Swimming Lessons

Jack started swimming lessons February this year I was terrified of taking him (probably why I hadn't started untill now) that is why Mr Miller is taking him and I had Charlie who was only 8 weeks. I think I was terrified of him going under and taking in a lot of water. A lot of the other kids had been doing it for a year! 2 weeks Mr Miller took him swimming he went under once and came up coughing and spluttering then next time he went under Mr Miller said he nearly vomited. The teacher-Sarah was very tough saying to Mr Miller that taking him once a week was not enough to get him used to it, and we had to practise every night in the bath. It was horrible to sit there and watch. So I took Jack to the Aquatic centre to 'practice' I bought him a pair of cheap goggles, and got him to hold his breath and put him under he did very well, we did this a few times and I felt a lot better about having to go to the lesson with him the next week (as Mr Miller was away).

 

 

 

 

He did very well at the next lesson and in the next few weeks he was jumping in and coming back up by himself and floating on his back by himself and going to the bottom to retrieve objects (with some help to get to the bottom)
We changed days as Mr Miller was away a lot and it was hard to find someone to look after Charlie. And because he is 3 he can go in by himself with just the instructor. I think he is a bit further than the other kids but I don't mind and neither does Jack.
I started taking Charlie when he was 6 months (while Jack is at school) as I didn't want to have that fear again, and I am so glad I did, he loves it. He goes under lots and tries to swim up to the surface.

Having a swim at the Aquatic centre

 



Going to lessons by himself

 





Charlie at 7 months

Your personality is really starting to show

you clap hands when prompted
you imitate the sound/word "boo"
creep forward...commando crawling
have started eating meat
LOVE bathtime
enjoy 'wrestling' with Jack
Sit for longer periods of time

Ginger Kisses

It was a rainy day in Tassie here today, the perfect weather for staying indoors and doing some baking. I had all the ingredients in the pantry for ginger kisses and they turned out really good.
Here is the recipe:

Ginger Kisses

Makes about 36 cookies, or 18 sandwiched cookies

2 cups plain flour
1 Tbs ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup castor sugar
1 egg
1 Tbs water
1/4 cup golden syrup
165g margarine

Preheat oven to 180oC, and line 3 baking trays with baking paper
Sift flour, ginger, baking soda and salt into a bowl
In another bowl, cream butter and sugar, beat in egg, beat in water and golden syrup until combined
Gradually beat in sifted ingredients on low speed
Pipe the mixture onto prepared trays 4cm apart
Bake one tray at a time for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool on the tray for 5 minutes, before moving to a wire rack to cool completely

Icing

Enough to fill 20 sandwiched cookis

50g unsalted butter softened

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups icing sugar

1 Tbs milk at room temperature

Cream butter until fluffy

Add vanilla and milk and beat to mix

Add icing sugar and beat until fluffy

Pipe a dallop onto the middle of one cookie and use the second cookie to squish the icing out to the edges

Yum