End of Season: Soccer.

Our lovely team had organised a basket for the manager and coaches. Lots of lovely goodies.








'Sketches' from an Iphone application, our team playing (or chatting) at Gala day.

Soup and Soccer.

We are back to earlier darkness in the day, ballet and then soccer training on Tuesday afternoons and evenings. The crockpot works well for soup for our family; keeping warm, looking after itself and being wholesome. Homemade bread is good company, butter too.

Quiet Moment.

Surveying many familiar, local faces from school, preschool and soccer; all at soccer presentation day. Nice to gather my team and present them with their medals.

Simply Saturday.

Well, not as simple and quiet as I would like but filled with good things:

Firstly E and 9 year old son cycled to the newsagents, then 4 year old daughter went to the podiatrist. The next stage is the soccer presentation day; 9 year old son and 6 year old daughter will go to that with me. After that is a 40th birthday afternoon tea which I will go to alone as there won't be children there. Finally there is a slide night at E's father's house. E will go alone at this stage I think as the rest of us have still got coughs and we do not want to pass that on to Grandad.

In a lull before the storm, the older two played on the old computer and 2 year old daughter did some drawing. Laundry of course happened.

Quiet Moment.

As well as enjoying the warm gusts of Spring air, I will be making an inventory of soccer equipment to hand back to the club tomorrow and wrapping National Rugby League balls for the fathers' day stall at school next week......

Simply Saturday.

It was bitterly cold at the soccer field but I was prepared and rugged up in E's jumper and a long coat and scarf. The boys played well, 9 year old son scored three goals. A bacon and egg roll went down a treat and there were lots of cut oranges for the boys and girls. I am home now enjoying a warming first coffee for the day (long overdue.)

While we were gone, the girls played.

Fresh Produce Friday.

Time to order fruit and vegetables again. There is rain outside so I am not sure about our big soccer gala day tomorrow.....I picked up the pack last night as I am a group manager, so will need to check all the rules today.

Simply Saturday.

Cycling for E and a mate early,

soccer for 9 year old son and me, then soccer canteen duty,

sausage sizzle,

sunshine.

Simply Saturday.

Well we are slightly bleary eyed, 9 year old son has gone off to soccer and then E will register the vintage car. I might try this recipe for tomato soup cake from The Sparrow's Nest. Also, meat pies for dinner that both the Groovy Aunt and the Mad Aunt (her own term for herself) cook. The sun is shining, the air is crisp and coffee will be brewing soon.

Meat Pie.

Line a pie dish with shortcrust pastry.

Place a layer of diced lamb or beef, then a layer of sliced onion, and chopped Camembert or Brie cheese. Sprinkle some corn flour and rosemary. Repeat the layers. Top with shortcrust pastry.

Brush with some milk and then bake for at least an hour at 180 degrees.

Simply Saturday

Husband E out bike riding in the cold again and all our girls are busy playing together. 9 year old boy and I are eating our breakfast. A busy weekend coming up: soccer, slides tonight with E's family, church tomorrow and then our neighbours over for afternoon tea. All GOOD things. I will bake some muffins tomorrow. Clannad is playing in the background and I am enjoying it.

I will look forward to the next week where I will be preparing different foods for different occasions: afternoon tea, morning tea and a lunch.

Soccer season

We had a fun game this morning and not too muddy. Back late for lunch outside in the sun and then husband E and 9 year old son have gone to work on the vintage car....

Grandpa stopped by for a quick coffee and "Tiger, tiger" where the little ones climb on his back whilst he 'prowls' around.

Simply Saturday

Today has started later, husband E is out cycling in the cold and then later in the day he has to work on the vintage car to get it ready for this year's registration. E and his Dad restored the car about fifteen years ago for a sister's wedding. The last time we went out in it, it had engine troubles....

We will head to a soccer game this morning which should be a mud bath after this week's rain.

I hope to make a card today and write invitations to our neighbours for an afternoon tea next weekend to meet and welcome a new neighbour who has been here a few months now!!

Today's dinner will be bolognaise.

Ballerina

We are slowly getting back into the swing of term time. 6 year old daughter had ballet again yesterday afternoon. She looks so pretty in her ballet outfit.... She is learning how to touch type so that she can be quicker on the computer.

My dear friend Aunty L has taken 6 year old daughter to ballet this year, which has been such an amazing help as I do not need to rush all four children into the car. Without Aunty L, I don't think ballet would have been possible this year.

I love all the opportunities available to our children but am very conscious that I want to keep life simple and have some free afternoons. 9 year old son plays soccer and 6 year old daughter goes to ballet and piano lessons before school once a week. She also goes to swimming lessons further up our road. 9 year old son used to do swimming lessons as well.

I have made a chart to keep track of which activities each child has done; when they started and when they ended. I think wherever possible it will be helpful if two children (or more) can be in the same place at the same time. There are possiblities for next year where I may attempt to have the older two children together. We did no activities except swimming in the first year of school, which was helpful for us. I do not have a problem with children taking turns at activities so that we do not spend our lives in the car. The only problem is if the activity warrants many years of dedication......... What will they remember when they are older?