Hart's Happenings

May/June 09

Playing Monopoly

The children at a recent wedding

Joe's Travels

Last week he............

Bounced

Flew on a plane

Attended a wedding

Joe, Snow and Cookies

Pics of Joe at 3 1/2 months

A couple of weeks ago we had 18 inches of snow.  We were snowed in for a few days before we could get the car up the hill!

Cookies for a friend's baby shower

Jospeh's Dedication Service

Little Joe was dedicated to the Lord last Sunday.  He was perfectly behaved.  He's such a laid back little guy, and wasn't bothered at all as he was passed from person to person.  We had a lovely lunch with several guests, including my Dad and Lyn who are currently visiting the UK.

Christmas Day

Photoshoot

Today we took 95 pics to help us make a Christmas Gift.  Here's a teeny preview as we don't want to give anything away

And one more, just because he's so cute!

Joe, 4 weeks old.

Sorry that the last batch of pics went up in one go.  I did try a week or so ago, but photobucket was being a problem!

Joseph at 29 days.  He has now lost half of his birth hair.  I'm still hoping that he will keep some, as it's such a unique colour blend.  Blond, ginger, auburn and brown ranging from light to dark!

More Joe. Day 8 - Day 26

8 days old

Meeting Dr Cohen!

10 days - First trip to church

13 days

2 weeks

17 days

24 days:  Poppy Boy to match the photo of Sophie from 2 years ago

26 days:  First time in bouncy chair

Sophie thought that it was wonderful that Joe now has his own chair!

Side by Side

Joseph Pics

Thursday Afternoon

Thursday Evening

 Saturday Afternoon

Tuesday Afternoon - 5 days old!

Announcing the arrival of....

Joseph Edwin Hart

16 October, 2008

11.01am.

9lb, 1/2oz

Lunchtime chatter

My kids are having lunch with Roger in the kitchen (I'm reclining in the living room).

They seem to be making their verbal wills.

Kaleigh has just declared that "Lis can have my money, because she's the oldest and will need money before anyone else" and "Emily can have my guinea pig and fish, because nobody else would remember to feed them!"  

Roger just tried to change the topic to more pleasant things, but no, the kids feel that it's important to clarify these things 

Sam is hung up on who would have his precious cellphone.

Now it's getting more complicated, with rights of succession.  "If Sam is alive then he can have my laptop, but if Sam dies before me then Emily gets it...."

Emily is leaving all of her horsey stuff to Wendy's Emma.  Except that I get her horse fleece blanket that Challice made.

Sophie is getting everyone's most precious soft toys that have been retained since toddlerhood.

Now they are on to the serious stuff, like 10 seasons worth of Stargate.

I have weird, morbid kids.

Our Christmas Gift

Last Christmas our children decided that they wanted to plan, shop for and make a 3 course meal for us.  They were just about to do this when my morning sickness kicked in, and after one delay and another it happened tonight.

We have just finished an amazing, restaurant quality 3 course meal - no exaggeration! 

1st course: 2 types of bruschetta.  Tomato with basil plus Eggplant with mint.  Yummy marinades, and the eggplant was perfectly cooked.

2nd course: Herbed lamb and mushroom kebabs.  With a nice salad.  The lamb was tender, everything cooked to perfection.

Dessert:  Homemade lemon sherbert (like a tangier sorbet) with fresh berries.  Completely yum.

Our beautiful waitress with the first course

The kitchen staff!

Sam's 13th Birthday

We spent yesterday at an amusement park with friends.  So hard to believe that he is already 13!

No picture of the cake, but Sophie really enjoyed the batter!

Ready For Baby

The girls and I just set up the baby room. We cleaned the cot, and adjusted the base to the highest setting.  Screwed a vent back over a hole that was removed when the room was painted.  Ironed and hung the curtains, put up hooks for the tie backs.  Put up a lightshade, and mostly fixed the light fitting.  Moved a shelf, dusted and cleaned everything and took everything out of storage wrappers.  First load of laundry is almost done.

Roger and Sam are still at cricket, so it will be a nice surprise for them.  Lis has just taken the little girls up to watch for an hour. 

Interesting to be setting up a room for my second son, 13 years exactly after I was in labour with my first!

Sorry the last pic is dark, but it's the only one that shows the light shade. I also want to get a border to go under the picture rail - it has squares that match the curtain tie backs, but the store are currently out of stock.  That will provide a bit more red.

June Pictures

OK, I know that we are now in August.  Since I'm the proud owner of a new laptop I'm now able to access several months worth of photos.

It has been a very busy summer for us.  We had a wonderful but busy holiday sightseeing in Italy.  Kaleigh celebrated her 7th birthday in Tuscanny.   I've continued with childminding (daycare) which has increased since our return in June. Roger went on a 21 day fast and lost most of the weight that you see him carrying in these pics.  Sophie celebrated her 2nd birthday at the start of August, has moved into a big bed and is in the middle of potty training.

Here are a few holiday pics, including Kaleigh's 7th brithday.

I'll be back soon with July - August

Spring has nearly sprung - we hope

Easter Sunday

Easter was a little quieter for us this year, although we enjoyed a nice lunch out on Friday, and then guests here on Sunday.  After a winter with no snowfall we had the merest sprinkling Saturday night and then a reasonable amount on Easter Sunday.  I had planned to take the kids pics out in front of my spring flowers but it was coming down pretty heavily just before we left for church!

Sophie has something to tell you!

The Smallest Ballerina

The girls had fun dressing up Sophie last Sunday.  She was exactly 15 months old, so it called for a celebration!

With her chief dresser

Heading off to her studio..aka the kitchen

Taking her stance

Adding a modern interpretation!

The Dance of the Sugar Crumb Scavenger Fairy

A head shot for her portfolio

Back at play after a hard day's work!

Happy 15 months Sophie Sausage!

Bulk Cooking Day

Because of our lifestyle (busy but need to be able to entertain on 5 minutes notice) I like to do a lot of bulk cooking and freezing.   Years ago I used to do Once a Month Cooking, but the workload over that few days tended to wipe me out for a month!  Now I have a modified approach.  I have a couple of large cooking pots, and rather than make one meals worth of spaghetti meat, I'll make 8.  Use one that night and freeze the rest.  Then, once every couple of  months I'll have a day where I do this with several different types of meals. 

You should try it sometime! The benefits?  You will have ready made meals or the time consuming parts of meals in the freezer ready to go for your busy days.  You will save money buying in bulk.  You will save a pile of time (eg. it only takes me twice the time to make 8 meals worth of spaghetti meat that it would to make 1 meals worth).  You will be able to invite guests back after church on the spur of the moment, or be prepared when your husband does! 

Today we made:

Bolognaise Meat (5)
Mexican Meat (4)
Shepherd's Pie Bases (3)
Refried Beans (3)
Beef Meatballs (2)
Lamb Meatballs (2)
Cooked Shredded Chicken Breasts (6)
Granola (1)
Muffins (4 dozen)
Crumble Topping (3)
Tortillas (25) 

Prepping the veg etc 

Ready to make meatballs

Smelling good! 

Spaghetti Meat and Mexican Meat (we had burritos for dinner!)

Working on the Shepherd's Pies

Chopping dried fruit for the granola

4 dozen muffins - how long will they last??

Shepherd's pie bases

Some of the meat in the freezer

All the while Sophie refined her "sloppy" kiss!

So what did you do today??