Chipmunks play centre -Underwood

Today Lumpy and I went to a play centre at Underwood. We have been to a few play centres and just assumed this one would be like the rest.

I loved it! It had really good play equipment. It did not have the standard same stuff the others have.

Under 5's

They did have a ball pit in the under 5 area. It had white see through balls and coloured lighting underneath - great for young inquisitive minds.

A walk on piano floor mat - Yes I did try it out! (and had images of Homer Simpson on that giant floor piano).

A favourite for lumpy was the mary go round/carosel which was FREE and always on.

There was also a bladder filled with ?gel, that the kids could walk on and jump on, lay on whatever they wanted! I was really impressed with this - again on the bottom of it was colours. I love that it has more than just play equipment.

Over 5's-

WOW huge play euipment - climbing, balls- an area with balls, vaccum and blowing air and keeping the balls in the air with well air tables.

We didn't spend as much time in the area as teh Under 5's. I will be going back and exploring it further.

Oh and a giant inflatable slide!

** This is the ONLY play centre we have been to which actually checks the armband number with the ticket number you have.

The food was reasonably priced and quite nice.
Plenty of seating.

You could purchase a token to ride on the train or pirate ship.

the mary-go-round

The bladder filled with ? gel

The Piano mat.

The ball pit in under 5's with the coloured lights

Put balls in here

they get sucked up and spat out here

part of the over 5's

you put a ball over that little spout thing and teh ball floats up to inside the ball

Buttons kids have to push to make thinsg work.

This net thing is in the air - is sucks up balls and holds them in the net- a kid pushes a button it sounds an alarm and tips the balls out!

Random hanging things.

Remember your socks! both adults and children MUST wear socks.

Homemade arrowroot biscuits

Yes I love baking, and i love eating! not always the best mix. Lumpy LOVES milk arrowroots (I assume its genetic because It was one of her dad's fav foods).

This is the recipe i used. The first 2 trays are done!
Blog for the recipe
Homemade Arrowroot Biscuits

INGREDIENTS

2 cups wheat flour (self-raising)

1 cup icing sugar (or confectioners)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup condensed milk

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup arrowroot flour

1 egg

METHOD

Mix all dry ingredients together well, then stir in condensed milk and oil into well in the centre of dry mix. Stir well and when bound together, knead until smooth. Roll out at about half a centimetre thick and cut with round cutter. Bake at 150° for about 15 mins or until pale golden. (i assume the egg was meant to go in with the oil and condensed milk)


I used a small scone cutter - make smore and sugar portion control (it is a still sugar and sugar and lumpy are not the best of friends!!)

As you can see it made lots of biscuits!
I learnt on the second lot to go in the oven to prick them with a fork to reduce puffing.

verdict = YUMMMMY

JAM DROPS!

Is there anything yummier than the smell of home made jam drops baking?!?
easy and cheap yummy snack/bring a plate/ arvo tea.
Here is the recipe I used from www.taste.com.au

Jam drops


Preparation Time
20 minutes

Cooking Time
15 minutes
Makes

30
Ingredients

125g butter, softened
100g (1/2 cup) caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 egg
190g (1 1/4 cups) self-raising flour
Plain flour, to dust
115g (1/3 cup) strawberry or raspberry jam



Method

Preheat oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Use an electric beater to beat the butter, sugar and vanilla essence in a medium bowl until pale and creamy. Add the egg and beat until combined. Sift flour over the butter mixture and stir until combined.

Use lightly floured hands to roll teaspoonfuls of mixture into balls. Place on the prepared trays, about 5cm apart. Use a lightly floured finger to make an indentation in the centre of each ball. Spoon 1/2 tsp of jam into the centre of each biscuit.

Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, swapping trays halfway through cooking, or until the biscuits are cooked through and light golden. Remove biscuits from the oven. Set aside on trays for 30 minutes to cool completely.



** I made different sized ones (bigger for adults smaller for kids) and got 23 cookeis (er make that 22 ;) )

Sensory play- SLIME

So it's a wet rainy horrible day. I have some soap flakes... I dod a google search and found things I can make with soap flakes (I made my own soap flakes by grating a bar of soap to make soap crayons this morning- they need to set so that post will be in a few days time).

So I found http://www.suzy.co.nz/suzysworld/factpage.asp?factsheet=125 and decided to give it a go. It is very easy. I coloured ours green.

Lumpy loves shaving foam play so I figured this is another sensory play she may enjoy.
I was very wrong. She did not enjoy it and asked pretty quickly for "wash hands". She did however enjoy the green bubble bath it made.

C is for creative, oh and C is also for cookie!

Yesterday I was looking for fun cheap educational things I could do with Lumps (it was rainy and soggy out) So i thought to make up some flash card - We did some number ones first just on computer paper glued onto an old corn flake box.

Lumps wanted to do some colouring in, so I decided colour flash cards where she could help would be a great idea.

Number flash cards- cereal box!

Colour flash cards- yes That is a 2 year old's art work on most of them.

Yesterday afternoon we went to the local library and were given a flyer on story time with cookie monster happening at another local library. SO guess where we headed this morning?

Story time with Cookie and Laila

<3 naw cookie family photo.

Post story time art.

Doing the washing~

Lumpy got a clothes line for her birthday along with some new Cabbage Patch Kids clothes. Add the water play table to the mix and you have one domesticated mini mumma!

Last one!

She is such a great little helper! she helps take things to teh sink/bin. she helps put dirty clothes in the basket. She hands you each single item to peg on the line.
Such an amazing little girl that I am so very proud to call my own!

Lumpy turns 2!

Lumpy has turned 2! What an amazing 2 years (+ 9 month) journey we have had! No-one can ever explain the love you will feel when you see that little baby for the first time. That love just keeps growing, every single day. Something new and amazing to see or do. Changing my view on even the simple things - remember every day is an adventure to kids. A simple trip to the supermarket? nope colours, lights, noise,  new things to look at and see. It does make you appreciate the world differently when you see it through a childs eyes.

Lumpy's Birthday started on Wednesday with cupcakes at day care and followed by Dinner with her Uncle and Aunty.

"hoot" cupcakes for day care

Opening presents on Thursday

Changing baby's nappy! Such a little Mumma!

At Lumpy's birthday party on Saturday we had a decorate your own cupcake table! which was a hit, even at 2 the concept was understood and they had a blast. (SOme going back for 2nd cup cakes)

DIY cupcake decorating

That is good cupcake!

Rainbow cake!

Way more hours than I would like to admit went into this cake! - hmm how can i top this next year? Pool party and giant cup cake?