Adventuring in the city.

Sometimes, it's easy to forget that for small children, even the 'everyday' is exciting.

Ever since we saw The Wind in the Willows last year, the girls like to say whe are going on an adventure, like Mr Toad, when we go out for the day.

For our adventure yesterday we drove to East Melbourne and caught a tram into the city (the trip would probably take about an hour from home, which is a little too long for the very busy smallest person to sit still).

We visited the Myer windows which this year feature the very non-traditional Christmas story 'Olivia Helps with Christmas'.

It's been noted before that we are Olivia fans in this house so we knew the small folk would delight in this.


and they did...

At the end of the windows it was asked where the next story was...

From there we went to visit the man in the red suit.

One of the girls asked him for a fluffy toy for our cat Molly.

It seems not to matter to her that Molly died in March, apparently we can send her the toy.

She also asked for a scooter for her little sister because she doesn't have one.

Nothing for herself.

The other wants a big basketball "like mummy's".

It seems she's ready to move on from the small one we bought her.

We then each chose one special decoration to put on the tree when we set it up next month.

A small child confronted with choice can take a while to make a decision...

To finish the morning off we shared a couple of milkshakes, had a walk through the gardens, then caught the tram again.

Cheap and easy entertainment.

They couldn't decide what they enjoyed the most.

PS - oh yeah - and the hats were as easy as everyone said - great pattern Toni!

Making a list, checking it twice

I'm a list maker - what can I say.

I like to cross things off - preferably with red texta.
I've been known to add something I have done to a list purely for the joy of crossing it off.
Sad isn't it!

When the smallest had just been born and we were all finding our way with each other, I felt that I was accomplishig little in a day so started keeping a list of what I had done, rather than what I hoped to do.
It was a great way to make me realise where all that missing time had been going.

This new list is for Christmas, but you probably guessed that by the title didn't you.

I made another list back here - and still need to get onto some of those things too, but I am hoping most, if not all the girls gifts will be handmade this year, so there's a bit to be done.

I found this great book at my local library.



So I grabbed a few supplies from Winterwood when I was there to make the wind wands shown above and in action on the cover and also some finger puppets which I think I might make to resemble each of the girls.

But then there's this one, simple and sweet...

And this, which actually made Miss L gasp when she saw it and would make good use of my new snap press.

I saw a similar dolly carrier ages ago on Naomi's blog and wasn't able to get my hands on the pattern as it was a vintage one.

So now you see why the list is growing....

Have you got any crafting plans with a December 25th deadline???

My Creative Space...

...is once again filled with the spirit of Christmas!

We thought we'd keep busy on some of the wet and windy days Melbourne has been experiencing by making up some Christmas gift wrapping.

It's a long way from perfect, but oh so personal.

I don't think I've ever been organised for the festive season this early!
I'm sure there's a crafting lull ahead somewhere.

Fin out who else is getting into the crafting spirit over here with Kirsty.