This week is the most social we’ve had in a long time; I invited my two nieces to stay to give my extremely pregnant sister a bit of a rest, my Dad is over from Egypt and The Porticos also visited (these days we have various schoolies and commitments and it isn’t so easy to just up sticks and visit in term time.)
I don’t know my nieces nearly well enough really, mostly due to circumstances neither of us could do much about. My sister knows my girls much better, as she used to be at my parents’ house often when our lot went there. My sister and I have been pregnant 3 times already at the same time (this is the 4th time) and out of those times I only have 1 to her 3 and – well, inevitably, there have just been times when it has been a bit too much of an emotional stretch to be around much. Then business, Max and I needing to be able to have time alone, etc etc – it all adds up to a more absent auntie than I should be.
We had a LOVELY few days; R & E are very different to my girls, while having the family markers of similarity which mean you find yourself constantly thinking “oh, I know you!” They are also extremely funny kids; I spent a lot of time giggling helplessly at them and sending texts to my sister she probably didn’t appreciate 😉 However, sister dear, I wish you to know they are welcome back any time 😆
Among other things, we entertained them with craftiness. I hoped it would fill in time (I hope it did) and on this occasion a quick purchase from Baker Ross provided the goods.
These foam trees and leaves would be easy to do with card and glue and they liked them. Maddy, you will not be surprised to know, couldn’t leave it at just a tree and hers turned into a tree house for her Smurf (in the hat and scarf she crocheted for him). He lives at number 42, because Smurfs are the answer to life the universe and everything!
The Hama Bead creatures come from the Woodland Friends Kit, which I love. I think it is one of the best they ever made 🙂
We also did simple kit sewing.
Again, you could do this just from felt, but it was an easy way to fill an hour.
E loved it.
R was not so sure 😉
Then there was foam notebooks and fruit stickers for a harvesty theme.
Then there was pom pom making, which deserves a post all on its own. This went down very well.
I did let them chill out too 🙂
And E really loved the Fimo (I failed to take photos) and then we did some Hama Bead stuff.
An Autumn Cupcake…
A Halloween one which apparently has been hanging around a year!
And an Apple.
Josie’s tree picture.
I’ve also blogged a Hama Bead Halloween Round Up here.
E & R left and went home and we had our day at WedEd then The Porticos arrived for two days of chat, madness and late nights and they left as my Dad arrived back again. It’s all been quite mental!
Also don’t have much niece contact and have been wondering how to achieve more of a fair exchange as G just had C for 4 days and regularly has had C and even R when she was with us to stay for a couple of nights. My nieces are 3, (she’s nearly 4) and 18 months so not old enough to stay over without their mum really – I would need them a bit older I think. It rankled that sis complained to our Dad that she’s a better auntie to C than I am to her kids. This is true but isn’t something I can find a solution for that will be easy for me on all the levels that I have unreasonable issues about. If you have any ideas I’d love to hear them. Sounds like everyone had an enjoyable few days at yours though :-).