Megan's first tooth

Although it's not easy to see, Megan's first tooth  (front, bottom right) has started peeping through. Her gums have been quite bumpy for a while but this week Claire felt, and then saw it for the first time.  Fortunately there have been no sleepless night or problems associated with teething - other than a lot of dribbling ;o).

xx

HELLO Monday

HELLO to an inset day for Emily on Monday, before going back to school on Tuesday.
HELLO to a quieter week this week.
HELLO to having the house to myself for the first time in ages!
HELLO to Jon going 10 Pin Bowling for team building on Tuesday evening.
HELLO to Emily and I getting our hair cut on Wednesday.
HELLO to coffee with a friend on Thursday afternoon.





Norma and Emily (taken in Oxford - June 2011)

 



HELLO to a week on Tuesday until Norma and Caelen arrive in the UK.

xx

 

Victoria Sponge

A few weeks ago I wanted to make a cake quickly and decided to try this recipe. I admit, I wasn't a huge fan of Victoria Sponge cakes as I've found them quite dry in the past but this recipe has certainly changed that opinion. It's delicious and so easy to make!  Big thank you to Mary Berry for changing my mind and for this recipe :o)

Victoria Sponge

225g (8 oz)  Butter or Marg
225g (8 oz)  Self Raising flour
225g (8 oz)  Caster Sugar
2 tsp Baking Powder
4 eggs

Lightly grease 2 x 8" sandwich tins (deep sided) and line the bases with parchment paper. Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.
Put all the ingredients into a large bowl and beat for approximately 2 minutes with an electric mixer until the mixture is blended. (This can of course be beaten by hand but may take longer than 2 minutes).
Divide the mixture evenly between the two tins and level the surface with the back of a metal spoon.
Bake for about 25 minutes, until well risen and golden.
Leave the cakes in the ins for a few minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the tkns to free the sides of the cakes. Turn out on to wire racks, peel off the paper and leave to cool completely.

For the filling and topping
About 4 tablespoons of jam (strawberry or raspberry)
A little caster sugar

Choose the cake with the best top, then put the other cake top downwards on a serving plate. Spread with jam, put the other cake on top (top upwards) and sprinkle with caster sugar to serve.

Recipe taken from Mary Berry's Simple Cakes

Well worth making :o)

xx

Alice

Alice is such a funny little girl.  I was washing some dishes the other day when she decided she wanted to splash in the water.  I emptied the dirty water and put some clean water in for her then picked her up to sit at the side of the sink - thinking she was going to put her hands in and splash around. Oh no ;o)  she started putting her feet in! A bit of quick thinking and her trousers and sleeves were pulled up to be on the safe side. 

 It all started off quite gently but it didn't take long before the splashing became a lot more energetic.

 These photos don't do it any justice as they were all taken soon after she went in to splash. After a short time I had to put down my camera and be ready to steady or catch if required because Alice was standing up and having a great time.

 Slowly the clothes were stripped off as they became wet, first the trousers and top, then the vest and finally the nappy! She had us in stitches as she splashed and soaked us - the sponge became her shower and was held above her head and the water squeezed over her hair.

 Even Megan found Alice's antics amusing :)

 In the end I'd had to take her out because she was cold, her feet and hands were like prunes and she was covered in goosebumps. Fortunately after being towelled dry we could put her in her pyjamas and get her warmed up again.

I wish I'd had a video camera to hand, it would have made a great little film for when she's older.

xx