Worn Out

5pm Friday afternoon after school swimming lessons all week

Enjoying the peace and quiet

Today is the first day of just the cat and I in 3 weeks. The girls' went back to school yesterday for the final term of the year and Phil went back away for work today. It seems so quite. Lots to get through this morning though - so far I've done 3 loads of washing, made some scrolls, made the beds, cleaned the kitchen twice, vaccumed and mopped (just waiting for the floors to dry) then I'll go and watch the girls' school swimming lessons. After school we have singing and hip hop classes so we get home about 8pm. And now I'm off to prepare dinner and clean the kitchen again!

Pumpkin Soup

I got up early before everyone else this morning and used up some pumpkins and made this easy soup. It's a recipe I got from my friend a few years ago. The best pumpkin soup I've tasted and so easy to make.

PUMPKIN SOUP

1 kg butternut pumpkin
1 small leek
1-2 cloves garlic
1 litre chicken stock
salt & pepper to taste

Cook garlic and leak until soft, add pumpkin, pour in stock. Simmer until cooked stirring often. Season to taste. Blend until smooth.

I froze some for busy nights and the rest we'll eat later today.

Mangoes ...

mean summer!

Ella's most favourite fruit. She's been asking for awhile now if they are in the shops yet (and they were, I was just waiting until they came down in price a bit) so today after the pools (35 deg here!!!) we stopped at the fruit & veg shop and picked some up. At $2.79 each, that's not too bad. And they smell so yummy!

RWC2011

This is what I'll be watching this afternoon

as these two great teams battle it out for a place in the final. Go the All Blacks!

Pretend Camping

Camping.

We bought a tent in a sale a couple of weeks ago when Phil was home last. Well today with him home again and the girls' wanting something to do, we put it up just so we can work out how it all works before we go away at Christmas. It's a pretty good size with four rooms. The girls played in it all afternoon and into the night.

The bunk beds fit perfectly into one of the bedrooms for the girls with plenty of room for storage. 

Once it was dark the girls played a board game that I got at the OP last school holidays for $2. It's called "Go to the top of the class" and is a real test of general knowledge. I played a game with them as well. We'll leave the tent up over the weekend, and probably take it down on Monday before school starts back on Tuesday.

On My Mind ...

is saving more than spending. Instead of flittering money away here and there - really thinking beforehand whether I can do without said purchase. I'm trying to reduce my grocery bill, reduce my electricity use and my phone us (have already made huge savings here not ringing mobiles as much!)

I'm playing along with Down to Earth today

Come along and join in!

Easy Rice Pudding

I usually make rice pudding using the recipe from The Edmonds Cookbook, but it takes a couple of hours of slow cooking. I got a book out of the library today called Healthy Living for Families by Jenny Craig. In it was this easy (and delicious) creamy rice pudding recipe.

1/2 cup long grain rice
625ml low fat milk
1 Tbsp caster sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cinnamon stick
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
3 Tbsp sultanas

Soak the rice in water for approx 15 mins, then drain and rinse in cold water. Place the milk, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon stick in a medium size pot and bring to the boil. Add the rice, cover and simmer until the rice is soft, approx 17 minutes, stirring often. Add the egg yolk and sultanas and continue cooking, uncovered, for another minute. Remove from the heat, discard the cinnamon stick and serve the rice pudding into individual serving bowls.

Kings Park

With keeping with our theme of enjoying the spring sunshine, today we headed to the famous Kings Park to get some fresh air.

The grounds are beautifully kept, and of course with such beautiful weather and being school holidays, the park was very busy.

We stopped at Mt Eliza lookout which looks out over Perth City.

Then we set off on a trail, across bridges which took us high into the trees, what a view!

After that big walk, it was definitely time for some refreshments.

Ella wanted me to take a photo of her beside these pretty flowers!

Kings Park has two wonderful playgrounds. First we visited the Synergy playground which is aimed at older kids. It was really packed with lots of picnickers! The girls' rode their scooters around for a bit before playing.

We then headed around to the Ivy Watson playground which is probably better suited to smaller kids. My girls still loved it though.

Cheap Entertainment

 

Bathers, water, balloons and sunshine.

This kept the girls' happy for ages. Even the cat joined in. A beautiful 27 deg C, made it just perfect.