A Beautiful Birthday Lunch

On Friday we went to the National Railway Museum to celebrate Charles' Fourth Birthday. We hadn't planned lunch, we were aware that the restaurant was being refurbished but that the cafe was open if we required food.
We stopped at the cafe for a coffee and although the food looked nice we wanted something a little more substantial, especially with a 4 hour drive home to come which would mean us getting around 10 o clock.
When we arrived at the museum we noticed a land train outside, which drives into the York every 30 minutes and costs just £2. So we boarded with no plan of where we would go when we got to the city, we'd just see what was there.
After a quick Google we realised Nando's in York was being refurbished but looking over the road we noticed an ASKItalian. We hadn't been to an ASKItalian before so we didn't know what to expect.
Firstly, the building was just...amazing. Breathtaking. It really was one of the most beautiful places I have ever eaten.
The boys loved it too, and I was surprised at how much Charles appreciated how beautiful the architecture was.
The boys were given pencils and colouring sheets, and were even told they could draw on the tables as they were wipable! In fact they were encouraged to do so!
We ordered juice for them, and diet coke for us and something I love which will impress me no matter where I eat is when they serve glass bottles of coke. And an added extra, the glasses are cold too! I was very impressed.
The boys were then served with bread, vegetables and dip. I think this was a standard part of the childrens menu. Starter, main, dessert and drink.
They both had a Mozerella and tomato pizza for their main which they both ate. Although for the first time we thought Harry was going to fall asleep in his highchair. He kept closing his eyes and then snapping out of it. How he didn't end up with his face in his pizza I don't know.
After umming and ahhing over pasta or pizza, pasta or pizza, pasta or pizza I went for the Prima Pizza Pepperoni E Zucchine (spicy pepperoni and smoked pancetta with spinach and shaved zucchine. Topped with tangy crème fraîche and grated ricotta salata) which was amazing, if not a little cold.
My husband went for the Pollo Piccante Con Pancetta (spicy chicken breast with mushrooms, pancetta, Fontal cheese and roasted red peppers on a tomato and mozzarella base) which again was really tasty.
I managed to convince my husband to let me order a side of Zucchine Fritte (lightly battered courguette sticks) which although my husband wasn't too keen on these I really enjoyed, and much preferred to normal chips.
Unfortunately we skipped dessert for two reasons:
1: We were full.
2: We didn't want to be back late to the museum to miss the talk we were all desperate to see.

It really was the perfect setting and a perfect lunch for a perfect boys birthday.

 

Creating a Child's Bedroom on a Budget

Bring a mummy to two young children I'm surrounded by parenting conversations, updates on children's developments, schools, and even topics such as bedroom decoration.
Recently there has been a lot of talk in my circle of friends (social media and real life) about bedroom decoration, with people sharing how they've decorated their child's room or asking for inspiration.

We're still, gradually, updating the boys bedrooms and it's taking a while because I want to make sure I don't spend an unnecessary amount of money in there when there are bargains to be had.
I think a theme that develops when people share the child's nursery or bedroom or their ideas for this is that everything is on a budget, or kept within a budget.
We cut back where we can now, whether it means hunting for good deals, comparing prices and shopping around, or making things ourselves.

Shopping on line is a great way to find good deals, compare prices and products from cheap beds cheap beds, to rugs, curtains, and accessories. You don't have to pay a lot of money for bedroom furniture and accessories and at the same time need to take into account that lower prices doesn't necessarily mean lower quality.

Beds can be updated by a selection of cushions bought from a high street or homemade, throws, and items such as a bed in a bag, a set which simply gives you everything you need in a particular bedding range and saves shopping around for somewhere which stocks a duvet and pillow case in the same design.

Wall art, photographs, mirrors, and bunting can create a warm feel to the walls. Again these can be easily purchased within a budget by simply making them yourself, shopping around or even hunting in charity shops. My main love, other than making my own bunting, is to buy canvasses and getting the boys to decorate them with hand prints, fingerprints, footprints and so on. It's so cheap to do and so effective.

Sitting down and setting a budget is the best thing to do before you start to decorate. Setting a time limit is also advisable, and having a plan of what you want to buy and how much you want to spend on each time.
You can also space out purchases over time so that your total outlay isn't all in one go and is staggered over  3 or 4 months, if not longer.

Do you have any secret tips for decorating a child's bedroom on a budget?

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Four Years of Him

 

Our Daddy

An Interview With a 4 Year Old {Video}

Last year Emma from A Matter of Choice shared a fantastic idea of interviewing your child on or around their birthday, and continuing to do this every year to see how different, or similar, the answers were.

Last year I chose to video our interview as I felt it was the best way to do it, and I've done the same this year too!
It didn't go as smoothly as planned. Charles was rather tired after two very late nights and was rather hyper.

If you want to join in I've listed the questions below.

1. What is your favourite colour?  

2. What is your favourite toy?    

3. What is your favourite fruit?

4. What is your favourite tv show?

5. What is your favourite thing to eat for lunch? 
6. What is your favorite outfit?  
7. What is your favourite game?  

8. What is your favorite snack?  

9. What is your favourite animal?  

10. What is your favourite song? 

11. What is your favourite book? 
12. Who is your best friend?    

13. What is your favourite dinner? 

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?  

15. What is your favourite drink?   
16. What is your favourite place to go? 
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? 

18. What is your favourite thing to eat for breakfast?

19. What do you want on your birthday? 

20. What do you want to be when you grow up?  

Charles, Aged 4...Loves

Last year I started this linky, Charles, Aged 3...Loves. It's simple really. Take a photo of your child, then add words to the photo describing things they love. You can use a photo editing website such as picmonkey.com It's easy and free to use.
Last years linky expired and all of the posts linked up disappeared so if you want to re-add yours from last year let me know (although I've added the ones I could remember joining in) or simply add it to this post.

I'm sure I've missed a billion things off but here are some of the things that Charles, aged 4 loves...

I'll be keeping this linky open for a year. It currently will only run until December but I will reload it and change the date when the time comes.

25 Things I Love About You {Charles}

1: Your eyelashes. Everyone comments on how amazing and long they are. Women tend to mention how jealous they are and how they wish they had lashes just like them, and I have to agree, I wish I did too.

2: The crush you have on your keyworker.
I think it would be true to say that she is your first love. You go all silly and shy at the mention of her name, or even at the site of her. You talk about her A LOT and always ask if she will be at preschool, if she isn't there (on her day off for example) you let me know and you talk about where you think she is and what she has been doing.
I love that you want to tell her that you love her but you don't think it's the right time. "Not quite yet mummy, I can't tell her yet".

3: Your Lorax Impression. So simple, so cute. I love how you simply picked such a small expression he does in the film, a blink and you'll miss it moment, to recreate all the time.
I love how you get his saying a little wrong "I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. Barrier of the forest"

4: The way you ask me what me and Harry have been doing whilst you've been at preschool, because you really want to know.

5: Your over-use of the word "apparently".

6: The way you say together and already.
"Togeda" "O-ready". You know I love the way you say these and sometimes say them just to make me smile.

7: The fact you can name more Dinosaurs than me.

8: The way that you try to help me in the morning but going through to see Harry when he wakes up. It's not always helpful as Harry then runs through to wake us up and sometimes it is silly o clock and we all need more sleep.

9: How sweet it is that you make breakfast for everyone and lay all of the filled cereal bowls in a line on the coffee table.

10: How cute you are when you are half asleep. These are when some of my favourite conversations with you happen. We either talk about silly things, funny things, serious things or about love.
Sadly most of the time you don't remember these conversations, but I do and will treasure them forever.

11: I love how you are a fab shopping partner (most of the time) and will tell me if something is nice or not. And then tell me your honest opinion when I try something on.

12: The way you call your brother sweetie and tell me how cute he is. And that you laugh because he's a toddler. And that you call him your best friend and praise him when he does something well.

13: How excited you get when you teach Harry a new word or how to do something. And how proud you are of him.

14: Your belly button. I love the way it sticks out and how we pretend it's a doorbell. Harry has always been fascinated with it.

15: The fact you are clumsy. You fall over a lot. We tend to take bets on how long it will be until you fall over.

16: Your cute run. You still run like a toddler and make us giggle as your legs move around everywhere as if it's the first time you've moved quickly.

17: I love how sensitive you are, and how in tune you are with peoples feelings, particularly mine.

18: I love how you want to look after me, and take care of me. Especially since learning a couple of months ago that I'm afraid of heights. I didn't want you to know that as I didn't want you to be afraid too. But you're not, instead you tell me everything is ok, you guide me and hold my hand tight. You let people know I'm afraid.

19: How caring you are towards everyone. And how you recognise when people are really nice, usually the Sainsburys Grocery Delivery Men. "He's a nice man mummy".

20: How shy you get. And how you bury you head into my leg and pull the cutest of faces.

21: Your frown.

22: Your memory. You are able to remember things that even I forget.

23: Your photography. You take the most amazing photos for a child, and I have very little fear in handing my "big camera" over to you because you are so careful and I know when I look through the photos you will have taken some amazing shots.

24: Your excited face.

25: How helpful you are. You like to help me with lunch, dinner, and you also know exactly how to use the washing machine.

 

Happy Fourth Birthday Charles

Four years ago today was one of the most exciting, happiest, nerveracking, breathtaking, amazing, incredible days of my whole life.
It's a day I will never ever ever forget. In fact I can remember it so clearly, as if it was yesterday.
My little Charles Jonathan was born.
We've had a fantastic four years. He has experienced so much in that time. Been to some amazing places.
And probably one of his highlights of the four years was becoming a big brother, something we had originally planned to be happening now.

I am so proud and so honoured to have him as my son.
That he is part of me.
My son.
My best friend.

I love every single little thing about him.
And couldn't imagine my life without him in it.

Happy Fourth Birthday Charles xxx

 

Getting Your Garden "Summer Ready"

As I look out of the kitchen window right now I'm wondering where our summer is, and if there will be many opportunities to actually play in the garden at all this year.
Lets be positive though, the rain is good for the plants and the vegetable patch.

We tend to play outside once Charles has finished preschool, and with our kitchen overlooking the garden I'm able to leave the boys outside to play whilst I get on with dinner.
We've spent the last couple of months getting the garden "summer ready".

My husband completed his walled vegetable garden, and we now have peas, beetroot, broccoli, potatoes and spring onions growing. We've cleaned the childrens playhouse, which does tend to just act like a garage for their various bikes, cars, and general garden toys.
Plants have been cut back to allow them to grow and blossom again, and to not poke a child in the eye as they run around!

The patio has been weeded, ready for them to grow back again and creating an escape for the ants which are sure to use our garden as a playground once again.

Our lawn is work in progress really. We struggle a lot because the soil quality is quite poor and we have a lot of weeds, including the horrible spikey ones. It's hard work but we do the best we can to care for our lawn and make it as safe as possible for the boys to play on.

Left to do now, if we ever get time and if the weather stays nice for a decent amount of time, is to make a gravel seating area in the left hand corner of the garden. Ideally I would also like to repaint the shed although I'm not sure my husband would agree with me on that.
The rabbit hutch also needs a repaint and varnish and general clean up.

So now it's a case of keeping up with the jobs we have already done, and making sure nothing gets out of control.
And hoping for sunshine of course.

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Frappe-Frappucino-Frappe {Recipe}

When we went to Kos on a 2 week holiday years ago, oh gosh I think it might be almost 17 years ago, that makes me feel really quite old, we would visit a little cafe and my mum ordered a Frappe (or Frappucino). I was allowed one, as a special treat, and it was my first taste of coffee.
It was so tasty and we were easily able to re-create it at home and it has now become a tradtional summer treat.

I know there will be cries of "No! That's not how you make it!" Well actually yes, this is how we make it, and this is how it was made in Kos.

One scoop of coffee
Half a teaspoon of sugar (although you don't have to, I usually have 1 and a half sugars in my coffee but reduce for this)
Milk
Ice cream
Ice
Chocolate for sprinkling (although not essential)

Make a coffee as normal in a large glass, adding slightly more milk than usual but not too much, you still want the coffee slightly warm. Don't fill the glass all the way to the top.
Add a few scoops of ice cream and a couple of ice cubes.
And serve.

Easy as that.
Simple, delicious and perfect for warm weather.