Family | The Lattimore Acre

My First ‘Mummy’ Homework!!!

I can’t believe how excited I am….. I got my first ‘Mummy’ homework from Ben’s Pre-Prep!!! It was a two page spread about ‘Our Family’ for Ben to share with his classmates and then go in his folio. Ohhhh it was so much fun!!!! {Don’t worry I know how ridiculous I sound – I just can’t help it!!}. I adapted the ‘About Us’ that we use for the blog and added it to the first page and the second page is family photos – Ben’s favorites. I included Ben, Andrew, myself, all the cousins, both sets of grandparents, pets and scarecrow. Sorry Aunty’s and Uncle’s I didn’t have photos of you all….. beware at our next get together!!! The homework also said that all family special events/holidays/memories can be added during the year. So we can add a page about our new cousin when she arrives….YAY and other family from Melbourne or overseas we might see! Oh and yes I just had to add bunting…. as I can’t get enough of it lately and it always makes me smile!

So here it is……. I think it captures our family.

My publishing skills are a little rusty….. I haven’t done anything really since Ben was born. I used Publisher in the Virtual Box…… which is just crazy as I am sure Mac has something fabulous I could have used. I also used ‘Picnik‘ a cute online photo editing program to put the curves on the photos {Shauna from ‘The Reed Life‘ suggested it… THANKS}. But there has to be an easier way to do that as well. I also need to acquire a few more skills…. like being able to select just the bunting and not the background. I am interested in all suggestions for editing programs for the Mac….please.

With my first ‘Mummy’ homework finished. I will share with you another of my Pre-Prep Parent delights……I LOVE RECEIVING SCHOOL NEWLETTERS…….I really do!!!!

I am going to link up with ‘Life Made Lovely Monday’…. ENJOY!!

Meet Spud

Ben suggested we needed a scarecrow……what a great idea! So here he is – Spud the newest family member on the Lattimore Acre. He is spectacular – not only because of his incredibly handsome appearance but he has managed to keep those pecking birds away, even the scrub turkey. He also stayed standing this week through a crazy storm! Thanks Spud!!

I am going to link up with ‘Life Made Lovely Monday’, we think Spud is lovely and I do plan on blogging how we made him.

My First Web Widget!!

For those of you who may not talk in nerd speak (like myself), a web widget is a software widget for the web. It’s a small application that can be installed and executed within a web page by an end user. I had to google this after talking to my brother-in-law!! Here is my first attempt at using one. Andrew did help me a little….. thanks honey xo.

Isn’t it cute? I found this on another blog and knew I just had to have it once I found out how to use it. It is a MiniPod by MixPod. You can find mine on the right hand side of my blog….. found it? Just use it like you would an MP3 player. Also if you click on the name of the song it plays the film clip from Utube. I just love it.

So yes…. before you begin making fun of my song selection I shall explain my choices:

Caught in the Crowd by Kate Mille-Heidke – Just cose I love it!

You and I by Ingrid Michealson – My new favourite song. I found it on another blog. I can’t stop playing it.

Three Little Birds by Elizabeth Mitchell – It’s so cute and makes me smile. I found it on another blog.

Catch my Disease by Ben Lee – Great Australian Music…. I love Ben Lee!! And I used to play this to Ben when he was little. He used to stand himself up on the side of his cot and bob up and down.

Scar – Missy Higgins – My all time favorite Missy song. More great Australian Music.

Lovely Love My Family (from Yo Gabba Gabba) -by The Roots – What Mum hasn’t danced around the room with their little ones to this. Andrew thinks I have gone mad!!

My Happiness by Powderfinger – Andrew’s choice….. extraordinary Australian Music!!

Star Wars Theme Song – Ben’s choice……. what can I say…… it’s his favourite everything!!!!

So there you have it my first Web Widget!! I am a techno extraordinaire….lol!! I just need to work out how to center it in the column. I would love to hear what your favourite song is and why….. leave a comment. I might just add it to my play list xoxo.

Top of the Mornin to Ya!!

What a wonderful start to the day….. spinning tops at breakfast! We ate our breakfast this morning while playing spinning tops. Lots of laughs, giggles and woohoos!! A wonderful way to put a beautiful smile on your face xo.

Oh I know that toys at the table can be a no no for some. But in our busy lives today the table at meal times is sometimes the only time of the day we all sit and enjoy each other. Life is to short…… lets enjoy it!!!

I am going to link up with Blessed Little Nest again for ‘Life Made Lovely Monday‘ even though it is Thursday!!

What Did Monday Bring?

Q – What did Monday bring? A – A great first day at Pre-Prep!!

I was a little nervous about Ben’s first day at Pre-Prep. Yes, there was tears…. from Ben and Mum. And Ben even screamed out when I was leaving ‘Don’t go Mum!!’. I saved my tears for the drive home when I was away from Ben. But before I even got home the Pre-Prep Teacher called me to say Ben was settled playing blocks on the carpet with a new little friend. What a relief! As an Early Childhood Teacher tears in the first weeks of school is something that I have delt with many many times. But always as a teacher and not as a parent. So when the shoe is on the other foot…. it really pulls at those heart strings.

When I picked Ben up and asked him about his day, he didn’t really give away many details. But he was smiling and happy. His wonderful teacher makes a poster every day with photos and a summary of what the children have done. I just love this!! Over the last few weeks Ben hasn’t really had much to say when you question him about Pre-Prep. He does however spontaneously talk about a story he read or even sing a song he had learnt which is a good sign. His first few weeks have seen him bring home paintings, gluing, and decorated boxes. He gave some of these to his Gamma which she has proudly displayed on her fridge.

So would I go as far as say that Ben loves to go to Pre-Prep…. well maybe. He doesn’t give away much. He isn’t one to take a leap, he stands back and watches before he makes a judgment. But if his spontaneous conversations about Pre-prep are anything to go by….I think it is growing on him!

The Christmas Challenge “2010 update”

We purchased Ben a fort for Christmas 2010. Andrew and I researched and decided on a climbing fort from Pepper Town on the Gold Coast. We chose the Skyfort Clamber Climber with some additions. But there was only one small obstacle….. it was proving to bit of a challenge to build it. It didn’t stop raining. Fortunately for us we have great family and friends and with their help and a tarp to keep off some rain, the fort was built ready for Christmas. We can’t thank Uncle Al, Uncle Phil and the Durringtons enough.

We told Ben it was a new Chicken House but he isn’t stupid and soon informed me that it wasn’t a Chicken House but a Ben Sized Play Fort! We didn’t put the finishing touches on until after Christmas so we could wrap them up and put them under the Christmas Tree. I also convinced Andrew and Dad decorate the fort in the pouring rain on Christmas Eve.

We were so excited to see Ben’s reaction on Christmas day……. but there was only one problem IT WAS STILL RAINING!! I think Andrew and I were more disappointed than Ben about the rain.

Ben still managed a little play between the showers. I think his face says it all. It is a hit!!