It's not every day your daughter gets to walk a pig...

:: this photo of Miss 5 was taken a few years ago ::

It's just been me and him together since yesterday afternoon. It feels strange... in a wonderful way... just like before we were married all those years ago.

For the first time in over 3 years we have had all 4 kids staying away for the night, thanks to my amazing parents who decided they'd like to have them stay for a day or two.

And although we haven't been away to a fancy motel or tripping around anywhere in particular, we have definitely been enjoying our time together.

I slept in until 9:30 am (until master 10 decided to phone me to ask a question). We've been eating breakfast in bed (mmmm french toast), walking, watching our favourite DVDs, listening to amazing music, eating out, sight seeing (check out that crazy house in my pics), relaxing at home, talking without being interrupted and buying the odd treat without needing to buy x6! I even found one of my most favourite fruits at the orchids... lemonades (not that that has anything to do with anything).

Just like Gail (from Delightfully Diva-ish) said in her post today, we are a team, and we need to make time for 'us' more often.

I definitely was in need of some time to relax and rest.

Better go, more relaxing waiting for me to do...

My mum has often mentioned over the years, her memories of tasting Dutch biscuits as a little girl... the smell of the spices and delicious taste.

So when I saw this recipe in Alison Holst's "Best Baking" I decided to give it a go, and I made sure my mum had a taste too.

They really are yum... the perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of tea (or coffee).

Ingredients (for about 100 biscuits)

3 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

tsp of each: ground cloves, coriander, nutmeg and cardamom

225g butter, softened

1¼ cups brown sugar

¼ cup milk

Turn the oven to 180°C, or 170°C if using a fan oven.

Sift the flour, baking powder and spices through a sieve into a large bowl.

Rub the softened, but not completely melted, butter through the dry ingredients, then add the sugar and milk. Mix, first with a stirrer, then with your hands until mixture forms a ball, then transfer to a plastic bag and refrigerate until cool and firm.

Roll out about a quarter of the dough at a time (keeping the remaining dough cool) on a well floured surface, and cut into shapes with cutters.

To make this easier for little helpers, use plenty of dusting flour and dip the cutters into extra flour before using them. Lifting the cut shapes carefully using a fish slice helps prevent distortion.

Bake for about 8-15 minutes or until lightly browned, remembering that cooking time depends on biscuit thickness. Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container.

The full flavour does not develop until a few hours after baking. These crisp little biscuits are good just as they are and do not need decorating.

"If at first you don't succeed, try try again... and then when you reach the top, do a little song and dance!

It's funny the things that are still going around in school... I honestly thought some of the sayings and games would be long gone.

My three oldest often come home and share a 'new' song or game or joke that they've learnt, only to be told by their 'very ancient' mother that she used to sing/play the exact same one when she was at school.

Talk about flashback to the past! Would you believe the following are still going strong?

What's the time Mr Wolf?
Heads down, thumbs up (or as it's known in Miss 5's class, "Thumbs up Thumbs down")
Rock, paper, scissors
Elastics
Knuckle bones
Cootie catchers (that folded paper game where you pick a colour, then a number etc)
And my most favourite... Hand clapping games.

I've been educating Miss 5 lately on the 'proper' words for some of the hand clapping games - like "Under the Bam Bushes" rather than "Under the Bambie Bushes" and "Say Say", thinking I'm the pro who knows the correct words to them all, only to be horrified tonight (after using trusty google to check out some lyrics) that I myself have been singing the wrong lyrics to them both all of my life!

Oh the horror and shame!

The first time I remember being unhappy with my body was at Primary School - I desperately wanted to be like the other girls in my glass and shave my legs. It didn't really matter to me that I had blonde hairs on my legs that were hardly visible... all I remember thinking was, if only mum would let me shave my legs I will be happy for the rest of my life and never worry about my body ever again!

Well, some time later I was allowed to shave my legs... it even became a big family event! I remember mum buying me some special razors and her and my brother hanging out in the bathroom while mum showed me how it was done.

But for some strange reason that novelty wore off and along came the many other things I longed for to be able to 'fit in' or rather 'stand out'. I did my own ear piercings and tried to do my own dreads (that was a total flop!) and went through stages of disliking being tall, wanting my blue eyes to be brown, my blonde hair to be red etc. I hated dressing 'normally' so started wearing all sorts of strange things.

But then one day it hit me (or rather God broke through)... I thought I didn't like myself... but really for me it came down to pride... I was totally obsessed with myself and how others perceived me. All of a sudden I felt totally free to be me and to actually like the way God had made me.

Now don't get me wrong... I'm not one of those 'make up is evil' people or promoting keeping your hair totally natural... I couldn't live without my hair straightener! I think God is such a creative God and He loves it when we have our own style, but I also know He wants us to put others before ourselves (which often means getting over ourselves) and also to learn to love ourselves warts and all!

All of a sudden I found that I wasn't obsessed with my reflection in the mirror, or in comparing myself with others. I realised that I couldn't change my eye colour or skin tone... and I was meant to be me.

I wasn't even phased when a relative... the one who everyone said I took after with my nose... went and got a nose job. I found it rather funny!

So I encourage you all to get your focus off the things you don't like about yourself, and start to practice thankfulness. I know sometimes it can be easier said than done... but the more you practise, the easier it gets.

But please girls, keep shaving those legs! ;)

Article featured here on Delve.