Recipes from the blog

Last week was my birthday and for the past 11 years I have taken a photo of me with my kids and 4 cupcakes (2 for the birthday girl) which only seems fair.  In the first photo Sienna was only 6 months and James was not quite 3 yet so they have certainly changed a lot.  It's a very special tradition of mine and I love that my kids know we take this on my birthday.  Here's the pic for 2016.

  

Since it's school holidays in Australia I thought I would link back to a post from July last year with lots of yummy recipes that have featured on my blog and a few more from the last year.

A list of recipes from my blog post last year are here.

School lunch box ideas here.

Lime Tart recipe here.

Bacon & Leek Quiche with home made pastry here.

Home made biscuits here. 

Zucchini Slice recipe here.

Best ever fluffy bread roll recipe here.

Autumn Spicy Soup recipe here.

Breakfast Seed Muffins here.

Home made healthy chocolate with 3 ingredients here.

Around Here

Around here things have been busy and I've been sick for the past month and I think I'm on the mend now diagnosed with pleurisy after yesterday's chest x-ray.  I've been taking it easy on and off and spending a couple of days laying in bed but still doing everything you have to do when you are the only adult around raising kids.  Over the past month we have had the pleasure of an international student from Japan staying with us and the kids and I have loved learning about life in Japan and showing her how us Aussies live.  Here's a few photos from the past month.

First day in Australia happened to be her birthday so I made a cake for her and she's never made a cake or seen one made as they don't have an oven at their home in Japan.

Sitting down to write stuff on the blackboard was a daily occurrence and learning new things.

Doing Origami together.

Showing off the Brisbane city skyline.

Doing some maths equations with James.

A game of scrabble after dinner.

Aunty Lisa (my sister) got a new bird and we went with her to pick Ziggy up from the pet shop.

James on his iPad on a Friday afternoon after school.

Family pic at our favourite local BBQ spot.

 Sienna loved having another person to cuddle.

Toasting marshmallows on the fire.

Jasmine in full bloom.

Home made pies and salad for dinner.

We walked to the local park after school and these two loved making up games to play.

Afternoon at the local park.

Making up stories and drawing on the blackboard in the hallway.

The AFL Season is over for another year and the trophies were handed out by our Local Member for Parliament. James 5th year with this club.

James made this car which was part of his school assignment which he got an A+ for.