The Birthday Party for an 11 year old

Do you have any idea on how hard it is to come up with a party idea for your soon to be 11 year old daughter?  I find these kind of thing incredibly difficult to plan because I am trying to be realistic and entertaining in an age appropriate way.  Maybe I am a bit of a prude and fussy about what type of party an 11 year old girl might have.

After a lot of soul searching and suggestions from DD that she should have '.........' kind of party because her friends have had them we finally came up with a short list.  This list ranged from everything including a sleep over for many and a pool party.  Finally DD decided it would be really good to go rock climbing.  I raised my eyes upwards and thanked them up stairs for providing me with the perfect birthday party.  One that was easy to organise, with an area for a party and of course plenty of time for a bunch of girls to talk, giggle and have fun.
We picked the rock climbing venue (just take a look at the fun climbing environment) just perfect for children of all ages from preschoollers to adults and sent the invites.

(all products come from Weeds and Wildflowers)

The day arrived and fun was had by all.  Here are just a few photos showing a couple of the climbing walls.

Here is some cartoon show (gosh I am showing my age.)

(Dinosuar bones)

(Jack and the Bean Stalk)

Now to start planning DS3 birthday which is just after Christmas.





Wordless Wednesday 14 December

Here is my photo.  McKenzie is the pink t'shirt you can see up high on the rock climbing wall.  This is what she did with her friends to celebrate her birthday.

I am linking this to My Little Drummer Boys

Monday Menu 12 December

Can you believe that it is nearly the middle of December already.  School is in its last week before the summer holidays and in our house we are all very tired.  Roll on the end of the week.

Monday   Chicken with baked potato and salad

Tuesday  stir fry beef with noodles  (thai I think i will try this week)

Wednesday  Meatballs on noodles with green salad

Thursday  chicken and vege asian style noodles (I will blog the recipe)

Friday  blue cheese chicken burgers

Saturday  honey ginger chicken and vegetables on rice

Sunday  leftovers

I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie

A busy Weekend

Nothing like a busy weekend.  So here it is in summary

McKenzies birthday party was a rock climbing party.  Here are McKenzie and Andre climbing.

You can see McKenzie right at the top in the pink t'shirt.

After delivering the girls home there was a couple of hours break and off to my BIL's 40th birthday party.  No photos there sorry.  Finally on Saturday there was the lights down Franklin Road, Ponsonby.  My photographer (7 years old) did not know about night photography so I got some really good special effects



Sunday was just as busy with us off to the Champions League Mens hockey tournament being held in Auckland.  The worlds top 8 mens team were here playing so off to see the one game that we could fit in.

Then off to collected hayden from respite care so we could take him to the Kids First Christmas Party at Sky Tower.

Hayden was scared of all the people and entertainment.  He spent most of the time out in the foyer and being carried.  This being his happiest moment.  I think he liked the idea of seeing Santa and getting a gift.  Nothing more.

Finally as we left here are the family.





Phew so this week we all will be recovering for all the fun things that we did. 

Today being Monday I have been taking some me time to relax just a little.  Of course I needed to fit in a run, my hair got attention today with a cut and colour and then the inevitable snooze on the sofa while listening to my favourite music.

My Photobooks have arrived.

I am so excited to finally see some of my scrapbooking pages printed.  so without delay here is a little look at the final product.  Sadly I have not worked out how to photograph this well but well you get the idea.

Here is Project 365 2009

Now Project 365 2010

Now I wonder why I did not get these books done earlier.

Wordless Wednesday 7 December

I thought that this week I would put up my very difficult Christmas card photos....well just about a third of them.

Enjoy

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys

Joyful

At this time of the you it can become difficult to retain some focus on the positive things in life.  So with that I came up with this list of things to be joyful about.

My little pearls of joyful moments.

• looking out the window on a crisp winters morning.
• the sound of my children laughing
• my husband wishpering in my ear.
• the sight of new life in spring
• the sound of waves lappnping on the beach while I read a book.
• celebrating my families special moments
• date night

What does your joyful list look like

(credits    Awesomeness kit by Lindsay Jane Designs Page mask a blog freebie by Lindsay Jane
Font is CK Bookworm)

Monday Menu 5 December

I cant believe it.  December is well and truely underway.

Here is my menu

Monday  Steak with baked potato and salad

Tuesday  Beef Wraps

Wednesday  individual fritatas with salad

Thursday  flafels on rice with cucumber salad

Friday  Birthday Girls Choice

Saturday  Out to a barbeque

Sunday Cold meat with potato, fresh corn and salad

I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie

My Faith in Human Nature is Restored.

As I am out in the general stream of life sometimes I wonder exactly where the fabulously kind things in life happen.  I never seem to hear of them (except on TV) and yet there seems that there are the needy out there.

It just so happened last week the needy person was me. 

Hayden and I were at Starship hospital for an appointment latter in the day. When it was time to leave the appointment he decided that he did not want to go where I was going and do what I was doing.  No way.  Instead he packed a proper 2 year old tantrum and there I was having to carry my 22.0 kg strong child all the way to the car while carrying medication in one arm and him in the other.  I thought I would give him a chance to walk and at the chance he prompty sat on the footpath and refused to move.  All the people about just stood and stared at me.  Hmmmm I was thinking as I stood there contemplating what my next move would be.  So I had another go at carrying everything and everyone.  Only able to move a little further an angel appeared from behind me and asked if I would like some help.  Of course I accepted this help and the lady carried the medication to the car for me leaving me with two hands to carry Hayden.  she walked out of her way to do this.  I am ever so grateful for her help

I am sure my faith in human nature has been restored.  I am going to make sure I provide help when needed unasked for unexpected.  No thanks required. No recognition just the thought that someone has been helped will be enough for me.

(credit for photo photobucket)

I am worth it

I want to get fit and healthy.  I  have work hard all year to loose a few kilograms and to be able to run 5km around the roads.  Not fast understand but at my gentle pace.   I was truely prompted to do this when in November 2010 I got seriously sick.  I then realised that I couldn't afford not to look after myself and set out on this journey.


Now 12 months later I am finding my balance weight and can run as I wished.

I have done it.

I am worth it.

(credits Fragile Strength by L Grier)