Birthday

This week it was Scott's birthday.  We were planning a trip to town to enjoy spending some time with friends and having cake.  But part way along the road to town we discovered that there was water over the bridge and we wouldn't be able to go.  So we turned around and came home and wondered what to do with ourselves.  I couldn't even make a cake because I didn't have enough eggs.  And this is one of the only birthdays he hasn't been able to celebrate with his twin brother who has moved overseas.  This was not going to be the best birthday. 

But on a brighter note:  I have been wanting to make birthday bunting for a while now and late on his birthday eve I actually did it.  With his birthday being so close to Christmas I wanted to change the feeling of the house from Christmas to birthday.  So here is a photo of what I made.

 This will go up for every birthday now.

We got a few eggs from our chooks yesterday so this morning I tried (for the first time) to make a sponge cake.  Now a sponge is quite an art, and something I have been a little scared by for a while now.  It is something I would love to master but am not too keen on all the unsuccessfull attempts it is likely to take on the way.  However, today I tried.  The process didn't seem to hard and it looked really good.

The taste and texture however were nothing like I hoped.  It wasn't soft and spongey like a good sponge should be.  It was sort of dense and rubbery.  So I guess I need to try again if I am going to master it.  Scott tells me it was a good cake, just not a good sponge.  I think I need to buy him one at the shops to make up for his lack of good sponge birthday cake.

More water

Today we were planning to head in to Toowoomba and catch up with some friends for Scott's birthday.  However, this morning we were greeted with lots of water and no way to get to town.  No matter which way we try to go there is water over a bridge, so we stayed home and enjoyed watching the water flow around our place.




The 'Mary River' broke her banks



The ditch beside the box tree paddock

 

The D7 is sliding down the bank - towards the sump full of water



Water is still rising when we took this



The cotton is in the creek



Milestones - Isaiah & Eli

In the past week, we have hit some big milestones.  One is Isaiah has learned to ride his bike without his trainer wheels.  He did this in just two days.  And he can usually start himself off too.  Yay - hopefully we will be able to start riding places more now.  Here is a video I got today when we went outside in the rain to get rid of all the pent up energy.  Riding through the puddles is so much fun but it is a little bit hard to start yourself in the rain. 

Sorry about the terrible video, I was trying to protect the camera from the rain with a cloth over it and this meant I couldn't really see the screen - but at least the camera didn't get wet!  I've already killed one camera  with water so I wasn't going to risk the same fate for this one.

Our second milestone is Eli - on Christmas night he started giggling.  He is so incredibly cute but instead of me telling you about it, how about you just watch it.  Scott managed to get it on video. What a good Daddy.

Enjoy your Christmas

Sploosh

This is a technical term, used by Isaiah to describe water splashing up over the windscreen as you drive through puddles on the road.  With all the rain we've had of late, I am often requested to 'sploosh please mummy.'  And of course being a good mum, I do.  (It doesn't take much to encourage me actually).

Here is an example of splooshing, thanks to pa.

Water across our road

 This is way we normally go to town - its more than 2m over the bridge

With more rain predicted I should get plenty more opportunities to go sploosh!

The creek is up!

Really? I can't camp out there?? Are you sure?

Nativity - Shepherds and their herd

Today we made two shepherds and four sheep.  Jai loves pulling the legs of the sheep and walks around with them going 'baabaaaaa'.  The sheep just happens to be his favourite animal at the moment.  Thank goodness there were shepherds and sheep in the nativity.

Nativity - Angels

Today we added angels to our nativity set - I couldn't decide how the dress should work so I made two different ones.  I love their feathery wings - donated by Aunty Suz.  Thank-you.  We also painted the stable, and the table and ourselves!!

Hands-on Nativity Set

Those of you who know me, know that I have a very special Nativity set.  The Willowtree set lives on the top shelf of my bookshelf all year round.  Aquiring this set was progressive, I got a new bit of the set for a number of birthdays and Christmas'.  It is strictly a 'hands-off' nativity set for our boys. 

But the idea of the nativity is very important to what we believe, so I was very excited when I found the toilet paper nativity set by SquiggleMum.  This is our current Christmas Craft.  We have made ours a little differently, people are generally toilet rolls but our animals are playschool style, (flat cardboard decorated with pegs for legs).  Each day we are building, making a little more of the set.  So far we have made Mary, Joseph & a donkey, stable, manger, Jesus, cows and a pig.

 

There is still lots to make, angels, shepherds, sheep, star, wisemen, camels.  I'm thinking I can make this last all the way to Christmas.  By then I'm sure they will all be very loved and we will have to throw them away and start again next year. 

Isaiah is really enjoying the process of the set building a little more each day. 

This is what it is all about to me - the process of him learning what Christmas is all about in a hands on way that brings it to life for him.  Today, we were talking about Mary being pregnant and having baby Jesus when they got to the stable.  So Isaiah grabs Jesus, sticks him inside Mary and says, 'He has to be in there first Mum, then he comes out'. Isaiah then lifted Mary up and put Jesus into the manger.  I was amazing at how well he is picking up what was going on.

I'll show you the progress over the next few days.

Christmas Crafting

I really wanted to do something to help focus on the lead up to Christmas but wasn't able to organise myself enough to find and do an advent activity that I liked and felt helped us focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  So instead, we are doing just a little Christmas craft each day and while we are sitting at the table, I talk about what Christmas means to us.  The birth of Christ, giving, thinking about others etc.

Here are some of the crafts we have done so far.

All of these have come from the Kids Craft Weekly newsletter I subscribe to.

Scouring pad Christmas Tree with simple brad decorations

Shortcut pastry, seeds pressed in, painted with egg yolk and baked.

Pipecleaner wreath with bead and bell

Ribbon and alfoil garland

Each of these decorate our tree, although they do seem to get removed from the tree regularly and played with lots, which is so much fun.

Inside the bags

These are the present that were in the bags I showed you before our family Christmas. 

 I made cool rainbow shorts for the nephews.

And cute skirts for the neices.

They were all very happy with their new clothes.

Family Christmas

We are off to enjoy celebrating family Christmas with Scott's family this weekend.
Here are all the presents ready to go - mostly simple homemade things.



I'll reveal the contents of these bags next week.

Owl Pants

I made a pair of pants with cute owl farbic for Jai this week.
Isaiah loved them and requested a pair too.
The request included green and pink ones please.
So I said yes and thought I would get to it sometime in the next few days.

Well, apparently I was taking too long to get to it
because on Tuesday Isaiah came to me in the dining room carrying all the required fabric.
'Here mummy - here is the stuff for my owl pants.'
So with him climbing into his chair to watch (read make sure I did it straight away) I started his owl pants.
I did managed to include some yellow too and use a watermelon pink rather than pale pink.

Fortunately for me, I managed to distract him with playschool for a while
so I did get some other things done before having to finish the pants

Anyway, with a late night on Tuesday night and an early morning Wednesday
He wore these yesterday and is wearing them again today.
Not sure if they'll ever be allowed in the wash!!

The best part of making these pants for him is listening to him exclaim things like
'it's going to be soooo exciting'and
'they are so fantastic'and
getting a huge hug with a big 'thank-you mummy, I love my owl pants'.

Garden Update

We did some gardening this past weekend.
Isaiah loves to help, he is 'ploughing' the weeds.

Beans are looking happy

This lemon tree grows lemons that taste terrible so it is going!

Here is the replacement
A birth present for Eli from his Aunty and Uncle, very special.

Happiness is ...

^^ Frank ^^

We are currently in the middle of harvest. 

Yesterday we went down the paddock and had a ride on Frank.

Otherwise known as a header, thank-you Cars (the movie) for giving it a real name.

Today's Redirected Craft Activity

Today I was planning to make a mobile of thankfulness that I saw on Made by Joel.  I thought it would be a good activity to get Isaiah thinking about what we are thankful for and for me to teach into his life about what is truly important to us.


As I was cutting out the shapes for us to write on, he picked one up and it became a 'man'.  And the next shape was a boat, followed by a 'helmet to breathe under water'.


At this point I decided to just go with his imagination 
and forget all about the thankfulness mobile, 
there is always another day for that.


So we launched into imagining mode!
A straw became the way the man under the sea breathes
The boat was modified so that the men could get in and out


 

Each man got a happy and sad face - one on each side.

We made a hat and a coat

 

 
As you can see, it was very exciting to play with our paper people,
watching them fall into and out of the boat.


For me, this was a big reminder that sometimes it is better to throw my plans out the window and embrace what is happening in the moment. 
I could have told him that 'no, we are thinking about things to be thankful for' and I would have missed out on a special time with my boy.  And I would have been cranky, trying to get him to 'stop being silly'.
Instead, we had so much fun constructing things together and then playing with them
it was wonderful memory making time.

Brotherly Love

Here is a video we took this morning. This gives you an idea how the boys are coping with a new little brother.

Mum Encouragement

Today I read a blog that made me stop and think about what is important. It is by one of my favourite authors Sally Clarkson. It is called 'Today, I will take time to...'

Here is Sally's list - I want it to be my list too!

• I would stop in the midst of my chores to listen to a boy-joke being shared and I would laugh out-loud and tell them they were so much fun.
• I would stop unloading the groceries when my husband is talking to me and look deeply into his eyes and listen to what he is saying, communicating with my whole self, “You are such a treasure to me. I want to know what you are thinking and feeling and dreaming.”
• I would take the moment to tossle a head as I am passing through a room and say, “I am so blessed to have you as my very own child. You make me so happy, just being you.”
• I would stop what I am doing, to go outside to look at a “treasure” when I hear, “Hey, Mama, come look!”–an apple blossom blooming on our very first apple tree or a worm on the grass or whatever had capture their curiosity.
• I would camp more outside on our deck and cuddle up under the sleeping bags more often to marvel at the stars and the one who made them.
• I would open my eyes to take a snapshot of today–just as it is–with boy noises, loud discussions, toys being played with intently, piano being practiced, thoughts being shared, messes coming and going..
• Instead of giving advice when a child is opening their heart through tears, I would listen with a sorrowful, sympathetic heart and take seriously what they were feeling, instead of mentally planning that the clothes in the dryer need to be folded.
• I would laugh more, worry less, lecture only on rare occasions, overlook messes instead of wasting my time being neurotic, notice the fingerprints of my maker in the moments of my days, and cherish those few years when we were all home, together, being the Clarksons and celebrating life.

Wow - doesn't that make you see what really matters in life. Our kids grow up so quick and yet as we are in the moment it seems like it will last forever. But it won't. So I am going to try and stop and remember what is important each day.

Farm Report - Flood

This week we had some much needed rain.
Our cotton was well and truly ready for a drink.

With floods comes the need to get around the farm.
Sometimes a boat could be a better option.

This is our overland flow pump at the creek dam
That's the sump, not the dam.

Floods always bring out some wildlife.
I guess their homes got a bit damp.

Post by Farmer Smith

++ Labelled ++

I am very excited. I am labelled!!
I have been wanting to have labels made for a long time now, but it always seemed like it would be too expensive.
Then I saw someone doing it on normal ribbon at an embroidery shop.
So after some investigation I discovered it wouldn't cost too much.
So now I can personalise the things I make,
with my simple 'Ainz' label.