and a happy new year....

 ...so on December 6 there was a storm and we got struck by lightening and lost our phone line and then our internet connection.... it took three weeks of to and fro-ing to be reconnected and here I am! It was quite nice to have a christmas completely cut off from any kind of 'keeping up with the Joneses' and just quiet crafts and friends etc
 Its also nice to be reinspired by blogland and  able to be in touch with family overseas.

Our kids aer growing up, well some of them anyway... All this time the older three have shared a queen bed ( after moving out of ours), but with the heat  this summer  and their growing length its been keeping them awake... They aren't quite ready for own rooms but we came up with these instead!
 We modeled them on  plans available here
 But ended up changing almost everything except the direction they are facing!

We got three old wooden bed bases and heads and foot boards and mattresses for 70 dollars and bolts etc cost about 50. We cut the beds down a bit so A wasn't sleeping in the stars too much, and they are anchored into the studs and on the floor and eah other. They love them! They also now have shelves courtesy of googling 'pallets!'

NOt bad for some technically challenged parents!

A is up the mountain at Flora Hut tonight with her grandparents on her first ever sleepover/overnight tramp and Tobin is staying with his nannie for the first time ever too! See what I mean by growing up!? Maaike unfortunately had a  fever yesterday so is having a nice day with us instead ( poor girl). I have more to show but that will have to wait for uanother day.

I have just found India Flint and am completely inspired!