July List

I'm at home alone, a complete rarity. I really should be getting more familiar with neuro-muscular junctions and the specifics of the central and peripheral nervous system, instead I'm procrastinating. I've unpacked the dishwasher, loaded up the washing machine, defrosted spaghetti bolognaise for lunch and been day dreaming about all the fun things I have planned for 12 days time. In 12 days I'll have a month of from studying and I CAN'T WAIT!!!

So, I've given myself half and hour to think about and write down everything I want to do in my time off, then I'm hitting the books hard. Apparently. Until the next wonderful opportunity to procrastinate comes along.

My July list:

• Scour op-shops for sweet and funky little handmade pottery containers. The kids and I have been dabbling in making pure beeswax candles, which has been a lot of fun. I have a big slab of sweet smelling beeswax, ready to be melted down and made into special pot candles for presents and tapering candles for the table. I also want to make a special birthday candle for each of the kids, that can be used on their special day.
  
• Speaking of birthdays, apparently my littlest baby is turning 3 in 26 days. So apart from being in total denial that he is getting bigger, I really need to get a start on his party organisation. He has requested a racing car cake and he'd also like a racing car to come visit. Errr....I don't think I can arrange that Xav! I am thinking about a car themed party, and maybe making some pretend cars out of big cardboard boxes with little straps that can go over the kids shoulders. Maybe it's a bit out of my scope of capabilities, but I'll give it a go.
  
• I also have to make Xav's birthday crown. I'm packing that to take when we go camping (along with many other little crafty projects!). He's picked out the colours, but we are still in discussions on the final pattern for the front. Xav's tossing up between a star or a tree.
  
• Yes, that was not a typo. We are going camping in winter for 5 nights. We've had a few chilly nights and days over the last week, and I'm starting to actually get a bit nervous about camping in the cold. I've stocked up on thermals and new flanalette pj's for the kids and I'm hoping that lots of layers accompanied by hot water bottles and their thick sleeping bags will be enough. Who am I kidding anyway! Of course the kids will want to jump in with us half way through the night and steal our body warmth! I'm very excited about taking the kids to Australia Zoo and underwater world, which I know they will love!
  
• I have a large piece of pure silk and some gorgeous natural dyes, and I'm hoping to dye it in a rainbow pattern for my little rainbow fairy. The last time we did dying, it was so much fun so I can't wait to give it another go.
  
• Ever since I made Lucie's little crystal cave, Grace has been begging for one of her own. I've got everything cut out and ready to make up, so once I've got time we are going to make it up together. Grace loves helping with crafty things, so she's going to be on needle felting duty and also head designer.
  
• We made paper lanterns last week, with beautiful autumn leaves pressed into them. The kids and Grandma have been busy searching for sticks and fallen leaves for some more that we are making. I was hoping to have them done for winter solstice, but that is next Monday, so unless I don't sleep at all this weekend it's not going to happen. Maybe we can just pretend it's in the week Duane has off and we can do our little celebrations then? I have big plans for a bonfire and us all sitting together as a family toasting marshmallows, not sure how keen Duane will be for the fire though. Party pooper!
  
• I have a long list in my head of yummy things I want to bake and freeze. Muffins, slices, biscuits are high up the list as well as stews and curries for those night next semester when I just can't be fussed cooking.
  
• I have 3 more little cloth books that I want to make up.
  
• My vegie garden needs lots of love. The tomato plants are overgrown and need to be ripped out. I've planted some seeds in my seedling containers, and they are all on track for being planted out in the next few months. So hopefully we'll have a beautiful harvest of vegetable coming into Autumn. Grace's fairy garden also needs a bit of maintenance, so I'll help her spruce that up too.
  
• I can't wait to get reacquainted with my wonderful camera. It's spent way too much time alone lately, and I'm eager to start capturing again. Miss Lucie is overdue for her 1st birthday shoot, so that's a priority. My kids also surely must be having withdrawals from having a camera in their face all the time, so I must fix that.
  
• Apart from all these wonderful things, the most precious moments that I am looking forward to is just being with the kids. I'm longing for the mornings where we can and will just lay in bed chatting and giggling. With no need to rush out the door, just be together. Snuggled up with a pile of books, Grace insisting we read the fairy ones and Xav pushing for the car ones. Not leaving bed or each others arms, until our bellies are grumbling. Duane won't miss out either, as he has taken 2 weeks off work.

Right, so now that's all out of my head I really should get back to studying.....