Taking Stock - December

Snuggling: Babies are just delicious

Celebrating: Surprise birthday celebrations for my Mr B

Loving: Friday Funday has become a bit of a theme around here

Friendships: Celebrating year end #friendswhotraintogether with my Boxing friends

Drinking: copious amounts 

Realising: just how much this group of humans has loved me supported me and pushed me this year

  

Cycling: Everywhere ...

Achieving: Another goal - lifting my body weight - gosh I'm 'heavy' 

Laughing: At Buddy The Elfs antics

Marvelling: We have another year of our 10 year olds belief

Giggling: at the 'naughty' antics and the innocence of children

Pondering: Am I your Aunty or your cousin or both .. .. .. 

Loving: this beautiful niece/cousin of mine

Deciding: you are never too old for face paint

 

Merry Christmas

Loving: Family

Feeling: The heat

Visiting: Swing Bridges 

Playing: water bombs

Watching: Grandparents and Grandchildren make memories

Buying: Icecream in the heat

Adventuring: In a microlight - my fearless girl

Feeling: apprehensive _but_ 

Loving: her smile

Enjoying:  My first ever 'big girl' live band concert

Listening: To Six 60 at the Riwaka Hotel

Smelling: 'Devils Lettuce' thick in the air 

Tis the season .. .. ..

There was so much crammed into the first two weeks of December - School trip to the Art Gallery, Christmas cards, Christmas tree and house decorated, annual Santa Grotto visit with friends, non school uniform days, Secret Santa gifts, school reports, my busiest time of the year work wise and all done whilst Daddy made endless trips away for work.

Life is hectic, as any Mum of school age children knows only too well.  My organisational skills have been tested to the max this term, however, with learning to say no to the endless 'end of year' social events we were invited to, we survived intact and here we are at the welcome start of an eight week respite from school routine. 

Hallelujah, we are all so, so ready for it.

Now summer and the school holidays are finally here and the children have flown down to my Mothers, I have fallen into a more relaxed morning routine. There is no school lunches to make, no rush, no deadlines and no stress .. .. .. A cuppa tea or coffee in bed and a spot of knitting. 

 

There is calm, there is peace, the house is tidy!  _and_ during the day in-between clients there is time to catch up with a friend over coffee or tea, whilst in the evening my Mr B and I can train at the gym together, take in some theatre or a movie, the world really is our child free oyster.  

We are truly blessed my Mama seamlessly and effortlessly takes over the parenting reigns for a week (or longer) every school holidays and the children get magical memory making time with their Grandma and Grandpop.  Win/Win .. .. .. it takes a village!

I hope you are all doing good in the run up to Christmas .. .. .. I hope you are happy and all is calm and bright in your days.

Week 1 of 52

I'm grateful for the photos Grandma is sending me of you both.

Helping dead head the lavender, splashing in the paddling pool and just generally kicking back and relaxing .. .. .. it looks like you are both having a great time with Grandma and Grandpop.

LOVING

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is.

Herbal Tea - YES I do !

My newly discovered love is Pratty's Feel Good Teas

Completing unfinished projects!  

SWAPS!  

This year was the 3rd year I participated in Chookyblue's Secret Santa Swap

The gorgeous table runner in the background in shades of pink blue and red was my main present opened on Christmas Day sent to me from Jeanette
I LOVE it and it is for everyday use!

My partner was Fiona and you can see what I sent her HERE

Thank you again Chooky for organising a great swap I know how much time goes into hosting them!

Conquering a new crochet block

This was my original idea for my mood blanket, I'm still undecided .. .. .. If I'm to stick to this ~ 52 weeks ~ do I need to stick to a plain easy to whip up block?

LOVE - I have absolutely cherished these past 10 days just me and my Mr, however, I'm also beside myself with excitement that my babies (8 & 5) come home today!

Last night I turned off everything and slipped into total relaxation - it's good for the soul

Linking in with

Crochet . . . and a new project (or two)

I'm on a roll with finishing projects at the moment .. .. .. and starting new ones

With Christmas as a deadline I had no excuses not to finish this wee op shop gem

My Aunt who donates her time to the local church op shop sent me a rather large bag of wool from her shop.  

Bits n bobs left over from projects.

Granny squares using the flecked grey as the main colour with one burst of colour round 

Running out of flecked grey right at the end 

My friend LOVED her op shop wool crochet blanket (even sleeping with it Christmas night!)

And I LOVE how all those unwanted bits n bobs came together to make a gift.

Balls of wool purchased in the Boxing Day sales 

A new summer crochet is project planned

(ummmm they weren't actually on sale, but that doesn't matter - right?!)

Hookin in the sun first thing in the morning 

*note the pj's still on - yes I am in holiday mode

Hookin whilst catching up with Coronation Street on demand 

Hookin whilst some rubbish is on the tv .. .. ..

There is also my Crochet Mood Blanket to keep me hookin throughout the year

Linking in with the lovely Max at Op Shop Show Off

And the lovely Leonie at Show and Tell

Advent Swap 2013 17-25

What an absolute treat I've had this December opening up my Advent Swap gifts

I must say as the Mama who makes and purchases the gifts of our household it is a treat to not know what is in each parcel and to have something purchased and/or made just for me

17) Colouring in books for Philosopher and Tsunami

18) The cutest floral bunting now hanging from my mirror

19) Crochet magazine and Toffee Pops

20) Hoop art initial embroidery "C"

21) Handmade Necklace

22) Freddos

23) Zipper pouch (now in my gym bag holding makeup)

24) LOVE bunting - this made my eyes leak LOVE!

  

25) the cutest lil bunnies 

Thank You Treena Marie for making me smile throughout December

Scrap Vomit Christmas 2013

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for no matter how simple it is.

LOVING Tsunami and Philosopher

 Our yearly visit into the city to see Santa in his grotto

Philosopher announcing 'this is the REAL Santa you know, the mall ones are just helpers!'

Please my darling boy hold onto the magic for a bit longer 

As I finished binding my Christmas Scrap Vomit Quilt today I had to have a wee laugh at how aptly named it was .. .. .. 

Christmas 2013 the year of the Scrap Vomit 

 Christmas this year was memorable 

Woken at 3am with Tsunami vomiting 

Followed by 5am a call from Philosopher 'I need to vomit'

I absolutely LOVE my scrap vomit quilt 

Made by Deb on commission 

Quilted by Linda

Completed by ME

LOVING these girls, family I choose for myself

A phone call to my BFF on Christmas Morning to say I had two vomiting children, her reply 'AND .. .. .. I babysat them yesterday, I've already been exposed to their bug, you WILL be with your family (read her family) on Christmas Day .. .. .. 

2 glorious hours of Christmas Day (even with the vomiting)

*Fox Brooch and Crochet Baubles made by me

Linking in with Meghan with Things I'm Loving

Creative Christmas Makes

Tsunamis class studied Bees this term 

For her teachers a felt Bee mobile

You can see Tsunamis class singing their Bee song HERE

Philosophers class performed

"What does the Fox say" at assembly

If you haven't heard this song - I suggest you go HERE for your life to change

I'm not promising it will be in a good way

 For his teacher and a girlfriend a Fox brooch each

Crochet Christmas Stockings 

so quick and easy to make

filled with Russian Fudge - perfect wee gifts

Pattern found HERE

Mollie Makes felt necklace

A morning spent cutting and stitching

a gift posted on 'just because'

Linking in with Leonie over at Show and Tell