Cooking with the kids

The boys are getting creative this afternoon with some play cooking. There isn't much that will keep both of them quiet and entertained at the same time but this seems to do the job, especially if you take away the TV as an option. 

I set up a tray with a bowl and spoons, some dried pasta, lentils, kidney beans and spaghetti and a squeezy bottle of coloured water. I have added vegetable peelings to the trays as I have prepared dinner. 

They have been quietly cooking away for nearly hour. This is one of those elusive 'motherhood win' moments!

No poo - day one

I have decided to stop using shop-bought shampoos. Today, I will wash my hair using baking soda and vinegar. Feeling a little nervous but hoping for some good long-term results. Check out this link for all the info http://coderedhat.com/no-poo-method/

In addition, to further enhance my hippy status, I am currently infusing some camomile and lavender with coconut oil and sunflower oil in order to make my own deodorant. In the meantime, I am sat with a mixture of gelatine and milk on my face (a pore-cleansing face mask)!

Update - Just washed with bicarb and conditioned with vinegar. Its surprisingly smooth and unknotty, doesn't smell of vinegar and my scalp feels v gently tingly. Its starting to dry and my roots are no longer looking greasy (last washed it 3 days ago). I'm letting it dry naturally and will be interested to see how it looks once dry. I gather that the first time you use this method it looks fab and then you can get a few weeks of adjustment so we'll see how it goes!

Na'Night

Currently, my days are mainly spent playing cricket, football, cars or watching Thomas the Tank Engine. Oh yes, this boy is conforming to gender stereotypes at a young and tender age. Cricket and football are major obsessions (both watching and playing). Jack is a keen bowler (bowling with his right hand, batting with his left!) and many an hour is spend in the hallway with Jack's own interpretation of cricket (kind of a cross between cricket, hockey and football).

There are however, quieter moments. In fact, a popular new pastime is pretending to be asleep. Jack will lay his head on a pillow, or gather up a pile of clothes or teddies that he has strewn around the floor and snuggle saying 'na'night'. If he is really tired he will add a sorrowful 'peeeeeeseee' and beg for me to put him to bed for a sleep.

The best place to play the bedtime game is in My Big Bed. Jack asks to get in and play na'night. He snuggles down under the covers, says goodnight and proceeds to pretend to snore. He then orders me to get in too. Its a great game. All he demands of me is to lie next to him and pretend to be asleep!

[No photos I'm afraid as I can't photograph anything if I'm pretending to be asleep]

Valentine's love

Inspired by several American craft blogs, Jack and I have spent this week making some valentine's pressies to share with some friends.

Here is a sneak preview of some of what we have been creating:

A Christmas Story

Check out this beautiful story written by my 11 year old cousin:

http://strangeworldofsim.blogspot.com/

I'll be back

No internet.
No laptop.
Therefore no blogging.

Normal service will be resumed very soon (hopefully).

Celebrity

The Turkish people generally love children. And I mean LOVE them. It is not uncommon for children to be fussed over and kissed and their cheeks are pinched by random strangers on the street (men and women and other children).

Can you imagine the reaction when you add into the equation a blonde-haired, big blue-eyed boy in a baby backpack?

Wherever we go people point and stare. They talk to Jack, kiss him, pinch him, slap him (affectionate slapping is common here). They pick him up, walk him round, sit him on their lap, play games with him.

When we are out people regularly want to take photos of him. Sometimes they ask us to take photos of them with Jack in the backpack. We feel a bit like celebrities!

Jack is loving all the attention. He is flirting away and smiling at anyone who fusses over him. What a shock he is going to have when we get home!