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 :)

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.

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! :)

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!! ;)

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!

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

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!