gratification

It is always gratifying to see the children happy with something that I made for them. It's one of the reasons why I like to sew. Josh is generally blase about clothes and won't bat an eyelid at whatever he's given to wear, so he'll cheerfully wear whatever I make for him. Noah is usually thrilled to have homemade clothes because it's something that belongs to him and him alone - no sharing necessary! (One of the perils of growing up in a big family!) Lucy is starting to show some vanity and wants to wear whatever is new in her section of the wardrobe. And Emma... well, so long as it's something pink and twirly, she'll heap praises on me. ("Good mummy! You're a good mummy!" or "I love it, mummy, so beautiful!")

Cooking for the children, on the other hand, is sometimes a little trickier. My kids have clearly defined ideas of what they like and don't like. Josh is by far the best eater (and it shows too - every time his pediatrician sees him, she asks if he exercises outside of school. Luckily he has taekwondo and swimming.). Two of his loves are eggs and ham. I made quiche lorraine for Saturday morning breakfast, figuring that it'd be a hit with him at least. And it was. He polished off the leftovers the next day and was sorely disappointed when there was none left. Emma is the pastry queen and will happily peel off the pastry from the whole quiche if I let her, not that I did.

Noah and Lucy weren't all that keen, but that could be because they couldn't wait for the quiche to be done and had eaten already. Oh well, two out of four isn't too bad! I used the recipe from here, but added some romano cheese that I already had in the fridge.

back in the day

Penpals don't exist anymore.

Because nobody writes letters with a pen anymore.

Back when I was in secondary school, writing to penpals was one of those things that lots of people did. I think teenage magazines used to have lists of people who wanted penpals, complete with their list of hobbies so that you could pick someone who had the same interests as you. I had a couple. I wrote to penpals in Hong Kong, Greece and France. I have obviously lost touch with them. although I did meet up with my penpal from Paris when I backpacked in Europe. I stayed over at her apartment for a night and she showed me the Eiffel Tower. I remember that she was very into all things Asian - which was a little funny because I was very interested in all things French.

Anyway, all this to lead up to this: 2011 International Postcard Swap for Families. I've signed us up and am already thinking of what sort of postcards to send off. Maybe with a little gift too?

outgrown

Of all the kids, Josh is the one who enjoys his food the most. The other kids all went through phases of either being extremely picky with their food, or being simply uninterested in eating. There are, after all, a whole lot of other things to do; eating sometimes can seem like such a waste of time.

Not for Josh though. Even when he was a baby, he ate easily. He used to watch Thomas the train videos during meal times (yes, not the best form). He'd be so glued to the TV that he'd just unquestioningly open his mouth every time a spoonful of porridge appeared in front of it.

All this to say, he loves to eat and so has outgrown quite a few pairs of his shorts. I have been on a mini-mission to sew up some new ones for him. When I was sewing up Noah's pair for his birthday, it was easy enough to do up a pair for Josh. I loved how they turned out.

And I love this picture of Josh. I can't get over how grown up he looks. Most of the photos I have of him are shots of him doing something goofy; this shot below is what he gave me when I said, "Do a handsome face."

Easy Fit lounge shorts in chambray, with front patch pockets that I added

noah is three

Noah is in exactly the same place that Joshua was when he turned three - train crazy. So he got a choo-choo train cake for his celebration at school. I think he liked it because he came home from school and gave me a kiss and a hug, and said, "Love you, mommy."

Apart from the cake, I also made a birthday outfit for the birthday boy. Dark blue chambray shorts from an Easy Fit pattern off Etsy; and a appliqued monogram t-shirt to match. He calls the shorts his "birthday shorts" and he loved them, so I was happy. The shorts took a bit longer to make with the patch pockets and double line of stitching around the hem, but I was quite pleased with how they turned out: not so homemade looking.

Maori much?
I don't know why he decided to pose like that, other than just because he was so pleased to be wearing his birthday shorts and wielding his birthday present: a Thomas umbrella. Such fights that has led to between him and the baby.

This was Noah when he first came home to us. This is on the car ride home - first time in the car seat! He looks suitably bewildered. How he's grown.

joshua is seven

It has been such a big year for the firstborn: he started primary one! There has been some angst, all on my part of course. He has been too busy enjoying school for any angst. He loves watching National Geographic and will pick non-fiction books at the library over fiction any time. He's fascinated by snakes, but so far doesn't dare to have one placed over his shoulders. He asked for a snake cake for his birthday.

Josh picked out a snake cake from a cake decorating book I have. Fondant again! Josh took a look at his cake and said, "They kind of look like worms." But he told everyone else that they were snakes, considerate as he is of my feelings! We had a MacD's party for the first time. We've told the kids that each year we'll only have one big party where they get to invite their friends; and they have to take turns for it. Josh's turn this year, and Emma is already planning hers next year.

Here he is posing with his beyblade, his birthday present of choice this year.

Lounge shorts in navy seersucker. EasyFit pattern from the scientificseamstress on Etsy.