some of november in photo

we are looking at the end of the term tunnel fast approaching, and I'm thinking November might be forgotten in its wake! So a wee record of some highlights for our whanau...

1-4. My pyromaniac brother and his sweet babes and wifey visited with us a while....my pyromaniac daughter was especially thrilled ~ ahem (the wild life was not so much).

5. a wee window of chillax, at the local resort style pool...nursing a very painful back

6. time spent with mr man, just the 2 of us for a lovely weekend away- restorative and so needed

7. my 3rd babe ready for a party - as the only boy invited he was indeed 'mothered' and looked after...he presented the said wee birthday princess with roses form the garden, to which a large spider promptly jumped out and horrified all 12 girls - such fun!

embracing the camera

this week, with my 2 funny, sassy, sweet, kind girls....who wow me, floor me, frustrate and delight me - how the heck we ended up with such fab chicks, is at times beyond me.  But lotsa prayer, growls, hugs and laughter lines the path of their childhood thus far ...I guess lots more of each will be be needed...mostly i am just awestruck they get to be mine. x

my fave people in the world

time goes so fast, these pics were taken in August at a special family gathering....these are precious, most beautiful gifts, and sometimes (when I'm not pulling out my hair, or threatening to poke them in the eye!), I find myself incredulous; that I over anyone else get to be their Mama....'mazing.

valentine making.....

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!

Happy birthday Nyah- 11!!

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

ooooo looky, pretty mail!

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!

we're off....and a GIVEAWAY reminder too

Guess what?? We are off with a bunch of other families to the first camping trip of the season...pretty excited about that! and pretty frazzled too, as we leave in about 5 hours and I haven't done enough...and have packed too much!(and am on here instead of icing the cake I put too much flour in and now feels like a brick- a friend suggested that it would do for sinkers if the kids didn't like it!-HA).

I figure that the man really DOES like feeling frustrated with me, and ENJOYS finding places to stash my over abundant packing...so in a special way I really AM doing him a favour - ahem.

Righto so also am here to remind any lurkers out there to pop a comment on the last post - or this one, to be randomly selected for the giveaway/pay-it-forward chance...YAY for cool handmade stuff. I have indeed been making the odd pretty or 2 to spice up the packages I'm making- super fun!

cherrio cherubs off to ice a chocolate brick....x

a few things made...

I thought I wasn't achieveing much on the making front, and feeling quite cranky about it....but when I was looking a photos for the last month or so I found these things I'd made to give away...not many things make it into the shop, bellabree.felt.co.nz , as most things just get given away...which is even nicer I think.

1. Apron for my lovely friend Tania, its in matress ticking and a darling quilting print.

2. Baby socks...for my lovely friend Tania's new baby, made from Alpaca wool from the South Island trip hubby had last year (and brought for me!).

3. A cushion I covered for my Dad...with the wee pocket, the idea being its a place for the kids to leave notes for him, and he treats for them....in a beautiful apolstry linen and thrifted retro fabric.

Very satisfying looking backwards!

Enjoy your week lovely ones!