Incognito

Arthur is developing a strong character which is lovely; except when it comes to food. He has a pretty good appetite and will eat most things if the mood takes him. But he will turn up his nose when it comes to being offered fruit and vegetables in their natural unpureed forms. It can be challenging at times. He's not about to have any dietary issues as he will eat soup and fruit purees, plus I can whizz up all manner of vegetables to hide in pasta sauces. It's more a battle of wills.

One of Arthur's favourite foods is ice cream, so I decided to make up some super fruity smoothies and disguise them as this friendly food. Did he fall for it? Hook, line and sinker .... he did. It's a win/win situation.

Berry & Banana Lollies

Using a blender or blender stick, whizz together a chopped banana, 100g of berries (such as strawberries and blueberries) with 125g of natural yoghurt and 100ml of milk. Pour into lolly mould and lolly sticks and freeze. Makes 6 lollies.

Cranberry & Mango Lollies

Make as above, but this time using one chopped ripe mango, 250ml of cranberry juice and 125g of natural yoghurt.

What A Swell Party It Was ...

Yesterday afternoon we threw a small party at home to celebrate Arthur's 2nd birthday. It was delightful. All the little guests seemed to enjoy the celebration. Experience has taught me that the under 6's actually make perfect guests, so long as you keep the numbers low (our party was for 8). A simple meal and plenty of toys to hand is a winner for them. Those who know me are aware that I have difficultly keeping things 'simple', but I think I did okay. I forcefully limited my creative bursts to the cake, a bit of decor and a little take-home gift. The weather was dry so we decided to bring some of the party outside. The children enjoyed playing in the red house (which was a rather weather-beaten pale pink until I got handy with a paint brush last week). I put table and chairs outside complete with printed place names and little floral arrangements (I know they're only two, but just humour me!) for an alfresco tea of fish-fingers & chips. When plates were clean out came the birthday cake. Arthur simply loves cake and ice-cream, so I kind of combined the two, making individual ice-cream cone cakes. They are basically a cupcake baked into an ice cream cone. The result was complete silence, a high usage of wet wipes and 100% approval from the little people! After more play came home time, which some guests find a little hard -  after all who ever wants a good party to come to an end? But I hoped that the take home gift of a jar of homemade playdough and a bag of No. 2 shaped chocolate-chip cookies made it a little bit easier to bare.

Happy Birthday Lily Biba!

Yesterday Lily turned 6. It's a strange feeling. On one hand I find myself thinking how has six years has gone by so quickly, yet on the other hand I can't remember life without her. What birthdays do though, every year without fail, is remind us how very quickly our children grow up and that their childhoods are to be cherished.

Her day started with a excited rush of cards to open and presents to unwrap, then day-to-day reality interrupted and she went off to school, albeit with a box of homemade jam drop biscuits for her classmates.

After school and back home we (lily, arthur, mummy, daddy, nanny and grandad) went to our local beach-side cafe for pizza and icecream, which according to Lily all made for a very special day. She has her party tomorrow, which is known as 'Birthday No. 2', then she'll start her count down to her 7th birthday.

Five-year-olds are actually very easy to please.

We're are currently hurtling through the half-term holidays. It's been good, all considered. It's been a balancing act of doing all the boring everyday things that don't stop for school holidays and keeping children happy and entertained. I think I have achieved that.

Today, Lily's friend Tabby came for lunch and a play. They loved each others company. They raced around, talking at the rate of knots. Over lunch they discussed their favourite princesses and wobbly teeth, but the rest of the time they played and lived in make believe worlds that five year-old girls comfortably exist in.

Until today, this week's weather had been unkind; cold wet and grey. Despite this I've made a point to do something each day with Lily in mind. Here's our list of 'fun' things we've enjoyed so far 

this week ....

* A trip to the library stopping en route at the sweet shop for Jelly Fried Eggs and White Chocolate    Jazzies. 

* Ice-cream on the beach (too cold for me to eat ice-cream, but it didn't stop the kids).

* A couple of play-dates.

* Tea and Jammie-Dodgers at a friends house.

* Toasted Crumpets.

* Hot Chocolate at home after getting soaked in the rain.

* Made Mini-Banana Muffins (and ate them)

* Visited the park 

* Beach walks

* Played Snakes and Ladders

* Dressing up

* Planned a Birthday Party

.... and there is still a day and a weekend to go before it's time for 'back to school'.