Bom Bom Bom

I'm probably a bit late to the party with this, but this song has kept the kids and I bopping along for the past week or so. I dare you to listen to it without tapping your toes. Or getting it stuck in your head!

Carnival Day

The school sports carnival that is! The annual sports day was scheduled for last week but a storm was brewing and the school made the (very good!) decision to postpone the carnival until today. Friday was stormy, wet and freezing cold. Today was sunny and warm. Well, warm-ish. We all managed to get just a little bit sunburnt though the temp didn't quite make it to 20C.

 

The kids had a ball. I had some red coloured hairspray and red zinc and decorated the offspring appropriately this morning. They were um... colourful! But so were most of the school.

 

The kids ran and ran and ran. And, like in so many other schools, ribbons were awarded for winning, coming second or third or fourth, and just for taking  part. So there were LOTS of ribbons.

 We had flag races and relays. Tunnel ball and sprints. The kids loved it and so did I. And just quietly, despite them being the ones who ran around all day while I just sat and spectated (and yelled, cheered and clapped) I'm just as worn out as  them.

More Puppy Lovin'

Oh my gosh! Murphy and Pepper are so ridiculously cute. Yesterday was one of my regular days off  and, as they were intent on exploring just about every single inch of the acre we live on - and they're still too little to do so unattended - I got to spend the day outside with them. They kept me entertained all day long with their escapades. Murphy is definitely the leader and took charge of which direction they were heading but he's also a bit of a chicken so if anything moved (like the chooks, or a branch in the wind, or a bird flying over) he darted back to me quick smart. Pepper's up there with the pep! And although she follows her brother around quite happily, if he's doing something she doesn't like she sure lets him know about it. They explored, found the chooks, got stuck under the deck (only because they couldn't work out how to get under a beam, not really stuck), created tunnels though parts of the garden, fell down steps, came to screeching halts on their heads and eventually crashed out for a good two hour nap. Then they woke up and started all over again just as the kids got home from school.

 

Here are some of the highlights...

 

 

Let's just say it's a good thing the fishpond has a metal grate on it! Orignally it was to keep adventurous toddlers out. Now it keeps adventurous puppies safe! Pepper particularly enjoyed laying across it with her paws in the pond trying to catch the fish.

Pepper attacking the rope swing. Again, this was initially put up for the human kids but... the animal kids have all loved it. Murphy was very hesitant but once he saw how much fun Pepper was having he thought he'd better have a go too.

 

Action puppy-running shot! Have fluff, will run!!

 

 

Awww... who can resist this little face? Ummm, not me!

And finally, all tuckered out and fast asleep by my chair.

And fast asleep on the other side of my chair.

Puppy Love

After processing our anger and grief at losing Betsy in May we entered into the healing stage and started talking about getting another dog. We talked about one dog versus two dogs. We knew we could handle one - we had Max for 12 or so years before cancer claimed him and although Betsy was a handful we were getting there with her too. But we thought two dogs would be good company for each other and I had vague hopes that if they kept each other occupied they might leave poor old Spike the cat alone.

 

We looked at rescue dogs, dogs from shelters and dogs needing to be rehomed but none of the dogs we saw quite 'fit' our family. We decided that perhaps we'd turn out attentions to a puppy instead and concentrated on pups from shelters/rescue groups but again, nothing fit right.

 

And then we found... Murphy and Pepper.

 

 

Not from a shelter or a rescue place. But perfect for us. Nine week old Border Collie puppies who are little balls of fluff full of zip and zing. The came home today and have kept us entertained all afternoon. Even when they've been asleep.

 

 

All together now.... Awwwww!

Birthday Recap

My baby girl turned 7 this week and I may have shed a tear or two. I cannot believe she's seven already but mostly, if she's seven then I really and truly don't have 'little' kids any more.  But she was thrilled to turn seven and when her Nan rang with birthday wishes on Thursday morning the wee girl confided that she thought she had grown a bit taller during the night and was bigger than when she was six. You know. The day before.

We celebrated in our usual epic style. Presents in the morning and a cake to take to school to share with her classmates.

If the cake looks familiar it's because it's the same as the one I sent in for #1 earlier in the year. This has become the cake they both request for school, and I have to say it's a whole heap easier than 30-odd cupcakes!

Thursday night saw the grandparents descend for birthday dinner of the Birthday Girl's choosing - spag bol and garlic bread (of course!!) and a Freddo ice-cream cake.

And today we celebrated just a little bit more with a party at home with her school friends. Ages and ages ago (like six months or more) she decided she wanted a rainbow party so I've been madly pinning rainbow everything on Pinterest and had some pretty ideas to copy. Following our rules of 'as many guests as the age you're turning' she invited 7 little girls to come dressed in their favourite colours of the rainbow and we had ourselves a colourful, food additive laden afternoon. Here are some of the pics...

The birthday girl with her guests

Little Miss 7!

Rainbow cupcakes

 



The rainbow balloon backdrop

Marshmallow rainbow bites

(aka marshmallows with a dot melted chocolate and a smartie on top,

all laid out in the colours of the rainbow) 

Rainbow Fruit Plate

(aka strawbs, orange, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries)

Getting ready to blow out the candles on her rainbow cake

Inside the rainbow cake!

She had a wonderful time and grinned her way through the afternoon. She (and her big brother) are currently coming off a sugar/colour high and I think we're in a for an interesting evening. But that's all part of the fun of a birthday party.