Saturday, October 31, 2009

Steam and crafts

mmmm crafts. With crafts in the title - I had to go... plus it was a long weekend so was a good excuse to do something. So last Monday we all piled in the car and drove down to pleasant point to go on the steam train. "me go on train" Jack said the whole way. Which kinda wore a bit thin after about half an hour. The train was the old Fairlie Flyer and it has been so well looked after. It steamed into the station with a big puff of Steam that billowed up and sat just under the ceiling of the station. We got on and Jack was soooo excited. The carriages were lovely inside with beautiful big leather seats. There was a bit of a queue getting on so we missed out on getting one of the private carriages so we sat in a public one - but managed to get our own wee private one on the way back.
Jack was very impressed when the train let off a big puff and a toot toot.
We got to the other end and looked around the crafts stalls and bought some devine chocolate brownie Fudge. mmmm Fudge. Jack played with the Alpacas and went on the jigger and the wee play train and we looked through another train. we also had a wee look at the railcar which we were going to try and go for a ride on - but always seemed to be full.
So Jack spent the rest of the day shouting "All aboard, toot toot".

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Waitaki power station 75th Anniversary

Last weekend was Labour Weekend so we packed up the car and a picnic and headed to Kurow to go through the Waitaki power station. They had a free open day because it was their 75th anniversary. It was a really cool experience. It 's hard to believe the stuff that the construction workers that built it went through. Although as Steve points out it was during the great depression and they were probably the lucky ones, because at least they had jobs. Some of the conditions that they worked in were horrendous. You wouldn't even dream of building a dam with a pick and shovel these days.
Here are some pics from our day ( it was a lovely day although a tad windy)




Well we made it...

to Twizel. The day we arrived it was snowing ( not very heavily - but still snowing) which reminded me of how extreme the weather can be here. We have been so busy since we arrived - unpacking, sorting, exploring, enrolling and more. Jack has just started preschool on Tuesday. We couldn't get him into Kindy as there is a rather large waiting list. So hopefully he will start Kindy next year, but in the mean time he is doing 3 afternoons in preschool ( afternoons was all that was available) He seems to really be enjoying it. It's always a mission trying to get him to leave. We moved into a house which was on the market and has now been sold. Although the new people sound like they might be keen to keep us on as tenants, but we have also put an offer on a house - so a bit unsure as to what is happening with the living arrangements at the moment but hopefully things will be sorted soon and we can start to settle down. I have started a sewing class at the school to meet some people and have just started sewing some stuff to sell at the local christmas market they have here. Looking forward to the summer and lazing around at the lake.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Family photos

We had some photos done by Natasha C photography and they are great photos -only problem is now we have to choose which ones to get. would highly recommend her for all you canterbury people.
Check them out here
http://www.natashacphotography.com/index2.php

Go to the client login - password is melissa. There are 22 pics. Use the wee arrows in the circles at the side of the photos to go down.
make sure you comment and tell us which ones you like - might help us make a decision. ;-)

Monday, September 14, 2009

Summer is a coming

Well I have been busy sewing and thinking about summer clothes for the boys. Especially over the last few days as it has been about 24 degrees. Also we have a stack load of birthdays in September and October, so have been making pressies for everyone.
Here is an outfit for Charlie for Summer
I am loving my coverstitch machine at the moment it - just makes everything look so professional.



An outfit for one of Jack's wee friends 3rd birthday.


Nappies for Charlie - these are made from Minky and PUL film. Minky is the softest most divine fabric I have ever seen and felt. I used the PUL film one the inside to make them waterproof. Alot of people had been having trouble sewing the PUL film as it is just a thin layer of Polyurethane laminate. But I glued it to the Minky with a adhesive spray and overlocked together and had no issues what so ever sewing it.


Some normal nappies and some bibs for a friends baby who was born 5 weeks early.
Oh and an All black nappy for a nappy swap that o was a part of. And I got a large Minky desert camo nappy back.

All of the kids from our antenatal group are turning 3 so we have had heaps of birthday's - here is a barbie outfit for one of their pressiesAnd a skirt for Barbie - I used a barbie from when i was a kid to get the sizing right.

I also made these biscuit mixes and matching teatowels for Jack's preschool teachers when he left his preschool in Rangiora. I got the idea from this website - Bakerella

And some shorts for my nephew Riley's 1 st birthday.
And just cause I can and because they are so cute - a photo of the 4 boys together (our 2 and my brother Gary and Kerri's 2)

Sunday, September 6, 2009

On the Move again

A lady at Church today called us transients - well I guess she may be partly right. We are on the move again. Not that we planned it this way, but after Steve was made redundant in February all our plans went out the window and we moved into survival mode. And anyway God has plans that we don't know about obviously. Anyway Steve got a job as a Building Inspector for the Mackenzie District Council based in Twizel. It seems we can't stay away from the area. It is a fantastic career move for him. And a fantastic move for us as a family - we really enjoyed some fantastic family time while we lived in Lake Tekapo and plan to enjoy the area again. It's a great area and there are so many things to do - we already have plans to apend alot of time at the lake over summer and enjoy some walks, hunting and probably even fishing even though neither Steve or I really enjoy fishing - Jack came home form Preschool after they had been playing a magnetic game of fishing and wanted to go "real fishing", so we will give it a go - although to be honest I don't think Jack has the patience for fishing.
Now to sort out all the finer details like renting our house (which is pretty much done) sorting moving companies and finding a house to rent. All this with a 2 year old and a 3 month old. The thought of moving makes me feel exhausted just thinking about it. but I am looking forward to the other end when we can sit back and enjoy the lifestyle.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Been sewing again.

Well it's been a while since I updated here with any crafty updates probably because we have been a tad busy with Charlie and Jack. Anyway i have actually been sewing. I sewed a sling for my Midwife for her scales. She was fantastic so i thought i would try and make her a wee gift. Jack and I also baked some yummy Strawberry and choc chip muffins for her.

I have also been busy sewing a birthday pressie for Leanne and Andrew's wee girl Emily as she turned 5 in July. So I found this awesome bag in a magazine and decided to make it for her. She loved it and took it to school to show everyone.

Jack was in desperate need of some good pants - We seem to have heaps of trashed preschool pants and only a couple of pairs of good pants for wearing out. So I whipped him up a pair of cords with little pockets down the front - apparently the perfect size for Matchbox cars.