#WordsOfWisdom

"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bryce

Happy 8th Birthday Bryce!

And I Return

Hello! 

Nope, contrary to what you may have thought, I haven't dropped off the planet! Wow, has it really been three months already since my last post?! I have a stack of photos waiting to be edited and uploaded, but between busyness and technical issues I haven't managed to work on them. :/

During September and October I spent three weeks in Australia, visiting friends and family . . . and enjoying the weather :D lol. In Aus, short sleeves and jandals -- try not to get sunburnt; walk off the plane into Auckland terminal -- *put puffer jacket on* *still freeze*. Lol. Great trip! Photos coming :)

Since I've been back I've taught a full term of recorder classes, and finished the year off with my students and siblings performing a concert at a local rest home. It's somewhat weird to think I've been teaching for three years now!

While I have some extra time on my hands *cough* since my students are on summer holidays, I become student again, solidifying scales for my next flute exam, and studying so I can {one day/finally} graduate. So if I come on here speaking French and {scientific} Latin . . .

Somewhere between knocking things off my to do list and enjoying the warmer weather (if and when it arrives lol) I'm supposed to get some job hunting in. *Sigh*

At present I can't edit photos on our desktop computer (not sure if I can run updates to rectify that or not) and the adapter for my super-slow laptop died last week . . . I should be able to replace that but not sure how quickly with Christmas being this week. So hopefully I can sort something out and get some more photos on here! But for now, 

Farewell!

Mum

Happy Birthday Mum!

Peer into the Past

Once again, we entered several history projects into the annual Peer into the Past. 

The actual day of the fair has changed somewhat for us since the early days. I didn't go until later in the morning with Dad, and Jarrod was working; the next four children actually entered projects.

: : Mrs. Rakete always organises a history presentation before prize giving. : :
This year Steve, a homeschool graduate (he entered a project into the first ever Peer into the Past eight or so years ago!) spoke about the Vikings. The costume featured above weighs about 40 kilos! 

: : Diana with her project on the American Flag : :

Photos from my iPhone since Mum forgot the camera, two projects missing since I only remembered to ask about the camera as everyone was packing up. Lol

Baby Shower!

Several weeks before her new ba-bee was due to arrive, Amie scheduled in a baby shower.

An afternoon of fun, food, and games was enjoyed by all.

{Thanks to all those who helped pull it off!}

: : Super cute : :

: : Bee Cake : :

: : Miffy! : :
{Sorry, I forgot the Dutch name}

: : Handstitched first book : :

Winter at the Botanic Gardens {Set Four}

: : Love the golden glow! : :

Winter at the Botanic Gardens {Set Three}

: : Reflections : :

Winter at the Botanic Gardens {Set Two}

Installment #2, peeps - enjoy!

: : Is it just me or does this plant look weird?! : :

: : Love this reflection! : :
The arrangement of trees somewhat resembles one of the stamps in Stampin' Up's Lovely As A Tree set, I think

Winter at the Botanic Gardens {Set One}

To be honest I don't get along very well with winter. But using it as an excuse for a photoshoot is perhaps like using a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. Although I would hardly call winter medicine. But anyway. 

Earlier this year I ran a series of posts at the Botanic Gardens, which turned out to be quite popular! Additionally, the time in nature proved refreshing, and the photography experience was both helpful and enjoyable. With all that in mind, I decided to run another series, this time with winter as a theme. Having said that, our temperate climate means these look more like an autumn set. Oh well.

Let me know your favourites in the comments section below!

Jarrod's Birthday || Dinner at Bronco's

Since this year was his big 16th, Jarrod organised for the two of us and a few peeps from church to hit Bronco's (steakhouse) for dinner one night. 

I'm out of brilliant ideas for things to write so without further ado I present some photos to you.

: : Seriously this food is good. I could live off meals like this ;) : :

: : Group photo just before we left. And yes, the camera lens is dirty . . . sorry : :

Bryce || Soccer

So my little(st) bro -- Bryce -- is midway through his first season of soccer. Some of us may or may not be over hearing about it, so I'll let you guys hear about it for a change. Actually, I guess we'll still hear about it too. Oh well. Enjoy some pics of our latest soccer player!

{Dad's looking at this one thinking it's a throwback to Jarrod . . . haha}

{I'm guessing the Jago height genes show later in life? :P}