The Queens Birthday weekend

Us here in NZ get a long weekend the first Monday in June to celebrate the Queens birthday- but the Queen's actual birthday is April.

We had a great weekend as a family and here are some photos from our weekend.

dressed to take Sago to the dog park

the boys built and awesome train station

playing a game with dad

we took a drive

heading into the tunnel

Lyttelton

adorable hats on the fence in Lyttelton

Me and Mr B

My family

Container Cosy in Sumner

Sumner Beach

This is my favourite photos of the weekend.

Me and Master W at the beach

A great weekend all round!

our handmade Christmas

Want to hear about my plan? For those who know me I *heart* Christmas and plan early (and today is the 1st June so its already the middle month of the year)!

decorations made for our advent calender

Last year I had a grand plan to hand make family members Christmas presents. I found that this was really fun and satisfying but also overwhelming having to myself make handmade gifts for everyone. I also every year enjoy making all our Christmas cards.

This year's plan is to buy HANDMADE from others. To buy things friends have made or could make (when I ask) and be supporting others. Or even the idea of making things and swapping. I myself have things listed on felt so the plan is to make a few more things on felt to sell/gift to others and keep a look out for things to buy. I also plan to include buying handmade items for/to add to our Christmas cards. I am posting this early because I like to be organised and hate the mad rush in November/December when people seem to freak out and notice Christmas is a few weeks away and with Handmade items they are not mass produced and they take time and love to make.

Would love to hear your ideas for a handmade Christmas or things you do already for a Handmade (with love and purpose) Christmas, or if there is a skill or talent that you have that would make an awesome gift (feel free to post a link when you comment)!!

feeling proud

Had a proud moment this morning that I just had to share. Just as we were heading out the door to school this morning- dressed for winter (it was freezing out) Master B handed me this wee bit of paper and also a blank one for me to write on.

"I am Ben Mum Dad"

This makes me so proud and also so pleased with his progress at school and also pleased with the work we put in at home. Us having read 2-3 books to the boys every night since they were small, going to the library every 2-3 weeks, having paper/colouring in books, pens, felts etc. available and also giving them the freedom of free play and having many options of play here at home. I love just how willing and open the boys are to learn and share with us their thoughts and stories and for us to encourage and appreciate every bit of paper the use to create something (even those scribbles). I am learning they are priceless and perfect and its so awesome to see Master B's progress with his writing and drawing.

busy weekend

The boys had a 4th birthday Party Invite so I quickly whipped up a large pouch for colouring book and pencils we had brought for the birthday.

deciding on colours

Colouring in book and pencils

finished pouch

Present complete with cards from Master W and Master B

I also went to the Encraftment Market  with a friend. It was fun looking around at at all the stalls- it was a shame it was sooo cold out! I brought a few things.

more fabric and new earrings

New collar for Sago.

We had lunch with friends with Sunday

some of our snacks

Master B ready to go into space

my boys in their space ship

The boys (Mr B) have been enjoying watching spacex and learning about space, rockets, astronauts- keeps them very entertained!

We are enjoying the warm windy weather- just hope it lasts!

Photo Friday

listed on felt

Hope your having a happy Friday and feeling more motivated than me!

the weeks happenings

Over the weekend the temperature had started to get a little on the cold and frosty side. We ventured out into town wearing jackets, hats and mittens to see what other buildings had been demolished since we last visited.

Cashel Street

Boys watching cranes

we found a large pile of leaves!

my family 

such a familiar sight

For me it was sad to see more of town gone and lots of vacant lots. It makes it hard to remember what once was there. The Crowne Plaza (was corner of Kilmore/Durham Street) is now just a big pile heaped of rubble with a digger parked on top. We had stayed one wedding anniversary and for me in the front of it where there was a large garden with a clock in it where Mr B proposed in 2006 - that too now is piled high with rubble and stones. The wonderful thing is we still have those memories even if the place is no longer the same.

Since it has been getting colder the last few weeks It was time that I made Master W a new wheat bag (Master B vomited on his old one last year and it accidently went through the wash and then got binned) so it was time for a new one with a removable cover and since I was already making one I made myself a new one where the wheat doesn't smell roasted (I had accidently put it in the microwave without a cup of water)...opps!

our wheat bags

my wheat bag- envelope opening

Master W's one

On Sunday night Mr B made dinner for our monthly date night and he made Caesar Salad and Lemon Meriange Pie. It was so nice to get the boys off to bed and have dinner alone to enjoy a movie and yummy food...the only problem is that it was over 2 hours past our normal dinner time and you end up so hungry!!

Since my wrist still isn't 100% better (have another physio appointment next week) I thought I would make a start on a project I dont need to finish till December. I choose my fabrics today for my Christmas Quilt.

Christmas fabrics

Hexagon quilt is slowly growing

I am excited to start making the Christmas quilt. But first I need to make a start on May's Craftsy Block of the month now I have some more fabric in the range I am using.

Photo Friday

flowers from my garden

Enjoying the sunshine today! Happy Friday!