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Monday, October 31, 2011

Handmade Xmas Gifts

Well I was reading a discussion on CQHS about making christmas gifts. And you know what? I've never really done the homemade thing, not that I've not wanted to just that I've been a bit slack in that department lol!

But now I'm thinking, why not? It could be a lot of fun for me and the kids :) There has always been a few things that have caught my eye over the last few years that I think will make neat gifts!


Cowgirl Cookies


Bath Bombs


Garden Stepping Stones


This is just a few things that caught my eye while googling homemade gifts! There is so much out there!! I can't wait to get started :)

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Learning Styles


With 3 (possibly 4) different children to teach next year I've been exploring Learning Styles, and I wonder how many parents know what their children's learning styles are?

The Seven Learning Styles

  • Visual (spatial):You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
  • Aural (auditory-musical): You prefer using sound and music.
  • Verbal (linguistic): You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
  • Physical (kinesthetic): You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
  • Logical (mathematical): You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
  • Social (interpersonal): You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
  • Solitary (intrapersonal): You prefer to work alone and use self-study.

Why Learning Styles? Understand the basis of learning styles

Your learning styles have more influence than you may realise. Your preferred styles guide the way you learn. They also change the way you internally represent experiences, the way you recall information, and even the words you choose. We explore more of these features in this chapter.

Research shows us that each learning style uses different parts of the brain. By involving more of the brain during learning, we remember more of what we learn. Researchers using brain-imaging technologies have been able to find out the key areas of the brain responsible for each learning style.

For example:

  • Visual: The occipital lobes at the back of the brain manage the visual sense. Both the occipital and parietal lobes manage spatial orientation.
  • Aural: The temporal lobes handle aural content. The right temporal lobe is especially important for music.
  • Verbal: The temporal and frontal lobes, especially two specialized areas called Broca�s and Wernicke�s areas (in the left hemisphere of these two lobes).
  • Physical: The cerebellum and the motor cortex (at the back of the frontal lobe) handle much of our physical movement.
  • Logical: The parietal lobes, especially the left side, drive our logical thinking.
  • Social: The frontal and temporal lobes handle much of our social activities. The limbic system (not shown apart from the hippocampus) also influences both the social and solitary styles. The limbic system has a lot to do with emotions, moods and aggression.
  • Solitary: The frontal and parietal lobes, and the limbic system, are also active with this style.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

WW - Wordless Wednesday


Yes......they are bought eggs (the dodo birds are not laying well atm)
Yes......I am no aspiring artist
Yes......Its something that has been floating around on the net for awhile

But.....Mike sure did get a giggle getting his breakie that morning at 4am (hes not seen this before)
And.....He couldn't bring himself to crack the eggs with faces!!

lol! :)

Monday, October 24, 2011

Not Me! Monday



I can across this fun little link up at They All Call Me Mom who in turn joins in at Mckmama. What a crack up to see some Mumma's keeping it real and having some fun at their own expense! :)

Well my Monday should be a lot more productive then it has been!! We are going away on Wednesday and I've not packed a thing!! NOT A THING!! and in less then 20min I have to pick up Ali and Cal from school, then go back at 4pm and pick up Liv from after school sports, then at 5pm drop off Ali at girls guides who happen to having a park day at a park 20min drive away, then go back and pick her up at 7pm. Eeek!! I'm having a mini freak out moment just thinking about it!! And the kids have to deliver their brochures in the next 2 days as well!

But it is so Not Me! to leave things til last moment and put in a big effort to get things done! But this Mumma does her best work under pressure :)

Oh and it wouldn't be a Not Me! moment this week when I realised I can't find my boys size 0 clothes to swap out for Braith!! I mean every other size is there and sorted into their boxes but I can't find the size 0!!!!! What the?? The search will continue after we come back on holidays, but lucky for me, I'm meeting up with my brother and sister-in-law who has kindly gone through her stash of baby clothes and found some stuff to spare :)

SO that is Not Me! for my Monday!! fingers crossed I don't have any Not Me! moments to share from our holiday!! ;)

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Organising...

Yes I've finally organised my kitchen - somewhat. It is amazing how much stuff is collected over the years and how much I really just don't use, but can't bring myself to part with.

Livia (who has a hidden talent of organising and fitting things in just so) and I decided enough was enough and we gutted the kitchen!



The dreaded corner cupboard! Where things just don't fit quiet right and you have to move things to get to other things. Before and after.



I actually used to have my plates in this cupboard but when I shifted them around we found it just didn't work so back they went. Before and after.



Its a work in progress and I still have the pantry to go but things are so much more organised and easy to get to!! and its a job I won't have to do when nesting kicks in later on!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Big kids when they were little

I couldn't resist sharing this snap of my big kids when they were younger!! They are growing up soooooo fast!!

Baby #7 - 10 weeks and 4 days

pregnancy


pregnancy calendar

Yes I said weeks and days cause it makes a pregnancy go quicker?!? lol!

But seriously, this pregnancy is something I have to keep reminding myself about cause I feel pretty good! I've already gained 3kgs eek! so I really need to get my butt into gear and start my exercising again! and my belly looks like I'm 6-8 mths pregnant! cause that is just how my pregnancies seem to be...

But I do like the relaxed 'pace' pregnancy #7 is heading, no stressing about baby clothes or items (we already have what we need), no extra wishing or hoping on a particular sex (cause we are already blessed with a good mix of boys and girls)and health wise everything is ok :)

The panic of baby names hasn't kicked in yet, but you will surely know about it when it does as found it hard picking a boys names last time around!!

Fingers crossed everything stays well for the rest of my pregnancy!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Home Schooling Mini Fair

This week we ditched school to attend a Home Schooling Mini Fair! It was a last minute decision, as I thought that I wouldn't have my car fixed in time, and honestly I was having a bad start to my day. You know the one where the kids are squabbling, can't find their uniforms/swim gear/homework *stress *stress *stress!! lol!!

SO I hummmm and arrrrrr'd about going and thought what the heck, keep the big kids home and come up with a something they can set a stall up with. So we decided to do Loofah Seed Raising Kits. I think that the kids would have had a lot more success selling if they actually packed the Loofah to display so that the kids could see what the seeds would turn into, but they did well enough to buy bits and bobs from the other stalls!

Silas invested in 2 dino's for 0.50c each!



The kids had a ball hanging out with a fellow homeschooling Mumma, who's girls were busking their way to fame and fortune :)

And then we went and had a packed lunch at a park we spied on the way there. And being a school day we had the park all to ourselves :)




And yes I tried to get the kids to pose together for a nice photo :)

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Kaydence Annabelle is 2!!




I can't believe that my littlest girl is now 2 years old!! And she is totally rocking being a 2 year old! Kadee has been acting older for a few months now, toilet training herself for the last few months (all self initiated) and coming up with little catch phrases like "I don't know" when asked where something is and proudly saying everyone's name well, except for Silas who she calls Yi Yi lol :)

Kadee really got into the spirit of ripping off wrapping paper this year (good practice for Christmas!) and while we decided to have small birthdays this year for the kidlets, we had a special day.



As per tradition the birthday child gets to choose their birthday dinner and Kadee decided that she wanted noodles aka spaghetti :) So I slow cooked a bolognese sauce all day and Mike made fresh home made pasta, which is always a treat!



Kadee also had a visit from Melissa and her family (a fellow homeschooling Mumma, *waves!*) who happened to get Kadee a book, books happen to be her 'favourite toy' atm.



This birthday I decided to give a 'theme cake' a go. We mostly do home made cakes, but generally play it safe with chocolate icing and lots of sprinkles. But I recon I didn't do so badly with my 1st ever attempt and I've even had requests for more 'theme cakes'. (For those who couldn't work it out, its a jewellery box. Now I just have to learn some tricks of the trade to give my cakes that polished look :) Oh and my shirt was a causality, pink food dye all up the front! I still have pink spots on my belly! lol!


And of course the birthday girl got shy when sung Happy Birthday and the big kids had to blow out the candles :) (Aliya made a last min addition to the cake and added a heart to the top of the jewellery box)





Mumma loves you Monkey Girl and I look forward to many a Happy Birthday to share with you :) oxoxoxo

Friday, October 14, 2011

7 Quick Takes Friday


Its been awhile since I've joined in with Erin @ 7 Little Aussies and I think its worth while that I do as lately I seem to be on a run of Ground Hog days! Can you believe that the last time I QTF'ed was in August!!


— 1 —
I've been having alot of tired days lately! Lots! and that means not doing much at all! I've decided that I'm going to 'talk' myself into energy! I'm no longer suffering from Morning Sickness and I would think that I'm used to the lack of sleep from Braith so I really don't have any excuse to be soooooo tired and lack lustre when it comes to running things around here. So its back into the drivers seat this week!!

— 2 —
Time to get a handle on Braith's non-sleeping issues (notice I said non-sleeping instead of sleeping lol) The constant waking every 2 hrs or so for a bottle is driving me mad!! I've tried reflux meds @ $45 for 100mls and chiropractor sessions with no success. But he did go spend a night with a friend and ended up sleeping for 6 hrs or so straight! Soooooo perhaps this Mumma is being too soft with him! I've bought the book 'Save our Sleep' by Tizzie Hall AND I intend on using it! lol!! Will let you know how it goes :)

— 3 —
Kadee turns 2 tomorrow! Amazing how the time passes so QUICKLY these days! I spend a good 2 hrs browsing the shops BY MYSELF this evening for birthday nick knacks and I enjoyed the time ALONE so much! lol!

— 4 —
The stars are still aligned when it comes to the renovations :) We are still plodding along and hope to have some more walls and perhaps the roof installed this week :)

— 5 —
Lots of organising plans this week, swapping everyones winter clothes out for summer ones and moving the little kids up a size :) Massive job and I'm not looking forward to it!

— 6 —
I'm going to take a little bit of time for me this week! Back to my regular exercise and some ALONE time just to relax! Perhaps a new book is in order?

— 7 —
Sometimes finding 7 things exciting enough to blog about is a struggle, little things that are meaningful to me, is about as boring as watching grass grow for everyone else! :) !!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Baby #7 - We're 9 weeks already!

pregnancy


pregnancy calendar


I can't believe that I'm already 9 weeks pregnant!! I'm feeling amazing, my morning sickness is pretty much gone and if Braith was sleeping better I'm sure I wouldn't even be tired!

My hips have already started to hurt, which is something I experienced really badly with Kaydence's pregnancy, in the end, I had to brace myself when sitting or rising up from a seat as I thought my hips would fall apart!! Eek! It better not be like that this time around!! Especially with 2 little ones needing to be carried!!

I've gained a bit more weight then I would have liked already but considering I've dropped my exercise and clean eating, it could be worse! I'm getting back into regular exercise now that I've gotten the all clear from the doctors and I'm sure I'll be able to keep a steady weight throughout this pregnancy instead of gaining 20kgs+ that I usually do (and then have to put in a massive effort afterwards to drop the weight!)

P.S. I came across a couple of cute tickers, so if your after a laugh or a more factual update, I've got it covered! lol!

Quote of the Moment

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Not Me! Monday


I can across this fun little link up at They All Call Me Mom who in turn joins in at Mckmama. What a crack up to see some Mumma's keeping it real and having some fun at their own expense! :)

Well here goes, my 1st Not Me Monday Ever.......

*Yesterday we went to Bunnings with Silas, Kadee and Braith to pick some seeds to kick start the garden. And it was hectic! Took 15mins just to get a park! While we are there the kids insist on using the kids trolleys, like this 'cute little fella'........ Cute til they take out the back of your freakin heal! OUCH!

So any ways, it was really busy and I was trying to keep track of Silas and Kadee with their trolleys when I spy the little trolley next to me, quickly capture it, as Kadee has proven to be quite nimble with her trolley and exclaim 'Oi, why have you got all that stuff in there??' in my best frazzled Mumma voice. Its only then I take it in that it is in fact another little girl with her trolley getting away from her frazzled Mumma! Oh Not ME!! Oops!

I think that totally takes the cake for my 1st Not Me! Monday! But I'm sure the week will keep my next Not Me! Monday well stocked for future link ups :)

Monday, October 3, 2011

My Book Love ( as shared by Seven Little Australians and Counting)

When Erin tagged me in her book love meme I was really flattered excited and a little bit nervous! I mean, Erin listed so many books that she has loved, currently loves and would love to read!

While I am a avid reader myself and has been since about the age of 8 ( I would sneak my Dad's torch and reading under the covers at night), I was never raised in a family of book readers (we were never read to on a regular basis), so establishing a regular reading time for my family has only just developed over the last few years (now that I no longer work full time). I have to admit my older children were not read to for enjoyment (just the school readers we 'had' to do) due to being so exhausted from working so much. Sad I know! (But we still had a collection of books 'laying' around to read)

But luckily that has not dampened their thirst to read a good book. I also have my older children read to the younger children on those busy busy days when I have alot going on.



(Jaidon reading 10 Little Mermaids to the younger kids when he was here on the holidays)

I like to read a bit of everything and everything from Novels, Gardening Books, Cooking Books, Biographies, and atm while not technically not 'books' I spend alot of time reading blogs of interest (quick easy reads in between seeing to the kids needs). Atm I'm finding it hard to get a nice block of time to sit down with a good read, as I like to really 'fall into' a story when I get going with a book.



(Braith and Kadee hamming it up with their current reads)