'bout time ...I know

OH MY GOD...she scraps....not one but two LOs....

My gorgeous Lola in her first "big girl bathers"...love all the nautical clothing around this year. I love my girls in red!

And our wonderful Oma...how lucky are my girls to spend time with their great grandmother. Who still lives independently, cooks delicious meal, and can speak three languages. She teaches them lots of little dutch songs and sayings!

I don't know if I "still have it" with scrapping but I did enjoy these two...and most importantly the little memories behind them!

Lots going on as we are leading up to a big birthday season in our family - the very important ones being my girls. FIVE and TWO...I can't believe it! Life just flies doesn't it!

Back soon...

might even get a couple more LOs done!

XX

How can we make a REAL difference?

I have been pondering for a while now on how we as a family could do something to help others. I want my girls to be actively involved in "giving something back". Yes we donate to charities but I wanted something more physically evident to my girls, something that would be given directly to someone in need in our community!

Each year the school that I work at makes up "food boxes" for Saint Vincent de Paul. The kids all bring in a non - perisable food item and at the end of the term, just before Christmas the boxes are given to St Vinnies and the distribute them to local families in need.
I was thinking how can I do more? How can my own children be involved? Then I thought what if we made up our own box of food - as a family. We are definately not rolling in money but I know we could add two food items to our weekly food shopping. If we add them to a box each week over the school term we would have 20 items of food to help a family this Christmas. So simple!

So this is my challenge to YOU - join in this 10 week challenge!

• Ring your local Vinnies and see if they are collecting food hampers at Christmas(I'm sure they will be!!!!) They may even "allocate" you a family ie "Mum with three kids/Mum, Dad and 4 kids/ Mum with a baby etc...
• Find a large cardboard box - we are going to get the kids to decorate ours! Get them involved!
• Each week for the next 10 weeks we are going to buy two extra food items - to go in the box for a family in need this Christmas!
• I want my kids to be involved with choosing the items, arranging the box etc...
• At the end of the 1o weeks deliver your box to St Vinnies.
• YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

I really want to see how many families we can help in our community! So I'm asking YOU and your family to get on board....go and find that box now, get your kids involved, your friends and family, your work maybe? If you are keen spread the word. Post this on your blog and leave me a comment so I know you are keen.
I'm tired of hearing "how can I make a difference? I'm just one person? etc..." Now is the time to really help some in your community. What did you last spend on shoes? Wine? Craft supplios,Take away? Two items a week in your food shopping is simple I'm sure!

I hope you will join me!

http://www.coneinc.com/old/.a/6a00e008d5230e8834010536554189970c-800wihttp://

XX

Holiday fun - white crackle cakes...

Well we thought we might make something delicious today. Poppy has a few kids with egg allergies in her Kindy class, so when it is her birthday next month I don't want to risk sending in cup cakes, so we are doing a practise run with these cute little "crackle cakes"

Poppy even matched up the colours - clever chook!
So quick to whip up! You can even make them up to three days ahead and store in an airtight container!They are perfect for Xmas treats too!

Makes 20, Prep: 20mins, Cooking: 2 mins.

2cups rice bubbles
50g butter
1 cup of white mashmallows
30g white chocolate melts, melted
20 lollies, jaffas, lollie pops to decorate.

1. Place rice bubbles in a large bowl. Combine butter and marshmallows in a small saucepan and melt over a low heat until smooth. Pour onto rice bubbles and stir to combine.
2. Spoon mixture into mini patty cases and leave to set for 20 minutes.
3. Spoon white chocolate ove the crackles and top with a lolly! Leave to set!

Healthy - not really, Easy - yes, fun - yes, Yummo - yes!!!!

I'm alive.....

...just...LOL!

Well the craziness of our busy lives at the moment has completely drained any creativity out of me! Not the will, just the energy! Life is great just more than a little bit busy!

For the last 3 weeks of the school term I took on a relief possition in the 4 Year old kindy, so I was basically fulltime! It really wore me out - not the actual teaching - the kids, parents and assistants were fantastic. It was the emotional toll on my kids, the stress of getting everything organised, Poppy's tears in the mornings....I do not know how mums work fulltime with little ones. My part time position is perfect for me but I realise that you couldn't pay me enough to miss out on my girls on a fulltime basis!For some mums there is no other option - and I respect those who can juggle it all alot better than me! To add to the whole situation Lola learnt how to climb out of her cot and has been waking up and roaming around from between 4.45 - 5.15am most mornings - it waaaaaayyyyyy to early and exhausting.*Yawn*. Let hope it passes once we get her a bed!

• we've been working on the "playroom" - it has stalled due to my working.
• we went to the Playschool concert - I swear the mums and dads love it more than the kids! Such great value - and so much more "personal" than events like the massive Wiggles type concerts!
• my selfless mum came down from Geraldton to look after my girls for two weeks - what a wonderful nanny she is.
• lots of crafting with Poppy and "writing" she's very interested in words and letters at the moment
• a fun day the Perth Royal Show - just Dh, myself and Poppy - Lola is too much of a runner at the moment. Poppy had a ball with animal petting, show bags, rides and face painting.

• Planning Poppy's "Hula Hula" party - she will be FIVE!!!! And Lola's "Hungry Caterpillar" party she will be TWO! They are meant to be small parties this year but I love all the little details and making the cakes. They are growing waaaaayyyyy to quickly!
• We are now on holidays and have lots to do. The early starts are still killing me - sooooo NOT a morning person! But I have started walking - trying to lose a few more kilos and it's good for my mental state - LOL!

I desperately want to scrap, sew, create, lots of courses I'd love to do but just soooooo tired! Hopefully I'll get some photos printed this week and get creating!

I'm not sure if anyone even bothers to pop in here any more but I'm hoping to share some creativeness soon!

XX