December 12 {Thankful #12}

{ Blog 25 days of being Thankful..... this as a way of staying focused on the good , happy and pleasing moments....

it's a way of acknowledging all that we take for granted, all that we sometimes overlook as we let busyness take over.}

Today I am thankful for.......

So many things .....

A Young lady that graduated from Year 7 today...... 

I was slightly emotional as  we saw the students enter and take their place.......

Wow ...where has all the time gone.....

Meg has done us proud with her work ethic and friends she has chosen along the way......

After the formalities it was home to prepare for the dinner /dance in the evening.....

nails, hair, dresses a little makeup......

They all looked stunning and oh were they excited!

They danced the evening away ....

and created some lasting memories to tuck away  of friends ,teachers and fun times.....

and we did it all without too many dramas and melt downs......

Funny hearing them say how much their "high heels" were making their feet hurt after all that dancing....

I am also very thankful for......

A new nephew born in amongst the midst of all the glamour and ceremonies.......

We are so pleased to welcome...

Flynn Thomas Owens into our family 

My baby sister did an awesome job! 

Baby number five for her...the other 4 babies were with us for the short wait.

And now this is one tired mumma and auntie who needs to say goodnight. xxx

December 11 {Thankful #11}

{ Blog 25 days of being Thankful..... this as a way of staying focused on the good , happy and pleasing moments....

it's a way of acknowledging all that we take for granted, all that we sometimes overlook as we let busyness take over.}

Today I am thankful for......

Some more Christmas crafting for yet more special people.......

it is all this simple stitching that calms the running mind and racing thoughts of to do lists.....

Every year our church hosts a Carols in the Park night...so together with a local real estate developer we put on a show for the community....

Tonight was that one night in the year........after the crazy weather we have been having and the forecast to come in the next couple of days ....tonight was perfect.....

My gaggle of kids church kids get to open the show with our band ......

it is not a polished performance or directed by any choir master...just kids having fun singing the songs they wait for all year....and on a little stage!

A great night had by all...fantastic crowd of families out for the festive spirit and enjoy each other company.....

and we were treated to the most fantastic sunset  to top it all off........

Being cheeky and joining in with Sunday Snippets here.

December 10 {Thankful #10}

{ Blog 25 days of being Thankful..... this as a way of staying focused on the good , happy and pleasing moments....

it's a way of acknowledging all that we take for granted, all that we sometimes overlook as we let busyness take over.}

Today I am thankful for......

• Finishing off some more thank you gifts to give out tomorrow.... 

I have seen this idea both here  and here and thought they were so cute and a fun, novel gift to give.

Also thankful for

• a fairly laid back day in which to head out and find treasure. Something we haven't done as a family for a little while.

There is always new finds in our local area that pop up and need discovering....

and while out and about we discovered this sign at a local popular drinking establishment....

Hmmm marketing has reached new heights!

December 9 {Thankful # 9}

{ Blog 25 days of being Thankful..... this as a way of staying focused on the good , happy and pleasing moments....

it's a way of acknowledging all that we take for granted, all that we sometimes overlook as we let busyness take over.}

Today I am thankful for.....

Our two kids having a great finish ( well almost) to the end of the school year....

Today Fraser received a Principals Award for 

Excellent Attendance!!!

There were about six students in the whole school that managed a near perfect attendance record and he was one of them.......WooHoo we say although it wasn't something we have consciously thought about...isn't that what you are supposed to do when you are in Grade One? 

He was super proud when we explained what the award had been given for.....

Meg was also recognised as 1 of three Year seven students who were successful to gain entry into the Creative Arts -Dance Drama Specialist programme for Year eight next year...

Only 22 students in the surrounding local schools gained a place.....WooHoo we say again!

My afternoon was spent making a new Christmas stocking for Meg......

This is the sorry looking one she has had for 12 years ( sadly her first Christmas was a time where we had heaps going on with our eldest)

anyway she said she didn't mind but it was a talking point each year...

So now she has a brand new "mummy made" one.....

I used the template from here

Only a little quilting as a feature with some of my lovely doilies....

These are our stocking that belong to myself and the hubby....I made these for our first Christmas as a married couple...23 years ago!!!

And Fraser has  a lovely "not mummy made" one that grandparents brought for him on his first Christmas.....

and this one always hangs right next to the others .....

Growing up we just used a pillowcase from the linen cupboard that sat on the end of our bed...

Come Christmas Eve our stockings will "magically" have goodies land in them too.

December 8 {Thankful # 8}

{ Blog 25 days of being Thankful..... this as a way of staying focused on the good , happy and pleasing moments....

it's a way of acknowledging all that we take for granted, all that we sometimes overlook as we let busyness take over.}

Today I am thankful for......

Sunshine!

Our second and final playgroup Christmas party was today and after Tuesday's effort I am so thankful.......

The bouncy castle went up and all had a great time.

I feel like it is all neatly tied up and popped in the cupboard for the next 7 weeks....

ahhhh  time for a little rest....well maybe!

• Also thankful that Meg has the opportunity to go with her Indonesian class to put their learnt language into practice and hopefully know enough not to go hungry.

• I am not so thankful that Meg managed to duck back into the house after  something forgotten and left the spare key inside...with my house keys because we were just walking her to the school!!! Arrrgggg

• I am thankful that my sister has a spare house key and could come to our rescue.

December 7 {Thankful # 7}

{ Blog 25 days of being Thankful..... this as a way of staying focused on the good , happy and pleasing moments....

it's a way of acknowledging all that we take for granted, all that we sometimes overlook as we let busyness take over.}

Today I am Thankful for......

• A little guy who although is tired  still heads off to school with a detailed

"Sccoby Doo Christmas" picture that he drew for a friend.

• Easy Vegemite and Cheese scrolls whipped up for the little guys class Christmas party.

• Family traditions in the form of Advent Calenders.....

 I was contemplating taking some inspiration from around the web and making a handmade Advent Calender.....I ran out of time and I am kind of glad I did.....

The kids were very keen to get out the one we use each year...

It doesn't require me to fill it with lollies or gifts, or think up 25 different activities.

The kids just need to decide who is "odd" and who is "even" and away they go hanging a little ornament on the shelf each day......

When our eldest was about two I did hand make an advent calender that we used for a couple of years......I just wasn't very good at filling it with things small enough other than lollies....hmmmmm

I do have the Advent Calender that I grew up with....no lollies , no fun activities to do each day.....just simply find the number and open the window....we used it year after year....

With three of us it was always a gamble who got to open the coveted "number 24 window"...

It is very fragile now  but still has it's sparkle and little bit of magic for me!

December 6 {Thankful #6}

{ Blog 25 days of being Thankful..... this as a way of staying focused on the good , happy and pleasing moments....

it's a way of acknowledging all that we take for granted, all that we sometimes overlook as we let busyness take over.}

Today I am thankful for......

• The rain!!!!

Oh OK I am a lot little unthankful for the rain. It was the first of our two playgroup Christmas parties today.

The bouncy castle was going to be so much fun......well that was until we had a huge storm front come through dropping huge amounts of rain and bringing thunder and lightening like we haven't seen in a while.

What's with that after the heat wave we have been having......

• So OK the party continued inside and from all accounts a great time was had by all......

pressies well received.....

• and the face painter was a huge success.....

So I am also thankful today for .....

•  a lovely meal out this evening with my small group who I have met with all year....
• and a lovely responsible babysitter to "child sit" (not babysit apparently)  our darlings!

December 5 {Thankful #5}

{ Blog 25 days of being Thankful..... this as a way of staying focused on the good , happy and pleasing moments....
it's a way of acknowledging all that we take for granted, all that we sometimes overlook as we let busyness take over.}

Today I am thankful for......

• this photo I have of me on Santa's knee...I think I am maybe three....

I have not had children that liked the whole sitting on Santa's knee, so there not many to show....in fact Fraser has refused for 6 years..

Do you insist on the yearly photo?

also thankful for......

• The final preparations for our playgroup finale to be held tomorrow and Thursday......

Hope none of my playgroup mummies are reading.....

• I actually made myself something today using my lovely doilies

There are plenty of others blogging daily here

December 4 {Thankful #4}

{ Blog 25 days of being Thankful..... this as a way of staying focused on the good , happy and pleasing moments....
it's a way of acknowledging all that we take for granted, all that we sometimes overlook as we let busyness take over.}

Today I am thankful for.......

• A great church and kids church where they are always up for a bit of a laugh.......

• A trip to the DVD store  to pick up some entertainment for a stinking hot afternoon......

• A few minutes to play around with my purchases from here...

• Finished one more thank you gift for some hard workers......

• Thankful for Sundays

December 3 {Thankful #3}

{ Blog 25 days of being Thankful..... this as a way of staying focused on the good , happy and pleasing moments....

it's a way of acknowledging all that we take for granted, all that we sometimes overlook as we let busyness take over.}

Today I am thankful for  ...

• Fresh flowers from a friend just because.......

• A dad who was a trooper and joined in the little guys soccer game despite the searing heat and having done a 100km bike ride earlier in the morning......

• A family dinner to trial cooking the Pork on the BBQ for the real Christmas feast......

• Family to eat the cooked , "trialed" and yummy Pork......

•  Also thankful for our air conditioning today in the heat of the day.....