57-366 Happiness helps

Miss Mini has taken up crochet, after spending hours in the kitchen this afternoon doing the weekly cook - mexican pork stew, frijoles rancheros, mac n cheese, corn salad. Sadie and I settled down to a cuppa and a cosy on the sofa whilst the boys slept - I left he room for a few minutes and returned to see Sadie has taken up the hook! She spent ages playing with the wool and hook, which suited me as I could do some crochet myself, The circular thing is mum's cushion in progress.

After lovely day, I went to see the help tonight with my mum, it was so lovely just the two of us don't know how long its been since we did something without the kids!

Awesome movie, I loved the book and for once the film was pretty close to the original in my opinion. Well worth going to see, tears, laughter and the belief that change is possible! what could be better.

49-366 we are steadily becoming an outdoors - digger kinda family

Our  indoor digger parade

Today we made another trip to the park - it was freezing, it snowed and yet the sun shone and the bairns we happy. Archie played forever with his brueder digger (Sorry Sam O, it is still in use!) and Sadie pottered around his usual Miss Independent self.
I managed to fit a run in - its going pretty well, I can manage to run nonstop for apprx 25-30mins, not bad since I only started a month ago.
Grandmama came with us and she managed a fast walk round the park so we were all happy.

looking for fish

Going it alone as usual

After the park we went back to Grandmama and Granda's - we love the blue bin, don't ask! Its too much fun climbing in and not letting each other out. Hope its not potential for future claustrophobia.

Sadie Haha loves to sit on rather than at the table, she's so teeny I forget she is too 'big' to be getting away with that besom like behaviour.

Kids were in bed early tonight and Pugs cooked yummy Mexican, Sopes, ground beef Mole and Queso fresco, real sat night treat.
If anyone is interested, Archie's awesome bright yellow jacket is from Raindrops it is made by Swedish company Tells and is the best waterproof ever believe me we've tried a few. I am about to order him the dungarees the same. When we were at the park today I was so sad to see a wee man desperate to get stuck in with Archie in the sand but his mum wouldn't let him get dirty, get some Tells lady they rock! Best bonus with a wee nutter like doodle is they are so bright I can spot him from miles..........phew x

9-365 ole happiness, Pugs beans mmmmmm

After the 1st day back at work after holidays it was lovely to come home to Pug's awesome home cooked mexican beans salsa and rice. It is a weekly staple meal for us, we eat beans and rice and Archie has his in a quesadilla.

Beans Recipe -
Soak a bag of either pintos or black beans over night in a big bowl of water.
Next morning drain, rinse and put in big pan of water.
Add an onion and spices, we use a mexican seasoning mix, chipoltes and natures seasoning.
Bring to boil, then leave to simmer for 3 hrs give or take.
Once soft, fry a few rashers of smoked bacon, streaky is best but any kind is good (sometimes I use chorizo if I have any), once cooked start to add your cooked beans, don't worry about draining them too much a bit of cooking juice helps add flavour and general mushiness...mmmmm Then mash mash mash.
Once sloppy mashed loveliness happens, put in oven dish cover in cheese and bake in oven.

Sounds labour intensive, but totally worth it and it does 3 dinners in various guises.

Look how much Sadie enjoyed hers........