The cubby

Yes, it's taken some time (only a few years) but we have nearly completed our cubby house! We still need to paint the floor and put in a few bits like floor cushions, blankets and chairs but it's looking adorable! When the kids are over it, it's going to be my little retreat. I think a sewing room with shelves full of fabric, bobbins, buttons and ribbons will be perfect.

Oh and the pikelet recipe.........

Pikelets
1 cup self-raising flour
¼ cup caster sugar
Pinch of bi-carb soda
1 egg lightly beaten
¾ cup milk

Put flour, sugar and bi-carb soda in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Make a well in the centre and add the lightly beaten egg and a small amount of the milk. Whisk together until the mixture has come together. Then gradually add the extra milk whisking well in between each addition to make a smooth mixture.

Heat some cooking spray in a frying pan over a low to medium heat. Add large spoonfuls of mixture to the pan. When bubbles start to appear flip and continue to cook for approx 1 minute or until browned lightly and cooked through.

Cool slightly or completely and enjoy with butter and jam or jam and cream for a real treat.

Happiness is not in things, it is in us

And we love spending time at home together during the school holidays. Most people complain about having the kids home for the holidays but for us with the not so 'normal' lives, it's so nice.

Today we

• slept in until 9am and stayed in our PJ's until 1.15pm!
• made the yummiest pikelets and ate them with lashings of butter and jam
• went to the garden nursery and bought some colour to put in our pots on the deck
• planted the colour and cleaned up the deck while Fletcher kicked the footy out the front and Tilly bounced on the trampoline and swung on the swings
• got the stinky dogs in trouble for digging holes in the garden beds
• made an old fashioned dinner that consisted of oven baked rissoles, the sweetest baked pumpkin and creamy mashed potato. Of course, served with tomato sauce
• the cupboard is bare so it was warm frothy hot chocolate for desert while watching Master Chef

It was the laziest, most relaxing day we have had in such a long time. It really was perfect.