Whacky Wheeled Whatsit!

Jayden was given some Kinex a while ago and although he played with them a little, he seemed to be spending more time on the computer. So when we seriously enforced limited screen time, he started re-discovering some old toys, as well as the Kinex.

This is his whacky wheeled invention. Not sure what it's purpose is - if it even has one, but he had fun wheeling it around the house, seeing what it would and wouldn't carry, how fast it could go, how well it cornered (not too well) and how sturdy it was-which was surprisingly sturdy to a degree, because of it's flexibility.

My mum's bought him a whole lot more for Christmas (shh don't tell - it's a secret till the 25th). Can't wait to see what he builds once he has it all together.

Miss Tiny's introduction to Scrapbooking

At our weekend workshop last week, Miss Tiny graced us with her presence and hung out with us for a few hours (in between feeds and sleeps). Yeah for all the yummy cuddles us ladies scored!

As you can see in the photo, she was keen to checkout the latest techniques in one of the magazines. She was very well behaved and is most welcome back at future crops and of course ScrapCamp.

Forrest of Trees

Well not quite, but here are the Xmas Tree plates that my after school ceramic art class completed a couple of weeks ago. They also did Santa boots and a Santa and Rudolph ornament, but I didn't get a chance to photograph them before they took them home.

Everyone did an awesome job this term. I bet some of these will be filled with edible goodies before long.

Perseverance

Jayden asked Taryn if he could do her new puzzle. With his ADHD, Jayden's attention span is obviously quite short and as soon as his hits a tough spot, he usually gives up. I was therefore doubtful that he would last past day 1, as it was a 1000 piece puzzle, but he surprised me and saw it through to completion (minus 1 piece, which we still cannot find). Well done Jayden.Publish Post

Socks pulled way up high!

For the first half of this year, Taryn cruised at school, doing what she needed to get by and little else. Soon enough (with some help from the teacher and her parents ganging up on her), she realised that the learning gap between herself and other students was closing fast, as she was no longer pushing herself. Following her mid year report (which had excellent marks for attainment, but very little for effort), she finally pulled her socks up.

Last week we received a letter from the school, advising that Taryn had been chosen to enter the enrichment program at school and would be placed into the accelerate class for 2010. Yeah! She obviously pulled those socks way up high. We are very proud of her for turning it all around. Now if we could just get her to tidy her room!!!

Chocolate Mousse Cake

This was so easy, I couldn't believe it. Very rich and way too big for just a family. We each had a small piece for 4 days and still had to throw away 1/2 of it in the end. Next time (if making it for the family or for dinner with friends) I would halve the mousse part or layer it with sponge fingers to reduce the richness. Would be great as is at a party though as goes a long way.

600gms chocolate

500mls cream

2 tblspns corn syrup/glucose syrup

3 tblspns brandy or rum

1/2 pkt Gingernut biscuits - crushed

Line a deep cake tine with baking paper and lightly spray it. Sprinkle crushed gingernuts (or biscuits of your choice) on the bottom.

Whip cream till soft peaks form - set aside.

Melt chocolate and corn syrup together (I did this in the microwave on high 1 minute, then burst of 10 seconds till done, stirring after each burst. Add brandy/rum and quickly stir through. Ad 1/2 the whipped cream and fold through gently. Add remaining cream and gently stir through. Pour mixture into tin carefully (so as not to disturb the biscuit crumbs too much). cover with glad wrap and refrigerate overnight. Leave in fridge till ready to serve.

To serve, place plate over tin and invert. Peel off baking paper. The biscuit crumbs will now be the top of the cake. Garnish as you wish. Slice as required - store remaining cake in fridge.

Yum, Yum, Yum!

Another bout of busy!

Another couple hundred tiles and mugs with little ones foot prints, more organising for contract workers at the camp, a final PSG meeting at school with drinks and nibbles, 4 catch up gardening jobs, last kids ceramic class, last lot of trademe auctions to finalise and so now I'm nearly at the end of crazy time. All that is left is the board of trustees dinner tomorrow night (and making dessert for said dinner), the Camp Xmas BBQ next week, for which I am doing the preparations (salads, potato bake and desserts), teachers presents (still undecided) Xmas cards, menu and shopping for this weekend's workshop and then the last bit of shopping for 4 more presents and I'm done! Yeah.

In between that, I have still managed to spring clean the rumpus (although I'm sure I could sneak out another handful of old toys without being noticed), help mum paint her ceiling and take a trailer load of rubbish and junk to the dump today.

It's been busy, but it has felt good. I've actually achieved way more in these past few weeks than in the last few months put together. A feast or a famine, that's how it usually is for me. They do say if you want a job done, give it to the busy person!