The disaster molecule.

3D model of the Sucrose Molecule. Image from 3d chem.com

As I posted last week, 5 year old turned 6 and had a pretty crazy mad scientist party.

I, embracing the whole mad bit…. and a tad of the scientist bit…. decided that for this party she needed a molecule cake.

Although I was able to find lots of helpful images and ideas for games and general party food, I couldn’t find many images of molecule cakes. I now know the reason for this!

One of the VERY few cake-pop molecule cakes on the internet. Image and cake by Hecticium.

But…. undaunted and sure that it was just because no-one had thought of it yet…. I decided to give it a go.

My idea was to make cake-pops (so each child could eat it at the park without a plate) and link them (bond) all together with their sticks to form a 3D shape….. somewhat reminiscent of the sucrose molecule above. Yes, sucrose as in sugar, the very thing a cake should be made with. Yes , I was finding the whole planning process very entertaining and amusing.

Now, because I am not a baker…and generally leave the baking to the professionals…I decided to try my idea a couple of days before the party. As it turns out …. this was indeed the best idea surrounding the fated molecule cake!

The cake-pops …although incredibly tedious…. looked ok in themselves.

After much research into cake-pop making, no baking involved because you break-up already baked cake (bonus!), the purchase of very colourful and sweet ingredients….. a bit of food colouring….. white chocolate…. icing…. non-parelis (the blue things)….I set to work.

Ahhhhh……

Be warned people! Cake-pop making is to the cake decorating world as hand beading is to the world of couture. Amateurs run for your lives!

Not a good birthday cake beginning when the components need such careful manoeuvring.

Anyway…. long story short. After a full day of fiddling and fussing and a whole lot of questioning of ones sanity….. I was glad I had an option B.

THe ‘Epic Fail’ molecule cake.

The girls verdict on arriving home from school was ….. ‘they taste yummy’, ‘didn’t really work’ and ‘it was lucky you tried it first’.

All in all it was a disaster, however the disaster was still made up of molecules.

What if……

Image from etsy shop ‘Walking in faith’ only $4 for a printable PDF.

I very much want to be a thankful person.

During crazy busy month this is a great, great timely reminder!

5 year old turns 6

6 year old with 2 friends she has had forever! Thanks Laura for the photo.

My baby is 6!

What an amazing force of nature she is.

It’s hard to imagine after having 3 girls that the fourth one would be so different again. Her sisters love her to bits and all have their little games they play with her.

Like lots of younger siblings….. she doesn’t miss a trick and absorbs the world of her older sisters with ease.

Tim and I often comment about what this one will be like as an adult…….

We love her confidence and energy, her curiousness and her friendliness.

A nerd in the making…………..

Here she is in her ‘scrubs’ at her Mad Science party. Dr Fafa (grandfather) will be proud.

Thank you God for the littlest member of our family.

8 year old turns 9

Happy Birthday 9 year old.

Today our third oldest girl turned 9.

I can hardly believe it.

Today she was unwell and had the day off school. It wasn’t all bad though. She got a chance to ride her new bike…. (thanks Granni Jan and Fafa) and have a couple of friends over for dinner.

She constantly surprises us with her determination and order, her conviction and openness.

It’s tricky being ‘in the middle’ of our quite overwhelming family….. but she does it with so much class.

This past year she has applied her trademark gusto to all things music. It’s a thrill to watch her learn.

She was keen for me to share this video with you….. the 2cellos play Smooth Criminal….. she loves these guys so much she wanted their album for her birthday. We have enjoyed it all day. Tim even thanked her for her great taste in music!

Riding today…..

We thank God for her. She’s a treat and a pleasure to have in our family.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Collage close-up.

Just thought I would let you know, I have one of the loveliest present making and buying families in the world! I’m sorry if that makes you jealous….. but it’s true.

Yes, today is my birthday and they spoilt me, yet again.

Earlier in the year I had emptied my wallet framing these works that were quickly becoming damaged without the protecting framing provides. You may remember we had them in our bedroom in the last house. One of the great things about abstract art is you can hang it anyway you choose! They now are taking pride of place in the lounge room but hung differently.

…….anyway, I had said that this would be my birthday present, but Tim and the girls went ahead and gave me a voucher to do more art classes! I am running out of walls. I will have to start painting miniatures.

‘Red Wine’ by 13 year old.

My voucher!! Woo Hoo.

13 year old painted me something, and they all took me out for a grungy pub dinner near Newtown.

I think I am having the most artistic birthday ever!

 

The collages in situ. in our new pad.

Two of a three part series on the other wall. The first one is still st the framers……. string direction issues.

Granni Jan turns 70

The family…..a few half heads and non-lookers….. always the way with this many of us!

A couple of weekends ago we celebrated as a family.

It was Granni Jan’s 70th birthday.

Granni Jan….

We had such a lovely day at the Flying Fox Park in Mona Vale.

As part of our gift to Granni Jan my sister in law, Sarah collected messages, poems and memories from across those 70 years and collated them into a book. My message will be the last to go in…a report of sorts about the day.

The day played out a little like a 7 year old birthday party.

The party was in the park….

The grand-children decorated cupcakes…..

….to complete a big birthday cake.

Crafts (flowers from socks) were made by the kids to give to Granni Jan as a bunch of flowers.

My wonderful sister-in-laws for organising these cool crafts.

The theme of the party was flowers and blue….. and our space was appropriately decorated.

…all ready to go.

We even had a mintie chase, and an easter egg hunt.

 

Of course along side these activities we enjoyed lots of chats, hanging out  and being thankful.

We almost lost Jan a couple of years back, and this just made the celebration of her 70th birthday all the more sweet.

I have the unique pleasure of being Granni Jan’s only Daughter-in-law. I love my Mother-in-law which is such a treat for me. She is a woman who has given her everything to love and serve God and others….. but she hasn’t lost her uniqueness in the process. She’s a beautiful ‘older woman’ to have in my life.

One of the things being in this extended family has taught me is how to be more demonstrative with words and actions. They are amazing at it… I still have a long way to go….. but I thought this was a good excuse to share a list of things I am thankful for and love about my mother-in-law.

1. I am thankful and love that you are still with us.

2. I am thankful and love that you make time to sip appropriate beverages and chat.

3. I am thankful and love that you read and grow and think deeply.

4. I am thankful and love how you welcome each of our children and love them in their uniqueness…. even when it makes your head spin.

5. I and thankful and love that you understand broken-ness and help us work through it ….. however long that takes….or is taking.

6. I am thankful and love your competitiveness at scrabble.

7. I am thankful and love that you make the phone-calls and don’t leave it all up to me.

8. I am thankful and  love the way you have accepted me from our first meeting.

9. I am thankful and love that you give me the freedom to love your son.

10. I am thankful and love that you take care of all things meringue related.

11. I am thankful and love our pre-meal fussing in the kitchen while everyone else is off being active!

Happy Birthday Granni Jan.

Ooops, I almost missed my 3rd blogoversary.

Image from Beadtowne blogspot.

Well, who would believe I have been blogging for 3 years!

How time flies………

Thank You, thank you And thank you for reading and visiting……

I love having you around and hearing your thoughts.

 

Anzac Day

Image from Rob's Higher Ed Bl BLog. The tall poppy.

Today 13 year old and I had the privilege of attending and participating in the Department of Education and Communities Anzac rememberance service.

As part of the NSW Public Schools Junior Singers, 13 year old was part of a choir that performed a number of songs for this event. One of the pieces they sang is a song written by their conductor called Always Remember. I have included the lyrics below so you can get a feel for what I experienced.

ALWAYS REMEMBER

Music and Lyrics by Ian Jefferson.

I’ll always remember the lights on the liner, 

They signalled the start of a thousand goodbyes, 

And I’ll not forget the cheers from the crowd or the tears 

in my grandmother’s eyes. 

.

There was Charley and George, Thomas and Joseph, 

Patrick McGee and James, 

And many more as we marched into the flames. 

.

I’ll always remember the thrill and excitement, 

Adventures galore from the very first day, 

And I’ll not forget defending the line or the friendships 

we made on the way. 

.

There was Charley and George, Thomas and Joseph, 

Patrick McGee and James, 

And many more as we marched into the flames. 

.

We shared jokes and tobacco, 

We gambled and swore, we sang. 

The sun rises each day but for some it has already set, 

We’ll never forget. 

I’ll always remember the roar of the trenches, 

We fought to survive and we’d never say, “die”, 

And I’ll not forget the roll-call at dawn, when a soldiers 

name brought no reply. 

.

There was Charley and George, Thomas and Joseph, 

Patrick McGee and James, 

And many more whose names I never learned, 

Our comrades forever, 

the fallen who never returned.

Have you heard this song before?

It struck a huge chord with me. My eyes flowed with tears as they often do at ANZAC services.

My girls go to school with Charlies and James’, Thomas’ and Joseph’s, Patrick’s and Georges. Perhaps your children do too.

When I think of how much time I spend investing in my kids. Keeping them safe. Teaching them so as they move into adulthood, they will be responsible adults, contributors and successful. Perhaps even tall poppies in their areas of giftedness. I know for sure many of these fallen soldiers parents did the same. But, I suspect these future soldier boys were taught something more.

A love for their country.

A duty to their neighbour.

I was humbled to think…..do I care about the good of others enough to teach it, and insist on it or do only care about my own children’s good without reference to others?

The choir followed this ballad with the old hymn we don’t hear often enough.

Abide With Me.

Words by William Henry Monk and Henry F. Lyte 

 

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide, 

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide, 

When other helpers fail and comforts flee, 

Help of the helpless, O abide with me. 

.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes, 

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies, 

Heav’ns morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee, 

In life, in death O Lord, abide with me. 

What fabulous words!

Whatever their gifts, I want them to remember that without God they are the helpless.

I hope above all, that my girls abide in Him, and not in their safety or skills or successfulness….. and that the good and service of others is a very worthy goal.

 ’Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.’

1 Peter 4:10-11.

A day without the kids!

Coffee..... how cool is the texta on the mug? Table number (9 of clubs).

This weekend our kids went in two directions.

The big two to KYCK….. and the little to to Granni Jan and Fafa’s.(thank you if you are reading)

Tim and I got one whole day alone together.

What did we do? Went for a late breakfast at 2204.…..and read …. and chatted …… and layed on the bed.

Fun? Yes. Relaxing? It was. Long enough?…….

Really looking forward to the next one.

Mmmm our favourites. Big breakfast for him....Eggs Florentine for her.

In Christ Alone by Owl City.

One of my favourite hymns by one of my favourite singers of the moment (Adam Young)

Enjoy the quietness this Easter Sunday.