the week before

I've been looking forward to this week since November. School finished last Thursday and our house-and-cat-sitter will come this Friday. These days in between (I imagined) would be peaceful and lovely... Christmas shopping all done, parties all attended, sunshine, smiles and lazy home days seemed a certainty. 

the very image of peace!

The reality is a little different, as I sit here at the kitchen table, french doors thrown open... the next door neighbour is doing something horrendous with an unidentified power tool (spray painting? grinding concrete?), a blowfly buzzes in maniacal circles around my head and I sip green tea, trying to recover from my ridiculous trip to Spotlight with two young children in the week before Christmas. Crazy!

Breathe... We did make our cards and candles for Doots' teachers as planned. The paper was made earlier in the year at a fantastic mothers' group paper making session at Ange's place (she's a crafty dynamo). Inside those cards are heartfelt letters of appreciation to Doots' two teachers and kindergarten assistant. After a bumpy start, she settled in beautifully and finished the year full of enthusiasm, happiness and friendship. I feel such gratitude to her teachers - they are outstanding people.

We gave them little bundles of hand-rolled candles too. I've been itching to make a batch of these candles since Doots made one at the Sustainable Living Expo recently. So easy, such a satisfying and useful craft for a little person to make, and the natural beeswax sheets smell wonderful. I bought the supplies (wax sheets, a little red wax for decoration and wicks) from Lyrebird.

It has taken Doots a few days to readjust to quiet days at home. For a few days she was mooching around looking bored - and I've really never seen her bored in her life. Oesch has also had to adjust to his sister being home too. We've had lots of sibling conflict, and just as I was fantasising about just leaving the house (alone) for half an hour, I stumbled upon this: 

Lie still little brother...

There, now let's draw some clothes on you! Hooray for unprompted cooperative play!

Today she seems back to her old self. Lots of pottering around, making things, dressing up and imaginative play. 

We've put together some peg dolly kits to give to sweet little girl friends.

Each kit customised to reflect it's recipients favourite colours.

Little silk wings, wool felt, printed cotton, fuzzy yarn for hair, a tiny rose...

...pretty ribbon, some buttons, a pipe cleaner (for arms). 

I'm itching to make one myself! 

I hope your Christmas preparations are bringing you lots of joy.

x Sarah