Advent Calendar 2011

My dear friend Celiah Ann from FUNdametnals inspired this beautiful little Advent Calendar set! Her's is so beautifully done that I just had to try my hand at making some for Mouse. I've been meaning to make a proper Advent Calendar for her for almost 3 years now and finally got round to doing something special for her. Here are some of the Christmas stockings, each one has a number on for the day and then a little embellishment. Everything was hand sewn with loads of love and I truly enjoyed this project! I inserted a little eyelet in each and added some ribbon to enable it to hang on our tree.

I only need to add some treats and then we are all set for out countdown to Christmas!

Love for me is...

I love my husband.  He is an amazing father to Mouse, soul mate and friend to me.  I praise God every single day for him in my life.  He carries me, he is my rock.  He shows his love daily by leading our family in God's word, by loving us unconditionally, by working so hard every single day in order to provide for us, his family.  This is what true love is, in my opinion true love is not defined by the amount of gifts, flowers, chocolates, cards or letters you write, true love is loving that person unconditionally, treasuring them, walking with them on the road of God.  Carrying each other, caring for each other.  I see my husband's love when I look at my gorgeous little girl.  I see my husband's love when he comes home from work, tired, but smiling.  I don't need material things to know he loves me and appreciates me. 

"And so we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love.  God is love.  Those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them."  1 John 4:16

This is all I need, all I want.  This wonderful love God in His mercy and grace granted me.  Thank you my love for being you!!

Learning with Mommy: Visit to the Cape Town Museum

 We are fortunate enough to live in beautiful Cape Town!  The Cape Town Museum is about 30 min drive from our home and it was such an awesome visit.  At only R20.00 per adult (children enter free) it is well worth a visit!  The Dinosaur exhibition was by far Mouse's favourite.  She loves dinosaurs.  Here she is happily posing with a replica fossil.

 These huge Shark jaws were also a firm favourite with Mouse. 

 I loved all the animal displays, so many learning opportunities.  I was amazed by the questions Mouse had, she wanted to know what they ate, where they live, etc.  Animals that were strange and new she also asked to be identified. 

We didn't even cover all the exhibits, it is that huge!  We will be doing a dinosaur unit soon :)  and I will schedule another visit to the dino section of the museum with Mouse. 

The bird section is also huge, hundreds of birds species on display - another fun unit for the future!  What I loved about this trip is that she could see the actual animals, their real sizes and what they really look like, not just a picture in a book.  Granted not a live animal and a visit to our local zoo or aquarium is also important to see the animals alive and in a habitat, but she was able to view animals that normally would not be seen in Cape Town, as well as extinct ones.

We had a fun time and she did learn some fun and interesting facts as well, plus I spend time with my beautiful little girl!