Our little house (no longer blue): The time for creative pursuits and Christmas fun

Time was definitely short during that last week of school. I was madly putting the finishing touches on the bags I made for Lochy's teacher, teacher aide and Gav's teacher.

I have not made one for ages but Lochy's teacher and teacher aide were exceptional for his first year of school. I also was lucky enough to spend the last term as a volunteer teacher aide with the classroom teacher aide learning from her. I really wanted to give them something personal as a thank you for their support and confidence in me.

For Lochy's Prep Teacher

For Lochy's Prep Teacher Aide. I was a bit worried a bright yellow pocket would be too much. What do you think?

Gav's teacher is a very special person as well. His teacher, as well as all the support staff, have really turned Gav's attitude around towards school work. He is so much more a happy self confident boy now.

For Gav's Teacher

Ben and the boys have also gone crazy for Kambucha! I made my biggest batch yet. I haven't got a photo of all the bottles I made but here are a sample of a few. I've just made another batch today. We go through nearly a bottle a day! I've made a few different flavour combinations, some are the boys suggestions as they get into spirit of making yummy things at home.

Here are a few we've come up with:
Strawberry, plain and with Ginger, or Mint, or Kaffir Lime
Raspberry - plain and with Ginger, or Mint or Kaffir Lime
Mango - couldn't really taste it much
Kaffir Lime - with Lemon, or Ginger
Blueberry - with Ginger or Mint (just made this one today)
and Ginger

If you have any new flavour ideas let me know.

Kambucha

Gavin brought a Christmas pudding home, that would be the one on the bi-fold doors!

Both the boys also made some Christmas decorations at home. Lochy was especially keen to make the gel stained glass tree and Gav made the candy cane.

We also did some Christmas baking. While not in the Paleo/Gaps diet plan, its hard to go past these Gluten Free sugar cookies. The boys rated them a 10 out of 10!

Unfortunately the juiced apples didn't get a very good rating. Gav enjoyed the juicing but wasn't too keen to even taste the apple juice. Lochy had a sip but said he didn't like it. I got a free bag of apples after getting my fruit and veg and the local green grocer near Lochy's school. I didn't want them wasted so borrowed my mother-in-law's juicer. I even tried to make my vitamin gummies with them and some tropical stevia sweetener but still not a hit. The vitamin gummies are awesome by the way. You can find the recipe on http://wellnessmama.com/6357/chewable-vitamins/ A truly brilliant way to hide some vitamins.

We've also had lots of playing on the back deck... How flexible is Gav!

We also brought out the slip and slide from last year. Dual purpose of watering my children and the garden at the same time!

Our Eucalyptus tree in the back yard. Its still only little.

The last of the Frangipani's on our tree in the back yard.

Aren't they growing like weeds! The boys, not the sunflowers that is

We also got out on the Sunday night to see some Christmas lights. Yes, here in Brisbane not everyone put up Christmas lights. They even have a Christmas lights tour! This neighbourhood street won second prize (I think) in the Christmas Lights competition.