Wednesday, March 31, 2010

its massive!

lets just start by saying I'm not a real fan of white bread,
give me a loaf of really crusty, really grainy bread any day.

We always have multi grain or wholemeal bread and ever since Ive been baking grainy bread, the older kids have been asking if I could make some white bread. Today I decided I would do just that. I borrowed my neighbours bread machine (I hand kneaded multi grain rolls yesterday though) and decided on a large loaf size - the medium doesn't usually last that long around here. Oh my goodness, I didn't realise it would be quite this large - look what we just pulled out he oven! Isaac thinks it is hilarious that it is so big!



BUT homemade white bread straight out of the oven is rather morish!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Photo a Day Challenge - March

Photo a day challenge - March 2010
days 19 - 31


**insert 19th March here - cricket presentation**

























Monday, March 22, 2010

so the saying goes

'One persons trash is another persons treasure' , and anyone who loves a good rummage through a thrift store or secondhand stall knows how very true that old saying is.

One of the two small tablecloths I picked up at the fair, was today transformed into this bag.



It still needs some sort of closure, Im thinking maybe a magnetic clasp (thanks for the advice, Nell)

I found enough black fabric in my stash for the lining, and it has a small matching fabric pocket on the inside.

I also wanted to share Isaacs gorgeous Easter picture that he did for me Saturday morning.



I dont know if its just my background in child development/teaching etc but I have a real soft spot for childrens art. I particularly LOVE this stage around kindy age where they start to be able to make figures that are instantly recognisable, and so darn cute! Needless to say this is hanging proudly on our lounge room wall for the easter season.

Autumn Fair

Yesterday the kids and I spent the afternoon at an Autumn fair at Caleb's school. We had a lovely afternoon. There was lots to keep the kids amused...
Jacinta had her face painted for the first time



and she got really brave and went on the jumping castle for the first time as well. (excuse the terrible photo!)



Isaac LOVES jumping castles, so he was thrilled to see one at the fair.



and even more excited that there was fairy floss (even though they only had a 1/2 serve each, we still had to find Caleb and Nathan to give the majority of it too!


Caleb & Nathan had a ball in the Sumo wrestling suits - I think I need a set of these for home!

The man even let Isaac have a turn (against Nathan on his knees!) right at the end.



All the kids loves being blind folded and having to crawl their way through the hay bale maze.
Thank goodness for the helmets as they ran into each other and the bales....a lot.



There were rides on the train

and when we needed a little break, the little ones and I plonked ourselves under a tree, on a nice shady, grassy hill, covered in beautiful Autumn leaves, and had more fun than any ride could hope to compete with.

covering each other in leaves

tossing arms full of leaves into the air and watching them flutter back down. Then discovering the funniest thing of all , throwing them all over Mummy while she was taking photos!
and of course, roiling over and over and over, right down the hill.


...it wasn't only the kids that had fun, there was lots for me to browse (well as much as you can browse with a two and four year old!) and I got these lovely goodies at the second hand stall.




Friday, March 19, 2010

Photo a Day Challenge - March

Photo a day March 2010
days 11 - 18


March 11th 2010 - Isaacs kindy excursion
insert here!

















Wednesday, March 17, 2010

a bunny baby

Here is this mornings little project
Just in time to help us celebrate easter.
One cute little bunny baby
- already claimed, and named Fluffy, by Issac.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

today was D Day

D is for Dolls

Today my friend Nell and I finally got together for a crafting day - we have been talking about dong this for so long, but until today it never eventuated.

It was a wonderful day spent learning how to make gorgeous little Steiner inspired dolls. Ever since I bought Jacinta's 'little baby' that she likes to take every where, Ive wanted to have a go at making these sorts of dolls. Luckily for me Nell had made them before (did I mention she is an amazingly multi talented crafter - knitting, spinning, crochet, scrap booking, sewing, quilting, patchwork, needlework, Teddy bear and doll making to name just a few of the crafts she is amazing at !) Even better she was happy to spend the day teaching me how to make them.

We cut and stitched, chatted, fed children who claimed to be hungry all day (but were not that interested in what ever food we supplied) Nell tended to the gorgeous baby Maddie, when she wasn't sleeping or laying on the floor making the cutest little cooing noises, we ate yummy food, drank tea and coffee and generally had a lovely creative day.

The result of which is two gorgeous little babies for my babies. Isaac is thrilled to have a baby of his own, and Jazz thinks two babies are far better than one!

I loved finally adding their facial features and watching their little personalities shine through. Its amazing how different and individual they can look.

Oh and they passed the ultimate test - come bed time, Isaac and Jacinta both asked for their 'babies' to sleep with - sweet!



There are plans (and a lovely stash of materials -thank you Nell) for some little bunny's to join the babies in the next few days to celebrate the Easter season. And plans for many more lovely days of crafting - Nell assures me she can have me knitting a beanie for Jacinta next time...wish her luck!!!

PS - No I didn't knit the babies beanies - Nell whipped them up for me!

PSS - THANK YOU so much for such a lovely day Nell - and I had to put the photo of you because there were none of me ;)

Saturday, March 13, 2010

whats been happening?

Since I decided to continue with the photo a day challenge (notice that I'm not going to jinx myself and commit to it being the project 365!) Ive been a really slack blogger. You are getting to see lots of snippets of our life, but I feel like Im missing out on recording lots of the other stuff Ive been up to...the stuff I probably would have bloggged about if I wasnt spending my time photographing, editing and bloggin my POD shots.

So (more for my benefit than anything else) this is what else we have been up to over the past few months...


Baby chinos after some shopping with Grandma, Auntie Vic, Georgia & Bailey.




Lots of exciting new things as Isaac started Kindy. He loves borrowing his new book each session.




Ive crocheted a couple of dishcloths and flowers. I turned one flower into a clip for Jazz, but still haven't sewn the ends in the dishcloths so I can use them!




Had a few visits to the beach - totally exhausted three of the kids at least! Nathan is just not a real sleeper in the car.




I took this old dolls house which was on its way from Jodes house to a garage sale...



...with a few repairs and fresh coats of paint, it became Jacintas 2nd birthday present.



It is a real struggle to get Isaac to have a rest during the day now - but some days he really needs it. Sometimes, if he is really tired and grumpy, he will agree to curl up on my bed with me, and he falls asleep in minutes.




The aprons that I made and blogged about a while back were packaged up in a mixing bowl, with lots of other goodies and given to Jess and Luke for their birthdays. They loved them!




We had some frogs living in the water feature under the pergola for a while. The kids loved watching them.





This is how these two play....




and this is how these two play!




Lots of yummy homemade bread




Jazz loves playing dress ups - but only when she puts everything on at once!




Tea parties are a favourite game of Jazz & Isaacs - especially when there is real water to pour and drink.




I finally finished and gifted this play quilt to the gorgeous little Maddie.





I'm loving seeing Isaac's imaginative play bloom now he is at kindy - and seeing his little pink shadow soaking in every little move he makes!





We visited the wildlife park at the big rocking horse. The kids always love feeding the animals.




Jazz & I visited Alison the other day. We came home with a delicious basket of goodies from their garden. There is nothing quite like the smell and taste of freshly picked, home grown veggies. The small of freshly picked carrots always reminds me of helping my Grandpa in the massive veggie garden he had when we were kids.





Nathans is in the yellow team for sports day - try finding something yellow to wear in Miss pinks wardrobe. I ended up re -fashioning two bodysuits into this little number for her. The yellow tie top was a size 000 bodysuit and the striped one a size 1. I just chopped the bottom off and presto new yellow supporters outfit for the day!