Banana muffins

These muffins are such yummy little snacks, we were off on a day out today and needed something extra to put in the picnic, so we made our favourite banana muffins. Recipe at the bottom.

Seth tipping in the sugar.

Breaking eggs is always messy but fun.

Our yummy treats going into the oven.

We added chocolate chunks to these muffins , but you really don't have to, they are good enough without. Sorry for not having a photo of the finished product, I was going to take a picture while the boys were eating them but I forgot.

Ingredients

2 Large bananas

60g butter-melted

2 Tbsp golden syrup

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 cups self raising flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup milk

Mash Bananas in a bowl, add melted butter and golden syrup, then sugar, egg, flour, and lastly soda dissolved in milk. Mix together, if you want to add chocolate, then do that know and pour into deep muffin pans. Bake at 200 C for 10 mins or until they spring back when lightly touched.

I hope you enjoy making these as much as you will enjoy eating them. If you have any foolproof muffin recipes please let me know, we love baking them in our house.

Have fun.

Puppet show

The boys have been wanting to use the chick and rabbit puppets they made, so of course we had to have a puppet show.

Seth hadn't made a puppet so we stuck some eyes to a sock, he was very happy with that.

We stuck a blanket up in a doorway and I got to watch a show about a chick, a rabbit and sock wrestling.  I may need to work on the boys imaginations, but it was good to see them having a laugh with each other.

The showmen.

Kids love putting on a show, they aren't always the most interesting to watch, but well worth it to see their excited little faces. If you do get more of a story than a wrestling chick, rabbit and sock then I'd love to hear about it.

Have fun.

Shopping

Today we had to get a few jobs done, so I tried to make it as fun as I could for the boys....

We needed to get some bread and milk while we were out, I got Tyler to write a shopping list.

I love it.

Tyler and Ethan feeling very important while they help me.

Tyler gets the bread.

Ethan the milk.

They loved scanning their shopping.

Paying up and getting the receipt.

Life often gets too busy to always have planned activities for your children, so whenever you get the chance to make the boring things fun, do it. You may have to leave a bit earlier to get your jobs done, but it makes it a much nicer day for all.

Have fun.

Out of season craft

This is my way of getting some fun craft kits cheap for the boys. This year after Easter I bought some Easter puppets when they were reduced in price, the boys don't mind making a chick and a rabbit and I love getting a bargain.

I love having an activity already to go without too much organising.

Ethan had a quiet 1/2 hr sewing it together.

Decorating is always fun.

Let the puppet shows begin.

Don't worry if you missed out on this Easters bargains, just remember it for Halloween and Christmas.

Have fun

Ultimate messy play

We have got sick of being stuck inside these Summer holidays, in fact it is driving us a little bit mad. So today we decided the weather was not going to stop us anymore.

Obviously we needed coats and welly boots for this adventure, jumping in muddle puddles is always a hit with my boys.

 

Next we went off the walking track and found a hill, Tyler and Ethan tried to walk up the slippery mud and kept falling down, this was great fun.

 

Then came the mud slide.

 

Ethan sat in a puddle to try and go faster on the mud slide.

 

Seth gave it a go.

 

Three very muddy but happy boys.

I know it is hard to keep on top of washing with small children, but sometimes you just need to forget about the boring things in life and.............

Have fun

Making cookies

Food fun Friday! Biscuits are always a hit in our house, especially chocolate chip cookies.

Recipe at the bottom of the page.

Seth tipping in the sugar.

condensed milk...yum.

Serious mixing.

Carefully putting our tasty treats into the oven. 

Lots of yummy cookies for afternoon tea.

Ingredients

125g butter, softened

1/4 cup sugar

3 Tbsp sweetened condensed milk

a few drops of vanilla essence

1 1/2 cups plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 chocolate chips

Cream butter, sugar, condensed milk and vanilla until light and fluffy. Sift flour and baking powder together. Mix sifted ingredients and chocolate chips into creamed mixture. Roll tablespoonful of mixture into balls, place on a greased oven tray and flatten with a floured fork. Bake at gas mark 6 for 20 mins.

What a great afternoon of baking we had and of course the eating is always good. Give these a try and let me know how they went.

Have fun.

Den making

We have not had the best weather for the Summer holidays, so today we had another inside day. The boys wanted to build something I let them loose in the living room and this is what they came up with.

They pushed the sofa's back to back with a gap between them, then put blankets over the gap.

Hiding away.

Inside their own creation.

The boys loved having their own space.

I hope if your holidays have begun that you are getting better weather than us, but if not I'm sure you can get some ideas from here to fill in your days...

Have fun.

Library visit

Today we went to our local library and what a fantastic time we had. It was amazing how many facilities the library has on offer for kids.

There was a Wii for Tyler and Ethan to play with. While I joined a singing and rhyming group with Seth and Jack.

Lots of toys for the little ones to play with.

Of course there were lots of great books for all ages.

And we didn't have to leave empty handed.

What a great way to spend a morning, I highly recommend you check out your local library.

Have fun.



Bumble bee pom-pom

Pom-poms are so easy to make and kids feel they have made something great when they have completed them. Today Ethan made a bumble bee pom-pom, he loves it and was entertained for over an hour making it, although he did need a little bit of help from me.

All we needed was 20m of yellow wool and 10m of black wool, two doughnut shaped pieces of cardboard and some eyes. 

First Ethan wrapped 10m of the yellow wool tightly round the cardboard pushing the wool through the middle covering the whole ring in yellow.

Next he used 10m of black wool and wrapped it around 3/4 of the ring, then he changed back to the last 10m of yellow and covered the whole ring again.

 After all the wrapping I cut in between the two pieces of cardboard all the way around the ring.

Then I tied an extra piece of wool tightly around the middle.

Ethan cut the cardboard off and there was his pom-pom.

He stuck some eyes on.

I cut out some felt wings and smile.

I really enjoyed doing this with Ethan, Tyler is making a ladybird pom-pom, you can try a whole load of different animals and bugs. Let me know what you try.

Have fun.



Plane, train and automobile

A big thank you to all of you who have still looked in on my blog during the long break I have just had. My laptop is still a bit broken, but hopefully I will  be able to post.

Well today is the first day of our Summer holidays in Scotland........ so of course it was a very rainy day. The boys were quite happy relaxing indoors we also managed a bit of imaginative play.

The chairs got lined up for what started as a bus.

Seth helping make a roof for the bus.

Tyler putting the finishing touches together

The bus was played with for about 45mins, it also became a train and a plane.

Happy bus driver with a happy passenger.

This was such a good activity as the boys could do it all by themselves. It was also fun for all the ages, although Tyler and Ethan ran away when Seth and I started singing the "wheels on the bus."

Have fun

A big sorry

Hi guys, I am so sorry that I havn't posted for a while without any contact!  Our computer and internet has been really playing up recently so I've not been able to get anything on.

The laptop is away getting fixed and we have a new internet provider supplying us from mid-June.  Please do keep checking back - I will be here, eventually, to share my ideas.

Most importantly though - remember to

Have Fun!

Soapy Slide

Another lovely day in Edinburgh, the boys came home from school a bit hot and grumpy, the best thing to fix them was a soapy slide.

We filled a paddling pool with water and put Seth's little slide in the pool. Next Tyler put some washing up liquid down the slide and the fun began.

 Ethan had to try it first.

Seth was very cautious.

Tyler got some air.

 

Ethan was in his element.

Soap and water is a great sunny day activity, the boys had a great time.

Have fun!