kids clothes week | birthday crown

Poor Sachin, our middle child is a December baby. His birthday is close to Christmas and all the hustle and bustle of the festive season. There has been a guilt cloud hanging over me until today. This week, I'm playing along with Kids Clothes Week . It's always fun! Not sure how far I'll get given it is school holidays??

So finally, today while little one was sleeping..... a very patient Sachin gets his own mum-made Birthday Crown (like big sister and little sister). He may be 6.5 years old but all good things are worth waiting for....

Happy un-birthday buddy!

waiting..... waiting...... waiting....

Miss Q turned 2

Our little lady celebrated her 2nd birthday last weekend. Gee whiz, that couple of years went by amazingly fast...

Quinn had a super day. Smile from ear to ear from the moment she woke up to the moment she lay her weary head. Kept up with the bigger kids all afternoon at the party -  trampolining, swinging, parcel opening, singing, running, eating, drinking, hip hip hooraying and candle blowing. She is one very happy soul who makes us laugh every day. We love her to bits!

The bear cakes were a hit. Kikki K tutorials here

KCWC | day 2

Awww... it's day 2 of the Kids Clothes Week Challenge and I'm afraid I don't have an awful lot to show. So with that out there, here's my effort so far.

Whilst I am a fan of daylight savings (turning the clocks forward one hour) as the light filled balmy nights over summer are awesome, there is a price to be paid when it comes to children and sleep patterns. This leads me to excuse myself for the lack of accomplishment on day 2 as I have spent the last 2 nights attempting to get numbers 1 & 2 children to bed, and whats more, to sleep before 9pm. The wise words of fellow South Australian mother, AKA Chapter Forty, sum up the situation perfectly "Whoever planned school holiday's end after day light saving time change clearly was NOT of the sleep deprived mother variety of human species" Here here I say!

this morning

Back to school today. First day of term 4.

Daylight savings started yesterday so no one (including me) wanted to get out of bed. 

Dad fixed it......

I'm in party planning mode

We have a special family birthday just around the corner. Yes indeed, it has almost been one year since the arrival of Quinn Alice, or Quinnie as she is known around these parts.

I'm currently collecting birthday party ideas and finding plenty of inspiration online. In celebration of Easter and Quinn's birthday I've put together a treasury of Etsy finds to capture the colours and feel I have in mind for her party. Going with pastels, balloons and flowers. We're having an afternoon tea party at home which fits nicely with the pretty, girlie styling. Click the image for links.

I've just ordered a customised file of this invitation from The Parchment Place, as life is too busy now to faff around designing my own invitations (especially when there are so many beautiful ones available at the click of a button).

Think I'll make some of these jellybean bracelets

How cute are these chocolate covered marshmallows (which also score points for easy preparation)

...and rainbow fruit kebabs (why have I never tried these before??)

These balloon and streamer decorating ideas are a winner. Could take a little effort, but it would be super cute to create an ombre effect with pastel colours...mmmm

OK so I did mention that I was time poor... but... in a parallel universe where I have plenty of free time I would make these...

...and these...

...and these.

I need a personal assistant. Actually, that is not the truth. I need a cleaner! That way I can spend more time doing the fun stuff that comes with motherhood :)

sunday | cricket + fairies

Yesterday afternoon we packed our bags and jumped on the train to the city (Adelaide, South Australia) where we parted ways - his and hers.

The boys turned left up King William Street and joined the swarming green and gold crowd heading to the cricket - a one day match between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval. I felt excited for Sachin as it was his first time to such a big event. In typical Sachin style he took it all in his stride and gave me the "what's the big deal Mum?" look. We have been talking about his namesake, Sachin Tendulkar batting for India, but unfortunately he didn't play. Now I wasn't there, but rumour has it that there was not much cricket watched but plenty of colourful people and atmosphere to soak up. The photos seem to support that story.

We ladies continued along North Terrace and took a left turn into the South Australian Museum, where we spent the next hour on a guided tour with Miss Ruby. She seems to have a strange fascination with an archaeology exhibit displaying the many layers of the earth's floor, in particular, the layer of rubbish that has been left behind over the last 10,000 years. Along the way we "didn't" look at the giant squid 7 times because it is very scary, but seemed to keep passing it. Ruby conjured up enough braveness to check out the Egyptian room for the first time but kind of freaked out over the mummies. Can't blame her, they are quite spooky, especially when you are a big Scooby Doo fan with a vivid imagination! In need of food, we hit the lawn out front of the Museum for snacks and let little Quinn out of her stroller to stretch her legs.

Fuelled and ready to go again, the next stop was the Botanical Gardens. We were on a mission to find the Rainbow Fairies. Apparently, our friend Lexie has seen them there. We inspected many flowers, looked under rocks, in holes, under leaves and in the trees. We even checked out the giant water lillies but those fairies were not ready to be seen. However as we left the gardens to go home, Ruby whispered to me that she did see one of the fairies. Bet you can't guess which one?!?!?

Yep. It was Ruby the Red Fairy. "For real" !!

{ this moment }

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at Soule Mama for all to find and see.

5 years ago today.....

... a little baby with lots of hair began life and entered our world.

Today, that boy of ours (still with lots of hair) celebrates his 5th birthday.

Happy Birthday Sachin. We love you!

How does a 5 year old spend his birthday? Making Lego of course!

rockin' the peg bag

...cause that's what I do.... hang out lots of washing!

I think I missed my call as a peg bag model. Ho Ho Ho...oh so hilarious Fiona! (sleep deprived humour). So anyway, I made myself a new peg bag as the old one disintegrated. Found this plastic coated fabric at Ikea which will hopefully withstand some of the outside elements for at least a season. I'm a big fan of the shoulder peg bag - much easier than using a go to basket. In fact I've even convinced DH to whip it over his shoulder when he's at the line...mmmm...must get a photo of that :)