make way for hats!!

The weather is starting to get cooler and Ben, our little baldy, is in need of some hats.

I pulled this old one of Sarah's out of her dolls clothes box. It looks so cute on I would like to make Ben a few more.

Also a couple of mum's from my mother's group are looking for funky hats.

So Ben and I stopped in at a local thrift shop after the school drop-off this morning and he chose these t-shirts, destined to become new hats for him and a few of his little friends.

I am imagining a little 'Seven Dwarfs' look going on at mother's group.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho...

The unthinkable.

As someone who loves food, and regularly blogs about food, last night I did the unthinkable.

I had a dinner party and FORGOT TO TAKE ANY PHOTOS OF THE FOOD!!!!!!!!!
(Photos of the leftovers will have to suffice, sorry...)

And it wasn't just any old dinner party, it was an Indian Feast.

There were 19 adults, and 20 kids, and everybody brought a couple of dishes. The kitchen bench was literally covered in food (would have made a great photo!!)

I made Dahl with my mum's recipe, and spiced fish.

The kids also took shifts at the microwave and popped 200 pappadums!!!!

We ended up with some leftovers which are all but gone now. Mmmmm


(leftover dahl, biryani, mango chutney, and pappadums we had for lunch)

(Matt loading up a pappadum)

(apricot anf pistachio kulfi)

I usually don't like Asian desserts but these were so yummy. My friend Jen made them and I am hoping to get the recipe off her to share.

Earlier in the week I made some pesto using my friend Kim's recipe, and I also discoverd a great new food blog.

Help!!!

As a mother of 3 boys I am crying out for help.

I am completely clueless.

I'll admit I know next to nothing about boys.

They are a complete mystery to me.

I have only sisters, and if you include my step-sisters and half-sisters, I am one of SEVEN girls, no boys.

Dave and the boys are always telling me to relax when they, and their mates, are outside wrestling, setting up skateboard stunts (by the way, I always make them wear helmets, this photo was a staged), playing tackle rugby league, doing their own made up martial arts.....and the list of risk taking behaviour goes on, and on, and on...

They tell me to relax, I tell them I can't, I'm a mother, and it's my job to worry.

Room reveal and a sneak peek!

School holiday smiles.

Despite my cleaning and de-cluttering frenzy, the kids are having a great break from school.

That pile of stuff in the corner is no longer after our trip to IKEA on Saturday. We took the trailer and went to town!! That corner now has a floor to ceiling 'pantry' cupboard.
A place for little used appliances, bulk food (Dave always goes nuts when he goes to Aldi), lunch cooler bags, cartons of beer, soft drinks, and anything else that doesn't fit in the kitchen cupboards.



And here the colour of Sarah's room is revealed. In the morning sun it is almost flourescent!

Some curtains, and the pictures put back on the wall will help it look less green I'm sure.

It does look nice and fresh and clean though, and she really loves it so that is the main thing.

And lastly, a sneak peek of what I am making for the Snailblazer swap.

Screen Free Day!!

Every so often Dave and I declare 'screen-free day', which means no TV, DS, playstation or computer. The kids are never impressed at first, but if I can be strong and resist the pleading they always have a great day!
They eventually start coming up with really creative and fun ideas, and by the end of the day they are getting along with each other much better than normal.

So what did they do today?

a trip to the library
played at the park
made a spider home and caught a spider to live in it (there are VERY big airholes on the top so the spider will probably escape overnight)
cooked meringues with Dave, YUM!!
touch footy
scalextric racing

and made these bookmarks, including one for Dave to take with him when he travels, with pictures of everyone on it.

All you need are some photos printed out 'contact sheet' size, some cardboard, and a laminator. Simple.

School holiday fun!

We ventured out to the Australian Museum today.

We have been there before, but not for a while, and it is really fascinating to see how their interests change over time. Matt was all about the dinosaurs and skeletons last time, but this time was fascinated by the spiders and the mineral collection. I wonder what will be next?

We came home via the Sydney Fish Markets with prawns, mussels and salmon in our esky bag.

Dave cooked up the mussels for dinner and they were delicious!!!!!

The last paint touch up has happened on Sarah's room so she should be able to move back in tomorrow. I promise I will take a colour piccy then.

And I have also started sewing for the Snailblazer swap. Stay tuned for a sneak peak one day soon.

At the moment...

...this is what is happening here. Dave and Sarah are painting her bedroom.

This is what she asked for for her 9th Birthday which was a few weeks ago.

I would show you a colour picture but it is rather bright. I am hoping when the furniture goes back in it will calm down a bit.

And as Dave is on holidays, he has the job of making me lots of these, because I sneakily have not learnt how to use the new coffee machine yet. Pretty clever hey!

getting it back...

...my sewing mojo that is.

A trip to spotlight this morning and signing up for the Snailblazer swap have got me all excited about sewing again.

A long weekend, plus hubby having an extra 4 days off work should hopefully give me some childfree time.

Fingers crossed!

Op-shop Heaven

Yesterday I visited Pippi and her wonderful op-shop on the northern outskirts of Sydney.

It seems to always have wonderful things, and is very cheap compared to other op-shops.

For a grandtotal of $18.50 I bought:

a pair of jeans for myself
two warm jackets for Ben (Sprout brand)
a simplicity pattern for baby kimono style PJ's
Peter Pan and Wendy
Happy Days with Jamie Oliver cookbook ($1, what a bargain)
a baby doll
a travel size 'Othello' game (which grandma recently taught Jonty how to play, so now he has taught me)
Easter decorations (3 bags of assorted ones)

And these red boots for Sarah.

She was so excited when I gave them to her (even though they smelled like an op-shop she said.)

This is a lovely idea. I think I will set one up too!