I *heart* this time of the year....

Yep I do LOVE Christmas! Our tree is not up yet as I'm uncertain where to put it...Miss Lola will attack it I'm sure...so I think we may pop it in the front lounge this year. I would love it in the new family room but don't think it would last long in there!

As usual we have a million things going on...

• My b'day...quiet one - but DH took me to the movies - which I just love doing! Lots of pressies and fun. My sister bought me these M- cups - LOVE them! Got lots of vouchers and money - saving it all for the sales!LOL!

• Playgroup Christmas party - it was sooooooooo HOT but lots of fun...Poppy's face painting was gorgeous. She loved her book and skipping rope from Father Christmas but was even more impressed with the yellow golf ball she found in the playground - go figure!



• Sorting, clearing out, selling and giving away all our little baby clothes and toys.



• Poppy had her last day of 3 year old Kindy - more partying...off to a new school next year!



• I finish my teaching this week - yay for holidays. New teaching job next year which is very exciting!



• Just making my Christmas cards- way behind this year. Getting a photo of both girls is tricky! Lola is a wriggler!



• Tiny bits of scrapping - time and tiredness get me everytime!



• Most of the presents bought and wrapped!



• Now to sort out the menu for Christmas day - it's at our house this year, for the first time - hoping to keep it delicious but casual. Being the youngest in my family I usually just turn up to everyone else's place wearing a new dress and holding a bottle of champas and a salad!LOL! Now it's finally my turn!



• Planning fun and creative things to do in the holidays - want to do lots of fun family activities!



• Lola is on the front cover of Scrapbooking Memories Mag this month- YAY! I've never had a cover before...am dying to see it!



• Had our "girls night out" - annual Christmas Dinner, drinks, carryon! Haven't been out much this year but now Lola is older it's getting easier! I had a ball - new dress, fake tan, new hair do....great food, gorgeous girlfriends - soooo much fun! Love my chicks!

I'm actually sure there is more but that's all I can think of....anyone still read this? Will be back to post some LOs up!

Are you crazy busy or super organised - or both!?

xx

Another Birthday....

This time 4 years ago a had a sweet new bubba in my arms! It has gone soooo fast ....it's a blur. To be honest Poppy wasn't the easiest of toddlers - very "spirited". Her endless energy, tendency to run EVERYWHERE, constant talking and overly strong will tested me along the way! But the traits that sometime drive me crazy are the traits we value so much in adults - strong willed, confidence, social, energetic! So I embrace this gorgeous girl and her high spirited ways! She is unique and fun! She is our special first born! And we love her to bits!

She had a little party yesterday with some special friends. I made her a tinkerbell cake which I was pretty pleased with as a first attempt! She loved her new big girls bike from us - aswell as some books, memory game, Tinkerbell doll and costume. Dh's family all put in and bought her the Tinkerbell Cafe kitchen - what a hit! She received bathers, jewellery box, charms, and funky hat! Alround a fabulous range of pressies!

At Four -

She loves

• Outside play


• Bathtime


• swimming lessons


• Going the park


• Hot chips


• Singing and dancing around the house


• Playing with Lola


• Story at bedtime


• Drawing


• Long, swirly dresses


• dressing herself


• Her doll's house


• Trampoline


• To answer the phone - "hello Poppy Corbett speaking"


• Finding treats in her Nanny's handbag


• To wake up at 5.30am - I'm not loving this one!


• She can write her name


• she loves affection


• She loves playing with her friends and older cousins


• She will eat most things but only tiny amounts

So that's both birthday's done and dusted - now looking ahead to Christmas! Eeeeek - we're having it here at our place this year!!!!

XX

Happy first birthday Lola!

God, can it really have been a year already? Athough in some ways it just feels like she has always been here.

Lola is such a loving, clever, pretty little girl. I just adore her. She completes our family in so many ways -she is the perfect play mate for Poppy. There is nothing more special than the bond of sisters. She looks alot like her dad and I I know he loves that she does! And she will always be my baby girl!

At One -

Length -

Weight -

• says mum.Bubba, lola, dad, nan, nanna(bananna), no, hello, bye, "awwwwwww" when you cuddle her, "uh-oh".And a whole heap of babbling and humming!
  
• crawls everywhere, cruises standing against furniture, "free" stands next to furniture.


• Eats quite well - just weaned from breast feeding but not keen on cows milk yet.


• Loves to play "chasey" with Poppy, loves exploring, outside play - eating sand! Loves to climb!


• Hums and rocks, claps to music.


• Laughs alot, giggles and smiles alot!
  
• Sleeps really well - 12 hours straight - just starting to wake earlier.


• Two bottom teeth only


• Size 0 and 1 in clothes


• She is over an easy baby - lots of fun and so easy to love and enjoy!

Last Year - meeting Poppy.

This year enjoying her first ever cupcake!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY GORGEOUS GIRL!

OMG - some scrapping to share!

These were the LOs for each round of the Boxx Comp - it was really good to have a challenge and meet time deadlines - I always work well with time deadlines - I just get it done!

All good here - getting ready for Lola's first birthday/baptism - we are combining it to have one large party! She is such a delight. So happy and easy going and into EVERYTHING - she gets into things and then flashes a cheeky smile and gives a wicked little laugh! Can't believe this time last year I was 20kg heavier and awaiting this precious bub! She and Poppy get along so well - I love watching them "play" together!

Poppy has been much better with her behaviour and emotions lately - just growing up I guess. She still has her moments but I am consciously trying to manage her/repond to her in a more positive way. She is really starting to enjoy drawing and making things. She draw cute little pictures of people now - usually our family - very sweet and special!

Take care

Melis xx

busy fun...

Well the school holidays have been and gone! We love the holidays because DH is a teacher so we had him home for two weeks! Yay! We have been super busy and had lots of fun!

• Went to Gero to see my family - Poppy had a ball hangin' with her big cousins, Lola was sick so we stayed in alot!
• went to the Royal Show - left Lola with Nanny, so Poppy had a fabulous time! She LOVES the rides and has no fear! Loved the animals, face painting, games, food, showbags and the train ride home!


• Went to the cutest fairy party at a fairy shop
• Culling all my baby stuff - learnt how to list on e-bay and am selling at a baby market in Nov.
• Getting rid of a pile of scrapping stuff - have given away literally about 100 pieces of paper!
• Some scrapping - for the Boxx comp. - lots of fun!
• Trips to into the city, the park and playground.
• Trying to still sort out the house - reserected this old dresser for Poppy's room - very shabby chic - she loves it too!It's a really old kitchenette -partially stripped it, took the top and the doors off and add the baskets. I nearly gave it to my sister two weeks ago - lucky I didn't!


• Now back at work...and a job change for next year is in the wind! A new position and I'm pretty excited about it. I have LOVED my job for the last two years but my position as it has been is no longer available!
• Organising Poppy and Lola's birthdays and Lola's baptism.
• Started making some cute felt/fabric/vintage button hair clips to sell.
• More kids craft with Poppy - I LOVE making things with paper plates - they are cheap and so adaptable. The ideas are endless.

First one is a garden collage. You can do any theme. We've also made an under the sea one. You could do the beach, a jungle, space, fairyland, dinosaur land etc $2 shops are great for items to use. Paint the paper plate and then glue on other bits and pieces - it's that simple.(I cut out the clouds and she positioned the rest)!

Second one - an old favourite - paper plate fish! Cut out a triangular section and staple on as a tail. Paint, then for "scales" cut patti cake liners into quarters. Glue on in rows! Add a wobbley eye or a hand drawn one!She's pretty proud of her work! LOL!

Hope you are having a great week - will be back with some LOs!

The Hungry Caterpillar...

I adore Eric Carle's books and did a whole Author study on his books with my junior Library classes! Did you know it's his( the caterpillar's) 40th Anniversary this year! Talk about surviving the test of time. I LOVE working in the Library because I really do love literacy lessons and children's books!Poppy has a copy of the book and loves it as much as I do. I really want to pass on a love of books to my kids.

Now she is getting a little older Poppy and I are doing more crafting together. I will post some of the things we do - incase anyone is looking for simple activities to do with little ones!
This week we decided to make a Hungry Caterpillar - very basic, but you could busy it up with far more decorations.
Items needed - Egg Carton
Red & Green paint
Yellow paper or card
Purple card
Optional Extras - pipe cleaners, sequins, green wool...the list goes on!

Cut egg carton in half, cut off one individual section for the head

Paint the "body" green

Paint the head red - allow to dry

Cut out two eyes from the yellow card, paint green in the centre

Cut out two purple antennae - or use pipe cleaners

Assemble - staple or hot glue head on, glue eyes and antennae, add a nose.

You could further decorate with sequins, green fabric, wool or crepe paper!It's VERY simple - but Poppy isn't even 4 yet so - it has to be! If you would like me to post more simple crafty ideas please let me know...if no one is interested I won't bore you all! LOL!

I've been scrapping for a comp. at the BOXX...and hoping ot get a bit more of my own scrapping done. Slowly finding my way back! Have some cute pics of the girls to get on to!

Will be back with some LOs later!

Have a great week! X

I know, I know...

...it's been a while! LOL! But who would have ever thought TWO kids would take up soooo much time! He he!

Lola has really blossomed in the last month and has a wide range of party tricks including a fake laugh, a fake cough, waving, VERY loud squealing, pull up on things and crawling EVERYWHERE! She is also finally showing off her first tooth. She is such a happy and easy going bubba...just a delight!

Poppy is growing up but is definately testing boundries to say the least. I adore her but she is very emotional and sooooo stubborn! I'm hope that as she matures she'll calm down a bit! I also wish she knew that 5am is not a great time to wake up!!! It drives me crazy! But there are so many loving and sweet sides to her - I need to celebrate those more!

We are LOVING the renovations and all the space we now have. I'm clearing out lots of scrap stuff. I'm sick of hanging onto things I don't use. Have given away a tonne of paper and there's still more to go! I actually wonder how we lived here before! Life is just rolling along I cannot believe it's September already. We are preparing for Lola's first birthday in November and Christening party then on to Poppy's 4th birthday - she has requested "Tinkerbell everything" and I'm having a crack at a dolly varden cake! LOVE them!

I have been doing a little scrapping...you'll be seeing some photo double ups as some pics are needed for both girls' albums. These are dodgy pics...not time to scan and stitch!

We had an awesome Father's day! One of Tony's mates and his family were over from Sydney and so we had a great morning tea with them and his other mates...actually all his groomsmen. My how times have changed...wives, toddlers and babies everywhere...just wonderful really!

Have a wonderful week!

XX