Friday 18 December 2015

Kindness Elf #Day 16

I was determined to get more photos of the kids but time is whizzing by and it just hasn't happened!


Wednesday 16 December 2015

Kindness Elf #Day 15

This thing really works!!! I'm finding that although MJ and Lj are not really being kinder to each other...we are going through a stage (I hope it is just a stage) where they could argue about just about anything but that aside they are really embracing being kind to those around them. MJ really wanted to pay for his Cubs leaders ticket into the cinema and took the money from his money box.

While MJ was at the cinema, Lj and I popped into Waitrose where she spoke politely to a member of staff and again to one of the teachers from her school as we were leaving. They are so proud of themselves when they do loud and clear 'Pleases' and 'Thank yous'.

Sadly I'm tired and failing to stay on the ball so Kindness Elf's messages are arriving late and no photos are being taken and I too find it more difficult to be kind to those closest to me :(

Monday 14 December 2015

Kindness Elf Day 12&13



We have been letting the Kindness Elf slide with all the busyness and now tiredness. Hopefully this week we can try to think outside ourselves and find more opportunities to be kind.

Kindness Elf #Day 10 and 11




Lj's face is a picture...we had just been to the dentist, Lj's first time ever and although they were both really brave they had fluoride painted on their teeth. Lj is not impressed by the taste and is holding out for 10mins before she is allowed a drink and a snack!






Wednesday 9 December 2015

Kindness Elf #Day9



This morning before we ran out of the door to school we began thinking about creating our 'token books'. The kids got quite excited about what they could do to help. The most popular idea for Daddy was to leave him alone to read his book!!! Hopefully today if I have time I will look online for some more ideas so I can inspire the kids to keep thinking of ways they can help out around home.

Kindness Elf #Day 8





 We finished our 'Reindeer noses' ready for giving out over Christmas.

Then we headed to our Christingle service. MJ read the prayers and Lj lit the advent wreath. I love Christingle services, I think because I didn't grow up going to them and they are a great reminder of the meaning behind Christmas. Also the atmosphere is wonderful when all the candles are lit, the lights are out and the church looks beautiful.



Monday 7 December 2015

Kindness Elf #Day 7


Well today didn't quite go to plan. I was stressed and there was not much goodness or kindness coming forth...in fact I was feeling so moody I didn't even want to be kind...I wasn't expecting that feeling in this little experiment. Then the day became so busy that I hadn't time to even notice much around me and when that happens it is even harder to be kind...because you can't see past yourself and your own little bubble. Now, I'm not sure where we should start tomorrow...do we repeat today or try to pick ourselves up and move on?...it is another busy day and I fear that it could turn out similar to today!

Here are some of the better things that happened today...




 Lj as a Snowflake in 'Santa's Hat'

Cub Scout Carol Service

Sunday 6 December 2015

Saturday 5 December 2015

Friday 4 December 2015

Thursday 3 December 2015

Wednesday 2 December 2015

Tuesday 1 December 2015

Christmas Kindness Elf #Day One

In the past week or so I have been inspired by postings on facebook of 'Random Acts of Kindness' carried out in our local town. I began to research what this was all about and came across the 'Random Acts of Kindness' website. This lead on to how as a family we could be more proactive in spreading kindness and love and I found these blogs very helpful. 'The imagination tree' and 'Not consumed'. Of course once you begin searching there are tons of helpful ideas and plans. M even preached in church on Sunday about giving, not just out of duty and to the church but to those around us who are in need from 2 Corinthians 9v 6&7

'Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

So yesterday (always last minute) I ran around town looking for some little elves and came home empty handed. I got my pencil and from my basic pattern of 'Jean' from Bit of a whimsy dolls I drew an elf pattern. I had intended to create a boy and girl elf but after 3 hrs of cutting, pining and sewing and with the kids ready to be picked up from school, I settled on one elf! 

In the evening I started drafting some sort of plan/ ideas of kindness for the 24 days of advent. I didn't get it all done by any means and just hope I can keep it up now that we have started.

This morning we kicked started our advent Christmas Kindness Elf with our elf delivering this message to the kids...we started simple...

 And here is our Kindness Elf who delivered the message...


Saturday 14 November 2015

Children in Need.


  ' A Party for Children in Need'. Pudsey is saying 'Hooray, we have presents'!


Half term round up!







Half term:
N.Ireland- rain, food, mini bus trips to the park, catching up with my bestie, meetings with solicitors and estate agents and helping Mum pack her suitcase for Australia.

My sister in law made a cake with Lj to surprise me on my birthday, which was celebrated with some of my nieces and nephews.

A day trip to Cambridge with MJ, Lj and Zara. MJ introduced me to the world of War hammer in Games workshop, while the girls found a corner to draw and colour. Lunch at St Andrews church cafe, a great place as lots of space and a play corner for the kids. A look in the toy shop and a play in the park before returning to our car on the park n ride.

Half term flew by and it was hard to believe we had a week and a day off from school.

Saturday 31 October 2015

Just another Saturday

Just another Lilyjean creation...

 Lj is concerned that she might forget things so this morning she decided to make a memory box. Using my camera (hers has no space left!) she took heaps of photos of her room and it was my job to put them altogether!

Just another day of the boys making Warhammer figures, spraying Warhammer figures, painting Warhammer figures and playing Warhammer!

Friday 16 October 2015

Lj's note to her class

 Lj loves to draw and write and I love (biased Mummy) what she produces. She sits quietly and concentrates then produces her artwork. This mornings piece was for her class.
It reads...'To Miss Sacco's Class, 1DS. Has anyone seen a box with string? (This is her backpack which she made from a cereal box with twine straps which she left at school yesterday). She continues 'I saw a fox running across the road last night. We did not run over it because it was too fast.'

Wednesday 14 October 2015

Always create

The creativity continues in all our different ways.


M and MJ have been pulling out all of M's old Warhammer models and paints. They love to spend Saturday afternoons at the table painting and chatting about the team they will collect. MJ spends his evenings writing secret strategies for how he can beat his Daddy! Even Grandad C has been re inspired to get painting so they can have a family battle at Christmas.


I have been involved in all sorts of little projects over the past few weeks. The biggest is putting together a Calendar for 2016 with one of my best friends but in between I'm creating crafts to sell at our local Christmas market, designing birthday presents and Christmas presents commissions. It seems there is never a dull moment in my days which is just how I like it!


At the weekend Lj made a 'laptop'! It had a mini packet of raisins as the mouse...it was so sweet and so well thought through. This is the screen image. Lets play a little game of spot...
Can you spot the maze, the football ground, the school, the zebra crossing, the man walking his dog and the boy in the swimming pool? And just because I got it wrong...the other people are not carrying bags of shopping or wearing gloves...that is just hands!!!

I pray that my children would never loose their imaginations and ways of creatively expressing themselves. I hope one day they won't find themselves in well paid but life sapping jobs but in jobs where their creativity is respected and encouraged. For M and I, I pray that we would never be afraid to step into something new but we would always believe that God is good and desires to give us good things.

Tuesday 29 September 2015

Baby Carrier No.3

It really is happening...I'm not feeling queasy at the thought of pizza, have super smelling powers or waking up during the night with crazy dreams for no reason! It is this little one forming inside me and doing crazy things to my body in the process.

Seeing the scan image yesterday on the screen almost made me tear up and I felt an immediate connection with this little life which is developing inside me.

MJ is so proud of the thought of us having a baby. He is delighted to tell everyone our 'family secret'. Lj is more difficult to read...she doesn't talk about it directly but is asking all sorts of questions like 'Who will take her and MJ to the hospital to see the baby? Who will look after them while we are at the hospital? and yesterday I had to explain the scan picture in great detail.

We are almost 15 weeks in and apparently I have some colour back in my cheeks and don't look quite so deathly...but perhaps they are just being polite!

Friday 25 September 2015

London with my bestie






Yesterday I had a lovely day out in London with one of my N.Irish buddies. We visited the Judith Kerr exhibition at the Jewish museum. It was a lovely exhibition and I'm longing to bring the kids along to it before it closes. We then visited Camden Market, where 16 yrs ago as adventurous teenagers we travelled by bus from N.Ireland to London to volunteer with Oasis Trust and discovered the sights and smells of Camden. After a browse around the stalls we walked along the canal to Central St Martins, had lunch and viewed the students exhibition before heading home from Kings Cross.


The kids were kindly picked up from school by friends and had a lovely afternoon playing. Lj gave me this note and picture when I returned. 'I love you. To Mummy. I hope you have a wonderful time with Anita in London.'

As we consider moving home to N.Ireland it has been lovely to dream about the future with Anita but it has also made me very nostalgic about my times spent in London. I have so many great memories of family day trips, working there and taking MJ and Lj in their buggies around the city.