Hi guys, sorry I have not been around this week.  Have been running stupid temperatures (that seem to be only worsening) and unable to sit up, or walk far.  Thankfully friends have managed the school run for me thus far, though the pick-up this arvo was a close shave.  Poor E has been angelic all week and has been on a diet of bread since I have not been able to get up and cook, but got some exciting news today - which I can finally share here, so decided to order her a pizza while i was online - lying down on he sofa still!!!

My Good News, which I am finally able to reveal is that the TIKE we womn arrived safely with my brother and sister-in-law in NYC (Philosopher13 and DJFirebrand).  They will be putting it under tjheir tree and making it on Christmas Day with their sons.  Thank you to all those who sent us congratulations and good wishes, I do fully intend to try it out when we next visit them - no fear!  But they will get more benefit from it than E and myself!!! 

So keep eyes peeled for pics after Christmas.  Sorry to not link to their homepages ... my head isdizzy still and I need to rest again so I can answer the door for Pizza when it arrives.  Am glad o be able to feed E tonight, having not eaten all week has made me slack. 

Hope you are all OK and I hope to be back online by the end of the week!!  Meant to be going out this weekend, will be first time since the summer.  For those who pray I will appreciate al prayers ... E deserves more than she is getting this week from me.  Thanks

Peace
EF.x

Oops, it was framed, but then I lost it and I forgot to reframe it ...

This is from that last minute ball I went to that night, the guy is a random friend who was also there and everyone had their masks.  Some of the masks, like this one were fantastic.  It was an incredible evening and if you ever get a chance to go to one make sure you take the most extravagant mask you can find!!! 

and for those who are observant, yes, I was stretching my lips again from too much smiling and the camera caught me short!  ah well, it was still a fantastic time ...

Peace
EF.x

Tonight I witnessed a miracle.  there was a talent show for the sunday school children and two weeks ago E filled in her form within half an hour of finding out about it.  I was really not sure.  Iknow she is expressive and dramatic - even melodramatic on occasion, but I also know that in front of other people she looks like she wouldnt say boo to a goose. 

She decided she wanted to do a poem about kittens, so finally I settled on perfecting

"Pussy cat, pussy cat
Where have you been
I've been to London
To visit the Queen

Pussy cat, pussy cat
What did you there?
I frightened a little mouse
Under her chair"

Practice went along nicely.  We were reciting before school as we walked along, at bedtime and pretty much any odd time.  I decided to try get a cat suit from a friend which was managed, and she even added the tail and little bell to tinkle around the neck!!  E tried these all on after school earlier this week and recited the poem to me using the different masks and then she had a request. 

She wanted to wear the headband ears with face paints.  Oh no!  I aint great at makeup and face paints and stuff and I sure didnt want to ruin her outfit.  I agreed to try though thinking I could minimise the makeup and use my eyeliner and eye shadow. 

Today it was the school Christmas Bazaar in the afternoon, with one thing and another it was really late by the timewe got there and I think we were one of the last to go in to see Santa and let him know where we will be on Christmas Morning so he knows where to drop off E's gifts.  Next we popped past the face painting room - and they were still doing it!!

E asked for a cat face to match her pussy cat outfit for the talent show tonight. The teacher working the face paints did such a fantastic job - so many people complimented me on the effect and professional appearance of the shading.  We then came home and E got all dressed up ready to go.  She looked stunning. 

At the Talent Show she was wonderful, joined in, paid attention to the other acts, and when it was her turn - I did wonder whether she would actually do it or decide it was too much and not bother.  But she did it, she spoke clearly and I am just the proudest Mama.  We got home two hours ago and she has only just gone to sleep!!  She is so excited and loved all the face painting and evenn the removing of it, though I had to do it slowly, in sections, and she watched me using a little ahnd held mirror, so she could see it coming off bit by bit.  Half way through she says 'I don't look like anything now'.  When it was all off she was back to being her again (she had been in character for pussy cat all that time).

E showing off her advent calendar and posing as if reciting her poem.

For someone who cannot even usually say Hello clearly if she meets a friend in the street - this was wonderful.  I can't praise her enough.  Must email the family now!

Peace
EF.x

Last evening on the way home from school we stopped off at our local anglican church and participated in their 'Peace for Advent' event. 

Each year they set up a gazebo in front of the church and have loads of glass jars with candles inside them, people then say a prayer for peace at advent and place the candle somewhere in the front garden of the church, by the end of the evening the whole area is dotted about with heaps of pretty flickering lights. 

This year there was also a puzzle 'hidden' around the garden and people could put their jar by a certain piece of the puzzle and pray specifically about that aspect of life and peace to come in that area.  The children also got a piece of paper with all the pieces of the puzzle on it and could tick them off as they found them. 

We were there with a friend and her two girls, so the three chlidren had a great time running around and practicing their reading.  Then we lit our candles and placed them, prayed all together for peace and a happy advent then enjoyed a delicious hot chocolate (also laid on byt he church). 

The idea came because so many people get so stressed out over the run up to Christmas, so rather than any specific religious thing it is to remind people to take a breather and slow down a minute.  The religious significance was just a bonus! 

Peace
EF.x