Our little Miss L turns two

Today you are two.  The happiest of birthdays to you my beautiful girl.

It feels like just yesterday you turned 1.  I think this has been the fastest flying year in history, and my oh my have you grown.

You've learnt to walk, and run and jump and climb and spin around until you fall down on your bottom.  You can also dance, and you love that.  You've very good at it too and just LOVE to be the centre of your big brother and sister's attentions.  If any of us try to dance with you, your chubby little finger points and you very firmly tell us "No! Stop it! I do it!"  We're only allowed to watch you and that's just how it is.

A day at the zoo to celebrating with your best friend and the cutest cake ever (which I didn't make!)

You can also count to ten, sleep right through the night in your own bed (hallelujah) and sing twinkle twinkle little star.  We can tell you're a third child as your most favourite phrases are "I do it too and mine turn".  You also quite often say "I do it, I five!" which drives your sister crazy as it's taken her a looooong time to get to five and she's vey proud of that.

You love shoes....and hats....and skirts!  You love them even more if they are mummy's or your big sisters, and some days it's a very hard task trying to get you to wear anything of your own. We bought you some flashing Minnie Mouse 'clipity clop' shoes for your birthday and you have not taken them off since.

Wearing your sisters shoes

We've been spending a lot of time together lately, you and me, while your brother and sister are at school,and I treasure every minute.  You teach me every day how to slow down and just live in the moment.  You're fascinated by EVERYTHING and you love it so much when I show you every little thing I'm doing, so that you can do it to.  You are especially helpful at taking washing off the washing line while standing on your little step.  You're very chatty too and we have such lovely looooong conversations in the car.  The best bit of all are your cuddles.  My heart reaches full capacity when you bury your little head in my neck and me squeeze tight.

With your own baby 'Annabel'

Some days I wish I could just bottle you up...........your smile, your infectious giggles, your cheeky grin and sparkly eyes, just so that I can open it up and inhale you when you're all grown up. (Which will happen by the time you are 5 according to your sister).

We love you to the moon and back baby girl and I can't wait to see what you're going to do in the next year.........but not so fast this time please!

How do you store all your precious memories??  Would you like to bottle them if you could??

How to catch a pet rabbit

After A LOT of thinking and re-thinking and more thinking! I finally decided to let the kids get a couple of bunny rabbits.

They're actually very cute (I did have my doubts) and the kids have named them Coco (black bunny) and Marshmallow (white bunny).   Although Miss L just calls them both Hop Hop Easter Bunny, because according to her, all bunnies are Easter bunnies.

These poor little bunnies have been cuddled and loved and squished and kissed to within an inch of their lives.  Thank heavens we picked a couple of good ones, as they have been so placid and gentle and we're hardly had any problems with scratching.  Even Miss H is happy to cuddle her bunny, which is a miracle because she is usually scared of just about anything that moves.

Everything was going swimmingly well until the toddler (little Miss L) discovered how to open the bunny hutch and set the Easter bunnies free!!!  The first time she did it, Marley, our neighbours cat thought he'd just won the cat lottery!!  Fortunately between Miss H's death piercing scream and me grabbing the hose pipe and spraying him, we managed to shoo him back over the fence again.  I think we must have given him the fright of his all his nine lives as I have not seem him back in our garden since.

Enjoying a bit of bunny freedom AND eating my hydrangea!

The second time she set them free I spent over an hour chasing them around the garden trying to catch them.  They're so damn quick that I had to literally dive bomb them several times......with not much luck.  I'm glad no one was watching either as I crawled around on my hands and knees trying to pounce an unwitting bunny!  I was pouring with sweat, out of breath, verging on a lot more than irritated, and starting to panic.  I only had a few minutes left before I had to pick the kids up from school and I could not leave them in the wilderness (of the back garden).  Luckily I managed to get them back in just in the nick of time!!

I told Mr D about how it was nearly impossible to catch the bunnies and he thought it was a great idea to let them out the hutch for some garden adventures, and decided to let them out again.  I warned him, but typically, he SO thought he knew what he was doing!  Guess what happened next?????  Marshmallow escaped under the back fence .............. and into no-mans land!

Oh how I laughed!!!  And panicked at the same time!! "Babe" I stressed "there is no was I am telling the kids you've lost their bunny.  You better get it back - NOW!!" "Don't worry", he assured me "I know exactly what I'm doing".  "You better!!" I said before going back inside.

I went back out about half an hour later and he was leaning over the back fence with a bucket dangling on a piece of rope.  With a carrot inside it!  "So this is your plan??" I asked.  "You're trying to coax it into a bucket with a carrot in it, while its chomping away on wild lettuce leaves (in the neighbours veggie patch).  Honestly that's like trying to get it to want a Malteaser in a garden full of M&M's!!!"

This whole debacle when on for hours!!  There was string involved, two cardboard boxes, a mini cricket bat (to hold the box up) and more carrots!!  Eventually he managed to catch them by luring them back into their hutch for food (which you would have thought was plan A not plan Z).

The very next day, little Miss L let them back out again!!!

We've given up now and just secured the any holes in the garden fence.  They are now happily living in our back garden, hopping around as if they own the place.  We still put food and water in their hutch which they do eat, but I think they actually sleep in the ferns.  It's quite weird seeing bunnies hopping around when I'm out hanging the washing up.  I think they've got quite used to us now too and are very happy for us to give them a cuddle.

Lets just hope Marley (that cat next door) has well and truly forgotten about them.

Do you have bunnies at home?  Do they live in a hutch or have they broken free like ours??

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The magic of mess! Messy craft and painting for Wordless Wednesday

If you're a regular Mrs D reader you'll know that I really hate mess!!  I don't cope well with it at all, so these two little cuties really tested my abilities to just 'go with the flow' on Sunday.  I was busy doing some housework (as I do on a Sunday) when Mr D set them up with some painting out in the garden before heading out with Master J for a bike ride.

They were only left for a few minutes......but it was enough!!!!!  Oh My Goodness, you should have seen the mess!!!!!!  I literally froze with panic at the kitchen door when I first saw them, but the smiles and that beautiful sound of little giggles forced me to just sit down on the doorstep and watch.

They had a ball!!

How you you cope with mess??

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Spoilt rotten on Mothers Day

I had the most loveliest of Mothers Days yesterday.  In fact, I think I heart just grew a little bit bigger.

Last week I helped out at the school Mothers Day stall, so I kinda knew what I was in for in the gift department.  I had to cover my eyes so many times while they chose their perfect gift for me to make sure that I wasn't 'cheating'.  They both chose gifts (the obligatory mum mug and choccies) that I probably would never have chosen for myself, BUT the look on their little faces as they handed over their money was something I will always treasure.  They were both bursting with excitement and total pride that they had picked out a gift for me, all by themselves.  I couldn't have loved them any more in that moment.

On Sunday morning they were even more excited to give me their gifts (which they had both managed to keep hidden) and of course I acted TOTALLY surprised and told me they were PERFECT!!  I was also showered with the most beautiful and thoughtful homemade cards and origami flowers.  I know its a cliche but I really felt like the luckiest mum in the world.

We spent a very chilled day together by having ice-cream cones BEFORE heading to our favourite surf club cafe for bacon and egg burgers on the beach.  The kids picked me all the beach flowers they could find (sorry Mother Nature) and put on a 'dance and trick' show for me to watch. Master J has an incredible flair for acrobatics, but sometimes it really does give me the heebie jeebies!

Later that afternoon Mr D took the kids out to burn off some energy and I went home and watched catch up TV on the sofa.

According to Master J, Mothers Day is the best day EVER because "We get to have ice-cream before breakfast and then dad takes us out somewhere cool so that mum can be alone!!"  Love it.

My precious 3.  (although Miss L managed to swipe my ice-cream)

I think my face says it all!!

aaaaaand relax........

Did you have a wonderful Mother's Day?

My kids don't need a Super Mum, they just need me!

Having a child of your own is not only the fastest way to grow up but also the fastest way to learn everything about yourself that you didn't already know (which is a lot, believe me).

I thought I was SO ready for a baby when Master J was born but my world came tumbling down around me when I was diagnosed with Post Natal Depression (PND)*.  I gave myself such a hard time too, for not being the perfect mother that I imagined I would be (or should be).  For not fitting in with all the cliches about motherhood and bonding with my baby.

I think the truth was that I had absolutely no idea about what to expect, and I was totally unprepared for the onset on PND, which can happen to some us, even the best of us, without any fault of our own. I didn't know how to be a mother or how becoming a mother would affect me.

Amazingly I was still able to take care of my precious little boy, even with PND and not really understanding how I felt.  At the time I didn't think I had bonded with him at all (in fact I was convinced he hated me) but looking back now I can see that I actually had.  I loved him, nursed him and protected him without even realising I was doing it and that, I believe, is something that only a MUM can do.

I was lucky to get another two chances to feel that initial bond when both my girls were born.  I know it was there with Master J too, it just took me a little longer to realise.

As time has passed it's been my three kids that have taught me how to be their mum.  They love me, no questions asked and all they need is the same in return.  They don't care what I wear, what our house looks like, whether or not I have stuck to my weekly goals or whether or not I am doing things the right or the wrong way.

What they do care about is that I am there after school so they can rush out and show me their latest masterpiece, or that I am on the side on the rugby pitch watching the game, or reading them a story before bed or just giving them cuddles when they're hurt or sad or just plain soppy.

There isn't one single formula to being a perfect mother we can only do our best and the greatest thing of all is that they love us for it.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL YOU WONDERFUL MUMS (and especially to my mum too, even though it's not yet Mothers Day in England).

*You can read more about my journey through PND here.

Top 5 places to take the kids in London

Today I'd love to introduce to my first ever guest blogger on Mrs D plus 3.  How exciting!!  I met Jacinta from Jacintaz3 through the Digital Parents International Blog swap and we will be guest posting for each other this week.  I think we were paired because we are both mummies of three awesome kids.  We've been doing lots of emailing and chatting over the last few days and it has been so lovely getting to know Jacinta, and just that little bit special for me to meet a fellow blogger from England (my home country).  Oh how I do miss London some days, especially after reading this fabulous post about how to show your kids around London.

Take it away Jacinta.

Hi, I’m Jacinta blogging all the way over from the UK thanks to Tots100 and Digital Parents hosting International Blog Swap Day.  And of course a big thanks to Robyn for hosting me today.

I live in London with my husband and 3 children and we try and get out every weekend to do something or the other. Sometimes it’s a visit to an attraction, at other times it’s a walk in one of the lovely parks around London.

It feels strange to be writing for another blog. Although I know that it is relatively the same thing as I do not really know all my readers either, I still kept changing my mind about what I should write about.

In the end, I decided that since I have children and live in London, it may be nice to showcase places that we have visited and really enjoyed as a family.

1.  London - The City of Westminster, Big Ben, Buckingham  Palace.

You can’t really live near London and not visit the city itself. We travelled into London on the tube. This is the best way to get into the city – parking is extremely expensive in London. The children were completely in awe of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. They didn’t complain once about the walking around and we had been walking for quite a long time. We even walked around Piccadilly Circus and Buckingham Palace and then into Hyde Park. It was a lovely day. If you have time, it would be a good idea to go on one of the Thames River Cruises. It is a wonderful way to take in the sights.

2.  Windsor Castle

This is a short run from London and the castle is lovely. The children were really interested in the history of the castle and I was quite surprised that my 5 year old listened attentively to the audio guide right through. Food is not allowed inside the castle but there are many restaurants and cafes just outside. Don’t miss out on the cream tea that is served in the cafes just outside the castle walls. It costs about £50 for a family ticket.

3.  Natural History Museum

This is a wonderful experience for children.  It is a free attraction and there can sometimes be long queues, but it is well worth the wait.  With many different species of animals and birds on display, the museum enthral the children.  The best bit is of course, the land of the dinosaurs.  You can take picnic or eat in one of the cafe inside.

4.  Warner Bros Studio Tour

A must for Harry Potter fans.  To enter the realm of Hogwarts has got to be the best adventure ever.  My five year old son loved every moment of it.  The best part of it is the model of Hogwarts which is awesome.  It will set you back about £90 for a family ticket but it is well worth it.

5.  Chessington World of Adventure

We had an unbelievable time there - there are so many rides to suit all ages and there is also a zoo and aquarium, so there is so much to do here.  Again you can carry a picnic or purchase food inside the park from the many restaurants.

There are many lovely parks that one can visit with children and many of these have adventure playgrounds that the children love.

I moved from a little town in the north of England to London and life has been so different. There is so much to see and do in and around London.

I would love to visit Australia some day as I have so many friends there. It has been lovely meeting Robyn over the internet and getting to know about her through her blog. I hope you enjoyed reading this post.

Jacinta  xx 

You can follow Jacinta on Facebook and Twitter and of course her fabulous blog Jacintaz3

Who I am inspired by......(right now)!

So we're on day 8 of Blogging every day in May.  Admittedly I have skipped a couple of days with the extremely poor (but very real) excuse of just running out of time!!  Yesterday was one of those days but it had a great prompt ..."who is your mentor" and just incase you're reading this mum, it's you!!

So, getting back to today....WHO AM I INSPIRED BY??

I'm going to live in the moment on this one and the people I need inspiration from right now are those that do NOT suffer from procrastination and the terrible habit of perfectionism!!

Why is it that I cannot sit down and do some much needed work when the floor needs vacuuming, the dishwasher needs to be unpacked, the washing needs to be folded and put away, and the toys on the floor..........well don't even get me started on those!  I WISH I could just turn a blind eye and concentrate on the list of things I would actually love to do with my (minimal) child free time.

I was like this as a kid too.  I remember that I could never sit down and do my homework until my desk and even my bedroom, and sometimes even my wardrobe were tidy!!  (Sadly none of my kids have inherited this).  Everything has to be 'just so' before I can concentrate on anything else.  It's procrastination at it's best and it's a TERRIBLE habit.

I so aspire to be like those people who can just overlook the mess and actually achieve something in their day.  I could do so much more with my time, if only I would just let myself (and stop wasting time).

The worst part about about needing to clean up all the time is that it never ever stays clean and tidy ......... and I know that!  So why can't I just ignore the mess - even for a day???

Are you a perfectionist??  Or do you suffer from procrastination?  Tell I'm not alone.

If you're not hung up on everything being perfect before it's finished, or you're able to overlook the mess in your house, please please send me some inspiration (and tips)!!

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My 3 favourite recipes for winter kids dinners in the Thermomix

One of my most popular posts is my Top 5 recipes for super easy kids meals in the thermomix. It's about a year since I first posted it that I though it was high time I did an update.  Finding the inspiration to make dinner for the kids EVERY SINGLE DAY can be quite tedious, so hopefully these might help.   Just in time for winter (well in the Southern end of the world anyway) here is a great selection of 'warm belly food' especially for kids.

1.  Vegetarian Chilli Con Carne

I have actually based this recipe on a Jamie Oliver old faithful, but I have replaced the mince with a whole heap of yummy veggies instead.  It's now one of our favourite dinners (although Mr D does complain that it is lacking in the 'chilli' department as it's very mild).  Can't please them all! Oh and it also makes the kitchen smell AMAZING when it's cooking.

Ingredients:
1 large onion
2 cloves of garlic
2 carrots (or 3 if they're small)
1 large red capsicum
2 sticks of celery
1/2 sweet potato
1 tbs olive oil
1/2-1 tsp chilli flakes/powder or a real chilli if you prefer (feel free to add more but my kids like it mild)
1 heaped tsp ground cumin
1 heaped tsp ground cinnamon
1 x 400g tin of chickpeas
1 x 400g tin tomatoes
1 x 400g tin red kidney beans
2 tbs balsamic vinegar
1 heaped tsp tomato paste
1 tsp rice malt syrup (or brown sugar)
2 tbs vegetable stock paste (I used a homemade one)
50g water

Put the onion, garlic, capsicum, celery, carrot and sweet potato into the thermomix and chop for 5 seconds on speed 6.  Add the oil, cinnamon, cumin and chilli flakes and cook for 5 minutes at varoma temperature on reverse speed 1.  Add the tomatoes, kidney beans, chick peas, stock paste, balsamic vinegar, sugar and tomato paste and cook for a further 18 minutes at 100 degrees on reverse speed soft.  I serve it with fluffy basmati rice and a dollop of creme fraishe (or plain yoghurt) on top.

2.  Sweet Chicken Curry

This is the only curry my kids eat (apart from butter chicken) and it couldn't be easier to whip up. It's a very mild dish too so you may want to add a bit of extra spice if you're going to feed the grown ups too.

Ingredients:
1 large apple (peeled and cored)
1 zucchini
2 carrots
1 tbsp fruit chutney (I use Mrs Balls Original which I get in the supermarket)
1 onion
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp curry powder
500 chicken breast cut into chunks
1 tbsp vegetable stock paste (I use a homemade one)
300g water
2 tbsp plain (or gluten free) flour
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp rice malt syrup (or honey or golden syrup)
1 heaped tbsp desiccated coconut

Place the apple in the thermomix and chop for 5 seconds on speed 4-5.  Scrape down the side and add the fruit chutney.  Mix together for 5 seconds on reverse speed 3.  Set aside in a separate bowl.  Add the zucchini and carrot and chop for 5 seconds on speed 5.  Set aside in a separate bowl.  Put the onion in the bowl and chop 3-5 seconds on speed 7.  Scrape down the sides and add the oil and curry powder and saute for 3 minutes on varoma reverse speed 1.  Add all the remaining ingredients except the apple and cook for 10 minutes on 100 degrees reverse speed soft. Add the apple and cook for a further 10 minutes on 90 degrees reverse speed soft.  Serve up with some coconut rice and enjoy.

3.  Sausage and Veggie Hot Pot

I love this dish and it's soo good on a really chilly winters night.  If there are any leftovers I blitz them in the thermomix on speed 9-10 for about 20 seconds until it's smooth and then freeze it.  It makes the perfect pasta sauce or tomato pizza base on those nights when you need something quick.  It is also freezable just as it is and the kids love it.

Ingredients:
500g sausages (of your choice, but I usually use beef)
120g diced bacon
500g veggies (I use carrot, zucchini, sweet potato and red capsicum)
1 clove of garlic
1 onion
1 x 400g tin cannelloni beans
1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp vegetable stock paste (I use a homemade one)
100g water
1 tsp sugar (or rice malt syrup)

Place the sausage under the grill and cook for approx. 15-20 minutes until they are cooked through.  Once they have cooled, cut them into 2cm thick slices and set aside.  Add the veggies and chop for 3-5 seconds on speed 5-6.  You don't want them to be chopped too finely, so start with 3 seconds and chop further if you need to.  Set them aside.  Add onion, and garlic and chop for 5 seconds on speed 5.   Add the bacon and olive oil and cook for 3-4 minutes at varoma temperature on reverse speed 1.  Add veggies, tomatoes, beans, tomato paste, sugar, stock and water.  Cook for 18 minutes on 100 degrees reverse speed soft.  Check that the veggies are soft (if not then cook for a further 3-5 minutes).  Add the sausage slices and mix on reverse speed 2 for 3-5 seconds. My kids love it served with lots of grated cheese.

So there you have it - my top 3.

If you have any other recipes I'd love to hear them.

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