easy peasy play doh

 I recently found a recipe for play doh that you do not need to cook and it appealed immediately. The recipe was found here. I made a blue version for Ollie and he and Daddy enjoyed playing with it, although I am not sure who enjoyed themselves more.

 I mean, just look at that snow (ahem I mean play doh) man!

 The play doh in the top picture was made for my nephew Matty’s second birthday along with some rainbow crayons I made previously and a few other things.

Here is the recipe if you would like to try it;

No-Cook Playdoh

• 1/2 cup of salt
• 1 cup of  plain flour
• 1 tablespoon of Cream of Tartar
• 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil
• I cup of boiling water (from the kettle) mixed with;
• some food colouring

Put all the dry ingredients in a bowl (or food processor) and then mix vigorously with the hot water.

Makes wonderful playdough which lasts for ages in little plastic sandwich bags. I put mine in the fridge and it has lasted a few weeks already.

love and tissues

 I haven’t updated in a while so here are some things we have been making on and since Valentines Day. The first is a card to Daddy, We also cut out hearts, which Ollie scribbled on, then stuck them to the window so Daddy would see them when he came home from work, he loved that. Wish I’d got a picture!

 Both my nans have their birthdays in the same week in February so two matching Greatnan cards from the boys, made with some fabric scraps, I am trying to avoid too much wasting of fabrics.  

 Also, a couple of tissue holders for a couple of lovely friends, who are always in need of tissues!

Four

snow in the garden

 I was tagged by Floortje . The theme was ”four” and the aim; to show the fourth picture in my fourth folder. This picture was taken about two weeks ago when we had snow in January, it’s of our back garden. I was hoping it would be a really exciting picture, but this one is pretty, so which four people to tag?

Sinta

Fiona

Miss Ifi

Monika

brrrrrrrrrr ing on the Spring!

 I know you are just loving the naffness of my post title.  

 Anyway, we have some very arctic weather here at the moment. I took the above picture on Sunday, we went to our favourite botanical garden for a wander and there were icicles galore. Then by Tuesday night we were all covered with snow again.

 This picture of Ollie was from a couple of weeks ago when we had lots of snow, still, it seems very current again.

 Levi is doing well, I am now getting lots of adorable smiles and the occasional little giggle, so cute.

Look at him in his cute little snow suit his Auntie and Uncle bought him.

 And there’s one of those lovely little smiles!

 Ollie continues to be a proud big brother, lots of gentle (and a few not so gentle) kisses being dished out, all with good intention of course!

 Oh yes, and I have been doing a little crafting. Some tissue holders, tutorial found here.

And finally. A sure sign that Spring is somewhere round the corner……..

Thank goodness!

Levi Adam Hills

 Levi (pronounced like in the American Pie song, as in “Chevy to the Levy”!) was born on the Monday 24th of November at 09:56 am, weighing 7 lb 11 oz. His middle name is after Carl’s brother Adam.

 Compared to Ollie he is such a tiny baby he even looks and sounds so different to me. The week in hospital was difficult as Ollie was ill and wasn’t allowed to visit which made me quite upset as when I did see him he gave me the brush off, mummy was severely punished!

 I know this is very late but what with Christmas and a lot of illness through the whole of December, plus Ollie having grommits fitted last Monday it has been difficult.

 I hope I have not been completely forgotten.

3 become 4…..in a week!

 Just when I thought it would never end I realised that I have no time left. It suddenly dawned on me I have so much making of Christmas gifts still to do. I think this will be a busy week. I have my last consultant appointment on Monday before the c-section on Monday 24th. It seems like only a little while ago I was going through all of this for Ollie. Then there is my birthday on the 19th, I am going (hopefully) to a firework display at the local British School on Saturday for this, cannot wait! I know it is a bit late but Guy Fawkes is the one English event I really miss so it will be a little like that and Ollie will see fireworks for the first time.

 I know I have taken a little break for a week or so but the little man has been poorly with an ear/nose/eye infection which he appears to have caught on his first days at creche. My little Christmas present is feeling a lot better today and the anti-biotics or “banana medicene” seems to have done the trick.

  He has been working on some painting skills with mummy, I cannot wait for his first creche artwork to come home.

I have been sketching a few ideas and making Christmas pressies, I don’t want to give too much away as some of my family visit here sometimes but below are the labels for a couple of the gifts.

 And some playing around with the scanner, just because really…

 

tears from mummy… but lots of food for me!

 Yesterday was a BIG day for my little man. It was his first day at creche. To be truthful parting with Ollie, even for two days a week is not something I am extremely willing to do. Yes I will appreciate the rest when the new baby arrives in a few weeks time, he will learn to socialise with other children and become more confident and yes it will help him develop his Flemish (Dutch) for when he starts school in just over a year (yes they start school at 2 and a 1/2 here in Belgium). But he just seems so tiny to me still. He is still my baby.

 I thought I would use this post as an opportunity to show some recent pictures and videos of Ollie, enjoy.

 I miss the infectious laugh…..

posted with vodpod

 Yesterday morning the first tears were from mummy as we were about to walk out of the door and leave; “I don’t want him to go!” the bottom lip quivered. But I was brave. Ollie was perfectly happy to be left finding a new little boy to play with and a new toy. I think the poor little lad was unaware that mummy and daddy were not going to be there when he wanted them to be, he was about to learn what bu-bye really meant. I managed to hold it together and say goodbye with the reassurance that I could call back at 2pm (such a long time to wait!) and check on him.

 Below; showing off his footie skills with Daddy (now you see where he gets those little legs from! I love how he is quickly distracted by leaves!

 

posted with vodpod

 

 2pm finally arrived. News was that he was doing ok, playing but sometimes a bit tearful (very normal for a first day she assured me). I was told he ate “very well”, “oh yes” I said, “he always does!”. Little did I know.

 When Daddy finally brought my little boy home at the end of the day I got the full update on how the first day went. It showed me what a little character my little boy really is!

 Apparantly;

 * Ollie ate more than ANY other child there! He finished his drink and tried to take the girls next to him! Sharing will be a new skill for him to learn. He also chased the nursery nurse around the room trying to pick up crumbs from the floor! After he already ate more than anyone else, hahaha. Ollie is like his daddy, if you keep giving him food he will just keep on eating it. Bless him, that boy loves his food.

 * Whenever music came on Ollie was dancing like a little Disco Diva! Ollie loves to dance, any time any where! How else will he burn off all that extra food?

 * He went through THREE changes of clothes, he is still learning to master a cup, also I blame the soup. Think we will have to practice his soup eating abilities.

 * The best news of all to me was that Ollie seemed to make a little friend in another one of the boys. This made me very happy. Also one of the older girls was rather taken with him and stroked his hair whenever he cried. What a sweetie!

 I was given a notebook with an overview of the day. Apparently they do this everyday which I think is fantastic. It helped me too as I had to translate some of it into English and replied in Flemish too. I am determined to improve my own Flemish as well as Ollie’s. I am so happy we picked this nursery, I think Ollie will fit in really well, if he doesn’t eat them out of house and home.

 Only today to go then I have my baby back for the rest of the week. Who thought I would miss the mayhem so much?

strange little bunny

 So. I have been working on some of my own little templates for making soft toys. This one is the first I tried out and although there is a lot to improve on him and I put the face on too high I am kinda growing to love his strange quirkiness. So much so I think I will keep him as a memento of my first attempt.

 Firstly I love the lilac linen and the little button bow tie.

  Ollie seemed to like the little bunny too, grabbing him then running off with glee before running into the table and screaming the place down! Bless him, no harm done luckily, just a little bump!

 Name suggestions for Mr bunny would be appreciated, it’s enough trying to think of baby names right now.

baby quilt comp. gorgeous stuff!

for me pleeease! x

 The generosity of other bloggers never fails to amaze me. JC Handmade will make a custom baby quilt for whoever wins this comp. So do enter . To be in the running I need to say which colours (if I won) I would like incorporated. Well as baby number two is coming at the end of next month and I do know it is another wonderful boy I would have to say the three colours I would request would be blues, greens and/or browns. But I would also love a surprise too.

 You really should go visit and see what a gorgeous piece of handmade loveliness is on offer!

new news new fabric

 A little gap between posts, but hey, being pregnant can be a tiring business. On Saturday I went to SPIT in Leuven (a big charity shop warehouse or to US folk, a huge thrift store). I hoped to find some new old fabrics and some lovely brown buttons. I always enjoy sifting through the big colour coded button jars there and at 5 cents a button I took my time. The lady said “you take your time, we close at 5pm”, it was about 10am at that point! I did buy a lot of buttons but with so many gorgeous ones how could I not? Some of my favourites are in the picture above. I also bought three different fabrics to do some making with; four pillow cases and one lonely random curtain.

 Cannot wait to make some lovely gifts with my new fabrics, I especially like the one with the bugs, I have so few fabrics that are not “girly”.

 I also saw these yummy looking galettes  over at maya*made and made a big one the very next night. It was very delicious and came at a perfect time as I had a bowl full of apples and no idea what to do with them, I do hate waste.

Also, I found out today that a picture I sent of Ollie will be printed in Prima (uk) magazine in the December issue. I am so excited so if you live in the uk, do pick up a copy.

 Lastly, I wanted to say thanks to all who commented on my “Crohnniversary” post. It feels great to know I have spread the word a little about Crohn’s. I appreciate your kind words.