The week in progress

Well, Monday dawned looking like it was going to be a beautiful day, but my 10am it was starting to cloud over and I re-thought my plans to wash the entire bed-sheet collection and hang them on the line. We just went for the usual Monday - master bedroom clean and so our sheets are now safely hanging under the deck.

The kids are doing lots of playing inside. The current favorite things to do with the duplo is make trees (after one of Gawain's friends showed him how). Gawain is loving his sticker books, where you place the stickers on the matching picture. Bryn still loves his little cars. Melinda is pretty happy as long as she's in the action.

Current knitting project

A pink tunic/top for Melinda. It's in "Ballet" from the New Zealand Wool company. The first time i've attempted a lacy pattern, and once Amber so nicely helped me undo my mistake, it's worked out great!!

Finished Vest ...

The other photo won't let me turn it around ... so here is Gawain modelling Bryn's vest as he wanted a photo taken of him. Very plain and with a few mistakes, but I had fun and learnt lots while doing it.

Lapping up the sunshine

Yesterday ...

Yesterday we reveled in the sunshine (for the second day in a row). We pretended it wasn't the middle of winter and wore less clothing than usual. We filled buckets up with water and washed the bikes, diggers, loaders, dumptrucks and (shhh!!) even attempted to wash Papa's car.




After the little one woke we rugged her up (becuase I'm still a bit paranoid about ear infections) and she got to watch her big brothers play and get some fresh air while I rushed about and did the 'house stuff' - this time mopping floors while the boys were outside.

Then it was into the backpack for Melinda and the boys took turns walking and sitting in the buggy and off we went on an adventure through the paddocks. Yip, it was muddy and I didn't put the rain pants on so now I've got very muddy trackpants sitting in a bucket in the laundry, but it was FUN!!!! Lunch time just demanded a picnic on the deck (also helped to keep my floor cleaner for another twenty minutes or so), so we had bread and jam on the big chairs. Even Melinda had a few bits. After naps it was another favorite activity, baking. Our current favorite biscuits are a recipe that I've put together from many ... dubbed leftover bikkies. If you want the recipe, leave a message and i'll pop it up another time. Full with raisens, rolled oats, coconut, chocolate chipe and condensed milk they're crunchy when you want or you can make em chewy as well!!


Dinner time was exciting ... as Papa cooked the steak we turned the music up really load and danced and danced and danced around the kitchen. I think that was one of my favorite bits of the day. That and listening to Wouter sing to the boys before they went to sleep. Melts my heart every time.

The evening was great as well ... I finished my knitting project, a vest for Bryn.

So onto the next one ...

The past week

Wow ... the week has zoomed past despite the rainy weather. Monday started with absolute showers of rain, however Wouter still needed to hang the side gate. The boys were super excited to be allowed out to help him, rugged up in jackets and hats and boots - the mud didn't stand a chance of getting near them.

With the Red Shed having a toy sale one, and lego being pretty much half the price, we decided to take the plunge and start our family lego collection. Gawain has enjoyed playing with it with Wouter in the afternoon when his little brother isn't around. Somehow it seemed alot bigger when we were kids ... but I guess we were just smaller. I"m amazed by the detail that goes into some of the designs. That's the collection for now, we're hoping to add to it as the years go on.

One of the boys (and my) favorite activities at the moment is to do the dishes with me. Once i've finished washing they grab two chairs and get to wash all the plastic things. This gives me time to dry and clean up the main house area - and all the mess they're making can be quickly cleaned up with a mop or old towel.

My current evening projects are a vest for Bryn, in the photo it looks a tinge greenish, but it is actually a very deep charcoal brown. I'm about 1/2 way through. If i keep going for a couple of hours each night, I should get it done by next weekend. The other photo is a new thing I have learnt, socks. This is the start of a sock for Bryn. Once i've got the hang of kid sized socks, I'm hoping to tackle some nice warm ones for Wouter and I.

Other than that, Melinda is nearly sitting, she props herself up on one elbow and then looks proudly at us, like 'look at me, I'm so clever'. She's still on a bit of a teething run at the moment, i'm hoping they come through soon because the biting isn't so much fun.

Hope to catch you all again next week!!

The last few days

Wow ... it is certainly winter here. The wind is howling outside but we're tucked up nice and snug ... cannot complain. I have been busy with my new found love, knitting. I'm not fast, and i'm not super great BUT i have a wonderful friend who has been teaching me how to do things. So I'm about 1/3rd of the way through a vest for Bryn, and to take a break from that, I have started to knit a sock. I've done the toe part and a bit of the body of the foot, so that gives me a couple of things to work on.

Other than that, we're just chugging along. Will try and upload some more photos before the weekend.

WE have had a wonderful week of mainly fine weather. Wouter is working today, but the boys and I have had some outside time this morning while Melinda was sleeping.