Sangria Nights

Its been a brilliant weekend, we were just going to chill out and not do alot as my eldest was off camping but theres others just as spontanious and mad as us out there that changed the whole weekend for us.....lol

Yesterday our friend came round and asked us if he could borrow our daughter for an hour to go shopping with him, brilliant i thought as the boys were all out on trips and it was only her at home, she also loves shopping, so to get time on our own sounded great, we were both fighting over the bath who was going to jump in first..haha

Anyway within an hour as promised he brought her back armed with bags full of fresh food stuff that he then startedto unpack and prepare in my kitchen!! i had to giggle as i couldnt quite work out why he was unpacking his shopping all over my worktops but i daren't say anything so just looked on amused... lol

He stood there with Laurens help and prepared the biggest pot of steak stew i have ever seen, the vegetables were amazing, the kitchen smelt amazing ...lol

Our friends came back to ours to share the meal and my fella got the firepit working, the kids were so excited i couldnt get them to go to bed.. The whole night was totally lovely, we sat outside til the early hours drinking home made sangria eating so much good food and all thoroughly enjoyed the night, it wasnt planned and was totally memorable ..

I got to open my birthday gifts early (i was asked to) they had got me the most beautiful hanging led light set that now hangs proudly on my apple tree, it changes colour from blue, green to red and lights up the garden lovely... sitting there by that fire just chatting and enjoying the night is the type of thing we love doing, my other gift was a beautiful glass storm lamp in my favourite colour which now takes pride in the center of my table........... How thoughtful was that......

When i asked what inspired him to want spend his day cooking for us he said that steak was good for iron levels and as id had a bad turn the day before he wanted to help and come cook a nice meal ! that is one of the nicest gifts ive ever had...

Not many people surprise me like that, its the type of thing i would do for someone, but you dont expect others to think the same do you, so last night we got to spend a wonderful night with our friends and kids and share the night, just like they shared their day..

They are taking the kids away next weekend to their house for a sleep over !! my god are my kids excited, they havent stopped talking, its the first time they have ever all been out together and we have had a kid free zone.. im not sure yet what me and my fella will do yet with such valuable time (but im sure ill make the most of it..lol) its the first time anyones ever offered to give us a break like that... the kids love being up there so i know they will enjoy themselves, so i just wanted to say Thank You to them...

What you did was so sweet and very much appreciated.. the steak is going for round two tonight as it was that good, and enough for an army so tonights dinner is also down to you, you've given me one of the laziest weekends ive had in ages, no cooking or working just being able to enjoy the sunshine outside in my garden all day .. its been really lovely.....

The highlight of my night was definately that tin though !!lol the kids have been telling all their friends about that ghostly lucky hand we have hidden amoungst the plants !!........... (it was brilliant) half of the neighbourhood now believe we have a severed hand in that tin and want to see it !! lol

Well this weekends certainly brought many surprises, i thought it was going to be pretty uneventful as we couldnt get out with Ryan away or do much.. but its turned out absolutely brilliant...

Thank you so much for caring and making everyones weekend here... one to remember......

French Tart

Its nearly the weekend, were getting through the week.....lol

Kids make me giggle sometimes, i promised i would spend at least 2 days a week after work cooking and teaching them pastries and cakes (that's my speciality)..lol my fella has to do the same with meats so i got the good part.. all those lovely calories....

I haven't been well this week, but they wont let me get away with it that lightly, so when i got home today i had to swap wanting to go to bed, with a cookery course...

I have never seen so much mess making quiches and tarts, its everywhere....lol

But as promised i have taken a photo of one of the quiches (it looks almost edible too lol)

So im having a 5 min break to write this while they argue about which pie base is theirs armed with jam and spoons dripping strawberries all round the kitchen... god tomorrow its sponge cakes and butter cream so that should be fun... not ... lol

I must say though they've really enjoyed it, and didn't argue quite as much as usual, but they also get to know what we do with those herbs and vegetables we have been growing, so I'm happy Ive managed to do the work bit today and keep this lot amused and still have some hair left ....

I'm stealing my fellas car this weekend and taking them down to the beach so hopefully that will blackmail them enough to be good for me tomorrow, and we've completed week one without complications... 5 more to go..........................

I much prefer dirty dancing to cooking though... so ill try that later when they've gone to bed...lol