BellaBree

valentine making.....

2012-02-11T18:53:00.000-08:00

MAKING PAPER HEART VALENTINES.

first we cut out lots of pretty paper hearts (back and front to match)...then sewed up the sides leaving a small boy finger sized gap.......

....then found small boys who obligingly stuffed those hearts full of smarties.....(payment promised of leftover smarties).....

then sewed up the little gap...viola, so sweet treats (and easy) ready for valentines day. Yay!

school's in....

2012-02-04T11:26:00.000-08:00

check out these wee sweeties...first day back for all of them at once (have been going randomly individually for a couple days tho)...how exciting and really can't believe we have such giant girls now - seriously Saye is a smidge taller than me now!-rude!!
And so our 2012 schooling adventure begins - Josaye is in year 10, Nyah started college (sob sob) and is year 7, Jose is year 1, and wee Micah (who isn't so wee, more like a small brick wall) is at kindy.

When thinking of all the age combos for the future.. I worked out tht when Micah starts year 7, my other babies will be in year 9, poss 2nd year at uni, and poss in last year of uni - sheesh, thats quite a age stretch when you look at it like that!...although its lovely to know my house will be full of children and their friends for many years to come, always a bright side hey...AND if Mr Man and I should like to pop over to Fiji or the like (in about 6 years or so I'm sayin`)...we have in- built babysitters...hooray!

harvesting

2012-01-31T16:25:00.000-08:00

todays harvest...we are picking like this every 2 days (in some cases every day)...the weeds are thigh high, and you have to know what you are looking for, but its all there, waiting for us. I am thankful for such bounty...and proud of my family's effort is helping create such a HUMUNGOUS paddock/vege garden....its still got more to give yet!

romp it....

2012-01-29T11:28:00.000-08:00

Dinosaur romp anybody???

take 8 crazy kiddies (4 not pictured) and 2 crazy mamas, 1 crazy papa...some stompin' music, a pterdactyl burger or 2..and you have yourself a dinosaur romp!!

heart melt moment

2012-01-14T14:55:00.000-08:00

this lovely chicky is a bit sick....her poor comb has flopped over and she walks slowly....yesterday we picked her up and popped her in a basket to restin the garage. I found our Micah Jack in there with her, on a little chair, stroking her head and chatting..."it'll be awight shicken, you'll be better soon"...sweet sweet boy. I so hope so my son! Heart melt. x

sniffff...a new chapter book

2012-01-06T23:15:00.000-08:00

This new year...its like starting a new book isn't it...open the book, press the cover open and inhale the scent of posibilities...I so do love a new novel...anyho; after much procrastinating...tooing and froing, wondering and thinking and racking of my brain, I came up with a set of seemingly achieveable goals for this new adventure.....and thought I would share them on here.

When I went to jot them all down, they still seemed complicated, distracting and wordy. But the underlying theme in each came out clear...and with a single word in mind, this year I am aiming to be ...present;

in all aspects of my life. To take notice (even more so); to give the best of my attention to whoever I'm talking to.....so often my head spins out to all the other things that need doing, juggling, sorting, commenting on, making, creating, organising etc etc. I wish to be intentially present.

christmas in the tent

2012-01-02T00:10:00.000-08:00

a wee bit different for us than usual, and although the kids vote its their favourite, I'm unsure yet, as I so love fussing and faffing about, with the food, decor, outfits etc....um, gulp, maybe thats why the tent rocked??!!
Anyho, we are back from a magnificent time up North, camping....in the beautiful Waipu cove...such a magical place, with bird estuary sanctuaries, caves, forests, dolphins in the sea, the beaches of course. We drank yummy coffee everyday, slurped icecreams and wandered about soaking all the sun we got, and delighting in just being still, and with each other. Our mega highlight was being able to go and spend the day in the Bay of Islands, watching the dolphins romp from our boat, and take in the spectacular scenery and history steeped islands. Truly amazing.

This year has been a roller coaster, challenging, rewarding, beautiful, devastating, filled with personal achievements and challenges for all our family individuals. We are so thankful to those who have walked by our sides, sometimes leading, sometimes following....for His Grace who has eased us through it, and for a deep abiding love - that is family. Bring on 2012 - we are gonna love the life outta ya!!

may i bore you??

2011-12-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

came 3rd overall in class and a mention in all curriculum areas! and throughout the year certificates in her sporting areas...

class award and 4!! school trophies for various amazingness + school dux, netball rep and top netball team.

this wee dude got the class award for literacy and numeracy, he should also be given one for spunk and ingenuity....!

they don't do kindy awards, but if they did he'd get one for consitently pushing his personal comfort zones, most imaginative and generally fabulous.

I know its not nice to brag, but I am so seriously heart-swollen at these kids of ours, the effort they put in, the way they embrace life and give everything their best shot - their leadership skills, nuturing skills and kind hearts - such a proud Mama bear I am. I am so very thankful for them - each one is a blessing beyond measure.

a non-Christmas related post - pretty nature

2011-12-16T11:16:00.000-08:00

just because I love these pics and the sun rays I thougt I'd post them...and seriously who can resist these sweets wee baby Thrush birds...their mama conveiniently created her lovely nest at eye height - where she is attempting to raise 4 babies uninterrupted ~ ahem.

2011-12-13T00:04:00.000-08:00

The tree is up, new decorations being stitched to give and add to our collection, the fairy lights are twinkling both inside and outside ...I declare Christmas just around the next corner!!!

Sweet birds..........

....snowflakes......

..the star that led them to find the baby king (or my idea of it anyho)....

...and some kiwiana inspired free stitching taking place. I love freeform stitching, especially the kind that has no real pattern or even a firm idea of what it will be until, viola`-it turns out to be what is meant to be.

We started our 12 days of Christmas we do every year tonight...this year we are keeping it simple, as we should. Tonight we kicked it off with a family supper, hot chocolate and treats around the table - together.

right now....

2011-11-28T11:46:00.000-08:00

a storm rolled in a whipped up a giant pink cloud flying saucer

* doing: I am alternating with Mr Man in caring for our wee chicken pox covered boy, so the other can go on in to work, its a catchup game....

*watching: said small poxy boy involved in the most wonder filled game with his brother...I think they have played it for 5 days straight.

*listening to: Kimbra - she is fantabulous.

*thinking: that I should spend some of the day planning our trip away where we will be camping up North - YAY.

*wondering: if I should do some washing...as if its an option with 4 kids!

*enjoying: icy cold pear cider in the early evening...thanks Mr Man!

*crotcheting: yet more coaster doilies, looking forward to having them off the hook on onto my coffee table.

*dreaming: of silky sands and warm breezes, and poxyfree boys.

*looking forward: to the end of term, just around the corner...

*slightly dreading: the end of term clean up and shifting of classrooms, and letting go of my little friends that I teach and help grow everyday.

*am thankful for: time spent with just Mr Man and I to celebrate (a little eary) our 15 year wedding anniversary...yay us!

a room makeover....

2011-11-22T17:32:00.000-08:00

my biggest girl needed a new look in her room, and let me be her designer/slave....am SO thrilled we avoided commercial (aka revolting) popular poster etc, and instead opted to be inspired by my fav mag (Your home and Garden)...here is what we came up with....she even made her own name bunting - yay!

a good pressi idea-no?

2011-11-19T17:31:00.000-08:00

I made this sweet pressi for a friend who just had a bubby (took fresh toeat of course and this for later)...thinking it might be a quick solution to fresh baking...thinking it might be a sweet gift for christmas treats....eapecially with cranberries and white chocolate....!

14

2011-11-02T00:26:00.000-07:00

large birthday cake knife - its a tradition to use it...ahem.

sweet sisters...didn't even squabble for the night!

small boy 2

small boy 1

our biggest gal has had a birthday - a very special birthday ...well now, aren't the all? Menu request: NO VEGES....hmmmm, trouble with that order, but given the quantity of tomato sauce consumed and homemade potato wedges, maybe I could feel a little better?? So, large homemade meat pizzas, icecream sundaes with raspberry sauce, and a big slab of mud cake later...they were are asked to go for a run in the paddock!...who would've thought we would be here, at 14!!!

our babies....celebrating life!

this gal is sassy, fun, clever, caring, logical (think McCleod daughters logic), a bit crazy, loyal and is developing a wonderful strong sense of who she is...we are so proud to call you ours sugarplum. x

my gurls blinkin` cook!!

2011-10-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

seriously stoked!!! came in late from the garden, to find my girlies having a cooking session...back to the garden!!

being 35...

2011-10-18T02:49:00.000-07:00

My lovely family threw a happy birthday teaparty for my 35th.....complete with ladies in dresses, beautiful food, and all my pretty teacups out...we greeted guests with a cold glass of Rose` and everyone seemed to enjoy the sunshine and flowers everywhere. Judy Garland sang her sweet tunes for the occassion. So very sweet of everyong to come.

a few thoughts on tunring the ripe old age of 35....
~ I love it.
~ I am learning so much about life...and am so very glad learning never ends.
~I am far more paitient than a younger me.
~I very much admire the women who have walked before me, and those that walk along side, and look to them as a life sisterhood.
~I am as capable as my self imposed limitations....and am learning to shuck those in areas that I wasn't confident before-this is indeed a work in progress.
~I have accepted that I will never be miss-twiggy, or even a normal size...but will still strive to be a healthier me....all the time.
~I am passionate about life balance, raising children to walk with the Lord, and to grow true to who they are meant to be.
~I am more in love with my husband than when we married - sounds a bit silly I know - but we have been sorely tested, and thankfully with much learning, it has brought us closer.
~I now have some experiences to back my ideas and theories, and am happy to admit when I have no idea what I'm talking about!
~I love the sense of being able to more and more remain true to who I am and not be swayed by what others think, and I so hope give others the room to be who they are too...
~All in all, I try hard to chose to focus on our blessings, and chose to find happiness and contentment in the here and now, and in the tiniest things; for they are the things that make our days sweet - are they not?....
~lastly, I am so very blessed to have another (small!) line added to my face....it means I am able to claim another year with my babies....
is there anything you love about your age??
xx

strawberry love

2011-10-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

its jamin` season already! woohoo!!, the kids and mr man came home to the glorious scent of heady simmering strawberries....so very luscious and beautiful.

right now....

2011-10-10T18:40:00.000-07:00

Right now...we have started birthday season at our place (Oct and March).

Grateful for: healthy, strong, characterful kids...

Thankful for: another year given to both me and the Mr, another year spent growing and changing, and watching our babies flourish...this time I am indeed grateful for an extra line or 2, and count it a blessing.

Thrilled that: our girls made the decision to be baptised, and we were able to celebrate that with lots of fanfare, and grateful hearts. (also got them made a beautiful necklace each, which will share later).

Watching: these wee piggy's turn into rather large piggy's...and enjoying making sure they are cared for to the best of our collective ability (with huge thanks to our farmer friend for his knowledge, effort and time).

Contemplating: a lovely new stash of pretty fabric, and looking on the net for inspirational Christmas ideas...

Enjoying: listening to 2 small boys make huts upstairs, and the strumming of my big girls on guitars.

Reflecting on: how much I adore our wee neices and nephews...they truly add colour and vibrancy to our world.

Excited that: its school holidays and that means we can have slower days, and longer nights...with treats sandwiched in between.

Thinking: that I really should clean the windows...but probably won't!

wishing you a wonderful day - whatever it may bring!

spring september madness

2011-09-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

sooo, I decided that I would love to take some pics of the kiddos to update my wall, impress grandies etc etc...And it happened to be Fathers day! A tad late, but we just love the dad at our place so very much.x...here are some fun pics of the day, ...they took a wrestle match, random dive bombs, much rolling of the eyes (on my part), coaxing, threatening, and laughing, before giving up totally to take pics of the chickens instead!

contemplating....

2011-09-02T03:31:00.000-07:00

after a long week and a sad day saying goodbye to someone taken too early today...I am hoping the weekend looks a little like this....

Tonight, I am thankful....for genrations of faithful families, whose example of faith speaks louder than any words can; for my beautiful children and best- friend- husband....for wonderful warm family and gorgeous friends....each of you are so very precious to me.

op shop finds

2011-08-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

ooooo looky looky! a resent happy score at our local...very stoked with the pretty plates especially! And check out the cool vintage car fabric...not sure what will be made from it, but obviously it HAD to come and live at my house...suggestions??

our beautiful world

2011-08-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

So, after about 8 days at home with coughing kids...we were truly climbing the walls, so we brought hot pies, drove to the highest point in our bay and sat up there and munched....fresh air so helps doesn't it....we left feeling a wee bit calmer, still coughing, but the change of scenery and tranquil setting certainly went a long way.

yup its more sewing!

2011-08-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Reversible cushions! Yay not so much washing to do...grubby kids, guests coming...flip em! (er the cushion not the kids/guests). My very favourite toile pattern, in a gorgeous island flavour...and my beloved minty duck egg blue floral....

MORE MAKIN` STUFF

2011-07-28T18:03:00.000-07:00

a year ago, I started this wee quilt for my neice. It was inspired by Amanda Soule's book...where someone draws on the fabric and then it is embroided over...I have made all sorts this way now, but this time I peiced family members drawing together with vintage fabric finds, to make a quilt for one of my sweet neices, commemorating her birth....I bakced it in a soft duckling yellow polarfleece...so she can have it over her chair or the end of her big girl bed one day. I so hope she likes it, as a wee peice of her kiwi extended family is in each of the squares....and I so hope my sister doesn't look too closely at the needle/sewing work - eep!

Happy birthday Nyah- 11!!

2011-07-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Well now thats a shock to say - hmmmm...especially when its your 2nd kid! So now we cover the spectrum of stages, with a teenager, a adolencent pre-teen, and new school aged boy, and a preschooler. Just need to add a toddler and a newborn to it! heheee...I can hear hubby saying "Nooooooooooo!" Heheee.

Anyho, we started off her special day with a large pile of kids in our bed (tradition ya know, and lets face it, half of 'em were already there sleeping - ahem), gift opening, hugs and kisses....

We had decide on a Masterchef theme for the party - whichin hindsight was BRILLIANT, as Nyah'sfriends camre over and THEN prepped and cooked lunch - yup BRILLANT!! So homemade burgers, and wedges it was....and as we had a few people of course each needed a wee initial flag on top....

Mr Man showing off his fine skills cutting tomatoes with an enormous knife!

Then I set up an oldfashioned Icecream Parlour,,,with treats galore....

and ...my favourite part! a cupcake tree! that Josaye and I decorated the night before...such pretty fun!

Happy birthday to my sweet, loyal, funny, crazy, stationary lovin', cupcake eating girl...you rock our world and we adore you. xxxx

broken, sigh

2011-07-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

seriously these kids of mine! I'm turning grey...grrr. Another sporting accident...this time Josaye came off second best during soccer....and a very painful wrist break. So by the time we had an ambulance ride, sucked a whole lotta gas (her not me, although was tempted!), a local doctor visit, needles...and car ride, a hospital wait, lots of pain relief, finally sedation while we held her down to pull the bones into place (seriously should've been a doctor, its so facinating!); a plaster cast, several trips back and forth for xrays (yes we live in a small town and must travel to a big town/city for such things!)...we are now 2 casts along and hopefully only another 4 weeks from getting it off...JOY!

time = sewing

2011-07-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

As its the school holidays, I have a wee bit more time ...HOORAY!!...and although my kiddos are all in varying stages of the 100 day cough (a whooping cough strain)...they are awesome at building forts and such like inside to while away a day or so...so in the upstairs playroom/sewing room, you will find us ALL, holed up in a quiet activity...fort making, reading, drawing and for me sewing! At last after 4 MONTHS I have finched Micah's quilt coverlet...phew!! it was sweetly simple and of course easy to make...over half the fabric has a sentimental purpose (cut from a dear family members cast offs)...and some were too delicious to leave in the shops, so of course HAD to come home with me...and viola`! One wee guy has a Mama made quilt cover...now only 4 more to go!

ouch

2011-07-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

We have given her the day off!

frosty mornings

2011-07-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

we have only had a couple of frosts here this winter so far....I so love the early morning light glittering on the ice crystals...

he's not overally thrilled tho!

and crunching the grass underfoot when you go and collect the eggs and check the chickens is so satisfying...(or rather you send a kid, 'cos its cold!)

these poor giant pumpkins long to be carved and given a purpose...they told me so...until then they are enjoying the ice clinging to their shiny skins..perhaps this weekend will be a carving weekend?...

ooooo looky, pretty mail!

2011-07-23T20:46:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago the sweetest mail arrived, and to my shame, I haven't been able to blog about it yet...so ta`da!! Here it is....these arrived from the fabulous Fran, from Frangipani...isn't she the cleaverest?!!...Handbag slippers...I must confess, I was a bit perplexed how such sweet little knit handbags could fit my huge feet...but hey presto! they fit snug-as-glove...and I LOVE THEM, lots!!

Thanks so much Fran - you're knitting is gorgeous, and I hear shes' thinking about stocking them in her shop...check it out!

chickens

2011-07-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

about 11 weeks ago we brought 10 lovely brown shaver chickens....18 weeks old. Over the last little while, they have become a big part of our day...watching their funny antics, their 2 legged sprints from here to there, their dirt/dust baths, and personalities emerging. We have added 3 more to the flock, and so far, while they aren't best buds, its working out good. So, now we have around 75 eggs a week! ...thankfully lots of people love sharing with us...eggs have never been consumed so much! I am even looking for reciepes with lots of eggs. ... a blessing for sure, to have these little funny birds!

lovin the bread!

2011-06-19T01:59:00.000-07:00

yuuuuuummmmmmmmmm, white chocolate and cranberry pinwheels........with 3 cups of tea....

Breadsticks and foccacia......yup, making (and eating - ahem) other sorts of bread (other than our usual daily homemade bread)...these breadsticks were great for stirring and dunking in our soup, and the foccacia was wonderful piled with creamcheese, tomatoes and roast beef....

I love the weekend and having a bit more time to make yummy treats!

mssing in action

2011-06-13T01:19:00.000-07:00

Hello blog, and blogworldI miss this space, I miss snapping wee pics and thinking about what I want my family to remember about our days...you see we have been sucked into a vertix of busy life....I have taken on a new job, one that cateres for my littlest boy to come and be a part of as needed, a great opportunity to work in my teaching area; only 8 little ones! Did i mention my lad can come!?! A very exciting, daunting, fun and swirly time I can tell you....our days have been changed somewhat and I am stuggling to find a rhythm that includes time for all the 'usual' things, including blogging....but little by little, all things are finding a new niche as time allows and other priorities take over.

Between my husband and I, we have been nursing sick children, and dealing with the dissappointments for our 2nd daughter has had this week, over being sick and missing out on all her excting sport trips that were planned.

We got the news today that my beloved puss, rhyley, is too sick to carry on; and tomorrow will be his last with us. Our hearts are very heavy with this, as he has been my faithful friend for the past 9 years. I am thankful his illness has been swift and not painful. I will be back on here with more about my rhy-man....but for tonight I will go and hold him some more as we say our goodbyes, and whisper thankyous for heart-warming memories.

another new beginning

2011-05-11T01:53:00.000-07:00

last week my baby started kindy...not like, super intense kindy, but rather a cruisy 'enrolled- for -3- mornings -but -realistically- turn- up -for -2- if- lucky' kindy.....I didn't blog yet about it as its a bit of a raw spot still. I'm so tempted to lock the doors and never let him outta my site kinda raw spot. He's my baby, my lil hang out buddy, helper and great hugger.....how to let go?? He is pensive, excited, facinated, anxious, thrilled, loves helping his teachers...all in one go. On one hand, he's been a part of the furntiture there for 2 years, firstly in a sling, then as a toddler, now as an official pre-schooler....I should be thrilled for him, after the initial 'you'll be back soon aye mummy' quizz I got from him, he loved his time at kindy....he laughed, he helped his teacher fill up the water troughs, he had story after story, he had his big brother's friend's still at kindy 'look after him'. His sister and brother came to check on him at morning tea (kindy is attached to our little school)....I left him for a whole 1 hour and 20 mins the first day, and then 2 and 1/2 hours the next. I only cried for an hour of the first day and sniffled for 20 mins the next....maybe it'll get easier?? 2 wee lads in the space of 5 days starting new adventures....its a big ask of a Mama's heartstrings....

happy mother's day

2011-05-07T16:41:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's day to all you lovely mummies out there!

Today I have celebrated my 14th Mother's Day.

My Mama has celebrated her 34th....My grandmother, her 60th.....

That's alot of hugs and kisses given out and had given back too....tears shed, birthday's celebrated, babies adored and growing children cherished.

what a priveledge and the greatest joy ever....!

To my own Mama, you are a huge inspiration to me and a wonderful friend....love you to the stars and back. xx

autumn fun

2011-04-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

the kids were gifted this awesome go-kart....they have put it to good use in the paddocks around here!

autumn harvest

2011-04-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

Look at all these pumpkins!! (we had also picked soome earlier and have eaten them already!)....Josaye and I trudged over ot the farm inthe rain and one morning htis week and finished harvesting the last of the pumpkins....now to harden them off and store them in the wre hammock Mr Man is about to make for them....just stoked with this haul, and be so cool to share some too...Yay for summer planting!

And also we continue to gratefully gather apples from the trees....to date I think I have bottled around 10-12 bottles, made applesauce, stewed apples, apple muffins (countless), apple cakes, apple cider (yup its yum!), apple crumble, and apple pies....(must share the BEST apple pie filling reciepe EVER on here), and of course eaten a fair few baskets of them too.....and several families have been regularly calling in to fill bags and buckets to take home - thankyou apple trees for your bounty.

makin' stuff....

2011-04-21T20:38:00.000-07:00

so, with cooler weather comes fingers that just itch to knit!....I have started and undone a beanie for my 2nd girl about 6 times, so have decied to give it a rest and in the meantime found this sweet pattern in Purl bee's book....just love that it's all one piece and so simple.....and as I have 2 wee baby neices and 2 girlfriend's just happened to have had darling little girls...I figure it will fit one of the lass's....and yes, it sure does make me cluck a little louder....I just loved having babies to knit for!...its nice to gift it tho, (I keep telling myself!!)

Arisen....

2011-04-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday is pretty special huh!.....I have always woken with a sense of anticipation on Easter Sunday....and often trek the journey that the 2 Mary's would've made before dawn to the tomb, in my mind, the wet dew, the heavy hearts they might've had; as they made their way to Jesus's burial place....how incredible it would've been to see first hand ancient prophesy's fufilled and the dramatic news the angel shared with them....'He had arisen as He said he would'!....amazing.

We so love celebrating the life we have been given around here, and of course awesome news such as this MUST be celebrated in style! So a family feast in the secret garden seemed to be a wonderful way of remembering what Jesus had done.... So after church, we set up a table and all our decorations we had been making, and had a wonderful teaparty, followed by a treasure hunt....I so hope you have been able to take some time and reflect on what Easter means to you and yours....YOU are loved enough to die for.

Easter begins with new life

2011-04-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter, and rememberance of Christ's love for us all!
We have a few family traditions around here, and I just so love the seasonal rhythm that brings to our home. On Good Friday we sit all together and read the Easter account and have wee chat and prayer together....every year we have a variation of family art around the Easter story....and also talk about Passover and what it means for us.

I so love Good Friday, and pray His heart will touch yours as we remember.

officially the last time...

2011-04-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

well here's a tear jerker (for leaky me anyways!)...my 3rd baby is offically graduated from kindy....and with proudness we all (his family) gathered to help him say goodbye to his time at Kindy, and thank all the wonderful teachers for their kindness and paitence and fun....we took in cake, and handmade capes and crowns and masks to gift the kindy.... Jose was so wonderful, and so sweet....the teachers had helped him make a crown and card and playdoh cake....we sang and wished him well....such a special boy this lad of mine.....a bittersweet goodbye thats for sure....he is so excited to be joining his sister at school next term, and even though I so wanted to keep him home until he was at least 6, it is right for him....sniff sniff.....fortunately I relief teach at his school - like 2 days a week! so will see lots of him for sure.... ;-)

birthdays....

2011-04-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

Alice in wonderland....and indeed it was! heres a wee pic of my lovely friend Frithy's birthday cake I was lucky to make....and what a wonderland extravagancer it was....she went to so much trouble and and we just loved all the sweet touches she had made for our Mad Hatters teatable, with wee 'drinkme' stirrers, and 'Eat me' cupcakes, and SO much more = AMAZING!...happy birthday gal....your 30's are gonna be tremendous!

first's

2011-04-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

this wee guy is experiencing some firsts and some last's at the moment...I am continually in awe of how flexible and adjustable kids can be....and how this wee guy loves to rise to a challenge and embrace's new experiences....

first ripper game....and first school visit (EEK!).....last kindy day this week too...sob.

.....meanwhile just so people know I don't do favourites (hehe), check out the goregeousness of this bunch...

road trip

2011-04-03T03:18:00.001-07:00

Mr Man had a very exciting challenge this weekend....he has been in training for a 100km road bike race.....(totally crazy I KNOW!)....and we got to tag along as his roadies for the weekend....it, of course HAD to involve picnics! and dinner out! and train rides! and little bush walks thru the mighty redwoods! and a mooch along the stunning Huka falls! And of COURSE lots of coffee out....what a wonderful job description it is, being a roadie/support crew!

We drove along in wonder at these brave and driven people (2000 of them!), in the cold and drizzle they set off, and 3 hours and 27 minutes of silently willing and cheering along, (an in Micah's case a wee rest on the picnic blanket at my feet-that kid can doze/sleep ANYWHERE!!),and we saw him cycling up the hill....the kids started weaving amongst people and running towards him.....faces wreathed in proud grins, arms thrown around his neck and shoes/helmet carried for him, we welcomed him back - full of pride on his behalf at what I think - is an awesome achievement!

Well done my love, we are proud of you and wanna be your roadies anytime you need some!!

5...really!?

2011-03-20T13:15:00.000-07:00

seriously, how cute is this guy!...and look how big he is now....

my charming firstborn son turned 5 this week!....seriously, no one gave him permission to get this old!!!....Jose, you're are a real sunshine boy, full of charm and sincere caring, compassion and warmth...you are competative and learning about sportmanship, have a love of hotwheel cars and tracks, your bike and riding real fast! You love being where I am and helping out (till it gets boring - ha!) and ALWAYS have a special greeting for whoever comes to see us and are full of chats and smiles....my son, you're a welcome and wanted pleasure in our whanau...happiest of happy birthdays to you my little love....

We celebrated his special day with most of his cousins and family, lots of friends and plenty of party fare and games...and of course being a 'rug-py' (yup, not rugby) party we had to have a little game of Ripper...so cool fun - yay!

goodness

2011-03-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

so much produce being harvested from our wee block....so wonderful to be able to share all this

organic goodness.....

....and what not salvagable makes awesome target practice for cricket....hehe

sweet boy

2011-03-01T23:23:00.000-08:00

from this sweet babe....to....

.....this wonderful boy.....

how in the world did this happen...my sweet baby boy turned 3 yesterday on the 1st day of Autumn.....such a wonderful adventure to be 3, and one I know this wee lad will live hugely and love.

How do you put into words your love for your children, your side splitting proudness of who they are, your admiration of their hearts ... truly the words are not enough.....this wee man of mine is the 4th baby to grace our world, and he has enriched our lives more than we knew possible.

Micah is strong, determined, hard-working (truly! with amazing stickability to the task), independant, hugely loyal, creative and loves his family....he can stand up for himself when its important to him, but is a bit of a cruiser....he has the most amazing imagination, and LIVES it thoroughly...he is currently a pirate and only takes his wee hat off to sleep.....you can most often find Micah Jack, on the back of the trailer, with his oars, fishing rod, 'petrol' can, and supplies...wearing his beloved gumboots and talking to Pippi the dog, or any low flying bumblebees....he's such a delightful boy.

We celebrated largely I can tell you - with around 18 toddlers and preschoolers and their Mamas, coming to play and pick fruit from the trees....and my Ma and Pa, sister and my sugar coated neices (they're so lovely).... with space cupcakes and a rocket cake.... Pirate Micah had a wonderful day turning 3.....Happy birthday my boy....you are loved.

blah...

2011-02-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

so, am not 'feelin' the need to blog and get real frustrated with myself for it, with my camera for having silly batteries that need changing ALL the time (rather than the cool rechargable ones that have just given up their will to live - or charge I should say)....I feel like there is so much I want /should/could say, but it has to have pretty pictures and without them, I get lazy and can't be bothered...sigh, perhaps things will improve soon?? I am keeping a grateful journal again this year and also writing down sweet moments I live rather than barraging through them (like so many lovely bloggers out there, I am trying to intentionally live/notice/ and breath moments of beauty that make up everyday life)....

....I am pooped (like all the time), and am enthusiatically bottling the abundance of apples and soon to be ready peaches - I've made plum jam, plum jelly, applesauce with cloves and honey, bottled apples, stewed and bottled apples, made courgette relish, marrow chutney, dug up about 60 square metres of potatoes, baked daily bread, laid out new gardens etc etc...summer is such a wonderful time for produce and harvest and I so don't want to miss any time that could be doing stuff towards that...but, I must confess a large sigh is escaping - shame on me I know!

....with the girls back in school, I can feel time winding up, like a large catapult of some kind, waiting to launch us into crazy-busy, and outside life busyness creeping in....my sweet almost 5 year old has announced that he wants to go to school with his sister rather then be homeschooled for awhile - EEK!!! He turns 5 mid-march, so much to ponder on, and decisions to be made....if I can bear to part with him, I will still see him lots and lots as I work in the kids school when I relief teach....but really! When did he grow up enough to think about school!?!....Its silly to feel shocked, but truthfully I do.... must embrace ALL of life is the mantra for the moment....for we a blessed.

pretzels

2011-02-01T00:37:00.000-08:00

I mentioned on FB that I had made pretzels today...and how wonderfully simple they are to make, a few lovely ladies wanted the receipe, so thought I'd share it on here for you all.
Seriously scrummy!
3Tblsp oil
450ml warm water
6 c flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast.

If you have a breadmaker throw it all in on the dough cycle, if you don't then go ahead and treat this mix as usual bread - ie, yeast and oil in warm water , let it froth for around 10 mins, then add in your flour, mix it up real good, knead for 10 mins or so then leave to rise for about an hour+....you already know how, so I'll shush!

Preheat your oven to 220c, and pop about a litre of water and a teaspoon of salt onto simmer...once its gently bubbly, pop in 2 tsp of baking soda and watch is explode (FUN), this acts as a lovely brine for the dough....

Now while you are waiting for the water to simmer, divide you dough into around 12 pieces, these will make large pretzels, so double it if you want smaller ones...its really no trouble how you do it, just make sure that its evenish....roll each piece into a skinny sausage and pretzel its shape up....THEN,

pop each one into the simmering water for around 20 seconds and then take it out, putting it onto a cake rack to drain off....once they are all done, pop onto a baking tray, sprinkle salt over and into the hot waiting oven....for around 10 minutes....

If you can wait, once cooler split 'em and smoother them in cream cheese...bet you love 'em!
p.s. this photo is so not mine, as i didn't get one I found this on the net...you get the idea tho!

summer 2011

2011-01-30T11:56:00.000-08:00

I feel like its almost gone...the weather seems to think so anyways!...and here we are on the brink of another school year; its been a full, but cruisy summer and I have so loved having my babies all at home with me, its been chilled-out and productive too and so very lovely....

Pay-it-forward 2011

2011-01-18T23:45:00.000-08:00

I promise something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment on this post ... parcel to be recieved at somepoint this year as a wee 'ta-dah! surprise!'

However to be eligible you have to do the same and offer this wonderful fun idea on your own blog....make sense?? The rules: Handmade by you, sent sometime in 2011...simple huh!....twill be fun!

room to move

2011-01-18T16:18:00.001-08:00

we moved just after Christmas. It is such a relief to have room to stretch and grow and move....I am so grateful for the shelter of our sweet snug cottage that we have come from, it has seen us thru 3 and half years of laughter, new baby, sorrows and growth...and alwasy felt welcoming and 'home' to us all....but we had indeed outgrown the space available...and it was time to start a new chapter....we have S P A C E....it is not flash and grand, but rather homely and welcoming....most who come here say they 'just want to sit a while'....what a lovely welcoming thought....its wonderful to hear the kids running up and down the stairs, finding racquets for badmington, being able to ride their bikes in the paddocks, pick fruit, climb the beautiful trees, pat the neighbours horses, shift the cows and start to build the chicken house....and for me; I love being back on the land, I had missed breathing it.

looking back...

2011-01-08T12:44:00.000-08:00

what an awesome year you have been 2010....like a roller coaster, you had your ups and downs, but aiming to treasure the ups and learn from the downs, has given you the label - FABULOUS. (warning its long and picture heavy!)

*January*....we spent some wonderful time away with friends camping in Waiotahi, a day trip to the amazing Cathedral Cove...so stunning depsite the hike (sign says a moderate walk...HA! not if you are carrying a toddler on you back and a preschooler on your front....one chick walking past Mr Man, said, 'what a tank!"....indeed!)
We spent time with family and friends and lots of time at the beach too....Devonshire afternoon teas become commonplace as did Jammy slice and peach chilled tea....jam was made and salads homegrown...

*February*..... school was back (boohoo), but more weekend beachtime had, surfcasting and frolicking....Nyah went on school camp with dad and they had a blast at the Mt for a week...Nyah the sweetie, still ended up 'mama-sick'...Valentines day was a 'sweet' affair with heart cakes eaten and messages of love for each of us from each of us....I made the paper hearts filled with smarties for all my sunday school kids......playcentre was much more interactive and fun for an almost 2 year old Micah, and as usual Jose rocked it...and also started back at kindy 2/3 mornings a week...my dad had an op, I also worked a fair bit in support of my friend while she undertook treatment for cancer ...a juggle, but am blessed with supportive/whanua oriented staff who love having my boys on site.

March*....is one of our birthday months....starting with our baby...who turned 2 and had a horsey party, with cousins and a few friends, complete with mama made hobby horse.....followed by our sweet neice's 5th birthday which saw us travelling the nearly 3 hours to surprise her for the day...then Jose turned 4 (what the heck!) ...and we kept things simple and had a family celebration with the table turned into a race track to deliver food on....my 2nd sister celebrated her birthday and my aunt and Nan and mother....so its fair to say LOTS of cake was made AND eaten.....

*April*....was a making month....we had a lovely family Easter party, and also a choc-feast Sunday school movie night/party...we visited the Auckland museum and made the nearly 3 hour trek to visit with family....the boys in our house made Micah Jack a new little 'big boy bed' and new pew type seats to fit more bottoms around the table...I made high-waisted skirts galore, and tutus (which Pipi-long-stockings the dog is modelling for us above)...more food created and consumed....

*May*...another mass family day to celebrate Mother's day....time at the park, a firestation visit and truck ride, sports days and baking made up the month of May...as well as another sister's birthday to celebrate....falling into the rhythm of winter... winter sports started up, and of course carried on working a bit too...

*June*....a sweet neice was born to our family....and the midnight dash across the country to meet her was a wonderful adventure .... we discovered how to make crumpets and of course had to have a peach teaparty with them (several times - ahem), we spent many nights with the guitars out, and had a 'middle east night' with Nyah's girlfriends, complete with dressing up, candles, turkish food, facts and music...we also had another family birthday...

*July*...I spent 5 days in Melbourne with my brother and his family - it was just splendid, and so lovely to be the aunty...craft-it-round started and it was lots of fun to make and also to recieve treats in the mail!, Nannie celebrated 80 years with all the family comig to celebrate with her...we had some lovely winter beach picnics, and made baby spill clothes, a reversible russian doll, more skirts, aprons, and continued knitting.....and had a momentous birthday with our 2nd baby turning 10!! an awesome day spent in the city going to the movies and treats and all the cousins coming to party...

*August*.... spring started to slowly emerge...We celebrated a neice's birthday, supported my lovely friend through childbirth, was part of a vintage swap (yay!), boys went off fishing with dad, made another beanie and tonnes of winter pj pants, went on a trip with the boys to a water garden, worked, ran basketball for school, another op for dad and very sadly my Uncle passed away....

*September*.... was about pulling my family together a bit tighter after a busy month before, we celebrated winter sports wrapping up (they are fun but 2.5 terms of EVERY Sat being out in all weather...hmmm), we did a couple family art nights, had a silly and fun Junlge fever party, and met Miss Daisy brown....getting to know and train her was a fun project for us all with ALL credit going to Miss Ny for paitence and kindness...

*October*...is the other party month! with a cousins/aunty/us birthdays every couple days, so once again get the cakes crankin out!! Another trip to the family for a sleepover! We celebrated Mr Man, me, a bunch of family and friends and then at the very end of it all...our 'Saye turned 13!....a wonderful party day for her and camping trip with her girlfriends too...swimming at the beach started again YAY!, we also held a crazy superhero party for a bunch of cool kids!

*November*....calf club took up lots of our time as did Ag day- both very cool! I had a trip with Jose to the zoo...and my mum met us there! Our sweet Nannie died, that broke our hearts....we had to take lots of deep breathes after that....we caught up with friends and got swept away with life's doings, but nursed sore hearts....we learnt to use a rotory hoe and planted 60 metres of potatoes, pumpkins, courgettes and corn, we had my work's staff do, which was a hoot, and Mr Man ruptured his achellies tendon...so another adventure for us began! We learnt about kindness and patience and graciousness like never before...and hospital waiting rooms...

*December*...featured lots of FOOD, making it, planning it, trying it, reading about it....a sweet neice entered our world, so beautiful. There were plays to attend, prizgivings to gush at how fab these girls are (seriously....am so happy for them!), we had a quite wedding anniversary celebrating 14 years!, a house to pack up, Christmas, a trip to A&E with our son, fortunately his arm wasn't broken (phew), physio appointments for Mr Man, Oesto appointments for me, work, shopping for gifts, making gifts etc....and then on the 27th we moved to what feels like Paradise....it has been an upheavaly (yes thats a new word!) 8 weeks inparticular, and I just want to sit...on the beach, on the deck, on my bed, in the garden...don't care where as long as its sitting....and taking some deep breaths.

Welcome 2011, we are excited to live you!....(after breathing you for a bit)...

December...what a joy

2010-12-23T11:09:00.000-08:00

what a huge month December is...my camera is full of wonderful celebratory photos still to be downloaded,....SO. MUCH. BAKING. has been done and enjoyed; kids prizegvings and shows, Sunday schools concert, Christmas presents made, brought wrapped and awaiting tomorrow...a momentous sweet neice entered our world and lives - welcome my dove, you will bring us all so much joy.... a wee nephew celebrated another year of life - much love to you also....my special brother, his wife and babies have come home for the holidays...December is just SO BIG.

Christmas for us will be the smallest it has ever been...with just the 6 of us....I'm still trying to get me head around that, and determined it will be a fun-filled feasting special day....remembering Christ's birth and the reasons for it.

I confess to being rather sentimental today, a tad weepy and lots to do....

we are in the process of moving house (like on the 27th!), and I am still trying to do all the pickling and jaming that this time of year brings....my sewing machine has a small coat of dust on it and calls forlornly, but we will hang together next week....

I will be visiting all your lovely blogs, but taking a wee break from this one for a couple weeks.

May Christ's love wash over you, bring you joy, peace and happiness as we celebrate His birth.
much love
B

christmas creating...

2010-12-12T21:52:00.001-08:00

for the last 3 years I have made something 'new' for our Christmas decorations and pretties...in an effort to get away from plastic baubles etc (nothing wrong with em! just wanting someting a bit more handcrafted)...so the year before last, I made sweet little bird ornaments out of re-purposed fabrics and wool batting, last year I made new table runners and clothes, felt hearts.

.
this year I have made this wee angel garland out of a re-purposed woolen blanket, old crochet doilie and ribbon...and then as I had lots of pretty ribbon left I thought I would up-date the inside wreath....so would love to have finished all the other things I had planned, but are also in the middle of packing to move so, yeah, not gonna happen this year!

crafting with my buddy

2010-12-11T21:38:00.001-08:00

tis always nice to hang out, cut,paste, sip wine, eat brownie, chat a while, be inspired to make some more.....a card crafting night with the lovely Frithy the other night. Yay.

bonfire...

2010-12-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

from this to ...

...this, to this...

a belated guy fawkes at our lovely friends farm, was so much fun, and as it was on the big side (ahem!), we gave up on the idea of roasting marshmallows and sat and ate them instead....poor Mr Man (on crutches) had to be transported to the bonfire in the bucket of the tractor - a noble stead indeed!

ps promise we all stayed far away from the flames!

lions and tigers and bears - oh my!

2010-12-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

tis not very often you get to hang out with just one of the sproglets, so when then opportunity came up to go on the kindy trip to the zoo, both Jose and I were very excited, a bus ride and a zoo trip, with my mum joining us is pretty special round these parts!.....usually Mr Man and I, have a minor sqabble over who gets to go and be then cool guy on the trip - but poor him, has ruptured his achellies tendon, so hes' outta action for the summer - boohoo!...its really dumb for us all, him mostly! We had a wee icecream for him though!...

homemade ravioli

2010-12-03T11:04:00.001-08:00

1st go at homemade pasta- a bit thick as rolled by hand and not enough rolling at that! but not bad for a first attempt....stuffed with feta, bacon and spinach from the garden - you can't go too wrong...YUM!

HAppy birthday sweet Josaye! 13...

2010-11-24T00:34:00.000-08:00

13 years have passed - what on earth! it has flown, and been a miraculous and amazing journey...one my sweet girl, that I am proud to hold your hand for...you amaze us with your insight and compassion, your helpfulness and intuition, your inner strength and beauty....I love that you are so different from me in some ways and so the same in others....I love that I can rely on your care of your siblings, and that you try to put them first - I love that your plans for life include shooting for the stars....know this baby girl, we will protect as much as we can, delight with you in your achievements, cry with you in your sorrows (may they be few and far between); support and love you always. Happy birthday sweet lady-child.

She chose to take her friends camping for the night out in our local bush/streams...we had a blast! I learn't a few things to about 13 year old girls!! 5 in a tent!...they are all lovely girls and it was a treat to hang out together....our wee lads thoroughly enjoyed the attention! and also learnt about peeing - ie not into the wind, not on mum's foot, not near the BBQ etc...good times hehe!!

The the rest of the family joined us the next day, for a lovely BBQ that was a teeny bit posh...and a swim down at the bay.... I so hope she will remember this time.

ps, I know the above photo of her cracking up isn't the best posed photo...but to me its gorgeous - her sister is pinching her butt and she's just lost it, and is laughing crazy.... it makes me smile everytime I see it.

happy birthday catch up!

2010-11-22T00:56:00.000-08:00

well its been crazy birthday month in our family - with about a million of our family celebrating another number...heres just a few pics from the Man's birthday and mine - and check out who we got to play with - yay Ms Dee from dee-construction ...love my friends from a million years ago!

....and then as if I wasn't spoilt enough....these two lovely ladies threw me a gorgeous birthday luncheon....how cool are they!! LOVe em! Thanks so much Frith and Sarah....can't wait to do the same for you xx

Have to also say HAPPY late BIRTHDAY sweet neice and other sweet neice, lovely sister in law, lovely brother in law, lovely friends...all October babies. xxx

I'm back!

2010-11-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

Hooray! My hardrive is fixed, dustfree (ahem!), up and running like a smooth running machine...to be honest, after heavy, serious withdrawals, we all go used to it not being here, and although I missed reading all your lovely blogs so much; I was amazed how much time I had to use differently...for shame on me!....anyho, since last here, so very much has happened....I turned another number, and was so spoled by my beautiful family, and sweet friends threw a birthday lunch for me...my sweet baby girl turned 13!!! (EEK!)...we took her and 4 girlfriends camping in the bush, was involved in helping a criminal investigation, followed by a birthday bonanza with my sweet sisters and their families and parents, have driven endlessly to see Miss Daisy Brown, cleaned her, brushed her, poked her when shes stubborn for my girl, been to 2 calf club days, planted masses of potatoes and corn, have suported my family through Mr Man rupturing his achellis tendon YOUCH! bigtime! - and its ingoing as you can imagine), sewn 4 peg aprons, 3 pairs of shorts, 2 summer pjs for my girls, one crazy patchwork bathmat, 3 christmas type projects, a skirt, 2 pillowslip dresses, altered clothes, mended, crotcheted, knitted with jersey yarn that has to be made as a go, started sorting the house for a moving in 6 weeks, worked a wee bit, and very sadly and with a heavy heart buried Mr Man's lovely Nana....its been a bumpy ride my friends, a bumpy ride....so a few pictures to catch up with .... its good to be back....

technical issues

2010-10-21T15:42:00.000-07:00

well, its been a while - and its super frustrating! but my hard drive has crashed and is away in harddrive hospital...so will be a while longer - amazing how you come to rely on instant information, ideas and resources - ARGH! thanks to the local library I can check out everyone once in a while ....sigh - until hardrive is fixed I will be stranded on my informationaless island wondering what the hang everyone is up to...ciao til then x

makin' stuff....

2010-10-04T01:12:00.000-07:00

been doing a spot of sewing, the last of my craft-it-round (pics coming) projects, birthday pressies coming up, and altering existing stuff to make it new and interesting - yay! These little numbers are one of the pair of pants for my littlest guy....hes just so darn cute at the mo- we all agree he's fab!...pattern inspired by Dana at MADE....loving her easy to follow tutorials...check her out sometime....these are actually made out of the bottoms of an old pair of jeans of mine....so seriously didn't cost a cent ..... um YAY!

2010-09-26T02:30:00.000-07:00

ah the joy of seeing yourself in film as it were....one of these days I might even have legs in it!

this was one day at the weekend....going to church? I think....

black leggings = farmers

cute ballet flats = warehouse

cardi = glassons

tunic thingy whatsit = House of W (er thats warhouse for those who are wondering - hehe, sounds classier!)...not that impressed with the 'foofiness' of it and lack of shaping ..but do like the pattern

check out our lovely other wednesday wardrobe ladies....and have yourself a great day xx

miss daisy brown

2010-09-26T02:19:00.001-07:00

we are loving having the opportunity to rear this sweet girl...and to be able to take her to calf day is supercool....I grew up on various types of farms - and we would all love to be living on one now for the kids (and me!!)...but that isn't gonna happen anytime soon - so this is the perfect compromise....all the kids love going down the road to this wonderful spot....where in a few weeks we'll been 'raisin our corn and planting our taters' too ....part-time faux farming is fun!

jungle fever

2010-09-25T22:32:00.000-07:00

Schools out and we sent off the term in style!

I love family nights...which come in all shapes and styles round these parts...and to be honest, sometimes don't happen for a week or 2- but I'm super glad when I do make the effort - doesn't cost anything/much and memories are made - WHOOP!!

Jungle fever hit our place...and hey presto before you know it, we have the menu, the decor and the costumes .... jungle music and BAD jungle jokes....a bit off face paint and everyone gets a bit silly - tis fun eh?!....introducing....

the asian rastafarian bongo playing elephant, the girl kitty black panther, the terrifying t-rex, the wild 'pippy' dog, the waterfall man and the butterfly.... waterfall man took out the prize at the end of the night - I suspect bribery and self promotion had ALOT to do with that!....

...a movie with intermission (little boys put to bed), and a wee relax - ahhhh; totally LOVE school holidays!

kiwana

2010-09-14T01:17:00.000-07:00

stunning....

wardrobe wednesday

2010-09-14T01:07:00.000-07:00

eek! here we are again...well, today we are off to the minature trains for playcentre, so am anticipating mud, duckpoop, wiped snot and food on me - nice!

anyho....

cardi- Max, and a sister's castoffs xx

top - about 4 years old, but still like the colour and the fantail print

black 3/4 pants - farmers - wildchild strikes again!

casual shoes - the warehouse and I love 'em!

hoop earrings - seriously $1 on sale - yay me!

Happy wednesday dolls....and don't forget to check out the others - heres a good place to start x

happy weekend

2010-09-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

Lemon Honey drop cookies - mmmmmmmm...

hope y`all get to do some of this over the weekend....we had a lovely picnic in Rotorus planned, with fly fishing for the kids and a visit with my Nana....but given the sky has opened up....I think I'll do this, and perhaps try an convince Rhyley the cat the blanket I'm working on isn't for him - silly kitty.

FATHER's DAY-late eek!

2010-09-11T02:07:00.000-07:00

i am week late posting these pics - for shame!...needless to say we had a wonderful Father's Day celebrating the Dad at our place, and all that he is and does!

Church, followed by a picnic morning tea (with blueberry apple muffin cake - yum!)...running races, swing challenges (I won the wheeeeeeeeee side of things, the Man won the make- the- swing- double- back- on- itself- scare -your -wife thing). Handstand competitions, and piggy back rides ....then home for a steak sandwich lunch, with all the trimmings....grunt grunt....a rugby game was viewed and the BBQ fired up for the first time of the season to come .... a good day in a man's book - no?

We love you - man of ours - you rock as a bloke, a hubby and a Dad.

lads being lads

2010-09-09T21:06:00.000-07:00

love this pic....my girls and I went away for a weekend together a couple weeks ago...and the boys went fishing with Dad....off they tramped into the local bush (not very far, but enough for an adventure)...and hung out together terroising the local fish...supercool hey!

wardrobe wednesday #3

2010-09-07T19:22:00.001-07:00

yup this is me - again...having a home day (YAY) and cleaning the loo (BOO)...but thats life huh!

Top: trademe

Jeans: my 3rd or 4th pair of wildchild ones I have floating around.

brooch: made by me - got to know a wee doily real good with my scissors!

and yes, that is a Princess Leah type hairdo; scary but got the mop outta the way at the time...coupled with a goofy grin - hehehe

http://http://greenvalleycrafts.blogspot.com/2010/09/wardrobe-wednesday_
Link back to Clare at Green Valley and see what everyone is wearing this week!

xxx

made it

2010-08-27T03:46:00.000-07:00

been doing a wee bit of sewing lately - here's last weeks venture....all from my stash -YAY. vintage cars/city fabric from a friend....simple black cotton and reversible with green polar fleece on the other side ....Micah Jack seems to like it and looks super cute in it...although don't look closely as my machine and I didn't get on so good with the thickish layers - grrr.

Jose is begging for one too- so found the BEST fabric down at the local oppy this week to make his lordship one too... Such a good pattern for another layer.

wardrobe wednesday take 2

2010-08-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

This is my 'I've got playcentre, followed by brief home time followed by basketball, and get home at 5' ensemble...hehe - in other words it a 'mom' outfit...comfortable, warm and patterned for the paint splodges inevitably put on it, snot wiped and general grime - nice.

righto: cardi - Sara lable, true score as a girlfriend found it for me in the local oppy - its lambswool and I love the swing style to it. (it hides a few lumps YUS!)

singlet - totally my OLD feeding singlet ...but I like the length so keep wearing it.

jeans - opshop find and in my fav wildchild label (a.k.a redwood tree legs jeans)

brooch - found on FELT and I love it times a million!

casual sneakers - the warehouse...LOVE these and are super sad they are falling apart - but will wear them to the bitter end.

leave you link if you are playing so I can check YOU out ...have an AWESOME day. xx

a diggin we will go

2010-08-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

I thought I might like to remember this in time gone later...so thought I'd pop it here for now.

Micah Jack is 2 and a half...he is bright, beautiful, clever, flexible and affectionate...he is also stubborn, determined, and strong...he also has great stickability for gettin a job done...long after the 4 1/2 year olds have flitted off to another project, Micah is still at it till hes completed his goal....take this hole,

- the boys at playcentre decided to fill in the puddles at playcentre- so gumboots on, spade in hand, barrow at the ready, they started diggin....now its a whole lot of earth to shift...and before long Jose and the others has deciced to go build stuff....not Micah Jack; he stuck at the digging, shifting, pouring, piling of dirt - until in his wee mind, the job was done - and done properly... this is so Micah even at 2 1/2....hes the kind of lad who will grow(I hope and pray), into the kind of guy that you will want by your side in tough times - knowing he will stick at whatever it is, until its done - and done well - son, grow strong and true; kids like you inspire others ....xxxx your mama.

sorrow

2010-08-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

my uncle passed away this week... I know he was very respected and cared for in his church and school community...that his sons and wife are loyal and true to him....I wish he didn't have to go, but know it was a relief from suffering...he leaves a legacy of loyalty, truth and care....I know that his faith was strong, and believe I will meet him again one day when its my turn. Sorrow makes you think about your own mortality and what will happen to you and yours...its my heartfelt prayer and plea that my own children will follow the narrow path of life...that they will accept the gift of salvation as theirs; following their great uncle, my uncle when their own time comes...as do I for myself.... we all have a choice = I choose life.

I love you game

2010-08-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

my kids and I have often played the 'I love you game' over the years, but right now its my 3rd baby whose really into it...and he comes up with some really funny ones....it goes like this:

Me: I love you more than the stars in the sky....

J: I love you more than the sand on the beach...

Me: I love you deeeper than the ocean

J: I love you bigger than the moon...

Me: I love you more than the blades of grass on the lawn....

J: I love you more the than dog poop on the lawn....(nice)

Me: I love you higher than the pyramids of Egypt....

J: I love you more than my butt...(ahem)....

you get the picture of how it goes I'm sure....teehee, try it out sometime! (be warned however if you play it with boys, butts, poop and more WILL get mentioned!)

the hunter

2010-08-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

oooo yeah...he conquered that wily trout, smoked the beggar then we ate it - freshly smoked and warm.....

...love these lads of mine - and listening them doing blokey stuff; paitently answered questions and reasons given to the 'but whys's' quietly discussed...I love to see my wee blokes chests puff up with the importance of helping Dad (the local hero at our place)....

squeal!.........

2010-08-18T21:05:00.001-07:00

look what arrived in the mail for me!! it was hearalded with Pip the pooches melodramatic protection of the gate as the courier attempeted to hand over the package - sigh...seriously need to do something about that!...anyho LOOK!

from the states came my vintage swap package (which is seriously way more generous that mine was, and postage is enormous from over there too! - eek!), and a wee treasure trove tumbled out...THANKS so much MUCH Nicola...I have the perfect use for the yarn already, have drank from the teacup, have plans for the books and love the yellow fabric/sheet...your awesome! Thanks so much xx

wardrobe wednesday

2010-08-18T14:26:00.000-07:00

gulp....sigh...gulp...nervous snicker...yup doing it!

Now ladies before we giggle at the above pic I must impore you to be kind and hide it behind your hands....I thought I'd join in the Wardrobe Wednesday along with all the other players (well maybe just once, will see how brave I feel next week) hosted/started by Clare from GreenValley...its been fun checking out other people styles and there are some seriously gorgeus chicks out here in bloggy land - yay...so anyho as you can see I am no twiggy, or even sticky - hehe - rather like the giagantic redwood of this land (well the girth anyways!)....here goes:

cardi- glassons

jeans - wild child (a must for redwood builds)

ballet flats - op shop score WITh tags still on, there were silver so painted them black and they came out a gunmetal colour =LOVE.

Dress, made be me with MUCH crankiness at the shirring elastic!

belt - froma friends opshop adventure (too big for her - sigh)

crazy hair - mine.

a birth-day

2010-08-15T01:13:00.000-07:00

my lovely friend Sarah asked if I would come and support her during her 2nd birth - um, YES!...this gal doesn't need to be asked twice I can tell you!...such an enormous priveledge and honour, one that I will forever treasure; this sweet babe will be one I will always pray for and delight in...

Such a lovely calm and peaceful entry into our world...such a brave and courageous Mama....

Welcome sweet Freya Emmeline Daisy.......you are such a beautiful wee blossom.

a trip to the gardens

2010-08-13T19:29:00.000-07:00

my boys and I go to playcentre once a week - where we are able to hang out, make a huge mess, and spend that time playing and learning together in a wonderful enviroment with other mums and kids...we are fortunate to have this and I think its unique to NZ...we encourage our children to learn naturally and at their own level, catering for their intersts and merging passions - it so fun....anyho, some of us went on a wee excursion the other day to the Ngatea Waterlilly gardens...such a fun place for families...I esp. loved the quirky little signs everywhere...

birthday girl

2010-08-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

happy birthday miss 2 year old niece! you make the sunsine seem brighter....xxxx Aunty B

a great idea

2010-08-08T18:34:00.000-07:00

while checking out the net the other night I came across a picture of a sock icepack...and thought - 'what a great idea!'(can't remember where sorry)...little did I know that idea was about to come into practice IMMEDIATELY!

the biggest girl likes to play soccer and play it HARD, (think bulldozer) and came home Thursday with a suspected light concussion and shoulder injury....healed from that (according to dr) and played on Saturday...where she rolled her ankle lightly spraining it - seriously, I wish she would take up knitting!...so anyho, what you do is:

take small ziplock bag and fill it with ice....push the ziplock bag into a tube (or long) sock...then you can gentle loop it around the affected area and gently tie it on using the sock itself!....hey presto!...a sock icy pack!, soft, flexible and COLD - I suspect I will be using it again soon - and am building up my ice supplies ready for the weekend...hmmm

baby shower...

2010-07-31T03:43:00.000-07:00

baby bumps - one with 1 and one with 2!!

Frith and I hosted a baby shower for our lovely friend Sarah ... twas so fun to do. We were pretty fortunate in that Frith is finishing renovating her house and they aren't moving in for a week or 2...so we got to hold it at her new place and be the very first offical guests! - cool hey!

so...made some more tissue pompoms, lit a million candles, the cosy fire, had throws and cushions scattered along with some cool chairs, a cupboard door and some paint cans did as a low coffee table...with a pretty cloth, no-one even knew!....some games were organised (the less cheesy kind - I hope!)...yummy food and hey presto we have a party!!

...we wish you all the very best miss Sarah, for the arrival of this sweet soul - so looking forward to snuggling this wee babe.

makin' stuff....

2010-07-31T03:30:00.000-07:00

a lambwool and alpaca beanie for my nephew...kinda made up as I went.

a wee tutu for my niece, who is turning 2!...so she can attend her tea parties in style.

a wee russian doll inspired cushion for the same neice...one side asleep the other awake...

some spill clothes that I made as part of present for a friend having baby...we threw her a babyshower this week....twas fun, and will share more on that soon.

the 10th birthday - day...

2010-07-31T02:55:00.001-07:00

A smidgen of pre-birthday sewing and this wee craft bag emerged...Ny is a project girl, and likes to work with paper mainly at this stage soooo, I thought a wee 'pick-up-and-go' bag would work...so she has wee pockets for everything and a large pouch in the middle for all the paper a girl can carry!...and of course every girl needs a party dress...it was totally a hold up to the kid and cut type of pattern...seemed to work, imperfectly tho...i love the wee lemon vintage buttons...and she looked darling on her big day with this dress, leggings and a sunshine yellow sweet cardi, and yellow shoes..

The enchanted castle cake in progress and the complete...twas fun to do and not hard just time consuming...and a wee tissue pom poms that were strung everywhere...along with bunting and balloons....

this is as early as it looks! and yes that is frost on the ground !- brrrr!!...nothing like a bike ride with ALL the family in dressing gowns and slippers outside at 6.30am!...did I mention brrrrrr!

we went to the big smoke and took the big girls and friend to the movies...and had to wear these fun 3D glasses...teehee, a good look, no?

then back to the grandies place where most of her cousins and aunties and uncles gathered for a lovely aftenoon tea, cake and silly-fun games....then out for dinner....it was a SUPER-fun day, full-on, loud, lots of laughter, a few remenising moments, lots of food, and whanau....Miss 10 said "I never want this day to end..."

Happy Birthday sweet, loved, compassionate, sassy,stunning, funny, loving, loyal girl - we love you.

10

2010-07-24T04:09:00.001-07:00

a whole decade of giggling, laughing, tickling, reading, chatting, hugging, snuggling, growling, caring, instructing, admiring, fixing, sorting, loving, understanding, and growing....my girl turns 10 tomorrow and I just can't beleive we are here already....I have much to show and tell, but will do so later....

....Nyah, you are sunshine at its best....warm and smothering and wholly delicious - we are so glad you are ours....HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY sugarplum xxx

heroine??

2010-07-22T02:07:00.000-07:00

teehehehehee...this is a bit of fun for you

What Jane Austin Heroine are you?...take the quizz and find out - apparently I'm Elizabeth Bennet - how wonderful...http:///

have a go xx

special 80th birthday....

2010-07-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

Jose and Micah were asked to help blow out the candles...

our dear Nanny celebrated her 80th happy birthday this week....she is frail now, with papery delicate skin .... but with such capable hands, she knits, crotchets, sets her fire everynight, chops kindling, cooks for her neighbours when they are poorly, grows the most amazing hollyhocks, chillean guavas and french beans.... she is woman who has raised 4 children, rocked many grandchildren, and now has great grandchildren to sit on her knee; buried 2 loved husbands and trailed the rocky road of life. I admire her so. Happy 80th Birthday Nanny...we are so glad we could celebrate it with you.

a winter's picnic

2010-07-16T19:54:00.000-07:00

We have enjoyed some lovely each time and Winter's picnic's this week....so fun! And I reckon theres a recipe to it:

1. Keep things SIMPLE!

2. A cool as, long time used wicker basket that you find a pretty shells and some flowers to decorate it with.....and cool retro floral sheet/blanket to lay it all on.

3. Peanut butter sandwiches - cut with my new teapot cookie cutter!

4. Sweet jars filled with pantry treats....jars make thing pretty!

5. Sweet little hands to eat everything up...

6. One slightly mad dog to chase the seagulls away

Works wonders for the soul....I so love our beach! And am so glad that although my eldest rolls her eyes, she indulges this nutty Mama and eats the teapot sandwiches still ;-)

Melbourne in parts - part 3, a post dedicated to fishes!and chocolate..warning picture heavy!!

2010-07-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

....we went and checked out the Aquarium in the city centre...very cool and similar to Kelly Tarltons over here.... the babies loved it especially ...photos of a few of the favourites...and then off for gelatos - ahhhh, YUM.

On my last night we all went out for dinner at a cool restuarant and then wandered off to find the best choclate place in the world (um, thats my opinion based on 1 other chocolate place I've been - teehee)...anyho defiantly had a 'charli and the chocolate factory' moment and totally wanted to dive into the churning vat of milky chocolate...sigh....a great way to end a wee holiday...

Melbourne in parts - part 2, a post dedicated to buildings...warning picture heavy!!

2010-07-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

We spent a day in the city...which to a small town girl like me is pretty novel ... although I so wouldn't do a permanent swap; it was cool to hang out and see the trams, world renowned buildings and event centres...the architecture is inspiring, beautiful textures and details to be found everywhere and food galore...we spent some time in a catherdral being refurbished so we could admire the details and hours of labour gone into intricate painting and moasicing and carving. (check out the wee door - and mosaics tiles...I so wanted that door)...then off for sushi by the Yarra River on the Southbank which has stuning chalk portraits on the side walk...

Phew!...off to the Aquarium now....

Melbourne in parts - part 1, a post dedicated to teapots...warning picture heavy!!

2010-07-16T18:57:00.001-07:00

I was so blessed to get to hang out with my cool brother, awesome sister-in-law and their beautiful babies...loved being there with them - and will even do it again!!...all my fears about leaving the kids were totaly pointless as they were better than fine - thoroughly entertained by Mr Man, and I came home to a clean and tidy house WIth ALL the washing done, AND cleaned lampshades...I mean really ...isn't that that an incentive to do it again!...anyways ...on my first day there, we went up to the Dandenong mountains and visited the sweetest little tea shop (among other things) and they had every type of teapot and sweet teacup imagineable...and being a true geek I had to photograph some of them!

Then we went further up the mountain where the wild birds come down to feed...what a racquet!...cockatoos, correllas, rosellas, gallahs, kookabarras ...all hangin out in one area....there must've been hundred of them swishing round the treetops, and swooping down to feed...one cheeky guy stole my entire bag of food (clever him)....

HAPPY BIrTHDAY!

2010-07-15T13:16:00.000-07:00

HAppy BIrthday big-little brother - was so fab spending time with you and yours....are so glad to be buds xxxxxxxxx

teriffying adventures

2010-06-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

well now, in a few days I'm leaving on a jetplane, over a large expanse of water to visit with my brother and his family - and I am TERRIFIED!....not of flying, I like that just fine; not because I'm staying with my brother's family - I like them just fine too!...and I know there will be exciting adventures to be had with them, memories to be made and 2 sweet babies to smooch and snuggle with .....

....but, oh how the heck do you leave your family - for 5 whole sleeps!!....totally can't get my head around it.

Now, The Man will be home to cater to there every need and whim, and will throw in a few adventures of his own I'm sure....but I'm not sure how to do life without organising our small army of 6, to not be continually making food, sorting washing, scolding kids, huggin them too....not to mention all the other things in life you do - and although from time to time I grumble and moan about them - these kids and the stuff that has to be done make up my life....seriously doubt that I'll make it on the plane!...and if by some miracle I do they will have to pour me on....Mum said when leaving your kids, you hug 'em, turn around and walk away and don't look back until you can't physically walk back to them. A huge personal challenge coming up - BUt with the sweet reward of some love over the othe side of the Pacific AND a homecoming to look forward to....now that will be awesome.....

ps that cool image up there is from Ruffles and Stuff...check her out sometime - shes cool.

the golden adventures of...: ♡ Giveaway ♡

2010-06-27T01:42:00.000-07:00

the golden adventures of...: ♡ Giveaway ♡

check out her totally delish giveaway...its so cool!...leave a comment on her page and go into the drawer
x

crumpets

2010-06-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

for a couple of people who wanted the recipe - here is is my dears xx

1.5 cups of milk

2 tsp of sugar

1 tblsp active yeast

2 cups flour

1.25 tsp salt.

Micro the milk till warm (about a minute)...add sugar and yeast, mix then leave it for around 10 mins, till frothy.

stir salt and flour in a large bowl and make a well in the centre....pour in the frothy liquid, and beat to a smooth paste, using a wooden spoon...cover and set aside for 30-45 mins, until the mix is very frothy.

Heat up a frying pan with a large knob of butter...cook large dessert spoonfuls of mixture, leaving for around 3-4 mins per side,until the bubbles pop before flipping....Eat them hot with lots of butter and jam........or toast them if you prefer.

an Arabian night...

2010-06-19T02:11:00.000-07:00

I have a LOVE of all food middle eastern....and red pashminas and lots of dangly gold jewellery and pretties....red lipstick and candles. SO thought I'd combine these things and we had a Friday fact n feast night....I spent a good portion of the day cooking up a storm, and loved it - made turkish pide, date and honey chicken tangine, herb couscous, and megdarra....with pear and cashew pudding....I love cooking non-boring things, not everyday things that I usually only have time for.

...it was Nyah's turn to invite some girls for dinner and to stay, so we roped them into that act too....they came over and the kids all found some facts on various middle eastern countries, and then the girls got dressed up, highheels, makeup, sparkly dangly bits, shawls you name it - they looked so pretty and darling...it was lovely listening to their giggles muffled behind the bathroom door as 4 girlies got themselves and each other ready. I soooo had to dress up too...The Man walked in from work with flowers and a bottle of my favourite perfume!! That really make the night special! (totally NOT the morn, so WAY cool in my world).

Candles lit, food served banquet style, eastern music playing in the background and lots of giggles with new facts shared....so fun, the only thing that could've made it funner is if my sisters could've been here to share, and their wee ones too....I so love a 'just because' occassional party!