New Year's cheer for the cousins

Willing this video to work as they seem so problematic...

Seb & Sophie's New Year's eve mocktails

We bought the cousins a Sodastream (water-carbonater) for their holiday present. Hopefully they have opened it before reading this and will enjoy it as much as we enjoy ours. Here are the best of the recipes that the children have concocted. Cheers to the New Year!

Mix Ribena with 1/6 of a lemon, & add fizzy water to taste

Squeeze ¼ of a lime into some Peach Citrus 5 Alive! Add fizzy water to taste.

Shake together ¼ of a lime, 2 chopped mint leaves, 2 drops of peppermint extract & fizzy water to taste

Mix elderflower cordial with fizzy water and add a dash of fresh lime juice.

Mix 2 tablespoons of cranberry rosemary cordial with 1 cup of fizzy water.

Mix ½ cup of orange juice (best without pulp) + ½ cup of fizzy water; add a dash of honey and a sprig of mint

Boxing Day Feast

Sophie immediately read her gift to Carrie (The Sophster blew through another chapter book yesterday - one that she was only given at noon. I didn't believe her, so quizzed her today and she got all of it right, so she must have read it!)

Seb was intrigued by sewing up some Japanese doll clothes

a table for a feast

diners hungry for a feast

some ornamentation for a feast

Every year, my in-laws treat us to a sumptuous Christmas meal at the Old Mill - and then cook up a home version on Boxing Day. This year was delish!!

Christmas 2012 - creating & reminiscing about happy memories

The stockings were stuffed

Even over-flowing!

As was the breakfast table

The kids enjoying Sophie's new doll and journal

2 generations enjoying the blog book (Yes, there is now a book of this blog; request it a bookseller - or grandparent - near you!)

Clearly a Christmas 2012 best seller!

Jo in some of her finery

Smartly dressed -with a crown

ditto

The crown matched her top

Looking regal

We all scrub up nicely!

Christmas Eve traditions

The kids love presents even if they know what is inside

But Auntie Dorothy never fails with her choices!

Choosing ornaments for the ring

Someone doesn't need to be held any more

Showing off the mini stocking from my childhood

Food for Santa, baths, special meal of lox and bagels and some favourite Christmas reads- it's a lovely evening (minus the stress of staying up past midnight doing last minute "things")

From our family to you

Merry Christmas Everyone!

And fun-filled holidays!!

Not much to say, but much to look at

with the toy that he used all his birthday money to buy

but it made him happy

we are a colourful, messy family

see what I mean?

All I want for Christmas...

Dear Santa

You have been good to me over the years. I know that there is one person in this household that is questioning your existence daily this year, but me? I believe. I mean, I wrote to you once and guess what I found in my stocking that Christmas Day...


So I wanted you to know that I have been good in the kitchen this year but could be oh so much better. [Deep breath] Here goes... this may be bold, brash, down-right greedy, but Santa, I would like a good quality vegetable peeler this time round.

Appreciatively,
Jo

Someone's excited!