Happy Mother's Day - and Thank You, Mum!

Until I had children of my own, I never really understood why my mum did some of the things she did as we were growing up. Think, "You're not going out like that!", the wet towel on the bed argument, and "eat your vegetables!"  I just thought she was out to get me!  Now I realise, it was all part of protecting me, teaching me, and loving me!

When I gave birth to Miss Bags, four years ago now, alongside the overwhelming love and joy of having a baby, I was also filled with awe and respect. Not just for what my amazing body had done, but for what my own mum had done for me! I have always been close to my mum, but giving birth myself has increased that bond.

As its Mother's Day tomorrow, I wanted to take this opportunity to say Thank You, Mum!

• Thank you for teaching me how to cook, even if I did wreck your ceramic hob with boiling sugar!
• Thank you for teaching me about birds, wildlife and flowers, so that when I am on walks with my children, I can pass on that knowledge
• Thank you for making me laugh
• Thank you for being my friend
• Thank you for teaching me how to sew, even if I do ask you all the time!
• Thank you for sharing your love of cross-stitch and knitting with me
• Thank you for being there, no matter what
• Thank you for rescuing my baking disasters, and teaching me how to make cakes
• Thank you for helping me in the garden, and passing on your green-fingered tips!
• Thank you for watering my houseplants so they don't die.
• Thank you for my childhood
• Thank you for being the best mum ever!

Now I have two children I have come to realise how much I rely on mum (and dad for that matter) for advice, childcare and just that little bit of perspective when it all gets too much! I see the nurturing, loving relationship my children have with their Grandparents and I am so heartwarmed by it!  My children are VERY lucky indeed to have both sets of grandparents who are such a huge part of their lives!

Just like mum.....

I find myself saying things that my mum used to say to me, "eat your vegetables", "take your coat off, or you won't feel the benefit when you go back outside" and "because I'm your mother, and I SAID so!".  I'm sure that the wet towel on the bed argument is yet to come; as is the "right, I'm only washing your clothes if they are IN the basket!" row!  As I say and think these things, I realise I might be more like my mum than I care to admit (yep, right down to our irrational intolerance of traffic jams, and moronic drivers!); but, if I am HALF the mother to my children that she was to me and my brother, then my children are truly blessed indeed!

Thank you, Mum..... I love you x

Birthday Baking Crazy!

March is birthday month in our neck of the woods...  Miss Bags has been invited to 7 parties this month alone (4 down 3 to go!)

In honour of the festivities I have gone a bit baking mad of late...

First of all, Nonna found an old, much loved recipe that we thought we had lost, for Oat Biscuits, so I just had to make them!  A real taste of my childhood!  Needless to say, they were great!  Just how I remembered them, all sweet and chewy.  However, they are very dangerous, as one made - they call out to be eaten!  One after the other in a flurry of oatyness!  Definitely NOT part of the Slimming World Plan!

Then, Miss Bags requested a Pirate Cake for her party.  The girl is Pirate Mad! I blame Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  So, armed with my "Quick and Easy Kids Cakes" book, I set out to complete the challenge...

 

I think it looks OK!  Given that the buttercream was nearly a disaster and Nonna had to come to the rescue like the cavalry!  Note to self.... "soften in the microwave" does not mean heat on full power for 2 minutes; and adding the last drops of milk to the buttercream mixture (because"I'm not putting THAT back in the fridge") is NEVER a good idea..... my buttercream was more like pouring cream!  Thank you Nonna for imparting your baking wisdom and saving the day!  Miss Bags certainly liked it, and the two huge slices I enjoyed washed down with a well earned glass of red were yummy!

Next on the agenda were 36 cupcakes for the birthday girl to take to pre-school....

And at the weekend I'll be making Lemon Syrup Loaf Cake!  Yummy!

Despite all the baking and party fun.... we still found time to go to Peppa Pig World at Paulton's Park... a great time was had by all, and the weans were asleep almost before we reached the motorway!  Happy Days in the sunshine now that spring has definitely sprung!