Finally... the finished product!
Cubes were built and installed over the space of a week. Bijou is enjoying his new stand.
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Room Update IV
Finally... the finished product!
Cubes were built and installed over the space of a week. Bijou is enjoying his new stand.
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Giant Cluedo Birthday Party
Ella's wanted a murder mystery birthday party which slowly evolved to a real life cluedo birthday party. She spent numerous hours planning the game, the food/dinner and party bags.
She created invitations assigning each guest with a title and colour. There was Professor Lily Black, Miss Anastasia Scarlett, Countess Maija Plum, Princess Aoife Peacock, Mademoiselle Hannah Emerald and Lady Ella Grey.
The lounge room was transformed into a cluedo board. Small areas were designed to represent different rooms - library, kitchen, conservatory, study...... Murder weapons - rope, candlestick, copper pipe, dagger...were hidden in these rooms. Ella made the people, rooms and weapon cards specific to her game.
Post dinner, the girls and I plunged into the next game - Unlock. An escape room type game. The girls had an hour to escape. Although they worked hard to decipher the clues, the game was too small and difficult for 6 girls to feel included. As a result, the group splintered with 4 girls desperate to complete the challenge while the other two proved to be a distraction so we called the game to a halt and opted to have dessert instead! They then spent the remaining time chatting and mucking around before parents arrived.
Another fun and memorable party!!
She created invitations assigning each guest with a title and colour. There was Professor Lily Black, Miss Anastasia Scarlett, Countess Maija Plum, Princess Aoife Peacock, Mademoiselle Hannah Emerald and Lady Ella Grey.
The lounge room was transformed into a cluedo board. Small areas were designed to represent different rooms - library, kitchen, conservatory, study...... Murder weapons - rope, candlestick, copper pipe, dagger...were hidden in these rooms. Ella made the people, rooms and weapon cards specific to her game.
 |
| Games Room |
 |
| Library |
 |
| Conservatory |
 |
| Secret Passage |
The guests, all beautifully dressed, arrived and the cluedo game began. While the girls were solving the murder, Andy and I were busy preparing the roast chicken dinner as requested. An hour passed before the game concluded and murder solved...perfect timing for the dinner to be served to the guest at the fancy decorated (by Ella) table.
Post dinner, the girls and I plunged into the next game - Unlock. An escape room type game. The girls had an hour to escape. Although they worked hard to decipher the clues, the game was too small and difficult for 6 girls to feel included. As a result, the group splintered with 4 girls desperate to complete the challenge while the other two proved to be a distraction so we called the game to a halt and opted to have dessert instead! They then spent the remaining time chatting and mucking around before parents arrived.
Another fun and memorable party!!
Brotherly Snuggles
We are loving receiving lots of photos of Jesse and Tobee. After spending a few days apart (Tobee was in NICU a little longer than Jesse), the boys were finally reunited and enjoyed snuggling together. How cute are they.... can't wait to meet them.Tuesday, May 21, 2019
I'm not the littlest anymore!
Michelle and Daryl's twin boys arrived today - Jesse Derek and Tobee Jeremy!!
Katy was so excited to hand over the title of the littlest cousin to Tobee (who came our a few minutes behind his brother).
Ella sprung into action - deciding to make a patchwork blanket and toy for each of the boys.
Katy was so excited to hand over the title of the littlest cousin to Tobee (who came our a few minutes behind his brother).
Ella sprung into action - deciding to make a patchwork blanket and toy for each of the boys.
Monday, May 20, 2019
Room Update Part III
Three coats of Coral Blossom was needed to blot out the beautiful Swift blue. Although I was sad to see the blue go, the Coral Blossom brought a sense of calm and softness to the room as well as complementing the timber floor.
With the painting completed - including priming and two coats on the ceiling, it was time to see if the desk fitted! Installation was nerve wracking but went off without a hitch. Now for the finishing touches.
With the painting completed - including priming and two coats on the ceiling, it was time to see if the desk fitted! Installation was nerve wracking but went off without a hitch. Now for the finishing touches.
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Room Update Part II
With the arrival of Bijou Ella had to take down her 100 origami cranes as they were a hazard when Bijou wanted to occasionally fly around Ella's room The cranes hung on varying lengths of string which were blutacked to the ceiling. It was in June 2017 that the first few cranes made their debut. Then a month later with the help of Annwen, Ashley and Nathan the remaining cranes were added.
Over the past 2 years, the cranes have remained requiring only a little maintenance when the odd one or two fell down. Unfortunately this also meant that blutack had two years to leave oily marks on the ceiling. Thus as part of the room update we added ceiling painting to the list.
Ella and I took another trip to Bunnings to peruse the colour swatches for the feature wall emerging some time later with a test pot of Coral Blossom.
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Room Update
Since getting home, Ella decided while reorganising her room that it needed a make over! It all began with making a desk inspired by Rob's handiwork. Designs were discussed and finalised. A visit to Bunnings was essential and the desk began to take shape!
Along with the desk, Ella was keen to make changes to the wall colour, remove the existing bookshelves and install new ones.
 |
| Old Ikea desk and the new corner desk being glued together. |
 |
| Project manager checking on the work! |
Monday, May 13, 2019
New Routines
Since returning to Canberra, the girl's schedules have changed. They no longer do swimming much to my displeasure and piano unfortunately is impossible to get back into at school. At the moment the weekly schedule looks something like this.....
Much to our surprise, both girls have chosen to continue with French extension which means two 30 min sessions before school for each of them!
Monday - a busy evening. Ella goes to Primary School Concert Band session from 6.10 - 8pm while conveniently Katy is loving gymnastics which is from 6.30 to 7.30pm and located only a short distance away.
They like being with Nana on Tuesday afternoons. Katy has returned to soccer. Her team is called the Tigers and they train on Tuesday nights.
Ella's has taken up netball and trains on Wednesday nights.
They no longer do afters/piano combo on a Thursday instead coming home by bus and hang out at home until I appear from work sometime between 4 and 5pm.
Friday - we sometimes head to the Bolt Bar straight from school to catch up with several families before taking Ella to her gymnastics from 6.30 to 7.30pm. Both Mia and Aoife also do the same session.
Saturday - is a little tricky as soccer and netball are on at exactly the same time 11.30 - 12..30! We've manage to do ok so far with help from Nana and friends.
Sunday - has both girls at aerial sports from 4.30 - 5.30pm. Similar time but a change of company / venue. The girls are learning more than just silks. They have learnt new tricks on the trapeze and lyra.
All quite manageable at the moment!
Much to our surprise, both girls have chosen to continue with French extension which means two 30 min sessions before school for each of them!
Monday - a busy evening. Ella goes to Primary School Concert Band session from 6.10 - 8pm while conveniently Katy is loving gymnastics which is from 6.30 to 7.30pm and located only a short distance away.
They like being with Nana on Tuesday afternoons. Katy has returned to soccer. Her team is called the Tigers and they train on Tuesday nights.
Ella's has taken up netball and trains on Wednesday nights.
They no longer do afters/piano combo on a Thursday instead coming home by bus and hang out at home until I appear from work sometime between 4 and 5pm.
Friday - we sometimes head to the Bolt Bar straight from school to catch up with several families before taking Ella to her gymnastics from 6.30 to 7.30pm. Both Mia and Aoife also do the same session.
Saturday - is a little tricky as soccer and netball are on at exactly the same time 11.30 - 12..30! We've manage to do ok so far with help from Nana and friends.
Sunday - has both girls at aerial sports from 4.30 - 5.30pm. Similar time but a change of company / venue. The girls are learning more than just silks. They have learnt new tricks on the trapeze and lyra.
All quite manageable at the moment!
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Doof Doof
The leader of the pond is no longer...unfortunately we found Doof Doof, the largest and most prominent of our goldfish floating in the pond the other day. He lived for just over three years much shorter than the usual 5-10 years. So now we only have 3 of the original fish remaining. Comet hasn't been seen for a long while and is presumed to have also perished or been taken.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)