New belts

A few new belts are now available on Etsy and Made It. Cute!

One

So, he's one. I'll follow the usual convention and say "Wow, I just can't believe how fast this year has gone." Totally true.

Arj is the happiest little boy you could imagine (apart from some occasions between about 2 and 4 in the morning and certain days when he crawls around behind me complaining.) He loves dancing and banging things. He loves a good wrestle and is completely adoring of his big sister. He makes me laugh even when my mood is pretty low and needless to say he provides me with a lot of cleaning, tidying, washing (note huge pile of laundry in photo background) and cuddles.

Mmmm, sausages!

Is there anything better than sausages cooked on the fire followed by a gentle walk in the bush? I love it. Three toasted marshmallow hyped girls enjoying a walk to Liffey Falls.

Thirty six

John's Birthday Cake, originally uploaded by mono1980.

Wow, this year has gone so quickly.

Rainy, grey, misty day - not the best for a birthday. It's a good excuse for hot chocolate though. Perhaps I'll make a little trip to Cocoa Bean. Woke up to flowers. Thank you lovely husband.

More plans

On my project list are a couple of beanbags for the kids. I'll probably use this tutorial and Denyse Schmidt decorating weight fabrics maybe with some denim or plain cotton canvas to break it up a bit. Denyse Schmidt's designs would have to be my all time favourite fabrics. I've used quite a few in my kid's clothing in the past and whenever I see any around I'm hard pressed not to buy it.

Food explosion

I'd forgotten just how messy mealtimes can be. Lucky I have Cinderella living with me.

Turn your head sideways now

Why, oh why does my internet connection dropout almost every single time I click upload photos in blogger. It drives me crazy so we're having sideways photos tonight. I swear I would blog more often if photo uploading wasn't quite so frustrating.

So what's news?

The kids are growing up so, so fast. Arj is 11 months now and I'm starting to think about birthday cakes. I love making cakes! Chloe has a thing about lighthouses so we went to visit one last week (and the fabric shop on the way!) and Arj has been getting in touch with his feminine side. And, oh, how cute he looks.

I'll be having a birthday very soon too. I'm hoping to have a celebration this year as last years got cancelled as my heavily pregnant self was sick.

I've been sewing but for ourselves and presents mainly. Still no work to speak of. The kids and I have been tag teaming with various illnesses. Not much sleep, a couple of late night trips to emergency (all fine now) and many trips to the GP. Fairly large amounts of cash have been handed over to pharmacists and tissue manufacturers. I'm hoping for a break now.

I've been dieting and exercising and am feeling so, so, so much better (apart from the colds) that I just can't stop telling everyone. Yay for online Weightwatchers. I never thought I'd join something like that but it has been so worthwhile. My clothes from before Arj fit now and it feels like I have a whole new wardrobe. I'm full of energy too and have been going for long walks and even the odd run.

I've been doing a lot of fabric buying in the (maybe deluded) hope that I'll get some work done soon.

We're getting weekly veggie boxes from Hilbarn and loving them.

This, if you know me, is pretty amazing news - I cook the dinner EVERY night (almost). Sam mustn't know what to do with himself now. This weird transformation coincided with the Hilbarn boxes, my diet and the realisation that cooking the dinner is something I can do myself without feeling guilty about not doing a jigsaw/colouring in/ sticking/ drawing etc, etc. Does anyone else have a child who doesn't want to do anything by themselves? It makes me feel terribly guilty as I feel like I say no all the time.

I seem to spend a vast proportion of my life folding washing. Ironing only when absolutely unavoidable.

I'm off to fold some now. Whoopee.

PS. I met a couple of very, very beautiful boys.