Gunpowder, Treason and Plot

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot,
I see no reason why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below,
Poor old England to overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Hulloa boys, hulloa boys, make the bells ring.
Hulloa boys, hulloa boys, God save the King!
Hip hip hoorah!

Bonfire Night is my favourite British celebration.  Ever.  We build fires, light fireworks and sparklers, eat jacket potatoes with beans and chew on toffee apples.  What more could you ask for?  I love that the autumn night air smells of sulphur, and the smoke from bonfires and fireworks combine to create a fog that would put Dickensian London to shame.  James gets to set off fountains, roman candles, catherine wheels and rockets to his heart's content... with just his lighter and very little sense of danger.  This year we had twice the fun, we managed to squeeze two parties into one evening!

Let's Not Forget The Boys

Today I finished a few pencil cases for the boy relatives for Christmas:

Saturday's Smile Lines

Ethan: 'Mummy, can you make me a man bag please?'

Sweat Shop

It's been half term this week, and a rather productive one at that!  I started by making a tote bag from a favourite t-shirt:

I thought it turned out rather well so I made a few smaller ones for Christmas presents.  If you're related to me and have a daughter she will most likely be getting something that looks like this: 

Or a purse like this: 

The children also wanted me to knit them each a scarf:

The week was broken up by a two day trip to the temple with the youth, my last one now that I've been released as Young Women councillor. It was Ben's first visit inside the temple and James was able to be there too so it was a special trip for us.

I think I need a holiday to get over this one.

Environmental Art

Dear Auntie Jay,

I have been doing environmental art at school and I make pictures from things I find outdoors.  Today we drew chalk pictures in the playground:

 I wanted to show you my symmetrical art:

Love Rosie xxx

Wednesday's Smile Lines

I am walking home from school with Noah, he is carrying three cheese straws that he baked at after-school club.
Noah: 'Mummy, I am eating two of these and because you born me you can have one, no-one else.'
Me: 'Do you mean because I gave birth to you I get to have one?'
Noah: 'Yeah, that's what I meant. You birthed me so you get a cheese straw.'
Me: 'It was totally worth it for the cheese straw!'
Noah: 'I know!'

Monday's Smile Lines

Ben: 'I'm off, toodle pip!'
Me: (Hysterical laughter.)
Ben: 'I've always wanted to say that.'

Santer

This morning I found an envelope on Rosie's bed addressed to 'Santer'.  I thought I was a little early to be writing wish lists to Santa but I smiled and picked it up to see what she had in mind.

There was an appropriately festive drawing of a snowman and Rosie with Santa (because they are buddies!):

I love that Rosie labels her drawings.  When I opened the the letter I found it was actually a card for Santa to wish him a happy Christmas, to tell him she loved him and that he was the best:

Aw... it's not all about the toys you know!

Tuesday's Smile Lines

There have been a few things making me smile this week: I have returned to my 6 mile countryside walking (after a break for the summer holiday and a friend's emergency surgery) and the autumn weather is delicious, it has been gloriously sunny!  On Sunday we drove to Wales for the blessing of our latest nephew Timothy.  What could be more fun than making a baby smile?

Noah has a friend at school who is quite small in stature and whenever I see him with his huge bag on his back I wonder how he manages to stay vertical:

I appreciate security stickers on dvds warning me to remove it before I put it in the mircowave.  What?  Isn't that where you put your dvds?:

Jay

I miss my twin like nothing else in the world.  Would you like to see what she does for a living all those thousands of miles away from me?  Click on this link: http://provo.org/hr.main.html and watch the second video down, 'Employee spotlight'.  Her vacant looking face on the still of the video totally made my morning!