Giving thanks

In the UK, traditionally we don't celebrate Thanksgiving. I think we should! What could be more wonderful  than a celebration, bringing family together to give thanks for all that they have been fortunate for.

Murray and I have decided to have a Thanksgiving celebration this year. It probably wont be on the right day but we feel like so many wonderful things have happened this year for us and we should give thanks.

A few of the things we are thankful for

• Our health and the health of our children
• Our new house. We are so fortunate to be sitting in our new home. We are thankful to everyone who helped us to get here and for those who made it possible for us to buy our forever home.
• In the summer of this year my Father in Law suffered from a life threatening illness. With the help from a fast acting ambulance crew and some fabulous doctors he has now reached the stage in his recovery where he has returned to work. He has also just had the all clear from a recent test and we hope he will never have to encounter this experience again.
• I am thankful for finally being able to get my own childcare business off the ground, this has happened with minimal problems, I have a house full of happy children and I didn't have to go through any times of financial hardship, it all happened seamlessly with the end of my previous job.
• I am thankful for my children, they have been wonderfully resilient and understanding in this year of change and upheavel. There have been moments of tears and frustrations, but in the end they have come through smiling with their true Characters shining through.
• I am thankful for my friends and family who get me through all of the huge and tiny things that happen everyday.
• I am thankful for my loving and hardworking husband. Everything he does he does for us. Thanks sweetheart xx

I am looking forward to enjoying my favourite part of the year with my favourite people and what better way to start it off but with a huge turkey feast??

Not sure this guy would agree ..............................

Singing

Is there anything sweeter than a 3 year old who is so happy she just sails through her whole day singing, dancing and humming little tunes.

Yesterday morning I was in the shower and my little shadow was sitting playing at the bathroom door singing her little heart out.

My heart just swells when I hear her

Twirling girl

The first cut is the deepest

Does anyone else get that sick- flip flopping butterflies in the stomach-heart hammering fear when they get ready to make that first cut of fabric?

I love the sight of neatly folded piles of fabric, I would love to have a huge cupboard where I can store piles and piles of the stuff!

Alas I don't have a cupboard and can't afford to hoard my stash so I must cut it!

And use it!

And hopefully not ruin it in the process!

I have 3 or 4 projects in my mind...............as of yesterday I have all of the materials I need .............. why have I not started yet?

 I am excited to start! But making that first cut is just too hard!

A monsterously good Saturday

Today the kids and I set to some Halloween crafting. A few days ago I came across a tutorial on Not so idle hands for some super cute Halloween lantern jars.

We made one each! Fraser made a spooky green monster, K made a great pink monster and I made a pumpkin. I took some pics to make a mini tutorial but it isn't nearly as good as the one in the link ;)  so I may just leave it to the expert! I will, however, show off our handiwork!

The only thing we changed was the black faces. I didn't have any black paper so I just got the kids to draw out a face and then I coloured it in with a marker and cut it out. It worked well but I will definitely invest in some black paper for if/when we make some more!

All we need to do now is buy some little battery operated tea lights for the kids so they can have them in their own rooms. I think I may trust myself to put  a real candle in mine!

Hmm the original tute showed them to be finished off with green paint around the top, think I may use some raffia too once we have them painted , but I will wait until I have the battery tea lights! LOL we do NOT need an indoor bonfire for Guy Fawkes!

Sew busy!

Haha see what I did there??

I have been busy sewing some hoodie towels for the kids ( and one for an upcoming Birthday present) I used a tutorial from Deanna's blog (just Deanna ---> over there on the blogs list) sorry I am not clever enough to work out how to link it here.

Anyway they are actually really easy to make and because I used huge bath towels they fit both of the kids, Fraser can still be totally wrapped in his which is great!

here's my sweet model, she was too busy being a supermodel to stand still and also is digging a toungue out pose at the moment!

Into October..

and it is getting colder! woo hoo! We all needed coats on this morning!

Only 84 sleeps til Christmas! It's going in fast!

Kirsten's Hedhgehog!

I was preparing an autumn craft for the girls this afternoon. After finding that half of my paint stock is still packed and in the attic (oops!) I couldn't do the leaf pictures that we had planned, so plan B was to draw hedgehog pics and get the girls to paint them. Then we will cut out the shape and put them on a bigger piece of card with leaves and grass glued on. K was watching me draw the hedghog shapes and wanted to copy me!

I adore her cute hedghog and had to share!

I will share the finished articles when they are dry, which may be around next Autmn LOL

Almost ...................

Autumn! But not quite! we are waiting ......

And skipping!

Introducing .......................

My baby niece or nephew!!!

Here is the beautiful pic from my sisters 12 week scan. This is one laid back bubba! Look at the wee crossed feet!

what will you be?? Who will you look like? I can't wait to meet you!
I am sure you will bring much joy, laughter and happiness to our family. And maybe one or two sleepless nights ....................


Yay can't wait!!

Hello my name is .......................

LeeAnn and I am an addict. I am a complete addict for blogs! Now many could argue it is my terrible nosiness that pushes me into my addiction. I think that is probably fair! It is like a dream to me to get all of these insights into the lives of others! Although that isn't the end of the story.

I love crafty things, this is what draws me to blogs! I look at the lives of all these fabulously crafty people and wish I could have a tiny part f their talent! Well I can try! I love the ideas I get and the tutorials that people provide, how kind!

Alas this is why I will never be able to have a craft blog of my own, I steal ideas from everyone else! LOL I rarely do anything that I have thought of by myself !

I am a strange beast among my friends and family. There are only a couple of people who are "crafty" my SIL who likes card making and is dipping her toe into some light sewing, and Lor who has a degree in art and a future in baking! So I have a little company but I need more! This is where my addiction comes in!

And you know what those handy little blog rolls on the side are for! Yep just more fixes for strangers like me! So I have added a little one of my own, today I was trying to show some ideas I found to Lor, but they were all hopelessly lost among the million other bookmarks I have. I have chosen a few of my favourites so that now they are in a place where I can get to them more easily xx