Happy 7th Birthday Ruby!

Kate hung 7 pink balloons

Food time - Ella is missing as she didn't want to be in this photo for some reason

Jonah and I

Jonah chooses another lolly

Ruby with her cake Kate made and decorated

The girls painted their nails after with Rubys new nail polishes

Jonah looks on

Then they cooled off with a broken water slide and the hose

All in all a great day! 

Tomorrow

this is what is happening - a little morning tea to help our Grandaughter Ruby celebrate her 7th birthday. Kate has done all this herself, I'm sure Ruby will love it all!

More Christmas Lights

We had another great night out looking at all the wonderful lights and really appreciating all the effort gone into making them such a wonderful treat for the young and old at this time of the year. One street we visited tonight was so so busy you could hardly move. They had a free sausage sizzle too which I thought was the most wonderful gesture, the girls enjoyed it so much!

On My Mind ...

is this:

our camping trip up north to a place we haven't visited before. Just eleven sleeps until we go. It's been 12 months since we had a family holiday and we are all well and truly ready for a break. It will be nice to spend time together enjoying each others company. Lots of swimming, reading, eating and lazing about. Making new friends is what we love about camping too - the girls have usually made a new friend by the end of the first day. They are still in touch with friends from past years holidays. I love how kids make friends so easily while on holiday away from the pressures of the school playground.

I'm playing along with Down to Earth today, pop on over and join in!

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.