4 years ago today......

A tiny girl was born.......

She turned one.....

Then two......

then three......

Happy Birthday big 4 year old. We love you very much.

More pics of the birthday girl later, off to open more pressies!

Just because....

Rainbows are something Heidi is often listing as her things to be thankful for. The girls have a night light that projects one over the ceiling at night. To sleep under a visible promise is a good reminder of all the promises God makes. So when she asked if we could have rainbow pancakes how could I resist?
And no she didn't eat all of them......

Are they twins?

Fun in the s___ (now)

You should always be glad when you have the chance to use sand toys all year round. Granted I would like to have been using these at the beach,but the stingy side of me is glad that at least I am using them! Snow castles are fun too.




These were taken late last week. Today is -33 with a wind chill on top.

It was not fun to shovel the path. I had left it 24 hours since snow had fallen and it had to be done.

It was fun to find parcels in the mail box. Thank you everyone, you made my frozen hands worthwhile.

This was us on Monday

Yes, Heidi is running in the middle of the road. Rain is rare here this time of year, you have to take you chances to splash where ever you have opportunity.

Seriously though this road is super quiet and I was on watch the whole time!

Working cattle

Tom was helping move cattle on Sat, so we all tagged along for a fun morning out at the farm.
There was a slightly stressful start when I set the alarm an hour late, and so woke the house with cries of 'Get up, we have to leave NOW'. In the end we were the first there! The mornings are so dark these days that it was still dark when we got there, but it was a time to make precious memories like these.



I have a movie of Heidi riding Honey but I can't get it to load, will keep trying. It is a huge blessing that our girls have places to run and play and ride in wagons safe. I had a teary eye watching my big girl chase after the kittens in her little wrangles and red ladybug sweater. We have much to be grateful for.

From Hero to plain old Dad in one easy misunderstanding

At breakfast yesterday we had juice.

This is not that common in the Hindle house, but good offers are what they are and so we had juice.

I told Heidi that we would take Tom up a glass so he could get some vitamins as he is working hard and is very tired at the moment.

Why she asks.

'Well, he has a deadline to meet and so we wont get to see him much this week but we are going to spend all weekend with him and Monday too'. (thanksgiving in this country. Yes Ruth, Another day off!)

Breakfast continued until my sweet girl piped up.

'What a real lion!'
'Did he kill it?'

At which point breakfast stopped because I could no longer continue for trying not to laugh.

Hands up who thinks vitamins will help in the quest of killing lions.

Heidi is now in the proud possession of a new word. That and a story which will be retold for the rest of her life!


This is the Hindle family girls, as drawn by Heidi, October 2011. She's in the middle with the dress, I'm one side, Hopie the other. I forget who's wearing what.

Precious moments

 

Our living room this Sunday afternoon. Precious times.

Mummy and Heidi's guide to baking

First, you have to pick a scrummy recipe. We went for
That's courgettes for the rest of us!

Then you need to mix together the ingredients.


1 medium zucchini
2 cups of grated Cheddar cheese
2 cups of plain flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 tsp salt (or not if you intend to feed to small babies)
1 cup milk
1 egg
4 tbsp olive oil.

Mix the dry ingredients into the zucchini and cheese.
Then add the wet ones and mix till just combined.

Then spoon into greased muffin plans. Beware that when you turn to get your camera you may discover that your 3 year old is more than capable of spooning mixture into the pans.

All done and into the oven at 375F or 190C or GM5 for 20-25 mins.

Then leave in the pans for 10 mins to cool a bit and solidify a bit.....there's a lot of cheese in these!

Serve them for lunch.... (we also had pears and a glass of milk)

And the smile says it all. They were amazing, and so was she!

Is it wrong for your three year old to be playing lets pretend to pick up the almost dead kitten and put in a bag and dispose of it?

Just wondering!

While we helping a friend finish cleaning her latest house renovation we came across a dieing kitten in one of the farm out buildings. So, the wonderful Mariah took on the task and put us all out of our misery (neither Holly or I wanted to be involved with this part, but it does seem that Heidi would have been happy to tag along!). I was glad she was there for many reasons, but perhaps this one most of all.

'Mum, please I have a yogurt tube?'

Me:'not right now, perhaps after lunch'. It was 9 am after all.

She toddled off down the stairs, I heard her pause and come back up.

'But Mum' never a good start to a sentence in my mind....

'I think I love them!'

Nice try sweetie but you still had to wait till after your nap!!!

 

I have just finished making the meringue tops of the icecream cone cupcakes for the party on Tuesday. I'll let you know how they turn out!

Heidi is getting very excited about her birthday and the party. I am getting a little sad about the time passing so quickly between birthdays and a little stressed at all that is to be done before 3 on tues. But I am sure it will all be good fun!

Still my little girl

 

I guess it is during moments when they are in their yellow fleece frog pj's with bobble pigtails that you feel relaxed. Perhaps time isn't passing quite so fast after all.

Me: 'Heidi here is the list of all the things we are going to do today.'

Loooong list of activities/chores are read out.

Heidi: 'Mum, we going to find time to play?'

I guess that says it all. Time to play must go on the list too!

ps don't you wish your hair could look this good by doing nothing....bar finding the time to play!

Me: Are you really stuck or are you pretending?

Heidi: I'm pretending to be really stuck!

Daddy I loves you!

Heidi: Daddy I loves you, I loves you so much.
Me: Heidi, what do you love about Daddy?
Heidi: I loves his legs and his socks.

The first ladybugs of spring

 

The look on her face says it all. Heidi is super excited about the ladybugs in the garden. She made them a little home in a bucket and collected 4 for the collection. It was not planed to be wearing her ladybug sweater at the time but it did mean that it was a must have photo opportunity. Argh, I have only just noticed that it's buttoned up all wrong! Serves me right for trying to be all clever.

A few funnies

Isn't she getting to be such a grown up?

Heidi holds out a stick, here you go Mama.
I take it.
Look Mum, you's a sticker. And so a new thing is born Sticker, defined: holder of sticks. Make so much sense.

Recently while trying to get her dressed I told her she was just delaying thing's and really needed to come get her tights on. She turned, smiled, gave me one of those looks and told me matter of fact, "I'm not a chicken, I'm an egg!" Smart one that Heidi! I guess chickens do their delaying too :)

Notice a difference. Yes it's true, those are eyes and eyebrows. Heidi had here first hair cut today, a fringe cut in. She is so pleased with it. Big smiles all round, and a slight tear from her Mum!

January 12th 2010

As the UK enjoys (!) the big freeze, we are enjoying a Chinook (warm wind) bringing with it a big thaw! So we celebrated with an impromptu picnic on the front porch.
It was so warm that Heidi asked if we could take the clothes off our feet.....how could I refuse.
Happy days :)