It's raining.....It's pouring.....

Well the rain has arrived and been with us since Saturday lunch time!!  Strangely timed with the arrival of my Mum and sister to the Coast - yes I'll put the blame anywhere ;)  There have been the odd displays of sunshine however they manage to arrive just as we are in the middle of something and then vanish just as we begin to head out the door..... leaving us to greet yet another downpour.  It isn't that bad though and I'm enjoying getting a few more inside jobs done (for now anyway).  It was great having family over on the weekend and the Granny flat was finally used for the first time, and probably last time.  The kids loved having everyone here with all the goodies that came with them .... especially Yuri (Nan's dog) to take for walks.  Daniel is very keen to have a dog (Jasmine wants a cat but for some reason Mum didn't bring her cat Serendipity) so he loves having Yuri around to practise on.

Daniel showing Yuri around the house

We have had a good week despite a few moments of pent up energy and the kids have enjoyed going for a walk down to the beach (last Friday before the rain), visiting friends and making things at home.  Daniel has begun to get creative in the kitchen recently and after weeks of talking about making 'pear chocolates' he finally talked me into letting him create it without any prior recipe approval. It was a very interesting concoction of ingredients I can tell you. Thankfully all edible and mostly sweet in nature. It was eaten in its entirety by both of the kids with no visible side effects so he has obviously picked up some skills through our Monday baking.  It was so funny listening to him explain what he was doing in a very serious voice and watching them together that I wrote it down. Just in case you want to try it - disclaimer to come - here it is;

1. You don’t need your apron cause you’re not baking
2. Cut the orange and juice it
3. Add 1 teaspoon of chocolate bits
4. Chop apple in ½ and then juice half (this job he delegated to his sister)
5. Cut other ½ in ½ and slice some for the mixture and the other bits you stew
6. Melt it all together (double boiler with apple to stew in the water at bottom)
7. Add stew apple to mixture
8. Add rice milk and more orange juice
9. Scrape spoons off
10. Add more orange juice
11. Add cow’s milk
12. You just feel it and if it’s cold it means it’s not finished and if it’s warm it’s finished and if it’s warmy cold it means it’s not warm.
13. You need some cream now
14. Now icing sugar and more ‘a-greed-i ents’
15. I don’t really 'remembra' but you need golden syrup.
16. 1 slice of cheese
17. You mix it with 2 spoons.
18. Add more apple and orange juice
19. It’s going to be cooked up and frozen
20. Add 2 eggs for people to help (that's one egg per person helping... thank goodness I only have 2 kids!)
21. That’s the end
22. You put it in the oven, then the fridge and then the freezer
23. Put it in the oven for 10 mins ( We then baked it at 100 C for about 20 mins till egg set.)

  

I have begun the exemption process for homeschooling Jasmine...... man what a mission!  Luckily my teacher head has kicked in and while I am trying to find the balance - still - I think that the pages of typing and planning I'm creating should satisfy the powers that be that we are educating "....at least as regularly and well as in a registered school.".  It is a bit nerve wrecking though having to get all the paperwork together to be legal about having herself at home with me.  I know that she is all fine and dandy and progressing well..... putting that on paper to show someone else is another thing altogether.  Part of making sure we are all on track is having all the before school checks over the past week.  Hearing and eyesight  were last week and then the Public Health nurse check today.  Jasmine went into charm mode and supplied endless amounts of 'correct' information, along with additional 'probably not needed information' such as that she didn't eat any tea last night because it was yuck!!!  Man I wish I had advance warning on that question ( What did you eat for tea last night?)  and then I could of made something that I know would have been eaten and approved of ;)  Oh well 'hei aha'.

Hope this finds you all dry, happy and healthy
Arohanui
Y
www.becominghealthy.co.nz