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The Shindig

Today was such a wonderful day! Isn't it great when you can say that? We had Kyan's 2nd birthday party and really, it couldn't have gone any better. Prepare for a very photo-y post!

The two cakes, one for Kyan and the other for his friend Alicia. I kept the cakes very simple-just a plain sponge with butter icing.

My dear friend Margie (Alicia's Mum) procured a Western saddle and it even had the number 2 on it! How cool is that?

Jumping hay bales- so much fun! They also made excellent seating, baby lying spots and climbing frames...

Cowboy cupcakes, inspired by this article in Littles Magazine.

All the cake making supplies came from Kiwicakes, if you're having a party, I can definately reccommend them, fabulous products, prompt delivery and excellent service.

Our goodie bags for the little guests to take home were plain paper bags with a little Thank-You note tied on with string.

"Buttons" the pony (yes really...)

Horsey sandwiches

Sherrif badge biscuits...

"Red Indian" feather headresses...

my cupcake cowboys and cacti...

Such a wonderful day. And now I can sit with a cup of tea and enjoy the peace and quiet as my children sleep soundly, after a day of fun and fresh air!

Weekending

The children and I are lucky enough to have a three-day weekend. Monday is our day off, so the title for this post is not a typo! What a lovely weekend it was-Kyan's 2nd birthday, a fabulous guava harvest, a long walk on the beach with my darlings all rugged up, a farm visit to see adorable baby piglets, and um... some more bunting of course!

Waiting for the Harvest

There's a lot of green fruit growing in my garden at the moment, and I'm waiting patiently for the Autumn Harvest! Oranges, Lemons, Grapefruit (isn't it clever how Nature provides us with all those Vitamin C rich fruits in the cold and flu season when we need them most?) Fejoas galore, and more exotically, Figs and Guavas. I've invited Rhiannon over to raid the fig tree-there's been talk of some fig based baking which I'm all in aid of. But the guavas-what do I do with guavas? Any suggestions?

Lovely Things

I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter! Ours was a day of family and chocolate which is pretty much as good as it gets as far as I'm concerned! I'm just stopping in with some random news...

Thanks for all the interesting questions on formspring. Some of them really make me think... If you haven't joined I encourage you to, because I think you can learn a lot about yourself. Plus-it's fun!

The lovely Kristin is having a giveaway. The prize is one of her fabulous sleeveless hoodies. I can vouch for these because Kyan had one last year and it was top notch both in terms of quality and cuteness. Here he is modelling it (oh my Gosh he looks so tiny! Don't children just grow up so amazingly quickly?)

And last but not least, Hollie Smith has a new album out. It's called Humour and the Misfortune of Others, I've been listening to it a lot over the past two weeks and it's absolutely fabulous!

Formspring Me

Well, it's been so interesting following Rhiannon and Kristin's questions from Formspring that I've totally hopped on the bandwagon. So, if you'd like to ask me anything-go ahead. Check the sidebar for the question box.

Here are my questions and answers so far...

If you could choose, how would you want to die?
Peacefully, in my sleep, at the age of 94.

If you could be on one TV show which one would it be?
I'd love a part on Outrageous Fortune. I am a true blue West Aucklander after all!

Do you believe in God?
Not in a Christian sense, but I do believe there is a higher power, and a purpose beyond oneself. I believe in karma, integrity and the power of positive thought.

The Half Century

Many a night I've slept under quilts stitched by her. Many a meal I've eaten, cooked by her...

She likes vintage dresses, wine (red and white) a good book, cups of tea (incredibly strong and scalding hot). She moved across the world with a husband and three small children, to a country where she didn't know a single soul-had never even visited. She's funny and she's articulate and strong and generous.

Probably the best Mum I could have asked for really! And it's her 50th birthday on Saturday. SO tomorrow, Kyan and I are hopping on a plane to Auckland for the celebrations. Happy weekend to all, and Happy Birthday Mum. Love you xx

Fun fun fun

Hello, how are you? I trust everyone had a lovely weekend? Mine was fabulous! Here are a couple of my favourite bits...
Sitting at the table looking at these wonderful hibiscus blooms, relishing their beauty and the last images of Summer, while eating the most delicious olive bread, made by my husband.

A bit of painting. I'm doing a picture for Kyan's room. He's going to be 2 in May-so his room is transforming from a nursery into a little boy's room-and I've been wanting to make a few special things just for his room-watch this space...

A wonderful night out with girlfriends. Such fun!

Some of whom are very pregnant and absolutely gorgeous!

It's so unlike me to drink anything green unless it's spirulina. Now I'm reminded why...

Chewbacca cookies for a Star Wars party- Happy 5th Birthday Aesop!

Princess Leia and little Leia. Fun!

A Budding Artiste?

There was the time when Isla almost bought me an extremely tacky, size 6 lingerie set on Trade Me. Recently Kyan nearly bought me a 1987 Jeep Cherokee on the same website. They've both been known to ring various people on my cellphone and my Ipod now contains several Hi5 albums... Yep-my children are into gadgets-with good and not so good results! But I want them to be familiar with technology-it's so much a way of life for us these days. Isla has been taking photos using my cellphone for a while now, and she's graduated to using my camera, which she treats as a big responsibility and a very Grown Up thing to do... And you know what? Her photos are awesome...

And pretty cute in front of the camera too of course! (I took that one).

Fluro Day!

I feel like I'm the world's slackest blogger currently-it's funny, but the same thing happened this time last year-I guess life interfered with blogging! Craft-wise I'm not up to much, just still slowly chipping away with the squares. I've got this whimsical image in my head of myself snuggling under the completed quilt in front of the Winter fire, watching one of my favourite movies, which I received on DVD for my birthday and am yet to actually remove from it's plastic wrapping...

But I just had to stop by and say "Happy Fluro Day Everyone!"

Four.

This little girl, who loves cats, cupcakes, ballerinas, The Gruffalo and making funny faces...

She's going to be four tomorrow...

Around this time, back in 2006, my contractions were just starting as she prepared to make her entrance into the world and change my life forever.

Oh I do love her so much. Happy Birthday Isla Grace xx

Check out the early birthday present she recieved today from the gorgeous Rhiannon. Lucky girl!