December, also known as 'The Blur'

Sorry for the lack of posts. I know Christmas and New Years have come and gone. But I hope you are happy and healthy so far this year!

Seriously, December is pretty much a write-off for our family. Jacob's birthday, the boys' birthday, Christmas parties, Christmas, New Years. It's madness.

So here is the crazy chaos that is December...

Our Playcentre Christmas Party/Teddy Bear Picnic

Little men following the big kids on a hike.

The Cool Santa sporting Ray Ban Sunnies, of course.

Uncle Jeremy - I mean - Santa giving Wim his gift.

Back at home - we slowly welcomed Summer and the Holiday Season

The boys learning some proper gardening skills

Making Xmas Cards

Star biscuits!!

  The Wellington Multiple Births Christmas Party

H & J checking out another Santa.

More gifts from Santa!

The serious business of meeting Santa!

The boys had their second birthday as well! Jacob did an amazing job baking both cakes and cooking up a storm on the BBQ! It was a very small party, but thankfully fairly chilled out compared to their first birthdays!

I hope everyone had an amazing holiday season! 

Speaking of holidays...

December is a HUGE month for us. Jacob's birthday, the boys' birthday, Christmas, New Years, friends and family visiting, the parties and BBQs that happen almost every single weekend... Huge.

I'm starting early. Sort of. I started making bows - last year! But I have a list a mile long of everything else I need to do... How about you?

And speaking of chaos...

Have a great Monday!!

xx

School holidays... Again.

It can be really hard to deal with school holidays and two crazy boys. But we manage. Playdough, drawing, outings to the dog beach, reading, playdates, baking. It's exhausting. There are those days when you want just five minutes to yourself, and it never seems to come. 

A key thing I've discovered the last couple of weeks though, it goes back to the early days when the boys were just born. The rule of - sleep when they sleep. Yep. That's me. With the new skills of playing for a bit of time on their own, I can do a bit of tidying. When they are running after each other down the hallway, I try and prep dinner. When they nap, so do I. Well, for about 15 minutes if I can. It's heavenly.

Faery crowns and playdough on demand.

Handsome Jake hanging with the boys this week. Great fun!

We've been all about routine for a long time. And now that routine is changing slightly. Time for a bit of change. I don't think I'm quite ready for that!
xx

Fish Fingers and Trying Fighting School Holiday Boredom....

This past school holidays were slowly driving me a bit mental. It rained. It was cold. There were next to no playgroups and it was too crappy to go out anyway. So what did we do?

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Made Fish Fingers. 

I know. I know. 

Its the bane of so many mum's existence. But honestly, we never have them! So, it quite was a treat! 

We used about 400 grams of fish (I think it was groper) cut into easy to manage strips. 

Put it into a bag with 1/2 cup of flour. Shake it baby! (the boys loved this for about 5 seconds)

In a bowl, I combined equal parts shredded coconut and panko breadcrumbs with a little salt and pepper. Then (without egg, crazy I know!) put the coated fish into the coconut mixture. Press them in thoroughly and make sure it all sticks. It's easiest to do this in batches. Then in a shallow fry pan using grapeseed oil, fry them up until they are golden brown and cooked through. Drain on a towel and squeeze a bit of lime, good to go!

And while this was all going on, I was baking some chips in the oven and making some of my favourite tartar sauce via my childhood memory. I felt like a true mum (or Mom) when I made that. 

Mayo. Relish. Stir. 

It brought a tear to my eye and made desperately miss my Mom back in the states. 

It was a total 80's flashback lunch for me.

And the boys loved it. Especially the tartar sauce. 

Coconut Fish Fingers with Mom's Old School Tartar Sauce

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 20 mins
Ingredients

• 400 grams Groper (or any other hardy fish)
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• approx 1/3 cup grapeseed oil for frying
• 2 tbsp mayonaisse
• 2 tbsp gherkin relish
• a squeeze of lime

Cooking Directions

1. Cut the fish into easy to manage strips.
2. Put the fish strips into a bag with 1/2 cup of flour. Shake shake shake!
3. In a bowl, combine the coconut and panko breadcrumbs with a little salt and pepper.
4. Then put the coated fish into the coconut mixture.
5. Press them in thoroughly and make sure it all sticks. It's easiest to do this in batches.
6. In a shallow fry pan using grapeseed oil, fry them up until they are golden brown and cooked through.
7. Drain on a towel and squeeze a bit of lime, good to go!
8. Mix the mayo and relish together and serve on the side for yummy dipping action.

xx