Identity Theft

Identity theft seems to be the new thing one needs to worry about. Mr Yoastie decided we needed a shredder to avoid this happening to us. I suspect the fact that it had a plug and was on sale may have had something to do with his decision.
There are two members of the household who think this is a great addition. We had snow in June.

In Touch

Yesterday my girls were playing with the neighbourhood children. Charlie noticed I have a carabiner as a keyring. He went to find his "lock". He came back with his big brother (nine years old) in tow. Could they come and play with the girls at their house. Yes, but only if their mother agreed. Also was E sure he wanted to come over? All the toys we have are for younger children and mainly aimed at the under 4's. Barbie is really the only toy we have in his age group. That was fine he likes "women's things" "oh, are you in touch with your feminine side E?" "Eh?" "Do you like dresses, Barbie that kind of thing?" "Eugh! NO!"
Well I did not think it would be a success but E and the little Yoasties had great fun this afternoon sticking love-hearts and cutting out pictures of flowers and the like out of old magazines and brochures. They made beautiful collages with glitter and everything. Charlie found "What Car?". He will either drive a BMW or an Alfa Romeo when he is older or maybe both. (He did not like the Octavia much)
Maybe E who normally charges around like a lunatic when he is with the other boys is in touch with his feminine side after all.

Embarrassing

"Mummy? Why do some of the girls call their granny Mummy?" CS asked outside the door of pre-school.
"Well darling, if they call her Mummy maybe she is their Mummy? Don't you think?" Mrs Yoastie feeling slightly worried that this was overheard.
"No! That's not their Mummy! She looks like a Granny." CS replies full volume with half suppressed laughter.

It is at moments like this that I regret teaching them English.

Carrot Cake

Last autumn I made Dutch apple pie a la Nic, so I thought I would return the favour by including a recipe for Carrot cake. Word of warning though, this is not suitable for people on a low calorie diet. It is however very yummy or should I say Lekker.

Ingredients
250g/9oz unsalted butter
375g/13oz caster sugar
rind of 2 oranges, grated
4 eggs
450g/1lb carrots, grated
150g/5oz almonds or pecans, chopped
1 tbsp vanilla extract
juice of 1 orange
250g/9oz plain flour
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp salt

For the icing:
225g/8oz full fat soft cheese, at room temperature
65g/2½oz unsalted butter, at room temperature
400g/14oz icing sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
2. Grease a 23cm/9in spring-form cake tin.
3. Beat the butter, sugar and orange rind until they are light and fluffy.
4. Slowly add the eggs, beating well to incorporate each addition fully before adding more.
5. Fold in the grated carrot and chopped nuts.
6. Add the vanilla essence and orange juice.
7. Finally, sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, spice and salt together, then fold into the cake mixture.
8. Pour the mixture into the prepared spring-form tin and bake in the preheated oven for about 45-60 minutes. The sides of the cake should be coming away from the sides of the cake tin and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean.
9. To make the icing, cream the cheese and the butter together until smooth.
10. Add the icing sugar and vanilla essence, and beat until smooth. This frosting is rich thick and delicious.
11. Spread the icing generously over the top of the cake.

Mr Yoastie's Birthday

It was Mr Yoastie's Birthday on Thursday. I did not manage to find him a suitable present (I did like the idea of the weather station but wasn't sure if this could be linked to his computer). Instead his birthday present will probably have to go towards a new computer. The one I am using right now keeps overheating.

Just in case you feel sorry for Yoastie he did get two plants from his daughters ("with pots daddy") and we made fairy cakes with candles (we made enough for all the candles but the girls ate some, so we didn't quite make it to 34 anymore. Also I ran out of candles.) But as special birthday treat Yoastie was allowed for a day out at - yes, you guessed - Ikea.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

I know I have the most beautiful daughters. They are blond and fair skinned and have intensely blue eyes. I sometimes think it is a good thing that they wear glasses, that way other girls will have a chance. Well I am their mother and all mothers think their own child is the prettiest. At least that is how it should be.

I spoke to my friend M to congratulate her with her daughter's third birthday. Of course there was the necessary boasting about our respective children's various achievements (think the workplace is competitive wait till you are a mother). Anyway we discussed the idea of ballet/dance class. And this is when M really shocked me; she thinks her daughter isn't pretty enough for ballet classes. At first I thought I had misheard and said something about but the dancing doesn't look pretty at this age most of the girls just stomp about. No, she thought her daughter wasn't pretty enough. I was dumbfounded, all mothers think their child is the prettiest.

I felt really sorry for the poor little girl. Your mother should be there to help you build your confidence. Your mother should not at such a young age talk you into a complex. I really hope M does not say this sort of thing with her daughter present. It is amazing what they pick up on and how this can affect them later on.

Chickenpox part II

Well they told me that the incubation period for Chickenpox is two weeks, so I was expecting CE to come down with it soon. I did not however expect her come down with it exactly 14 days after her older sister. CE has lots of little bumps all over but no temperature to speak of, also it does not seem to itch too much for now (famous last words?).

Peru

Out of nowhere Aidan decided to start a conversation with me. "Daddy says its too expensive for all four of us to go to Peru." he told me looking very serious.
"Oh, are you going to Peru then?" I asked.
"No, Peru is too expensive." replied Aidan looking slightly annoyed and disappointed that I had not listened to him.

Cinderella

CE.:"Mummy, is Sheree R and M's mummy?"
Mrs Y.:"Yes, she is ."
CE.:"And Riley, she is his mummy?"
Mrs Y.:"No, not Riley. She looks after Riley while his mummy works. Sheree is his childminder."
CE.:"Sheree looks after him instead of his mummy?"
Mrs Y.:"Well, only till she picks him up. But yes, Sheree looks after him instead of his mummy."
CE.:"Oh, is Sheree Riley's wicked stepmother?"
Mrs Y.:"No, why do you think that?"
CE.:"The wicked stepmother looks after Cinderella instead of Cinderella's real mummy. Sheree is Riley's wicked stepmother."

Harvest

Our first batch of strawberries are now ripe. Well when I say batch I mean five. But the girls and I had great fun looking over all the plants to see if we could find berries that were ready to eat. We managed to find a family. They were played with for a while but all strawberries met with the same fate.

Birthday Present

It is Mr Yoastie's birthday on the 14th. I don't know what to get him as a present. Normally he will have made suggestions but this year he dos not know either.
This is a plea for help. Does anybody know a good present?
Useful things to consider: Mr Yoastie likes things with plugs and things to do with computers.
You never know he may get the USB lava lamp after all.