fun times at nanna's

overnight grandma got a lot worse, is in a lot of pain and really needs to be admitted to hospital to be monitored. upon calling her ward at the hospital, doug was told her doctor isn't in and won't be in until tomorrow because of the public holiday, so they can't actually admit her until he, or another dr familiar with her case is there to assist. they recommended that she present to the nearest emergency department to be seen and monitored in the meantime, but she is adamant that she wants the team familiar with her and that going to the ed is a waste of time. i must admit i kind of agree, so doug has gone to be with her and i am off to mums with the kids as we promised them.

it was a cousin party with zac and kat's boys and oh did they have a good time. the lions train may have been returned, but uncle isaac has been busy at his house making his own carriages which are going to live at nanna and grandads from now on - and he'll bring his quad bike for all future cousin parties.

as you can see, it was a huge hit. 

and kept them entertained for quite some time. huge snaps to uncle isaac for building the carriages too. they are impressive!

another great day at nannas...

the best day with nanna

school holidays aren't complete without a visit to nanna's house and today was the day! we met in york for a rummage at the york salvation army jumble sale (in my humble (educated haha) opinion, still the best opshop in wa with the best prices. i have found soooo many good things there over the years. then we hit up some more opshops in northam, (can't wait to show off what i found in a future post, two awesome prints for alex's room and a huge map of the paris metro system for our wall!) before heading home to mums place via the clackline "post office" in the old railway carriage.

i was in heaven, as they have a little free library of sorts there now... a community book exchange in an old telephone booth. we left some books and took some, both the kids and i were thrilled. we love finding new ones wherever we go.

maddie showcasing her new wedges from york (meant to be hers for sure, mum found them a few weeks ago and didn't buy them, but when we went back today - still there! that never happens!) and definitely feeling a bit sassy today. i love to write memories so when the kids read back on these one day we can have a laugh. todays maddie gem: we were at the park in northam and a girl was being awful to her, rude to joseph and then told her right to her face that she was ugly! i was having none of it and when mum told her to go and play again and that she would stand with her, i said no, i have a better way of dealing with this. we got back in the car and drove out - and me being the awful mother that i am (and a terrible example!) let her flip the girl the bird. she was so proud of herself and even though it was the worst idea ever and so not the solution, it made her feel better and the girl was mortified. case closed, points to madeline. defend yourself girl, don't let anyone push you around 😆 and what better place to do it than from the safety of your car.

today was the best day. 

joseph's baby quilt

today this amazing quilt unexpectedly arrived in the mail and i nearly cried. mum has made all of her grandchildren a quilt, including a gorgeous one with stars for madeline, which you can see here - and now this! 

as you all know from my blogging, mum and dad are currently serving a mission for the church we belong to: the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, and they are teaching at the church college there. mum is in the home economics department and completely in her element cooking and sewing all day, so obviously had plenty of time and motivation to make this masterpiece.

all of the rainbow pieces around the outside are cut from the bright coloured lava lava cloths that the samoans wear, (mum has had miles of that fabric around her over the past 13 months...) then quilted fish swimming in a sea of turtles, and a hand embroided starfish (conveniently my favourite) in the bottom corner. it is so, so lovely and i feel so blessed to have such a talented mother, who loves her grandchildren so very much. i can hardly wait to put it in his room!