November Goals Review

• Try two new recipes - done!
• Sort the kids rooms and clothes - done (and need to do again!)
• Plan Joshua's birthday - done!
• Fly a kite - not done - too many coughs and colds to brave the weather.
• Host two mummy meetings - done!

One year!

Somehow, our baby turns one today and I'm left wondering where the time has gone. He is such a joy and brings light to all of our lives.

The stages have flown by. The year started out tougher than I expected as Joshua is so different to his sister. He was and is much more clingy and we were almost inseperable for six months which was exhausting.

He is such a funny little character though. I think he gets a lot of it from observing his sister but he does make us all laugh. He's walking, playing and eating for himself at the moment and starting nursery next week!

Today we're celebrating with family and I'm feeling reflective and grateful. It's so true what they say - the days are long but the years are short.

Recipe: Ginger Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 125g butter
• 50g sugar
• Few drops vanilla essence
• 50g ginger powder
• Pinch of salt
• 75g rice flour
• 100g spelt flour
• 1 tbsp milk

Instructions:

1. Mix the butter and sugar until soft.

2. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

3. Roll out to about 5mm thickness.

4. Cut into shapes.

5. Bake at 150℃ for 25 minutes.

Make it Monday - Christmas Tea Light Holders

 While Mum was here I got cracking on the first of my Christmas gifts so that she could transport them back to England.

 First we went to Ikea and stocked up on glass tea light holders.

 Then I got out my gonis stencils, relief paste and some spatulas and Mum helped me whip up forty of these holders with the help of some mulled wine.

 I love these designs and made up different pairings to gift to different friends.

 It's an effective technique. I look forward to making some non-Christmas ones next year.

Weekly Wisdom

Fitness isn't a punishment, it's a blessing. Nutrition isn't restrictive, it's healing.

The Saturday Update

We've had a busy week with my mum here.

Sunday started with a lovely Skype catch up with my friend and her new baby. Mum arrived at lunchtime and the kids were over the moon.

Nico went away for his school trip on Monday. We had a quiet morning and took the kids out for cake after Kindergarten.

Tuesday was an adventure with a trip to Ikea, visiting a new kindergarten class and treating the kids to ice cream.

We kept Isabella off on Wednesday and went into Bremen. They are getting ready for the Christmas markets. We had lunch, did a spot of shopping and visited the cathedral.

Thursday was busy with the car going to the garage. We walked out for a coffee and food shopping. In the afternoon I picked up Nico and we had a takeaway.

Yesterday was an early start to get Mum to the station. Then I drove out to pick up a prescription and enoyed a nice breakfast out with Joshua. I'm exhausted and not feeling 100% so the weekend will be about recovering and sorting the house out.

Links!

Isabella's just getting into games, I look forward to this in future years.

An intetesting point.

The secret to success.

Relationship truth.

Love this cozy office.

I love traveling by train.

What an amazing story of karma.

Funny parenting tweets.