The coolest idea now the frosty times are well and truly here!
They took minutes to make and even less time to eat! Enjoy!
So simple and easy for little ones to join in with, if you can keep them from eating all the ingredients.
Add extra frost with white and blue sugar sprinkles.
They went down very well with Sammy! Cheap and easy super snowballs!
I stumbled upon this book and I can't put it down. Maybe it's because my sister had her 20 week scan last week and I am an over enthusiastic Auntie in waiting, but it could just be for the curious photography, revealing pretty and not so pretty international signage design.
I see something different every time I flick through it.
An innovative, modern day names book. No lists just engaging and thought provoking photographs, which have a story behind them that I play over in my mind. The author describes the book as a lovingly devised and artistically designed collection of people-less portraits. Which is ironic considering the subject matter is people and their names!
My sister and brother in law have always had 2 names. One for a boy and one for a girl. I love the fact that they happily indulge everyone in debating alternatives when I am pretty certain they are fixed on their favourites. I bought them a copy too as a baby shower present (I want to keep the other - it's too interesting to give away).
Could it be a sign? Only one of the names features in the book! They opted to cover their eyes (literally) during the scan when the sonographer said "if you don't want to know then look away at this part"! Have a guess at which one it is from all the photos of names that feature in our family?!
How did you choose your baby's name?
What are your little, or not so little anymore, ones called? Have you ever seen a sign with their name on and stopped for a photo?!
In our house first came canine then came man. Well boys. Our beloved westies Mabel and Moose were our babies for 2 years before the first of the Heath brothers was born.
They adapted really well the first time, as big boy didn't take a huge interest in them and they soon realised that if you wait patiently under a toddler's high chair, eventually a soggy treat will head your way.
However, small boy thinks they are the world's best walking toy. Something to pounce on when they are sleeping on the sofa, has a tail that must be asking to be grabbed, if it's waving so joyfully at his chubby hands. Something that will quite happily tickle you with slobbery kisses if you have leftover jam on your face.
I have always been cautious. After all they are dogs. I am always aware that in a second a harmless playful situation could turn ugly, even with the gentlest of dogs.
A way that we have encouraged our 4 babies to play in harmony is role play. Welcome to the Heath Veterinary Centre!
A simple game of vets under my watchful supervision has led to the dogs being more used to being closely handled by the children and reinforced gentle strokes and smoothes from the boys.
I show the boys how grown ups check their ears, mouths and feet and then we brush their coats, a productive activity all 4 enjoy. We use our toy vet set and talk about how some people's dogs might not like to be stroked and that you always have to ask the owner's permission.
We retell the story about Moose being so poorly as a puppy with a shunt and draw X-rays to hold up as if we are at the vets. How Moose had to be very brave and have an operation, thank goodness for our pet insurance, it saved us, and how funny he looked with his tummy all shaved.
It has helped big boy's understanding and fear of operations and emphasises the need to be gentle.
We read all sorts of books and helpful information online about which breed was most suited to a family environment but the supervised physical interaction between them has undoubtedly help strengthen the relationship between the children and the dogs, plus the dogs feel included! It is so easy for the pets to feel left out when babies come along.
