Feeling Blue

The School Hols seem to be zapping by at light speed. Good as I'm looking forward to returning to 'some kind of normal', not so good as I feel I haven't 'done' a lot of 'things' with the kids...get my drift?

We were very fortunate, however, to spend some time with my one of my faves and hang out for the day in Pohangina valley. There is a blueberry farm not too far from our place, and the kids and I had a total blast picking blueberries, Alex managed to fit 32 in his mouth at once...later complaining of a sore tummy!!! ( he rather fancied the sour ones!) My beautiful friend Tink, who came a picking with us (Twas her idea, bless her!) has just started her own blog 'milkface' So please pop over and say hello, she has a beautifully honest way of writing and I always enjoy reading what she has to say.

I was extremely lucky to go to her Mama's & snap some pics of her totally amazing house, it truly was like something Bilbo Baggins could live in. I had a very healing day breathing in the fresh country air, sharing delicious whole foods and sharing the company of like minded souls.

Here are some pics of their amazing whare......

And now to (finally) acknowledge the 'new year'

Like many of you amazing bloggers, I have attempted to set some 'new year' goals as opposed to resolutions.

Things that have been in the back of my mind for some time, and perhaps need the 'new year' excuse to be kicked into action?!

1: Sit my full license (I've had my restricted for 11 years would you believe?)

2: Start piano lessons (two of our children have been blessed with the opportunity to take music lessons, only to grow prematurely tired of them. I have ALWAYS wanted to be able to learn the piano, so I have decided to take it upon myself that I shall ignore the feelings of being selfish, & grasp this opportunity as an adult, with the passion I had 20 years ago, and dive on in....watch this space)

3: Go back to work....! Yes working, and NO not that full time work that some Mother's do, along with juggling everything else (I am not one of those!) But prior to having Ginny, I did part time work massaging some of the local IHC. I loved this...have missed it so much, and now that Gunny is not quite so demanding on the breast, I feel like the time is right to return.

4: Make my vege garden the mecca of green goodness! Yep my garden has suffered some neglect over the past 18 or so months, 2012 is going to be an opportunity to learn more self sufficient techniques, eat A LOT more from our garden/ local produce etc, all in the face of the current 'food bill bullocks'!

So....any good blueberry recipe's?

swimmy

Gotta love those impromptu summer baths....

Birthday girl

My baby turned 1 today! 1...can you believe it?

 Who's in here then aye?......

Happy Holidays



Snuggles with my baby

Happy Holidays ever one.

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas with family.

We are off to the beach for a week...whoop whoop

Have a safe & happy break

See you again in the next year

xxxxx

100th post & a little suprise

We made a little hut today...the sun was shining, the lawns were mowed & to be completely honest it's the first time in ages that I've sat down with the kids at their level & played 'with them' rather than them 'playing' with me (eg: helping me cook, sew, domestic stuff ra ra ra ra.....)

I had lots of fun peeping at the sun through the sheets & listening to the garden. For Imogen it was mostly about the food...!

Now, for a little treat to celebrate my 100th post I'm going to give away a little parcel of surprises. Yes if you're into a complete mystery envelope then enter below.....just leave a comment, any old comment, no conditions. Feel free to leave a book or film recommendation, perhaps a song your enjoying at the moment? maybe an inspirational blog or web site??

Happy days!!! whoop whoop

xxxxxxxxxx

Old Sew & Sew...& So....

New slippers & top for Ginny

Feeling rather a little more productive round here this week (quietly says whoop whoop to one's self)

Lots of little pairs of bidibids. An obsession with cotton lawn that I've been channeling through baby knickers & summer tops. I'm still panicking as I only have two weeks left, but fingers crossed I'll have enough.

I'm hoping to have some more birdy mobiles made, as well as some more soap & baby bottom balm......I need one of those time machine's off Harry Potter....

Productive-ness!

Mrs Bunny rattles.

 I've been whipping up some smaller goodies to sell as stocking fillers

embroidering their little faces was lots of fun.

Actually my mind is in total over load with ideas flowing left & right.

I find myself thinking away at night, which inevitably turns into weird dreams & even weirder sleep talking. last night I was ranting about someone from Taihapi stealing all our wood for making spoons......Hmmmm

Lots of little baby knickers.

Lots of little tops.

 I've also had a little fun making new labels for 'stuff'

A little gift from my lovely xxx 

 Now for a bit of random ranting:

*I really like THIS song at the mo...

*I'm finally on PINTREST...more distractions,

only inspirational ones which I can justify...somehow?

*I found a COMPLETELY rotten banana & mandarin in Alex's bag when I put his lunch box in there yesterday.

I don't get why this doesn't bother him?

*Fleur managed to get a peppermint stuck up her nose the other morning on our way to Kindy. Why do you always seem to have one child that tends towards these type of situations?

I can add this to the list which includes her head being stuck in the news paper stand at the post shop and getting a toffee pop stuck vertically in her mouth!

Yes it looks like two alcoholics on the couch! All being entertained by Imogen's new facials...halarious!

Home Birth Babies

Last week was Home Birth Awareness Week. Imogen was my first home birth, it's funny how sometimes I forget she was born in the lounge, just behind where I'm sitting right now.

There is a wonderful wee group of like minded Mama's in the mighty Manawatu who organized all sorts of stuff during the week, me being rather a slack home body only made it to the film 'the first cry' at our local boutique cinema. It was a very enlightening movie. Amazing how we often don't realize how birth is so incredibly different for various cultures.

whip on over to this Face Book page for an awesome non-profit group of woman sharing all sorts of useful info about babes, birth, & loads of great other 'stuff'.

xxx

Jamming

The Red Racer

A few years ago I scored this baby for $10 bucks at a local oppy...no not that hot man in the background...he was free.....I'm talking about my Red Racer baby!

Well the old girl has been chilling the shed for a while, I did take her for a spin when I was about 7 months preggies...it wasn't pretty.

So yesterday I popped into the local bike shop for some new brake pads & found myself at the counter with the tinniest bike helmet I've ever seen.

Imogen hates hats so this will take a little getting used to for her (hence the pics) but after a few laps round the house she was quite happy & chatting away. Initially I thought she was still a bit young, but she fits quite snug in her little seat so I'll take her for a few short laps round the block until we both get used to riding together.

It was quite cute as the chair made her hair all fuzzy with static & she looked like some mad old man.

Hope you're all getting some sun this weekend, & maybe your first BBQ of the season...whoop whoop!