Christmas Concert

This morning I went to Aaron's school to watch the Elementary School's Christmas Concert :-) They were so cute :-) I had to manage the video & the camera at the same time ... why didn't I think to take the tripod for the video??? (duh) Anyway I managed sort of okay - the video was on the whole time, but when I took a photo (and I didn't take many this time!) I had to hold the video with one hand, so it goes a bit up in the air sometimes hehee

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Here's a few of the photos I took ...

And still people aren't able to follow instructions or read signs! (Some people are just down right rude!)

These couple of pics I've made small for obvious reasons - it's just so you can get an idea of how they were on the stage. Aaron's class were on my left.
And Aaron was in the front row with the girls hehee
Here's a closer up cropped pic of him when they were out the front of the stage performing. Some of the class Mum's got together to make the hats ... we made LOTS of candy out of pipe cleaners etc. and hot glued them to the fabric. They looked really cool actually. All the kids were wearing pajamas ... Aaron got new Batman ones for the occasion ;-)
Back in class after the show. :-)
They did an awesome job ... hope Lyndon can watch the video I took without making too many comments about the actual video taking! ;-)

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This week I am busy busy busy putting together the card kits for Aaron's class that I am doing with them next week. I've had a little watcher!! ;-)

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Oh Christmas Tree ...

How the kids do love thee!!

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Yesterday we put the Christmas tree up! I know ... it's not even December yet, but considering Aaron has been asking for it to go up since March I think we did pretty well to last this long! ;-)

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In the morning we had a trip to Tesco to purchase some cheap tree decorations. I have a few nice tree ornaments which are slowly being destroyed (see below) by the kids and since they just can't help themselves by touching and wrecking, I don't see the point in spending money on buying nice or expensive things and then they only end up in the rubbish.

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At Tesco they each picked out a length of tinsel - pink for Maddison (of course!) and blue for Aaron and we got a gold one for Samuel! I also got two tubs of mixed coloured baubles, which Aaron and Maddison promptly opened as soon as we got home and sorted out which colours belonged to who! (I'm just shaking my head!)

There was very helpful advice for Daddy on how to construct the tree from Santa's helpers!

A bit of picture taking with Maddison's view finder camera heheeee
Spot the finger over the "lens" heheee
More ornament destruction! Maddison just pulled the head of the Santa (it's neck is supposed to look like it's arms!) and then handed it to me and said "it's broke"! Unbelievable.

Once the lights (Daddy's job) and the tinsel (my job with little people's help!) were on the tree the kids decorated it themselves. Maddison seemed determined to hang all hers on one branch!
Aaron was pretty good at spreading his ones all over the tree.
One of Maddison's little collections!
The finished tree (after I had explained that the baubles around the bottom had to move higher up the tree so Samuel couldn't reach ... good enough explanation I thought to rearrange Maddison's clusters hehee).
Samuel inspecting the tree after his nap.
Wide eyed wonder :-)
After bath time I got some pics of them together :-)

Unfortunately Maddison decided to sing her version of Jingle Bells at the TOP of her lungs - it was pretty much shouting rather than singing actually! Aaron didn't think much of it ...
He even tried to cover Samuel's ears, but Maddison just shouted on oblivious!
Then a pic of Samuel sort of sitting on his own :-) He's still a bit wobbly unless he's leaning forward with his hands either on the floor or his legs. But if he gets excited (like in this picture) he very soon ends up doing a nose dive! :-)
Thought (since I was sharing lots of photos a few more could be squeezed in!) I'd show you some pics of how Samuel's getting about - kind of like swimming on land! :-)
Dig that toe in!

Ahh got her :-)
He was laughing at Maddison and look at the big line of dribble heheeeLess than 4 weeks till Christmas! Imagine that! This year has gone crazily fast!

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Thanks for visiting :-)

Scrap-it-Lah November Challenge

This month the challenge at Scrap-it-Lah is to do a 12x12 LO based on the colours of one county's flag.

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After MUCH humming and haarring I decided on Ireland's flag. So green, white & orange it is!

I actually ended up doing a double LO because (a) I didn't want to trim the photos too much and (b) I needed 6 to tell the story!!! I've used Crate Paper (a rak from Michelle @ Scrap-it-Lah a while back :-) thank you), Rose Moka paper, Pink Paislee tape, Scenic Route chipboard circles (I just grabbed all the green, white & orange ones from a couple of sets!), and cut a couple of bikes from some Cosmo Cricket paper, thickers and a journal tag from Fancy Pants (it's an oldie!).

Here they are close up.

Cool bikes :-)
And these circles are supposed to read "Life is Always Good 24/7" hehee
:-) (Even if you have a face plant!)
Thanks for visiting.

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Get Picky Sketch #2

Here's my entry for Get Picky's Sketch #2. Great sketch - once I had FINALLY chosen what papers to use (that took ages) I had the LO put together in a matter of minutes :-)

I used a mix of older Sassafras papers, and of course some of my Martha Stewart butterfly punches ;-) I've inked the edges of all the papers and butterflies with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. Photos are from last years holiday (of course!). AND I am going to add a disclaimer to the title ... they are only adorable some of the time hehee

Thanks for visiting.

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Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving isn't a celebration in New Zealand like it is in America & Canada. So this is the first time really I've seen it done in American style :-) A few of the class Mum's (sorry that should be Mom's!) put together an amazing spread for the kids to celebrate Thanksgiving.

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I had the responsibility of bringing some butter!! (big deal I tell you!).

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Here's the tables all set waiting for the kids :-)

Check out this felt turkey heheee
The food ... lets just say it was AMAZING and my contribution of butter was just pathetic!
Turkey!
Aaron with a little juice box (apple) and it made me laugh because it had on the box the label of "belly washer" heheee. Seriously it did! :-)

Aaron with his plate of food and he even ate some turkey!
And this afternoon he came home with a certificate - Perfect Attendance Record! How cool is that :-)
Now Aaron thinks it's his turn to be on the computer, so I have to get off! :-)

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More Samuel Pics :-)

Just sharing some more photos of Samuel (and Aaron & Maddison) because I can hehee :-)

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Samuel hasn't wanted to eat his baby rice the last few days, so I tried him with apple ...

He didn't like that much either! I mixed it with baby rice and also gave it to him plain, but he wasn't fussed with either! hahaaa Tonight I tried him with veges mixed with baby rice. He gobbled it all up! YAY :-) So hopefully that trend will continue! Veges for breakfast anyone? :-)

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I've shared part of the kids bedtime ritual here before when Lyndon is away, and tonight I took some photos of the other part! It's getting more interesting now heheee

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For some reason Samuel LOVES Aaron's bed. You put him down on it and he nearly hyperventilates with excitement! True ... his arms and legs go like windmills and he puffs and pants! He's just SOOOO excited. You can't help but grin at him! :-)

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Anyway back to bedtime ... after I've read their stories Aaron & Maddison get into their beds and while I put the books away Samuel has a turn in each of their beds. :-) I said it's getting more interesting ... that's because Samuel doesn't lie still anymore hehee

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In with Aaron ...

Ahhhh ... don't mind me I am going to roll over right on top of you big brother - you just watch out!!! :-)
I have my eye on your toys!
Maddison's bed is a different thing all together - he's trying to escape from her the whole time! As you can see she's a bit enthusiastic with her cuddles!

Okay Maddison sweetie, back off - Samuel needs some breathing space please!
Ahh that's better :-) (even if she does have a grip on his neck hehee)
The only thing wrong with this bed time ritual is Samuel won't go down to sleep after this (after I've feed him). He's too wound up! hehee So he generally ends up playing on his mat (or scooting off it as the case is now!) for another half hour/40 minutes before he's happy to go to sleep!

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I was talking to Lyndon tonight telling him about Samuel moving about on the floor - he's off and away I tell you! I told Lyndon he won't believe how fast he's getting about now - the difference in 3 days is amazing. It's kind of like he's swimming on land! He bends one knee up, digs his toe in and gives a big push and his arms move to help him and bend, dig, push, arm pull and he's off! Will be interesting to see if he actually crawls properly or if he's happy to just get along on his belly! He's got this ring stacker toy that has a rounded bottom so it wobbles and if it gets pushed over on its side, it rolls! So Samuel pushes it over and then a game of chase starts up. :-) Lots of huffing and puffing going on trying to catch it hehee :-) I love watching him. As Maddison says "Baby Samuel is doing exercise!" :-) heheee

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Thanks for visiting.