This moment - (a day late) Balancing

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
inspired by Amanda at Soule Mama

Pterodactyl Nest

Recently while we were doing some raking in the garden my boys created a pterodactyl nest from some sticks and some large pebbles. 

 Each time I walk past it it makes me smile. I love the idea of children making land art.

Even Jack Dog is curious to see if those 'eggs' are ever going to hatch!

6

Last month Junior turned 6! Where did those years go? I can't believe how fast it has gone or how long it has taken me to actually publish this post! (The last few weeks have really got away from me). Anyway we started the day with candles and the birthday song over breakfast and then prepared for the party.

 Junior requested a Nijago themed party and has been asking for this for some time. My suggestion of putting some of his Lego figures on the cake didn't go down well so in the end I found a lego figure ice cube mould online and made chocolate lego men to decorate the cake. I even set some in little disks of chocolate in an attempt at making Ninjago spinners!

 The lego men also decorated the cupcakes and I printed up some Ninjago eyes to decorate the Jelly cups and take home bags.

 I found some free printables for the water bottles and got the boys busy making Lego brick containers to hold straws, napkins etc. Aussie Dad even built me a Lego cake stand. Lots of fun.

We kept the party guests entertained with a spinner hunt, musical spinners and a spoon and lego brick race. Lots of fun and giggles for the birthday boy, his friends and family. Happy Birthday my big boy!

Wordless Wednesday - kite flying

Tape resist art.

I have been meaning to try this tape resist art project with my boys for a while and when I saw these mini canvas boards at the Educational Art Supplies shop last week I knew what I would use them for straight away.

I taped the first letter of the boys names onto each board using some masking tape and then let them paint whatever they wanted.

At first they painted over the masking tape but with a little encouragement they soon took to the whole board with enthusiasm.

I particularly liked Rascals approach where he painted over the board with a brush and then started drawing patterns in the paint with his fingers.

The paint bled a little under some of the tape so I might outline the letters with a felt marker (Sharpie) but I think the results are very pretty and will make a nice addition to the boys bedrooms. Puggle was asleep when the boys painted these so I have painted over his board with a pale green and I will let him loose with some marker pens which will be a little easier for his little hands to tackle (and I hope a little bit less messy)! 

Fort Friday

This morning before school the boys got busy with some outdoor play equipment, an old car cover, some pegs and bulldog clips.

 

They made a rocket to go to the moon - complete with moon buggy and digital imaging equipment. Such a shame to drag them away for the school run but it will still be there when they get home!

Wordless Wednesday - Ahoy there!

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!

Tiggr

 Don't you just love having to make costumes for book week?

Nothing like a costume made with stockings, felt and duct tape! 

Thankfully I only had to make one this year - I dread the day all three of my boys are at school and need a costume!

Red Nose Day

Hope you have some fun on SIDS for Kids Red Nose Day!

Super Heros

What is it about small boys and super heros. My boys just can't get enough of them. They don't actually watch that much on TV but they love acting them out. Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Mr Incredible, Buzz Lightyear - you name it, they will become them (Especially when my girlfriend makes them a fab Mr Incredible costume for their birthday - Thanks Soph!). So cute to watch them don a cape or a mask and suddenly take on a whole new identity with the best superhuman powers to match.

What imaginative play do your kids enjoy the most? “Come over and play at the Childhood 101 We Play link up”

Drawing Big

I have been hoarding some big thick pieces of cardboard which I salvaged from the packaging when we had our solar panels installed and on the weekend Junior asked if we could draw a big tree on one of them.

I sketched out a very rough tree and let the boys loose with crayons, markers, scissors, paper and glue .... and their imaginations.

They both had a fantastic time drawing birds, bugs, butterflies, leaves and bark

My only problem now is working out where to hang their masterpiece!

What recyclables have your kids been playing with this week? “Come over and play at the Childhood 101We Play link up”