Last week...

We were listening to 'Friend or Foe' by Michael Morpurgo on audio book. Lj would like a 'normal' story next as she is tired of MJ and his war obsession!

Construction began in our courtyard.

Kindness Elf made a reappearance.

We had a lot of IKEA furniture to build for our walk in wardrobe.

Lj discovered M's old version of Mastermind. Her and MJ love playing it together.

We spent Saturday at Millennium Courts Arts Centre.
Lj loved reading in their Christmas dome. The movie this week was Star Wars so MJ was very happy. The craft was junk modelling rocket night lights with a glow stick inside.

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!

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 :(

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!

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

'⁶ 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. ⁷ 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...