Beginnings

Had a freakishly sociable day, and yet the only picture I took was. . . 

a hairy poppy bud. Which I'm sure is symbolic of something. Spring maybe, as I got sunburnt today walking around the lake with friends. Or for the first of my Wet Hot Beauties rehearsals. So. Much. Fun. Even though my imaginary friend who came up the plan was so imaginary she was invisible, so I had to brave it alone. Eeep.  ;-)

Bros

 Back together. Awwww aren't they lovely?

Yeah, everyone had funny expressions, but not quite as odd as in this one:

And I have to say, Cousin E wins special mention for this funny face effort:

She's superb!

Spot the Problem

Watched Pirates tonight for our family movie. When the character Cutlass Liz was introduced, L9 piped up with:

That's wrong because in those days a cutlass was known as a hanger and the short form of Elizabeth they used was Bess, so she should be 'Hanger Bess'.

Hmm. Yes. That's so wrong. You're gonna be a  joy to watch movies with when you grow up my lovely :) Plus look - first ginormous spot. Nine is way too young for that isn't it?

Synchronised Frolicking

~ Glamour! Excitement! Danger! ~

Luscious, leggy ladies in white cloche swimming caps and blood-red smiles. Inspired by the charming and spectacular aquacades of early cinema’s delightful 1930s and 1940s era, and the kaleidoscopic designs of Hollywood movie director and water musical choreographer, Busby Berkeley.

Squeeeeeeeee! Yeah, I so am.

Garden Collapse

Woke up to a jasmine disaster. Somewhere behind that is the door to our shed. It's really heavy, and I think the solution is going to have to be a heartless chop, but I'm loathe to do that because of the ugliness that will ensue.

Happy Birthday GJ!

P6 loves to give cards and presents, as well as wearing inappropriate hats. Grandma J bravely wore the winner's medal out to dinner even :) 

At the restaurant L&P were good and geeky.

We hope Grandma J made lots of birthday wishes. (She got two goes so I could get a pic!)

Happy birthday GJ!

Slacker Day

I had a ladies-who-lunch-day with my Invisible Friend, and because she a hip young media-savvy thing, she introduced me to the bizarreness that is Gangnam Style. It's had 15 million more views since I watched it this afternoon and that alone should be enough to tempt you to the wild pink short side. . .

I love the blurb
가수 싸이가 6집 앨범 '싸이6甲(싸이육갑)'으로 2년 만에 전격 컴백한다!
타이틀 곡은 싸이가 직접 작사·작곡한 '강남스타일'로 싸이는 멜로디, 가사, 안무 등 다방면에서 강한 중독성을 보여 줄 예정이다.

"The song is characterized by its strongly addictive beats and lyrics, and is thus certain to penetrate the foundations of modern philosophy."

Certain to. Uh huh.

Yes, we all had to have a go before bed. Geeky Husband and P6 dancing gangnam style:

Two Weekend Pix

At the beach yesterday. It was cooooold. Especially when you were eating icecream.

 And the world according to P6 (all her own idea and work). Unfortunately the dark green has disguised some fabulous country names, but my fave is still visible - Antarkterka :)

Sociable-ness

complete! Phew. I even put out flowers from the garden. (I've always thought the measure of being rich is being able to afford to buy flowers each week. I can't justify that, but I can plant them in  the garden and bring them in.)

But really, I needn't have bothered. All you need to do is put chalk paint around the place and guests are so busy playing with that, they don't notice anything else. 

(Geeky Husband has just pointed out it says 'COULOR' outside the lines. Awesome. Could he not have noticed that before my visitors were here?)

Wah!

People I don't know well coming for dinner tomorrow. Clean. All. The. Things. Frenzy. 

Going to see Ruby Sparks tonight as reward for hard work. (Actually no, was going anyway, but feel sure am in need of reward.)

P6 And The Bees

I was sitting down after putting L&P to bed for quiet reading time, saying to Geeky Husband that I had nothing to blog, when P6 came out of her room and asked me to video her reading the bee pamphlet she had just written. Ok. There, something to blog for the day. 

I suspect she is reliving her school day and doing all the work again. 

School Show

Went to the senior school show this evening which was a wearable arts fashion show based on the elements. L9 was a presenter, which meant he stood by the design boards and answered questions. His group chose fire, and being boys heavily swayed by function rather than form, they had made something sensible - vulcanologist gloves.

And so the show began:

I was filming away when all of a sudden, there was my boy on stage! The model for his group didn't show up, and the stand-by model got freaked about the idea of going on the catwalk, so just minutes before it began, L9 was told he was it. He's rather under-styled, given the last minute nature of his appearance (they chucked some sparkly gunk in his hair and that was it) but I think he made up for it through sheer strength of waving.


And one more for Aunt Iz - look who is modeling her earth design. She's a natural:



Still very proud of my boy for being brave and getting up there to save the day for his group.

Nerfman

I think this is pretty much the only view of L9 Geeky Husband has seen over the past few weeks.

Recently he's taken to strapping on a video camera to the barrel to capture the full experience. Boys are kinda scary.

Random Pics From Today

Our pretty glass window:

The kitchen tree says it is spring:

 Tralalala!

 Went to the bush, but let's face it, the icecreams were the best part:

 ooooo, I've been a grump, but now I have ice creeeeeeeam:

 Home again, to do the things we like:

Goodness Grewcious

P6 getting ready to go shopping with me. Those are jasmin flowers that she's placed on top of her hair.

But really, it's the legging/sock/shoe combo that got me. Ug. I had to go with it. I just hope the other mothers know she dresses herself.

Friday Night

Nothing to say, so one for L9.

Ah Scintilla. . .

how I love thee.

Wasted my day looking for a dress for an upcoming do, that I really don't want to go to. (I'm going to be a good wifey, and the dress is my bribe.) I should have known that I'd find the answer at Scintilla. 

When I'm a millionaire I'm going to  buy one of everything they make, because it's honestly the only shop you can go into and know that you are going to fall in love every time. Not only that, the clothes wear soooooo well compared with cheap madeinchina stuff that you get used to. Every item I have from them has lasted years and years and years and years and years and they all make me feel like they were actually made specifically for me. I love them. 

Funky. Comfortable. Unexpected. Pretty. Rave. 

raveraveraveraveraveraveraveraveraveraveraveraveraveraverave

The fantails are actually shiny silver IRL. So sweet. 

Winter Knit

I finally finished my Guernsey Wrap. I loved knitting it, but it did take me most of winter. I discovered today that when they said you really need blocking wires to block it properly, they weren't joking. But I don't have blocking wires, and really, straight edges won't make it any warmer (it's reeeeeally warm) and anyone who looks at all that knitting, is aware that I made all those stitches, and still thinks bad thoughts about the wobbly, badly blocked edges? Well, boo hiss to them. 

I kind of wish I'd done a less neutral colour now. I could almost be persuaded to knit another, and that's saying something after such a big knit. It's long. It's longer than I am tall. (When it's dry I'll take a better pic of it actually on.)

 Now I have to terrible new knit dilemma. You want to enjoy the choosing and the yarn buying and not rush it, but you have nothing to knit!! It's a bit stressful.

I'm thinking maybe this, or this, or this because I have seen some really beautiful buttons that I adore, or being brave and tackling another big wrap because this one is so pretty. But since you are reading this, then you are probably one of my terrible non-knitter family members, so you won't be on Ravelry to be able to check out those links and tell me what to do. You're no help are you?

My 9 Year Old Has An Origami Obsession

Me: What are you going to do with all those shurikens?

L9: I don't know, but they're an impressive feat. 

Why yes they are L9.

The Geeky Husband Gets A Little Bit Older

Birthday prezzies in bed.

This one was sweet as pie and very excited about prezzie time, particularly the moustache keyring:

Reality bites though - this one tried so hard, but was puking not long after this pic (double ear infection still plaguing her):

More reality. Ug. Baking a lemon birthday cake was a messy old business.

Still, all's well that ends well.

Lots of help blowing out the candles.

Happy birthday Geeky Husband.

Outside Inside

Outside

We had a go on a pedalo, which is a thing that helps you learn to. . . 

 . . . ride a unicycle. Which is really hard. In fact, it's as hard as it looks.

P6 danced to a stranger playing the colourful piano.

 It was super cute.

 Inside

 L9 got us all addicted to origami. This site is the best for easy origami. Directions and fabulous animations that really help when you get stuck.

 L9 has become obsessed about shurikens. He's made many, many shurikens. But he always gets frustrated on the last tuck, so I've also become the shuriken queen. It is very addictive.