Happy 4th Birthday Lil Lachie !!!!

The baby of the family turned 4 today !!! He's just getting so grown up. The pics say it all really.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MAN :)

Its Showtime !!!!!!!!!!!!!


What is it about the show that turns me into a big kid ! I love, I mean really LOVE IT, lol !

This year we decided to get there late in the afternoon so we could stay and watch the fireworks. The boys were uber excited about being at the show 'in the dark' and loved all the rides lit up.





The new ferris wheel is pretty flash, it has individual enclosed cabin type things so it makes for a more secure ride but has nowhere near as much character as the old one





There are heaps more rides aimed at younger kids so Jake and Lachie tried a few out, although they were still begging to go on the 'big peoples rides', lol

The boys also tried their hand at some nightime shots, lol !!!

Dinner was the biggest baked tatie I have ever set my eyes on, it was also smothered in butter, sour cream, coleslaw and cheese, they're all low fat aren't they ?

I have been flat out like a lizard drinking this week so the poor old blog has been a bit neglected :(

Boys have been having great fun with some moving boxes we have had stored in the garage, who would have known a plain old cardboard box could be sooooo much fun.

Last night they were jack-in-the-boxes and this morning they were pirate ships, lol.......

I haven't been very inspired this week so meals were a non event.....

Finished another great book "Marley and Me".....Don't get anywhere near the last three chapters without a big supply of tissues.......*sniff*

Sunday was homemade sausage roll day today. There's not much that beats a freshly made sausage roll straight from the oven, oh, and don't forget the sauce ;)

Took the boys to a playcentre this afternoon. Turned up at 2.45pm only to find a note on the door advising it was closing at 4pm. Oh well, at least the boys couldn't argue about when it was time to leave, lol.



Dot-to-dot books are the big craze in this house at the moment, as well as Snakes and Ladders - Buzz Lightyear style !


Had to add some artwork of Jakes titled "under the sea"

Dinner tonight is Spag Bol, the sauce has been bubbling away for 2.5 hours. YUM !

Had a great day with Jase today :) Went out for lunch and squeezed some shopping in.

Boys had a terrific day with their nanny.

Was sorting through my photos and this pic reminded me of a beautiful lady I met via a forum. Thanks Lyn, it's over 12 months since you sent me these but they still put a smile on my face !

Finshed a great book yesterday. "Chewing Gum In Holy Water". Was a fabulous read and my love for all things italian grows. One day I will get there *sigh*. There is a review here: http://www.notebookmagazine.com/bookclub/article/645/Chewing-Gum-in-Holy-Water

Got a gorgeous candle snuff and plate in Big W of all places the other day. They see to be increasing their quality of homewares. They were $9.95 each and I am really chuffed with them.

Dinner tonight will be spag bol or lasagne and salad. It all depends on how motivated I can get myself........

Rain !!!! We have rain !!!!!!! Boys finally got the chance to try out their umbrellas this afternoon. We have had a fair bit of rain for the last hour or so. I love the smell of rain, yum ! Can't believe what a novelty it is for the boys to be able to splash around in puddles.

Dinner tonight is honey soy sticky chicken with mash taties and greens.

Honey Soy Sticky Chicken

Chicken pieces (on or off bone, whatever your prefer, I use breast pieces on the bone)

generous slurp of light soy sauce and sweet chilli sauce

1tbsp honey

crushed garlic clove

1/2 tsp five spice powder

1/2 tsp sesame oil

Place all of the above in shallow casserole dish, mix well, bake (180 fan forced) with lid on for 30 mins. Remove lid and bake serving side up for 45 mins (give or take depending on what size chicken pieces you are cooking)

15mins before removing chicken from the oven sprinke with sesame seeds.

Had a great night last night. Took the boys for tea at the Glelgala Hotel in Sunshine. On Saturday nights kids eat free and they have a clown from 6.30pm - 8.30pm. Cindy the clown does face painting and plays games. They also have a great kids playground.

On the menu tonight is porcupine balls, beer battered chips and salad. Although I have just had a coffee, mini wagon wheel and some kettle salt & vinegar chips.......hmmmm might be a late tea tonight, lol !

Picked up some amazing bargains today !!!!!! Ventured into Kmart to check out a dress I had seen in the catalogue (turns out there were none left in my size) and found out there was an extra 50% off already reduced manchester items. I got a king size feather & down quilt for $35 (original price $110) and a 300 thread count sheet set for $32 down from $109 !!!!!!!

I also managed to pick up some gorgeous touch lamps from Big W for $25, they have silk like shades with beading and will be just perfect for bedside lamps.

The pink check throw in the pic was a find at DFO. It is a Laura Ashley Oxford Check throw was was $29.95 down from $59.95

The frames were also from Kmart, only $6 ea for the large and $4 ea for the medium. I will put patterned paper in them and hang them above our bed.

Somebody stop me, lol !!!!!!!

Jake got his first ever trophy yesterday. Excitement abounded at the presentations for Auskick. Upon receiving his trophy Jake promptly entered into a "logie worthy" acceptance speech, lol.

Fathers Day today was a quiet affair, I am ill so did not feel like doing much. Weather was perfect so we headed off to the Fitzroy Gardens where we spend an ejoyable couple of hours trying to tire the mini-men out. It is now 4.30pm and there is still no sign of them slowing down.

Tea tonight is fettucini with a tomato based sauce of chicken, baby spinach, zucchini, mushrooms and bacon.

Busy busy busy would be an apt description of this week ! Lots of cooking, cleaning, tending to mini-men and not much time for anything else.

Although I did manage to sneak some shopping into the timetable today *blush* Just as well, as I picked up a set of three Robert Gordon cake/biscuits tins from Spotlight of all places for the bargain price of $24.95. I also got two gorgeous big white serving bowls for $10 each reduced from $14.95.

Made a chocoalte chip oatmeal slice on Wednesday which has been a great hit, although next time I will add some chopped macadamias (if I can resist eating them beforehand, lol)....It woudl also be lovely with some melted choclate drizzled over the top .Recipe for the slice is:

Melted butter, to grease
75g (1/2 cup) self-raising flour
75g (1/2 cup) plain flour
90g (1 cup) rolled oats
70g (2/3 cup) desiccated coconut
140g (2/3 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped macadamias
190g (1 cup) choc bits
125g butter, melted, cooled
1 egg, lightly whisked
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a 17 x 27cm (base measurement) slab pan with melted butter to lightly grease. Line the base and 2 opposite long sides with non-stick baking paper, allowing it to overhang.
Sift the combined flours into a bowl. Add the oats, coconut, sugar, macadamias and choc bits, and stir to combine. Make a well in the centre and add the melted butter and egg. Use a wooden spoon to stir until well combined. Spoon mixture into prepared pan and use the back of a spoon to smooth the surface.
Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Remove from oven and set aside to cool completely. Cut into squares to serve.

Jake is on his first ever school excursion today to the Zoo. There was great excitement this morning as 60 or so preppies piled onto the bus, for many this was their first time on a bus. And I swear I didn't even shed a tear (well, not many anyway, *sigh*) Our little boys is growing up way too fast !

Such glorious weather today !!!!!! Spent most of the day outdoors. Checked out the house this morning, the boys were sizing up their BIR's

Had heaps of leftover spag bol sauce so made a lasagne with green salad and coleslaw...Neglected to get a pic :(

Beef in red wine with mash and greens is on the menu for tomorrow night, hopefully I will be motivated enough to stick to the plan, lol.

Question for the day - Why do I feel like breaking out in a song everytime I watch Australian Idol ?

Okay, mini men are showered and jim jammed, must be time for some cookies n' cream ice cream.......

Saturday.

Perfect day here today. A mild 20 degrees, so nice to be out and about. Early start to the day today with Jake waking up at 5am with croup, so off to ER went Jase and Jake, I have a feeling they may be back there tonight :(

Spent the afternoon with MIL and AuntIL. Had a great afternoon, it was so lovely to sit out in the sun and soak up the atmosphere.

Tea tonight was an uninspired affair. Homemade fried rice & mini dim dims. Although I do love and excuse to get out my el cheapo chinese bowls, lol.

Ordered Jases Fathers Day present yesterday. Got him a pole dancer, hope he appreciates just how lucky he is to have a wife who buys him his own personal pole dancer, lol !!!!

Asked the boys if they wanted to play Nintendo for an hour after tea tonight to which my 5 yeard old responded with "yeah baby, bring it on".........I am still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor, LOL !!!!

*sigh* roll on Sunday !

Hmmmm long time, no post !!!

Thank you to Sherry for reminding me about this blog !!! As you can see it has been sorely neglected.

Consider it back on track !!!!

We are currently building a new house so I will have plenty of homewares and shopping items to post in the coming months :)

The boys and I made an awesome Sour Cream Banana cake last night , it must have been a success as this is all that's left.....

The recipe can be found here http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/1547/sour+cream+banana+cake

The above is some 'food art' my gorgeous son Jake bought home from school last week. Give a whole new meaning to the name "Mister Potato Head"