Things I am Loving

 This week.....

I am Loving....

*  That despite having been away and lacking in motivation on our return....we did manage to be ready for the school return on Monday.

* That the kids were quite enthusiastic about returning to school...and have given the thumbs up for their new teachers.

 

* New shoes bought while on holidays.

*Impromptu smoothies with the kids after an after school orthodontist appointment.

* Lots of lunchbox snacks baked.....raspberry and white choc  muffins

* Lemon Coconut slice

* Banana Bread

* And loving the sewing journey we have had this week...me and the little guy.  

Joining in with Meghan for Things I am Loving

Thursday Thankful List

* Happiness over the new teachers.

* Hearing the little guy say"actually I had a great day"

* Home baked goodies made for the first day of school

*Seeing my girl head off to school in her mumma made skirt.

* Big sisters willing to pick up little brothers from school

* A day with my sweet

* New routines

* New helpers to get the job done

* Almost one week down of the new school year

* The discipline found to go for a walk every night

* Walking with my hubby

* Walking with my little guy and the chatting to go with it

* Teaching my little guy to sew

* Seeing him feel proud to have made something noteworthy

* Impromptu smoothies with the kids

#301 Inspiration for the term ahead at playgroup

My other lists are here  Counting my way to 1000

My Creative Space

 My space is a shared one this week...( to make up for the lack of crafting being done lately)

So if my sisters are reading.....

It has finally been confirmed....I am our mum.....

You know how I know?

I sewed  my Year 10 daughter's school skirt!!!! The only difference between me and mum is that my daughter asked me to make the skirt.......and....I made the kind she wanted!

So I present one circle skirt for wearing to school.......

 I used this tutorial. 

It is not perfect but she loves it....although not so good for those windy days I am told......

My mum made all our school skirts but she always made the decision as to what style....A line was her choice....we all wanted the pencil skirt but they were deemed impractical for riding our bikes to school!

Such was the conversation about a circle skirt as apposed to a more longer design....and the wind factor.......

But what do mums know anyways hey!

 Well I did say this was a shared space this week....shared with my little guy who suddenly was desperate to learn to sew....and it had to be now this week.....sigh

We began with straight lines practice.....

 .and practice some more.....

 Apparently after two sessions he was ready to sew something proper.....so we compromised and I suggested he make some bunting for his bedroom.

So he hit my scrap drawer and we cut out some flags together.....he sewed them together and then onto the tie.....

He decided he wanted to make his name so six flags were needed.

I suggested that he try printing his letters on once sewed......

He did a really good job.....and really enjoyed the whole process.....that was after he checked with me that it wasn't too "girly" to be sewing?

I assured him it was most definitely not! 

 I must admit I was a bit flustered to begin with...but I soon realised that this was a great opportunity to foster screen free and creative time with him......

I am just not sure where he will want to go from here....any suggestions for easy boy sewing projects ...just so I am prepared?

Joining in with Show and Tell.

One Photo a Day- January

1.Lunch - left over Chinese take-out

2.Begins with G - gift

3.My town - beautiful sunset over the beach

4.Word to Live By  - On our fridge Romans 8v28

5.Found - Doing a holiday jigsaw

6.Happens Everyday - Open the blinds and let the sun shine in

7. Upside down - Hubby made bid feeder

8.Lucky Number - No.3 our house number

9.Natural - a lizard captured

10. Man made -City scape from recycled cardboard

11.Looking down- Busy work at the table

12.Colorful- Camp Sonshine organisation

13.Makes me smile - Friendships made

14.3 Things - 3 cousins at swimming lessons

15.Black +White - Giant snakes and Ladders game

16. Sun - The sun shined for Camp sonshine

17. Tiny - Superhero match off

18. Happy place - My garden

19. Breakfast - Fresh exotic fruits

20. To do list - Last minute planning for the holiday

21. Blue- Swimming of course

22. Nice! - enjoying the holidays with family

23. Bedtime - Luxury sleep ins while on holidays

24. Your space - beside the pool with a book 

25. A taste of Summer- Waterslide fun

26. Fun stuff - water park hanging out

27. Something I bought- Australia Day BBQ in Bali

28. Dinner - Nasegoreng

29. Window - Hanging above our bed

30.- Best invention ever - My portable "recipe and sewing tutorial reader" !!

31. Polka Dot - New pencil case material.

I thought I would give the Photo a day thingy a go...hmmmm trickier than I thought......You can check out February's list over here. 

A New Year

 I don't know about you but this year February 1st feels like the start of the year......

It feels like January was full of special things but the real year feels like it is just starting...

 I feel like we (me -my family) are on the verge of new beginnings......

 

As I stood in each of my kids rooms last night while they were sleeping....I prayed....prayed for their new school year, the teachers they will have, the friends they will make,the learning that I hope they will do.....

 I have been thinking about what is behind all the doors that will be before us as the year unfolds.....

The new families I will meet through my work role, possibly new friends that will fill my time, the adventures that our family may undertake,

Opportunities that will hopefully present themselves to my husband....work, church and personal interests.......

 The talents that we need to foster and encourage in our children and see them realise some dreams....

I have been wondering what lies behind being intentional about relationships, pursuing ideas, acting on prompts...

So is this a new year thing for you too...or have I just been off the planet for the last month and now feel the need to get a little serious?

Bali was full of doors.....everywhere you went they had beautiful ,mysterious ornate doors that lead somewhere.....I could have done a photographic tour on just doors...and maybe get a peek behind some of them too.

Weekend snippets

: Juicy

: Dangerous

: Beautiful

: Learning

: Doing

: Tasty

:  Hopeful

: Nosey

: Lush

It was an outside weekend....even a bee sting for the hubbie...lots to do.......school back tomorrow....and so the fun begins.

Happy week to you.

Joining in with Em

5/52

Him: The last photo before the tooth came out...Australia Day in Bali...good timing.

Her: "Remember I am 15 in two weeks!"

My 52 weeks project

Joining in with Jodi's Project

Things I am Loving

Indulge me.....I am loving that we had the opportunity to take a great family holiday......

and on that holiday I loved.....

* Seeing this lady work daily in her little tailor business in a back street...creating the most beautiful sewn cut work.....

* Learning new things about the Balinese culture straight from the locals themselves...

* The lushness and hidden beauties we discovered as we traveled by foot....

* The braveness of our family to try local cuisine....

* It may have been accompanied by some favourites not so often had drinks from home....but we never get them served in glass at home...

* I loved the my kids just fitted right back in this time and took it all in their strides...

* That food.....mmmm I could eat their rice dishes every day....

* Celebrating our national day in another country was certainly fun....

* That my guys have no aversion to exploring on foot...even if it was a long way....

* That despite it being a bust tourist season .....it was very quiet most places we went....

* The abundance of that beautiful Frangipani that is everywhere filling the air with it's perfume....

* No shortage of fun for the kids right outside our door.

* The punt on the accommodation that paid off....

* The decision to take my new camera and loving using it like a proper tourist....

* and finally I am loving that I was brave enough to try something out of my comfort zone.

* Love my family....thanks guys..... (Loved being away with extended family too)

(There were four adults and six children in our party......we arrived three day after the rest of family......4 of the children had no idea were we meeting up until we bumped into each other in the swimming pool....classic suprises and responses)

Joining in with Meghan for Things I am Loving