It Was A Beautiful Day

With all the advent and Christmas preparations I am quite a few posts behind. Below are a mix of pictures of part of the amazing month we have had before Christmas. The nativity scene has built week by week, kingdom by kingdom. As too the advent wreath on our dining table. Each week a new candle and new gifts around the wreath to symbolize the kingdom for that week. We also had a verse that was said every night and a story about Mary's journey towards Christmas. The girls remembered things from last year and also made their own scenes for Rosie and Claire...


Advent Wreath complete... All the kingdoms, mineral, plant, animal and human



Little Shepard and his sheep


Ox


Mary and Joseph on their journey



We had a beautiful Christmas, surrounded by friends and lots of love and wishes from afar. The girls loved every gift and smiled and enjoyed every second of opening their gifts. Here are a few pictures from the day and night before!!!




Carrots for the reindeer's


Getting the stockings ready


Where is Coco???



Big cheese





Telling The Advent Garden Story- Of Mary travelling to all the kingdoms to collect gifts for the baby Jesus!


He's been, he's been!!!


Rosie in her new cradle


Little sweetie





Oh. My. Goodness!!!



yay!!!!


A NEW BIKE!!!!!!


Snorkel From Queenie and Mike Gramps



Scooting Diddy, the most exciting gift for Phoebe



Goggles and Bathers...


A new dress

My Girl

On Friday Phoebe had a farewell from Periwinkle Pre-school. As always it was a stunning end of year ceremony with gorgeous songs and circle time. A beautiful story about baby Jesus and the first lighthouse and the finale the children who are moving on got to 'sail their boat' to signify them moving onto bigger waters.
Phoebe had been talking about this moment for the last few weeks. She is suddenly very ready to move onto 'big' school.



As part of the day they gave us a folder full of paintings, photos and stories about Phoebe for the last two years, and following was a letter they wrote about Phoebe......
On the first page is a stunning picture of Phoebe with the caption "Gorgeous Phoebe, Our gentle angel"

Dear Phoebe,
What a sweet gentle girl!! What a delight to have you at Periwinkle. Phoebe has been such a great contributor to the group. She embraces her role here with almost a level of adult seriousness and commitment whilst able to remain in child-play realm almost simultaneously. As this year has progressed she has really taken ownership of Periwinkle and will remind the teachers is a paintbrush is missing, demonstrating her attention to detail and need for order. She loves the outside world too, climbing trees with strength and agility and letting her imagination dictate her role in that particular moment.
She appears to really enjoy the connections she has made with others here, playing with a variety of children and being well-liked. She approaches others with respect and sweetness and is a helpful kind friend. Phoebe creates truly beautiful work reflecting her inner feelings and emotions of innocence and light.
It has been really lovely to have Phoebe around, we will miss her. Phoebe will do well in all she does. She is a bright button and a very capable confident girl!






Goal for Phoebe Neumann 2006
To encourage her to feel more secure and confident here
To give her warmth and nurturing
To develop more confidence socially

Evaluation 2007
Phoebe's level of security and confidence of her place at Perwinkle is intact and she embraces all the environment and people.
Phoebe is very much loved and appreciated by us.
Phoebe is extremely popular with all her peers, as she is confident, secure open and generous in her being.



Coco joins the morning circle


The story of the first lighthouse


Phoebe chooses her boat



And lights it


And of it sails........


Yay Diddy



All the little boats on their new journey


Geraldine gives Phoebe her farewell gift. The teachers handmade wooden boats and decorated them all with stunning art works and a little person made with love to be on the boat!!




Mummy, Phoebe, Coco and Daddy!!!

A Long Time Ago In Bethlehem

Today was the last day for the year at 'Rose Cottage' The year ended with a small Nativity song/play.
Coco was Mary and as you can see she took her role very seriously! She was a delightful Mary and has been talking about it for the last few days. Telling me that she was going to be with Joseph and hold baby Jesus. I had tears during the rehearsal, my heart was so proud of her!
Miss Phoebe enjoyed her role as Sheppard and her singing was soooooo beautiful. I am always in awe of her angelic tone, and today was the first day she hasn't been shy about showing others her incredible voice.
Today was quite a big day for her as it was her last day at Rose Cottage, next year she heads off to kindergarten so they had a little ceremony for her to 'sail her boat' off to bigger waters. I thought that I would be sad about her going to school, but I am excited and today as I saw her amongst the friends I knew that she is ready. She will have another boat sailing on Friday at Periwinkle!!
So today was a beautiful way to finish the term off there, and the girls were thrilled that their daddy could play the guitar for the ceremony.
Coco was singing hark now hear the angels sing....then she turned to me and said 'this song makes my heart grow!!!'
How blessed I am!


Off the the last day at Rose Cottage


So sweet


Phoebe


Coco takes Baby Jesus


Mother Mary


Sasha,Phoebe,Sammy, Coco and Maya


Ready to walk


Awwwwwww so sweet


Phoebe lights her candle ready to sail her boat



Off the boat goes.... sail sail my boat, carry me across the water, carry me across the sea. Sail, sail my boat...

Who says She's Just A Doll??

They say that children learn through imitation, and I see this daily in my girls. The way they play and interact I hear and see myself on a regular basis.
As you know, the girls babies are like part of the family, even friends who come over hold and talk to Rosie and Claire like real babies.
Last night when I went in to check the girls before bed, I found Rosie imitating her Mama Coco, so so cute the way they were both spread out sleeping!!

St Nicholas' Day

I am a little behind on the updates. Advent started last week, and I haven't even got photos for that post yet! We have been lighting the advent candle everyday and Mary and Joseph started their journey towards the stable. Pictures to come.
Thursday was the celebration of St Nicholas' day. I really love this celebration as it has so much more "meaning" behind where this whole gift giving came from. We have a beautiful story that we tell of how Bishop Nicholas collects food from the local villagers and takes it to a village where the people are hungry. Its a stunning story that finishes with him meeting Mother Mary who asks him to spread the word that baby Jesus will soon be born.
The girls left out their little love heart shoes and a kiwi fruit, and off they went to bed, with the story swirling in their heads.
And when they woke in the morning......








Its always such a delight to share these magic moments with my children. They talked about St Nicholas all day and cherished that they got "good" food as well as sweet treats.
They are loving moving Mary and Joseph one step closer everyday, and we have been making new animals for the scene this year too. Pictures to follow....

In Heaven Shines A Golden Star

We are thrilled that we can share the news.....




Felicity and Haakon are having a baby!!!!! The girls and I are so excited and we wish them so much joy and love for the journey ahead... Baby Andresen is due early June... And all going well, the girls and I will be lucky enough to be in Norway to be with them at this very special time.....
It is hard to be away from family at times like this, but thankfully the internet keeps us connected and we got this special little picture in the inbox this morning...
More updates to follow!!!