Things I am loving.....

I think I have said this many times before.......

 

I love being there for my family.......

 

This little munchkin needed some dental surgery ....

 

 So I was able to be on hand to watch over this little guy while my sister was busy with the medical stuff......

Because it doesn't matter how much you have prepared them for all the steps......the last minute jitters always kick in and all your  powers of persuasion and coaxing must kick in....

....while we had to wait out the surgery we took a walk around the neighboring streets and admired the view of our beautiful city.....

It was quite fun just to wander around the quiet streets and take in all that was busily going on.....

I enjoyed the character that oozed from the buildings  that lined the streets....our newer suburbs are so void of character these days.....

We even met a friendly local or two who were happy to pass a greeting.....

So a tricky and  not so pleasant task was smoothly completed with time to enjoy the company of a couple of my sweet family.

So I am loving the time spent with them and the privilege of being close enough to be a help.

Joining in here with other lovely people.

My Creative Space

50 Stitches

20 rows

Knit ,Purl,Knit,Purl......

I am just a straight row knitter but even that basic knowledge is sometimes enough....

enough to keep my hands busy when I feel restless.....

 enough to add a little more colour to my wardrobe.......

enough to complete with the little bit of time I had.

Joining in with other creative hands here. 

This Week...

at    PLAYGROUP......

 

 

we are getting ready for Easter......

 

so so many crafts to choose from and so little time......

I went with an idea I spotted over here.

Easter baskets with finger print Easter eggs....... 

and a sensory tub with eggs,chicks and rabbits,

Next week is Easter Egg hunting time.

That is followed by school holidays and one whole term of creativity almost done.

Are you ready for Easter? Do you do an Easter Egg hunt? 

Do you do Reward Cards?

This week I received an email from a company that I have a rewards card with......

spend the points or they will expire at the end of the month.

I use this rewards card when I fill up for petrol and do my grocery shopping  and not much else.

I take bonus points when they are offered but very rarely think about using any of the points accumulated.

I am not one to go out of my way to use the card but it fits with my usual shopping habits.

Still with all that we spend on food and fuel the points still don't add up all that fast .

...and when old points expire faster than the new ones accumulate it can be all a bit pointless.

So I took the email and did some investigating yesterday and with some quick discussion with the hubbie on whether to take an overnight stay somewhere or to find a  gadget we really did need or would use .......

we settled on a 

and I even had enough points left over to get 6 months worth of this.....

I now have a pretty much zero balance and I am thinking it will be some time before I think about what else I may be rewarded with......

Do you do reward cards? Have you had any cool rewards gifted to you?

Monday Monday....

Not much exciting going on around here today........

except that I was all alone.......to tackle the  huge stack of dishes.....

...the loads of washing to be done......

 

...the ironing that was calling.....

...a little bit of  office work that needed doing....

All while listening to the play list on my 13 year olds IPod......yes I ventured into her room and figured out how to do it.

(..thought it a good chance to see what she was listening to  on those head phones.....

I actually think she has OK taste in music ...well........ maybe Justin Beiber is pushing it!!! )

While I was pushing through these jobs and more, I felt a sense of the importance that doing these tasks held.....
It is my role to make this household tick along nicely and somewhat orderly ....
my guys are expecting  depending on me to be up for the job.
Just the fact that I was alone meant that I am privileged to have regular days off to keep things in semi- order.
This is not something I want to grumble about or take for granted.


Just in case 

You’re Feeling Unseen & Unappreciated

I read this today that encouraged me to stay in a good mind place while looking at all the dishes that hadn't been done all weekend ( we don't have a dishwasher!)

Hey if you are in charge of the smooth running of the household  then check out these

25 Clever ideas to make life easier

Hope you are in for a great rest of the week. x

Sunday Snippets

A little glimpse into our weekend........

.......An impromptu sand pit tea party.....

 ....the most perfect of Autumn sunsets......

...the love of sushi in our kitchen......

....an essential purchase to go with our other purchase earlier this week.....



 
....semi feeling like I am ready for another week.....

joining in here with others and their snippets.

Peaches and Cream Muffins

A little visit with family for afternoon tea required something yummy to eat...

 

a bit close to dinner and lots of children to share with, I thought I would try this light, possibly  healthy, new to me recipe......

 

 

Peaches and Cream Muffins

 

 You will need:

 

1 cup rolled oats

250ml Sour Cream

1 cup plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

4 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup tinned peaches in natural juice, well drained and roughly chopped.......

 

To Make:

1. Preheat oven to 180C and grease your muffin tray.

2. Combine the oats and three quarters of the sour cream and set aside while you prepare the other ingredients.

3. Sieve flour, baking powder,bicarb and salt in separate bowl.

4. In separate bowl, whisk together the egg, oil and sugar.

5. To the wet ingredients add the oat/sour cream mixture and mix well. Mix in the dry ingredients and the reserved sour cream. Finally lightly fold in through peaches.

6.Spoon tablespoons of mixture into muffin tray.

7. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the skewer comes out clean. 

They were very moist when first out of the tins...but once cooled they firmed up nicely and were snaffled up very quickly.

 

I found the recipe here at Christie's place.

 

Things I am Loving......

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.  

 

 

This week I am loving......

A cooler day which means jeans and my red comfy shoes....

Shopping with my sister....just wondering how DO people where such high heels....

A little visit with this most gorgeous nephew....... and getting the most beautiful giggles and smiles

A little job that finally got done and took no time at all......

Time with my beloved where reading the paper over cake and coffee is just so right......

Well....he read the paper and I read "Better Homes and Gardens"   ......gotta love the" Domes" free reading material.

Joining in with other loving people here.

My Creative Space

Last week it was Grace

and she was a hit!

There is yet another classmate party to attend.....

soooo...

Meet Madison...

What can I say I love making they loved getting!!!

Check out other  lovely creative people here.

"CASP er "

 Meg is enrolled in a

Creative Arts Specialist Programme 

and they had there first public performance today for the parents.....

 they dramatised 

THE RAVEN    by     Edgar Alan Poe

I am thinking that she is in her element and hopefully will have a great time for the next three years.

 

We Chose...

Remember I asked which colour?

well we chose...

Crystal Pearl!

This Week...

....At   Playgroup.....

Rainbow Fish

I had the opportunity of reading one of my favourite children's stories today...

The Rainbow fish

I used this idea for inspiration  for the craft ....

I just replaced the coffee filter for paper towel.

I also created a "Rainbow Fish" sensory tub....

rainbow coloured aquarium stones,shells, scoops and sea life play creatures 

Again the children have had so much fun with the exploring  that comes with a sensory tub.

Could You?

.... or would you?

On the weekend I called past some friends garage sale......she had kindly put aside a lovely pile of vintage linens for me to pick up....

I was so pleased to contribute to their funds...

because you see they have decided to sell all they own and head overseas, with the intentions of working with and amongst the poor.

As I arrived at the garage sale and there were many people picking through all their  belongings, I wondered whether I could ever do the same...

I am such a sentimentalist and I am sure if we were making any of the similar decisions { which we are not} I would be finding the largest storage shed to stash my things.

Anyways I now have a very lovely pile of linens to play with.

Pop over and check out the travel plans of the "garage salers".

 

 

Sunday Snippets

 Here are some snippets from our happenings.......

 

 

 

 

 

 

A rare occurrence of teddy in the wash, birthday cake making, some time to sit in the quiet and loads of Lego making.

Have a fabulous week.

Joining in here......

Celebrating .....

...the  7 year old way.......

 My hubbie asked me if I wanted review my blog post from yesterday......after I was still trying to get my little guy and his two cousins to sleep way past MY bedtime last night

Well he had a great two days......

There are lots of cousins but he has two that are the same age as him....

One is the eldest of five siblings and the other is the third in a family of four.....

 They were very excitable...  and full of energy... who knew that boys could giggle louder and longer than any girl?

{ don't let this next photo fool you!!!}

What better way to use up the last of any energy they may have  had......

Silly string......... 

I can probably safely say that in three households tonight there will be three 7 year olds who are in bed early tonight.!!