Just a quickie before lunch

The other day Charlie went to bed in the morning due to him being up at some very early hour. Sam and Lucas were playing so nicely in the lounge that I snuck off to do a bit of sewing. After 5mins Sam cames through, so I said to him 'why dont you go and play with Lucas while mummy finishes this' his reply in an indignant tone 'I cant hes asleep'

This is where I found him - he was snoring and his wee head was raising and lowering with the snores - so cute!

Laura had a couple of friends here last Sunday and they got the dress ups out and dressed Charlie up - who then promtly went and got in the sandpit! (his favourite place)

Last Sunday I made this dolly - its for my antenatal classes and I was stoked how she came out. Although Jessa has decided that she should look after her till I need her and named her Lily Beth!

This is the Merino hoody I made this week for Laura - she has school camp next week and has to have some warm tops.

Flipping blogger thingy!

Well I went to login to add these photos and apparently they have changed how it all works so it took me 15mins to work out how to access the blog. Thought I was going to have to start a new one!

So I have finished a couple of tops. Lauras jersey has been waiting a while so I could hunt down another ball of wool. (I managed to run out half up the collar) but I couldnt find one so I decided to make the collar shorter than the pattern and managed to find a ball lf similar colour to stitch it up with so I did that last night.

I also made Daniel a merino top to wear on his school ski trip on Monday. I finished it with FOE (fold over elastic) and it was so quick and easy. And best of all he loves it!

Show us ya belly!

We had lots of balloon fun for Lauras birthday tea - the kids blew up some balloons and then we found some rocket balloons that you blow up and let go and they shoot off around the room. That gained lots of excited from kids and adults alike - although Brenda and I were slightly light headed from blowing the darn things up so many times!

Then Uncle Anton showed Sammy how to make a magic balloon - it sticks to the roof! So the others all wanted a turn too!

Birthday Girl

We had birthday tea last night for Laura. Pizza and chips was ordered so Laura and I set on and made half a dozen stuffed crust pizzas. We made meat lovers, hawiian and chicken and apricot. They were very yummy indeed. Laura made a huge self saucing choc pudding and I got the $10 special at Deep South (10kg of ice cream from the factory yummo!) we got vanilla again (it is random and you dont know what you get until you open it) but it was perfect for the pudding.

Of course, even though that actual birthday isnt until Monday, no birthday tea would be complete without presents so the lucky nearly 10yr old got to open her pressies early!

All ready to open pressies and being sung happy birthday!

Let the opening begin...............

Lucas helping out.........

WOW an ipod 'cooooolll'

'OMG' yes they are tickets to Starlight Express and yes we are flying to Christchurch tomorrow for the weekend to go and see it. (Mum and Laura for a girls weekend!)

Boys in bed

The boys were hanging out while I was sewing (sewing machine in the bedroom)

Sam and Charlie were saying 'Cheeeeeeaaaaeeeeaaase' hence the wide open mouths!

Pink and Purple Twirly Skirts...........

I have recently borrowed a pattern from someone for these very girly girl skirts. The girls were very excited. So yesterday and today I sewed up one for Jess and one for Laura. They are really easy to make, which suprised me because they look really good. I am so pleased with them and the girls just love them. They got to choose their own colours. (do you recognise the material mum? Its the stuff I bought when you were here. )

I added a frill to Jessas to finish it off and thought it would make it last a bit longer. Laura chose to have hers as it was because it twirled better.

More sewing..........

On Tuesday Laura went to a craft class at the library. She made felt flowers for hair ties. Very cool. So when her friend came around the other day I searched out some old scraps of felt and they made some more.

I found a pattern for some little animals so today Laura made a little piggy. He is so cute. She has called him scraps. (she dismissed my suggestion of pork chop ;-) dont know why!)

One of the swaps that was sent in my recent yarn swap included a really cute cow apron. I commented on how Sam would love it and could the person who made it please let me know where I can get the material from so I could make one for Sam. Anyway I met a lovely lady from TNN the other day and she gave me a present. It was a cut out of the material for Sam and one of the other material that she used too. So I made Sam and Daniel an apron each. It is absolutely perfect becuase they often bake biscuits. Sam was so excited he would be able to help Laura now that he asked if she would do some baking so he could help! Anyway on her declination he decided that he would use it to make a sandwich and eat his lunch with instead! Oh yes and of course Jessa wanted one too. So I used a cut of the material I took off Lauras blanket when I rebacked it and upcycled it into an apron for her. I ran out of ribbon for the straps so I dug out a bit of bias binding and used that instead. (thanks to a hint off Grandmas apron that hangs in my cupboard) Apologies for the less than perfect picture - it was just before bedtime and they wernt the most co operative!

Recycling.......

I have had an old lambswool jersey sitting in my sewing pile for years. It was one I used to wear to school and then, after it started getting holes, I wore it on the farm. It was really warm but had so many holes in and was unravelling. But it seemed too good to throw out.

Anyway, today I decided to recycle it. So I cut it out and made a jersey for Charlie.

There are a couple of things that annoy me - like I couldnt use the ribbing on the sleeves becuase it was stuffed so I had to hem them. And also I cut the neck too small - forgot to allow for large Robson heads. So although the jersey is big on Charlie it only just fits over his head. DUH!

Before

After

Modelled

left overs

I decided to use up the extra bits of yarn from the kids jerseys and make them some hats - especially since it is winter. The only thing I dont like is that the seam when knitted up is a bit bulky, would have prefered to knit them in the round but dont have 7.5mm dpns which I would need for the crown. Anyway a couple of pics. (I havnt finished Lauras yes as I ran out of yarn)

Some stuff!

So the other day I had no netball to run the kids to due to the rain. I was busy deciding what to do. I managed to update here and decided I needed to use my time more wisely than playing games on facebook. So I got out my knitting needles and finished Sam's jersey. I am going to try and finish a hat to match this afternoon but I am waiting for the kids to go to sleep so I can go and move the sheep first! Anyway here is the jersey - perfect colour for Sam and so snuggly on these cold mornings. I am really pleased with it.

Also with another yarn swap in the wings I decided I needed a swift to help skein my yarn. I am sick of walking around and around and around a couple of chairs and then trying to wind the wool off the chairs so I can wind it onto the winder. So I did a bit of searching on a website about making your own swift. I went to the shed to see if Jase had any off cuts that would be suitable. I found some dowels from my blinds that I made but not enough wood. So I figured that Peter (Jases dad) would have some bits there. So I chucked the kids in the truck and off we went in search. Of course Peter had some stuff I could use - he also has many more expertise than me when it comes to woodwork so he helped me (ok he did most of it) whip up this little beauty. It has moveable dowels so that I can make the skeins different lengths.

and it works!!!!

Horse Play

Dad lay on the floor yesterday - which of course = fair game on dad!

My beautiful little girl in one of her adorable poses!

Painting

We had last Monday off thanks to the monarchy (Queens Birthday) So we decided to do some painting. I had a recipe for puff paint from a magazine so we decided to try it. We all had great fun (yes I had a go too!) It was so easy. We will definately try it again another time.

Boys, boys, boys

Daniel has lost his two front teeth (and gained $3 from the tooth fairy!)

Jess getting a sticker for being in the proud of me box (for tidying her bedroom)

Charlie getting mechanical - he was quite intrigued with this motorbike and spent ages with a spanner and some bolts.

Sam in his favourite place at kindy - the sand pit.

Queens Birthday at Kindy

The kids has a party and feast for Queens birthday. Jess dressed up in a princess dress and Sam, Charlie and I went along later for the party.

Charlie trying out a crown

Jessa, pleased to see her little brother and proud of him.

All dressed up and ready to go

Laura getting in on the action! My gorgeous girls.