Food - and budget Planning

Today I have been attempting to come up with a weekly/fortnightly food plan. I know it sounds boring as hell and believe me it's harder than I could imagine. Planning what we are going to eat for a whole week/fortnight is almost impossible. As have to factor in the fussiest eater known to man for four night now instead of two, plus two kids. Trying to add variety and make sure my meals are slimming world and family appropriate. It has taken me near enough all afternoon, a couple of tantrums, nearly of a box full of camomile tea, and about 3 attempts to give up. I found a useful template on the netmums website...http://l.nmimg.net/images/familymealplanner.pdf

I have been trying to do this  because each month we have been spending a ridiculous amount of money on food and shopping and not knowing where it is all going. We're not earning mega bucks but we think we should be coming out with more than we have been doing at the end if the month. 

For example today we have £16 left to our name to last us til pay day, which is only two days away and we have plenty of food In the house so it isn't a major disaster but other months we've ended up with no money left two weeks til pay day. It's bad thought considering what we are earning we think we should have quite a bit left over and can't quite work out why we haven't.

So today I have had a big think about our spending habits, had a look at https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/categories/managing-money. They have a helpful budget planner, you put in all your bills and expenses and everything and it calculates everything. Helpful little tool if your crap with money as we are and don't know much about budgeting. 

I think our worst habit is going shopping on pay day and just doing a big massive shop for what we use and picking up a few of this and that and just loading the trolley up. 

Another of our bad habits is, deciding what we fancy for tea, looking to see if the ingredients are in the house and if not going out to asda to pick up what we don't have, rather than looking to see what we have and deciding what I can make.

Another is with having asda so close, (it is literally just round a bend and accross the road) we go just for something to do sometimes, to get out of the house. Or we think I'll just pop out for some milk and bread but then come back with a basket full of shopping.

So today I made a two week meal plan, then from this I made a shopping list and wrote this up on the iPad. Which I will print off every time I go shopping.

The plan is to print off my standard shopping list, go through it and cross of what we don't need then take it along with me and stick to it to the letter. 

I am also planning on getting milk delivered and getting CJ to pick bread up from the local shop near work so we don't go to asda except the days we do our big shop.

We know what we are having every night for a fortnight, although its flexible as in I might swap and change the days around, what is in the house is what we are eating. It might displease my fussy eater of a fiancé, who apparently can only decide what he wants for tea when he is actually hungry, but needs must if we want to clamp down on our spending, and have some money left over for Christmas, days out, little luxuries and nights out. 

I hope we can stick to our plan and budget.

I would love to hear any suggestions and tips on money saving and budget planning, and I will let you know how we get on.

Lots of Love Vic

And Family

xx

Butternut Squash and Courgette Risotto

I got a recipe for a courgette pea and mint risotto of the Netmums website. It was good but I made some changes, tweaked it here and there and added a butternut squash til I got what I think is delicious.

                                         

Ingredients

1 medium butternut squash

1 large courgette

1 large onion

4 cloves of garlic

 (I love garlic, but you can put in what you like)

500ml of veg stock

Risotto rice

Olive oil

Mint

(I usually use fresh but next doors cat got at mine and asda was out so I used dry today)

What I do

I usually soak the rice in some olive oil as I am preparing all the other ingredients, to make sure it is all coated.

Then I peel chop and de-seed the butternut squash and put it in a pan of water, bring to the boil them simmer for about 20 mins or until soft and mashable.

Then chop the onion and garlic and courgette up into small pieces. If I'm making it for  babies I usually grate the courgette, but today I just chopped it.

Then I warm some oil in a pan on medium heat and add the onions and garlic, stir fry til soft and add the courgette, stir fry again until soft and add the rice, mix it all together and add the stock., then I drain off the butternut squash and add that. Then I leave on a medium -low heat stirring occasionally until all the water has reduced and the risotto is nice and thick and creamy. Then I add the mint and stir it all in. 

Some may add salt or pepper but I don't like salt and I don't think it needs pepper.

I sometimes also add frozen garden peas about 2 mins towards the end.

I then serve with some rocket salad and garlic bread and a sprinkle more mint.

I love it and my babies love it.

It's delicious and an all round family favourite.

Hope you enjoy giving it a try, I would love to hear any other tweaks or suggestions you make, for me to try.

Lots of Love

Vic and Family

xx

Too Tired to Fight This Battle Tonight

So OJ has been in his "Big Boys Bed" for just over a week now and every night has been a battle to get him to settle down and go to sleep. His bedtime routine hasn't changed, only the amount of bedtime stories he gets. 

Every night we finish having tea and head straight upstairs to tidy up put clothes away etc and have a bath. Depending on the kids mood they either have a long bath if they're happy and playing happily together or a short bath if either of them is grumpy cranky or winding the other one up. Then it's pj time, OJ usually has a run around and a bounce on our bed to burn of the last bits of energy before bed. Then I get them their last drink of the night while I read them a story. AJ only has the attention span for one story, so it's usually one story then I (breast) feed her and out her down. Then a million and ten more stories for OJ. Honestly I could read all night, every book in the house, to OJ and he wouldn't get bored. I usually go for about 5/6. Them I settle him down with his thomas and say good night give him a kiss and a cuddle and tuck him in. I then leave the room and turn off the light, leaving the landing light on.

As soon as I get downstairs it starts. Either crying or jumping out of bed and standing at the top of the stairs throwing toys down stairs. I go up and put him back in bed, umpteen times and this becomes a game, so I ignore him.

I've come to bed later on after ignoring him and found him in various places and positions.

From being asleep at the top of the stairs, or behind the bedroom door with it closed, in our bed, in his bed but with his head on the floor, even curled up in a corner. Only once have I found him as I've left him.

Tonight was no different. After reading him 5 bedtime stories. I went downstairs and preceded to watch my programmes. At first there was tears, then shouting, then running round the room, bouncing on or bed, chucking this down the stairs, then just sitting at the top chattering to himself. At one point I thought he'd fallen asleep as it had gone quiet, until he started shouting daddy's car.

I was tired, I wanted to go to bed myself. Even though it was 8.30pm. In the end I locked and tidied up and have in and went to bed. He climbed in with me. I sang to him, talked to him, cuddled him and even pretended to be asleep myself. It took another hour before he finally stopped fighting sleep. And now the little monkey is snoring his head off next to me. Now the dilemma is do I move him to his own bed and risk waking him or do I leave him be. I know the answer is leave him be, I'm too tired to fight this battle tonight.

I love my little monkey man!

Vic and the Jones's wish you good night, sleep tight! 

xxx

Sealife Centre -Trafford Centre

Yesterday we were invited to spend the day with some lovely friends of ours, L and M, with a trip to the Sealife  Centre at the Trafford Centre - Manchester. 

She picked us up and we managed to squeeze all three children in the back of her car....

After a few false starts, me forgetting OJs  shoes and L losing the 2-4-1 voucher she had printed off from www.littlevoucherbook.com. We finally got on the motorway. 

First stop once we got to the Trafford Centre, was the food court, then with our bellys full we made our way towards the Sealife Centre. Which is situated at Barton Square, Trafford Centre. Navigating two walking toddlers and a baby in a pushchair though the aisles of the Trafford centre, up and down lifts is no easy fete. There was a few tantrums, trips, fights and sitting down just refusing point blank to walk.

We passed some singing teddy bears, which really fascinated and captivated the young ones....

Then we finally made it to the Sealife centre.

Under 3's get in Free

Adults pay £16.95pp on the day

Or £9.95 if you book online.

Like I earlier referred, we had a 2-4-1 voucher, so we paid £16.95 for two adults and three children. Which I don't think you can beat price wise.

It started of with a light show presentation about a Majestic Giant Turtle. It really captivated the children. Oj sat mesmerised by the lights and kept pointing at the turtle absolutely enthralled by it all. I wish the rest of the centre had captivated him the same way.

Toddlers being toddlers, Oj just wanted to run off everywhere. He loved the walk through tunnels though, 

I couldn't get him out of one without a tantrum. He also like the interactive learning stations and the touch and feel. The staff were lovely and although you wouldn't let a toddler hold a crab they let him touch it with his finger. He was ecstatic, he had the biggest smile on his face. AJ enjoyed the lights and the sensory aspects and mummy enjoyed the Finding Nemo Characters (big kid I am), and the jellyfish you can change colour.

Then we came to the soft play area. You cannot pass a soft play area with a toddler and not go in, right? Especially one that is free (included in the price.) I had just got OJs shoes off and he ran off, dived right in. Next thing I knew he is at the very top. My child has no fear! 

I have heard of a few reviews which say it was small and disappointing, if it had been just us adults or we had older children with us, I might have agreed. It is a lot smaller than the Blackpool one for example. I was slightly disappointed by how small the shark tank was. But having three small children with us, I found it perfect. Our three had very short attention spans, there was enough to entertain them without it being overwhelming or getting boring, and by the time we got out I was quite glad.

We had a very enjoyable day, a few strops and tantrums and quite a few tears but a lot of laughs and memories made! 

See you soon

The Jones's 

xxx

Another Milestone Each - My Babies are Growing up Fast

Today has been a good day for milestones. 

AJ has been standing by herself properly today, and oh is she chuffed to pieces with herself!  She has been doing it before today but only for a few seconds before she loses her balance or her nerve and falls to her bum. Today she has gone a little further, standing by herself for a few minutes and not using anyone/thing to pull herself up. She has even got a little cocky and put her hands behind her head. (Hilarious little madam).

At lunch time as AJ sat eating her lunch...

She decided to turn herself around in the chair and started playing peekaboo, whipping her head around and grinning from ear to ear as we shouted peekaboo at her. She is certainly developing her own little personality and coming into her own recently! I can't believe how fast she is growing up.

Tonight is OJs first night in his big boys bed. 

I've wanted to do it for ages now but for a number of reasons we haven't. Now for the last week or so he has been waking up in the night and not settling back down in his own cot. Which is very unlike him. He will settle instantly as soon as he is in our bed and at bed time he will attempt to settle himself to sleep on our bed. So today I decided to take the plunge. I took the sides of his cot! 

It hit me hard, how not so little he is anymore. I had a tear in my eyes as I did it.

 I rearranged the bedroom and made his bed up all nice for him. Then we did the usual bedtime routine. Bath, pjs, story with milk then bed.

I tucked his up all comfy, he had a big grin on his face, he appeared to love it, he settled down and got all comfy. I gave him a kiss and a cuddle and went downstairs.

Two seconds later, I hear tiny feet stampeding across the bedroom floor and the bedroom door against the carpet. I went upstairs and put him back down. As soon as I got back downstairs he was up again. This time a toy came hurtling over the stair gate and down the stairs. I attempted to get him back to bed at least five times, before giving up and deciding to just ignore him. He's been stood chattering at the top of the stairs, every now and then a toy comes hurtling downstairs, then It finally went quiet, so I snuck upstairs to see where the little monster was. Half expecting to find him asleep at the top of the stairs, but no, he had got back into bed and I found him fast asleep. 

Goodnight from The Jones' 

Speech and Language

When OJ had his two year development check with the health visitor, she said that she had concerns about his talking - or lack of it.  Apparently two year olds are supposed to be able to say around 50 words and be able to put two words together, like "drink mummy".  All OJ could say was "Ta", and that was whispered with no confidence and only when he was in the mood to say it. 

Because of these concerns, she referred him to the Speech and Language Therapist who is based at the local sure start children's centre.  She gave me a call and went through with me what he does and doesn't do, then came out to the house to assess him herself. 

She came one morning with a sack full of games and toys, such as shape sorters, and jigsaws, picture cards, books and bubbles, with this she attempted to engage him in some games. OJ was having none if it, typical toddler I suppose he never plays to the crowd. He became shy and very uninterested and unimpressed. This for a start is very unusual for OJ. He is usually very intrigued by new toys of any sort and is never normally shy.

She observed him playing for a short while and asked us questions about what he does and doesn't do.

He quite blatantly hears us when he speak even if he sometimes ignores us, he understands questions and follows instructions, such as "go get your shoes" and "go put this in the bin for mummy". So there is no concern about his hearing. He babbles and vocalises during play, which meant she wasn't overly concerned but at the end of her assessment she made some suggestions for activities and things to try, to get him to speak.

For example, putting his thomas train up high where he can't reach it but can still see it, so he has to ask for it, in whatever way he does (whinge and point) then say to him, "train? Do you want your train?" 

Another was to offer him a biscuit but on,y give him half, then keep the other half in our hand and so he can see it. Then when he wants more he has to ask for it. We then say to him "more? You want more?" Enthesising the words train and more.

She also said that she wanted to invite him to attend a group called chatterbox which is held during term time at the local children's centre. Chatterbox is a small group of 4-6 children all at the same speaking level, they do activities that help socialise, bring on learning colours numbers  and speaking through activities. 

I don't know what to think about this. Apparently both me and CJ were both late talkers and didnt have to go to any groups. I know it's not designed to worry us but don't all children develop at different rates. All the health visitors and doctors, nursery nurses etc, keep telling me to read to him and talk to him and talk to him about pictures and books. But it's like telling someone to breathe. It's what I already do, I talk to him about everything, and i mean everything! As i dress him im talking him through every item, as im making his breakfast im telling him exactly what i am doing, where we are going. I've read books to him every day since the day he was born. We look at picture cards and books and talk about what we can see. It is frustrating that he can't talk yet but as my dad says I'm am sure he just has nothing to say. All the suggestions they make feel a bit patronising but I'm sure there is a reason they feel the need to send him to the group. So we will see how it goes. 

Do you have any tips or suggestions? Or have you had a similar experience?

Vic and Family

xxx

Introducing The Jones's

I would like to introduce you to the Jones's.

I am Vic, the only Jones that isn't actually a Jones. (Me and Mr Jones are not married-yet!)

Then we have CJ my best friend, my sole mate, my other half.

There is OJ my handsome two year old son.

And last but not least AJ my beautiful 14 month old daughter.

We are your normal bog standard average little family from a lovely little town in Lancashire. (North-West England)

Mummy works two days a week.

Daddy works full time.

I will be blogging about every day life in our boring life's. we don't have the most interesting of life's but I want to document our memories, discuss our issues. It's a little bit of everything, from our ordinary everyday life, to beauty and diet. Everything that goes on in my life I will be writing about. 

I in no way claim to be a writer, so please be kind, if my writing, spelling grammar or punctuation isn't up to scratch. I welcome any form and contact and feedback so feel free to leave a comment, follow me on twitter or Instagram and drop me an email. I would love to hear from you.