could not go anywhere today and just stay home.

The girls were really good, playing brilliantly together while I rushed through the usual Monday cleaning jobs. I could hear their little giggles  all around the house as I did my jobs.

Next we did some painting with the paint pens. Both girls enjoyed themselves and had great fun. We went through a huge pile of paper:

Whilst Rosie was napping this afternoon, Poppy and I did some baking.  First we made a trifle:

Next we made fresh tomato and herb bread:

Later we sliced some of the bread and made brushetta:

Husband was very pleased to come home to a three course meal...brushetta, pasta with tomato and chilli sauce and trifle. He felt very spoilt and was impressed that Poppy had helped make it all.Both girls ate a good meal and thought the trifle was the best thing ever!

I love days like this. Everyone is happy and I feel like a good Wife and Mummy.

Wonder what we will do tomorrow.

Karen x

44/366 - Daddy Was Impressed!

Poppy and I made brushetta today...even the bread is homemade!

Daddy was suitably impressed and it was delicious. We made a very yummy trifle too!

Karen x

We've Been Baking!

After a difficult week last week I realised how much Poppy values our special Mummy/Poppy time when Rosie is napping. Due to toddler groups and Preschool commitments we originally set aside Thursday afternoons for this special time. Over Christmas we were away so this kind of stopped and I didn't get straight back into it either...but now I have.

Thursday afternoons are once again time for baking and creating. A special time where we make lots of mess, eat treats we make and generally enjoy each others company.

Today we baked. We had lots of fun making chocolate chip cookies and fairy cakes. Poppy is becoming very independent now and wants to do everything herself. Here's what we did:

Chocolate Chip cookies

Ingredients

75g margarine
75g caster sugar
100g self raising flour
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
120mls milk
50g chocolate chips

How we did it

1.  First we preheated the oven to 180C

2.  Next we put the margarine and sugar into a large bowl. We mixed them together together with a wooden spoon until they were light and fluffy.

3.  Next, sift the flour and cocoa powder into the bowl and stir into the mixture with the wooden spoon:

4.  Add the milk and chocolate chips to the bowl and mix together well:

5.  Spoon the mixture onto your baking tray and bake for 15-20 minutes. Once in the oven you can lick the wooden spoon and bowl:

Cupcakes

We made the mixture and then split it into two bowls. One half we made into cherry coconut cupcakes and the other into chocolate chip. You could do what ever you want...let your imagination run wild!

Ingredients

8 oz self raising flour
3 oz margarine
3oz caster sugar
1 egg
3-4 floz milk

For the topping

Cherries
Coconut
Icing sugar
Water
Crumbled flake

How we did it

1.  First we turned the oven to 200C

2.  Sift the flour into the bowl and add the margarine. Rub the mixture between your fingertips until it becomes crumbly. Add  the sugar and mix in:

 3.  Add the egg and just enough milk to make a stiff mixture:

3. We added a handful of coconut and chopped cherries to half the mixture and a handful of chocolate chips to the other to make them a bit more interesting:

4. we then spooned into cupcake cases and  baked for 15 minutes:

We made two bowls of icing sugar for the toppings. In one bowl we added a little vanilla to the mixture whilst to the other we added some cocoa powder. We spooned it on top of the cupcakes  and added grated flake to the chocolate ones and coconut and half a cherry to the others...delicious:

 The end result:

 

 Poppy had great fun and enjoyed her yummy cupcake this afternoon. She can't wait to show Daddy when he gets home now.

Mummy is wondering if we could freeze some of these or we are going to get terribly fat!

Looking forward to lots more fun filled Thursday afternoons.

Karen x

Update On School Situation and A Bit Of Blackmail

You may have read my post on Tuesday: Separation Anxiety? about how we have been having a hard time when we drop Poppy off at School.

Having never done it before, she was upset for three days in a row, crying hysterically when I left but being okay 20 seconds after I had gone. The Teacher and I were very concerned and went through everything it could be including a Teacher/ support staff member upsetting her or another child. There didn't appear to be anything!

The only thing she did mention was that she does not want milk at snack time any more as she doesn't like it cold.  This did not surprise me as she wont drink cold milk at home either always wanting it warmed slightly. I discussed it with her Teacher a few days ago and since then she has been having water whilst the other children have milk.

I was really lucky to be left these links here, here and here to read from a fellow blogger The Moiderer on coping with similar behaviour. I read them gratefully and sat down yesterday ready to talk to Poppy. She kept saying nothing was wrong so armed with a pad and paper I tried to do a social story and explore her behaviour.

I had only just started when she said "Stop Mummy!, I know what you are doing and nothing is wrong". She told me she likes the other children and her Teachers, no one has upset her, she just misses me! I thought about it and talked to Husband and we decided she is probably craving attention. Being pregnant and a little tired, this made sense.

We decided to try another tactic.....blackmail!

Today we told Poppy if she was good and did not cry this morning she would get a sticker and we would make chocolate brownies together while Rosie is napping in the afternoon.  So did it work?.....

..It certainly did. She went into School with a smile on her face and excitedly told her Teacher she wasn't going to cry this morning so she would get a Peppa Pig sticker and make chocolate brownies later. Her Teacher was great and got excited with her and I managed to get out of the room with no tears...phew!

Looks like it it is just an attention thing then and nothing too serious.

I decided that maybe I have been a little tired lately and have not done as much as I usually do with her. We therefore had great fun making the brownies together this afternoon:

Making these yummy looking treats:

Poppy enjoyed a glass of pink milk with hers while I had a coffee...delicious! A real treat.

Next we did some sticking:, I emptied the art jar and let her glue and stick to her hearts content:

We also played tea parties with a little china tea set and did a few jigsaw puzzles.

We both enjoyed a lovely afternoon and Poppy enjoyed having quality Mummy/Poppy time. I am sure it did her the world of good and it made me realise I have been a bit lazy lately.

Thursday afternoons used to always be Mummy/Poppy time but we haven't been doing this since Christmas...I guess because I have been a lot more tired. Its so easy to let her play independently or put the TV on so I can rest but I am going to make sure we get back into it again.

Watch this space for lots more creative posts on Thursdays and lets hope that's the end of her being upset when she gets dropped off at Preschool.

Karen x