Emma's first "Freundebuch"

Yesterday as I was dropping Emma off at kindergarden, I was handed a Freundbuch to fill in for one of Emma's friends in Emma's name.

Wow! I can remember doing this kind of thing at 8 or 9 maybe even when I was 12 years old - not when I was 2,5 and couldn't read or write! Things are definitely happening way earlier these days...

Emma's teacher L. was there and as I thanked the Mum and hoped my German would be good enough to manage this, she told me that since one child had come in with a Freundbuch, they have been popping up everywhere. Indeed... I can imagine. I opened the book and saw that L. had duly filled in a page, pic and all. Nice. And at least I have some kind of inspiration for the answers (did I mention, in German?)

It's actually a nice souvenir, if your child is about to leave kindergarden whether he/she is graduating to primary school or just moving. Also, it's a great resource for parents (you get everybody's phone number and address and it really helps put a face to a name) as well learn about kids' birth-dates, favorite activity, house pets, hobbies, favorite film, book and color, what their pet peeves are etc. (Note to self: something worth buying and doing when new in school/neighborhood again). Also, I am sure, it will be a lovely possession for a child like Emma who loves to tell me about all her friends in school.

So off I went to fill in our first Freundbuch in my best German - with a little help from a friend - and even bought our own one so that Emma can have a record of this first destination/ kindergarden. I wonder, will she still be able to speak German later, like I remember Italian, or will it lie dormant under layers of other languages and learnings. Who knows? I guess a lot depends on how long we stay here and where we go next.

Anyway, back to now for a little baby update: 11 days left until D-day!!!
I went for my last check with my gynae yesterday and it seems that baby boy weighs 3250gr and is expected to arrive at around 3,5kg (like Emma who was born at 3,450gr). He is very low - I knew that! - and heart beat and activity are all normal.
My blood pressure, urine and weight are all fine too. My thyroid meds need adjusting slightly and I've been told when and by how much to reduce them right after birth (this time) so as not to feel like the Incredible Hulk about to explode every 20 minutes (as if sleep deprivation weren't enough!). Also, I have already scheduled my next thyroid check post-delivery.

Oh, and we might just have found a name...

Emma in the bath

Baking tea biscuits with Emma

An enjoyable activity on cold foggy winter days is baking - and now Emma can participate in other ways than in eating!!

Emma checking on the biscuits

Here's a dead easy recipe for tea biscuits you can adapt using coffee or chocolate chips or whatever else you prefer to tea leaves!

Emma checking out the timer

Tea Biscuits

Makes about 45 - Ready in approx. 1h30 (although I get the dough ready the night before and then it takes way less time to cut the cookies and bake!)

Ingredients

• 200g flour
• 125g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 115g light muscovado sugar (or mix half muscovado / half white if the taste bothers you)
  
• 1 Lady Grey tea bag (we used Twinings)
• 1 egg

Instructions

1. beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy
2. add the Lady Grey tea leaves and stir until well combined
   
3. beat in the egg
4. carefully fold in the flour
5. roll the dough on a into a rectangular loaf of about 20 cm long
6. wrap the dough in cling film and place in the fridge for 1 hour until the dough is firm enough to slice
7. slice the dough loaf into 5 mm biscuits and place on paper-lined baking tray
8. bake for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned
9. transfer the cookies to a wire rack and leave to cool before serving or storing in a tin

5. roll the dough into a rectangular loaf ------------ 7. slice the dough into 5mm biscuits

Enjoy!