Autumn flow

This Autumn we have been busy.

We went camping with the kids for the first time, it turned out well and the kids enjoyed it a lot, especially our oldest who had a ball.

I have been sick with a cold for over a month and the kids for several weeks. E is so sick now with Bronchiolitis. He has been quite clingy.

I have also been making a lot of baby food. I love making it, I find it relaxing, but haven't had as much time as I'd like to try different recipes. The William Bartlett pears have been amazing, but most of them go into baby food.

Happy Easter!!

Easter craft with E. We drew on hard boiled eggs with crayons, mum and I dripped candle wax on some and we dyed them different colours with food colouring. I was reliving fond memories of my childhood. Easter is my favourite holiday.

In the nursery

The lovely artwork "Singing in the Rain" is by paper artist Dawn. The elephant toy was a gift from my sister and brother in law.

The chair was secondhand from Gumtree, the doll was a gift from my friend.

Five months old

Joy.

3rd Birthday Party

E's third birthday was last Sunday. We had a train party because trains are his current obsession. I had so much fun organizing this party, I think there is a frustrated party planner in me... what with the Wedding and High tea I planned last year for my sister. We did pass the parcel and some train craft activity. The train cake was the first cake I had made on my own. My mum made the cupcakes last year and for his first birthday mum helped me make the aeroplane cake.

4 months old

Things are much better around here. Z is doing better, much healthier now. She is a delight.

Toddler bedroom decorating

This is the bedroom for our firstborn which we decorated this year. It will always be a work in progress as he grows up, but for now it is mostly finished. Blue paint colour is from Nippon paint, Cloud decals from

Kikki K

($7),

Pictures

painted by me,

quilt

made by me, striped cushion cover made by my Mum, floor cushion from Freedom furniture, Trofast storage from Ikea, Miffy toy bought by Steve in Japan, Bunny was a gift from my sister, bed is a cutdown cot - Steve made the side rail.

Purple and yellow

Gorgeous roses from my sister in law's garden. The purple ones smell amazing, like turkish delight.

My Illustration in Easy Living UK

Back in September I had my illustration the "Crow and the Peacock" published in Easy Living Magazine UK. It was around the same time I gave birth to Zoe so it missed a mention back then. I have finally taken some photos of the magazine. The issue was an Inspiration special, detailing where people got their inspiration for their various endeavours. My illustration was coupled with some of Alex Monroe's beautiful jewellery. He was inspired by the fable the Crow and the Peacock.

Christmas activities

My friend from Mother's group held a Christmas craft party for the kids, so I decided to make some gingerbread men with E to take to the party. I must admit I find it hard to relax and let him get too messy while cooking and crafting, I am too much of a control freak and my husband hates mess too. The recipe is a great one from Donna Hay's Modern Classics 2. I want to use this recipe to make a gingerbread house because it made a nice sturdy gingerbread.

She read a book about the Christmas story, we sang Silent Night and we did some craft activities like these star pictures using bits of paper stuck on vellum with a star frame around it. When you stick it on the window it looks really pretty with the light shining through it.