One thousand gifts: March

"All the minutes, they will have enough troubles of their own, but the days with this man, these kids, have enough joy, these days have more than enough Jesus - if I can see" Ann Voskamp

A portion from this months thankful list: 

107. The call of 'Mama' in the still of the night

115. A rainbow of macarons

119. New shoes as a reminder that my children are growing into young men and women

125. Finding meaning in a surprising place, when you are too exhausted to search for it.

126. An Op shop bargain 

127. Warm shower washing over me

131. The desire to be alive.

134. My Aunty Hed's laugh

140. Homemade dumplings

141. A growing love for my husband, even when life is tougher than ever
142. The first craft of the holidays

One thousand gifts: February

"Love has the long, real sight that sees what won't burn up. Love's priorities are things unseen" Ann Voskamp

A portion from this month's thankful list:

75. Getting to the bottom of a five-load-high pile of folding
76. A sweet voice singing "He's got the whole world in his hands"
77. Cool, breezy afternoons
78. Love notes, secretly slipped into lunchboxes
79. New little friends
80. Getting a glimpse of what Elara might be like in a few years time

99. Date nights and fairy lights

100. Trampoline jumping at twilight

101. India asking "Are those trees or huge broccolis?" 

102. The tenderness of a softly spoken, but honest 'sorry'

103. A song that stays with you long after hearing it

104. The stillness of morning

105. Genetics. And how my boy holds and plays his guitar like his Dad

Ballet party: the fun and friends

What do you do at a ballet party?

Dance, of course. 

 (Oh, and it's the sweetest thing to see a bunch of friends dance around a living room like they're all in Giselle or Swan Lake together!)

Play pass-the-dancey-parcel.

(unwrap the layer)

 (enjoy the sweet surprise and have a look at the ballet move)

(then practice it in front of your friends)

 Plenty of dressing up.

(I think the birthday girl had at least three costume changes!)

And lots of general be-cool-ness!

Hooray! Fun for all.

Ballet party: the frou frou and favours

the invitations

 (cardboard with a paper leotard, and a sewn on tulle tutu, with party details on the back)

  tulle pompoms hanging above the food table

 favour boxes (more on these in a later post)

with home made white chocolate ballet slippers inside!

Ballet party: the food

Delicious and pink!

Ballerina meringues

Pink and lemonade jelly cups

Ham heart sandwiches

Pink lemonade

Marshmallows and musk

As well as these strawberry milk whoopie pies (which were a major fail for us),

sausage rolls and cheerios.

  And of course the ballerina stage cake.

Pink Eve

Getting ready for some fun!

Happy 6

She likes routine, productivity and having something to do 

all the time.

So it should be no surprise that this first year at school, 

has been her happiest year yet!

To celebrate her 6th birthday, I made and sent happy face pencil toppers (in lieu of cake, which is no longer allowed at her school) to share with her classmates. 

And there were smiles all round!