Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree...

 Okay so I know that traditionally your meant to put up "the tree" on the 1st of December but we just couldn't wait :P

It's the first Saturday in a while that we had nothing planned other than a family day at home. We thought it was a great opportunity to embrace the festive season while enjoying some quality family time at home.

The munchkins were more than happy to get stuck into tree building and decorating, they proudly accepted their "elf helper hats" and helped Mummy and Daddy create our Christmas tree.

They have been soooo excited every time they have seen a Christmas tree in the shopping centres that they were almost beside themselves when we were finally building ours.

They did get a little confused though and thought that it would be just fine and dandy to take the finished tree, decorated and all from the lounge room out to the backyard for a play outside...lol

You can probably see from the photo's that they were very careful when choosing what decorations would go on the tree next and where they would go.

It was too cute when Declan found a small hanging wooden tree decoration that he insisted had to stand next to the big tree on the floor rather than hang from the tree.
Gees, how wrong would that be ...A tree hanging in a tree!!!lol

We got there in the end though and our tree is up, the special star put in place by Thalia, special homemade decoration's hanging and lights shinning.....yay Christmas is nearly here!



One of Declan's handmade decoration's- some green cardboard,
Mummy's help tracing his little hand, gloopy glue, special sparkles
and lots of LOVE :)



 



One of Thalia's homemade decoration's- a circle of green cardboard
transformed though her crafty little hands, gloopy glue, a love of all
things girly and the wonder of a child's mind :)





While packing up the toys tonight Declan made it clear that all the babies were to sleep under the tree!

asparagus, bean, bacon and cheese pasta

For tonight's dinner I tried out a new recipe,was simply delighted when it turned out very yummy indeed and was well accepted by my hubby, little man and little miss.

It was a recipe from an old cook book I have, I twigged it a little to accommodate the children's dietry needs to make it allergy safe.

When I first found out about the allergies and intolerance's that my children have I went through all my non allergy cookbooks and marked the recipe's that I could possibly twig and change to suit our new diet, slowly slowly I'm getting to try them out.

This recipe has the potential to be made for a lunch,dinner or as a side for a BBQ and could be served hot or cold.
For those of you who dislike or don't like the thought of asparagus...try it! My hubby hates asparagus yet loved this meal :)



asparagus, bean, bacon and cheese pasta

This particular recipe is free of egg, nuts and could be made gluten free if a gluten free pasta is selected. Sorry contains dairy.

Prep time:15 min
Cooking time: 25 min

500g Penne pasta
1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and coarsely chopped
250g green beans, chopped (frozen or fresh)
5 bacon rashers (350g), rind removed and thinly sliced
1 clove garlic
50g butter, chopped
1 cup finely grated mild cheese
1/2 cup cream (or more if desired)
1/4 cup coarsely chopped parsley

1. Cook pasta in  a large saucepan of boiling water, uncovered, until just tender.
2. Meanwhile, boil, steam or microwave asparagus and green beans until just tender; drain.
3. Cook bacon in a large heated non-stick frying pan, stirring, until crisp. Add garlic; cook, stirring, until fragrant.
4. Place drained pasta, asparagus, green beans and bacon mixture in a large bowl with butter, cheese and cream; toss gently to combine. Serve pasta sprinkled with parsley.

Variations: You could mix it up a bit and use different ingredients instead or as well as the asparagus and green beans. For example corn kernel's and snow pea's. To give a bit of a tang to the dish try adding a small amount of citric acid or lemon juice if appropriate.

Enjoy!!! :D

A little book about red, itchy, dry, sore skin....Eczema explained for little readers..YAY!

 On a recent visit to the op shop, I took a peek at the children's books as I often do to see if there was anything worth while.

I was very surprised when I noticed this small book with Eczema in the title!!!

After getting over the shock of finding this type of book in a op shop of all places, plus reading the price at 50 cents, I had a quick flick and claimed it :)

It's not very often you see educational books for children on subjects such as Eczema!!!

 At flipping over the book to the back cover I was happy to see that this book was one of a series published about different medical conditions, educating children about health, illness and the role of the Doctor.

The book are written by a Melbourne Doctor, many of his patients were children at the time the books were published.
He has three children of his own and felt the need to educate children about their health and how to keep safe and happy.
The Doctor Toby books aim to make a visit to the Doctor less worrying for the child.

I am very thankful that this little book made it's way to our local op shop, I'm hoping the previous owners used it and had success with it helping their child/ren with the hard times of eczema.

The book deals with all the emotions, embarrassment, social awkwardness and pain that comes with eczema from a child's point of view. More importantly it gives reassurance, positive thoughts, hope, confidence and power to the affected child through the story that unfolds.

The book follows the journey of a young girl (Kim) who didn't want to attend swimming lessons and wear bathers because she was embarrassed about her skin.
Kim's Mum explains that she had had eczema when she was a baby and it might be a good time to go back and see the Doctor about what they could do to help her skin.
After a visit to the Doctor, queries about foods that might affect Kim's skin, ointments, bath oil, creams and a few weeks Kim's skin improves.
By the end of school term Kim is beginning to swim very well and is confident about who she is.

I like the fact that the book mentions that "lots of people have eczema" (making the child feel not so isolated and alone), "Eczema is not something that a doctor can just fix up right away" (not giving false hope) and that the book ends with "her skin looks very clear now. Just occasionally she uses some milder ointment if her eczema gets a little itchy again" (leaving the child knowing that Eczema doesn't have a quick fix but can be managed and make for a much happier life).

I'm hoping that my Munchkins like this book as much as me and find hope in it's pages.

I'll leave you with some of the illustrations from the book...

 

 

 

If anyone has any good children's books about Eczema please share the details :)

Christmas Avent Calender Excitment

 To my delight and surprise while doing my grocery shopping tonight in Aldi I found something that filled me with excitement :)

I picked up a Thomas Christmas Advent Calender thinking "My munchkins would love one of these...I love the idea of advent calenders at Christmas....mmm might have to make up my own as I don't think I will ever find a safe one :(..."
Then as I did a double take at the labels and saw the big words "Nut safety promise" and "Free from Artificial colours and flavours"...
I still wasn't convinced until I flipped the box over and read the ingredients list and disclaimers on the back..

IT WAS SAFE!!!!!!!

I was very quick to grab 2 Thomas Advent calenders to put away for my munchkins for Christmas :D

Thought I'd share my experience so you can do the same for your children if they are able to have kinnerton chocolate......sorry for the munchkins with dairy allergies out there.

What is the nut safetly promise?
We go to extraordinary lengths to try to make chocolates safe for Nut Allergy Sufferers.
No Peanuts, segregated production, dedicated lines that have no nut products and countless
other measures for our raw material supplies and staff. Need to know more?
Visit our website at http://www.kinnerton.com.au/

So get to Aldi and grab a allergy friendly Advent calender for all of $2.50 each and share our excitement!!!

yummy homemade golden chicken nuggets

Our homemade nuggets! YUM

 Commercial chicken nuggets contain nasty additives such as flavour enhancers, in most cases "may contain traces of egg, gluten.....". and hardly  any chicken!!!

For a safer, tastier, healthier, natural, allergy friendly and extra easy homemade chicken nugget recipe made from good cuts of chicken look no further.

I have had my fair share of commercial chicken nuggets in my time and I was very chuffed that my home cooked chicken nuggets were so much tastier than any I had previously consumed (not hard when your using chicken and not mechanically reclaimed meat :S) Did I mention it's easy!!!

2 chicken breasts, diced (about 500g)
1/2 rice crumbs
salt to taste
canola oil (if you wish to shallow fry)

Put rice crumbs in a freezer bag, add chicken and shake until evenly coated.
Place on a lightly oiled baking tray and bake at 180 degrees for 10-15 minutes or shallow fry for a more golden appearance (I shallow fried ours).

These nuggets are free of egg, gluten, dairy, nuts and preservatives

These nuggets are sooooo yummy and a great treat for any little people or adults and you don't have to worry about any hidden nasties or ingredients that may trigger a reaction to your allergies.

You only have to click and watch Jamie Olivers Chicken Nugget experiment to see what is in the commercial chicken nuggets and you might think before you eat/buy them again :S

Simply try the recipe I am posting and enjoy without to a queasy tummy, an allergic reaction, a dose of artificial flavours and all those nasties!!! enjoy simple yummy safe food :)

Making time and taking time out to find YOU in the chaos that is Mummyhood

Last week I took the time to paint my toes nails, make tea in
a pretty tea cup, eat yummy cookies and wear my fave heals while sitting
outside watching the rain. Even the birdies thought it was a good idea
and joined me while they snuggled together :)
it might seem crazy silly but it was good and I'm glad
I ignored the toy pickup and dishes.

Despite what anyone says there are good Mummy's everywhere, busy to the max and endeavouring to do their very best all the time for their children.
Mummy hood turns the world upside down in a whole variety of ways...the good, the bad and the indescribable experience of caring for little beings that seem as though they are simply pieces of your heart toddling around outside your body.

Relaxing, sleep ins, Nana naps, date nights, Salon visits, visiting late with friends, travelling light, travel...

These are all things that may seem a thing of the past if you have entered into the Mummy realm, but it's important to adapt some of these things if you can. We have to remember that although we may be mummys we are people too. We cannot properly care for our children and others if we ignore our own needs or we are at a risk of losing who we are.

I am constantly reminding myself to slow down and have a breather, make that coffee, take that nap, sit a while, learn to say no sometimes, make realistic goals and take some me time when the opportunity arrises.....if you find you don't have time for you, then make it...it's better not only for you, but for your family too.

Before Andy and myself had children we hoped to keep up a regular date night, we wanted to keep our relationship alive amongst a new life of parenting...we didn't want to be 'that' couple who looked at each other after the kids had grown and moved out and needed an introduction.
We want our children to observe that Mummy and Daddy have a special relationship and model for them what marriage is all about....a happy family begins with a happy, healthy marriage!!!

I am very blessed that I have a very supportive husband who is very active with the children.
Andy, I love you dearly and thankyou so much for all the suport you give me not only as a Mummy but as your Wife and friend!!!!
I wouldn't be able to do the following things without his help:

•  I ocasionally get a sleep in (BLISS)
• we make time to sit together for a coffee and adult chat on most days
•  I get time to grocery shop alone on thursday nights when the kids are in bed(great when allergy shopping as it takes time to read labels)
• Date night (thanks to mum and dad for babysitting!!!!!)
• Visits to the salon alone for a much needed hair tidy up
•  Nana naps
• The time and support to study my childcare course (also mum and dad for child wrangling at times when I study)
• We have gotten our munchkins used to sleeping at other peoples houses from birth so that we are able to have a afternoon-late night visit with friends. Allowing time for the kids to socilaise and play then when 7pm hits kids go to bed and the adults get to play! :P

There are so many more but I fear I am boring you.
My point is make the time for you, make couple time, make mummy moments and try to remember that mummy hood is a big Journey and we do need pit stops and rest area's along the way to survive.

I confess, I am one of those Mummys that can't fully relax when the kids go down for a nap or bed at night untill the toys are packed away and the kitchen is relatively clean.
I realise how silly this may sound but it's one of those habbits, I know the kids are just going to hawl all the toys out after their nap but I do it.
 I want to create clear play spaces so they can choose new toys and new activites when they wake and not be distraced by toy mess mania and I like to wake up to a clean fresh kitchen in the mornings instead of looking at a pile of work.
But...sometimes I just have to close your eyes, bite my tounge and look away.....and take the time to shower in peace, have that much needed nap, induge myself in some time out to read or whatever it may be.....a messy house and housework does not define your rank of Mummy hood

I prefer to have a home instead of a house, a cosy place of love and comfort, decorated with expression, warmth, childrens creations, memories and fun!!!

So remember to think before you do..... Is it true, Is it necassary... Is it kind - Buddha.

At that I'll leave you with a poem for Mummys and an interesting read for Mummys to be, it was e-mailed to me years ago and I held on to it becasue it's such a gem. I don't know who the author is but clearly she is a Mummy.

................................

Before I was a Mum

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mum
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mum
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mum
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mum.

Before I was a Mum
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mum
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never knownjoy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mum.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mum.

Painting with water

King Declan and Thalia painting it up

 We love to paint!!!
My munchkins often ask me if they can do painting as they enjoy it so much :)

Painting opens up a child's world of colour and imagination. Children revel in the experience of brushing, splattering, dripping, squeezing and squelching paint. The resulting picture is much less important than the creative process and the enjoyment of the experience.

Painting is bound to make quite a mess.....well at least sometimes.

Why not paint with water on a nice sunny day to make for some exciting outside water play.
Easy to prepare, no cleaning involved, no mess, cheap and fun fun fun.

 All you need is a bucket, bowl or container of water and some paint brushes and the fun can begin.

Fill your bucket with water.
Find a suitable surface for painting such as paths, walls, fences and so on.

My munchkins as you can see from the photo's were thrilled...
Thalia painted the house walls while King Declan painted his Castle!!! :P
As the painting and their little imaginations grew they moved on to painting/washing outdoor toys, painting the fence, painting pavers, watching how painting things changed it's colour and watched as the hot sun dried the "paint"

Endless possibilities to explore and all of it based around water.....a great activity now the days are getting hotter.


Other things to try:

Using paint rollers instead of paint brushes
Paint shadows
Add colour to the water.

Encourage your children to embrace the world of painting and they won't even now that they are learning new concepts, colour recognition, painting techniques, using their fine and gross motor skills, expressing themselves on a different level and so much more......all while having a blast :D

Crisp Coconut Biscuits

Crisp Coconut Biscuits

(Contains gluten, free of dairy, egg and nuts)

125g butter (or nuttlex for dairy free)

1 cup caster sugar

1 egg (or egg equivalent, we used 'no egg')

2 cups self-raising flour

Pinch salt

1 cut coconut (we used dessicated coconut)

extra sugar

• Cream butter and sugar, beat in egg, add sifted flour, salt and coconut.
• Roll into balls and press flat between the hands. Dip top side in extra sugar.
• Place on a greased oven trays sugar side up; allow for spreading.
• Bake in moderate oven  for 10-15 minutes (makes about 40)

These biscuits are so yummy and are great with a cup of tea!

I was lucky enough for some resident birdies to join me as I devoured by biscuits and tea :)

Chocolate Fudge Bars

I thought it would be cruel to not share this recipe with you all, although some of you who may be dieting might think it's cruel of me to share it :D

I was inspired by some of my face book friends to make these yummy treats - they were quite quick to brag about their trip to beautiful Montville last weekend, indulging themselves with a to die for English morning-tea with a mountain view, a visit to the fudge shop, pottering in and out of little nooks and cranny's in shops full of treasures.....you know who you are! :P

So here you have it, easy homemade yummy Chocolate fudge bars to indulge ourselves -

 whether it be a little treat along side a dainty tea cup full of your fave tea, that special something to eat while you enjoy your 'mummy time' while the kids are tucked in bed, a cooking experience to share with your little ones or simply cook them because you can!!!
They were yummy enough for Thalia to want to pray about them when she went to bed last night ..lol
That girl loooooves her food!!!!

Chocolate Fudge Bars

(contains gluten and dairy, free of egg and nuts)

1 cup plain flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup coconut

1 tablespoon cocoa

185g butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Chocolate icing- 1 cup icing sugar

2tablespoons cocoa

30g butter

1 1/2 tablespoon hot water

coconut

• Sift dry ingredients into a bowl, add melted butter and vanilla, mix well.
• Press mixture over the base of greased 28cm x 18cm (11in x 7in) lamington tin.
• Bake in moderate oven for 20 min. Cool in tin
• When cold, ice with Chocolate icing, sprinkle with coconut.
• Cut into bars when icing has set

Chocolate icing: Sift icing sugar and cocoa into a small bowl, add melted butter and water, mix until the icing is smooth and glossy.

ENJOY!!!!!

allergy free Trick or Treat

Super man and Dragon boy

 A safe Halloween makes a Happy Halloween.
Friendship, fun and food...what more could one want.

For past 2 Halloween's Declan, Thalia and their special friend have shared the fun and frenzy of a allergy free Halloween. This year we even had the delight to welcome a new little witch ( 4 months)to the trick or treat crew :)

With the munchkins at this young age (3,3,21 months and 4 months) we mummies can get away with pre placing safe snacks and treats at a friendly neighbours place across the rd and only making a visit to that particular house for Halloween. The children love it!!

 The excitement builds as costumes get picked, children get dressed, the much practised "trick or treat" is said in the cutest of voices and the treats are given, and even more quickly devoured!!!

At this stage it's working but as the munchkins get older we may have to rethink how to approach Halloween.

It's important for both of our families that our children don't miss out and be able to have the fun that everyone else enjoys at Halloween.

 So although we plan within our children's limits we try to plan it so that they can share the Halloween experience.

I have heard and read of older allergy children trick or treating as most do, knocking on strangers doors and receiving all manner of treats....only to go home knowing that they probably won't be able to eat any of it, scanning labels and putting them aside.
Then receiving a variety of safe treats from their parents on arrival home.

I don't really know what I think of this, I know for a fact that I would be paranoid to the max at every single door...wondering if this would be the house that forgot to purchase treats and offer us some nuts from their pantry!!!! or we would meet THOSE children who carry an egg with them while trick or treating in case they need that "funny" trick when someone doesn't want to give them treats :o

I guess we will meet that challenge when it comes.

For now I'm simply happy that my munchkins are happy and had a blast as you can see from the pics

Some very excited munchkins receiving some very special treats!

Dragon boy wasn't letting anyone get into his bag :)



my little witch before chocolate






   

Our choice of safe treats for each child was:

•  a very small block of Sweet William chocolate (free from peanuts and tree nuts, lactose free,cholesterol free, free from animal products, no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives, Low GI)
• A Artisse organic lolly pop (no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives)
• A packet of natural confectionery Dinosaur lollies



after chocolate :P

  So what does your family do for Halloween???