Monday, 31 December 2007

Welcome to the New Year

I don't make New Year's Resolutions as I am so very disappointed when I fail to live up to the resolve by about my birthday (January 4th) so this year I will say that I have made a list of things I would like to achieve and/or change but it is a list that is open to change and adjustment as well. Hopefully this will negate any feelings of failure and disappointment for me.......

We have had a lovely few weeks, spending lots of time together and even getting away for a few nights break at the beach. Our first holiday for three years!!!! The weather was good, not too hot and the kids got to swim and laze about. Tiger enjoyed the pool but was not so keen on the beach and Jed had a little splash in the pool with his Daddy. Jed is turning into a little boy so quickly now and makes sure we all know exactly what it is he wants. He also has learnt to give out kisses and leans in with his mouth wide open and makes ahhhh noises. He will blow a kiss as well, but his favourite thing at the moment is to sing the "Welcome" song we sing at Steiner playgroup each week complete with the actions.... too cute!

Christmas was spent quietly at home, everyone received lots of presents and ate lots of food. We were a little fewer in numbers than we expected as DP's Grandmother fell down her back stairs on Christmas Eve and fractured 5 ribs... she is 88 now and we are still a little concerned for her recovery. She is home though and DP and his Mum went to see her on Christmas Day after lunch and reported that she is in excellent spirits. Nothing ever seems to put her down for long.

Three days after Christmas we celebrated a birthday...yep I am now the mother of a 16 year old!!! Once again I had a few moments of reflection and time thinking back to special moments we shared when it was just him and me! He has grown to become the most amazing kid, so sweet natured and kind to his little brothers and sister and so full of jokes and fun and he likes a lot of the same music that I do.... amazing!!! Anyway I have some photos of cake and candle blowing out but I have to wait for DP to download them before I can post so.. next time. In the meantime I have one of the birthday boy and the littlest little.
Not too sure where the old woman came from!
I also have the promised photos of chairs and aprons to show you...yay!!

See I told you the chairs were the perfect shade of blue!!

My beautiful blue checked apron with Christmas ornaments and lots of other goodies spilling from the pocket. Thank you Cathy!

Here are a couple of quick pics showing the appliqued singlets and felt crowns I made for my nephews for Christmas.

As modelled by Jed!

They seemed to be well received and have been worn and used for dress ups already.

Okay time to dash, see you all in the New Year, stay safe and well however you celebrate!

Saturday, 8 December 2007

Formatting

I have no idea why Blogger won't let me insert paragraph breaks.It makes it difficult to read the post. My apologies!!! I have been able to add some links and photos though. It's starting to look more like a proper blog don't you think?

Catching Up

Okay, its been a month since I posted...bet you all thought I wasn't coming back, nooooo dear reader I have returned and intend to catch you all up with what we've been doing!
We have been busy with all our end of year things and trying to keep up with all the normal day to day stuff as well.
My lovely sister and her family visited us from interstate. It was great to meet my youngest nephew for the first time. He is 2 months younger than Jed, her older boy is 5 months younger than Tiger so I can just imagine the worry we will have when they are all teenagers together and getting into all sorts of mischief... Oh my just the thought!!!
I embarked on my dental journey this week, only to discover that I don't need root canal work after all. Yay for me you might say but no. In fact I have to have the tooth removed as it has a crack in it that cannot be repaired. So although I don't have to face weeks of tripping to and from the dentist I do have to have an implant and crown put in, probably sometime around March after my gum has recovered from the removal next week.
Still on the teeth front Jed has gotten his molar on the left through but the one on the right is still working its way out. Luckily though this one doesn't seem to be bothering him any where near as much and he has returned to his normal, placid, happy self (who will sit and play for a short while).
Tiger has hit the three and half stage, he talks non-stop, asks never ending "Why" questions, bounces on and off the furniture , the walls, the baby, and us, and can't amuse himself for more than 30 seconds at a time. He now also voluntarily talks to people at the shops and the library, for example this morning whilst in the checkout queue

Tiger - "Why have you only got one?"
Man - "One?"
Tiger - "Yes, why have you only got one"
Man looks at me, I shrug.
Tiger looks expectantly at the man. At this stage there is no answer for him, seeing this he moves on.
Tiger - "Do you have a baby?"
Man - "No, I don't have a baby but I see that you do"
Tiger - 'Yes, so does Ben have a baby ( friends). You don't have a baby that's why you only have one"
By this time I had worked out that the man was buying one carton of milk, I don't leave the supermarket without 4 or 5 cartons, but as the baby is the only one who doesn't drink milk I still don't get the reasoning.
Three and a half, wow, they turn into different people quite suddenly, literally grow up overnight.
Soon he will be as big as James, the other night, I looked at James and had to say "Who are you and where did you come from?" I remember him sitting in the supermarket trolley and smiling at the checkout girl. Now he still smiles at the checkout girl but he's the one pushing the trolley for me. Amazing!
Very exciting news (for me) is that I have scored a crafting table and area. We have set it up off the lounge room and I have been able to finally organise all my stuff. Now I have a space to sit down and make some Christmas decorations and gifts, and do all my other "making". DP finally bought himself a new office desk so I got the old one..it is fabulous. I didn't have a chair, I wanted an old wooden one that I could paint up to look all crafty and arty, so I was looking at garage sales but hadn't found anything. Then this week on the way to the dentist (an hours drive) we went a different way to usual and there on the side of the road were four old wooden chairs painted the exact blue I was thinking. I was so excited I was bouncing around in my seat. I made DP promise that we would go home the same way. We did. So I am now sitting on the very chair I always wanted for my "Craft Room" lol. Oh, and we managed to fit two in the car so Tiger very proudly sits up to "help" me. They were $5 each. How's that for a frugal/thrifty score lol!!!!! Pics to come next post.

I have to rip out what is left in my veggie patch as it is all starting to bolt. I will plant some new seedlings in the hope of getting some lettuce for the Christmas break. I have been so busy that I haven't been able to get the next lot in quickly enough to have a continuous supply, but they grow so fast here that I should make it if I plant tomorrow as planned. Oh and can anyone tell me why I have only one, solitary tomato on my plants. It is pretty healthy but very lonely!
I still have not finished my Christmas prep, gifts for the 16 year old and DP are the hardest to find. The golden boys are getting some wooden cars and a few other bits and pieces, Mim gets hair stuff and clothes, but I still have to shop arrgh. Every year I say I won't leave it till the last minute and every year I do.

I have been tagged by Lisa for the "Seven Random things" meme. This is the first time I've been tagged so here we go.....
seven random things....the meme rules are:
1- Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog
2- Share 7 random and or weird things about yourself.
3- Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4- Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here we go....
1: The thumb on my left hand is shorter than the thumb on my right hand.
2: I never stop hugging first, never.
3: I am scared of snakes and frogs.
4: I didn't drink any coffee until I was in my early twenties and even now I only have the occasional latte when I'm out. But I love coffee flavoured cake.
5: When I was four I told a mother at my nursery school that I had 7 older brothers. My mother could never work out why that woman was always asking her if there was anything she could do to help her as having such a large family must be such hard work etc. It wasn't until years later that I told my mother why. For the record I have one younger sister.
6: I have a "To Do Before I Die" list but only I know what's on it.
7: I am the happiest and most content with everything and everyone in my life right now.

As I am new to blogging I don't have 7 people to tag, so consider yourself tagged if you would like to have a go!
Thanks Lisa, that was fun......

I took part in the apron swap that was organized over at Down to Earth my swap partner was Cathy and she sent me the most gorgeous package with a blue checked apron and some knitted cloths, decorations for our Christmas tree and a lovely address book for me. All so very lovely and much appreciated. You can see the apron I sent Cathy here.
We have been spending some time now and then at a place I truly enjoy.
Our friend who lives here only had the power connected about two years ago. It is a very quirky home tucked quietly away...I really appreciate the peace you feel while there, but with a busy three year old and a baby I have to say I also really appreciate coming home to some more modern comforts. It is beautiful though, especially after rain....

So children are starting to create some havoc...better go and organise dinner and finish this post for now.Will be back soon with photos of blue chairs and aprons.