Card Making Class with the Girls

A card making class was held this month despite it being holidays. Unfortunately the Papa was working and I was really keen to go. The girls were supposed to be going to Grannies  for a sleepover but because of the heat and her advanced age, I was hesitant to drop them off with her. Anyway the lovely lady who takes the class, knows my girls and said I was more than welcome to bring them along. It is a late night by kids standards but as it was school holidays I thought why not, they didn't have to get up early the next day.

They were really and I mean really keen to go, so after I read them the riot act asked them to remember their manners, listen to everything they were told, be on their best behaviour, etc and they assured me that they would, I agreed they could come along.

 

Here they are so very intently working on their first cards. They did really well and were actually onto things better than some of the adults. The Fashionista ended up changing her card somewhat as the paper we used was double sided so she ended up using different colours than the card we were following. I ended up liking her inside 'pop out' better than my own. Even Agent Smelly altered her card slightly. I like that about our card classes, we are shown how to make a card but we are more than welcome to try something a little different on them if we wish. So despite them all being basically the same they are all slightly different.

 

Here the girls are with Mrs S. who was showing them how to use "The Boss" which I subtly hinted would make a great mother's day present. Pastor L asked them to also run her card and her mum's through the machine and in the end our whole table had them do ours which they ever so obligingly did.

We then swapped tables to make our second card and I thought they would again sit on either side of me but no at Mrs S's daughter's table, who just happens to be one of Agent Smelly's Brownie leaders, they ran over to sit on either side of her and left me sitting down the end of the table. Humph!

They went on a great night as young Miss H, not only showed us how to make a small card but also a wee gift or lolly bag out of an envelope. How cool was that.

 

Agent Smelly's cards and bag.

 

 

 

The Fashionista's cards and bag.

 

This is the outside and inside of the card Mrs S. taught us how to make.

 

 

The girls had a great night and were so well behaved. Thankfully here were no "oh I wish you hadn't said that" moments or any misbehaviour. Agent Smelly did start yawning not so subtly later on in the night whilst Miss H was teaching us a card which had Pastor L and I laughing but in her defence it was a very late night for her. So I have to say I pretty pleased with them their cards. They really loved going despite there only being a room full of older ladies (except for Miss H who is only 17) and no kids their own ages.

My Reluctant Reader

Today I had to take down the Christmas tree. I absolutely hate taking the tree down. I always seem to put it off as long as I possibly can. It is just so darn pretty and festive and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy when I turn the lights on each night. The heat around this time of the year doesn't help either.


Anyway I thought I'd better get a move on so I sent the girls outside in their bathers and a couple of water guns to enjoy some sun ... and I hate to admit it but also to get them out of my hair. Between us sometimes it's just easier and quicker to pack up without their "help", if you know what I mean.

At one stage I turned around and looked outside and noticed my "very reluctant reader" sitting out on the deck in her beanbag, with her mp3 player on and book in hands.


I was SOOOOO envious! Oh to not have a pile of things that needed to be done, like washing, cooking, cleaning and to be able to just go and flop on the deck with a book (maybe not in my togs ... I don't want to scare any wildlife!) now that is my idea of bliss.  You know in my innocence, when I moved here nine years ago, I had visions of me spending my afternoons sitting on the deck, wine in one hand, a book in the other, lazing back with that beautiful view in front of me, whilst my little kiddies played quietly at my feet. HA ... reality hit and nine years later that still hasn't happened. Maybe I should have made that my 2013 resolution ... to finally spend a day doing that. Not the wine mind you, half a glass would put me under these days.


I was also very happy to see The Fashionista reading without any prompting, just for pleasure! My heart did that little wee flip flop thing they do when we mama's are happy with our offspring.


Later she told me that the headphones weren't on, she just was trying to get some peace from her chattering little sister ... mwah, bless their little cotton socks.

Indoor Camping

This week whilst the girls and I were out visiting the shops after the post Christmas sales they saw a wee three person tent on sale for $45. Out of the corner of my eye I could see them huddled together near the tents, pointing at them and animatedly whispering back and forth. Uh oh I thought, I know what they are  up to. So of course, next thing, they came over to me and asked if they could buy it with some of their Christmas money.

We brought it home and they have patiently been waiting to put it. Well sort of patiently as I told them if they asked me one more time, I'd throw it in the bin. The Papa's on night shift this week and don't ask me why, but I'd prefer for them to sleep outside in it when he's around.

Anyway tonight Agent Smelly had a wee fall in the garage whilst putting her bike away and was looking a little sad and sorry for herself. She kept saying over and over again, "I'm alright, I'm alright", whilst at the same time clutching her side and trying to hold back the tears that kept slipping out and running down her wee squirrel cheeks. She really is a brave, little, soldier when she hurts herself. I wanted to bring a smile to her face so I proposed that we try and put the tent up in her room.

In a nano-second two extremely, excited girls followed me up to Agent Smelly's bedroom, (LEGO land is currently sprawled across The Fashionista's bedroom floor) and helped assemble their very simple tent. Two poles, that's it ... two poles!  I kept getting hugs and told what a great mum I was ... they are so easy.

We didn't put the rain cover on ... as we don't seem to get much rain in their bedrooms at this time of year ...  you know it being summer and all.

As Agent Smelly was still experiencing some pain from her fall, I was a little worried about her sleeping on the floor so went out and grabbed our stretcher beds. They are just a little too long and wide for the tent but with the flaps open they were OK.

As you can see they soon fell asleep ... not!  But there is a a smile on both faces and that's what this Mama likes to see.

My Reading List for 2103

Last year I realised that for many years that I hadn't been reading much fiction. I had read lots of homeschooling resources and learning books but no really good fiction.

So after reading about a few people who compile book lists at the beginning of the year I decided to give it a go. I keep the list in my planner and it is so much easier to pop into the library (or grab something for the kindle) if I know exactly what I wanted. It also meant that I was not wasting my limited reading time on trash.

Last years book list worked really well and I managed to read a couple of really good books. Some from the list and some not. I didn't manage to get through the whole list, our library doesn't have the best selection and was not prepared to pay $20 - $30 to read a book. Let's hope I have better luck in 2013, especially now that I have a kindle.


Here's my list for 2013 ... in no specific order ...

MY READING LIST FOR 2013

FICTION

Girl in hyacinth blue by Susan Vreeland
What looks like crazy on an ordinary day by Pearl Cleage
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
I know this much is true by Wally Lamb
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
The Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simons
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The Homeschool Experiment by Charity Hawkins
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Phryne (Fry-nee) Fisher Series by Kerry Greenwood (only 1 or 2 of them)

The Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews (only 1 or 2 of them)

 

NON-FICTION

You Can Buy Happiness (And It's Cheap): How One Woman Radically Simplified her life and you can too by Tammy Strobel

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl by Ree Drummond The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan
Never have your dog stuffed by Alan Alda
The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry
Urban Homesteading: Heirloom Skills for Sustainable Living by Rachel Kaplan and K Riby Blume
Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too by Adele Fabe and Elaine Mazlish
The Paleo Diet by Loren Cordain
Paleoista by Nell Stephenson


Thank you to those who recommend books. I wont hold it against you if they don't turn out to be very good ... although I may look at you a little differently .... haha

Happy 2013

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.

May all your resolutions, goals and / or missions for the year be realised.

 

The Fashionista made it to midnight. Agent Smelly went to sleep around 9.30pm and begged for us to wake her before midnight to see the new year in. She was still half asleep but happy that we woke her like we said we would.