Ballerina Dolly.....

I've just finished this little Ballerina Dolly while the kids have been outside and 'playing' with the two little boys over the back fence. They have been throwing balls to one another on their trampolines, scoring 'marks' and kicks. I'll have to try and get a photo, it is so funny to see kids playing with one another with a fence dividing them!!!

Beautiful Autumn day here, Kathryn. XX

One thing you should not do is.....

......buy a jigsaw puzzle from the "Reject Shop" and

spend four days putting it together, with two little boys, only to find that one piece had been duplicated (see second row down!!!!) and one piece missing!!! Bah. I guess they don't call it the "Reject" shop for nothing!!! How frustrating!
Great picture though.
What have you wasted your time doing lately?
Kathryn. XX

"O-nuts"

Trying to occupy two boys isn't always easy.

I thought they were going to kill one another yesterday!

So, the thought of homemade donuts, hit the spot.

We received "Sprinkles" the donut maker for our Kris Kringle gift this year.

I was a bit sceptical as to how good they would be. Would they be as nice as "Donut King"?

"Yes"they were!
Amazingly, they even had similar crunch on the outside without the fat!
Now, that's always a good thing - especially after Christmas!
Hubs suggested we call them "O-nuts". We always give things an "O" twist because of our surname!

"McMuffins" become "O-muffins" when we do them at home etc... Following on from yesterdays post....this boring lampshade became this

....for Master 7's room.

How are you occupying the holidays?

Kathryn. XX

Happy Holidays folks!!!

Just popping in quickly to say "Happy Christmas" to you all and may 2010 be a wonderful year for everyone.

We are spending our first Christmas in our new home with my parents and my Grandmother. It will be the first time my Grandmother, or Granky as we call her, will have seen the house. She turned 89 last Sunday and she still drives, lives at home and has a bigger social life than we do!

I've been "checking the list" off gradually today - the silver is polished, the crockery washed and ready, and the ham has been cooked. I really wish I could tuck into it today it smells so YUMMY!!!
I shall leave you with some pics from around the house.
The boys did the paper chains and most of the decorating.
My Dad made the Nativity scene a few years ago and it takes pride of place.
I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year.
See you all again soon.
Love, Kathryn. XX

Fun Holiday Art....

As you may have guessed, I am having a lot of fun at the moment creating mosaics!

This one is inspired by my creative offspring....

They have been drawing, cutting, sticking, pasting, painting.....and all on their own! How nice it is to be left alone, not being told "I'm bored" every two minutes of the day!!!

Here is a snippet of what they have been doing.

(Take note of the self portrait Master 8 did, in the centre, complete with brush in one hand and portrait in the other!!)

And what have I been up to? More on that next post.
How are your kids entertaining themselves these holidays?
Kathryn. XX

The Holidays......

....are off to a good start! No fights.....yet!

The boys were blowing bubbles in the garden this morning so I thought I'd take a few photos of what else is in it!

Bulbs are pushing their way through the topsoil - daffodils, irises and hyacinths, the first flowers on my "Sunset Boulevarde Hebe" appeared, mushrooms are multiplying , the "Black Boy" tree grasses next door look wonderful, the grass is green and the sun is out.

I wonder how our new garden will be when we figure out what to put in it.

Kathryn. XX

On a complete whim...

I've kinda been having one of those weeks.

One where you just can't seem to get stuck into anything.

I seem to find myself aimlessly wandering the house wondering what to do with myself.

I know, crazy right?

Well, today I found this froggie pattern, all cut out and ready to sew. (It has been in this state for, cough, 8 years..) It was a panel I bought at Spotlight 8 years ago and I just never got around to sewing it up.

Today was the day! C'mon Kathryn, you have to at least accomplish something for the day.

Finished!

And here he is in all his glory!

Would you just look at that GREEN grass - haven't seen that for a while!!

Come on, don't be shy!

I haven't given him a name yet. Any suggestions?

Mr Toad springs to mind from "The Wind in the Willows". Ah, the open road...

"You're not going to leave me out here are you, where I could be eaten by that feline of yours?"

No, Mr. Toad, you're coming inside with me.

He was very easy to make, the only fiddley bit was sewing the legs onto his body. I can't believe it took me so long to get around to making him. Master 8 said he was "awesome". Can't complain when you get compliments like that eh?

Holidays are finally here too! Yeah!!

Have a great weekend everyone, Kathryn. XX

Our bathroom is destroyed.....

There's never a dull moment around here I can tell you. We have got to get our house ready to sell in a few months so while Hubs is on holidays for a few weeks he has been busy destroying our bathroom. It was falling to bits, tiles coming off, paint peeling, not to mention the purple toilet! (Pam you would love it I'm sure, but not us!!). So without further ado, Hubs set about on his holiday mission......

The floor tiles WERE purple - Gone! Notice the accent tiles on the wall - more purple!

Accent tiles gone! The shower wall tiles were also purple and the shower base is still purple. We are going to have a go at painting it as it would turn into a mammoth job pulling it out. Anyone out there had a go at painting a shower base? Hubs has been on a few forums to see what would be the best way to do it ....so I shall leave it to him to sort out.... He says he has it all under control......mmm?

I, on the other had have not been destroying anything! In fact, things in my sewing room have been quite peaceful. I've been doing a lot of sewing for "us" and a few bits and pieces for the shop too. I will be updating it when the kids go back to school at the beginning of February.

We had a day at the beach yesterday - Ocean Grove. The waves were a bit on the small side so the boys didn't really get to give their new "boogie boards" a work out, but we scoured the rock pools and found some great shells to bring home. We also stopped at our local pool for a dip on the way home. It was packed but beautiful in! We have a season pass, so any opportuntiy we have to go, we do. The boys have been loving the water this year and Master 6 is much more confident. He was like a leech last year not wanting to let go of us. Now, he is jumping in with the kickboard and kicking his way up and down the pool, up and down the pool........
If you are on holidays too, I hope you are having fun!
Kathryn.

Holiday fun...

Hi eveyone. I am so glad the holidays are here - althought not too impressed when Spotlight announced the 20% off Sale which happened yesterday. Couldn't they have had it when the kids are at school? Instead I had to drag my poor boys around for nearly an hour while I browsed, ummed and arrhed, picked things up then put things back.. Gee they were good. Sometimes it is a nightmare taking them shopping but I was so proud of them both!

Not that I used any form of bribery :) of course not - no self respecting mother would...

or would they???

Anyway, as a reward for them, today I suggested "they" make their own toy..Well, I suggested some ideas, they came up with some designs (of their very own) then they picked out some fabrics,felt etc.. then I became involved. I'm not sure if the idea was for me to keep them busy or for them to keep me busy!

This is what they came up with...

Master 7's idea was "The Exclamation Mark Alien"....

Concept sketch

Alien cut out and ready to sew..

Voila! He was pretty happy with himself.

Master 5's idea was a snow bunny but with evil tendancies!
Here is his concept sketch..

Cut out ready to sew...

Voila! He does look a bit evil.....mmm?

"Kiska"

This little bag of mischief is off to the lovely Mandii over at Shabby Vintage Dreams

I'm sure they will love their new home and that Mandii will look after them.

Bye Bye girls - be good!

Kathryn XXX