:: 100 posts and a couple of recipes ::

I'm really procrastinating on organising our things for our upcoming mini-move-before-the-big-move but...the house is quiet and, while lunch spills are scattered underneath me and dishes await, it's a snatched moment to sit down, eat some chocolate and write a wee post...the 100th! I have just a couple of things to share then I'll be off upstairs to do some organising...really...I'm promising myself!

I was inspired this week by Kelle from Enjoying the Small Things to create a mini bucket list for the week, to make our days more intentional and fun. It really does change perspective when you think of things to do that are fun and out-of-the-ordinary (too often easily forgotten as time sweeps on) and also to be more other-conscious. So...my first list is small to keep it realistic and I'm only halfway through that (small) list, but hopefully will get it all by the end of the weekend :o)

Above, which wasn't on the list, is our treasure collection from a little walk down to get the post at the end of the driveway. A pinecone, a dandelion, a daisy, a purple flower and 12 little stones. I love that some of the most ordinary things of life are treasures in the eyes of little people, and worth picking up. 

On a rainy, cool day earlier in the week I felt rather inspired by Lucy's post from the week previous where she was also feeling rather discouraged ('droopy' in her words) about the constant rain and cool temperatures over in England. She made a tray of delicious looking Booster Bars, adapting another recipe that she found here. I had all the ingredients for her adapted recipe and am always keen to try healthier snack-type baking for the girls, so I made them. Normally I find such bars very sweet but these are delicious, reminding me of the CookieTime Bumper bars from NZ. So, without further ado, here is the recipe for Lucy's Banana Boost Bars.' (P.S. I like to read Lucy's blog and am often inspired by her colourful, celebrating-life, creative outlook and her wonderful, conversational way to write!). 


Lucy's Banana Boost Bars 
(adapted from Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's Honey and Peanut Butter Booster Bars)

1. Put 125g butter, 75g golden syrup (I used the rest of our maple syrup and topped it up with a little golden syrup. I think the MS makes it even less sweet, but yummy nonetheless) and 2 tbs orange juice in a bowl and microwave for 1 min. Stir until butter has melted and everything is combined thoroughly.

2. Mix in 200g oats, 2 tbs mixed seeds (I used chopped almonds and sesame seeds) and 150g mixed dried fruit (I used sultanas and chopped apricots). Then mix in 1 mashed up ripe banana. (I almost completely forgot this part - had to quickly pull the tray out of the oven and mix in the banana!).

3. Spoon into a lined tin so that mixture is about 1/2 inch deep, and sprinkle a few more seeds on top. Bake at 160/gas 3 for about 30mins until just golden. 

4. Mark into bars and leave to cool in tin.

Yum! And I'm sure the options of combinations, like different dried fruits, nuts and chocolate (although that's pushing the healthy-ness!) are endless.

We had a little picnic afternoon tea yesterday, with a tablecloth spread over the rug, fairybread and homemade elderflower syrup that a friend had given us the evening before. The girls love drinking from cups and I let them go for it, having fun, and needing a new change of clothes each afterwards :o) My cup was used for storage of unwanted pieces, as you can see. But they were eventually gobbled up too. 

Today for lunch we had a very impromptu salad using the leftover wheat grains, combined with chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, basil, goat's cheese and a made-up dressing of lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and a little mayonnaise. The girls were really keen on the chickpeas, so much so that one little hand kept picking them out before I'd even served it into their bowls :o)

Hope you have a fun weekend out there, whether outside in the sun and warmth or cosied up in the warmth of home! I just heard the local strawberry picking farm opened up this week, so that will be part of our long weekend adventure!

:: birthday fun! ::

Well the girls have had their fair share of candle-blowing, treats and gifts over the last few days! We had a fun, relaxed day yesterday for their birthday, spending much of it at home due to plans for the afternoon being put off because of the rain. But that was ok. I pulled off some last-minute plans with the afternoon tea and we later went down the mountain, picked up Eti after work and went to IKEA for dinner. Discovering, in the process, that Tuesday nights from 5-7pm at IKEA is one of the best times to go - hardly anyone around and great for two excited little girls to run wild!

Here are some of our fun and funny birthday moments from the special day for our two-year-olds:


Preparing a batch of strawberry cream cupcakes the night before...

Starting the day off with a little present opening...

Enjoying some special breakfast tresse (Swiss braided bread)...and a little bunny (a.k.a. 'billah') loving!

I love this expression on Amélie's face! It's ok, she wasn't choking...

 Wearing our cute Spanish aprons from Rita...

...and the fans too!

 Some moments of concentrated artistry with our new big pencils (I think she's going to be a left-hander)...

Amélie, being a current lotion-lover, climbed up to where I had been making sandwiches and started trying to rub the mayonnaise on her face. It did look a lot like the lotion tube!

What ensued shortly afterwards was an energetic climbing session onto anything that was climable in the room. So in an effort to stay sane while preparing lunch, I gave them a slice of cucumber each. They didn't eat them but had some fun and giggles with Superma on skype who was pretending to eat them! 

During the after-lunch nap I quickly decorated the gingerbreadmen and cupcakes...

...and as I heard the girls stirring, and the rain was pouring down outside, I decided last-minute to go back to plan A and quickly put together a special table for our afternoon tea. As it has been since suggested, I think this will become one of our birthday traditions!

We ended the day with the fun visit to one of my favourite places...IKEA. I hadn't been for a while (surprisingly...but also due to the fact that we're moving this year and we don't need any more stuff!). The girls loved it after their initial shyness in the kid's area wore off. We even met another pair of identical twin girls who had had a similar risky start to life. There was a good dose of chip and meatball eating, accompanied by lots of running to and fro into the toy area, finding toy puppies to take on adventures...and a bit of daddy chasing in the light department to round off what had been a pleasant day of celebrating two special lives!

:: two years old today - a story of thankfulness ::

The 8th of May has become one of my most favourite days of the year to celebrate. When I was little and was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I said I wanted to be a mummy. Well, today I'm living my dream and there's no other accomplishment I'm more proud of and fullfilled in. It's exhausting, yes, and there are plenty of moments of frustration or self-doubt, but to be parents of these two is a gift beyond many others. 

Happy 2nd birthday today to our Elise Grace and Amélie Hope!

Many of you know that these two are living miracles because you walked with us through scary pregnancy moments and then their arrival that came way too early. We are so thankful for all the prayers, words of truth and words of encouragement that you sent our way during those scary days. The girls were born on Mother's Day morning, New Zealand time, so whole churches stopped to pray when they heard the news. And instead of overwhelming fear we felt peace. Even the memories of the early days and months of uncertainty are now overshadowed by the thankfulness and joy of seeing two little girls who have grown from 700g to being walking, talking, laughing, joyful little people who have no developmental or long-term health issues. Praise God! We're also incredibly thankful to the wonderful (understatement) medical people who helped us throughout the journey. The Neonatal unit at the CHUV hospital in Lausanne became like a home away from home because the team there welcomed us with open arms and kept us informed of everything they did with the girls, which was nothing short of amazing! Merci du fond de nos coeurs!

To celebrate their birthday, to thank you and to give an example of the faithfulness of God, we made this video of clips from moments after their birth to now. 
 

Et avec les sous titres en français:

Amélie Hope

Our little helper, always ready to pick up a cloth and clean :o) You were born first, even by mere seconds, but you seem to have taken the role of being the eldest with a responsibility that makes us smile :o) We love to watch you take care of your babies, giving cuddles, kissing anything and everything you like...from your teddies, to flowers, tiny spiders, books and rocks! Your arms wrapped around our necks and soft kisses make up some of our favourite moments. You're always up for fun, with a smile that lights up your face and a giggle that's contagious. You love to colour and spend several minutes in focused concentration as you draw. Mummy's proud of your love for books and we enjoy watching as you 'read' to yourself copying from memory how we have read to you. You're joyful, funny, creative, caring and have an incredible capacity to understand and respond to what we're saying to you. You're independent (like your mummy was at your age too!) and we can really see you living up to your name, which means 'industrious' and 'bringing hope.' We love you dearly our sweet Amie and we're so proud of you!

Elise Grace

Our sweet Elise who captures hearts wherever you go because your own is so big. You, who went through so much in the beginning and terrified us so often with the risks that came at you almost constantly, bring us joy beyond words. We love your gentle (mostly!) nature and empathy to notice when people have something that is "mal" (hurts). You, whom the doctors warned may not be able to speak, have a beautiful, soft voice that you use constantly, to sing and tell stories. While Amélie is responsible and you sometimes help her, you are also carefree in nature...flitting from one thing to another like a butterfly and singing as you go. Your eyes twinkle mischievously and you shake as you giggle...it makes us giggle too! For all your gentleness you also have a strength of character which is not surprising knowing what you battled through during your early months in hospital. You have an extraordinary eye for beauty...one of your first words being "pretty!" and you point out pretty things wherever we go, from necklaces to hairties, flowers and even people. I love to take you out for a walk, just me and you because you love to chatter away and point things out with the words you know: tree! ball! pretty! car! You also love stories and reading aloud to yourself with wonderful expression! We love you enormously our joyful Leesie! You, too, fill our hearts with pride. 


Above all we truly thank our God for His wonderful protection over Amélie and Elise. They could very easily not be with us today, there were countless moments both before and after they arrived that we were expecting to say goodbye. A throat infection could have easily put Elise back in hospital needing breathing assistance, but they have stayed extraordinarily healthy and seem strong. So we're thankful and will always be.