AJ's Antics

Continuing the cooking theme today... I tried to find a Gingerbread house kit but didn't find one (I wasn't looking too hard I know they are out there somewhere!!) Better Homes and Gardens came to the rescue with a recipe and a video tutorial by 'Fast Ed' It was not fast...a few hours in the fridge, baking, waiting til Aden goes to bed, too tired to start, phone calls, buying lollies, making icing, stopping Aden from eating lollies....etc DH was on hand to pipe the icing as I mixed it too much and made it too stiff. But we managed....I'm not that impressed with it...the decorations look...boring?? But I made my very own gingerbread house...from scratch. Let's see if it lasts the 6hr car trip in a few weeks! Gingerbrad men and areoplanes with the leftover dough A few freckle roof tiles short

seems to be the 'catch cry' this Christmas...so why not I thought! I haven't made it in years...so simple and delicious! I didn't have such a helpful helper last time either! Missed a bit! Not sure it was such a good idea to give him the bowl like this after I had finished....but he had fun...and a bath! Milk Chocolate Rocky Road for the Day Care teachers My 'experimental' white chocolate Rocky Road.

Aden is not keen on the stranger in the red suit...terrified in fact! Won't go anywhere near him. I didn't think I'd get even close to having a 'Santa photo' this year. While out at the shops today with a friend, we thought we'd just go by Santa and see what happened. Of course Aden was not wearing the 'Santa photo' clothes I had in mind for him, he had tomato sauce on his shirt from lunch and still a little bit of blood on his nose from where he had climbed out of the cot that morning and hit his face...but we went anyway. Santa was great, other than the fact he called me Aden's grandma and my friend standing with the pram his mother! (Nicole is 2 years older than me and 18 weeks pregnant...not cool Santa!!) There were no other kids waiting and the photographer was very helpful. I sat near Santa on a little stool and Aden refused to remove his head out from underneath my arm....every time Santa moved he would freak out a little and cling on even har...

Aden was a too little last year at just 4 months-old to start any traditions for him at Christmas, and we were moving over 1400kms and in limbo at the time, but this year he is old enough and I love it! This Fisher Price Nativity Scene was shown on Corrie's blog last week and then I saw they were on special this week at Kmart and just had to get one for Aden. He loves it! He played with it for ages last night while waiting for Daddy to come home from work. I think everyone one had a turn at being the angel on top...even a bus driver! (please excuse the grubby clothes I had just picked him up from Day Care) And it has been out again this morning! I think Mummy is having just as much fun as Aden is! It will be packed away after Christmas and come out each year with the decorations. I'm hoping no pieces get lost!

Boxwood Basil Mint Year-round Basil and Thyme Strawberries Rosemary Italian Parsley Oregano Hubby uses heaps of herbs in his cooking and I'm sick of paying too much for them...So I'm going to start with these and add some more soon. The strawberries are for Aden and cause they looked like nice healthy plants...lets hope I can keep them that way! I've found some help to grow my herbs. Herb Guide And this makes for interesting reading...if your interested... Basil List

I thought Aden is a little young to understand an Advent calender this year. The real reason we don't have one....I haven't made it yet!! Naughty Mummy!! I have a quilted Aussie Animal one I bought years ago at a quilt fair to make but there are sooooo many great ideas out there to make. Here are just a few of my favourites... A felt tree with little felt ornaments to hang on it. I found this on a blog and I can't remember who's it was....I post the link when I find it! A little sewing Advent to hang in your sewing room maybe?? The Purl Bee has done a wonderful tutorial for you to mke your own if you like Jolly Allsorts also has a felt advent tutorial...cute little pockets to hang, that could be filled with what ever treasures you like! Need to remember how tiny your little one was at their first christmas?? Hang 25 little socks and fill them with toys. So cute! From Martha Stewart of course! And I can't wait til Aden is old enough to get one of these one year...no...