Oh My!

a bike of my very own, I can't believe my eyes!

and a most special gift from the dearest of friends, a very beautiful lady who reminds me of the joy friendships hold...

Merry Christmas All! 

blessings...

Well it's been an absolute whirlwind of a year! We are finishing up school this week, saying goodbye to incredible teachers & preparing ourselves for the changes ahead.  I know I've said it before, but we have been blessed with the most wonderful teachers so far, this time each year the big boy gets a little anxious & teary thinking about the unknown for the coming year, admittedly, I get a little emotional too, as a parent you simply want your child to be happy.  Next year we have two new teachers, so we know nothing about them, but I have a good feeling deep down that all will be ok...

Our preppie received his 2nd star of the week award for the year, bursting with pride.  We finally got through a year of 3yr old kinder, it took us the whole 12 months to finally send him off happily without screaming & begging me to take him home with me, let's hope next year is easier...

(all so tired & yes, the big boy is well overdue for a haircut!)

And we're getting ready for christmas time, family time, lazy holiday time.  I can't help remembering the nightmare that was last christmas, I get a bit teary at the very thought, but for some reason its in the forefront of my mind most every day.  We had our big boy, all of 8yrs old, with one of the most horrifying cases of appendicitis.  He was sick a few days with excruciating tummy pain, we were told that he had a virus & because the other two were also sick, it sort of made sense, but in the pit of my stomach I knew it was more than that.  From then on I promised my boys & myself that I will always follow that mothers instinct & be one of those pushy demanding parents when it comes to this sort of thing.  It turns out, after dragging him on a 3 hour round trip that he ended up in hospital boxing day for emergency surgery.  He had a massive abscess in his stomach, which formed over some time due to his burst appendix.  Following surgery with tubes everywhere was a collapsed lung, extreme fluid retention where his body blew up so much he was almost unrecognisable, and then after 2 weeks in hospital dramatic weight loss, it was all so frightening, a terrifying experience, which has had quite a profound impact on him as a person & in many aspects of his little life. 

So this christmas I am very grateful to have us all here together, healthy, happy and ready to enjoy our summer...

(shamefully this picture was taken at 9am this morning with school mums on their way over for an end of year clink, clink!)

Wishing you all a very happy christmas and

thank you for your friendship, for the laughs, the enlightening conversation & meaningless chatter, it's all been wonderful!  

a new space...

It's still a few weeks away but I'm getting very excited about moving my work space out of the living area & into my very own room - yippidy do! Its not going to be a very big space, mind, but it sure will be great. Though, looking at my growing piles of cast-off furniture, linen and odds & ends in the garage, it's all looking very 'nana'...and I love it! 

I've had little stacks of these sitting out by the front door, I just know there will be a use for them...

glass handles & rugged cabinets, perfect!

My gorgeous Susannah Tucker calendar at the ready...

These pretty glass baubles were wooing me in the op shop this afternoon, so intricate & delicate and filled with whimsy magic to hang about my special space.  I no sooner got home & one shattered in my hand, so in the bin with those little nasties!

..but for now, it's back to my little corner of 'organised' chaos....

Oh and do pop on over to Maxabella's for the most wonderful giveaway of the festive season - Good Luck to you all!

handmade christmas challenge...

I've been loving this christmas season & all the inspiration and joy that comes with creative thoughts waking me in the middle of the night! Not so great for the daily functioning of a busy mama, but so satisfying & exciting when these ideas appear in your dreams...and then actually work!

they were started as ornaments, but looked so pretty I thought they really must be worn!

I adore this! I can't wait for these pretties to be gifted to some very special ladies...

They're available instore now too, yay!

For more handmade christmas goodness pop over here, you will LOVE what you'll find there.. 

it's beginning to feel a lot like christmas...

I'm busily keeping up with orders this festive season, the post office staff know us very well these days, they've even enlisted the little guys help on stamp sorting & posting duties during visits which has been fun...

I love the hustle & bustle that surrounds us this time of year! Yes it's crazy busy, each day has it's share of tears & tantrums and it's nearly impossible to remember everything that's going on at any given moment (even with a trusty calendar in full view!), but I do love the fun & excitement of it all!

I love how our Christmas lights look at night time, the extra treats in the cupboard, the neighbourly drinks on a summers afternoon, the cards & gorgeous handmade ornaments that come home each day from school and the anticipation of holidays just around the corner...

@ my house...

'tis the season!!

we are ramping it up & winding things down all at the same time!

we are very tired, temperamental, teary, joyous & excited all at once! 

how are things at your house? Join here...

my creative space...

I've been a little distracted by some sweet op shop finds that I am all inspired & excited to put to good use.  This has found me slightly neglecting my ever growing 'To Do" list & enjoying a little creating simply for the love of it, nice!

I love the ruggedness of using twine for the flowers, all rustic & fun...

  

You sholuld grab a cuppa & hop on over to Kootoyoo for more...