It snowed today. More than we were expecting. This was lunchtime.
The girl loves snow. I’m not sure why she was holding her hat on. It wasn’t that windy.
The boy wanted to show off his cold hands. Much motherly muttering about “keeping your blooming gloves on when I tell you to” commenced.
I was quite startled when I saw this at the end of the garden.
I thought tomato season was over.
The very lovely Marylin over at Softthistle.net is the inventor of Sunday Snippets.
Sunday Snippets might just be the vehicle I need to get me out of my latest blogging drought. My Sunday Snippets will have to cover the last 18 days, rather than the last week but don’t worry, we haven’t been up too much!
The Husband has now joined the ranks of “people I have taken to hospital this year”. You may laugh, but that’s four now. I’m beginning to think that I’m unlucky.
We’re (yes, I actually mean “he’s” but “we’re” sounds better) re-doing the second bathroom and he hacked a chunk out of his finger while removing tiles. I am told that it hurt like billyo (no, that wasn’t the word he used).
The school continues in it’s not so subtle attempt to extract our life savings on a weekly basis. Last week was Crazy Hair day, for which we had to pay £1 per child (to be fair the money for that one went to Children in Need), and mufti day for which we had to hand over one full bottle per child.
I’ve found out that as well as seeing Santa at the school Christmas Fayre (their spelling, not mine), which we have to pay for, the school is also planning to take the children to see another Santa in a nearby shopping centre, which we have to pay for. I have finally put my financial foot down and said that the girl can’t go to both.
And really, don’t get me started on the cost of school photographs. I was really shocked when I found out how much they cost. We’ve bought one, it’s their first year at school/pre-school after all, but next year I might just do my own.
I attempted to explain the finer points of Hipstamatic to the Husb. I don’t think he was terribly impressed.
And finally, I have totally saved the best until last for you.
The girl is reading. Real, proper reading. I am so impressed and so pleased for her. Before I had children I used to read at least two or three books a week and often had more than one on the go. Being able to read is such a huge thing. I think I’m probably as proud, if not more so, as when she learnt to walk.
Yes, that is one of those books. Hands up who remembers Peter and Jane? The series is actually called Key Words with Peter and Jane. They’re still publishing them and I don’t think the pictures have changed since the 1970′s. A dose of pure nostalgia for me and a key aid for her.
Posted in The Boy, The Girl, The Husband
I’m not a big headed person. In fact, I usually assume that I know pretty much nothing about anything and what I do know is probably wrong, but when it comes to nuts, allergies and cross-contamination issues I thought I had it pretty much covered.
Until I read something in a magazine called “Outlook”. Outlook is the magazine for The Anaphylaxis Campaign. The Anaphylaxis Campaign have been brilliant in so many ways – when I was an allergy newbie they were there with information, they helped me realise that I wasn’t the only mother in the world dealing with an allergy as severe as the boy’s and they are constantly looking over my shoulder for me, issuing alerts about foods that are being withdrawn either because they’ve been incorrectly labelled or because they’ve somehow been contaminated by an allergen.
It seems that I don’t know quite as much as I thought I did. This is a Q&A in the last issue of Outlook that I received.
Q I have a peanut and nut allergy and at home my brother and family eat crunchy nut type cereals. My parents ensure I have my own bowl, but I’m worried that nuts from the other bowls will contaminate mine.
A. Cruncy nut type cereals have quite a lot of nut/peanut protein in them, so there’s a real risk that the cereal bowls containing them and the spoons used, would have a significant amount of protein left when they’re washed up. This protein will end up in the water and could potentially contaminate other crockery and cutlery. If other family members are eating nutty foods regularly, I would suggest having your own set of crockery and cutlery and washing them separately in a fresh bowl of soapy water. I would also use your ‘own’ tea towel.
(“Reproduced from “Allergy Aunt”, Outlook 48, the magazine for members of The Anaphylaxis Campaign, Copyright 2010. Used with permission”)
We are a nut free house but occassionally when the kids are in bed, or having a sleepover at their grandparents, the husband and I have a sneaky curry. I had even been relaxed enough about his allergy lately to think about having a chinese at home, maybe a chicken satay to start. Well, that’s knocked that idea on the head.
I wonder if I’ll ever stop being surprised at the sneakiness of peanut protein. I wonder if I’ll ever feel like it’s not my job to protect him anymore. He’s going to hate me when he’s 40 and I’m still asking him if he’s got his epipens and is he sure about where and how his food was prepared.
Posted in Allergy/Asthma, The Boy
I threw a dinner party at the weekend as it was the husb’s birthday.
See the way I say that with such nonchalance? See how you really can’t tell that I was sick with worry before everyone turned up? I’m not good at dinner parties (or any other type of party for that matter). Don’t get me wrong, I love attending them and once mine have started I’m ok, but I get very anxious before-hand when it’s me hosting. I can’t bear the thought that people’s (albeit short-term) happiness (and possibly health) are dependant on me and my cooking.
Judging by the smiles the next morning though, I didn’t poison anyone and they can’t have been that hungry because they stopped eating breakfast for long enough to smile at the camera.
Also, very excitingly, I’ve been given an award. I am rubbish with awards usually, but Glen over at Glen’s life was so completely lovely about this blog that I couldn’t not with this one. You should be reading him anyway because he’s very funny but if you’re not you should definitely read this post (because he’s really nice about me in it).
And so, I have the Versatile Blogger Award. Many thanks Glen.
Apparently I have to list 10 things I like and nominate 10 blogs for the award but as Glen broke the mold and did it slightly differently, I am going to follow his lead and do two of both.
I am going to nominate Marylin over at softthistle.net because she’s brilliant, takes great photo’s and is doing an amazing job looking after her two boys one of whom, Max, is on the autistic spectrum.
My other nominee is Kim who blogs at Frogpondsrock… Firstly for having such a wonderfully named blog but also because secretly I’d like her to adopt me and let me move in with her.
Here’s your award ladies.
Now for two things I like.
It’s actually quite hard to narrow down the things I like to two things.
Today I will go with taking pictures and peanut butter. Tomorrow though it would probably be something completely different.
Posted in The Husband
It is the husband’s birthday today.
When it’s the kids birthdays, they tend to get whatever type of cake I feel like making (chocolate, usually) but I ask the husband – I think he’s old enough now to be taking responsibility for his own cake choice.
This year he asked for a Victoria sponge. I’ve never made one before but I wasn’t too worried. In fact, “easy peasy” I thought, “how hard can a Victoria sponge be?” After all, I can make fruit cake, light fruit cake, chocolate cake, fairy cakes and madeira cake (not to mention a mean tiramisu). So I googled a recipe, checked we had all the ingredients and forgot about it until this morning.
When I read the first instruction for the cake, which was whisk together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, I had two thoughts. The first one was “oh bugger, I haven’t got an electric whisk” and the second was “I wonder if Amazon would deliver one in the next 10 minutes”. Sadly, the answer to my second thought was no so I got whisking. Five minutes later my arm was ready to drop off but my mixture did indeed look light and fluffy. I whisked in the eggs (it may be some time before my arm recovers), folded in the flour and lobbed it into the oven for the allotted time.
When the alloted time was up (20 minutes) I opened the oven and was horrified to see that my cake wobbled when I tried to move the tin. I hastily shut the oven and ignored it all for anther 20 minutes. That seemed to be a good strategy as the cake got on and got itself cooked.
I can report back that it was very nice indeed. I might even make another one once I’ve got that whisk from Amazon.
This is the first year that the kids chose their own gift to give to him (I might even start giving them pocket money so they can pay for it next year). I love the look of expectation on their faces even though they chose it and knew exactly what it was (a mug with “world’s greatest dad” on it – the girl recognised the word dad (sorry for all the extra brackets, but can you hear the pride in that sentence?) and once I’d explained what it said they both demanded that it was purchased). You’d think they didn’t have a clue!
We even made him blow out candles.
Many Happy Returns of the day, Husband. I hope you enjoyed it and that your next year is peaceful, joyful, healthful and loveful (yes, ok, I’m making words up now, but you know what I mean).
Posted in The Boy, The Girl, The Husband
There was a birthday party at the boy’s pre-school just before half term.
I took several deep breaths and sent him in with his own little cake. He also has his own treat box kept there so I knew he wouldn’t miss out on any party goodies.
He came home with a party bag. His first. Once I’d put it through the x-ray machine to ensure that there was nothing even vaguely nutty in it I handed it over (by the way, am I the only mother that checks party bags before letting their children have them? I do it to the girl as well, although I don’t think I’ll be able to get away with that for much longer).
I wasn’t really prepared for his complete over-excitement. In my mini food panic, I’d temporarily forgotten that this was his first ever bag of loot. Inside this bag were four mini glow-in-the-dark skeletons (which he thinks are amazing), a party blower (he loves it, I’m still partially deaf from him sneaking up on me and blowing it in my ear), some bubble mix (de riguer for party bags around our way) and, joy of joys, a party hat.
It is currently his most favourite ever possession. He’s not quite taking it to bed but I think he would if I suggested it. He did insist on wearing it on this morning’s school run.
I had my usual problem getting him to stand still for a photo, although he is at least looking at the camera this time, and my other usual problem of picking which one to post. I think they’re all endearing in different ways although I accept that I am biased!
Posted in Allergy/Asthma, The Boy
