Hello Naomi

As I'd said I booked my girls into classes at The School this class was with Hello Naomi. 
Got to say I was a little eager to get them to this one and rushed to get them there for what I thought was a 10am start, when actually it was a 2pm start...anyway

this was the 1st cupcake / cookie team

Naomi showing how her magic cupcakes are made

Never seen a bunch of kids so quiet, listening to every word she said then setting about their business

And not only did they look good, they tasted amazing as well

This was majorly serious for Frank she's a total perfectionist so she needed top marks and at one point I was told to "back away from the 8 year old" - I was cramping her style!

Frank's handy work and the point where I was told to (bug off) after all this wasn't my lesson it was theirs.

A bit of competition with yours truly and the one on the left (she's mine) and then the one on the right her mum's the principal the funnest principal ever - my kids have total mum envy.

That cupcake below tasted so good

Then they made these

And here's the very lovely Naomi in the middle, she guided the girls through the process of making these works of art.

So pretty they were  

Omg and they were so good washed down with a cup of tea

Major kid fun!

Frank and Millie with their masterpieces

Jemima's looked kind of like a nipple with a bee flying at it 

Jemima and Naomi look like they may have been separated at birth - I swear Naomi I'm not your mother!

And then they got to take home the booty

 Which thankfully the girls shared with our neighbours and Max's assistants.

Her next class is the 26th of May - hurry and book before all the places are gone!

©Michelle Schoeps 2013

All photos taken by Michelle Schoeps

The Bomb

A few weeks back I was invited to a special class with Holly Hipwell the queen of the flower Bomb at Megan Morton's 'The School'.I had no clue who Holly Hipwell was or what she did and was feeling a little out of my depth.

 Megan reassured me it was not to be missed and she was right. Holly was just gorgeous,and I amazingly didn't feel like a complete loser.

And somehow(lord only know's how)I made this. Yep me, all by myself!

I even got a prize for best effort, be it a sympathy prize.

We snacked on doughnuts drizzled with honey and sprinkled with pistachio's and cinamon sugar...so good 

and I ate many...

And I even managed to make this(below).

Shocked? So was I. 

The photo above was taken a mere 5 min after walking in the door. Wilco had an epic meltdown because he loved 'his' flower bomb so much and wanted to use it like one of those punching balls on Romper room. He still asks nearly 3 weeks later where his ball has gone.

And on the way out we were given a pineapple.

So I made a Pineapple and Raspberry Slushie.

All you need is: 

1 very ripe pineapple - peeled and cored

2 cups of frozen Raspberries

a splash of either coconut water or apple juice Frank even suggested fizzy mineral water which would be ace.

Somehow I got the supermodel of pineapples

Do yourself a favour and book yourself a class here or better still book your kids a class.

I did.

And thanks again for inviting me Mrs M

©Michelle Schoeps 2013

All photos taken by Michelle Schoeps

He is 3!

And then he was free!(3)

How is it possible you are so funny and clever, you're only 3! What will this year bring to the boy who is 3 going on 4.

Party in the park with all his friends and a couple of clowns

The things I know for sure are that there will be many a meltdown but that this will be all forgotten when you squeeze my ear whilst holding onto yours telling me how much you love me.

Jemima's family portrait

That you will become funnier with every sentence and every movement and that your daddy, mummy and sisters will love you and want to eat you even more as you grow bigger.

Such a poser - god I love that child!

That we will continue to hang out, just you and me all day long and have lots and lots of fun and get up to all kinds of mischief.

butter wouldn't melt

Just a few classic Wilco words and phrases of 2011/2012 were and are:

Mellymolen - watermelon

"I'm just touching your little nose mum, I like your little nose" - as he's squeezing my nose so hard I'm losing circulation.

Gorlicious Guillella - a.k.a My friend Daniella

G'day - a.k.a her husband Dave

"I like your boobs to much mummy!" - what can I say, that's what all the boys say!

getti - spaghetti

The Fam

"It's just ridickalis!" - it's just ridiculous!
Maccamole - (the color) brown and chocolate Almond milk
"The mystery just takes things" - His imaginary friend.
Abba-ka-dabba - "I just magic things"
crunchy - prickly
footcaft - footpath

Couldn't be loved or love them more - his beautiful, kind and caring sister - lucky boy

And his obsession and daily renditions of Rolling in the deep(by Adele),and I'm sexy and you know it,(thanks to his sisters piss takes).

My First boy cake was a hit - he could have cared less that it was a Dinosaur, he was just thrilled he had a cake and a party. 
And btw the chips and cheese tube things were the organic/natural ones from About life and I swear none of the kids could tell the difference.

We had a party in the park with two clowns, Papa, all of the people that he loves,the best icypoles ever, balloons and Dinosaur cake.

You are truly the sweetest boy and I can hardly believe you're all mine.x

©Michelle Schoeps 2013

All photos taken by Michelle Schoeps

A boy and his Na-pa

We spent 10 days over Christmas in pure heaven - my dad's garden.

My Dad's garden - he's an incredible gardener
There were jumps of pure joy and squeals from my kids when they were told "We're off to Papa's for Christmas".

My gorgeous god children at Christmas

For the kids that means...swimming all day long, picking veggies from his garden, collecting the eggs from the chooks and just having what all kids love - room to play and be wild!

And of course there's the added bonus, which is Papa's delicious dinners - my dad's a really good cook. 

Many photo ops for Max at Papa's

Coming home brings back memories from when I was small, mainly food based memories, things dad would make like Kaes-Spaetzen with salad and his special garlicky dressing which I'd drink straight out of the salad bowl and now frank does the same, or egg whites beaten with sugar till they're mallowy and then dad and I would eat them out of the same bowl watching The Benny hill show(looking back, probably not one of your parenting highlights).

I'm thinking this may be illegal - tractor rides with papa

And then there's this dish that dad makes, I'm not sure it has a name but it sure as hell has a reputation....

It is simply pasta with smoked ham, onions and egg, eaten with apricot jam - I here the gasping, but I kid you not it is one of the yummiest things he cooks and then as with everything my dad cooks he lets you know it's just as good the next morning re-fried and served for breakfast.

YOU"LL NEED:

A PIECE OF SMOKED BACON OR HAM ON THE BONE PREFERABLY - GERMAN STYLE - FROM ETHICALLY REARED PIGS
4-6 EGGS - PASTURE ORGANIC
2 BROWN ONIONS
SALT AND PEPPER

LARGE TUBE PASTA - I'M PRETTY SURE ANY SHAPE WOULD WORK
MARMALADE OR OUR CHOICE - APRICOT JAM

HOW TO COOK IT:

COOK YOUR PASTA TILL JUST COOKED

CHOP YOUR SMOKED MEAT INTO SMALL CUBES AND FRY IN A LITTLE RENDERED BACON FAT OR OLIVE OIL TILL CARAMELIZED

THEN ADD THE FINELY CHOPPED ONION AND FRY IT WITH THE BACON TILL GOLDEN

MAKE SURE YOUR PAN IS BIG ENOUGH THEN ADD THE PASTA TO THE BACON AND ONIONS AND

Dad and the chooks

 CRACK THE EGGS ON TOP OF THIS VERY QUICKLY STIR THE EGGS THROUGH THE PASTA SO EVERYTHING IS COATED AND THEN LET THE MAGIC BEGIN

COOK IT TILL A CRUNCH STARTS TO FORM WITH THE EGG ON THE PASTA - DO THIS TILL ALL THE PASTA IS SPECKLED WITH BROWN CRUNCHY BITS.

NOW SERVE ON PLATES WITH A SPOONFUL OF APRICOT JAM - WE LIKE TO MIX OUR THROUGH

YUM!

And can I just say there were fights for the tiny bowl of leftovers that particular morning.

We've been lucky enough to have my dad visit for the weekend (a few weeks back). The main reason he came was to support Jemima at her new school for German night(if you hadn't guessed my dad is German)- I'm not sure correcting the teacher was your best move dad, but you sure will be remembered.

Mima when she had Papa all to herself and with one of dad's brothers

It's a big deal my dad coming to Sydney, because he likes to work and tearing him away from his shop(Bonaparte's)can be hard -actually nearly impossible.

Huggles with his 3 grandkids

So it was no surprise the welcome he received from his three grandkids, one in particular - Wilco. This boy is in love with his Na-pa (which Wilco has affectionately re-named him).
While dad was here Wilco followed him around like a bad smell, talking to him incessantly asking question after question, demanding to touch his "crunchy" face and big tummy.
And my very sweet and calm father just answered every question while enjoying his few glasses of wine over a very in depth conversation with his almost 3 year old grandson - it was the sweetest thing I'd ever seen. 

Christmas lunch - german style

It's like Wilco new he was the same as him, just 70 years older. And when my dad left that morning to go back to work, not only did it break my son's heart, it broke mine watching Wilco's reaction. They had bonded and it made me realise how important grandparents are to have around on a regular basis and how kids relate and love them.
Well Papa is coming back(thanks to a bit of conspiring on my part with his partner Janine),
after all, the reason Wilco started pooing in the toilet was thanks to Na-pa,

all those conversations with him about poo worked and finally he dropped one in the toilet and has never looked back and the only person he wanted to tell was 
Na-pa.
So we rang papa and Wilco asked..."Na-pa I did poo in the toilet - you come to my birthday party?"
And my sweet boy, guess what, he is!


Recipe by Horst Schoeps aka Papa/Na-pa

©Michelle Schoeps 2013

All photos taken by Michelle Schoeps