The Green Smoothies are going well. Today was apple, bluberries and baby spinach. Very yum, but a very weird colour, murky browny green, still technically green though.

Friday Craft is off tomorrow because Dave and I*, are going away for the weekend to the Southern Highlands. Should be lovely.
*And about 30 other sales staff and partners.

I will leave you with a short clip of the boys and Houdini. Have a great weekend.

Sigh of relief...........

After a heart to heart with Dave last night I have decided to drop back to part-time at Uni. The semester has only just begun and already I am feeling very stressed. One of my subjects, Coasts and Catchments, seems to require a 3 unit HSC geography background which I don't have, even though I did the 2 prerequisites last year. So I have flicked that, maybe next year if I can read through alot of stuff over summer. I am also going to drop Development and Change in Asia and maybe do it next year.

I am left with English, and Creative Arts in the Classroom which will be hard enough on their own, lots of reading!!! I feel so free...............

I still need time for Bible Study prep, Scripture, looking after my family, and of course Friday Craft.

Mick Thomas

Mick Thomas from Weddings Parties Anything used to be the love of my life until I met Dave.

(He is not the one in the Hawaiian shirt, just so you know.)

I have loved this band since I was 19 and have been to see them countless times. I know every word to every album.

So happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just bought Dave and I tickets for the WPA Reunion Tour on April 5th.

Check out this for a look at them in action.

Green Smoothie Challenge

Today is the first day of the Happy Foody Green Smoothie Challenge.

Mum and I are doing it together. Here is what I used this morning; apple, celery, carrot and parsley. It was very yummy.

Busy week.

This week has been extremely busy. On Wednesday night a group of us went to see Hugh Mackay speak about Australian Society, and his new book. It was so interesting to hear him talk, and I really warmed to his optimism. My mum (who is also a sociologist) loves him so I got him to sign a copy for her.

Saturday Night we went to Jazz in the Park and listened to the Peter McDonald Quintet. Such a lovely way to spend an evening, connecting picnic rugs with friends, eating and drinking and listening to great jazz. (sorry about the fuzzy photo)
On the craft front, only a little bit happening. I finally finished these two tops for Sarah and she left one at a party on Sunday, hopefully it will return.

Houdini

We have given 'Eggweena' a new name, Houdini!! She keeps getting out of the chook pen to go and lay her egg in the garden. Here she is hiding from me. Jonathan is the only one brave enough to pick her up and put her back in the pen.

This morning I went and had my free sewing lesson that came with my new machine. I now have a better idea about all the different feet, button holes, sewing stretch fabric, and overlocking - my machine has an overlocking stitch, how cool is that!!!

I also went and had my eyes tested as I am having trouble reading and threading needles. Old age is creeping in, I am having some reading glasses made, will post a pic when I have them.

When I was tucking Jonty into bed tonight he said to me, " This home would not be a real home if you didn't live in it".

Awww, he is such a honey.

Ankle update.

Here is a picture of Dave's foot this afternoon, he has had a few worried people asking after it. He went to the physio this morning who is convinced it is only sprained and told him to walk on it as much as he can. No more waiting on him and changing his ice packs........Yay!!

Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a new picture of Dave's ankle. He has decided to go and get it looked at in the morning.

It's all fun and games....till somebody sprains their ankle.

We were having a lovely time down at Coogee Beach this afternoon, catching up with friends from the UK, until Dave sprained his ankle playing footy. OUCH!!!!!
This photo is a few hours old, his ankle is now twice this size. I wonder what colour it will be in the morning?? Dave is being very brave, keeping the ice and beer regime up.

Happy Birthday.

The birthday pressies for Zoe and Lucy are finished. A library bag with matching pencil roll. I also made them a personalised Charlie and Lola colouring-in book (from freebies on the net). They are flying back to the UK next week so hopefully these will come in handy on the plane.
Friday Craft is on again tomorrow. I am hoping to finish a present for baby Alice, and applique 2 tops for Sarah, and help Ann sew a pair of boxers at the same time.

Green Smoothies.

I am going to take part in the Happy Foody Green Smoothie Challenge.

Here are the details:

For 30 days beginning on February 25, you will commit to this ONE THING:
Drink a 16 oz. of green smoothie each day…preferably for breakfast. I HIGHLY recommend getting the book “Green For Life” by Victoria Boutenko. It’s a quick read and it has lots of yummy smoothie recipes in it. Check out her website too!
That’s it! You don’t even need to commit to changing anything else. Just ADD the smoothie.

But, for an added bonus, you could add one or more of the following:
Do some sort of activity every day. This could be an intense workout, or just dancing with your kids around the living room. It could be a 15 minute yoga session or a walk around the block.
Add a green leafy salad to your lunch or supper.
Stop drinking pop.
Cut out all white sugar.

I just had a practice go and made the one above, it was delicious!!

2 small royal gala apples, 1 carrot, 2 handfuls baby spinach. YUM.

Would you like to join me?

The idea.

Frustration!! The readings I need for an assignment have been taken off the Uni website for 2 days now. For what reason, I do not know. I actually want to get this assignment done early so I can have it checked by the Teaching and Learning Centre. Essays are a weakness for me, and this lecturer only gave me a pass+ for my last essay (last year). I would love to get at least a credit.
This essay is about integrating Creative Arts into other curriculum areas which makes perfect sense to me, but is a radical idea for some teachers out there.

Speaking of teachers, have I mentioned my idea yet?

I am thinking of pulling the kids out of School in term 4 and trialling homeschooling. Why you ask? Has she flipped? Is this another one of Jo's crazy ideas? Is she battling her contentment issues again, and feels the need to change something in her life? Read on, no, maybe, and no.

My issue is that I think the kids (particularly Matt) have lost their passion for learning. He is a bright button (do I sound like one of those mothers?), and is so bored at school. I would love to let them have some time to learn about the things that they are interested in, not what the teacher has programmed (don't you hate that word, program!). I feel it's time I took some serious responsibility for their education other than getting them to school and supervising (extremely boring!) homework.

I have this romantic (wonderful) idea of homeschooling; excursions to the beach to study rockpools, building giant sculptures in the loungeroom, microscopes, telescopes, experiments, and snuggling up on the lounge (with popcorn) to watch cool documentaries. I will keep you posted.

'Inspiring Teachers' was on again tonight (thanks for calling to remind me mum).
This is a great show, definitely worth watching.

Birthday Surprise.

Sarah will be turning 8 very soon. She has changed so much over the past year.
For her 7th Birthday we took her and a few friends to see Winnie the Pooh at the Marian St Theatre.
This year she wanted to go and see High School Musical on Ice. At around $50 per ticket, we said no.
But, I have just booked tickets to the Hannah Montana 3D concert instead. At $107 for 2 adults and 5 giggling girls, much better. I think she will be just as excited about this, she loves Hannah Montana, (and both Matt and Jonty have been known to watch the odd episode too...)
I am not sure whether to keep it a surprise or not. I am not sure whether Dave and I will enjoy it or not.

Discipline ??

This is what my life is supposed to look like for the next 14 weeks; exciting hey!!

The pink areas are study time, the orange is housework and groceries, blue is Ladies Bible Study (I am co-leading a group) and Scripture (I will be teaching 2 classes), the yellow is Friday Craft. Sunday is left blank to be a family day/Church, and Thursdays are to catch up with friends, doctors, dentists, hairdressers etc... until I have assignments due, then it will be studying.

The only problem is that I am totally undisciplined, hate routine, am gifted at procrastination and get distracted easily.

DISCIPLINE, how do you get it??

Colour consultant needed!!

Friday craft today.

Here is Katie trying to choose a fabric that I could use for applique on these purple stripey pants (for baby Alice). It is a well known fact that I can't pick colours (the colour I originally painted our bedroom looked like the Nocturnal House at the Zoo). The Cinnamon Teacake we ate.
The onesie I made today for Amys bub.

A silver lining.

Sarah had a slight temperature last night, and has a bit of a cold, so she stayed home from school today just in case. She seemed fine so we went fabric shopping with Katie at Pennant Hills, then on to coffee at Beecroft. What a lovely way to spend the morning, and definitely a silver lining to being sick.
This afternoon she sewed this bag pretty much all by herself. She was chatting away to me about how sad her life would be if there was no sewing in it. I bought a few nice fabrics to make some presents for 2 new babies, Susanna and Alice. I am not sure what to make yet, but I know that when the Friday Craft girls get here in the morning they will help me decide.

This week I have been working on Birthday presents for my God-daughter Lucy and her sister Zoe, (they are born on the same day, 2 years apart, how cool is that!!). Here is a sneak peek.
I love this little bird, it is from a 'Charlie and Lola' mobile template.

Yesterday was the first day of 'Friday Craft', a vision I have for this year to bring women together to create and build relationships with each other. It was lots of fun. I found myself playing the role of teacher, helping one friend make a bag, the other a pencil roll.

I really enjoy teaching which is a good thing considering I am at uni studying to become one.