Last minute Advent calendars

I am so disorganised this year that everything seems to be last minute. Yesterday the boys worked on an advent calendar along the same lines as last years although Junior was in charge this time and did the bulk of the work himself.

 I did plan to make something a little more elaborate this year but time just got away from me.

Then this morning I saw this delightful Tea advent bunting and I had to make a couple for my dear tea drinking girl friends - not quite as elegant as I would have liked but I was working with whatever I had to hand and dragged the boys to the supermarket after school to pick up some extra teabags.

I just have to deliver them tonight so they arrive in time for December 1!

 The madness of the festive season has officially begun! PS Yes I did make a beer advent for Aussie Dad as well!

Summer

It looks like Summer is here. The sunflowers are out, the crickets are clicking away in the veggie garden ..... and Puggle is up by 5.15am every morning!

Warming up

It feels as though the nice mild spring we have been having is finally over with the temperature forecast to reach 36 degrees today, and 37 tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to it because I'm not really a sun loving girl. With three boys that love being outdoors it also restricts what we can do for a large part of the day. So this week there will be ...

 several trips to the local (air conditioned) library,

lots of water play (especially in the mornings or late afternoons)

and lots of racking my brain to come up with some new indoor activities that will keep my little ones entertained without them totally trashing my house. Wish me luck!

Just loving Naturescape

My three boys just love to get out and get dirty and I'm a strong believer in encouraging outdoor play. I have found the Nature Play WA website and facebook page a great resource and we spend a lot of time at the park, the river or the beach. We also try to get out of the city as much as we can and visit relatives on the farm, or take the boys bush walking or camping. Now the Naturescape playground at Perth's Kings Park allows the boys to explore a bit of nature just a 10 minute drive from our door. The boys love ...

exploring the bushland,

making a splash,

playing Pooh sticks, 

 

and climbing the towers. It really is a fun morning out but don't forget to take a hats and sunscreen, lots of snacks and drinks and a change of clothes.

Where have I been for so long

It seem like ages since I posted on this blog and the year is just flying by. Aussie Dad has been away for a couple of weeks which has made life pretty hectic for me but even with him back I'm having difficulty finding the time. I keep taking photos of what we have been up to but they haven't been making in into regular blog posts and with December almost here that may not change much. I have lots of Advent ideas swirling in my head but none of them have made it into reality yet - fingers crossed they do before the first of December. Anyway here is a little photo guide how we have been spending our days over the last few weeks. 

 Baking and eating

 Playing ball

 Drawing

and painting.

Playing with tongs

 and sorting lots of things.

Playing with dough

Making a splash.

 Trying to keep up with this young man (who is into everything).

and just hanging out. We have also been loving Naturescape at Kings Park but that is a whole other post. Hope to be back in the space again soon!

Costumes, costumes and more costumes...

Over the last couple of weeks I seem to have been making nothing but costumes (and I'm a bit over it I must say). First a clown costume for school assembly - I made some rainbow pants and a star t-shirt to match.

 
Then a late night Frankenstein costume for a school monster disco.

I was lacking inspiration so a felt covered box for a head with some toy nuts and bolts stitched to an elastic strap for the neck bolt and lots of green face paint. This photo was taken after the even so half of the face paint is missing but you get the idea.

Finally a Halloween themed birthday party (which should have been easy except I had opted out on Halloween and sent the boys trick or treating in their superhero costume). A quick trip to the party store for a Wizards hat and a simple hooded cape (made from my lovely Growing up Sew Liberated book) along with a pumpkin bag and improvised wand and we are done!

Please no more dress ups for a week or two!