Alfie is Back!

Our loveable yet mischievous elf Alfie, has returned for yet another year here in the Morrison household.  Alfie has been visiting our family for the festive season since 2012 and every year the kids look forward to his arrival and antics more and more! 

Its safe to say that the pressure is on to constantly come up with new ideas and situations for him (thank goodness for Pinterest!!) and as the kids get older, we have to be more sneaky about it all!

This year Alfie arrived by special mail from the North Pole (usually he comes through the Fairy door). He was packed in his own box, on a bed of snow and had written a letter to the kids ! 

We try and keep his return letter a bit about how the kids have gone throughout the year, always positive and always praising them for their efforts in school and their love for one another. We figure there is enough negativity in the world, without putting that on the kids too . But of course, each to their own, your elf , your adventures! 

I use the super easy and gorgeous template from a little delightful blog , and just use the online software Pic Monkey (as Bianca explains in her blog post) to add the text, then print in an A5 size. 

We've used this for the last few years now and definitely love the convenience and consistency. As the children get older (and much more suspicious and knowing) I really think that consistency is the key to keeping the dream and magic alive. 

The box was placed in front of the Christmas tree for the children to find on the morning on December 1st. I may have decorated early but this is one tradition I want to stick to!

Day 2 - Alfie decided on a rocketing adventure and got stuck in the Christmas tree!! 

Printable from HERE

Day 3- Alfie was bored and made himself a swing (using a tree ornament drop)

Day 4 - Alfie decided to decorate the Fairy door . 

The tree was mine from when I was a child (my sister and I used to have a small tree for our bedrooms) , and the fairy lights and letterbox were purchased from a market stall but the business has a Facebook page HERE. 

When the kids got home from school that day Alfie had moved! He had also bought the kids a decoration to put on the tree each! 

Day 5 - Alfie bought the kids some lovely elf size stationery to be able to write letters and pop into the new little letterbox! 

Printable found HERE

After school, the kids returned home to Alfie and a little note , it read;

You did such a wonderful job putting the new ornaments

 on the tree but I have hidden a special one each for you! 

Enjoy

And they all rushed to the tree and found ..... a chocolate tree ornament . It was so sweet to witness Stella helping her little brother reach his up a little too high! 

Day 6 -  Alfie was in sloth mode and needed a movie night, complete with junk food (rubbers from Kmart). He also bought a few new Christmas movies for the kids (yippee!)

Day 7 - Do you want to build a snowman? 

Perfect for Frozen fans and easy to complete for a busy afternoon/ night that we had! 

Printable found HERE

Day 8 - Worn out from his antics, Alfie needed a good nights sleep by the fire! 

Day 10 - Colouring in ! 

This cute printable found HERE, come with the kids sheets and small versions for Alfie and a little note. 

The elf sized pencils come in this CD case in the stationery section of Kmart for a couple of dollars. 

Day 11- There is no photographic evidence of this day as my husband completed the challenge (hehe)  and I went to bed with a bad headache after a market night. He painted the kids noses red and sat Alfie beside the paint container and paintbrush. Hmmm perhaps he wasn't the most careful of elf assistants as it went all over their bedding. Super funny though! 

Day 12- An elf game of poker (this was a last minute , forgotten before bedtime set up ) , I had the small card packs from a Christmas cracker last year and had put them in my scrap booking stash. 

Day 13- Alfie isn't used to the warm temperatures where we live and needed to freeze up a little so he made himself an igloo! Its just a few paper plates stapled together and cotton balls hot glued all over! So cute!! 

We seem to be onto the 'elf thing' this year, with less last minute "oh goodness , what should we do" moments. I really think its thanks to my calendar ( I printed a December calendar and have planned his adventure every night) and then pre printed all the things we have needed. I have also pre cut any that needed it and they all live in a folder up the top of my desk. This means that when we need to set him up at the end of a night, when the energy is lacking, everything is ready to go!!

It also means I have been able to donate all the items we have used to the teachers at school , as both the kids classes have resident elf and antics of their own!!

Its so much fun, are you having fun with your elf ? Or is Christmas busy enough without adding in this too? 

Christmas Craft - Potato Stamped Wreaths and Cards

This year, I am trying to throw in a few new Christmas Crafts swell as the old faithfuls. These Potato Stamped Wreaths were quick and easy and are the type of craft that anyone can do with materials that are usually on hand in your home all the time. 

Its as simple as carving a few different leaf designs out of halved potatoes, pouring a little paint and tracing a circle in pencil around a bowl or round object to your desired size. 

We used a large cereal type bowl from Kmart , purely because it was a good size to fit on normal A4 paper but you can adjust this depending on a want and need basis. 

We also used a few different colours of green for our leaves, just to add some interest to the wreaths, but again, this is also personal choice. 

With the circle already giving a template, this is a fairly independent type of craft to do. Once the kids were set up, I just let them go for it! 

If you find your child has trouble holding the potato (we didn't use the biggest of spuds!) then just stab a fork into the back and it acts as a handle! It also conveniently saves on a fair bit of mess all over the hands! 

After the foliage is done, then comes the red berries. We used a small sponge that we bought in a brush pack ( I think it was from Kmart some time ago) but again, you could carve something similar out of a potato or even cut a carrot and use that (its about the same shape and size).

When all the kids at finished their wreaths, we had some left over paint so we decided to make some Holly clusters. Please forgive me for the upside down picture, I can not for the life of me work out how to spin it (well I tried numerous times and it didn't work, I'm sure you get the gist !) 

I cut these to size and they have made gorgeous , personalised cards when glued to plain cards (purchased from Spotlight and Kmart).

Simple yet pretty effective! I think they are gorgeous!

The wreaths turned out amazing as well. I just trimmed the excess paper off the outside and now they are pinned to our Toy Room cupboards to add some festive spirit to the room.
You can also make smaller versions of the potato stamps to use on plain brown paper for gift wrapping or even stamp a wreath onto the outside of a paper plate and cut out the centre for a gorgeous door decoration.

The possibilities are endless , I hope you have fun exploring them!

Putting Up the Christmas Tree

Its something that most people do (those that celebrate Christmas that is..) and everyone has their own little traditions and takes on things. As previously mentioned, this year I have Christmas spirit in abundance. Tons and tons and too much of it apparently (is that even possible?!) So ... this can only mean one thing. 

 Our tree was up in November! Shock horror right?!

Why not I say?! Plus with my husband work roster , it just fit into our schedule better that way.

Ok, this 'Putting up the Tree' is serious business in our house! I don't go as far as dressing the kids all matching (or even changing their clothes for that matter) , they just wear whatever it was that they put on after school. But .... we do have Christmas carols playing while we put it up. Michael Buble' of course , and perhaps a few Mariah Carey Christmas songs thrown in there too.

I also spread all the branches out myself, because I like them done 'just so' and I wrap the lights and the bead strings but from there it is a bit of a free-for- all.
All our tree decorations and a few other small Christmas items are stored in the red boxes pictured above. They have divided sections and really make it easier to organise and protects our precious ornaments.

This year I had decided to go for an all white look on the tree. Then when the boxes were out and I was looking through all the special ornaments , I just couldn't follow through. We have collected our random assortment of tree ornaments from all around the world on our travels and have been gifted many by family from overseas too. Each year they bring back memories and the kids get so much joy out of putting up the decorations that they have each made over the years. 

So carols are on, kids are singing, and helping each other with placement and selection and I love every second of it!

When it comes to the star, each child has a turn to put it on and have a photograph taken. We are pretty fortunate that our tree is massive , yet so is our Daddy (6ft 9  to be exact!) so no step ladder is needed. Actually I don't even own a step ladder!

So every child has a turn then Daddy makes sure its secure at the end, aint no one want to get pinned by a rogue star falling from a tree!

Then a customary group shot 'must' be taken! Dog included!

And thats a wrap for the tree. Our lights are on pretty much all the time (we have a dark house so you can see them) and I just love the twinkly at night when all the kids are in bed and the house is quiet. 

It really is , the most wonderful time of the year! 

Tell me, do you have certain things that must happen when you put up your tree?

Our Family Christmas Traditions

Christmas is such an amazing time of the year, in my opinion anyway. Its when I come alive, get excited about my home and I am always more determined to spend more 'quality' time with our kids. 

Its also a time for family traditions.  I always like to hear how everyone puts their own spin on traditions. The things they have passed on to their children from their own childhoods and the new little traditions you make with your own families. I've decided to share a fair amount of our Festive season on the blog this year. More so to document this time for our children but also perhaps there are any readers out there who are like me and like to hear every ones traditions in case there is something you adapt for your home. 

This year, unfortunately my husband is working Christmas Day. It is the joy of shift work and I am sure there are many families out there in the same boat, and I feel for you all! Especially those with FIFO partners and those with family members who have passed away. It can be a really emotional time of the year, but it can also be pretty darn amazing! Oh to see Christmas in the eyes of a child!

Anyway, with my husband working on the main day ( he does a 12 hour shift so we are talking 5:30am - 6:30pm round trip, totally sucks!!) I have really tried to focus on the whole festive season , making every day special and memorable , rather than it just being about Christmas Day when I know the kids are going to struggle without their beloved Dad around.
We are also at home for Christmas this year, rather than heading away to see our family. This is a bittersweet issue for us. I would desperately love to be with my family (and not alone with the kids) but sometimes these things happen. It does however mean that we have more time at home . More time for me to organise crafts, advent activities and I seem to have Christmas spirit in abundance this year (whereas I struggled to feel it in 2014!) I know I will be sad on Christmas Day without my family around, I know I will shed a tear or 10 with my husband not around, but at the end of the day I will be strong for my kids and I am super lucky to be able to spend the day with them (unlike my amazing husband and all those who have to work) . These are the times when you wish you weren't such a bloody softy! haha

So over the next couple of weeks, I will be sharing our families Christmas traditions. Our advent activities, Kids crafts, baking, Teachers and class gifts, our Random Acts of Kindness gifts for 2015, whats on our Christmas lists or wrapped under the tree . All of the things!
Feel free to stop reading now if you are the Christmas Grinch!!

Christmas Craft- Bottle Snow Globes

One of my favourite parts of the festive season, is crafting with my kids. They love doing it all and I love spending the quality time with them. Everything else can wait if we have something to paint or make! 

This little project would have to have been one of the easiest and most effective Christmas Craft to date. The kids just love their Snow Globes and they have been used daily since completion!

You can make these as easy or as difficult as you like! You can use jars or plastic bottles (I've gone the child safe route and used plastic!) , you can add ornaments and glycerine or you can just leave them plain. Anyway you make them, they will be gorgeous and very loved!

A bottle/ Jar per person (Ours are plastic drink bottles from the Reject Shop , they come in a 6 pack)

Assorted fillers ( I used confetti snowflakes and beads, all purchased from discount stores)

Fine Glitter 

Super glue or hot glue gun (to seal the lid closed!!)

I also used a silver liquid pearl tube to write each childs initial on the lids but you can use a texta, sticker etc. 

Fill the container with chosen assorted goodies that will 'float' around.

Add some glitter. We had help from an adult for this job as I could predict what was going to happen if we didn't! Cleaning up glitter is no easy task!

Add water to the top and run a small amount of chosen glue ( I used a hot glue gun) around the inside of the lid and seal shut. Trust me , you will want to seal them shut properly. We did manage a small flood of glitter and sparkles before getting to seal all 4. argh!

Some people add Glycerine or baby oil to make the glitter float a little slower. I didn't have any, and didn't really see the need for it as the kids shake it constantly anyway. However, if you want to add some of these , just a tablespoon per bottle would be enough! I am thinking we will make some more in January with assorted fillings and will add Glycerine to those, but these are a seasonal craft and only need to last the month out!

There you have our pretty, sparkly Snow Globes/Bottles. These have been so well loved already and are perfect for the 'Silly Season' . I 'may' have sent a few of the kids to their rooms to lay down and play with their bottles , and to just chill! Its a crazy busy time of the year and sometimes kids just need a way to chill out . These are perfect for that!

Have a go at making them yourself! I would love to see your results!

Christmas Gift Ideas - Girls 6-8 years

The idea of Christmas looming is a rather scary one , but I must admit , I am super organised this year. I kind of have to be , seeing as though we live away from most shops and really only have Kmart. 

Plus can never judge postage and freight so its best to get in sooner , rather than later to make online purchases. I also have Christmas spirit in abundance this year! It seems last year I had very little Christmas spirit and this year I seemed to get the urge to decorate and launch myself into crafting and baking mid November! And you know what? I did it! Who says you have to follow the rules anyway? Do what makes you happy I say , and Michael Buble's Christmas album makes me happy!

Anyway, after talking about gifts and shopping on my Facebook page, there were a few requests for ideas and the purchases I have made for our children. So here we are, this is an idea of the things we have bought Stella, our eldest who is 7 and a half. I actually find Stella harder and harder to buy for. She isn't quite a 'big kid' and isn't quite a little girl anymore either. But she is still a child and I want to keep her that way for as long as possible! Stella has a love for jewellery, and anything crafty. This means craft kits are always always a huge hit and after trialling her on a el' cheapo adjustable version, she is getting the real deal in the way of signet rings this year. Still only $30 but totally precious to her! I have also had the pleasure of shopping on behalf of my parents for most presents for the kids. It just seemed more practical for me to buy or order things than my Mum do it then pay for postage to us again. So not all presents I list are from us. We have tried to scale back Christmas this year, there is no need to spend obscene amounts of money and they just expect it year in, year out there after anyway! Anyway, here you go! I'll be doing similar posts for the other kids presents too! 

General Presents

Bead Sets - Kmart $3- $7

 Little Live pet Butterfly ( I bought Stella's from Woolworths for $10 but you can find them HERE)

 Beados Gem set - I paid $28 but they are in most stores or HERE

Blue Tooth Speaker - Kmart $15

Signet Ring - $30 Bought locally but found HERE

Seedling Bangle set - $24.95 Entropy

Learning Watch - $30 Entropy

Book/ Lockable journal and Diary  - Target

STOCKING FILLERS

Blink Time Watch - $5 Kmart

Gel Pens and highlighters - 2 for $6 Woolworths 

Kmart assorted small bits and pieces in their Toiletries section

Notebook and pen set - $5 ea Target 

Kmart really have some cute goodies to fill stockings and they are all so cheap too! Last year, the most popular present was a cheap one I added to a stocking so never under estimate the power of a touch watch or bath crayons!

Stella is also receiving a new bag for dancing (to carry her shoes and socks to lessons etc) , a small toilet bag/case for when we travel and a new outfit set.

I hope this has helped and given you some new ideas!

I promise , I have not forgotten about the wardrobe posts, how dare life get in the way of blogging!
Stay tuned for more Christmas gift ideas and a whole lot of spirit ! Lucky you!

Clothing Our Kids Part 2 - Kids Clothing Inventory

As talked about in my last post, clothing our children is a never ending task (as they are are constantly growing) and one that is on the expensive side.

 I know it doesn't have to be, but I take pride in the way I dress and present my kids. They are a reflection of me, my parenting and our family. Plus, I believe, they deserve to look and feel good too! Every ones priorities in life are different, it just so happens that looking clean and presentable , never leaving the house without footwear on and taking pride in yourself and your appearance is a top priority for me. 

It is definitely a reflection of my upbringing. My parents taught us from a very young age that personal hygiene and appearance was important. I can't ever remember my Mum leaving the house without makeup on , or my Dad walking anywhere without shoes. But.. like I said, each to their own. If everyone was the same, the world would be a boring place!

As the kids get older, hand me downs are fewer, clothing changes and unfortunately our shops are limited where we live. I know there is always the wonderful world of online shopping, and believe me , I am a fan! However , with tall, thin children , it is nice to actually look at a garment, feel a fabric and see things with your own eyes in the flesh. So, this led me to create our Kids Clothing Inventory before my last trip away to the city.

A simple , easy to transport folder, where I can record what we have in each size , see clearly what we need and set levels that should be in the wardrobes at all times. I have assigned each child a section, with a list of each size relevant included. There are also sections for School Uniforms and footwear. 

I started with a basic, white ringed A5 file , plastic page protectors and some file dividers. These file dividers I actually made myself as I could only find them in plain, plastic and gaudy colours. I simply purchased the plastic ones and uses them as a template to cut my own from cute patterned card stock. 

The labels were made on a basic label maker. This way I can peel them off and swap things around if I wish, without too much trouble.

The School Uniform inventory covers all things, down to bike shorts that the girls slip on when they wear their school dresses.
If I have to throw something out because its stained (and it can't be removed) , I take one off the tally on the inventory. By having this file, it also means that if something gets advertised on a Buy and Sell page on Facebook etc, I am able to quickly check if we are in need of it and snaffle a second hand bargain. A bargain isn't a bargain if you don't actually need it . Now I can check!
I may be the President of our P & C , and I'm a full advocate of our Uniform Shop and it all that it does for the school, but I still have 4 kids, 3 at school. They play hard, have fun and can come home from school in a right old state ! Especially our 2 Pre Primary kids! We also live in a very transient town, where people may only stay for 6-12 months at a time. So if school uniforms are for sale second hand and are in good condition, I always try and buy them where I can. I think I have only bought about half of our uniform stock full price.
My motto is always ' Save on some, to spend more on others"

For our Shoe section I have created an inventory for boys and one for girls. These have a space to manually write the size in the top.
Our boys do actually wear the same size shoes (event though they are 18 months apart) so I just write a name before the size .
For the girls I have included Weekend dress shoes (which may be a ballet slipper from Cotton On Kids etc) and Weekend Sandals. Also Soccer /Football boots and school socks and casual socks.
Plus of course, school sandals and casual sandals.
The boys are much the same.

Again , I have included things like the Soccer/Football boots as its something that I anticipate that we will need every year. However the boots that Stella wore this year , will no doubt not fit next year and therefore Lacey could wear them when she reaches that size etc. All shoes that are too big , go into a box that is clearly marked and because its listed on the inventory, I know there is a pair waiting in that box , without even having to look.

Taking stock and updating levels etc with items in storage before a recent trip to the big smoke!

With the general Clothing Inventory , I want through the kids wardrobes/drawers and wrote down everything that we need for the year. We generally don't have a cold winter in the Pilbara and have an extremely hot summer for a good 7 months of the year so my levels would be different than that of a family in a different climate. Each small box indicates an item needed.
Each sizing even includes rain coats (as we have a wet season) , singlets , jumpers and even underwear.
I usually have a list in each child's section of their current size and sheets for the next 3 sizes up. This means that when I go away for a weekend to the city and can sneak in some shopping, or the online sales are on, I can purchase something I like, even if it doesn't come in the kids current sizes. Rather than missing out on it, I know they will get to wear it in the future and I save money in the long run when an item is discounted to just a few dollars.
I have always bought clothing on sale , in advanced sizing for the kids. But .. I seemed to buy it , stash it in a box or cupboard then when I get it all out its either too small and I've missed the boat or I have 10 T-Shirts in one size and only 1 in another! Well not anymore!
Now I know what I have, what I need and I don't over buy . Perfect. A life changer for me!

Another inventory and list before my city trip. Knowing what I need is the best thing of all.  Its hard because when people thing of a weekend away with no kids, they generally don't thinking of buying basic items, however its all I seem to do! 

For some, this inventory may seem far too organised. Some may say I have too much time on my hands (and I can assure you that time is something that is severely lacking in my life) but then again, some people may see it and think "YES!!!" I need that! 

It has changed the way I shop. Changed the way I pack for trips away. Changed the way I look at items , and instead of impulse buying, I am shopping smarter! I check what sizes are available, I see if I need it and if I do I purchase. If I don't need it , it stays on the shelf. Easy. 

I tend to stick to a colour scheme for the kids. The boys especially, as I find boys clothes so hard to find in styles that I actually like. This way, all their clothes mix and match. 

I may like a red top , but know that it doesn't go with the rest of their clothing and therefore I don't buy it. Easy.

You may think that only 5 T-shirts isn't enough, but when you wash everyday like I do and its usually back in the wardrobes the next afternoon , I think 5 is just fine. Again, everyone is so different. Find a system that works of you . It may be trial and error, but you'll get there. This has taken me years to figure out and implement. But I am loving it ! 

If you haven't already, check out Part 1 of my Clothing Our Kids posts. 

In Part 3 I will be covering my favourite places to shop, both bricks and mortar stores and online. 

Is a Clothing Inventory something you may be interested in? 

Shall I pop my lists up as printable? 

You could always try your hand at making your own too! 

I'd love to hear more about the way you keep track of your kids clothing, sizes and storage!