Your second Christmas is just around the corner and while I have never been one for Christmas and all that it entails, I do enjoy the gift giving. But it's the inexpensive and personal gifts that I like most. And given my penchant for baking in years past my gifts have been more of the edible than the non-edible kind. This year I made my own light fruit mix to use as a base for biscuits, Pannetone and any other desserts that might take my fancy. I'm more of a cake than biscuit baker, though I'm sure I might be able to whip up a little something for your Christmas stocking.
In the lead-up to Christmas Dad and I have been discussing a suitable gift for you. I've had my eye on a wooden kitchen for a while now though it is rather expensive and there's every chance you'll look at if for a few days and then totally lose interest in it and I think that would break my heart more than the money we may well have flushed down the toilet.
So....this year I got my craft on and made you a little cardboard kitchen. It's nothing fancy and I can count on one hand the equipment used to construct it but I am proud of my efforts. It has become a little labour of love for me and every day I find myself adding bits and pieces to it. Essentially it's cost me nothing but time so if you don't like it, I'll put it away and drag it out a few years down the track.
Your kitchen was constructed from a Huggies nappy box and a few smaller boxes. In addition I used a toilet roll and coloured paper. There's a stove top with four hot plates, an oven door which opens to reveal two shelves, two baby cinos complete with saucer and froth, a frying pan, kidney beans, fish and mushrooms, a plate, knife, fork and spoon and a sandwich with avocado, Swiss cheese and tomato. All of these things pack away into a compact storage box. There is also a curtain with a star and moon design used to hide an open panel. A clock with moving hands and the word 'chef' with insignia add to the overall effect.
In addition to my hand-made kitchen you will get a Christmas stocking (which I've yet to purchase) with some inexpensive toys, as well as a few T-shirts, a toy fire engine, some books, a water wheel, a small backpack to take on your bike rides with mum and your first pair of thongs. For a boy still shy of 18 months I think you've done pretty well.
Your dad and I haven't exchanged presents for a few years now so the only other thing on my Christmas list is likely to be ingredients for our lunch (which I'm still in the process of planning).
I haven't bought us a tree but I fancy something small and wooden to sit above the old fireplace. With less than three weeks to go I had better get a move on.
