Put a Candle in it..

That's pretty much our motto for birthdays around here.

Everything is better with a candle

{some years I've even gotten away without having a cake... cause hey we've put a candle on a doughnut!!}

She's a smart girl cause usually the kids get choice of breakfast and often they choose doughuts or pancakes. She smartly said can I have both? And also begged for Caramel mudcake from the shops. This is what she really wanted {A $5 shop cake?? how can I deny??!!} Gee kids really are easy sometimes.


So now I officially have two kids over 10! where do the years go!


a cool 11 year old with a ukulele {her gift of choice}

 Number 11  she wore all day  - find here : Easy Birthday shirt tutorial

This girl always asks for the easy parties - she likes moving.

Pool Parties
Magic Party
Falling off a waterfall


This year she wanted skating. Very simple and easy.

Thanks to my sister who made the awesome lolly cake and mum for hosting eating before skating. 
Thanks to the 10 kids whom kept all their body parts unbroken!
{my only stress, kids breaking something skating while no other parents around!}

Another Birthday done and dusted and another one coming up next week.

Why do they have to grow up!?! wahhhh.

FHE Lesson {Noah}

Since us adults are studying the Old Testament in Sunday School this year - It reminded me to create some FHE lessons from there in the coming year for the children.




Opening Song: Follow the Prophet #110


Opening Prayer


Scripture: This lesson based on Genesis 6 - 9

Lesson:

Noah ( Gospel Art Picture Kit Picture #102 ) was chosen by God to build an Ark.
The people on earth were very bad. The Lord wanted to flood the earth. Noah and his family listened to God, because of this they were saved. Noah had to work hard to build the ark – it was very big and took 120 years to build! Two of every animal had to fit inside. ( Gospel Art Picture Kit Picture #103 )


Ask children to find toy animals (that you have previously hidden all around the house) and bring them to the ark (I used my fisher price plastic ark – if you don’t have similar make one out of cardboard or have a drawn picture stuck on the wall, or a feltboard) Have children rock the boat while you talk about how long the ark was in the water. Noah and his family and the animals were looked after by God and landed on dry ground eventually. God put a rainbow in the sky as a promise that he would not flood the earth again.



Action Song
Noah built an ark so big (outstretch arms);
He knew just what to do (place finger on side of forehead).
He hammered, sawed, and measured (make motions as indicated)
As he’d been commanded to (nod head).
And Noah called his family (beckon with arm)
To march onto the boat (march quietly in place)—
And, two by two, the animals (hold up two fingers)
Came aboard to float (make floating motion with hands).
The heavy dark clouds gathered (place hands above head),
The rain began to fall (wiggle fingers imitating rain)—
And all the earth was covered (make a sweeping motion with hand and arm);
There was no land at all (turn head from side to side).
The ark just floated safely (make a floating motion with hands)
Many a day and night (put hands together on one side of face),
Until the sun came out again (place arms in a circle above head)
And shone so warm and bright.
And all the water dried right up (cross arms across chest);
Dry land did appear (open arms and extend hands).
Noah’s family gave their thanks (bow head and fold arms)
That God was always near.
(Adapted from a verse by Beverly Spencer.)




Watch Cartoon video - chapter 6 - Noah found at lds.org





Closing Song: Quickly I'll Obey #197


Closing Prayer:




Treat:  Marshmallow animals :)

FHE Lesson {What do you love}

Opening Song: Love One Another

Opening Prayer:

Lesson:

 If you chose to celebrate Valentines you could firstly have a short discussion {or introduction} to expectations, what individuals would like to have happen on the day this week.  It could be a nice family dinner and dessert, a special heart shaped pancake breakfast or chocolates.
Or set a plan in motion for what the kids could do FOR YOU on Valentines ;)

Set and discuss goals to do a secret kindness for someone else this week
{help siblings, bake something for a neighbour/friend, do something special for mum and dad}

Discuss how and why we should love others {John 13:34}


 Activity:

Make Heart Maps {idea found here at Chocolate on my Cranium }

Basically draw a heart with several small compartments.
Inside each space draw a thing YOU LOVE.

Ideas to prompt young children:

Family
Pets
Drawing
Holidays
Animals
Nature
Flowers
Dancing
Reading

Leave Heart Maps up for the week to remind us of the real things we LOVE.

We are thankful for all the wonderful blessings and things to love in our lives.

 By focusing on real love we can avoid commercialization of Valentines Day.


 Have a LOVE-Y week!


 Closing Song: Jesus Said Love Everyone

Felt Hearts

I had pinned these lovely white minimalist felt hearts to make at Christmas.
As I love to make personalised ornaments every year.

But alas as usual many things have to be left to the side undone.

As I was debating some Valentines décor....

A thought came... well why not those white hearts? Double Duty in Decorating...

and only 2 months late!

With kids back at school I sat down and made these in a morning.

Been a while since I've done some craft.


So if anyone wants to create similar here is how I made them.


Gather:
Twill ribbon {I got mine spotlight $1.30 m I was upset they had no thin white though!}
letter stamps
ink pad
White felt
Thin ribbon or twine

Stamp names straight onto ribbon. Set aside to dry.


Cut a paper heart out in desired dimensions {I made 2 sizes}


Use as a template to cut around felt. 2 pieces needed to make each heart.

Sew twill ribbon name onto the middle of one heart

Place two hearts together, right sides out and sew along edges. At the top of the heart insert some ribbon or twine in a loop and sew over it as you go around.

Leave a little opening and stuff with a tiny bit of stuffing. Continue around heart and close up.

Easy! And there you have a felt heart softie to use for decorating, to attach to presents, to hang above your little ones beds, to be added to a valentines tree. Mine are hanging on the mantle at the moment but may be moved to a valentines tree {If I get around to making one}

The pink and red hearts also featured were purchased from Riot Art and craft ~ 12 for $3.95

15 Years Ago {Again}

When a man suggests taking a photo ?
Well you jump at it no?


Out of the blue the Mr said ' hey we should recreate the photo you put on the blog here '

..... it was a 15 year old engagement photo.

January 1999 we took a bunch of photos just before our engagement party .
Photos at the time were taken by my dad.

Dad happened to be over the other day so we even recreated it with the same photographer.

The only problem was did we have the strength to jump over the stone wall and teeter on the edge of the cliffs  anymore? {we made it - but barely!}

I even still have the same dress! I wore it for a few years then resigned it to the back of the cupboard.
It seemed too special to me to throw away.
Sadly the material has disintegrated a fair bit and the dress had lots of holes all over.
Happily I still fit the dress!! {barely} Hooray!


February is our Wedding Anniversary so a perfect timing to share embarrassing photo recreations.

It's actually kinda a hard job to recreate a photo. So they aren't perfect but good enough for a laugh.

I'm so glad to have been able to spend 15 years with this guy. In some ways I haven't known any other life, in other ways it seems but a fleeting moment and I would always beg 'but it hasn't been long enough!' if we were parted tomorrow. Sometimes I feel time is flying by and that I really should make better use of our time together. Before we know it we will be old. I don't want to regret anything or any missed moments. But I am happy that we are here 15 years later and are blessed enough to even be able to recreate those special moments. xx

FHE Lesson {Love Others}

 

Opening Song: Love One Another #308 (Hymn Book)

Opening Prayer:

Scriptures:

Matthew 22:35-39

1 John 4:20-21

Lesson:

Place a big sheet of paper with LOVE written in big letters in the middle on the floor.

{or on a whiteboard}

Who should we show love to?

Have children write and drew their answers all around the piece of paper.

Answers included :

Family, Mum and Dad, Sisters, Neighbours, Heavenly Father, Jesus, Cousins, Pets, Best friends, School Teachers, Primary Teachers, etc

Share the above scriptures:

Matthew 22:35-39

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great Commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 1 John 4:20-21

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

 

 

Discuss who is our neighbour,  who is our brother, how can we love others.

 

I am going to challenge the girls to love someone a little extra this week.

I will check with them to see what things they can do for someone whom they don't always get on with. eg. Classmates, their own sisters ;)  (eg share things with them, give a compliment, hold their tongue when they want to answer rudely back, invite them over, do a service for them)

Closing Song: We are Different #263

Closing Prayer:

Treat: Heart Chocolates! And maybe some to give away.

FHE Lesson {LOVE}

I'm not a fan of Valentines day persay but I am a big fan of hearts, love, telling my kids I love them, and teaching them to love others so I embrace the holiday for these things.
I have a few lessons on love to share in the weeks leading up to Valentines.


Opening Song:  Love One Another

Opening Prayer:

Scripture : John 13:34


Lesson:

Cut out a large heart and stick to floor. Have each family member stand on heart one at a time.
Have the other family members say what they love about the person on the heart.

How can we have better love at home?


Several studies tell us how its important for kids to know their family story.
Tell children how their parents met and fell in love.
Could also share grandparents love stories if you know these too.
You could also talk about how you felt when each child joined your family and you first 'met' them.


Activity Ideas:

Using a heart toy/or cut/sew one out of felt or even just a paper heart hide the heart around the house and play find the heart. Tell children love can always be found at our house.



Make a Valentines Tree:

This is an old one of ours. I used small branches from my yard spray painted red.

You can add:

Pictures of your family
Little paper hearts,decorations
Slips of paper with service ideas you have done, or they could do for eachother




Closing Song: Jesus Said Love Everyone

Closing Prayer:

Treat:
Use a heart cookie cutter to cut heart shapes out of bread and butter and cover in sprinkles

January

Oh January.

You are my black hole
{really starting back on December 26th see here }

I don't know why but I just can't organise myself in January.

Really its best to wait till February.

I feel like treading water - but in a good way?

Don't get me wrong - I'm not sad or depressed or worried...
{January is jokingly known as one of the most depressing  Blue Monday - see here}

it just seems like the world is on one lazy holiday

I seem to forget that shops and businesses  are open - that I could be doing stuff, making appointments, phoning people etc. I feel like everything else {the busy stuff} is missing from my life when perhaps it is just me that is missing... or I'm just missing my brain?

We are having wonderful holidays

just don't ask me to do anything

which is a problem because it was new year, and the Mr's birthday and my birthday and I need to prepare for back to school and paperwork for high school, Australia day, a back to school dinner celebration and another birthday the second week school is back {handing out birthday invites on the first day of school is awesome no?} and what of valentines and a certain 15th wedding anniversary??  Let alone making any new year resolutions {what are they?!}

However, how lovely is it to devote almost a whole month to being at home, being lazy, being with ones family? Very Lovely indeed. A blessed life. It feels so wonderful and rejuvenating.
A treasure.


Perhaps instead of a thinking I'm being sucked into a black hole its best to imagine


I'm just floating ... ebb and flow...


I'll be back soon I promise!
.

A promise to myself more than anything. Life is not all about holidays! {unfortunately}

FHE Lesson {A friend in Jesus}

 

This lesson inspired by part of a Relief Society lesson I taught this week

- idea found here via sugardoodle

 

 

Opening Song: Tell me the stories of Jesus #57

Opening Prayer:

Lesson:

What are some steps we take when making friends? How do we love and care for our friends?

Read out/write down each heading below on how we be a good friend.

Then discuss how we can apply these steps to getting to know more about Jesus.

Is Jesus our friend too?

How can we be a better friend to Jesus?

:: Find out more about them

Why is it important to know Jesus Christ? John 17:3

:: Spend time with them

How do we spend time with Jesus? Reading the scriptures and praying.

Imagine yourself standing there in different scripture stories. How would it be?

eg Mark 10:13-16 (when Jesus asks the little children to come unto him) John 13:3-5 (Washing of Jesus Feet) 3 Nephi 17:5-7 (Jesus healing the sick and tarrying longer with the Nephites)

With young children hold up pictures of scripture stories instead of reading them.

:: Invite them into your home

How do we invite Jesus into our home?

D&C 88:63 - what are we promised when we draw near unto Jesus?

:: Do something kind for them

When we do kindness to others we are doing a kindness for Jesus as he loves everyone.

share one/the following scripture stories and chose a way that you can help others

John 4:5-14 (woman at the well), Luke 15:11-32 (Prodigal Son) Matthew 18:11-14 (The lost Sheep)

:: Introduce them to other friends

Isaiah 43:10 - Stand as a witness. Share a simple testimony with someone you think may appreciate knowing that their saviour loves them.

:: Understand their joys and sorrow

Christ has many challenges and it helps us to know him when we understand how he overcame them

Matt 4:1-11(Tempted by Satan), Matt 26:36-46 (Gethsemane) Matt 26:69-75 (Peter Denies)

:: Love them

Write in your journal or on paper to express your love and appreciation to the saviour.

Share how you are grateful for friends in your life.

Share how it is important to have friends and to be a good friend.

We have a wonderful friend in Jesus and we too should try to be a good friend to Him.

Closing Song: Jesus is our loving friend #58

Closing Prayer:

Treat:

Birthday Tourists

It's not so bad having The Mr's birthday the day before mine.

It often feels like my birthday goes for a week.

This year was exactly that.

Cake and his choice homecooked dinner for his
Breakfast and day out and movies for mine
Grandma babysitting over night which equalled time out for beauty treatments and temple visits
A dinner out with my parents and siblings the night after
A girls night sitting on the deck chillin the next night.

All to celebrate me!

The few times I've travelled to meet up with the Mr at work locations, I've become a sight seer.
see here Newcastle and Melbourne and America


We look at old buildings, museums, war memorials, forts, gardens, lighthouses, churches.
We read plaques.
We walk and walk and walk and look.

Due to a few reasons we were stuck close to home for our birthdays yet had some time free from kids {yay! for Grandparents!}

So I suggested we be tourists in our own city.

Sometimes we ignore places to visit, or don't look up at the beautiful buildings or take time to explore things that are right in front of us, or don't find as much beauty in the things 5 mins away from the house. Trips to the city entail dragging 4 extra little ones we only see exactly what we came for then head home. I've often just wanted to wander the streets to have a look around..

I decided to put my tourist mindset on and decided that I was going to visit the museums, the churches, the old buildings, the gardens. I was going to wander the streets of my town.

We walked and walked and held hands and pretended we were somewhere exotic :)

And for a few moments it didn't really matter that we were close to home.

We were tourists on a romantic getaway.




Even though we walked for about 6 hours there were lots we didn't see.
I think I shall have to do this again. Well it is our anniversary soon.

What we did see

:: Breakfast at Cliffs Cafe
:: City Hopper Free Ferry
:: Customs House
:: Brisbane City Gardens
:: The Cube at QUT
:: Old Government House
:: Parliament {Parliament  closed due to heightened security - Bikies? but reopening soon}
:: Commissariat Store  {Oldest Building in Brisbane - built by convicts}
we had the museum to ourselves and got a lovely complementary hour long tour from Colin.
:: GOMA
:: Museum of Brisbane
:: We tried to get up the Bell Tower at City Hall but all booked out :(
:: Lots of other old interesting buildings
:: Dinner and Movies

I commented that it's amazing how much you can see/do in a day when you don't have to stop for school drop offs, pick ups, and cook dinner. Turns out it is ALOT!

 

 

 

And Our birthday is done for another year!

How to make a bleach number shirt {Birthday Shirt}

 

You probably know that we have a cheesy birthday tradition of having a birthday shirt.

 

When I saw this tutorial for bleached out shirts I got excited.

I knew this would be an easy way to create our birthday shirts.

In honour of my birthday this week ~ I bring you the bleached birthday {number} shirt.

 

 

 

 

 

First of all buy a shirt.

Bright or deep colours will work best.

 

 

 

Print out your number in a font and size you like.

Cut out the number.

Using contact or a few strips of packing tape stick the number wrong side down on the sticky side. 

Cut around the number leaving a small sticky edge.

 

 

 

 

Then stick the number on the shirt in your preferred placement.

Place a towel inside the shirt to prevent the bleach from leaking through the other side of your shirt.

 

 

 

Using a cloth dab some bleach all around the number.

If you like the splatter look carefully spray around the number.

 

New shirts come with chemical protectant on them.

Don't worry if it takes a while for the bleach to dye.

My blue shirt turned red first and the pink shirt turned blue.

I added a few layers of bleach on and then let the shirt sit for about 10 mins.

 

 

When you're happy with the amount of bleach dyed area peel the number off and underneath should look like this. ^^ Wash bleach off shirt.  We like how the blue shirt turned out spacey looking.

 

 

 

More birthday shirt ideas here:

 

Paint Stencilled Birthday Shirt

Letters {ONE} Birthday Shirt

Felt and Fabric Birthday Shirt

Reverse Applique Birthday Shirt

Zig Zag Stitched Birthday Shirt  {sewed mins before going to school}

Spotty Reverse Applique

2 Birthday Shirt

Recycled Corderoy Pants 5 Birthday Shirt

Felt and Fabric double layer 10 Birthday Shirt

Felt Cat and Reverse Applique 11 Birthday Shirt

Felt Snowflake and Stitched #6 Birthday Shirt

How to Make a Fresh Wreath

As usual, in life things fall by the wayside.

I had a few other Christmas craft things to share but time just got away.

And once its over, its over. Two weeks later and so much has happened already!

However - after decorating with wreaths for our New Year/Christmas dinner I think these wreaths would make a great addition to any party. Their simple look doesn't have to be kept just for Christmas. Well in my opinion anyway.

So here is how I whipped up these wreaths just a few hours before said party.

 

Go and trim your hedges/trees collecting leaves attached to about 10-15 cms of stem.

Or borrow from your neighbour like I did :)

 

Almost any type of leafy plant will do. I grabbed a variety to see which one I would like best.

Light leaves with bendy stems will work best.

 

Using regular wire from any hardware/craft shop make some circles.

 

Lay out your clippings.

 

 

 

Grab little bunches of your greenery and attach tightly to the wire ring.
I used green sewing cotton, binding several times around the top of the stem.
Thin florist wire would probably work better, but I always seem to be making do with what I have lying around.

It will take quiet a lot of little bunches to go the entire way round the ring.
I was surprised at how many it took especially if you want good coverage.
Keep adding bunches on top of the previous stem, coving it with the next bunch.

When it is full examine your wreath.
You may have to trim bits that are sticking out funny, tie some stems down stronger etc.

Use a ribbon to tie your wreath and hang.

I got a little lazy when it came to wreaths 2 and 3 with the bigger leaves. In their case I just held on small bunches and wound around with the cotton thread not caring if it was showing or not. Those wreaths were made in minutes :)

The wreaths lasted about 3 days in our summer weather.
They started to wilt and leaves curl up a little by the third day.
However they still look passable even days later.


A very easy, cheap and versatile decoration for any party!


(my girls have also put in orders for me to make some for Anzac Day to take to school)

Grandparents Christmas Dinner 2013 {Tradition}

Our annual Grandparents Christmas dinner had to be postponed a few weeks.

New year is the perfect time for a Christmas party right!?

I was glad for the extra time cause December was super busy.

However that didn't stop me from spending too much time last minute today making fresh wreaths.

One of my to do's this Christmas was to make a giant fresh wreath for my loungeroom wall.
{with an accompanying tutorial here on the blog} Alas it didn't happen in time!
But maybe I will post it anyway - A new year wreath? Valentines? Anzac Day?

I'm so glad we do this dinner and I'm so glad the children look forward to it.


We are pretty simple cooks the year through, so its nice to try our hand at a party menu.


This years menu was:

Turkish Bread with pumpkin, hummus, olive oil and dukkah and warm olives

Puree Pumpkin, Roast Veg and feta and cranberry Cous Cous with Lamb Rack

Cherry Frangipane Tart and Buche de Noel

French sparkling Pomegranate and Blueberry and Lemon Strawberry Soda

 

We ended the night watching the early family firework and having our own little sparkler party.

 

I think I like Grandparents Christmas Dinner on New Year.

Late but just as good.