Visit to the farm

Son #1 went on his first schooltrip. They went to a working farm by bus, their first trip in a real coach... He is the one at the back on teh right. They were allowed to pet some animals and they also made a real bread.

This is the result, it looked and tasted great, they really did a good job. They also were proud of their achievements at the farm.

It was a very memorable day and the kids loved it, so I think these schooltrips are a good thing.

Today he also brought this piece of art home, a farm inspired mobile.

Meikevers = May bugs

If you see very carefully you can see son#2 holding some leafs and 2 May bugs or cockchafers. My dad found 7 of them and took 3 of them with him to our house. They are nearly eradicated in the last century by the use of pesticides, so I was very surprised that he had found some. I remember them sitting in the hedge of my parents as a kid, but I haven´t seen them since.
Nic took them to school to show the other kids after I informed the teacher and after school we set them free in our hedge so they can lay their eggs there and maybe start a new colony.

Cool play kitchen

Since my son got a wooden play kitchen and a cousin asked to make her daughter a fabric kitchen, I have been on the lookout for something like that. And look what I found on the web:

I think it is a great idea to recycle these large cans. If you want to see them in the shop, I saw them at Lunoa. Not much is going on here at the moment, I finished quilting the frog quilt and now I have to attach the binding, but yesterday evening I had a meeting at city hall of teh GECORO and when I arrived early (I am somebody that tries to get in early at appointments) I saw that the Red cross was having a blood donation rally at City hall, so since I had time, I donated some blood as well. As a reward I got a cookie, so I had a cookie to go with my coffee in the meeting. Oh, they forgot the coffee, but the idea was OK.

Tutorials

I made these two baby jar pincushions following the tutorial at craftpudding. I admit, the small jars are nicer, but helas, my boy wants big jars, so I attempted the pincushion with the bigger jar and I think it worked out fine. These pincushion are cute and I have enough jars, that is for sure.

I also made this barbie sized blue berry pie, but I can´t seem to find the link to the tutorial, will look for it and post it later. This is a really easy one, I admit, the ´dough´ should have been a lighter brown, but I think these are really cute. And the idea of using a beer bottle crown as pie pan, genius.

Happy Easter !

Happy Easter, we have been staying at DH´s parents place in Holland since the kids stayed with them during the first week of the Easter break from school.
This morning we had breakfast with DH´ brother and SIL. As you can see, we had sandwiches in teh shape of a chicken and colored eggs, which the boys decorated.
Son #1 decorated the eggs and son #2 the box in which the eggs are stored, so it looks lovely. After breakfast we cleaned up and packed to go home.

But not before a drive through the flower fields. My FIL lives in the part of Holland where they grow flowerbulbs, and at the moment Hyacinths and what we call Easter flowers are bloming. The tulips are not yet blooming, so you didn´t have the typical red flowerbeds, but nevertheless, it looked fantastic.

Easter egg hunt

This morning we left home at 8.00 in the morning to have Easter brunch at DH´s work. Since he is president of the PV, we had to be early and start organizing stuff and getting things ready with the other members.

The Egg hunt was a big hit among the kids. As you can see, son#2 was very proud of the two eggs he found, and his sandwich.

There were also two clowns that made balloon animals, which the kids loved. son #3 got an apple, if you watch closely, you can see the little black stem on the bottom.

And I loved this flower arrangement. I think it is gorgeous, isn´t it?

So we had a day well spent.

Getting ready for Easter

I made these two bags for the boys so they can store the eggs they find tomorrow. Tomorrow we save an Easter brunch at DH´s work. The kids can egg hunt and afterwards there is a big brunch. So this will give them a headstart... I think not but OK, they think they will collect more eggs. There is no contest since all the eggs are collected in one big box, but it is the game that counts.
And look you joined us as well... This is one of two and maybe three turtles that found a home in our pond. None of them are ours, and we knew when we bought the house that there was one turtle in the pond, but last summer we definitely saw two turtles laying in the sun and DH also saw one in the water... I will try to catch the other ones as well to check if they came out of their hibernation OK or if we need a vet.

Giveaway

Aren´t these pillows fantastic? Kellie is hosting a giveaway on her site Don´t look now.
I immediately ordered her patterns for these pillows, because they are absolutely fabulous. Check out her blog, she has some gret tutorials as well.

Latest creation

This is my latest creation. I finished him this afternoon and right away took a picture of him. What is he you say? I don´t know.
I ;ade him with a little piece of cotton I had left over.

Birthday

Today son #2 turned 3, so I made him a big brooch to wear to school.

And since he likes trucks so much, a truck cake for the class. You can buy these trucks and accessoiries in teh supermarket.

And the teacher also made some fun pictures from the celebrations in the class. He got to sit on the nice chair and got a crown (a bit big, but very pretty). I think he had a wonderful day. Congratulations Peter!

Cars

Today my FIL came to pick up my jeep to have it restored to it´s former glory. We will also have it repainted and I chose purple, so we will see.
And while we are on the subject of cars. My FIL gave us this picture of his dad´s trucks. He had his own flower company and these were the trucks they drove around in. On the billborad in front of the trucks it states ´Nic den Heijer´, the same name as DH and son#1. So this is a special picture and we will hang it in a special place in our home.

Birthday party - again...

Last thursday Niels´s co-workers came to visit Ruben, a belated visit, but better late than never. It was a bit of a journey for them since we live about 125 km away from his work. Ruben was spoilt as you can see.

Today we had a birthday party for the boys for family and friends and they to were very spoilt. Lots of books to tell stories from, playmobil and other toys and clothes.

Nic wanted a spiderman cake, so here it is:

Peter is into trucks and cars, so his grandpa bought him this truck cake, isn´t it fun? I think it looks fantastic.

Thank you very much everyone. The boys loved their presents.

Swap with An

I did a swap with An from vANalles en nog wat en this is what the postman brought me yesterday. I love the deerhead and I gave it a special place in Ruben´s bedroom. This is a picture of the head hanging on teh wall already.

I also love the reuseable flap for my sandwiches, I already have it in use, it is great. Thank you very much An, great swap.

Wanted: coffee addicted swappers

I admit it, I am addicted to my coffee. Not so much as I used to but still. I need my cup of coffee in the morning, noon, after lunch, in the afternoon, after diner, ...

So after the succes of the cupcake swap, I would like to organise a coffee swap. For this swap you must make at least one handmade item related to coffee, a miniquilt, a cup stuffie, a painting, etc. and some other coffee goodies.

And because I am quite busy myself, I suggest we swap at the end of april. Who´s in? I think this could be a fun theme for a swap, and I know I am not the only addicted to coffee.

Hex quilt finished and given

Welcome sweetie pie, this is Arno, the wee one for whom I made the white and blue hexagon quilt for. I finished the quilt on sunday afternoon, and Arno was born monday morning. An, you must be very proud of such a beautiful son.
And this is a picture of the finished quilt, I think is turned out great. I hope it will keep you warm and comfy.

Birthday

Today son#1 turns 5. I made him this brooch yesterdayevening because I was inspired by Blij als mij. He was very excited about it and wanted it pinned on his uniform this morning. I also made him a nice cake to give to the kids in his class.

How I remember him being born. The bombing in madrid hadn´t taken place yet, he was born at 00.10 on the 11th. And around 02.30 we left the hospital with a crying baby (because he was cold we guess, it was freezing that night). We went home and there we were, the three of us... nobody knew yet that he was born, we thought we would call friends and family in teh morning.
We didn´t know how to make a hot water bottle for him. DH thought it would be too hot, so he put in luke warm water, but then son #1 started crying, so DH held him until the nurse rang our doorbell in the morning and explained everything.
How fast the years go... Happy Birthday !!!

Treats

OK, as you can see, we are ready for the birthdayparty. I made these cupcakes before I treated myself on an issue of Living... I left a couple of the cupcakes unfinished because I noticed that a lot of kids don´t like the icing.

And this gorgeous address book came with the mail yesterday. It was a belated birthday present from a friend in Holland. Tania, thank you very much, it is wonderful.

And this is what I treated myself on this morning. A copy of Living, a polka dot picknick blanket which is folded like a bag with a handle, so very handy... And some keycaps.

Party tomorrow

Tomorrow we are having son #1´s birthdayparty for his schoolfriends. Since most kids like the guinea pigs we have, and want to hold them. So I gave them a bath. So Chocolate and Mousse (that is the name son #1 gave them 4 years ago) are very nice and clean when children want to pick them up.

Have been busy with the babyquilt I am making for my friend An´s baby who we expect any day now. So I am quilting like a maniac to get it finished in time. When it is finished I will publish a picture of it.

Relaxed weekend

This weekend, we had no appointments, so we had some quality time with the kids. Yesterday we walked through teh park in Brasschaat, which is the town where I grew up.
In teh middle of the park, near the castle there are some very old trees and this own reminded me of some smock work I did. Isn´t the bark wonderful?
We walked to the playground were we had something to drink and I can show my newly purchased snack bags from Mama Made. They are wonderful and such a good alternative to disposable bags.
The polka dot bag I got as a birthday gift from Niels´s cousin. I love this little lunchbag.

Today we visited the market at Heist op den Berg where a lot of small farmers sell their own grown vegetables and animals. SO we bought some nice veggies and eggs and some fresly baked waffles, hmm. I have been quilting like a maniac to finish the babyquilt on time, the baby of my friend is due next week, so... we are very excited to see this little fellow.

The great international stash busting giveaway

Look what the mailman brought? Or actually, I picked it up at the postoffice. The package was delivered to our home on friday but i was doing grocery shopping, so there was a note that I could pick it up today at the postoffice.
When the lady came with this big box, I was still wondering what it could be, until I saw that it came from Shean (dairy of an unconscious mind).
I love the stuff she sent me. The boys loved the two toys and my personal favorite is the sock monkey... we don´t know them over here but it looks so funny.
Shean, I love everything but how did you know I collect coookie cutters? They are very hard to find overhere, espcially fun ones, so I love it and my kids will love making cookies with it.
The frog fabric will find good use in my frog quilt and the planet fabric in my planned rocket quilt. So thank yiu very much, you were very generous.