Granny Tribute! (oh, and Daddy's birthday)

Well as the title suggests, Grandparents are awesome and Granny {MIL} came to visit us over the Easter break!

Really, I'm just going to brag about my MIL so you will be envious of how good I've got it! [insert smug look]

Mr R on his birthday with 'Mummy'- He is such a ratbag and I wouldn't want him any other way...

We've had an 'eventful' week... I could lie and say it's been 'fabulous', but the truth is it sucks when you're unwell. Yep, I think I had the dreaded.... [whispers] 'man-flu' - for the life of me I couldn't stop complaining!

Poor Granny, she was stuck here for 5  l o n g  days, with myself and Mr R sick. I have to say it was nice to have someone here to justify my need for chocolate. Husbands just don't 'get it'.

It was a bit of a bummer, Mr. R had his birthday on Friday, which turned out to be pretty lame, because we were unwell [and poor]. 

We did stop off at the 'beach', which is, come to think of it, more like a mangrove.




Anyway, having Granny here was a great excuse to pull the camera out and start clicking....

'Deception Bay' - looking very... deceptive.

In my defense, I was sick, it was about 11am, and the sun was in full swing. I don't own any fancy filters or lenses - only my trusty 50mm and two zoom lenses that came with the camera.

That isn't sand, that's mud - so soft and fine,
you could shovel it up and use it as a mud pack

We also did the "stock standard" photos in the back yard, of Granny with the kids. As you do.

Granny with her 'minions'

Ms 13 and Master 9 have had Granny and Grandad in their lives since they were 7 and 3. It's nice to think that Master 9 wouldn't remember a time without them in his life. Very special.

Granny is one of those people who genuinely loves children (well, to some point). Granny is a kindergarten teacher, so you can imagine that some days she probably loathes school and snotty little children.

One thing the kids and I love about Granny, is that she is a firm believer in 'play comes first and housework comes later', so it's always fun to have Granny around.

Yep, I must have the only MIL who doesn't check for dust! Really, it's just like having another big kid here. Awesome! 

Miss [almost] 2 is their first paternal grandchild, but they've already built up their grand-parenting skill set years prior to little missy coming along. 

Aside from my immediate family (husband and children), I really only have my mother left - all my grandparents passed away when I was younger, and I never grew up with aunts, uncles and cousins.

I can't stress enough the importance of extended family, especially grandparents.

We would love to drive down sometime this year to visit Mr. R's Grandparents 'Nanna and Pop', so they can meet Miss [almost] 2 in person - not just by photos...

Everyone's sad when Granny has to go home...

Teaching The Kids How To Vandalise, Yay! {Window Painting}

Who would have thought vandalising could be so much fun! Can't take credit for this, I 'yoinked' the idea from Childhood 101 - Christie and the team over there are just amazing!

Miss [almost] 2 working her magic.

Master 9 "In the zone" - He is such
a character...

We had so much fun as a family painting the window, it even felt a bit rebellious!!

This totally gives away I'm Virgo right?

Mr R and I dug out some basic poster paints from the craft cupboard and set Miss [almost] 2 and Master 9 up to start being little vandals.

I'm still unsure if the paint will actually come off the windows, but it's our house so we don't care if it does or not.

Wasn't long before Ms 13 joined in the fun after her morning walk with Granny

This lovely family activity will more than likely backfire on me, I'm certain I could see it ticking over in Miss [almost] 2's mind, pondering what she could deface next.

Ms 13  Geez-Whiz I love that girl to pieces!

One day there will be no more cheery
pictures being drawn on my windows,
they'll all be grown up

Eat your heart out  Michelangelo

10am And Still In Our Pj's, Doing Arty Farty Stuff

I spotted this brilliant idea on {Adventures with Kids}, Catherine is a genius at finding activities to do with kiddies - love reading her blog!

We had a go at her "stained glass window collages", but instead did a heart-shaped theme. Was loads of fun, even Miss [almost] 2 got into it.

Top to Bottom: Master 9's, Ms 13's, Mine and Miss [almost] 2's

Even I had heaps of fun!

Quick! Take a photo, they're getting along!! Oh wait, I did take a photo... phew!

None of us slept very well last night, not sure why, perhaps a full moon soon? Or, just maybe, it could be from the sugar overload we had the day before!!!

Miss [almost] 2 kept going to the window to check out her awesome work...

It's such an easy project to do with the kids, even little ones. I will no doubt do this again, with the kids soon. Perhaps as some birthday party decorations?

::❤::

Note: After cutting the shape out, I peel the contact backing off and cut the centre out, then place the rim piece back onto the contact.

This will help prevent bits of glitter, and goodness knows what else from sticking to the outer edge. I found the edge helped it stick better on the window, and little fingers couldn't peel it off either.
   

A Chryssie Carol

Ok, so I had this grand idea for a post! A massive gripe about Christmas, lots of spoilt little brats, along with parents buying their kids love out of guilt. I was inspired after reading a great post by aussiebum mummy.  

Oh yeah, I had it all mapped out in my head and my post started with an awesome 'photo-shopping' of our tree and the kids, got part way through, [oh, and of course I forgot to SAVE IT!!!] the editing software froze on me!!! The horror! OMG I was on the verge of tears!  Lots and lots of swearing! I figured if I didn't at least do a screen print, none of you would believe how awesome it COULD have been! 

 

*SIGH* I guess you will have to use your imagination: Picture Miss 18/12's legs dangling out from under a parcel and master 9 looking sad calling for 'mummy'. Of course we can't forget the essential bitchy and neurotic pattern lady in the corner saying something catty that's along the lines of "Well, my parents spoiled me at Christmas and I turned out fine!"

Would have been awesome!!

{Now lets just pretend that the photoshopped picture worked out and you were in histerics because it was just so darn funny!}

So back to the point of this post, spoiled little turds and annoying parents who flake out on parenting and opt for the 'quick fix' of LOTS of unnecessary, expensive presents.

What better place to start than with my Christmas memories from when I was a child... 

{queue Ghost of Christmas past}

No wonder she drinks...

❋I remember waking up early, I mean REALLY REALLY EARLY!! {In fact I still do!!}

❋I remember eating lollies, chips and rumballs for breakfast! {as far as I'm concerned it's not Christmas without Rumballs!}

❋I remember playing cricket with my brother down behind my grandparents house

❋I remember my Dad always drinking beer and making rude jokes

❋I remember my Dad and brother fighting over stupid stuff

❋I remember my Grandma getting tipsy

❋I remember the tree in all its 4ft something glory

❋I remember seeing family

❋I remember feeling sick because I ate too much pavlova {hehe STILL do that too!}

❋I remember making gifts for my family, as dodgy as they were! {I still make presents, heh, they're still dodgy too!}

❋I remember we always had the same bar-be-cue, with the same salads  
❋I remember not being much older than a kid myself and celebrating christmas with my first born

You know what I don't remember.. 

{{ THE STINKING PRESENTS!!! }} 

The only thing that I remember out of ALL the presents I received over the years that was so awesome, was my first BMX bike which I begged and pleaded for, for a whole year! [yes I was a tomboy, heh still one of those too!]. It was my first 'non-hand-me-down' bike and I was in grade 7. Though I'm STILL waiting for that freakin pony I asked Santa for.  

{queue Ghost of Christmas present} 

Anyway you get the picture, it was never about the presents, kids don't remember that shit! It's a part of it but certainly not the important part. It's about being with family and tradition - more importantly wasn't some special person born on this day? Umm was it Santa? Nah that doesn't sound right... Umm, oh, that's right, Jesus! 

I mean that's the main reason we celebrate Christmas right? Now I'm not entirely sure, but from what I read at Sunday School I got the impression that this Baby Jesus wasn't a spoiled little brat. *shrugs*

What will the kids of today remember? Mum and Dad fighting non-stop about bills and credit cards being maxed out because too much was spent, on crap! 

{queue Ghost of Christmas future}

She doesn't even have to say anything and she still comes across bitchy...

 What's wrong with spoiling our kids? Nothing at all - do as you like, but don't come crying and whinging to me when they expect everything under the sun and are ungrateful little shits. Or worse still when they grow up, and then rely so heavily on material things to make them happy. I'll be all like "HAH! I told you so!". :P

We're all guilty of doing it from time to time, but how about we keep Christmas special!?! Maybe you know there are a few too many toys under your Christmas tree, perhaps donate one {or three} to your local charity or to children in foster care?


Wishing everyone a safe and merry Christmas for 2010! 

Dedicated to my father John Bentley 

26.09.1938 to 04.02.2010 

{Missing you heaps at Christmas time!}

$2 Bargin Desk

I wondered where to start and I thought this was a better place than any. A few months ago we visited out local Recycle Centre and picked up this gorgeous little desk for $2! It still needed some repair to a drawer, handle and door which is pretty obvious.

Anyway did a rough two coats of white paint on it and voila! I took Ms.13 to spotlight to pick out some fabric she liked for one canvas and her office chair. Yes, yes, I know you can pick up pretty little chairs but I think there is two types of decorating 'nice, practical, comfortable and in your price range' and there is 'stupid'. We picked up two canvases, one which Yassie painted - the other we covered. I could do a tutorial on that but I won't but heres a clue - canvas, fabric, glue and staples :P

• Desk $2
• Paint $0 {HIA}
• Liquid Nails $0 {HIA}

HIA = Had It Already