Sylvanian Families

This is what my girls having being playing with all afternoon and are still playing as I type. I love how they are playing so nicely at the moment, a great start to the holidays. I hope it continues for a few more days yet!

I love all the little pieces and even though it says from 4 years on the boxes, I think it's more suited to kids aged 6yrs and up. I'm pleased Kate still loves them at 10 and a half years just as much as Ella does. Kids grow up too quickly these days, so it's wonderful to see!

Special Christmas Tree Decorations

My Mum often sends us a new decoration for the Christmas tree. In the past when she has been here at Christmas time, we have made a day out to look at the big tree at Myer and we have bought new decorations.

This year, she sent these lovely two:

Then these are some others she has bought us

The girls have their own collection which they add to each year. When we take the tree down, their own decorations go into their own boxes. When they have their on trees later on, the will have a box of decorations from their childhood to start their own trees with.

This is what they chose this year to add to their collections:

Kate:

Ella:

And some others from over the years, bought and hand-made!

Christmas Treats

I made these this morning for Ella to take to school tomorrow for a shared lunch. Due to the heat, they turned out a bit messier than they should have, but the kids will still love them.

Makes

12

Ingredients

• 100g white chocolate melts
• 12 Arnott's Royals chocolate biscuits
• 12 Jaffas
• Spearmint leaves, cut into smaller leaves

Method

1. Place the white chocolate melts into a heatproof bowl. Microwave on Medium/50% power, stirring every minute until they are fully melted.
   
2. Spoon the melted chocolate into a sealable plastic bag and snip one corner of the bag to make a piping bag. Pipe enough white chocolate on top of the biscuits, allow to drip down the side.
   
3. Place a Jaffa on top and a small spearmint leaf each side of the Jaffa and secure in the melted chocolate.

Christmas Lights Display

The girls and I headed out last night to look at a few Christmas light displays. They enjoyed them all, and I enjoyed watching their faces! Lots of people were out looking, the weather was warm - what a magical time of the year.

Gorgeous gals ...

with gorgeous haircuts! Ella has been wanting a bob for months now but it made sense to wait till dancing had finished. So yesterday was the day - and she loves it! Kate is growing hers again, so she just had a trim.

Well Done Kate

For the last day of Kates LOTE Scholarship class up the hill at a high school, the parents were invited along to see what the kids have been learning. We played a few games to begin (even the parents joined in!) then a few teachers spoke about the programme, followed by the certificates awarded, then we watched a slide show with photos taken during the class, then a short film about education in Indonesia. After that there were yummy refreshments, so enjoyable!

Saturday Fun Day

It was lovely to have a day of pottering around the house. With a temperature of 36 deg, the kids wanted the blow-up pool blown up so they could cool off. Amie and Jonah came up for lunch (Ruby was at her other Grandparents) and the kids enjoyed having a splash!

After a yummy lunch of cold meat, salad and chips followed by trifle, Ella and Amie played some Mario Kart on the Wii, then we put the tree up and decorated it!

Once the weather cooled down (to 30 deg) we headed to lake for some fresh air and burgers! And of course a play!

Dance Concert 2011

Kate and Ella - Ballet - Flowers Copellia

Kate - Jazz - Sam I Am

Ella - Jazz - Ghostbusters

Kate - Singing - Light up the World

Ella - Hip Hop - Yeah

There are unfortunately two photos missing, Kate in her tap costume and in her hip hop costume. Due to quick costume changes there was no time for her to go down for photos, so one day over the holidays I will take my own. The girls' had a great time once again but were very tired by the end of the second night. Kate was thrilled she won a trophy again - this time in her singing class!

Helping Others at Christmas Time

Every year the girls' school has collection boxes in all the classrooms that are collected along with many other local schools and businesses and the goods put together into hampers and delivered to the less fortunate for Christmas.
So today, the girls wanted to go shopping for their donations. They chose a toy or two each, some makeup for a teenager as that is what they are always short of, some Impulse and Kate chose new toothbrushes and toothpastes for kids and adults. Ella decided this was a great idea.
In the past Amie & I have volunteered our time after all the goods are collected and we sort them into hampers for families. It's a lovely way of helping out others. and the girls' really love taking part.

Jonah - update!

After 2 nights in hospital Jonah was discharged, never knowing what was wrong with him. Ruby started vomitting in the early hours of the morning following discharge so there was certainly something going around! Thanks for all the kind wishes. These photos I took when we visited him, he was such a little trouper not once trying to get out of bed in 2 days!