Weekend Wonder

Exhausted, weary, fatigued, sleepy-heads. All four of us. The tell tale signs of a wonderful, fun-filled weekend. These beautiful times, of seeing our boys sharing in celebrations, creating special memories, having the time of their lives. With their friends... the children of our friends. Few things else make me happier. The love and fondness I have for these children, so strong and real. It's an honour to be a part of their precious lives and milestones, as each year flashes by before our eyes.

Saturday, we attended a 4th birthday party, for the son of a friend I've known for fifteen years. A gorgeous family, who honestly feel like an extension of my own. Such joy and comfort in friendships such as these. I know that whatever happens over time, these bonds will be tight. Angus and Felix had an incredible day, at the Star Wars themed party. Sweaty brows and hair plastered to hot foreheads. So much excitement and wonder and enjoyment... especially when the birthday boy's Dad showed up by surprise, dressed in character as a baddie from the epic movie. A few of the kidlets fooled by the scary mask and getup as they ran shrieking and squealing around the backyard.

Saturday night, a friend and I hit the city, for a dinner to celebrate the season, at the exquisite Baia on Cockle Bay Wharf. Great food and lovely company, complete with a spectacular fireworks display. We liked to imagine it was organised just for us, but more than likely it was something to do with Christmas festivities. Either way, the scene was a sight to behold over a scrumptious meal. Then another brilliant day today, lunch and laughs with one of the nicest families we know (Hi Jen!). Get together's with this crew are always just plain tops. Watching our four adorable children so convivial and at ease with each other, warmed my heart. This entire weekend, warmed my heart. 

(All pics taken by my uber talented photographer friend Kell... 

because my dodgy 'fill in' camera just isn't cutting it for quality photos in comparison)

Cards

In 2008, a tradition was born and this week, it continued, for the fourth year running. I'm not exactly sure how long I will be able to sustain it. I'm expecting the boys will put a stop to it long before I'm ready to. I'll just wait and see. The annual Christmas photo has become decidedly more tricky to capture these past two years. Juggling two personalities, two facial expressions, two thresholds of tolerance. Hence why this year was a particularly haphazard attempt. Lots of laughing, face pulling, cuddles and kisses, rumbles and tumbles. If I ever tried to achieve the perfect shot, I would go bonkers. So just as well, I don't. If anything, I'm just content to choose a half decent one to print out with a little Christmas message. Then pop a copy in the Chrissy cards for family and friends. I guess herein lies the trouble with some traditions, they're difficult to break. 

Immediately post photo shoot, we had an incident, with my wild boy Felix being the main culprit. A playful wrestle on the lounge, turned to a rather nasty nip on Angus' soft and juicy cheek. A major scene ensued. Angus bawling hysterically, Felix sobbing uncontrollably (he cannot handle being chastised) and a poor wounded cheek, with a perfect imprint of one very frustrated toddler's sharp fangs. I felt so deeply for my Angus, in pain and in shock, as I cleaned up the area with dettol and Bepanthen. Days later, he still carries a considerable bruise to show for it. These two monkey's are most certainly a couple of cards. 

Festive Spirit

It has taken me longer than usual to get into the swing of Christmas. By Monday of this week, I was wondering if I would even find my spirit for the festive season in 2011. The mere thought of the standard maniacal rush towards December 25, induces a flood of anxiety and mild panic to my senses. All very overwhelming. Quite a number of factors contributing to this over all feeling. But on Monday, I dug deep and decided it was time to get over myself and make Christmas the memorable, magical, special time my family deserves.

With 'Felix the mini tornado' screeching around, there is no way the tree will be put up this year. Climbing on, dragging down, pushing over, biting ferociously, eating defiantly, destroying happily... anything in his path. The idea of a 1.5 metre tree loaded with baubles and trinkets and a string of pretty lights, sends my mind into a tail spin. Way too tempting for a certain stocky 17 month old. So to make up for the lack of tradition in tree form, Angus and I set to dotting the house with various other twinkly, sparkly, shiny decorations. Including my biggest effort... 29 metres of mulit-coloured fairy lights, strewn (high out of reach) around the living room. Quite the wonderland by night. And now, I think I'm finally getting into the spirit of the season.

We did have one incident with a brand new Lightning McQueen snow globe and a pair of 'almost' four year old, persistently disobedient, butter fingers. Shame I didn't get a photo before it met it's ultimate demise... but no use crying over spilt and shattered snow globe.

Loving that my new key holder/notice board bird cage (Typo) can double as a bauble holder too!

Coconut Macaroons

After our big Saturday night out, Sunday was a long and lazy one at home. So much so, that by the afternoon, I started to feel a touch sloth like. All four of us chillin' in PJ's. all. day. What better way to get motivated when the weather offers no outdoor options... than to hit the kitchen and bake! Creating something tasty to eat always gives me a sense of accomplishment (and also successfully defeats the inertia).

Hitting up the old favourite Women's Weekly COOK book, I chose a mouthwatering classic. Enjoyed plenty of these over the years, but never attempted them myself. With my baking supplies container full to the brim following a big Christmas stock up last week, I had the one ingredient I'm always missing when I go to bake these... glace cherries. Being a coconut lover, these beauties hit the spot, on a rainy cold Sunday. A side note with the recipe suggests variations to coconut, in the form of ground almonds or hazelnuts. Personally, I can't get enough of these for the coconut. 

Note: Mine turned out looking a little more like rock cakes, than macaroons. Due to my failure to comprehend 'slow. oven'. in the method. So 150 degrees is a tad 'too' hot for my oven. Whoops! The flavour still every bit as lovely as I hoped it would be though.

Coconut Macaroons

2 egg whites

1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons plain flour

1 1/2 cups (120g) desiccated coconut

6 glace cherries, quartered

Preheat oven to slow (150/130 degrees fan-forced)

Line oven trays with baking paper

Beat egg whites in small bowl with electric mixer until soft peaks form

Gradually add sugar, beating until dissolved after each addition

Stir in extract, sifted flour and coconut, in two batches

Drop level tablespoons of the mixture 5cm apart into trays

Place a cherry quarter on top of each macaroon

Bake, uncovered, about 40 mins or until browned lightly

Cool on trays

Blister

It's an attraction I simply can't deny. They scare me a little, but that's half the thrill. Every time I invest in a new pair, a small wave of panic washes over me. The fear of falling down, rolling an ankle, getting stuck in a grate, snapping a heel. But the lure is too strong. Last week I finally decided to bring a pair of sky high Wayne Cooper heels home from the shops with me. After eyeing them off for weeks. Then of course, had the perfect opportunity to give them a workout, at my (ex)company's Christmas party on Saturday night.

Held at The Argyle in The Rocks, with a theme of 'Dance Your Way Around The World', my cheeky heels named 'Cuba' certainly came to the party. SUCH a fun night. Gorgeous frocks aplenty, chilled bubbly flowing, funky tunes pumping, dance floor raging. And although most of us had our partners in tow, it was definitely a night for the gals. How I love these outings with great friends, who have been an integral part of my life for so long. At the same time, enjoying a rare night out with Scott, who also had a ball. As did the two little big men, who were spoilt rotten by Nana and Pop.

But getting back to the shoes, a certain injury I did not expect from them, was the whopping great bubble across the entire pinky toe on my right foot. It is one seriously vicious blister. In fact, I would go as far as to say, it is the most impressive blister I've ever had. Far too gross (and awkward) to photograph, so instead I photographed the cause of damage. The Wayne Cooper pretties. They served me well, kept me grooving into the wee hours... and even scooting (not all that swiftly) for a bus at 1am. While my hero of a husband ran ahead and held up the driver until I eventually hauled my tipsy self aboard. Oh what a night!

All photos (bar the shoes shot) taken on my beautiful friend Tabitha's camera

Starting Anew

There's a lovely little preschool, I have been admiring for a few years now. One I've always envisioned the boys going to. Just a short walk from home and right near the school they'll be attending, it's a perfect option for our family. This week, I received an offer of a position for Angus, starting next year. As with most of the preschools in the area, this one had a huge waiting list. So we're pretty lucky to get a spot. My initial relief and excitement was replaced quickly by concern and guilt.

This year has presented an extraordinary set of circumstances, which will ultimately mean when Angus starts at the new preschool in January, it will be his third change in a year. I feel awful thinking about this. The idea of uprooting him from yet another preschool, only to start all over again in a new one, is one I'm definitely not looking forward to. The hardest part being how very settled and happy he is with his current teachers and friends. I also, love the current setup (with the exception of the half hour drive, in peak hour traffic, for drop off and pick up). In no way was it supposed to turn out like this. However, certain outcomes in life are taken clean out of our control.

So I have been busy agonising over this issue. Dealing with dates and times and enrolment forms. Plus, being far too chicken to mention anything to Angus... or even his teachers. I really need to thicken this skin of mine. To cap off an extremely on the go couple of days with my littlest boy, we spent a beautiful hour down by the harbour. Wasting time before picking Angus up from preschool. This location would have to be one of my favourites. I've enjoyed the view here many a time over the years. While we haven't exactly experienced the sultry heat of Summer since we kicked it off yesterday, Felix and I made the most of the fresh and gusty afternoon, bathed in sunshine, at the most breathtaking of parks around.