Muffin Tin Monday - Shapes Challenge

This weeks Muffin Tin Monday from Sycamore Stirrings has the theme of Shapes

Here is what we came up with: Things to dip in Nutella



Rectangle Nice Biscuits, Pentagon Bread, Star Apple, Octagon Bread
Circle Choc Biscuits, Star Cheese and Apples, Marshmallows, Circle Bread
Square Bread, Marshmallows, Cube Cheese, Nutella

My Kids + Cousins + neighbour


= gone in 5 mins!!

Fruit Challenge - Unplug Your Kids

At first I couldnt really think of anything for the fruit challenge for Unplug Your Kids but by the end of the week a few things came to mind

I had so many oranges we made orange iceblocks twice this week




Then I remembered about Pomander Balls made from Oranges and Cloves (which I had both!!) I found some really good instructions here It is a good idea to start these early for Christmas as they take 4 weeks to dry out. And as it is humid here at Christmas they could go mouldy so best to make them now in Spring

Make holes with a skewer then insert clove (you will get sore fingers if you dont)


There was plenty of work for everyone to do


Even Miss 2 wanted in on the action (wearing the bob the builder dress up!)


Once Orange is covered in cloves place in a bag with cinnamon and nutmeg and shake


Place in stocking, fruit bag or similar and hang in cool dark place for 2-4 weeks


We made strawberry and marshmallow skewers to take to the park with friends


Yum

We had a pretty fruity week afterall :)

Next Weeks Challenge: TBA

Sabbath

These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full ~ John 15:11

Stay-cation

A term I have seen thrown around the net - definately describes this family! My husband never has time off work!!

Day 5 of holidays
Picked clover to make clover chains


Introducing Fairy Queen and her litte fairy princesses


apparently this one had sun in her eyes - ignore her wonkiness




and this one is a magnet for that park bark dust


And we dug for ICE TREASURES! Found at the Crafty Crow


kept them busy for half an hour!


just freeze little plastic toys the night before

World Maritime Day

The 25th of September is World Maritime Day. (Thanks to my new found love of the UN calendar)

Every year IMO (International Maritime Organization)celebrates World Maritime Day. This year is held on the 25th but is usually celebrated some date during the last week in September. The day is used to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment.

The Secretary-General of IMO prepares a special message
World Maritime Day 2008: IMO: 60 years in the service of shipping

This is what we did to celebrate World Maritime day:

Made stuffed Paper Fish (Found via The Crafty Crow)

Draw fish outline on 2 pieces of Paper - Oil crayons work well for resist painting


Paint with watercolour


Staple sides together, stuff with newspaper and display


We Held a boat Regatta:

We made boats and used toy ones


The plastic triangle boat needed some weight - the coins turned it into a pirate boat! (not good for a day talking about maritime safety ;)


With their boats


Then a sea monster came and destroyed it all :)


Notice the creative use for the foot spa - who has time for actually relaxing their feet???

Monsters of Every Kind

It is school holidays again (werent those winter ones just a few weeks ago??) I suppose technically it is Spring Break.. but it is just called September School Holidays here....

Day one of the holidays the girls made these Monster Stuffies featured on The Crafty Crow and inspired from a design on Etsy.com

Choosing Fabrics and comparing to Monsters on the screen


Sewing Together (aaaawwww warm fuzzies)


Stuffing the arms and legs


Finished Product - Aren't they CUTE!!

These are so easy to make... under two hours (little helpers time included!) 30 mins without little helpers!

And after Toddler Art Group today - I went to the bathroom and found this monster!! NO wonder they were quiet!

Hard Challenge - Unplug Your Kids

Last Weeks Challenge for Unplug Your Kids was HARD

I heard someone mention toffee somewhere.. then I remembered my childhood of making our own toffees, and buying them from school fete's for 20 cents - so Toffee it was!!

Take ingredients - Sugar, water, vinegar, patty papers, sprinkles
Recipe

2 cups of sugar
3/4 cup of cold water
1 tablespoon of white vinegar

Place all ingredients in a saucepan, stir over heat until sugar dissolves bring to the boil. Cook until golden brown (do not stir), remove from heat and allow bubbles to settle. pour into small patty cake papers

The only thing I allowed Miss 2 to do:


Miss 7 and Miss 5 were allowed to pour ingredients and stir to dissolve (hearts and red clothes were for Jump Rope for Heart day at school)

Then I did the rest as the toffee is VERY HOT and can burn - Here it is turning golden


Pour into papers


EAT!!


This Weeks Challenge: Fruit!

I think I'll need to celebrate World Alzheimers Day

I saw a few people around the net (who live in Asia) talking about celebrating Moon festival and thought it would be a good opportunity to do some learning and some craft about the moon (the autumn eqinox was on the 14th of Sept - northern hemisphere)... but I FORGOT!!! ( click here for more info and details on the moon festival )Did you know there is a rabbit in the moon?

So on the weekend this is what we did

We made toilet roll rockets and paper plate moons (paint applied with a sponge)

I really wanted some moon cakes (we live close to an small asian grocer) but I was silly to think I might be able to get them a week late ;) So this is what they would have looked like if we had got them


And why the Alzheimers title?? Well today is World Alzeimers Day... and I needed that reminder for all the things I forget

So....

I have found the Wiki page for you all that outlines
DAYS OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVANCE
or even better
The UN Events Homepage

Today is Also World Peace day.. so I had a little chat with the kids about that - I particularly like this quote I saw on Hey Harriet

Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighbouring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free – The Dalai Lama

Here are some of the more humourous international days

Last week was Talk like a pirate day
Oct 1 World Vegetarian Day
Oct 4 World Animal Day
Oct 4-10 World Space Week
Nov 19 World Toilet Day
Nov 21 World Hello Day
Dec 11 International Mountain Day
Jan 1 Global Family Day
Mar 21 World Sleep Day ( Do I get to sleep all day - count me in)
Mar 27 World Wear Odd Socks Day
Apr 29 World Dance Day
June 1 Internation Children's Day

(are you all like me and each Mother's Day and Fathers Day as a child complain "why isn't there a childrens day?" and your parents cockily answer "EVERY DAY is children's Day!!") WELL THERE!!! There is a children's day people!!

Enjoy your celebrations!!

Sabbath

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God ~ Mark 11:22



Can you see the last maple leaf? When you are left alone ~ Have faith that God hears you.

A Spring Saturday

A repurposed dress I made into a skirt for Miss 7


Dandelions picked by my girls


Sun, Skirt, Painted Toes


A Ward Picnic


A sea of clover

Shadow Shot

My addition for Hey Harriet's Shadow Shot Sunday
It is getting hot again - I bring out my hat :) Permanent summer fixture

Couch to 5k

Is anyone else like me? (probably not you all say ;) But there is me.. and there is the Dream Me - Dream me is sporty, likes to run, hikes and bikes with her kids in tow, climbs mountains, surfs, a general all round fun, sporty family..

and then there is reality :) HA HA HA HA

I always say that while you wait the 6 years or so it takes for your children to be able to bike ride with you and be all active and keep up - whoops you had 6 years or so to decline.. Just as your kids need you to be climbing a mountain for YW or YM... too late you've let yourself go :)

SOOOOOOO

My lovely husband and I are on a couch to 5km running program.

This is me on the couch (tv remote in hand and all)
(*old photo, for visual purposes)

This is the 5k me (well one day)
(professional runners please dont comment on my incorrect footwear - these are the closest I have to runners)

Outline is this
Each weekly challenge needs to be done 3-4 times a week
Week 1 - Walk 6 minutes, jog 1 minute x 3
Week 2 - Walk 5 minutes, jog 2 minutes x 3
Week 3 - Walk 3 minutes, jog 4 minutes x 3
Week 4 - Walk 2 minutes, jog 5 minutes x 3
Week 5 - Walk 2 minutes, jog 8 minutes x 3
Week 6 - Walk 2 minutes, jog 9 minutes x 3
Week 7 - Walk 1 minute, jog 11 minutes x 3
Week 8 - Walk 5 minutes, jog 20 minutes

Here is a sticker chart the MR made - well if it works for the kids....


Currently I am up to the 4 minute mark.. but I get a side stitch around 3 mins and basically am dying by 4 minutes so we will see if I can make it to running for 20 mins ;) So far I am pretty happy with progress and it is gentle in the incriments that I havent even had sore muscles or anything. And My MR and I have both lost a little weight!!!

I might need some coaching in the running posture though.. I think I am a huge UNCO when I run.. so if you see me running please don't laugh :)

Here are some running programs I found on the net.
Get Started with running
Couch to 5k (not the one we are doing)