Some Hipstamatic fun

I love trying to take photos as often as I can and when out and about my iphone is a great way to keep this up. I only just started playing with a new app I downloaded called Hipstamatic. I love, love the way it makes photos look. Here are a few of my favourites
The Gosford waterfront

Em at a little beach next to Gosford pool, taken this morning

Friday afternoon piklets in the backyard


Thanks for looking

Jen

A big girls sleepover

As the oldest of three girls in my family I was often the one who was lucky enough to get to have an overnight stay with my grandparents. I don't remember much about what we actually did but I do recall that it was a really special thing to do and there was often a visit to the local coffee shop for a lime spider which I thought was heavenly.

So this week as the oldest of our two littlies, Emily got to have her first ever overnight stay with her grandparents in the Blue Mountains. Just her and her beloved Grandma and Grandad. We went to pick her up to today and she was full of excitement and busting to show both of us all the craft she had made and her new favourite game to play "fairies". As in the TV show.

Josh on the other hand enjoyed some solitude and having exclusivity of all the toys in the house and finally showed us that he can say Emily. Well in fact it was more like "mi" but close enough hey. So cute.

I hope Em will look back when she grows up and remember how special it is just to enjoy the company of your grandparent alone without having to share the attention. As for grandma and grandad, I am sure they are having a sound sleep tonight!

Jen

Today's adventures - Saratoga Island

This place where we live has many hidden beauties!

Saratoga Island is one of those.

My sis Alli has suggested a visit several times over the past year but we have never quite made it there until today.

Essentially it is a little Point off Saratoga on the central coast. Crossing over a little mangrove tributary onto the island we wandered around to the most central point with a little beach and shallow water for the kids to splash around in. We has it all to ourselves (mind the fisherman over yonder)

We had a glorious time, Emily was beside herself splashing around and dipping her head under the water. Josh face planted into the water early on so was a bit hesitant and preferred playing with the sand and pretending the beach shelter was a play tent!

On the way back we discovered the little path was succumbing to a high tide and we had to trudge through the water, Emily was a little trooper and tackled it head on. Josh caught a ride on my hip though. As we progressed around further we encountered the mangroves again which was a bit deeper now. Much to my horror my sandal became stuck in the mud and after a feel around under the water it was not to be found. Alli came to the rescue and felt around and retrieved it for me. Ahhh, something about muddy, murky water, gives me the creeps! But it was worth it.

Whenever I head out with the kids to do something new, I wonder why I don't do it more often. I know the answer, laziness! But I have resolved to make more of an effort as we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

Jen

The best thing about making a cake is?

I have memories of cooking cakes when I lived at our family home in Berowra. My fav was a coconut cake, everytime I made it, it never happened to be quite right. But I didn't mind as there was always the bowl, beaters, spoon to lick. I think it tasted even better than the cooked cake!

So today whilst using the last of the mushy bananas, Em and I made banana bread, a tried and tested family favourite that always works, and to which can be added a variety of extra bits like nuts or other fruit. Our recipe is from No Time to Cook by Donna Hay but there are limitless numbers of recipes out there which all seem to be of similar ingredients.

Em is always the willing helper at cake making time. At the end I asked her what the best part of making banana bread was "Licking the spoon Mum", came the reply. Ahhh. Some things are passed on through the generations.

Me on the other hand, I enjoy eating it more these days with a cup of coffee, a magazine and 10 minutes to myself. A bliss!

Jen