Evening Walks & Cute Kids

One of the best things about me committing to a January challenge (you can read about it here) for myself, is that it helps me to look for & focus on something positive everyday.  I want to be sure to complete a post every day and want it to be happy & positive so when I look back on it uplifts me and my family. 

I also want to be able to share photos and whats happening with our family whom we don't see very often. I don't want them to miss out on all the cute stuff out kids do, especially since they are growing soooo fast!

Couldn't resist showing a couple pics of Lacey (4 months old) pony tail and all :-) 

I love Lacey's new Moccasins by 'MommyMakesMoccs' 
(wish they came in my size lol)

So although its been a particularly tough week and another tough day, on the bright side we did manage to go out for a family walk this evening. We took Carter to the Park which he always loves.. and to be sure I would record it, here are a couple mummy son selfies. (just excuse how tired i look!!)

The fun continued when we got home, His smile brightens my day.

Check out his Ninja skills :-)

I hope you enjoyed a little look at out day.
xx

A better day... lets hope it continues.

So I've missed a couple days on here, but finally after a shocking few days with a very unsettled baby, we have a little relief and she has had a better day today. So here I am hanging in there and trying to keep up with my personal Challenge.

Today Ryan took Carter out for a Swim which although I really wanted to get out of the house and into the sunshine, I decided to see if i could get Lacey back into some kind of routine without a noisy 2 year old running around.

It seemed to work, she had a much better day and is more settled tonight (so far) I am hoping she has turned a corner.

No matter what, there is always time for a quick photo or two :-)

Carter & Lacey having a moment this morning. He really is so good with her and that makes me very happy. 
Mummy wasn't allowed to come over, it was just Carters time to chat! lol

We also couldn't be more grateful to our good friends Bec & Rin for lending us this swing, it has really helped.

Carter having a swim in Nanny & Grandpa's pool (Thanks Nanny for the photo!)
He loves the pool and has been doing really well with his swimming.

Oh how cute is this kid!.. Afternoon walk with mummy. 

xx

My Little Picasso! ... LOL

Today was a small milestone for my little man, so I wanted to be sure to record it.
We decided to go and visit Carters best friend Sage this afternoon.  They hadn't seen each other 
since a week or so before christmas. He was so excited to see her, they ran to each other on arrival calling each others name, it was soooo cute to watch.
He is 2 years old and has only today for the first time had the chance to do some actual painting!  
Thanks to Sage & her mummy, he had the opportunity to complete his first painting.

I have been meaning to get him some toddler friendly paints for some time now 

(don't we all know that dreaded "I was meaning to get around to that" 
I am notorious for it) and I guess I was a little worried how messy it would get. 
Happy to know it doesn't have to be too messy if you are prepared.

I don't know who was more excited Carter or Myself.. He took to it like a natural and 

had a wonderful time.

Finished Product

A proud Mummy Moment, Carter and his first Painting!

2 days in...

Being the start of a New Year like most people my head is full of ideas and goals 

and projects I'd like to tackle. 

I've had quite a few ideas of things I'd like to blog about, I was looking forward to the start of this New Year... but would you believe it, I've had the worst couple days so far, 

2 days in and everything that could go wrong seems to have...

I would have probably dropped the ball if I hadn't already promised myself to complete this photo challenge AND to blog a little every day.. I cant let it steer me away from my goal.

So here are the first 2 days of the Photo a day Challenge

Day 1. Lunch 

(Apple - A healthy choice.. that and actually the house is a little bare after being away for Christmas)

Day 2. Begins with G

(Gum Trees and Garden paths on our evening walk)

Here's hoping the week picks up :-)

New Year - New Challenges

It's been too long since I've completed a post!  (and although some would say its understandable because life with 2 kids is a huge adjustment) I am sick of always having excuses for myself. I really just want to be more regular with recording our life and so I've decided that I am going to challenge myself to do a post every day this month. Even if its only 1 line I need to do this... I'm hoping it will help me get into a habit of actually following through on things.

So its going to be a busy month as I would also like to participate in this Photo a day Challenge ... (I actually really wanted to do the 365 day photo challenge, but figured I should take it one month at a time for now) 

If you over commit it will become overwhelming and nothing will get done.

Photo credit - www.fatmumslim.com.au 

 I may be setting myself up for disappointment or maybe this photo challenge will work in perfectly with my wanting to blog every day, because I can at least just record the photos I take?

There is also some awesome 30 day Blog challenge lists online but like i said i need to take it one step at a time

Day one is completed.. so I am happy with progress so far.

P.s HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!!!

A prince of my own.

So with all the hype & excitement of the Royal birth (who doesn't love the news of a new baby) I was watching a video of Kate and wills as the came out of the hospital and I was thinking, firstly, she may be the Princess of Cambridge but she is still a woman and would have many of the same feelings, fears and experiences as the rest of us. She still gives birth the same way, she would still feel pain, excitement and anticipation, after all she can’t magic the baby out. lol  Sure her care would have been 100 times what we could expect, but there must be so much she's feeling as a new mum that is just like the rest of us 'non Royals' every day people.

Secondly I thought WOW the pressure on her now to bring up the future king must be huge, who'd want that as a new parent, its hard enough being a first time Mum let alone marry into the Royal family and become a mother to a future King.

Anyway then I got to thinking she has the future King of England to bring up, he'll still be her baby boy, but the pressure - I wonder what that would be like on her... my thoughts then went to my little man and all those other little ones coming into the world and I realised, we all have future kings and queens to bring up really.. (Not the ones who will rule over a country or a Nation) but our little ones are our own type of Royalty; they are the leaders of tomorrow.. They are our future Engineers, Musicians, Doctors, Builders, CEO's, Farmers, Electricians etc.... Leaders of all kinds and just to bring up a good kid... A child who is happy and healthy, who is kind, caring and thoughtful who loves and values life, we ALL have that pressure and responsibility ... after all children are a reflection of their parents in some degree (if not more) aren’t they?

So Enjoy your little ones do what you can now with them and for them, for tomorrow they take off into the big wide world and make their mark...

Laura x

Chicken Sweet Corn Soup - Slowcooker Style

Hmmm Hmmm ... I was so excited about this recipe that I wanted to blog it straight away, gotta share the love I say... anyway as all mums would know sometimes it takes a few days to get around to things, so here I am finishing the post.

 The other day a friend gave me the tastiest soup recipe, which i was super excited that I MADE IT FROM SCRATCH!!... and it was also done in the slow cooker too which is a bonus cause it means more time during the day. 

 There was about 5-10 mins preparation in the morning and it was practically ready to go by dinner time... this makes me VERY HAPPY.. Thanks to my friend Kim for sharing this with me.. it was a WINNER, the perfect dinner for a chilly night.

So here it is people.. Enjoy

Ingredients:

• Chicken  (roughly chopped to cook easier)
• Can of creamed corn
• Some minced Garlic (as much or little as you like, I used 1 & 1/2 teaspoons)
• 2 cubes of Vegetable stock (or 2 cups of liquid - and if using liquid stock and can cut down the water)
• 1-2 cans of water
• 1 egg
• Either Corn Flour or Pasta noodles (for a little thickening)

Method:

Put the chicken, garlic, creamed corn and water into the slow cooker and switch on.....

It just needs as long as it takes for the chicken to cook, I put it on high for approx 4.5 hours... You can set it on low for longer if you prefer.

I added some pasta about 1/2 hour before finishing (they were a little over cooked, so would suggest putting it in just before the end)

About 15 minutes before the end added the egg

Season to your own taste

Once you think its ready, use forks to break up the chicken so its shredded and this will also help to thicken the soup.

I didn't need to use the corn flour because the pasta was enough.

and there you go.. EASY PEASY.. and tasty too...

xx