Make My Week - Simple

Take a few centimetres of gorgeous Dr Seuss laminate fabric

Throw in 2x 20 cm zips

Sew in the zips, sew up the sides

surprise your boys with a new toilet bag each

It's not rocket science but they aren't judging!

joining in with Matariki Crafty Blog Hop Thing-a-me - actually not, because you can link in up to 3 projects and I've done that, but you get over there and link up your work - just in case you win some prizes.

and my 'Thursday Girl' Leonie at Crafty Show n Tell
Love you more than than The Cat In the Hat! x

Guest Interview

Okay so if you pop over to Kelly's blog this week there may be a guest interview

with me....obviously

also obvious this photo has nothing to do with anything but here it is anyway!

love you more than a good hair day x (which seem to be few and far between in my life!)

The Travelling Stash Box

It came

I rummaged

I took

I added (but that stuff is secret!)

Thanks Cat for organising such a fun idea/swappy/thing

Love you more than printed, sticky address labels xx

B.M.W.B - Yes. Yes You Can

I've talked about it before, as have others (more eloquently!), it is so easy to just say no, without thinking, to the myriad of requests that come from little ones to mamas

Can I have another biscuit?
Can I go on the computer?
Can I run around in a t-shirt and undies on the lawn when it is 2 degrees outside?...... you get the drift

The thing I am trying hard to do is to STOP and THINK before I say yes or no.

To check I have actually heard the request, and then rationally consider - is this doable, is it a 'small stuff' (as in: don't sweat the small stuff - as in: I want to wear a singlet and long johns to church in summer), will it be fun, is it only laziness that makes me want to say no, will this build us together as a family, ..... those things

So when the boys asked if they could just play with the 'mum's shop' merchandise .... and I stopped and thought before answering... I thought 'why not?'. I knew they would treat it as a great privilege and they wouldn't nag me to buy stuff, they just wanted to have some special time.

So I gave them the box, the price list and the float (real money, in small change) and I encouraged them to give their teddies $1 and play shop keepers and customers. I reminded them that they had to put it all back at the end - including the money and what the teddies bought.

They had such a nice time. I joined in for some and I made dinner during the rest. So special and so nice for them to feel my trust in action.... and they didn't disappoint me.

I love these boys. I'm glad I thought before I answered, and that I said yes.

love you more than a teddy whose nose has been loved off x

Becoming the Mama I want to be is about taking time to enjoy the journey of parenting, to honour it's value and to hopefully inspire and encourage each other. 

Simple. Achievable. Intentional: becoming the mama I want to be

Button code on the right if you want it

27/52

Reading all about the stars at the top of the gondola

gazing at the view

Playing together in the garden

These 2 remind me of this poem - and may it always be so for them.

Us Two

Wherever I am, there's always Pooh,

There's always Pooh and Me.

Whatever I do, he wants to do,

"Where are you going today?" says Pooh:

"Well, that's very odd 'cos I was too.

Let's go together," says Pooh, says he.

"Let's go together," says Pooh.

"What's twice eleven?" I said to Pooh.

("Twice what?" said Pooh to Me.)

"I think it ought to be twenty-two."

"Just what I think myself," said Pooh.

"It wasn't an easy sum to do,

But that's what it is," said Pooh, said he.

"That's what it is," said Pooh.

"Let's look for dragons," I said to Pooh.

"Yes, let's," said Pooh to Me.

We crossed the river and found a few-

"Yes, those are dragons all right," said Pooh.

"As soon as I saw their beaks I knew.

That's what they are," said Pooh, said he.

"That's what they are," said Pooh.

"Let's frighten the dragons," I said to Pooh.

"That's right," said Pooh to Me.

"I'm not afraid," I said to Pooh,

And I held his paw and I shouted "Shoo!

Silly old dragons!"- and off they flew.

"I wasn't afraid," said Pooh, said he,

"I'm never afraid with you."

So wherever I am, there's always Pooh,

There's always Pooh and Me.

"What would I do?" I said to Pooh,

"If it wasn't for you," and Pooh said: "True,

It isn't much fun for One, but Two,

Can stick together, says Pooh, says he. "That's how it is," says Pooh. 

Alan Alexander Milne

Make My Week - Busy Book Pages

On a Monday morning I meet with other crafters at The Make Cafe. (it's an open group anyone is welcome)

We craft, we talk, we have coffee.

I've been making more busy book pages and helping others to make them too

These 3 little pages are this terms work. The cupcake tops come off and you match up the sprinkles with the number on the base.

Washing on and off the line

and feed the monster, while you learn to use a zip

joining in with creative crafty types over at Show n Tell

B.M.W.B - Making it Up

Ah, the endless joy of a button jar

The sorting and discovering.

and last time we got them out Flip and I made up our own game.

We call it 'Button Guess Who'

Each player takes a group of buttons (the more similar the harder)

Then take turns asking yes/no questions until you have worked out the mystery button.

This kind of game is great for developing closed questions (a question with a yes/no or single word answer, as opposed to a question like how do you feel about meeting new people?). It's also good for classifying and looking for details.

But most of all its just fun to play together. It's a game that requires no special effort, no cost and lots of positive interaction together.

It's so good to spend time in front of the fire together, down on the carpet, talking.

I've read a couple of really lovely posts about mothering this week. Thanks so much to those of you who are linking in too. I so appreciate being inspired by your journey xx

love you more than a mystery button jar!

Becoming the Mama I want to be is about taking time to enjoy the journey of parenting, to honour it's value and to hopefully inspire and encourage each other. 

Simple. Achievable. Intentional: becoming the mama I want to be

Button code on the right if you want it