that time of year again!

Well we have had a very busy week. The kids had their piano concert, a disco, Bella's dance concert, a ward conference, a youth fireside, volleyball, swimming, a call to RACT Roadside (don't ask!) and today I'm packing up the living room furniture so that we can have our floors sanded and re-coated. Tomorrow I'll pack our bags! We're staying at 'The Farm' (aka mum and dad's) until Sunday. I've included some pics of the kids at the piano concert (they are all doing so well now) and Bella all dressed up for her concert. I really wanted to get some photos of my props and backdrops on stage - I didn't get to take pics of all of them before I had to give them to the dance teacher. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take any photos or video because it was being professionally filmed and we have to buy that!!!!!! $45 mind you...rip off. Anyway Bella did a wonderful job she has great rhythm and was by far the most beautiful on stage!

'tis the season...

My Nativity Scene arrived in the post today. Isn't it cute? Charlotte and Holly, her friend from next door, had a great time unpacking the box and setting this up on the table. Afterwards we made playdough. Check out the huge pile of ironing in the background, I was very proud of the fact that I could ignore this and choose to 'play' instead.

I've also decided to defer uni for a year or two. I was actually feeling quite sick about starting next year. Even though it would only be one day at uni a week it just isn't the right time. I simply can't give up being with my kids whenever possible. Charlotte goes to family day care one day a week from 10 til 2 and that almost kills me!!! Don't get me wrong, I also love having some time for me but you know they grow so flamin' fast I can't stand the thought of missing anything. Anyway I felt so good as I filled out and posted the deferral form - pressure off! now I can look forward to the silly season and not have to worry about the stress of next year.

WHAT THE?????

We had a funny surprise when we checked the eggs today...a very tiny egg! This was so funny because our chooks usually lay super sized eggs. This one is soooo cute I just had to put it out there for everyone to see!







Can't wait to crack it open tomorrow morning and have it with some mini bacon strips for my brekkie!!

Charlotte's Tag

Thanks Mia

Charlotte loves to see herself on the computer so she will really enjoy this...

6 things about Charli:

1. Charlotte is very loving and cuddly. No one can leave the house without hugs, kisses and butterfly's (you know when you flutter your eyelashes against each others or on the other's cheeks). And at bed time she loves the kind of kiss that goes "mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmpwa" for as long as your breath will last.

2. Charlotte is a sleepy head. I've lost count of the photos we have of her sleeping in funny positions. She still has an afternoon sleep most days (which is lovely) and usually takes herself to bed! (or flakes on the lounge).

3. Charlotte is very independent (like most 3 year olds) and confident and friendly . She has always been like this. I remember a time in Melbourne, Charlotte was about 2, Bridey and I were shopping and had stopped for lunch in a food court. Charlotte just marches up to two ladies at a table and says, "hello, can I have a chip?" The same day she walks up to a man holding a new little baby, gets right in his face and says, "Hello, is that your baby?" She makes friends very easily and will seek them out wherever we are.

4. Charlotte is brave. She has had more cuts, scrapes, bruises, bumps, knock outs, split lips etc etc than any of my kids but she hardly ever cries or complains. She just picks herself up and off she goes.

5. Charlotte LOVES to sing. This is one of my favourite things about her. She is always singing something (usually a song from church) and it draws many smiles and comments when we are grocery shopping - especially "I AM A CHILD OF GOD..." at the top of her lungs!

6. Charlotte is cute, and she reminds me of this every day by telling me "oh mum, I am sooo cute!" And you know what? she is!

6 People Charlotte Tags:

Leilani
Hattie
Bella
Taj
Chernoa
Tilly

About Time...

I know, I know, I'm a slacker!

The past couple of months have been really hectic for me and despite wanting to do some blogging the most I have done is check out my new nephew, gorgeous Felix.

I have finished all of the props and painting for the dance school. I delivered that last of them last night and boy did it feel good! I can have my living room back now.

Here's a picture of the 'almost finished' surfboards.

Yesterday in the pouring rain, Reuben competed in the 'Tasmania Triathlon Schools Challenge'. It was held at Bellerive beach and despite the weather conditions there were thousands of kids participating.

This is a new event and the plan is to make it an annual one. By the looks of yesterday it will be very successful.

Everyone was drenched before the event had even started. Charlotte and I were soaked to the undies (literally) and that was with coats and an umbrella!!

Reubs doing his thing.

I was really proud of how enthusiastic Reuben was to take part in this event and because of that Charlotte and I were among the few parents and siblings who braved the conditions and hung out waiting for his event. I really wanted Reuben to feel supported in doing this.

So well done Reubs, you're the best!!

Footy Fever

Well I don' t think I will forget Saturday 27th September for a very long time. It was easily the best game of footy I have ever watched. The AFL grand final experience is sooooooooo much better when your team is in it!! Matt's crazy family all came up to watch it with us. The Tosellis also joined us for what turned out to be one of the best afternoons I've ever had crammed in my living room with the blinds shut the volume to the max. We went all out as well with the food. We all had pies and sauce then pigged out on junk food. Matt set up the projector and turned the room around so we had an entire wall showing us the game. I'm certain the whole of Mt Nelson could hear the screams and cries from our home. Especially the last one after the siren went and we knew for certain that Hawthorn had clinched the Premiership deal. Good on you Hawks.

The Things We Do...

Isabella has been having dancing lessons for three years now and she really loves it. Her dance school is called 'Rompers Stomp' and they have a great philosophy of creating an atmosphere where kids can learn to dance in a safe and fun environment. Plus they don't just dance, they sing and act, they make stuff, and a big plus for me is that there is no competition. Our dance school doesn't expect their students to participate in Eistedfords. If they want to do it then of course they are given guidance, advice and help with it but there is no expectation to take part in competitions. The other great thing is that parents can volunteer to help out in various roles withing the dance school in exchange for benefits, discounts, or in my case free lessons for the entire year!!!! The only thing I have to pay for is concert tickets and a small costume levy. My role is to paint and create props for various groups for the dance concert at the end of the year. It is a pretty big job but I think it's a pretty good deal and one I'm extremely grateful for. I was gearing up to tell Bella we couldn't afford dancing lessons this year when Jo, the dance school owner, asked me if I'd be interested in expanding on the painting job I usually do (one or two items) in exchange for a 'free year'. I was so happy because Bella just loves it and she's good at it too. Anyway I have just completed the first set of props. 14 Dog Kennels. It became a bit monotonous after a while but once they were all completed they looked pretty good. I lined them all up outside for a photo and it reminded me of the boathouses a Brighton Beach in Victoria. I love the boathouses...I don't love the dog kennels...I just like them! Actually I'll be pretty happy to hand them over and begin the next project - surfboards!






Half finished dog kennels decorated my floor for two days and nights. I had to paint at night because Charlotte loves to paint and that just wasn't working! So I was burning the midnight oil for a couple of nights.

Some of the finished projects. The kids had fun coming up with names for the kennels. Of course they wanted to name them all after the Hawthorn football players but we were short on space and had to stick with names with 3 or 4 letters. You'll notice there is a 'Bud' though, after our much loved Buddy Franklin.

Brighton Beach Boathouses...Oh no that's right it's out the side of our house, silly me.

Care Rugs & Appreciation Journals

At our last Stake YW activity we only had a few girls and leaders turn up but that didn't seem to make a difference to the success of the activity.  Chelsea Parsons came along to help everyone make an appreciation journal out of recycled materials.  We used cardboard (collected from the Mt Nelson Store where I work) for the front and back.  Chelsea pre-cut and painted them for us.  She showed us how to sand them and add some decoration.  We used recycled paper (kindly donated from the ABC Newsroom where my mother in-law works!) and the whole thing is held together with two silver rings.  They look great.  And I think they only cost something like 40c each to make. Thanks Chels.

  Prior to the activity the young women were asked to knit one square and bring it along.  Some girls knitted their own square, others chose to enlist the help of some RS sisters, either way we were inundated with knitted squares of all shapes sizes and colours.   Andy King came along and provided instructions on how to sew the squares together.  We didn't get them all finished on the night but with the help of some wonderful young women and their mothers,  Andy and myself we have pretty much finished them and will be delivering them very soon.

It was a great night.  I can't wait to get some of the girls together to give the rugs to some people who really need them.  

NOTE TO SELF:  Remember to write in your journal!!

Last night Reuben gave us a really great lesson in FHE.  We talked about family and how every family is different.  We each took turns to say what we like most about our family and then each suggested something we could do better.  

For the next month we are focusing on:

• remembering our responsibilities
  

• Speaking kindly
  

• Helping out and going the extra mile
  

At the end of the lesson we all pulled a name out of a hat and had to draw a picture of that person and write down all of that persons good quatities, talents, or things we admire about them.  We will keep them displayed in the living room for the next week or so to remind us of this important lesson.  I just had to blog these pictures and I'm sure you can see why...we are just so talented at drawing!!

GO HAWKS

Saturday night was a very happy one for this household!   The Hawks beat the Saints and that means we're in the grand final and are now gearing up to give the Cats a run for their money.

'The Boys' decked themselves out in the 'gear' and parked themselves as close to the tv as possible (I'm told this is because we only have a small tv and sitting close creates an illusion of having a big screen Plasma or something?? whatever).  There was lots of cheering, yelling, screaming, more cheering and a very loud theme song when it was all over.  YAAAAAAY!

GO HAWKS

Next Saturday we are having an extended family get-together (all of the Sayers family are Hawks supporters) at our place.  We'll have a BBQ, watch the game and make some noise.  

 so stay tuned

Birthday Boy

Matthew is getting O L D ! He recently turned 39 (WHOA) Anyway the kids and I cooked a yummy breakfast and he received some thoughtful pressies. Here he is enjoying the beginning of the last year of his 30's. Love you Matt xxx