Just thought I'd let you know I'm not twiddling my thumbs around here. Today was just one of those crazy days...
Early morning start to first get the highschoolers off to the schoolbus by 7:45. Then make lunches and get the younger ones dressed - mum, can you tie my shoelaces (Brett); oops! I forgot to put on my jocks!! (Travis); Is your room tidy, Brooke? I'm not sure where my scatter brain was this morning but I made Travis some lunch even though he doesn't have school on Mondays yet!! The kids of course thought that was quite hilarious. Once Brooke and Brett were picked up at 8:30 (I'm so thankful I can car-pool!!) I sorted out some washing, gathered my things, sold a kayak (okay, that's another story: On Saturday we, as in Helen, mum and I had a garage sale. I had lots of toys that my kids have grown out of and other junk around that I was hoping to get rid of. Since Amanda's bringing more playmobile - thanks Amanda!! - I needed some money to pay for it. Thankfully we had a rather successful day!! Anyway, this morning a man knocks on my door asking if we still had our play house (made up of lots of big plastic bricks - very big and bulky!!) for sale. I'd sold it on Saturday but I told him we still had our kayak for sale so he paid me for it and took it home with him!! I'm not sure what his wife will think - he was sent to buy his daughter a toy and came home with one for himself! Oh well, at least the kayak is no longer cluttering up my garage!!) Once he left, I raced over to the manse where nearly all the women of our church were having a busy bee doing a final clean of the manse before our minister arrives on Friday!! It was really good to have so many hands willing to help clean. It's all sparkling and ready now for the Hart's!! By 10:20 I had to race off again to Armadale. I took Hailey and Kara with since they both had exams around 11:30. At 11 I had a bus committee meeting and after that I had my regular monday Indonesian class until 1. Then back home to pick up Travis from Helen's (thanks so much Helen, for taking care of Travis) and grab a quick bite to eat. At home I got a chance to bake some cake for after school and some muffins for tomorrow's lunch boxes. I got dinner ready early, fed the family and then rushed off again to check out a possible hall to use for Rev Hart's welcome evening. In the meantime Dave and Cody went to Youth group (Dave leads every second week) and then Cody had catechism. So when I got back I got to shower Brett and Travis, read them a story or 2 (little scam artists!!) and tuck them in. Then I caught up on some washing and ironing and now here I sit, ready for bed.
Well, that was just a rundown of a normal day for me lately!! Tomorrow starts again: I've got mother's help in Travis' class in the morning, then groceries and washing..... Maybe I should get a job, then I might not be so busy!!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Brooke's Birthday Party
On Friday the 15th Brooke celebrated her birthday with all her classmates. From 3:30 'til 5'30 we had 20 party kids running amuck! Actually, they are a good bunch of kids - can't get them quiet to listen to instructions but when it came to playing games and joining in they all participated and we had no problems. It's great getting to meet all the kids (boys and girls) that Brooke spends every school day with.
We (thankfully Chris came over to give me a hand!) kept the kids busy with all sorts of weird and wacky games.
Waiting for all the party kids to arrive.
Time for gift-giving. A whole group of the kids pitched in together to give Brooke a gift voucher of $140 to spend at Target. Wow was she happy with that! We had to go straight away so she could get some new clothes.
Next we played a game like pass the parcel but with a gruesome twist. We had 4 jars of baby food with the labels removed going around and around the group. When the music stopped whoever was left holding the jar had to take a spoonful of the dubious looking stuff. Some faces that were pulled were priceless!! At the same time we had a carved out pumpkin full of cold spaghetti noodles (brains) that was passed around. When the music stopped the lucky person got to stick their hand in the brains and feel for a lolly!! The kids (especially the boys) thought that was fantastic!!
They also played a smartie relay where they had to suck a smartie onto a straw and carry it to the counter to drop into a container. With 2 teams there was lots of noise and dropped smarties and surprisingly no-one bumped heads.
Next we went outside for some fresh air. We had a relay race to the trampoline and back. But there was a twist. Not just a regular run to the tramp and run back, oh no!! They had to run in pairs, both in a pair of large jocks and running back to back. What a laugh that was!! By the end the jocks were ripped to shreds but the kids all thought it was fun. Storm and Clinton were paired up and Storm carried Clinton on his back much to Clinton's delight. Some of the kids went down in a tangle and lost valuable time trying to get back on their feet again and some just managed to crawl over the finish line. Lots and lots of laughs with this game!!
This game was a hoot! We split the kids into 4 teams. Each team chose a person to lay on the ground protected by a rubbish bag and some goggles. They all had a bowl of marshmallows covered in chocolate syrup. They had to drop the marshmallows into the 'victim's' mouth without bending. The results were fantastic with marshmallows plopped on the goggles, and sliding down their ears... in the end, not many marshmallows were actually eaten!! The 4 boys who volunteered were really good sports and did an excellent job. Thanks Nathan, Chad, Storm and Kyle, you guys were fantastic!
Finally the kids all went to the park and played a half hour of Flag. Thankfully Chris knows how to play the game, and Cody and Wade were watchmen by the jails so they all had lots of fun. At 5:30 the boys were all picked up which left Brooke with 8 girls all ready for a giggly, girlie sleepover!! We had some dinner quickly and then I took the 9 girls to the local rollerskating rink where they spent 2 hours learning to rollerskate and participate in the various games they did there. They all thought it was a fantastic evening out!!
When we got home the girls sat down to watch a movie - the Princess Bride - a nice and calming movie just before bed: NOT!! The girls quietly went to bed and since Brooke's room is upstairs on the other end of the house we didn't hear them anymore, although they quite happily told us they went to sleep really late!
The next morning was rather chaotic as we also had a music practice session for Rev Hart's welcome evening. Originally that was going to start at 10, after the girls had been picked up but that got changed to 9. Anyway, the girls watched some Little House on the Prairie episodes (thanks Annette!!) while I cooked them some pancakes for breakfast. After breakfast they played the 1-100 dice game, where you get to write down the numbers from 1-100 when you roll a 6. If someone else rolls a 6 they get to grab the pen and start writing numbers down furiously. First one to 100 wins the game. It's always lots of fun, with tensions sometimes running high. They just finished it when the parents came to pick them up. The girls all got to take a little stuffed animal home with a lolly bag attached to their necks. Oh, so cute!!
And so ends another grand grade 6 party, with memories galore!!
We (thankfully Chris came over to give me a hand!) kept the kids busy with all sorts of weird and wacky games.
Waiting for all the party kids to arrive.
Time for gift-giving. A whole group of the kids pitched in together to give Brooke a gift voucher of $140 to spend at Target. Wow was she happy with that! We had to go straight away so she could get some new clothes.
Next we played a game like pass the parcel but with a gruesome twist. We had 4 jars of baby food with the labels removed going around and around the group. When the music stopped whoever was left holding the jar had to take a spoonful of the dubious looking stuff. Some faces that were pulled were priceless!! At the same time we had a carved out pumpkin full of cold spaghetti noodles (brains) that was passed around. When the music stopped the lucky person got to stick their hand in the brains and feel for a lolly!! The kids (especially the boys) thought that was fantastic!!
They also played a smartie relay where they had to suck a smartie onto a straw and carry it to the counter to drop into a container. With 2 teams there was lots of noise and dropped smarties and surprisingly no-one bumped heads.
Next we went outside for some fresh air. We had a relay race to the trampoline and back. But there was a twist. Not just a regular run to the tramp and run back, oh no!! They had to run in pairs, both in a pair of large jocks and running back to back. What a laugh that was!! By the end the jocks were ripped to shreds but the kids all thought it was fun. Storm and Clinton were paired up and Storm carried Clinton on his back much to Clinton's delight. Some of the kids went down in a tangle and lost valuable time trying to get back on their feet again and some just managed to crawl over the finish line. Lots and lots of laughs with this game!!
This game was a hoot! We split the kids into 4 teams. Each team chose a person to lay on the ground protected by a rubbish bag and some goggles. They all had a bowl of marshmallows covered in chocolate syrup. They had to drop the marshmallows into the 'victim's' mouth without bending. The results were fantastic with marshmallows plopped on the goggles, and sliding down their ears... in the end, not many marshmallows were actually eaten!! The 4 boys who volunteered were really good sports and did an excellent job. Thanks Nathan, Chad, Storm and Kyle, you guys were fantastic!
Finally the kids all went to the park and played a half hour of Flag. Thankfully Chris knows how to play the game, and Cody and Wade were watchmen by the jails so they all had lots of fun. At 5:30 the boys were all picked up which left Brooke with 8 girls all ready for a giggly, girlie sleepover!! We had some dinner quickly and then I took the 9 girls to the local rollerskating rink where they spent 2 hours learning to rollerskate and participate in the various games they did there. They all thought it was a fantastic evening out!!
When we got home the girls sat down to watch a movie - the Princess Bride - a nice and calming movie just before bed: NOT!! The girls quietly went to bed and since Brooke's room is upstairs on the other end of the house we didn't hear them anymore, although they quite happily told us they went to sleep really late!
The next morning was rather chaotic as we also had a music practice session for Rev Hart's welcome evening. Originally that was going to start at 10, after the girls had been picked up but that got changed to 9. Anyway, the girls watched some Little House on the Prairie episodes (thanks Annette!!) while I cooked them some pancakes for breakfast. After breakfast they played the 1-100 dice game, where you get to write down the numbers from 1-100 when you roll a 6. If someone else rolls a 6 they get to grab the pen and start writing numbers down furiously. First one to 100 wins the game. It's always lots of fun, with tensions sometimes running high. They just finished it when the parents came to pick them up. The girls all got to take a little stuffed animal home with a lolly bag attached to their necks. Oh, so cute!!
And so ends another grand grade 6 party, with memories galore!!
Brooke's 11th Birthday
On Monday May 11'th Brooke turned 11!! I don't know where the years have disappeared to, my little baby princess is definitely growing up - she's nearly a teenager already!! Her first years of life are a blur in my memory. We were so busy with all the little ones then. Brooke didn't stay little for long as before we knew it, she could do whatever the twins were doing! She was and still is our princess!!
She was spoiled rotten with lots of prezzies. She received a chearleading Wii game, some more Schleich dogs, lots of jewellery and a gift voucher to go clothes shopping, some books and some stampin up stuff.
Brooke had been sharing Jess and Meagan's room for about 2 weeks while we totally redid her room. Her ceiling and walls have been repainted. Monday morning I had booked the carpet men in to install carpet into her room. Brooke had been wondering when she would ever be able to go back into her room so she went to school with no idea that day had arrived. So while she was at school, the carpet was put in, I picked up her new bed and mattress and made it all up. Her room turned out just beautifully!! Now our darling girl sleeps in a beautiful double bed with lots of pillows and fancy stuff!! She is one spoilt lady.
After school the family came over to wish her a happy birthday and she got even more spoiled. It was great to spend the afternoon celebrating her birthday!
She was spoiled rotten with lots of prezzies. She received a chearleading Wii game, some more Schleich dogs, lots of jewellery and a gift voucher to go clothes shopping, some books and some stampin up stuff.
Brooke had been sharing Jess and Meagan's room for about 2 weeks while we totally redid her room. Her ceiling and walls have been repainted. Monday morning I had booked the carpet men in to install carpet into her room. Brooke had been wondering when she would ever be able to go back into her room so she went to school with no idea that day had arrived. So while she was at school, the carpet was put in, I picked up her new bed and mattress and made it all up. Her room turned out just beautifully!! Now our darling girl sleeps in a beautiful double bed with lots of pillows and fancy stuff!! She is one spoilt lady.
After school the family came over to wish her a happy birthday and she got even more spoiled. It was great to spend the afternoon celebrating her birthday!
Mother's Day 2009
Mother's Day has been and gone again. The Friday before, Travis and Brett came home from school with things hidden behind their backs...it's not for you mum!!
Brett had made a lovely card with a poem on the inside:
Travis had made up these lovely flower pots, painted them and cut the various bits.
Brett had made a lovely card with a poem on the inside:
Here's a gift for Mother's Day
I'll try my best in every way.
But when you get upset with me,
Relax and have a cup of tea.
I'll try my best in every way.
But when you get upset with me,
Relax and have a cup of tea.
Attached inside was a tea bag for those stressful moments!!
Travis had made up these lovely flower pots, painted them and cut the various bits.
The care instructions read:
Water me with love and hugs
to keep away the nasty bugs.
Keep me in a sunny place
Near your heart and warm
embrace.
to keep away the nasty bugs.
Keep me in a sunny place
Near your heart and warm
embrace.
With a photo in the middle, I treasure these mother's day gifts. Before long the kids grow up....
The older kids gave me cards, a kettle and an iron - all very much appreciated.
Between church we spent a lovely day at mum's with the rest of the family up here. We all brought something to eat for everyone and I think everyone had a relaxed and enjoyable day (well, I did anyway!!) Of course we tried imagining having everyone together...it's going to be wonderfully chaotic. Poor mum needed an afternoon nap after all the excitement; maybe we'll have to give her a room to herself in Busselton!!! But it was great to be able to celebrate mum on Mother's Day. It's such a blessing to have her here with us! Thanks mum for being you!!
The older kids gave me cards, a kettle and an iron - all very much appreciated.
Between church we spent a lovely day at mum's with the rest of the family up here. We all brought something to eat for everyone and I think everyone had a relaxed and enjoyable day (well, I did anyway!!) Of course we tried imagining having everyone together...it's going to be wonderfully chaotic. Poor mum needed an afternoon nap after all the excitement; maybe we'll have to give her a room to herself in Busselton!!! But it was great to be able to celebrate mum on Mother's Day. It's such a blessing to have her here with us! Thanks mum for being you!!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Brett
Our Brett is such an interesting little young man! (well, Chris would say that's an understatement!) Anyway, on Sunday Brett decided to wear his long sleeved shirt for church and asked me to tuck it in nice and neat. His shirt always has to be totally tucked in so it doesn't poof out at all. (when he plays soccer his shirt is also always dutifully tucked. It doesn't matter if he's the only kid on the pitch with a tucked in shirt, if that's the way it's meant to be then that's what he'll do!!) As I'm tucking away into his waist, he's trying to smooth down his sleeves and getting rather concerned that they poofed out a bit. So I had to spend some time explaining that shirt sleeves are not meant to be skin tight. After checking with dad to make sure I'm telling the truth, he was finally satisfied. Next he comes out of his room with a white cardboard triangle sticking out of his breast pocket and some pretty red flowers beside asking me if he can go to church like that!! He's such a card.
During church he was thinking about our next holiday (not sure with the connection of church and holiday but anyway...) so when we came home I had to get down the atlas so he could draw a map of Australia and plot our next holiday. Here's the result:
I guess we're travelling around Australia next. I love the way he had to include the airplane section. I think the kids really enjoyed the flying part of our last trip!!
During church he was thinking about our next holiday (not sure with the connection of church and holiday but anyway...) so when we came home I had to get down the atlas so he could draw a map of Australia and plot our next holiday. Here's the result:
I guess we're travelling around Australia next. I love the way he had to include the airplane section. I think the kids really enjoyed the flying part of our last trip!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
