Kindy is officially over for Poppy. She has had such a LOVELY bunch of kids in her class and the most divine teachers! We really are so so happy with her start to school! The class did a gorgeous little "concert" for the families and Poppy even had to introduce one of the songs!

She was great and I heard she helped one or two nervous boys during the rehersals!Gorgeous girl! We also had a lovely get together for all the families from the class at a park, Santa came, lots of laughs! Like I said a really lovely bunch of people. I wonder who will be in her class next year?

A quick Christmas craft idea...a paper plate wreath. I LOVE paper plates and brown bags for kids craft! With this one you simply cut the centre out, paint it green and add your choice of decorations, stickers, glitter. I think a bow in the centre at the bottom would finish it off nicely!

More kids crafts to follow as we are now on holidays I think Poppy will want to keep busy!

XX

FIVE!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe this little blossom is FIVE years old! I know people always say it but where has the time gone? There was ALOT of cake this year! Cupcakes for kindy, a cake on the day and a cake for her "hula" party on the weekend!She loved her pressies - spoilt as always! So I have been busy with the girls parties and cakes! Busy with lots happening at work. I have a new contract for next year - exactly what I was hoping for which is wonderful! Geeze we might even have a little money next year! School has build a brand new Early Learning Centre and I was lucky enough to be able to do lots of ordering of lovely new equipment! That is a dream come true! Christmas is coming and I'm pretty much organised - just need to do the wrapping! YAY!

Poppy at FIVE -

• Loves barbies
• Loves imaginative play - dolls, dolls houses, lil people
• Is enjoying weekly swimming and tennis lessons
• Loves playing with friends and adore her cousins
• Adores her teacher.
• Likes Kindy but finds it tiring as she is still and early riser
• Likes making things/arts/crafts
• strong willed - like you wouldn't believe
• Enjoys outside play, the park and animals
• Still a tiny eater - favourite meal - lamb roast
• Enjoys stories and reading
• Starting to learn about letters, writes letters, numbers, her name and family members
• Sings, sings, sings all day long.
• She cracks us up all day long - funny story teller

We adore her, we love her, we can't imagine life with out this busy, loud, funny girl!

Back soon with some kids Christmas craft if you are interested!

X

Lola is TWO...

I can't believe our bubba is TWO already! She is such a funny lil girl! A really character with funny songs, noises, screeching, giggles and the most hilarious faces or looks that she pulls!
We had a small morning tea for her birthday with a few close friends! We went with the "hungry caterpillar" theme - invites, lolly bags, placemats, colouring in and of course the cake - all made by me. The kids all played beautifully and most importantly Lola had fun! Presents included - a wooden kitchen, dora bath doll, books, wooden threading toys, new dresses, hat, fairy dress, musical instrument, wooden farm set and her new big girls bed! With more to come!

AT TWO....

• loves outside play and water/swimming time at Beaty Park
• loves "drawing"
• adores her big sister, follows her everywhere
• loves blueberries, strawberries, toast and lollies!(was a great eater but not eating much these days - due to bronculitious sp?)
• happy little personality even though often sick with asthma type cough.
• stubborn streak just like her sister - knows her own mind!
• Follows instructions easily and comprehends alot
• Language is starting to improve with more and more words everyday.
• LOVES animals from dogs to frogs....she just loves them all.
• Had been an excellent sleeper until a few months ago - climbing out of her cot at 4am ready to start the day...now in a bed and sleeping till about 5.30am. Still has a day sleep and is in bed at 6pm.
• Social and loves other kids...
• She likes books and stories especially flap books at the moment.
• Has a range of funny and goofy faces that she is constantly pulling.
• Affectionate and loves a cuddle.
• Tries to dress herself and can put on her shoes(most of the time)
• Likes to twirl and dance about.
• Poppy taught her to "gallop" last week and it's how she generally moves about at the moment! Very cute!

We really do adore her and she completes our little family. I love to watch the bond between my two girls. They can drive each other crazy but they also love to play together, to cuddle and laugh. There is nothing sweeter than sisters.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY GORGEOUS GIRL!

'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