My {alia} Girl

She's an individual.

UNIQUE.

With her own sense of style

and

FLAIR.

I love that about her ...

go go go

Today has been quite busy. Go go go !! It started early. I'm so thankful that my husband brings me a cup of coffee at 5:30am to get my going each morning ! I don't think I could do it without him ...

I spent most of the morning preparing the week's menu and writing up the grocery list, before dropping Jono off at school. Alia didn't go. We've had her at the doctor a few times over the past few weeks with (minor) concerns about her hearing. Today he was supposed to flush her ears out but didn't end up needing to since the wax softener had done a good enough job. Next week we will see a specialist who will do a hearing test.

Anyway ... Alia came to art with me this morning which was a treat for her !! And for me. It was lovely to have her there again. We did half the shopping before art. First stop, my favorite organic store for all the produce and beans. Second stop, Woolies for toiletries etc ... After the art lesson, we hurried up to the doctor and then over to my all time favorite store where we get the best loose baby spinach, rocket and stone ground corn chips. I really do travel all over the place to get what we love. I picked up some triple sec so we can make margarita's tonight for the "Happy Father's Day Party" the kids and I are throwing for Rory ! We're having hot wings. Playing the Wii. Massaging his feet. Watching football. All stuff he loves. The kids are busy right now making a sign to hang with balloons !!

I had to rush home to meet with a lady who is going to come and do some cleaning here on Monday's ! I'm so excited about it. She is really friendly and professional ! I can't wait to see how she does with the cleaning. I will be cleaning/organizing/sorting at the same time so this place should shine after the two of us get finished on Monday mornings !!

Anyway ...

I'd better get out there and help ...

{surprise dinner guests}

i am not in the bath
i am not reading my book

i'd like to be, however, something more exciting has come up

i got a phone call this morning from some friends who we haven't seen since their wedding
they are on the coast and we get the pleasure of having them here for dinner tonight !

good thing i did a bunch of housework yesterday !
i just need to do a bit of dusting
vacuum
mop
and then the house should be good to go ...

i'll dash up to the shops to get a couple things
get the kids from school
get dinner started

and then just chill til everyone arrives

i may even start work on a post that i am sooooooooooooooooooooo thrilled about
it's not on this blog though
it's a new one
and
it
is
FULL OF ARTWORK !

not just mine
all of the students in the studio where i take my art lessons
and the professional artists who work there
will be posting their work
to this blog !

seriously.
it's going to be so cool !

it's in the very early stages so you'll have to bear with us.
i will give you the link soon !
very
very soon !

in other news:
my cousin jill misses my old blog
she says
the posts were longer
with more
photos
and "newsier"

what do the rest of you think ?
especially those of you who remember my old blog ...
the one that i took down after i got a
creepy comment and
decided i didn't want to have photos
of the kids faces ...

was it better ?
why ?
why not ?

just gathering info ..

ok.
better go.
i need to get started on everything so that
i am not a frazzled
woman
when our friends arrive

i hate that.
i like to have everything done
so i can just be
relaxed
and
ENJOY
the company of good friends !

Of Banana Bread, Dishcloths, and Angels ...

I have been one busy lady today and it's only noon !
This morning I woke to the sound of pouring rain and my husband still home !
It's his Saturday to work but he didn't have to because of the rain !!
Jono's soccer game was cancelled too.
Disappointing for Jono but it's timely for us to have a Saturday at home !
After enjoying a delicious breakfast of banana bread, baked by my amazing husband,
and various hot drinks*, Rory took the kids out shopping.
Don't know what they're shopping for but I'll give you a little hint ...
Monday is my birthday !!
While they've been out, I've been packing like a crazy lady !
Seriously.
Busy and Crazy.
All in one half a day !

~~

* Rory makes the kids little 'coffees' that are just frothed milk with chocolate on top ...
that is the drink you see in the photo !
Cute, eh ?
Have I mentioned lately that this man is amazing ?

~~

I've got to show you my quickie little project that I've whipped up in the past two days !
I think the next one I do will be quicker and can probably be done in one sitting.
I think this took me about 2 - 3 hours total.



It's a dishcloth.
Not that I'm going to use something so pretty on dishes !
It will probably hang somewhere near my sink in our new kitchen ...
but for decoration purposes only.
At least for now.
I'll probably start using them once I've made a few !



It is a really basic knitting pattern.
Great for a beginning knitter like myself.
Great because it's easy and great because I feel like a professional
being able to make holes around the edges like that !!
ha ha.

You can find the pattern on my Ravelry page.



Do you like my angel ?
Isn't she the prettiest thing ?
I just love her.
Not because she is pretty, although that is good too.
I love the memories she brings.
She was a gift to me from my friend Kristine.
She, so very thoughtfully, gave her to me years ago when my Mom was diagnosed with cancer.
The diagnosis was hard enough but to be in Australia while Mom was in Colorado ...
Even harder.
When I look at this angel now, I think of so many things.
I think of Kris.
I think of Mom and the miracle of her being cancer free.
I think of angels, which makes me think of heaven, which makes me think of God.
An of how thankful I am that He holds it all together ...
I think of these things, all of them, and I smile.

What makes you smile ??