Household Happenings: What's Been Happening In March?

"The informality of family life is a blessed condition that allows us to become our best while looking our worst." ~ Marge Kennedy

March started off with with a rush with two birthday parties and a baby dedication (all within the first week!) The children had a lovely time partying with their friends and helping to celebrate their birthdays, and the kids also enjoyed watching Chris play his guitar up the front for the song service during the baby dedication. Eric also got to play the accompaniment on piano for the closing song in the service called "You Are My All In All" - a beautiful song! (Video clip to come later)

KIDS SAY THE FUNNIEST THINGS

I just had to share this. During a children's story at church, the storyteller was sharing with the children that she had a lovely little dog called Lou Lou. Isabella pipes up and says "I know why you called him Lou Lou...Is it because he goes to the toilet all the time?" Now there's a comment to make any parent proud! Ha Ha!

Another funny incident happened again at church. Prayer was being said, all was quiet and reverent, and I guess the prayer was taking a little long - so half way through the prayer, Shelley from her pram, with the loudest, cutest voice says AMEN! Giggles and snickers rippled through the small congregation!

MADE IT!

I managed to dig out the sewing machine this month and transform an old Vinnie's jumper into a little winter dress for Shelley. I am still learning and I make lots of mistakes, but I love to re-fashion/re-purpose sweaters. They are just so soft and warm for our cold climate.

Finished!

Chris surprised me, and bought me an overlocker! They are suppose to cut sewing time down by half...that's what I need! They also finish the edges so much nicer and are perfect for stretch and knit fabrics. Yay! I had my first lesson on it a few days ago. Cant wait to make my first dress on it!

PUPPET SHOW

Chris and I were treated to a puppet show, complete with hand made puppets by the kids. They put a sign on the lounge room door that said "Puppet Show Today." Inside were two armchairs for us to sit in positioned in front of the 'stage' (3 seater lounge chair) It was funny to sit there and watch them do their thing behind the lounge. Ahhh, the joys of childhood.

COOKING ADVENTURES

I thought I would share a great healthy treat with you that my kids love to make and eat!

Fruit Balls
1 cup apricots
1 cup dates
1 cup sultanas
1 cup dessicated coconut
1 cup pecans
3 tbsp orange juice

Soften fruit in hot water, then drain. Blend fruit & nuts together in a food processor, and add the coconut and orange juice. Form into balls and roll in extra coconut. Keep in fridge or freezer.

Question: What do you get when you ask your 7 and 8 year old boys to make the salad for lunch...no supervision. They are free to use whatever ingredients they want and prepare it how they want. My only advice...Cooking is like art, prepare it with love, and clean up after!

This is what they came up with! Table all set, hot plate out and ready for a big pot of spaghetti pesto I prepared earlier and most important, the salad!

Everyone loved the salad, and enjoyed their version better than mine! Guess who will be making the salads in our family from now on! Good job boys!

MY BEAUTIFUL SHELLEY

I had to share this video with you of Shelley doing the actions to the song Deep & Wide...
If only they stayed like this forever!

GARDENING

We got into some much needed and over due gardening! Many hands make light work!

My funny clowns!

Moving the weeds and an old lavender bush to the burn pile

Kids scrubbed and cleaned our mailbox till it shone!

Old lavender bush removed and garden bed weeded!

HOLIDAY VIDEO

You might remember our holiday to Rover Park in January. Chris has been working on editing the video footage and photos we took. If you would like to check it out, click on the video below!

13TH SABBATH

100TH BIRTHDAY FOR THE MISSIONS

The children participated in a special program during the last Sabbath in March (13th Sabbath). They got to dress up as the countries they were representing and they each had a little talk to give about each country. They all did a really good job! I also took some video on Chris's iPhone which I will have to share with you next month.

Isabella looked a bit nervous doing her talk on Mongolia! (Eric is helping her)

Mongolian flag

Byron & Alesha represented Japan, Eric & Shelley represented China and Isabella represented Mongolia.

AFTERNOON HIKE

After the church program we ate some lunch and went on a great hike with the kids. Even Shelley got out of the back pack and walked some of the way (I have some very cute video footage, but cant add it just yet). The weather was beautiful!