House Hunting
We have had quite an exciting but tiring few months. We decided to get into the house hunting market but this time to buy our own place. Wow it is so much harder than renting, so much more on the line. First there is price and what and where we can afford to buy in Sydney, then there are the schools - we need to place high priority on both primary and high schools as by 2012 I will be commuting to both every morning and afternoon and the kids will be socialising in them and then the area, the size of the house and of course the bank evaluation. We have put in offers on 2 properties now 1 which we declined on because of area and then the second came well under valuation and proved too costly in repairs it ticked a number of boxes especially walking distance to both schools and I could have my own sewing room and Bruce could have a study but we were unsure of area and the bank valuation was high importance because we would not get a loan. So after this disaster we have reassessed our priorities and have decided to downsize for a number of years to get into an area we love, build up some equity and then upsize. it will mean the girls share a room, I do not get much sewing space and living areas are smaller but I think school choice is important. Our available market is much smaller but well patience is a virtue.
Out and about
We have been extremely busy and very lucky over this period with exciting outings in and around town. Here is the exciting list and some pics.
Baby Ballet at the Opera House with Miranda
Gruffalo Theatre Production at Riverside Theatre Parramatta with Bronte & Miranda3 Birthday Parties (2, 4yrs old parties and 1, 3yr old party)
Two reversible aprons and a chef hat each were made for 2 gifts
Australian Girls Choir Concert at the Hills Centre where Bronte sang and we adored her singing.
A Cheerleading Trivia Concert where both girls danced up a stormA school Dance performance where Bronte danced
A Dance scholarship where Bronte competed in Jazz, Tap and Ballet. I was so impressed by how much she has learnt this year. Bronte has been dancing for a few years now but when we moved we changed dance schools and her new dance school teaches from a syllabus so she is learning so much more.
Ice Skating 3 times
Hannah Montana movieLuna Park
Ice Age 3 Movie at the drive-in'sand I have been lucky enough to get out twice without the kids and enjoy dinner and a movie (Bruno) with a friend and dinner and a movie (The Proposal) with Bruce
The colours came together using the pink floral print (a fat quarter I had in my stash) I decided not to add a pocket to the floral side as it made it too busy. I quilted the blue spot to make the pot holder and mit. And needed to add some pink spot to make enough pink floral to make the bandanna. All the fabric came from my stash but I will definately be going out to replace my spots. 
The table cloth has purple spots and will tie into a second apron and chefs hat for my other niece Sophie (Kayla's sister) who's favourite colour is of course purple and who's birthday is next month.
We saw Dolphins Galore on our dolphin cruise on Jervis Bay
A baby Kookaburra 
And many sea gulls all fighting for the next chip - I could have bought many bags of them just to watch Miranda's delight at feeding the sea 
and 
Getting 
Instead enjoying walks along the basin down the road from our house.
I am really loving Black and White Print fabric with a touch of colour.
Maybe you might just find yourself some in the post?
But she was not going to get me up there (Mega Drop)- I do not think my heart would have taken the plunge. I felt like a mum letting go of her little girl whilst she sat way up there, I just kept praying that she would make it down in one piece - of course she did and with a smile from ear to ear.
I made these bracelets with the kids names and mobile phone numbers on the back to to safeguard any losses - thankfully they were only used as fashion accessories and not IN Case of Emergency.
and of course Eating Chocolate 