A Big Week

Littlest KAT started big school yesterday.

Her bravado over the holidays had lulled us into a false sense of security...she was actually nervous!

We thought Daddy wasn't going to be able to make it but he surprised us:)

This is the face of apprehension.

Luckily she had a smile on her dial more than the anxious face.

 

As if that's not enough of an emotional roller coaster we have also had another momentous occasion this week...

Oldest KAT is off to high school.

I am so proud I could burst!

To say its been a big week would be an understatement!

Let's not forget my little fish Middle KAT. She has been the most supportive of sisters to both her older and younger sibling and has allowed them to be in the limelight without even a hint of resentment.

I am a very lucky mummy to have such a trio and Saint Mike.

 

My New Blog - Revamped by Libby

I have started a new blog.  It's called Revamped by Libby.  In my usual style of adopting acronyms I will be referring to it from here on as RBL (does it matter if it's a capital B in the acronym?)

I'm going to combine my love of revamping discarded and tired furniture with the need to generate a bit of income for the house of KATcapers.

I was inspired by the above card that I saw at Kikki K the other day but truth be told I've been toying with the idea for a while. 

There's a store in our neck of the woods that is rarely actually open but I peer through the window and admire the items that this lady has in it....things she's reconditioned and repainted.  Some days I've been fortunate enough to see her there, paint brush in hand working on a piece of furniture.  I can do that I've said to myself.

On the interweb I've admired the work of people both local and international who transform furniture items for themselves or for others and revamped them into items to admire and add charm to some lucky person's home.  I can do that I've said to myself.

No more procrastinating.  I'm doing it!

I'd love it if you'd come across and join me there and follow my journey. 

 

Even better, if you need help with revamping any item of furniture that's been sitting in your shed/roof/under your house/in your spare room and want to discuss it with me I'd love to hear from you!!!!

Uptime and Downtime

 

Unlike previous school breaks these holidays have been free of any "organised" activity.

Instead spontaneity coupled with plenty of down time for all of us has been our modus operandi.

Youngest KAT is off to big school and these holidays have been about spending lots of time with her big sisters....annoying as that can sometimes be for each of them:)

Oldest KAT remains preoccupied with her elevation to high school and the natural apprehension that it brings.

Middle KAT has been practising her basketball skills in the evenings with daddy whilst I constructively critisize Saint Mike's coaching technique and play with the other two in the adjacent park.

Two weeks to go. Shopping done, labelling underway. The excitement for a new school year builds.

Balancing the Bumps with the Blessings

2012 was a mixed bag for me. On an individual level it was a year of stumbling. I want to say failing but I've done enough years of cognitive behaviour therapy/mindfulness training to know that's not helpful self-talk.

I don't mention these stumbles to dwell on them, it's merely to document:

1. My history of yo-yo dieting continues...the "yo" rebounded with a bang - all weight lost in 2011 regained. Not enough words to convey the self-loathing that's ensued.
2. Work was sporadic, a few good months to be followed by a hiatus when the stair tumble occurred and my confidence is now so low that I feel anxious just thinking about the prospect of ever working again.
3. Like many men his age, Saint Mike has been struggling with a minor mid-life crisis. Fortunately as the amazingly resilient bloke that he is the impact has been confined to our intimacy suffering a few low points but with focused attention all is well in that garden:)
4. Illness and injury were a factor in 2012 for me and also for family members. Sadly the end of the year meant the loss of my brother-in-law, leaving behind twin girls our middle KATs age which breaks my heart. Added to this my lovely mother-in-law is being wracked by the relentless progression of Parkinson's and my heart is heavy with the burden this puts on her.

Fortunately these challenges are outweighed by the blessings of my beautiful KATs and Saint Mike along with the pleasure and respite that comes from having constant contact with my amazing siblings and their partners and children and my lovely friends near and far that fill my heart with love.

 

1. Oldest KAT graduated from primary school receiving the Dux of the school award. It was a wonderful moment. She is apprehensive about high school but that is to be expected:)
2. Middle KAT is our very own sporting prodigy....she made the rep teams in both basketball and netball and is a very promising swimmer to boot. Even better she has emerged from year 4 as guileless and effervescent as she entered.
3. Youngest KAT amazes us with her maturity and intelligence...she is truly the 3rd child. We went to the pool yesterday and she was distraught to be without her flippers which we had assumed SHE would pack! We both agreed that this is typical of the high expectations we have for her at 5 compared to the other two who would no sooner have even got their towels out than pack their own goggles and flippers!! She is off to big school next year and my heart is heavy to lose our special times together.

The dawn of a New Year this time round is not about resolutions and turning over any new leaf. It is about being thankful for the blessings and moments of joy that I was fortunate to have in 2012 and being hopeful that these will continue into 2013.

 

I love my family and I am grateful to have these blessings.

 

Christmas KATcapers Style

Christmas 2012 is almost over.

At the house of KATcapers it has been all about rest and relaxation.

We stayed home. We didn't overcommit ourself (read myself) in the catering department and a peaceful and fulfilling day was had by all.

Prawns, Ham and salad with the Pavlova eaten later in the day because we were all too full to do it justice.

Silly hats, silly jokes, silly conversation around our little table whilst Sally (the dog) sat on one of the new pillow pets being fed the occasional morsel of ham.

I hope your festivities have been as enjoyable?

Advent Calender Craft - Growing Seeds of Love

We're starting a new Advent Calender tradition this year at KATcapers.

The idea evolved organically. I knew that I wanted to use brown envelopes and a pinboard (recycling one that I've had for a while).  When I was out buying paint at Murobond I saw these seed envelopes

Once I started playing around with positioning them on the board I began to reflect on the fact that they were seed envelopes.

Seeds. Growing. Love.

I realized that there was a way to link the anticipation of christmas and the birth of our saviour with the love that we are growing within our little family.  Loving each other is a very important life lesson that Saint Mike and I want to teach our KATs.  Loving each other in spite of our differences.  Knowing that whatever happens, we are here for each other.

So, our Advent Calender has become a ritual that will have significance each year and will produce a 'crop' of love via notes we will write to each other each Advent season.

The way it works is:

1. Each of the KATs writes two notes to their siblings and mum and dad (3 X 8 = 24)
2. The note can be something you love about the person or something you admire about them or something you've appreciated that they've done for you (Littlest KAT draws a picture at the moment as she can't write)
3. Mum and Dad write one note for each KAT and one to each other (2 X 5 = 10)
4. The notes are placed in the envelope randomly (some obviously have two notes per day)
5. Each day we will open the envelope for that date and a family member will get a special message of love
6. Each day the person that gets the note will get a chocolate that they can each eat or give to someone else (hmmmmnnnn we'll see how this goes!!!)
7. Each year we will put the notes in a keepsake box and save them so that as the years pass we can re read them and hopefully cherish them:)

The girls all helped with putting the Advent Calender together - stamping the title, stamping the envelopes, attaching the red striped ribbon. 

I put it all together last night in readiness for today.  It is obviously a couple of days late but this is due to Middle KAT being very unwell over the weekend and ending up in emergency needing anti nausea medication and fluids....she's on the mend now!

Getting this Advent Calender completed is the first thing I have done in the way of Christmas decorating.  Saint Mike is itching to get his lights up.  The KATs are itching to get the inside decorations up.  I think we're going to have some busy evenings around here!

I'd love to know what you think?  Like?? 

Trolley Dolly Reveal

Here she is folks.  The Trolley Dolly makeover is complete and if I do say so I'm rather pleased with the result.  Her new paint finish is Murobond "2 Peas" a colour from the range designed by the interior stylist and alround creative guy Mr Jason Grant. 

 

I'm a romantic at heart and choosing paint colours for my little (and not so little) furniture finds is an exercise in indulging those romantic tendencies...hence a quick trip to Bunnings and choosing from the Dulux (or other brand) paint display isn't enough for me.  No I'm attracted to paints that tell a story and Murobond ticks all the boxes for me.

The store is a sensory delight and the range of colours on offer makes me feel like a kid in a candy store.

In the case of this colour I chose to pick up the colours in the fabric of the pinboard above the desk.  They are calming colours and the blues and greens at the top of the board are my favourite tones.  So "2 Peas" was a winner!

 

This shot is of the top of the board that sits just above my laptop screen.  The two little items are a daily reminder that I need to stay strong and not let the nasty voices in my head beat me down.

 

Anyway, back to the Trolley Dolly....

 

 

Look there's no getting around it, the Trolley Dolly is not destined for a glamorous life.  She holds a rather unattractive printer for goodness sake!  Her minty green/blue surface is crying out for an arrangement of pretty stationery...that will be a job for another day.

 

You can also spy my cord organizer in the shot below....a repurposed hanging rack usually destined to hold spices on the inside of a pantry door.

 

 

These photos are reminding me that sanding and restaining our floors needs to be high on our list of jobs for 2013!!!

 

So there you have it.  Another painting project is behind me.  I really enjoyed this one and hope you like her too.

 

Have a great weekend!