Busy Beavers

about half way through

the bookcase complete - still some empty containers

all that's left of the bigger inside toys

We've been having a BIG declutter at our house since mid-afternoon on Saturday.

We started with Ella's room, and then onto Kates (forgot to get photos) 

then yesterday started on the spare room which had became a dumping ground

All up it took around 18 hours and a couple of trips to the shops for storage containers

22 bags for the Salvos

11 bags of rubbish

and a car full to go to Amie's tomorrow of outgrown toys.

I am pleased the girls no longer want the dollhouse, pram, board games and puzzles for younger kids, a million Barbies and so on.

Everything fits into a container somewhere apart from the Cars/Caravans etc in the last photo.

What a lot of work, but a great feeling!

On My Mind

I'm joining in again today with Rhonda over at Down to Earth about what's on my mind today!
Here's what Rhonda has to say:

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY. If you're in another country you should join in when you read this, even if it's still Thursday.

To take part, all you have to do is post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here. Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When your photo is published, come back and add a comment below, with a link to your blog photo so we can all find you. Please visit all the blogs that appeal to you and leave a comment. Slow down, take the time to cruise around and enjoy your cyber visits.

This is what I'm thinking about today:

  My baby girl who has been away for TWO nights at her big sisters house is coming home this afternoon. I have missed her so much. Her room feels really empty without her, I miss reading to her at night, I miss our cuddles. Her toys await her homecoming! It will be wonderful to hear her voice and laughter again!

Lesmurdie Falls

With Ella away for a couple of nights staying with her big sister and the kids, Kate and I got to spend some quality time together. After a lazy morning, we went off to visit a friend for an hour, then to the shops to pick up some milk and bits and pieces.

Then because the weather was so glorious, we decided on a walk to Lesmurdie Falls. It's been a few years since we've done it, so it was great to get outside in the fresh air and get some exercise. We really do live in a great place, these falls are only 5 minutes drive from our house.

Because of all the recent rain, some of the track was very muddy and slippery. But mostly it was dry and easy to walk on.

School holidays and great weather bought out alot of walkers and their dogs. All the tracks were very busy!

We stopped a few times for a drink and of course - chocolate! A must have on these walks.

We could see Perth City in the distance. Just.

It's fun to poke a stick in the water and dig around!

A rest stop- excellent!

The shoes finally came off and some paddling was done. The water was freezing! Kate was so hot, she had to cool herself down quickly.

We were both pretty tired at the end, then it was home for a quick shower and change and off to tap dancing!

It has been a wonderful day, hope yours was good too!

Day Three

Today Amie and I took the kids to see the production of Wizard of Oz, which was put on by a drama company. It was very good and the kids all thoroughly enjoyed it! We couldn't take any photos inside due to copyright, but that was okay.

We waited in the sun for Amie, Ruby and Jonah to arrive

 

The Leederville Town Hall where it was held

 

 

Kate sits next to Jonah

Ella and Ruby get a front row seat

Playing in the sand

After the show, Amie took Ella home with her for a sleepover and Kate and I went to the shops so Kate could spend some more of her birthday money.

Movies

The girls and I went to see Mr Popper's Penguins tonight, it was really funny, highly recommend it!

New Pets

After lunch today, we set off to the movies. However, when we got there the theatre was full, so we had to get tickets for this evening. So we wandered around for a bit, Kate had a voucher and some birthday money to spend, but couldn't really find anything she wanted. So we stopped for some lunch, right outside the petshop!

And this is what they bought! (Ella also had some money she has been saving for a long time)

hermit crabs!

Kate has been wanting some for ages, so today was the day!

 

Ella's is called Mr Squiggles and Kate's is called Lightening! Aren't they just the cutest?

The girls have spent every minute since they got home playing with them!

They are going to be two very tired crabs tonight!

School Holidays Day 1 - Library Love

Well we woke to pouring rain today, and it hadn't let up by lunchtime, so we headed to the library and stocked up on many many good books.

Ella enjoys the colouring-in activities set out for the kids

Two of the girls favourite author's are Colin Thompson and Megan McDonald. They were thrilled  when they found some of their books they hadn't read before. 

Kate finds an old interesting book "The Great Big Glorious Book for Girls"

Also before we left, a book I had ordered online a couple of weeks ago arrived

This story is the first in a series set in New York City at the turn of the century. It is about a family with five daughters - Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte and Gertie (later on they have a brother) and all the adventures they get upto. I loved reading it when I was young, and I hope my girls do too.

Our pile of books

Red Velvet Cupcakes

RED VELVET CUPCAKES

Ingredients:

• 100g unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 2 large free-range eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring

Cream cheese icing:

• 3 cups icing sugar mixture
• 150g butter, softened
• 125g cream cheese, softened

Method:

Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with cupcake papers and set aside.

Sift together flour, baking powder in a bowl. Mix cocoa, water and food colouring together until you have a smooth paste.

In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy then stir in vanilla. Add one egg and beat for one minute then, add the second egg and beat in again for another minute.

Add flour mixture and stir until combined. Add buttermilk, vinegar, and cocoa mixture then beat entire mixture until smooth.

Fill cupcake papers 3/4 full and bake for 13-15 minutes. Stick a butter knife into a cupcake. If it comes out clean, the cupcakes are ready. Remove and cool on a wire rack.

To make cream cheese icing, beat together the softened butter, cream cheese and icing sugar. Completely cover the tops of the cupcakes.

Notes:

• Obviously, it is the colour of the cake that gives these cupcakes the gorgeous name of Red Velvet. The red colour can be achieved through red food colouring (as I have done with this recipe) but you can also find recipes for Red velvet cake that use beetroot to give it its distinct tint.
• Don’t worry about your kids will go nuts after eating these cupcakes because of all the red food colouring - you can now buy all-natural red food colouring!

Mid-Year Concert

Two little mice

The mid-year concert was held this afternoon showing us all what they had learned so far this year! My girls are both in the same ballet class, this year they were mice (pictured above) which they loved the costumes! They both also do jazz and hip hop (different levels) and Kate also does tap and singing troupe! It was an exciting afternoon. Can't wait to see the end of year one!

A nice way to start the day!

It was hard to show up in this photo but if you look closely one says "Eat Me" and the other " I Love You". The girls think they are great and a bit of fun for the mornings! (or anytime you eat toast) There were a couple of others as well that I didn't get - "Good Morning" and "Smile"

On My Mind ...

Today I'm joining in with Rhonda over at Down to Earth and posting about what's on my mind.

The school bags await for the last day of Term Two.

We can hardly wait for today to be over!

Little House on the Prairie

I would love to visit this one day!

http://www.ingallshomestead.com/

We are huge fans in this house of the series. I remember watching it on telly when I was a little girl and wishing I could be Mary! When Amie was 10 I bought her the first two books, and over the years and with two more daughters, our collection grew. We have a few of the dvd's too, which come out of the cupboard regularly!

We are actually currently making our way through the first book at the moment. The girls snuggle in their beds while I read to them, then they read to me!

Jonah Day Two

All tucked in!

We potted around the house this morning doing the housework and playing with the duplo again! Late morning I put him in the pram and we went for a long walk in the sunshine. Before we reached home, he was fast asleep. I wheeled the pram inside and he continued to sleep in it for another 40minutes. Then he woke, so I got him out and he tried to get out of my arms and onto the couch. He's still there fast asleep half an hour later! Tired boy!

Jonah and Us

Jonah enjoys the trampoline

Playing with the doll in the dolls pram with her dummy, it's always been a favourite

The first slide of many

Swinging was fun too!

Playing with the duplo

Today we had the joy of looking after Jonah for a few hours (and tomorrow) while Amie was called back to her old job as a florist to help out for an upcoming school ball. She gave up the job at the end of 2010 when she moved down the coast 45 minutes away. She agreed to help out school hours for a couple of days, so we got to spend some one on one with our Grandson. Even Phil was home, so it was a first - just the 3 of us. We potted around in the morning - toddlers are very good little helpers. He passed me the pegs when I hung out the washing, helped me make the beds and generally tidy up. After lunch we walked down to the park. It was just us, and so peaceful. Looking forward to tomorrow!