Cuteness

Toilet training is still very much the hot topic around these parts.  Mostly it is still going really well - almost too well.  Me thinks the boy has almost become too confident and is waiting too long and then oops - we have had a couple of puddles.  All part of the journey I guess and how can I be mad when this is how my washing line looks.

Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot

The heat in Perth at the moment is oppressive.  I can't remember the last time it wasn't hot and the humidity is killing me.  I think everyone has had enough - kids and adults alike seem grumpy.  It's hard to get out and do much because it is too damn hot all the time .  Today I'm having one of those days when you just feel depressed for no decent reason then Noah woke up in a mood and I was at breaking point.

Then I had a brainwave - ICE CREAM.  We jumped in the car headed to the nearest drive through bought two 50cent cones and life is looking a lot sweeter.

The World According to Noah

Noah:  Mummy I have a baby in my tummy
Me:  really is it a boy or a girl baby
Noah: a boy
Me: what's his name?
Noah: I already told you (uh no you didn't I think I would remember having had this conversation before)
Me: Can you please tell me again
Noah: Buster

Noah:  Mummy you have a baby girl in your tummy and her name is Suzie
Me: (speechless)

The things I've learnt about travelling with kids

This post is being used as part of a travelling with kids feature on Anytrip for more tips check out what other parent bloggers had to say.

picture from here

There's a reason they publish specific books about travelling with kids - it's different.

So my first and most important tip to anyone travelling with kids is forget everything you know.  Forget the holidays you had before. Forget the expression 'carry on only'. Travelling with children is wonderful and fulfilling and can be every bit as enjoyable - it's just different and you need to be prepared for that.

I am no expert but I have learnt some things along the way and I've been asked to share them so here goes.

Accommodation

If it's feasible and affordable get 2 adjoining rooms or a room with 2 bedrooms.  The first time we stayed in a hotel with Noah it was a self contained 1 bedroom apartment.  We had thought a lot about wanting a fridge and cooking facilities and a washing machine.  What we didn't think about was that at 6.30 every night when Noah (11 months) went to bed we would essentially have to sit in near silence and darkness while he slept.  The only thing that saved our sanity was a laptop and Season 2 of Underbelly!

Our second foray into hotel accommodation we remembered what we had learnt and booked a much more spacious 2 bedroom 2 storey apartment.  We live in a two storey house and Noah (18 months) was fine with stairs so we thought we had hit the jackpot.  We didn't ask about what kind of staircase it was and when we got there we discovered it was a very stylish polished wood floating staircase with void spaces between each step and no way to attach the safety rail we had smartly brought along.

Ask questions when booking accommodation.  Ask if balconies are child friendly.  Ask if they have any safety equipment they can offer you.

When you get there do a reconnaissance of the room.  Move things out of drawers and cupboards and put them in safe places.  Don't be afraid to re-arrange the room to suit your family's needs and your children's safety. Blu Tack can be your best friend.  It can be used to subdue sharp corners on furniture, cover power outlets and also to assist to keep drawers and cupboards shut.

Getting There

We have travelled with Noah by plane, boat, bus, train and car with varying degrees of success.  It all depends on the ages of the children and the times and distances being travelled.

I have always found that if kids are tired the fact of being restrained in a car means they relax and go to sleep so I think for car travel it's all about personal preference.  It certainly pays to be prepared - bring snacks, favourite toys, cd's, books, spare dummies - whatever you need.

We have one of those portable DVD players that straps onto the back of the headrest but so far even though we have done some pretty substantial driving holidays we've barely used it.  Engage your child - talk about the scenery, spot cows, sing songs, count, dance in your seat.  Take the opportunity to talk, discuss, teach.  Enjoy - isn't that why you're all on holidays together anyway?

We tried to stick to some routine's while driving so we gave Noah his bedtime 'snuggly' and his milk when it was time to nap and for the most part it has been successful.

Travelling by plane for us though has been a whole different beast.  For us we have learnt that it does not pay to fly with a tired child.  If it is at all possible fly at a time they should normally be awake and entertain them with books/movies/drawing.  We were under the mistaken assumption that if we jumped on a plane at bedtime he would go off to sleep and everyone would travel happy.  WRONG - the atmosphere going through airports and boarding planes is all very disruptive and overstimulating so what happens is you have an overtired child way past the point of sleep in a locked capsule with hundreds of people and fluorescent lighting - disaster.

There are a million more things I could tell you about travelling with kids but the most important thing of all is to just go out and do it.  It will not be like any holiday you have ever had before.  You will more than likely not sip any cocktails by the pool - or if you do it won't be in peace.  You will do things you may never have done before. (like be in your hotel room safe and sound by 6.30 every night) You will see things through fresh eyes and best of all no matter whether it's a road trip and sleeping in a tent or you're travelling overseas in fancy hotels you will be giving your child an invaluable education.

Happy Valentine's Day

Yummy Treats

I want to share with you the easiest yummiest most foolproof scone recipe ever.  I love that this recipe was used by my Nanna.  I have such fond recipes of all of Nan's amazing cooking - the lightest fluffiest sponge cakes, homemade jams and sauces - she was the epitome of the country housewife - she could cook or bake anything. My mum is also an amazing cook and she is pretty famous for these scones.

I find that people have a fear of cooking scones - they are under the mistaken belief that to make a good scone is very difficult. Anyway I whipped these up in 5 minutes this morning and they cook in 10-12 minutes - perfect for unexpected guests.

4 Cups Self Raising Flour
1 small can lemonade (250-300ml)
1 small carton cream (300ml)

Mix 3 of the cups of flour with the cream and lemonade - stir gently until the mixture comes together.  It will be too sticky so keep adding the last cup of flour until it looks ready to be handled.  You will have anywhere from a third to a half of that last cup of flour left - use it to dust your bench top.  Knead the dough very lightly and then pat it out to about 2cm thick and cut your scones.  You can use a round cookie cutter (or another shape) or just use the top edge of a round drinking glass.

Cook on a baking tray at 200 degrees Celsius for 10-12 minutes until golden but not too dark.

Serve with huge amounts of cream and strawberry jam (preferably home-made by my mum - delish)

A Funny Thing Happened

Somewhere between his cousin's birthday party last Saturday morning and his nap on Saturday afternoon - Noah was toilet trained.  I am not joking that's how fast it happened.

WE have not tried to toilet train him at all. I mean we have kept it all very open in conversation and let him know that when he's ready he could start using the toilet and wearing big boy pants but he had never actually done anything.  Until he came upstairs in the middle of his movie last Saturday and told me he needed to go the toilet to do a wee.  I had a couple of pairs of cute undies stashed in a drawer so I asked him if he would like to wear them and that was that he's been using the toilet ever since.

I know a lot of mums have to stay at home for a week or two to get the kids in the rythym but we've been very lucky how well he's taken to it.  We were out and about all weekend at parties and concerts and this week has been busy too and it's all been without a hitch.

I am so thrilled and proud - he has done an amazing job almost completely under his own steam.  I know there will probably be accidents and there is still a long road ahead but for now we are nappy free.

Project Life

There is a trend in blogging and photography and scrap booking - everyone is doing it.  Some cal it 365 day project some call it POTD (Photo of the Day) and of course project life.

The idea is to take a photo every day.  Photos of ordinary happenings and exciting ones too and record them all together giving you a complete photographic record of any given year.

I thought about it last year but the year was half gone before I got interested so I thought I'd start at the beginning of a fresh year.  I ordered the scrap booking style kit and it has been waiting patiently on the shelf.  It sits there waiting with note books full of ideas for albums of Noah's 1st, 2nd and now almost 3rd year.  With hundreds of hours of home video waiting to be edited into something fun to watch and reminisce over.  Thank God I have my blog to keep some sort of record otherwise our whole lives would be 'waiting' in boxes.

I did start the year with every intention to at least take the photos - I was under no illusions of doing anything with them but the photo part I thought would be easy.  I mean you guys know I take hundreds of photos.  I lug my huge camera everywhere.  It's so not as easy as you would think.  I guess my life is just not as interesting as I thought!!

Anyway here are the photos for January - for as many days as I can rustle up.  I'll try harder in February - I promise.

January 1st - C'mon who doesn't love a bit of nude cycling

January 2nd

January 4th

January 6th - Mandurah Foreshore

January 7th - Whiteman Park

January 9th

January 11th - yes he has his hair tied up on top of his head!

January 13th - channeling Angelina Ballerina as we wave goodbye to Daddy one morning

January 12th - This photo might not look like much but this kitty could jump about a metre off the ground so Noah had hours of fun playing (teasing) with it

January 17th - Noah and Skip (our beach house dog)

January 18th - Mama at the beach solo - bliss

January 20th - perfecting the art of cracking eggs - 3 eggs and no shell - success.

January 21st - everyone likes to see their name up in lights.  Our first ever bowling outing.

January 22nd - Cleo is not too thrilled about having to ride in the bike chariot.

January 23rd - Hey the invitation was for a dress up princess party - what's a boy to do??!!

January 26th - a boy and his biscuit

January 31st - Totem tennis before bedtime.

17 photos out of 31 days - I promise to try harder.

Welcome February

My poor little blog has been very neglected lately.  I am finding life so busy at the moment. February has sprung on us so quickly and it really is life back to normal now.  January has been all about holidays and fun activities but all of the normal routines return this month.

I'm still weight watching which takes a surprisingly large amount of energy and focus.  Meal planning, point counting, counselling and exercise.  Even though the last couple of days I've struggled a bit, on the whole I am feeling really confident and managing to stick to the regime without feeling deprived.  Weigh in tonight so I'll be back with some news on that later.

Noah started his 3 year old Kindy yesterday!!  He was fantastic - kids all around him were crying and some were screaming but he took it all in his stride kissed Rob and I goodbye and didn't flinch.  I was fine and didn't even shed a tear I was just so proud of him.  Rob on the other hand felt a bit unsettled by leaving him. When I picked him up he was happy as can be and the teacher said he was great.  He told me that some kids were playing on the slide 'and I told them be careful'.  So looks like he's settled straight into his role as safety officer!!