Christmas Crafites

A couple of weeks ago when I got out the Christmas box, I remembered I had a few things I wanted to make (or finish making!) so I got my craft on and made quite good progress.

Stuffed Hearts (I've made 6 so far and then ran out of filling but I want to do about 6 more so still unfinished) They kinda remind me of the stuffed trees, hearts and candy canes that Mum had made for our tree years ago

Re-usable 'wrapping' bags - Once again I've made about 6 and will probably make another 6. They're one of the easiest things I've ever made so if I ever come across cheap fabric or pillowcases I'll add to my collection. Looking forward to folding them back up and using them year after year with no piles of paper rubbish to clear away

Cork Christmas trees - I did these last year but I can't remember if I ever took a photo. There's kind of one for each member of the family

I made these necklaces for the girls to go with their loads of hairtyes and hairclips present bag....they saw them yesterday before church so they've now been used early! I'll make each of us a christmas colours one for our family photo

Christmas message chalkboard and printables in frames - These were a last minute thing the other night cause the idea just popped into my head and I've got a million photo frames in the garage so I could make them from start to finish without having to buy anything (except printing the pics)....big bonus cause I hate it when I think to do something but I get stopped because I need to go to the shops for bits and pieces (which inevitably costs more than I anticipated!) Now they're up on the piano with the cork trees and advent calender/board

Rudie, our 'Elf on the Shelf'

This is the first year we've done the Elf on the Shelf thing and so far the girls are lapping it up. We've got Rudie, Santa's special helper and each morning they like finding where he is and I hear them talking about how he's watching their behaviour. Santa is very very real in our house so Rudie is totally believable and very very loveable too!!!!

 

And obviously because he'll only come out at Christmas time, the girls will be sad to see him go I'm sure. The other day I bought each of the kids a cute little alien toy, the same kind as Rudie as a present from him on Christmas day

And each night for the 12 nights before christmas, we unwrap a book and read it together (it took Ella 4 nights to realise they're books of our bookshelf....she was like 'Mum, we've already got this book' hehe, sorry honey, I haven't brought 12 new books)

While we're reading our book, they get to each eat a fruit burst from their advent calender. Nice tradition to wind down on hot, usually later than I'd like nights in the buildup to Christmas

Summerland Gala

We had a really fun time at the Summerland Gala last week. So glad I worked on the day and we were able to stay afterwards and be there for the beginning of it cause it was crazy with everyone walking around and trying to park cars in every possible space.

Some of the things I got from the hall of STUFF........

Everyone's got one of these and now we do too....it's like brand new!

 

So stoked that I was able to get a new yellow and red trike for Seth and a big white wooden toy box for the girls room. Will post a pic when I get round to painting it up.

Plus I got a couple of toys for nursery and 2 brand new flutter boards for the kids at the pools!

The hall of stuff was popular with the punters....there must have been 50+ people in the line for almost an hour before it even started

I said Faith could have $5 and it could be spent on one food thing and one ride. I ended up changing my mind about the ride cause the lines got long and it was $4 anyways. So she got this fairy pack with lollies, a notebook, pencil and rubber for $2 and some candyfloss

And last but not least, I was super chuffed to get this Tooth fairy pillow which was made by one of the teachers. Now I'm all prepared for when Faith loses her first tooth and every time it happens I can pull out the little tooth pillow and swap the tooth for $1. Too easy!

'tis the season.....

Yay, it's december, and Christmas is coming. In the past we've had a little baby tree, probably about half my height. This year I decided it was time to get a bigger one and I'm so glad I did. Our home feels much more Christmassy than it ever has before.

FHE tonight was putting it up and reading a Christmas story about the 3 wise men taking gifts to the baby Jesus. Faith understand Christmas is not just about Santa, but Christ's birth. Ella says Christmas is about going to the church party.

My little elf helped me for a bit (fastest she's ever done her homework!) and then said she needed a break for have afternoon tea after about 2 minutes

Ella and Seffy came shopping for some lights and enjoyed a roam around the warehouse with Faith pushing them

I wonder how long it will stay upright before someone yells out crying (and lying underneath it)

A bit of a mess on the entertainment unit, but we've got 3 nativities and I've got one other one half made in the garage. Seth's already lost Joseph's head (which was broken off 2 years ago and miraculously never misplaced) And that's why Mum's special ceramic one will probably not see the light of day for another 10 years!

I got a great gift box from my Visiting teachers a few weeks ago and the girls were excited to do the Christmas cracker from it

The tree......still a few  things to make for it (I want to make some stuffed fabric hearts like Mum made for our one years ago).

Now I'm excited to start thinking about our Christmas countdown. We'll start it with 12 days to go, rather than the whole month of December (mainly cause that's less days for me to plan for).

And at that point I'm going to be organised with some kind of Christmas pixie too (like the Elf of the shelf concept).....such a fun time of year! The girls are soaking it all up and it's rubbing off on me. Faith came home from school today and said she knows humans aren't supposed to see Santa's house, but could I please take her to the North Pole to see him because her friend Lazarus was getting to go. When I said that she wouldn't actually be seeing Santa, she said 'yes she is, she told us for news this morning that she's going to the north pole and I've been thinking all day that I really want to as well.....PLEASE!'

Before we know it we'll be pulling out the mattresses into the lounge and sleeping together for Christmas eve....23 sleeps to go

I did a half marathon!!!

What was I thinking? About a month ago I saw something on facebook about 'walking stars' - a night time Half marathon through Auckland city to raise money for the cancer society. I was immediately keen so I checked with Renee and Nat if they'd like to join me. Nat could and Renee couldn't so we went ahead with just the two of us (plus Nat's friend from work).

All I've done remotely like this before is the 10km run in Rotorua. For that I trained pretty regularly for 4 months, but for this I figured, it's just walking.....just over double the length, but sill, only walking....no preparation necessary.

Oops....turns out I should have taken it more seriously. Oh well, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right?!?!?!

We parked at Nat's work, then taxied over to the subway by the hospital for dinner before joining the throng at the domain

Look at all the crazies about to start a walking half marathon at 8:30 at night!!!

This was for Faith & Ella cause we've recently been talking about 'porta poo poos' and the fact that poos and wees doesn't really get flushed away. They were totally grossed out by the fact that I was so desperate that I had to use one.....as was I

Pretty cool atmosphere....reminded me of the Rotorua Marathon

 So Nat and Jodie were pretty quick. I could tell within the first couple of minutes they were gonna be at a way faster pace and I'd be walking on my own (which was fine by me). They checked in with old Nana (me) every now and then. We'd chat and eat our moro and snakes, and then they'd pull away again. I just couldn't keep up with them!

Smiling (but really feeling the pain) at the Z downtown with about 6 kms to go

Oh my goodness, this was so much harder than the 10kms I ran in Rotorua. I came away from that puffed and sweaty, but that was it...no lasting effects. From this my legs were aching, feet were sore, back stiff. Hard to describe but man I was tired....4 hours and 15 minutes later I took this about 1 minute before staggering across the finish line. For the last couple of kms I was probably passed by about 20 people, and some of them were more than double my age!

And done!!!! I'm sure it would have made such a difference if I had music to keep me going, but at the last minute Joe needed his phone so I had to do it sounds-less. Kept thinking of Mumma though....she was tough and determined and active so I knew the least I could do was start it and see it through for her

The sense of satisfaction is pretty cool, so proud of myself and Nat for doing it (for ourselves and in remembrance of Mum) Nat did amazing, I was so impressed with how easily and quickly she seemed to be able to walk. She blew my efforts out of the water!

So all in all, great experience....one I was totally un-prepared for and am still paying for (my legs yesterday were the sorest by far they've ever been in my entire 30 years and they're still pretty darn sore 2 days on), but cool nonetheless.

And now I can say I've done 21 kms at 21 weeks! Now I've just gotta go and get the ice again for the tops of my feet and then my right thigh after that. Might finish off with the calves...unforgettable experience.....lol!