Knowledge

is a good thing. Today I spent 6 hours in a classroom in an advanced SLR users course. Enjoyed every minute of it. The tutor was great and even though I probably knew 70% of what the course covered already it was good to have that confirmation that I am doing it all right and i did learn a few more things along the way. Of course its left me thirsting for even more knowlegde and more challenges!

Taken tonight from a bedroom window (hense the light pole and power lines lol.)

I knew it

was a mistake to let her go outside in her new clothes....

Changes

So our big news is that Emma is now in her BIG GIRL bed! Its been three nights now and with no problems.

We also are (not too seriously) trying out the toilet training bit. She's quite happy to sit and we did have a successful "sitting" the other night. We all made a huge fuss and she thought it was the best thing since sliced bread.. all that attention!..

Apparently not enough for a repeat performance :p

Wow.. we could be buying the last of the nappies (thats diapers for my american friends ;) ) in the not too distant future. I'm excited!

Silliness

No more pictures

Out of five kids you would think I could have got just ONE that was a poser, just one that loved to be in front of the camera.. but nooooo I had to get 5 kids that tell me to get that camera out of my face.. sighhhhhhh :p

The weather, although cold, has been gorgeous the past few days. Beautiful sunny days, a little teaser that spring is not too far away, enough to make me want to get out of the house and into the fresh air. I even mowed the lawns on the weekend.. MOWED. I never mow the lawns, I think in the 8 years we have lived in this house I have mowed them maybe 5 times.. if that.. I do a better job.. but don't tell Dh and the boys that, they may go on strike and make me do it more often.

Can't have that!

Two wheels

Daddy took off his training wheels.
He didn't fall off.
He can ride just like the big boys.
He's only 4.
I'm happy for him.
I'm sad for me.
My baby boy is growing up.

Hi 5

Is her favourite dvd. She sings, she dances, she loves it!

Day out

So Emma and I had the morning to ourselves while Ethan was at daycare. We stopped by the market and loaded up on fruit and vegetables. Emma is in LOVE with mandarins at the moment. The girl would eat them all day if I let her. Yesterday I found the remains of mandarin rind in her bedroom where she had smuggled one from the fruit bowl..lol (Didnt notice what was written on the box until after I uploaded the images.. quite apt I think.)

After we picked Ethan up we visited with an older couple we know. He breeds canaries for show and Ethan loves spending time with him and watching him with the birds and helping clean up the bird seed. Emma is still a bit clingy when we visit but she is warming up to them, the collection of porcelain dolls captures her attention.

After our visit it was a quick trip home to pick up the older boys and off for haircuts. I must say they all look tidier and LIGHTER after their cuts..lol

Huh????????????

Some people really need to grow a conscience!

I came across this blog today.

and you can read the eventual outcome here.

Spring is springing

The first signs of spring are appearing in my garden.
This is the first year I have planted bulbs in my garden. We have concentrated so much on getting the house done that the garden has been neglected. Getting it looking nice is our aim for this Spring/Summer.

FuN

Emma and Ethan having fun on the trampoline yesterday. They were in fits of gigles jumping around and falling on each other.

Patchwork

Over the weekend I was hunting for a pattern that I knew I had but could not remember where it was. During my hunt I found some patchwork stuff that I had bought and cut but never started.

It was a little kit that uses foundation paper peicing. So I have made a start on it again and completed my first lot of blocks and joined them together. I love this way of quilting because the sew lines are all there marked on your templates for you so you just place your material peice where it needs to be and sew along the line. EASY!

A time to say goodbye

My dear sweet neighbour, "Mrs Banks", passed away peacefully on Sunday in her 86th year. She was such a sweet lady and I feel blessed to have known her for the 7 years that we lived opposite her. Every week I would find a magazine on my doorstep. Her son had paid for a subscription for her and she would read it and then leave it there for me. She would give her other neighbour the newspaper every day and the little dog that belongs to the man next door to me she would give little scraps of meat too. His little tail would wag excitedly every time he saw her.

She use to make me laugh when she would comment on how my husband reminded her of her own husband "because he was bald too" and she always told Brendon what a wonderful father he was whenever she saw him taking the kids with him. She was an independent lady and had lived on her own ever since her husbands death many many years ago and she would tell me that "she still cooked herself a healthy lunch everyday".

She got so much enjoyment from seeing my children and they always took the time to say hello to her.

We are all saddened by her passing.

I will miss you Mrs Banks, may you be resting peacefully surrounded by your loved ones.

I see you

I've been blogged

Frosty mornings, bed hair and pink pyjamas

We are having a particularly cold winter. Lots of frosty cold mornings (figures in the minus C's overnight) but not alot of rain. I much prefer the frost to the rain though. At least you can rug up and still go out (I only do this if I have to though..lol) but it looks really pretty too. Having said all that.. I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!!!!!!!! Of could be worse.. it could be snowing.



I got productive yesterday afternoon and made pyjama's out of the material Emma picked out.

Thursday

Thursdays is the day that Ethan is at daycare for the morning (or kindy as he likes to call it). Its the day Emma and I get a bit of girly time together. This morning though I have one home from school with a virus that has been slowly making its way through our house. So we only had time to drop Ethan of and make a quick dash to the fabric shop for some elastic that I needed. Emma discovered some pink flannelette that she thought was "pretty" (everything pink is pretty) so I got some and will make her some pj's later.

This is a pic of Jacob preparing to blow out the candles on his Birthday(cheese)cake that I made and also one of Zack (not pulling a silly face for once!)

Nine

Nine years ago I welcomed my third son into the world, 3 weeks early after just 4 hours of induced labour. All 5lb9oz of him! He was a wonderful placid baby and my first (and only) baby to sleep through the night (at 10 wks).

As a toddler he was very michievous and you had to keep a close eye on him but always a content and happy boy.

Today he is still a wonderful easygoing boy, always willing to help. He loves being around people and has a wonderful outgoing nature.

Nine years has gone in the blink of an eye it seems and I am so proud of the young boy he is today.

Artist

A certain little boy who shall remain nameless seems to think our hallway wall needed some brightening up.



The little line trailing out of the frame... goes ALL THE WAY up the hallway.

Mummy was not impressed.. Daddy was even less impressed. I think he will be sticking to paper from now on.

$2.50

Made these up last night. Happy with how they turned out, can't complain for $2.50!

Sewing

I have been busy sewing. Dh and I moved my sewing table downstairs so that I can sew and watch the kids at the same time (they destroy the house left to their own devices). SO (haha) I can now go back and forth to my little sewing projects during the day.

I made a jumper and pants for Emma and matching for her dolly that she has become seriously attached to of late and needs something that can be removed and washed instead of having to throw dolly and all in the wash! For some reason the jumper didnt fit over her head (grrrr) so I had to go out this morning for more material to redo it.


Of course I had to go past the "specials" table (I went the long way around..ROFL) and picked up enough material to make some overalls and a summer dress for Emma all for $4.50!

Sweet memories

My mum use to bake alot. I have memories of her baking every Sunday morning. The house would be filled with delicious smells of warm biscuits and cakes and the kitchen table would be covered with all the goodies, cooling, ready to be stored in containers for us to take to school/work during the coming week. Afternoons a roast would be cooking in the oven. I loved Sundays and the smell of baking still brings those fond comforting memories and remind me of my mum.

Today I made caramels. These were a special treat when were young and were only made every now and again. Ahhh "sweet" memories!

Raindrops

I was took a picture of the raindrops on my bedroom window, representing our rainy day. I thought it was very cool when i zoomed in to full size and could see the reflection of the trampoline in our backyrad in the droplets.


Click to see full size.

Ramble

Hmmm nothing exciting to post. So i am going to just ramble.

Its raining.. still. Much needed of course. the farmers are loving it. June was unseaonably dry and frosty, now we have rain and fog. Oh fun ;)

I have an itch to do some sewing. If I promise to post some pics of what I produce then I will have to do something about it won't I! So I promise I will post a picture of something.

I didnt say when though.. ;)

)