Party Poopers!

Tomorrow night is the last of 2011 and the following morning is not only a new day but a new year. 

I've just been reminiscing about a few of the highlights of this last year and looking forward to the adventures that will be coming in the next in our family blog. It's amazing how much we can fit into a short space of time ... and how quickly it passes.

While we don't celebrate the end of most days or welcome in the beginning of the next in quite the same fashion ... New Years Eve, from one year to the next, is a definite party waiting to happen.

When I was little, it was really exciting when I was allowed to stay up 'late' and see in the New Year with family. Then it became a night to party with friends. I've even welcomed in a couple new years on the beach, one in the Maldives on my honeymoon and then the following year wrapped in hats and scarves on the beach in the UK.

One thing I could never understand were those people (particularly parents) who didn't think it was so important to stay up and watch the clock strike midnight on that particular night of the year. After all why couldn't they make the effort at just once.

Now I'm a mummy myself ... let's just say the penny's dropped!! Now I'm thinking why on earth would I struggle to keep my eyes open for longer than they can physically stay there or forfeit an extra hour or two of sleep any night of the week, New Year or not!! It will still be January 1st at 8am in the following morning, I can give out hugs and kisses just as effectively then!

To me, welcoming in the New Year is synonymous with hearing Big Ben chiming in London. I have to admit the last couple of years we've celebrated New Year exactly when the bell has tolled ... which lucky for us has been at 7pm in the time zone we've been in! Obviously that doesn't work quite as well anywhere east of the UK, as you end up staying up a few hours later ... which I did when I welcomed in the millennium in Tanzania at 2am!

I realise that in a few years time the circle of life will complete it's revolution and our girls will be really excited to be allowed to stay up until midnight. Until then I'll wish you all the best in your celebrations ... but I'm going to be tucked up in bed far away in Lala Land when 2012 arrives in Ohio. I will of course be celebrating with friends at 7pm though! See you next year!

The Chair with Special Powers

In our house there is a chair with special powers ... it never fails to deliver either! You may well be wondering what this chair and it's power is!

When Abigail was little we were recommended a Fisher Price Booster Seat for when we were out visiting friends. It was so useful that after we'd moved to America we even got one for us to use both in the States and in England. It is really sturdy, folds down to travel and fits any chair.

We love it so much that for Naomi we've used it in place of a high chair and have found that when we do put her in a usual high chair they have been a lot less supportive. I may be sounding like an advert for it ... but we honestly have no complaints whatsoever and if you're a travelling mum with little ones you'd be crazy not to have one with you!

You can imagine our surprise as a family when we discovered that since Naomi has been using it, it can do things that aren't listed on the box!! 

We always sit together for our evening meals and Naomi has been joining us in her chair and usually sits and plays and jabbers away with us! Without fail, just after we have sat down and put the food on the table and taken one or two mouthfuls, Naomi will very noisily fill her nappy ... usually several times. When we ate Christmas dinner with friends it happened three times within the first 10 minutes of the meal ... a special occasion calls for extra measures obviously!

We have tried reasoning with her that it is a chair for food and mealtimes and not a potty ... but at 8 months old she already has no interest in paying attention to the advice that we have to give! For now either myself or Mark will enjoy a lukewarm meal after cleaning her up and we wait to see how long this little routine will continue. 

One bonus later on may be that potty training could be a doddle ... if she can go 'on demand' already!!

Christmas Cake

I hope you've had a wonderful Christmas weekend. We certainly did! In fact we're enjoying a whole week of family time as the hangar is closed and Mark is home to 'play' with us all! Yesterday I was having technical difficulties with both the internet and Blogger ... so I am a day late ... but family fun-time and not stressing the little things was definitely more important!!

As I've mentioned before, we've been setting more and more of our own family traditions when it comes to Christmas as our little family grows. When we moved to America we thought the giant cupcake cake moulds looked really fun and full of potential and our first Christmas here we made an alternative Chocolate Christmas Tree Christmas Cake, instead of the more traditional British rich fruit cake.

In the two Christmas' that have followed we thought it was too fun not to do and this year Abigail had a lot of fun decorating it with her Daddy on Christmas Eve!

When it was Abigail's first birthday we realised that we didn't have a chocolate cake recipe ... so went hunting through some books and found a great easy rich delicious one that we have used for every birthday (and Christmas) cake ever since. So here it is ... enjoy!

• 1 1/3 cups (200g) Self-raising flour
• 1/2 cup (50g) cocoa powder
• 125g butter, softened
• 1/2t vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups (275g) caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup (160 ml) water

1. Sift flour and cocoa into a bowl
2. Add remaining ingredients & beat on low until combined
3. Increase speed until smooth & changed colour
4. Spread into prepared pans
5. Bake in moderate oven (350/180) til cooked
6. Stand in pans 5-10 mins, then turn onto a wire rack to cool