School's back

Bella's winter uniform is back out of the closet, Liam's has been purchased and this morning it was back to school after two lovely weeks off.

Both were very excited to be back, Eva not so much at loosing her playmates, but I think she got over it quickly when she realised she could watch whatever she wanted ie. Peppa Pig. I know the first thing she will say when she wakes from her nap this afternoon will the "Bella and Li-li car?"

Holidays Part 2 ... Sydney Brick Show

We have a fairly rampant collection of Lego around these parts. I can't blame the kids for the boxes and boxes of Friends, Super Heroes, and Duplo, I think they get their love of lego from me and I may encourage the purchasing of the odd set here or there or make suggestions of what they should ask from Santa.

My friend gave me the details of the Sydney Brick Show and since it fell in the school holidays I decided to take Bella and Liam yesterday while Eva was at daycare.

There were so many fantastic displays and we all had (numerous) favourites, but pick of the bunch...

Bella's favourite Liam's favourite ...with a Mini Apple store...

... AND a bridge between two displays. Huge. and my favourite... The Love Boat

don't you love the shark?

and all the rooms. Awesome.

And at the end they got to play in the build pit. Bella made a beach, blanket, people and all. She had a few little kids waiting to pounce on it to play with when we finally left to meet Daddy for lunch.

Holidays Part 1 ... Taronga Zoo and Shoal Bay

Week 1 of the holidays and we were lucky enough to have Daddy home for a whole week. We visited Taronga Zoo, had playdates and went away for 3 nights with friends to Shoal Bay where the kids swam, rode bikes, played games and went fishing (Bella caught a fish!). I think we may have made a new Easter tradition.

Happy Easter

Kiddie Crafting
Spending time at Nanny & Poppy's including an egg hunt
Crocheting a new blanket
Baking and eating a couple dozen Hot Cross Buns



And incase you want some hot cross buns now the shops will stop stocking them for another year.. this hot cross bun recipe is super easy, all done in my Kitchenaid....

Hot Cross Buns 
Makes 12

Ingredients

Buns
50g caster sugar
7g dried yeast
450g plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon mixed spice
100g mixed dried fruit - I used 50/50 Sultanas and Cranberries
1 egg, beaten
50g butter, melted
50ml milk, warmed

Decoration
1/2 cup plain flour
4 tablespoons water

Glaze
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoon caster sugar

Method

1. Mix 1 teaspoon of the caster sugar with the yeast and 150ml of tepid water in a jug until frothy and put aside.
2. Place all the other bun ingredients into your mixing bowl and mix with the dough attachment for  5 minutes. If it's a bit dry add a little more warm milk while mixing.
3. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and leave in a nice warm place to prove until it has doubled in size which takes about 1 hour.
4. Line a baking tray with some baking paper. Give the dough a quick knead and divide into 12 even pieces and roll into balls and place in the baking tray. Cover again with cling wrap or a tea towel and leave for another 35-40minutes. Meanwhile preheat your oven to 220oC.
5. Mix the flour and water together for your cross decoration and place into a small zip lock bag. Cut a small piece of a corner off the bag to make a piping bag and make your lines. 
6. Pop in the oven for 15 minutes to bake until nice and golden.
7. Meanwhile while they are baking away mix the water and caster sugar for your glaze together over a medium heat in a small pot stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Once the buns are just out of the oven, brush the glaze all over the tops.