the secret life of Santa

 Although we were really the ones providing the christmas present (at the childcare christmas concert, parents were asked to bring a gift-wrapped book for their child), that anomaly no longer mattered when we saw Ava jumped with joy after unwrapping what "Santa" gave her this year. The way I see it, she really did believe that Santa remembered what she likes. And I know, if needed be,  I would provide for a gift- wrapped book next year, the year after and the next, just as happily. 

 

vegan banana and date muffins

Dedicated to anyone who is curious about vegan cakes/cupcakes/anything. This recipe is pretty good. I have a son who’s unabashed in his declaration that he’s ‘allergic to vegetables’ (he says that veggies make him feel puke-y). This son of mine has tasted these muffins and... wait for it... loved it. 

Vegan Banana and Date Bread

I made this into muffins as I packed them for the kids’ lunchboxes.

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup raw sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 ripe bananas (mashed)
• 1 cup dates (sliced)
• 1/2 cup apple puree
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

Optional: I added a handful of chia seeds and pumpkin seeds

Preheat oven to 325 degree. 

In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In another bowl, combine apple sauce, vegetable oil, dates, and mashed bananas (plus chia/pumpkin seeds). Stir until all ingredients are combined.

Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients. Stir until all ingredients are mixed through.

If making muffins, scoop the batter into the muffin tin. If making bread, pour into a baking pan.

Bake for 20 minutes.

strawberries & cream

If you're pressed for time but still wanted to bring 'homebaked' cupcakes to your child's birthday celebration at childcare, what would Betty Crocker do? Damn right, she whips up a box.

Follow the packet's instructions. 

Now the fun part:  assembling and digging. 

I will say that the star of this show is the strawberry jam I bought at my son's school fete. And fresh cream.

Decorate. Voila! Pink deliciousness for the little kiddies. 

a tiny break

Most recently I did something quite radical (for a practical me, at least), I booked the two little kids extra days at childcare. I work three days a week while the kids are at school/childcare. Normally on my days off work, I have my two non-school age kids tagging along with me while we go about our errands. I was T.I.R.E.D.  and felt the urge of taking a tiny break. (Two years ago, I did something similar- I travelled by myself to the US. I didn't think I could have afforded an overseas travel this time around). So for two days per week for one month, I had the whole day to myself.

I was elated at the idea that I didn't have to be anywhere, at anytime. For someone who has thrown the switch full-on to motherhood, there was a chance I could have felt a teeny-weeny bit guilty. That anxious practical side of me shouting that I’m spending too much money to be able to enjoy a limited amount of time child-free. But, there was none of it!

There were a few mornings that  I went back to bed after I've sent the kids off to school. There were regular unhurried sessions at the gym. A lot of window shopping. Many coffees by my lonesome. There were afternoons catching up on entertainment news and reality show reruns. I downloaded romance eBooks - devouring every detail no matter how cheesy, no matter how predictable.  I even laid low on social network.

And you know what, it’s reassuring to affirm that I haven’t forgotten just how to be myself, by myself. That underneath the all consuming cloak of motherhood, when I get a chance at re-experiencing my child-free self, it really is ‘all still there’.

"just because" roses from the hubby. 

sun-day sunday

Warning: excessive iPhone snapshots happening in 3...2...1...

 

It's still officially spring in my part of the world but we've been experiencing warm, humid days already. Save for the bushfires happening in New South Wales, we live for sunny days. We particularly love sunny day Sundays that we can spend pottering around the home- baking like calories don't count, boogie-ing like nobody cares and swimming like summer never ends.

two years old

My dearest 'vanna, 

Two years ago, I gave birth to a little girl. You. All 2870 grams, 49.5 centimetres of you. Look how much you've grown in two years. No longer a baby, you've crossed over into the wonderful stage of toddlerhood. 

You'll eat pretty much anything, at this stage. Chocolate is still your favourite though (ha! Big surprise, not). You'll drop everything if you see that a piece chocolate is on offer. 

You are a typical generation alpha. The iPhone or the iPad is your thing. Your vocabulary includes "you tube", and "low battery", among others. 

You have the boys wrapped in your little finger. You scream with glee when your dad comes home. Your brothers indulge you. You'd have them chasing you around all day if you could, and they probably would too. 

You have a BFF. His name is Orlando. When I ask you how school was, you try to string along a sentence but the message is always, "lando this, lando that." 

You seem to favour the word "mine." Once I caught you talking in your sleep and you said,  "miiine, miiine!" And today, when you woke up, you noticed that your brother Nicolas was playing with your bike, guess what your first word for the day was? Your second most favourite word is "no". Sometimes I wonder if you relish saying "no" just to do the complete opposite of what I'm asking. You are feisty like that. 

I find that you're a tactile, touchy-feely little person. Your iloveyous come with a kiss. Your sorrys are followed with hugs. When you try to sleep at night, you like holding my hand. You are affectionate like that. 

As you can see, I can talk so much about you. I could come up with a sonnet about you, in the first instance. I would if you want me to. 

Happy 2nd birthday, Savanna! You bring us pure joy. I try to be a better person because I'm your momma. I love you, today and always.

first sight: 28 September 2011

no bake Oreo pops

These ones are quick and easy. Watch out for the little hands- oreo pops are quite popular with kids. 

Let dry. Decorate. 

Can be presented like this: 

to crop or not to crop

As if my middle child still requires more ego booster, he came home with a Special Award from kindy this week. We are very proud that my hubby and I have been playfully referring to him as the 'awardee'. The equally proud awardee doesn't hesitate announcing it to everyone who listens. Needless to say, his special award "for following the star rules at all time" now holds centrestage in our fridge real estate.

I took photos, of course.

This is the best one. 

I want to share what really happened.

What? Is that... on the background?

Ayyy... my sweet Savanna-banna, throwing a random tantrum over there. Not everything is about you, my darling.