{ This girl loves to talk }

and I fell off a waterfall...

2012-02-13T21:12:00.000+10:00

It's my birthday and all I got was this huge gash to the head...

Well Ok not really. The day started out like this:

Where she received all her desired gifts : Sunglasses, watch, hat, mini book reading light and bra's!

Then a morning shopping with mum to spend birthday money and to buy new shiny kids high heels for church. Then off to lunch at the children's favourite place of Sizzlers...

But the day ended like this:

and 7 hours in Emergency.

The poor little darling today is sore and tired and says 'she feels like grandma and it hurts to bend over {we've since talked that she will now have more compassion for old people and her grandma that has a sore back}shes got a nice headache and wants to lay down all day.

A walk with friends to a waterfall shes been to several times ended with her slipping on some moss/algae and falling 5 metres off said waterfall. Friends mother carried her all the way back down the path and bought her home and we took her up to the hospital. Her Dr was very nice and looked after her really well she said. He even called home at 11pm to check on her.

She had large bruising to her back and hip, a few scrapes and a 6cm gash to the top of her head where afterwards the doctors said they could see her skull and it was bruised.

She did say a few times.. why did this have to happen on my birthday?

We told her she is lucky she is alive with no broken bones and that it'll make her 9th birthday one she will never forget xx

Pool Party for Nine

2012-02-11T08:03:00.000+10:00

It seems I am a sucker for parties.

My children seem to get a party {however small or simple or large} every birthday.

I know people who only do parties every second year or every four years
{1,4,8,12,16 - all important birthdays - I really LIKE that Idea!}

However it just seems we always do parties.

Have I told you what lovely neighbours I have? {I do...3 very nice ones}
Well one of them let us have Miss A's party over at her house. Why you ask?

Because they have a POOL!

Miss A felt very lucky to be able to have a POOL PARTY for her birthday.

Me? I was just happy that amongst all this rain, there wasn't any rain or storm happening. I had to walk 8 children + my own 4 home from school to the party. I also had no back up plan. This was to be a very simple party.

Simple is my favourite!

Curly Straws and Softdrink
Packets of Chips
Cupcakes

and LOTS OF SWIMMING.

Just right for a birthday at this time of year.

And I think they enjoyed it very much. I couldnt get them to leave the pool when their parents arrived.

13 years ago...

2012-02-07T21:48:00.001+10:00

{what I was doing the night before I got married: My awesome Sydney Friends took me out and dared me to wear this granny outfit they bought along. I was too scared to wear this out in public}

We didn't really have much opportunity to celebrate (alone) this weekend for our 13th Wedding Anniversary but as we tiredly drifted off to sleep on Sunday night we had a conversation:

Do you remember what you did the night before we got married
Could you sleep (I was confused to what bed I slept in..my whole family in a hotel room?)
What time did you get up the morning of
Were you nervous
Thoughts running through your head

It was funny to hear my husbands side of things after all these years.
He was nervous, alone, praying really hard, cried (happy tears of course)

{I have a terrible memory. I couldn't remember much at all. Maybe this blog is a good idea!}

If you could go back what would you tell your younger self?

You are doing the right thing. Life will turn out pretty perfect. Relax, he will turn up (he was stuck in traffic and late for the interview with temple president - I was petrified to go alone and worried that my tears of nervousness would be mistaken by the Temple President as a young girl who didn't want to get married) Enjoy and write down every feeling and thought from today, because believe it or not you WILL forget.

I was a pretty relaxed bride I think. Flowers bought the day before from the florist across the road {I still have a love for those Irises} Photos, Lunch with family in the Temple Cafeteria {it was great} and escaping for a slow drive back home to Brisbane stopping for whatever we wanted, and a Wedding Reception back home a week later.

I may at times want to cringe at the simpleness of it all {which felt far from simple at the time}but I loved it. I just wanted to get married, be happy with the Man I loved and not be in any debt. Pretty sure I covered all that, and the pattern has continued since.

I am that younger girl, and she is me.

Never forget. Use each day to love more. Make your goal to be more in love today than on that day.

Sci Fi Birthday Party

2012-02-03T14:30:00.001+10:00

Sci Fi party: The Mr decided on a Dress up/Themed party for his 40th Birthday.

His once-in-every-ten-years-party. So he wanted to put a big of effort in.

Invites

The Mr is celebrating the end of his fortieth year on the planet.

Turning 40 is "halfway" through his life he says and so

he wishes to celebrate with some of the things he likes.
The theme for the party is SCI FI.

Dress up in costume as a science fiction character from either film or television.
His Favourites, include, Start Trek, Star Wars, Stargate, Babylon 5, Dr Who to name a few.

Here are some of the details of the party:

Fancy Dress. Here are our Fun friends and family who dressed up as per invitation.

1. Star Trek 2.The Milky Way 3. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

4.Alien Baby 5. Captain and the Enterprise 6. Astronaut

7.Bazinga! 8. Mulder and Scully 9. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

Birthday number from photos and more paper stars
(I told you they are quick, easy and addictive - I still have the ones from Christmas up!)

Dry Ice for fun effects

The Tardis Door/Entry

We arent big party people. We love to entertain and its not unusual for us to have people over weekly, but it isnt very often we try to throw big parties. I believe we've only had four between us (my 21st and 25th and The Mr's 30th and 40th)

What we have learnt:
::Let people know that their presence is more important to you than their outfit (yes several people told me they didn't come to our party because they couldn't think of a costume.... sad face :(

::We asked for adults only party because between our invited friends there would have been 60 children (and our house just aint big enough for THAT party) however this also prevented quite a few people from not being able to attend. I need to think of an idea where kids can be somewhere nearby but not 'at the party' (hello... dear neighbours.. I need a favour.... ;) suggestions appreciated.

::The Mr recluctanly joined facebook last year. He thought of all those invites he missed getting via facebook and did the same. Maybe not that many people actually check their facebook - handwritten invites next time!

::Whilst it may look like we are loser no friends (well, its always a possibility ;) several people also had to work. I really think there should be a ban on people who have to work on Saturday nights. Really.

:: Over invite if you want a big party.
(except the time you do that everyone will come and your house will explode with people ;)

But even though we were low in expected numbers - and felt a bit silly, I learnt that it doesn't matter. We were there and our children were there. We had fun coming up with ideas and preparing. We had fun decorating, creating and having a common goal. The girls spent hours decorating and making their own outfits.

They dreamed, and planned, and giggled and spent ~~hours~~ days experimenting with dry ice effects.

And I suppose that is the best gift one can ever give.

Hope you enjoyed and loved your birthday party Mr

see you at 50 ;)

How to build a Tardis

2012-01-31T11:18:00.000+10:00

I know this is a very important and wanted piece of information.

Every house needs a Tardis right?

How to make a Tardis decoration for a party of just for fun.

What you need:

:: Find some large cardboard. We used some flat packing from a set of bunks we bought and a bicycle. Keep your cardboard from any purchases, or beg, steal borrow from elsewhere.

:: We were lucky to have procured a projector. This makes the job much easier!

:: Blue, black and White paint.

From your laptop project a picture of the Tardis from Online. like this

{Learn from our mistake and PAINT your cardboard first!!}

From our pictures you will see that we traced the projection on two separate pieces of cardboard, then spray painted, then went over the lines with black paint. Will be much quicker if you spray the board, then trace projection.

We then printed out the details and glued the paper on {The Police Box sign and the instructions sign}

Cut around edges and attach to your front door.

We made ours into FOUR pieces.

We attached the top piece above our front door.
We attached the main/doors piece directly to our front door
We attached two strips to the sides of our front door for the edges of the police box

Now you have a fun entry way for your party.

all thats left is to make lots of jokes about your tardis being {bigger on the inside}

Sci Fi what...

2012-01-25T12:49:00.000+10:00

Help!

I need ideas for what to dress up as at my husbands Sci Fi themed birthday party. On the invite he listed some of his favourites - Star Trek, Stargate, Star Wars and Dr Who for inspiration.

Originally I wanted to be seven of nine

Hot right? lol (though I would definately need to invest in a heavily padded bra :) but this idea has proven more difficult. I found almost no places that sell or hire this outfit (perhaps it's a little intimidating and unforgiving costume??)

So now that that idea is nixed... what to do? I've only got a few days left.

Some other ideas for homemade costumes I've had - and as a non sci fi speaking person before I was married I do believe I have come a long way...

:: Dress up as Riker and give me a fake beard??
(you know if The Mr is Picard well then I wanna be Number 1 right hand man right?)

:: Dress up as the enterprise (ship, captain ;)

:: Beverly Crusher ... Dr??? (with that simmering underlying love for the captain ;)

:: Wear black and stick stars all over me

:: The Stargate ( I'm leaning towards this one so don't steal my idea!)

:: Just don a typical star trek uniform or make a cardboard starfleet badge

:: One of Dr Who's many companions?

:: Chewbacca

:: Princess Leia

:: Robot

:: Alien

:: The Tardis

I just can't choose, and can't see how I'm meant to fashion a good looking outfit from the things found in the house

I've got 4 days.. what to do??

But I will have a cool - How to make your own Tardis decoration in the coming days..
I know everyone wants their own!

Back to School Dinner

2012-01-24T10:34:00.000+10:00

Back to School

Miss G awoke Monday morning and squealed

I get to go to school today! woohooooooo!

Miss A wrote a whiteboard list of everything they needed to do.

Everyone was ready and raring to go super early.

and super excited to have Daddy come along on his twice a year visit to school :)

For the last 3 years we have held a Back To School Dinner.

This year the girls decided that it would be better to hold the dinner after the first day
(I usually hold it before)

Miss A decided on the Theme "I will go and do"

I asked them to come up with the theme after mentioning if they could think of scriptures or sayings that went with learning, kindness, love, trying, being our best etc. Past themes have been Love One Another and CTR - Choose the Right . "I will go and do the things which the lord commands"
I thought this a lovely theme for our schooling year. Go and Do! Go and Do!

1 Nephi 3:7
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

The menu was also chosen by the girls. I spent my first day of quiet after the holidays shopping and cooking all day! I will have a well deserved rest tomorrow.

Back to School Dinner Menu

Camembert, Quince paste, Wafers

French stick and Pumpkin Soup

Maple Glazed Ribs and Mash and Maple carrot, zucchini, capsicum

Apple Crumble with Icecream

A nice way to celebrate the start of another school year. Education is important.

School Hair Accessories

2012-01-17T14:18:00.000+10:00

One of the few positives of going to a school with high turnover is that many of our friends give us their school uniform when they move. {many expats, immigrants who start in the city, families who outgrow apartments, home buying is prohibitive in the city etc} We have lots of friends who come and go {which can be heartbreaking at times but we feel blessed to know so many people the globe over}

I'm lucky to have a big box filled with every sort of uniform.

Some of these I've been holding onto for years waiting for Miss G to start school.

A couple of our uniforms were a little worse for wear and not suitable.

I saw a family member on facebook refashioning her kids old uniforms into hairbows and scrunchies and thought... aha! Just the idea I needed.

I have had lots of fun making scrunchies (haven't done that since I was 12 or so!!)
and little hairbows to match the girls school uniforms.

A wonderful way to recycle any old uniforms you might have.

To make a scrunchie

Take 2 rectangular lengths of fabric {about 50cm x 8cm}
sew down the long sides.
Turn out and you will have a rectangle.
Pin elastic at one end and pull through the fabric. It will scrunch up as you go.
Sew the two short ends together to make a circle, enclosing the ends neatly.

For bows

Sew 2 small rectangular pieces of fabric together {12 cm x 8cm approx}.
Go around all sides of the rectangle leaving a half length undone on the last side.
Turn the fabric out and you will have a little rectangle.
Handstitch hole closed.{or if you dont care about visible stitches, run through the machine}
Fold the fabric concertina style 3 times - giving you a little bow tie look.
Holding the fabric together run it through the sewing machine in the middle.

You can choose to leave it like this -
and just attach onto elastic for a headband {I sewed the bow straight onto some white elastic}
you can also sew it straight onto a hairband {I used those soft style ones}.

For a more finished look I attached a 'knot in the middle' by creating another very skinny rectangle. When used this way hairbands and alligator clips can be hot glue gunned onto the bow.

Basically these are just mini versions of bow ties Tutorial here

This are fairly quick and easy and kinda addictive. I see 20+ bows coming from one old school dress.

Off to School!

2012-01-16T14:21:00.001+10:00

Last week while the older girls were sleeping over at the neighbours I got to witness my two younger playing with the toy food and playing babies. It was sweet and touching and I almost shed a tear that it won't happen too often now that Miss G is off to school.

Don't get me wrong, I think she is totally ready and willing to go to school. But are we?

When we bought her school supplies (in early jan) she thought it meant she was starting school in two days. She sung and danced her way through the westfield shouting

I'm going to school! In two days I start school!

I said to her 'that sadly I have decided that she is too little to go to school and that I changed my mind and that she has to stay home with me instead.'

She looked me square in the eye and said
"Don't worry mummy. I'll draw you a picture while I'm at school".

This will make you happy while I am away.

... see the kid won't even miss me.

She has been talking about school every.single.day since her sisters finished school last year. She thought after Christmas she could start school. She askes every day 'how many weeks/days still I start school' (she prefers hearing 2 -3 weeks etc as that sounds a smaller number than 25 days etc )

Every time a child starts school I worry that I haven't taught them enough. Did I spend the right amount of time teaching them the important things of life that will now be diluted by other people and other influences. Do they understand how much we love and cherish them and will be their support in tough times and that WE are more important than any friends or teachers could be?

It's a little step into the world. It's a special time, one that I will only get to experience four times. At my third time I'm not really worried or anxious at all. I'm more excited for her.

Next week when it's just me and miss N staring at eachother...

... missing our little firecracker Miss G...

Then perhaps we shall know what we have lost. Never to get back.

Cherish your little ones. They don't stay little forever.

***

Perhaps it wont be so easy afterall. Miss G cried today when she realised she won't be coming to mothers group with me anymore. She realised she will only be able to see her best friend on Sundays. When I told N not to worry when her older sister was mean to her - that we'll have all the toys to ourselves next week, she realised Miss N will get to do our usual fun stuff and that she won't be with us doing it.

Here's to school yard tears!

We all gotta grow up.

Now she's back to all excited about it.

Obviously we are on the same page. Excited but understand what we will be missing.

Only one week left!

Birthday Weekend

2012-01-10T10:03:00.001+10:00

Wah!

I wanna go back to where there was utter silence, massages, spa baths, sleep ins, stunning views and all meals where prepared for me

The epic double birthdays have been. Also written about in previous years as "THE Birthday"

I was spoilt because I turned our birthdays into a four day fest!

Friday Night = Girls night party

Saturday = head to Clear Mountain lodge and have couples massage, Dinner on the mountain and spa

Sunday= Sleep in lots, go to late church head back home and have roast dinner and cake for daddy's birthday

Monday= Me and the girls go swimming, sizzlers and a long sleep and Thai takeway for my birthday dinner.

The Mr was pretending to be indignant when I said the cake might not be ready for his birthday
(we were late home) and I said

"Don't worry... we're TWINSIES....

if not cake today, then tomorrow.

If cake today.. leftovers for tomorrow"

Being overshadowed by someone else on your birthday does have limitations but in someways it makes me love The Mr more. I'm thinking about me, I'm thinking about him, I'm thinking about us.

That is the gift that our birthdays give. I find it really strange that a generic birthday celebration can really strengthen my love for him, my ideals for a happy marriage, my belief in being gifted a soul mate, my having to share the date with him, a few days where the focus is US, not individually but together.

As I sat in a hotel room, surrounded by soft morning light, covering our heads in crisp white sheets playing peekaboo

whispering Happy 40th Birthday darling

it was like I was a part of him, and he me, and I was announcing.

our chance at life. at growing. at ageing.

Here is to another year.

xx love you birthday twinsie.

*** we stayed here if anyone is interested. I would say it would have the best views of any hotel in Brisbane. Views of the dam by day, and the lights of the entire of Brisbane by night. Our massages at Stephanies were amazing. The hotel was extremely quiet (maybe we just stayed at a quiet time?) but it was so quiet it was almost eerie, yet very relaxing for those of us escaping noisy kids. There were a few things I thought could have been better (when I paid to upgrade to a spa room, I didn't think it would just be a spa in the bathroom 10cms from the toilet :/) and I felt the dishes we ate at Mandy's on the Mountain could have been improved.

Thanks be to the people who gifted us money for our birthdays so we could enjoy the weekend. Whilst we may have had NO physical presents to unwrap on our birthdays, this was a very lovely, much needed gift.

Resolutions

2012-01-06T08:19:00.001+10:00

Resolutions! I liked this article over at Apartment therapy about giving yourself the month of January off. Rest, Recouperate, Regroup. Then start any projects you have in mind. Now that's my kind of resolution - cause lets face it, most people fail by the end of January anyways :)

I don't really make resolutions. The last two years I've done the the word thing. Choose a word for the year and then you will have several goals/desires that could come from having more of *that* in your life.

Well I did OKAY at my goal of simplicity last year. Could have been better, but I'll take it as a success.

However this year I have decided to nix that and have decided to focus on my bad habits/failings.

OUCH.

I've actually known about a few of these for a while now, and have tried *a little* but I think a stronger focus would be good.

I talk too much and I talk over people.

Yeah I'm one of THOSE annoying people. I truly don't try to be like this. However, if a discussion is something I know a lot about{and I know about everything :} or am passionate about, I.just.can't.help.it! Seriously. I have even made goals of 'I'm going to a party/friends house/social function.... I am just going to LISTEN to other people and try really hard not to talk.' and then when I am heading home I hang my head in shame and say I FAILED.

I FAILED AGAIN.

It's funny when my husband has to often ask me ' so how do you think you went in conversations tonight?' How SAD!

I can't tell you when I read (and saw in the movie) Eat Pray Love about her wearing the sign that says "I am in Silence" - OH HOW I NEED one of those!! It spoke to me on sooo many levels.

I feel kinda sad that people might think 'OH she is so annoying and never SHUTS UP. Never get a word in edgewise. That is not what I want people to think of me. I have several women whom I admire. They are always smart, soft spoken, sweet, loving, helpful people. I cringe when I think I am so far from what I admire.

I don't look people in the eye when I/they talk.

I know. Annoying. I really don't know when I started to do this or not do this I should say. I don't remember having this problem as a teen or early 20's. The problem has definately gotten worse over the years. Looking people directly in the eye while talking to them makes me super nervous. I don't even like to look into my husbands eyes for extended period of time! Freaks me out.

However when you don't do this people think you don't like them or aren't interested in what they are saying. I have been really thinking about this habit ever since this conference talk. It was one of those times where I thought THIS TALK WAS MEANT FOR ME! (yikes) An apostle that had trouble looking people directly in the eye... well now I know there is hope for me!

If I realise I'm doing it, I have been trying harder to look into peoples eyes, but I'm still pretty fail.

I'm a scatter brain

Yep my attention span is pretty low. I get bored and move on. Cleaning for me is doing half of something and wandering away cause I need a break from it and start on something else. Usually it all works out fine but I think perhaps I could learn to be a little more focused. I remember in High school and Uni I seriously did my work in like 10-20 minute increments with activities or timeout inbetween. I found it worked well though and I usually got good marks. However now I see that perhaps my haphazard ways of doing things is perhaps not the best or time smart. I seem to spend ALOT of time wandering around from one thing to another.

Well I'm sure I have plenty more faults but I think these will take enough work.

So now you all know what I'm working on.. well its not like these habits are secret... those who know me surely already know *rolls eyes*..

But now you can call me out on it...

'you can stop talking and listen to ME now Bobbie.. remember its your goal?'

Heres to a new year of silence.

after tonight, cause I'm having a birthday party ;)

Obliteration Room

2012-01-03T10:55:00.000+10:00

This morning I was reading this post over at Design Mom.

It's funny how a person living in France was blogging about something that is in my town.

I wasn't going to share these pictures - just a day out for our family at the Art Gallery but after reading her post about it, I thought, hey, this is a special art installation that I was able to visit and be part of.

That's pretty cool.

and I liked Design Mom's take on what the art is trying to portray

This inspires so many reactions, doesn’t it? From being reminded once again that even the most basic shapes and ideas can turn into stunning works of art, to the more thoughtful connection between how our very presence colors the world around us. And then there’s the mom response, which is more of a resigned sigh that this process occurs naturally a few hours after we’ve cleaned the house!

I hadn't really thought of the mum reaction... but now I totally get that!
and sigh how my life feels most of the time!

I liked being able to see over at design mom how the room looked like before all the stickers... it was definately getting very full by the time we went.

Another room by the same artist Yayoi Kusama who has been producing works for 60 years

and another one throughly enjoyed by the children -
We miss you Magic Land by Nicole Andrijevic and Tanya Schultz

Their work draws on children’s stories, creation myths, Buddhist cosmologies, video games and folktales, Pip & Pop create large-scale fantasy worlds coloured with a bright, often fluorescent palette, using cake-decorating tools, intricate layers of sugar, glitter, modelling clay and mirrors.

I suspect these are going to be well looked at art installations. The kids loved them. We were lucky to go on a very quiet day - the day before Christmas eve and there were few people there.

Good luck if you go on a busy day!

Hopefully we can look a bit deeper into the meaning of the art instead of just enjoying 'the visual entertainment' it offered our family.

Goodbye 2011

2012-01-02T20:54:00.000+10:00

Have I told you what wonderful friends I have?

I have just had the best four days I've had in a long while!!

A wonderful beach holiday with my family. The perfect remedy for Black Hole Week!

It was bliss!

Now how did this come about?? Facebook of course
(you all know I have a firm testimony of facebook ;)

so I was on there whining about how I couldn't find a nice holiday place :
1. in my price range
2. available the weekend I needed it
3. The cheaper ones had me shaking in my no doona's from the 1980's boots.

so that blessed little chat box popped up and my friend said

"we are going to sydney, would you like to stay in our empty house?"

ummmm that would be YES!

so the very next day we packed our bags and headed off to a lovely four day vacay!!

woo hooo!

I want my friend to know that she is the sweetest giving person ever and so thoughtful.

She really gave me one of the best gifts I've received in a while.

Hopefully I can be just like her. So who wants to stay at my house ?

3 different beaches, road trip to Gympie, new years eve.. what a four days

Late night (8pm :) walk along the beach

With small kids that are usually tucked up in bed at night, I found this night time walk along the beach one of the best things we did. I loved it and want to include some more things like this on the to-do list for this year. Sometimes I forget there is a nightlife out there, for this family who are usually all in the house by 5pm!

Next stop calm waters. The Mr and I said how we couldn't believe hours went by with no one complaining or whining at us. I noticed on our holiday that we took no toys with us and few 'digital' distractions, YET the kids still kept themselves occupied. A good reminder to me for what is really needed for prolonged happy play (new environment, water, outdoorsy, other kids to 'make instant friends with') something I must make sure to include more regularly too.

We spent half an hour watching the most gorgeous pelicans. We were able to walk right up to them as they waited for fishermen to give their offcuts. These two pelicans were as large as our 8 year old. They were HUGE and a little scarey! (even though they were completely friendly!) We got to see their stretchy veiny beaks in action.

The next beach we hit up was a surf beach with nice dumpy waves. The girls were only in about 50cm of water and were getting rolled around big time.

Watching this black wall of rain head towards us was pretty fun

Next stop New Years Eve - we opted for a quiet night in of dinner, games, Wii, sparklers and glowsticks. We headed up to the local lookout thinking we would be able to view the 3 sets of fireworks at the coast. There were about 100+ other people there hoping for the same thing. However it turns out we couldnt see ANY of the fireworks! We did get the odd glimpse of the top of a firework and we could see the clouds reflecting different colours but that was IT! Most anticlimatic firework viewing I've ever had.

And we ended our holiday with church. How nice it was as someone pointed out that it is very rare to start the New Year on a Sunday. A good beginning for a new year with the right focus.

I had a wonderful end to 2011. Did you?

Black Hole Week

2011-12-28T18:19:00.000+10:00

Just cause he is funny

I'm in that hole again.

I mentioned last year here

I'm beginning to think holidays are a bad thing for me.

House is messier
Dinner is not as well prepared (or very last minute or take out or nothing)
I am tired and lethargic
I feel like everyday is Saturday (which explains all of the above)
I don't go to the shops and feel in my head that the shops are closed like its a public holiday everyday

It's funny how when the Mr is actually home and on holidays it seems harder to get out of the house when it should be easier with extra hands to help. We seem to spend less time together {not true but it seems it} but when he we are busy we seem to make the small moments we are together count for more, discuss more and achieve more.

It's kinda like that saying 'If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it'

While I love holidays I really don't like this feeling at all. Its nice to slow down and all but it seems everything slows down to the point of it creating more pain. I know I should just embrace it. I promise I'm working on it. I just find it funny that the last two years I have noticed it.

I've notice the loss of routine!

The one thing we would all like to leave behind and now I'm missing it??? The problem is I just don't understand it. Maybe the body and mind protest and make sure I have a rest for the last week of the year. I'm here, I have another helping hand, we don't have anything scheduled so WHY are we out of routine and not organised?

It's even worse when this week between the Christmas and the New year becomes a black hole, because I should be organising awesome things for our birthdays. Every New Year and our birthdays I seem to be caught unawares {which is why we nearly always have to use our wedding anniversary as catch up for romantic escapes or fancy dinners out}

So rather than get angry at the mess, lack of nutrious meals, lack of organisation, lack of anything productive.... I shall just embrace it

I embrace you - black hole week.

I will allow a week to be stolen from my life with nothing to show for it.

There's always a another year to work on myself coming up.

The new year is sure to sneak up on me anytime soon.

Make that 3 days too soon

wherein I will be so busy that I will be wishing for black hole week

only 360 more days to wait till it comes back around again!

Christmas Photos

2011-12-27T21:54:00.000+10:00

Are you over Christmas posts yet? I almost am!
But I couldn't resist a photo heavy post with some more photos from our Christmas Season.
Hope you are all enjoying what I've dubbed Black Hole Week.

Hope you had a joyous Christmas

I'm looking forward to the New Year now!

Christmas Pyjamas

2011-12-24T22:47:00.000+10:00

My true love gave to me.... Christmas Eve Jammies

Each year for Christmas Eve the girls get new Pyjama's.

This year I decided I wanted some white cotton victorian inspired nightgowns.

all vintage and victorian, girls running around the house ghost like {swoon}

I searched high and low and did not find any I liked in a price range I like.

I've very sure that $55 is a great price to pay for handmade nightgowns but times by 4 and I think not.

So I decided to make my own.

Or should I say I decided that my mother in law would help me make my own

cause it can't be that hard right?

Turns out its not! Fairly easy if you go for a peasant style dress. Three pieces!
I even learnt how to do simple sleeves. I was pretty impressed with myself.

Pretty sure I might have said 'thanks for teaching me mum. Now I know that when the world ends and there are no shops available I'll be able to fashion peasant dresses for us all out of hessian bags...."

Thanks to mum in law for teaching me and overlocking them for me!

I hope the girls love them, but if not I see many opportunities for dress up ideas from these.

An angel?
Olden days?
Choir?
Middle Ages?

Merry Christmas and Sweet dreams!!

Christmas Movie Card

2011-12-23T19:51:00.000+10:00

my true love gave to me... A Family Home Movie..

The last five (?) years we've been making a little Christmas Family Movie.

A sort of Christmas card for our friends and family.

So Merry Christmas from Me to YOU

YES YOU!

Thank you for reading this whole year!

I'm Looking forward to sharing more with you next year.

Thanks for the love and comments.

I really do love and appreciate you all and the happiness you bring to my life.

Have a great Christmas and Holidays.

If you're interested... we made this movie by taking LOTS (a few hundred?) of photos while putting up our tree. We (me, the mr and my sister) took turns sitting in the same spot taking multiple pictures while everyone worked around us. I wasn't even watching the phone, I just kept my finger on the button :)

The Mr has the skills to put all the photos into Windows Movie Maker, adjust the speed (so it becomes sort of like stop animation) and put music over the top. He insists it is very easy. I'm sure it is, but I just take the photo's or shoot the film. He's the Editor :)

Other Movies

2008

2010

I can't believe I didn't upload the other ones. (probably because they weren't that good or I didn't know how to add video back then :) I just looked through all my archives and didn't find the rudolf and wise men ones. You'll just have to believe me.

Here's to wonderful Christmas movies and memories! I notice from this film that there was an awful lot of running around and back and forth while we put up our tree. And the music over it is a must so you don't hear all the directing, squabbling and talking (from the girls of course)

We are one loud family.

Grandparents Christmas Dinner

2011-12-19T22:37:00.002+10:00

My true love gave to me.... a fancy dinner party...

Our long awaited Christmas Dinner has arrived.

I've been thinking about possible menu ideas for a while now.

And nudging the Mr to decided upon something as he is the one that cooks all the mains.

On the Monday Night Before Christmas we hold our annual Grandparents Christmas Dinner.

So today the

House Cleaned
Food purchased
Spent half the day cooking
Spent the other half making decorations

Now we just await the special guests.

We like to thank our parents for their love and help all year. We love to let our kids have both sets of Grandparents to themselves (though one kid did ask... Are their ANY kids coming to our party?? lol) We love the opportunity to have a formal dinner and get out the crystal glasses. I love to try and decorate and do place settings. It only seems to happen once a year!

I believe we've been doing this tradition for about 8 years. And it just keeps getting better.

I love any tradition where my husband cooks a wonderful meal for me xx
This was his first time doing a baked ham and it was wonderful!

This years menu:

Entree: Creamy Parsnip Soup (recipe here)

Main: Pineapple and Ginger Glazed Ham with Mango and Lime Mayo ( Recipe here ) Turkey, Asparagus and Beans with Cranberry's and Cashews ( recipe here) , Roast carrot, potato, Pumpkin. Home made tomato chutney ( recipe here)

Dessert: Chocolate Ripple Cake - Buche de Noel. ( recipe here )

Drinks: Sparkling Pear and Sparkling Apple and Liggonberry (from Ikea)

I filled the space above the table with these stars .
Very easy and quick to make! watch out they are addictive!
I plan to decorate the girls room with them when we are done with Christmas.

and yes I did match my outfit to my table decor....

Sleeping Under the Tree

2011-12-17T15:53:00.001+10:00

my true love gave to me... sleeping under the tree.

The kids have done this tradition for years. But The Mr and I have only joined them for the last two. {we were usually tucked away in the only room with aircon- while they sweated it out}

I am still loving this cool weather. Last night we were able to drag all our bedding out to the lounge room and snuggle up together to watch a movie and sleep under the tree!

We even had hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream.

and friends dropped randomly by with a plate of treats!!

It's kinda fun to have a sleepout together. We don't do it often at all.

Obviously because Miss G thought it so funny she said

"I've NEVER seen your bed NAKED!"

(ie shes never seen our matress off the base and she thought our room looked weird)

After a sleep by the glow of the lights on the tree we woke to pancakes by Daddy.

Love traditions like these.

{I always feel obligated to not portray a perfect life on my blog ~ I feel sad when I read perfect mcperfect blogs and think how come my lifes not like that?? So I'll share with you that our kids jumped around {from the tv cabinet onto all mattresses} ALOT, were crazy, someone spilled their entire cup of hot chocolate everywhere, fights, and even someone wet the bed as soon as they fell asleep! gah!}

But that's what Christmas is all about right? Family ~~fights~~ togetherness :)

But when they were all asleep and the twinkle lights all aglow.
My heart could barely contain itself.

Yule Log

2011-12-13T20:39:00.000+10:00

One Christmas craft I want to do each year but never do is make a Yule Log.

I also love all the blog posts where people are out in the woods collecting evergreeens and berries and making wreaths and swags and living decorations around the house.

It may be summer and it may be the Southern hemisphere but I decided we would do it too.

We set off on a walk with a bag and some scissors.

Even though we live in kinda inner city, it's a very established area and has more trees, bushes, gumnuts and bits and bobs than many housing estates do. We have lovely neighbours who don't mind us trimming their plants. Walks further afield we only trim from very overgrown trees and shrubs that hang over to the footpath. We collected a big bag in no time.

We bought it home and laid it out on the table and began to tie our clippings together.

We secured it with string.

And voila you have some festive real decorations.

Mine are still fine four days later. However in this heat I don't expect them to live long.

A nice walk each week collecting clippings should keep us covered.

A lovely Christmas tradition that I hope may continue.

Gingerbread Houses

2011-12-08T10:52:00.000+10:00

My true love gave to me.... gingerbread houses for school parties.

This tradition started four or more years ago when I spent all day making a gingerbread house. At the end of the day I physically felt sick from all the sugar and could not even face looking at the thing! I decided my only child at school, should take it along and share it with the class to get rid of it!

And here I am still making them. This morning they took them to school for their break up party. All the kids were ooohhh and ahhhing so I secretly think my girls enjoy that ;)

To have everything ready for gingerbread houses {and other holiday baking} I start buying a few items each week from October onwards. Things like different lollies, bags of pure icing sugar, condensed milk, choc chips, cooking butter, gingerbread house kits etc all start appearing in my trolley and I hide bags of cooking ingredients all over the house :)

I felt a little bad that I don't really let the kids help. I find making gingerbread houses quite hard. It takes a lot of concentration from me and I can't have the distraction from the kids {the little ones watched a movie} So to make up for it, we are going to make another one on Monday night and let the kids go for it. I would love to be organised enough to make individual houses for them all to decorate. One day!!

I have a low attention span so I make my gingerbread houses in stages. Otherwise it takes all day and I.AM.OVER.IT! An hour or two here and there seems so much more manageable to me. I also don't include the kids in the first few steps as they don't have the patience and are otherwise all up in my business asking 'when will it be ready' because really, sticking the lollies on is all they care about {and eating it}

My steps are:

If I am baking the gingerbread {I didnt this year - These were kits from Coles and Woolworths} I make the dough and roll it out between baking paper. Draw the house shapes on the paper and cut the shapes out. Freeze the dough and you are done for the day.

Cook dough and let cool. Making a big batch of Royal Icing ( I do two egg whites, 2 tsp lemon juice, One 500g bag of pure icing sugar -I used three batches to make these houses) stick house together and hold with some string. {Allow to set so it is nice and strong - I put a fan blowing on mine this year to help it set} I then cover it all up and leave it for the night.

Next day I decorate the house. This is the step children can be added to.

Enjoy looking at your gingerbread house, or if you're like me, send the thing far away where crazy children will devour it in minutes flat {one year the teacher commented the kids were like ants. There wasnt a bit left of the thing, even the icing all over the plate was gone}

The Tree, The Tree is UP!

2011-12-06T14:57:00.000+10:00

I got my WISH!

There has been a week long cold snap here in super hot Australia.
Cool breezy weather that's had us scrambling to find blankets again!

This made it perfect weather for lighting candles, sitting and reading and for putting up our tree!

I even made warm spiced Apple Cider to sip!
(it is usually way too hot to even contemplate such a thing!)

My christmas spirit has been in full force!

Yesterday evening I painted my nails red (instant lift!) chose what the kids were gonna wear (yay! a year where not a single person was decorating the tree in their underwear!) and set up to make our yearly Christmas Card Movie (I'm excited it's looking awesome! - speaking of - remember last years Movie? Well shredded paper jumped out of the tree box when we unpacked our tree! Its everywhere again! I swear that stuff is haunting me!!)

We put our tree up on the first Monday in December. It seemed a long way away, but it does arrive quickly and I was wondering if I was ready. Knowing what day it would be greatly helped the girls. They didn't hound me at all the last month. I could just hear contstant whispers of 'The tree goes up in a week" or in ___ days the tree will be up! Can't wait till Monday 5th..'

Now for school to hurry up and finish so we can sit and relax by our tree.

I love evenings by Tree Lights!!

Grandma's Tree

2011-12-06T13:58:00.000+10:00

my true love gave to me .... decorating Grandparents Tree

The last three or so years we have been putting up the Grandparents Tree.

Its so sweet.

On Sunday we had some treats to eat and 'helped' grandma put up her tree.

I think this is like when grandma's ask kids to hold their hands to cross the road (help your old grandma to cross the road - my grandma used to say this to me and I really thought her old! and she wasn't at all!) My parents are young and certainly don't need any help putting up their tree but its nice for the kids to think they are being helpful and generous (when it probably makes more work for Grandma and Grandad!)

Thanks for letting us share the christmas spirit.

Nativity Induced Laughter and Nativity Induced OCD

2011-12-01T13:51:00.000+10:00

my true love gave to me..... A Nativity Set for playing/displaying

Have I told you how much I love Nativity sets? {um yes... only a million times!} Last year I decided December 1st would be our Nativity Day. We set our tree up on the first monday night in December so this gives us something to do while waiting and I like that it has become our first focus for the season. Nativity Sets out first to remind us what we really should be thinking about.

They are one of my favourite things about Christmas and I love to see my kids play with them.

The figurines from Nativity sets are some of the most played with things at our house during Christmas. I would totally leave them out all year, if I didn't think the novelty would wear off and that it would degrade part of the joy of Christmas.

That's the fun part of boxing stuff away and getting it out once a year. ~ Just opening the boxes I got out of the roof yesterday was like a christmas in itself for the girls.

Most of my nativities are under $10 or $20 {so it's ok if they happen to break - It has happened once} The Fisher Price kids one was the most expensive. Not many stores sell Nativity so when they do I like to thank them and sometimes purchase one. The little ones make great gifts for Visiting Teaching or for other people who would appreciate it.

I think I giggle nearly everyday during December because of Nativity Induced Laughter.

I find little groupings of wisemen and shepherds seemingly deep in conversation

I find Camels on the roof of nativities where the star or angel should be

I find baby Jesus tucked away in quiet spots

I have to stop children from bringing figurines in handbags where ever we go

I've had the wisemen with signs stuck on them

I swear it sometimes seems those figurines are alive {when I'm not looking} they are always on the move, always conspiring in different corners of my home.

It's so fun.

Except for my Nativity Set Induced OCD { where I cannot rest or go to bed unless I know all nativity pieces are in their correct spots!} These means sometimes alot of searching for moved/lost pieces. However for the most part I love having several sets around the house for my kids to play with.

Christmas Book A Day

2011-11-30T20:34:00.001+10:00

My true love gave to me .... christmas books for nightly reading.

I'm so excited. Tomorrow is the first of December! Time to start unwrapping our daily christmas book!
The past few years I have been buying a couple new christmas books each year. This years inclusions were a Berenstain Bears Christmas Tree and a beautifully illustrated 12 days of Christmas. I also picked up some Christmas Golden Books from a second hand book fair for $1.

I think I've now amassed maybe 22 christmas books? I thought I would stop at 25, but seriously if I find better ones I'll probably keep going, and as childrens tastes change? I figure even if I end up with a 100 over the many years it will be ok, cause then I'll be able to gift them on to my kids when they leave home (25 each ;)

It's fun when children grow they can become a more part of the preparation of Christmas traditions. A week back the kids were bored and had nothing to do so I suggested that perhaps they wrap our Christmas books. And voila all done for me! I only needed to offer a little help in the proper ways of wrapping things {so they actually look nice ;)}

Our basket is sitting waiting for us to unwrap a book each night in December. A collection of religious, christmas tree, Grinch, Santasaurus, Pop ups, Carols, Babushka, Santa. We've got most genre's covered.

Sometimes I think I love this just as much, if not more than the kids.

scrummy christmas books make my heart pitter patter.

Family Christmas Party

2011-11-29T14:10:00.000+10:00

We had a fun family christmas dinner on the weekend.

My pinata was so tough it had to be ripped open by daddy's strong hands ;)

So if you intend to make similar - use masking tape or something that will rip a little easier instead of plastic tape and use less than I did. Tape overload = strong pinata! (secretly I like 'em strong. Gives each kid several goes at whacking the thing and takes up lots of time! but you do want them to break eventually.)

the latest in fashion - fringed candy cane boots!

The other super fun thing we did was play christmas movies on a big screen! We borrowed a friends projector and played movies on a white tablecloth! I loved it and wish I had been curled up there with the kids watching movies. Next time I will! And now I've thought about it - it would have been super cute to do a family slideshow of the best photos of the year! You could get each family in the extended family to bring some photos to show! How fun! We actually did that last year during our Grandparents Christmas Dinner and the kids loved it. We just did it on our tv though, but the kids spent 40 mins watching and going 'remember when we did that, remember that' they went on and on ... The christmas movies were a great idea as our yard is fairly small and there isnt much to do for big groups of kids.

***

See my post for this week over at Faith Matters its about gratitude and thanksgiving!

Second Engagement Anniversary

2011-11-26T21:20:00.000+10:00

The day has arrived for our annual picnic dinner at the place Daddy Proposed to Mummy!

I think it's a nice thing to celebrate this cute little anniversary with kids.

The funny part of the engagement story is The Mr actually had the engagement ring in the glovebox.

We got out of the car on a supposed date night (I didn't know he was proposing)

He realised his mistake and thought, oh well just go with it,

He said 'look in the glovebox' there's something there for you

Ring was my first thought, but since The Mr is such a joker I thought he was having me on.

With wobbling hands and a beating heart I opened that glovebox.
I was almost scared of what was gonna jump out of there!

I gasped and saw a box and gingerly held it in my hands.

We walked over to the rotunda and he got down on one knee and opened the box and said
'Will you marry me'

and that is the tale of our second proposal.

A today we kissed on the same spot 13 years later. Surrounded by our little blessings.

see what I have to work with to get a photo of us... told you he jokes around.

Christmas Pillowcases

2011-11-24T13:05:00.002+10:00

Love this fabric Miss A chose.

my true love gave to me - Christmas Pillowcases for dreaming.

This is about the fourth year we've made Christmas Pillowcases.

It is a very much beloved tradition. The children reminded me this week:

WHEN are we going to buy Christmas fabric to make pillowcases?!

I would love to find a store that sells cheap Christmas fabric because spotlight is getting expensive. Some of the fabrics are $16.95 a metre! (usually the nice ones!) yikes!

However it was worth the cost (I usually nudge them towards the cheaper material ;)
when one night this week was such a peaceful time.

Instructions here

One at a time the came to me and helped me sew up their pillowcase while the others wrote out christmas cards. Such a lovely way to spend an evening. (I wish everynight could be like that)

And each went to bed so happy with their new pillow upon which to dream beautiful christmas dreams

(as I tell them each night - that is what the pillow is for - sweet Christmas Dreams)

mmm lovely Pillows: Birds, Gingerbread Man and Silver trees.

Now, I'm starting to amass quite a collection of pillowcases.
I was tempted to recycle some of them and use the fabric for other things.

BUT thanks to Soulemama I've come upon the perfect solution!

Using them to wrap gifts! See her gorgeous ones here

So this year we'll have most of our presents wrapped in fabric with a bow.

Over the years I'm sure I'll have enough to wrap all the kids presents this way!

Hopefully it'll look warm and homely, save some trees and save landfill!

Here's to gorgeous Christmas fabric and sweet dreams for little ones!

Candy Cane Pinata

2011-11-22T21:47:00.001+10:00

my true love gave to me - A pinata for a Christmas Party

We make a lot of pinata's around here. It's almost not a party if there isn't a pinata. We do 'em for birthdays, Easter, Christmas. Anytime is a good time for a pinata!

Most are of the basic (not beautiful type)

Lately I've been getting a lot of pinata inspiration over at O Happy Day see: here here here

I thought I would attempt their fairly easy style of making Pinata's
(well I assume its easier and quicker than the layers of paper mache style we usually do)

A candy cane shape sounded easy to achieve. Perhaps a tree wouldn't be too hard either.

::Cut two large candy cane shapes from a cardboard box
::Using a long rectangle piece join the candy cane shapes

::Use tape generously around edges and to stick it all together.

::Fringe strips of red and white crepe paper and glue in lines like a candy cane

:: Fill with Lollies, confetti, balloons, treats of any kind.

Have fun!

(side note - I just can't look at Santa pinata's after attending a womens (no children) Christmas party where grown women fought over and smashed up a Santa Pinata. It felt so feral - which is why I always try to stick to non human/animal shapes when making pinatas and attempt to keep kids not too crazy.

Come find me..

2011-11-21T12:59:00.000+10:00

I'm over here today, posting on Faith Matters blog.

This is the start of what will be weekly contributions over there.

It's part of my new calling at church for Public Affairs. Can you believe they asked me to blog?!

Come join the discussion or leave a comment here

How do you have a Christ Centre Christmas?
What ideas do you incorporate to make the season more thoughtful?
What gives you comfort and inspiration to keep Christmas celebrations in the right frame?

Add a decoration Advent Calendar

2011-11-18T19:48:00.000+10:00

My true love gave to me an Advent Calendar for counting down.

I swear it's straight, not sure why this photo is so wonky..

So the previous mentioned advent calendar was a total spur of the moment, I can make this thing, even though it wasn't the plan for this year!

I had other advent plans for this year!

The last two years we've done activity based advents - as in an activity to do as a family each day - eg watch christmas movie, put up tree, deliver cookies, look at christmas lights etc

Sometimes though, we might forget to do it, or we are so busy - it's all a little too much.

So this year I wanted to go simple and without lollies -
(HA! to that since I now have a 12 day advent full of lollies)

I had decided on a wall hanging with little decorations to add each day.

I got this pattern from my mother in law and thought it would be perfect.

A pretty quilted Christmas Tree.

I am very happy with the finished product. Thanks to MIL for the fabric and thanks to friend Amanda for talking me through the instructions - I can sew but I can't read patterns ;)

However, if you can't quilt you could totally just cut out some felt in a tree shape for the same effect.

After finishing the quilt wall hanging I then sewed on some beads at intervals on the tree.
These will be used to hang the decorations from.

silver charms from spotlight

The only down side is my decorations are kinda small and the beads small too.
It is a tad fiddly for younger children.

Looks like this advent is for my older children only.

Bigger decorations/felt shapes would be better for small children.
Use velcro to stick decorations - if your tree is felt they would stick easily.
Or just attached safety pins to the decorations and pin one on each day to count down till christmas

and you have a lolly free advent!

Advent Calendar

2011-11-15T12:39:00.000+10:00

It's no secret I love advent calendars. see here here here
I'm still looking for the perfect paper one with pretty elegant pictures behind the flaps.
We usually have a couple on the go each year.

The last few years we have been making ones that get thrown out at the end of the season.

It's fun to try a different type each year.
The crafty Crow is my go to inspiration. Hundreds of homemade advents to be found there!

I was pretty excited when I saw this one at Crafting Coconut

I knew I had all the things needed to make it.

And it was the perfect size to fit FOUR treats in each day.
Some of those pockets are just too tiny in some advents.

Sometimes we lose interest in our advent (the one with scriptures or activity ideas in) so this year I decided we would trial a

12 days of Christmas Advent.

This way I think our attention span will hold, we shall begin it just after school lets out, the kids won't have 24 days of lollies to begin their mornings (crazy kids oh my!) and for those who forget until the first of December to make one - this idea gives you till the 13th of December to have it done! Perfect solution.

We are actually having 2 advents this year. I'm super excited about a quilted one I've made too.
It turned out pretty good.

Here are the Instructions on how to make Bon Bon Advent:

Take 12 (or 24) toilet rolls.
(I spray mine with Glen 20 for peace of mind, but I've noticed that Riot Art and Craft store sells cardboard rolls for those of you who might be yicked out by using toilet rolls in craft)

Cover each roll in Christmas colours scrapbooking paper.
I used rectangles of 13cm x15 cms. I used sticky tape to keep the paper attached.

Tuck the ends of the paper into the tube.

Join two tubes together by putting tape inside each tube and over to the other. Repeat on both ends. If your worried about it being heavy when filled with treats perhaps use hot glue gun to keep rolls together also.

Keep going until all 12 are joined together.

Attach numbers on each roll.

Take your treats and wrap in a bon bon/candy wrapper way. I used white kitchen baking paper. Secure with string.

Slide one into each of the 12 tubes.

Enjoy!

We are going to start with number 12 on the first day (13th of December), so that way we know exactly how many days are left to Christmas!

I filled mine with plastic animals, little santa shaped chocolates, Gold coin chocolates, small lipglosses, candy canes, and some little Squinky toys in those plastic balls (that I stole out of their christmas gifts ;) they'll never notice a few missing ones!

It's only 15 days till the 1st of December. Time to get cracking!

Lucky 13

2011-11-11T16:55:00.001+10:00

One of our engagement party photos

It's the 13th anniversary of our proposal.

I don't think we really remembered or celebrated it in any way the first few years of marriage but over the years we've started to give a slight nod to the importance of the day. It helps that it's Remembrance day. Remember to remember :)

This morning I said

Happy Proposal Day Anniversary darling

to which the Mr replied:

ahh If only I knew what those small words would turn into.

He talked about cause and effect and how he could never fortell from those words what was to come.

We sat at the breakfast table with our children around and he said

Look at what has become of us. Look what those words have blossomed into to.

My heart melted.

all day I've been pondering on, our words - as things that grow. Its reminded me to watch my words, chose carefully and purposefully that my words grow and blossom into positive things. Many a word can produce a negative bloom.

We actually celebrate two proposal days.

The one where The Mr could just no longer contain his feelings for me and the words just splurted right out

Will you marry me?

and In two weeks we'll visit the place he 'formally proposed' ring and all.

This week I joked, do you think the new owners/occupiers of your old house would mind if we knocked on their door and said

Hi, My husband proposed to me in this house 13 years ago, in that room over there, do you mind if we come in and reminisce??

We laughed at how shocked those people would be and think we were kinda weird...

So until 2 weeks, were we can celebrate and reminisce in a public place....

Because strangers probably don't take too kindly to random people wanting to come in and take over their bedroom.

Where did you get engaged?

Dueling Christmas

2011-11-09T14:00:00.001+10:00

I love preparing for and looking at christmas stuff more than I actually enjoy Christmas Day I think!

Sometimes it's hard to live in the Southern Hemisphere.

An american guy at church who is organising the choir asked me if Australians would find it offensive if there were carols sang that mentioned snow/cold etc.

I said 'Heck no! We need cool thoughts at that time of year as it sooo HOT!

Christmas in a hot climate is kinda weird. It's boiling hot and you've got songs of snow and snow card/decorations/paraphernalia everywhere. Movies showing snug families in matching flannel PJ's sipping warm drinks. As much as I think I live in one of the best places/climate in the world.... it does make jealous with want!

My five year old loves snow and talks about it on an almost daily basis

She asks when will it snow where we live?

Remember last years Family Christmas Movie Card motivated by her?

I love Christmas and the many many traditions we have surrounding it.

I long to add even more traditions.

My problem is my house is very very very hot.

My motivation quickly diminshes.

Chocolate melts, we sweat,

warm fuzzy time in the house is hard to come by. oh it is certainly WARM though!

IT makes me sad.

I'm seriously thinking of purchasing an airconditioner just to blast ALL December so we can:

bake lots of cookies

sit around with blankets and be able to drink warm drinks made with cinnamon or chocolate

Have candles everywhere without having them make us feel more hot

To sit and craft and read books in close quarters with eachother everynight

So the kids will be able to actually wear the PJ's I purchase for every Christmas Eve instead of getting around in underwear

So my photos of us decorating the Christmas Tree won't show hot red faced sweaty people with their hair plasted down

Then I might be able to have both - the dual Christmases that exist in warm climates.

Growing up to us Christmas represented

Swimming and receiving beach/swim related stuff
Mangoes
Icecream
Cold Chicken and Ham and Salad meals
Beach
Holidays
Long days and summer nights outside
Barbeques
Going for walks looking at christmas lights
outdoor parties
End of school year and freedom of holidays

I'm happy our Christmas isnt fraught with
travel worries (no snow/sleet/)
no sickness/colds/flu's/stomachbugs (too hot the germs are all killed)
and no close quarters if we dont want (no getting snowed in here)

I LOVE all those things about an Australian Christmas.

But I'm selfish and I also want the other Christmas that is paraded all around us.

Like a subtle creeping in, that causes some sort of slight depression because things just aren't the same.

So if I don't get that airconditioner or insulation I need I shall just have to embrace other christmas traditions.

Cool drinks, sitting around in underwear, children staying up late, walks in the cool of the eve'n.

Everything else left undone. It's just too hot to move.

Sounds alright to me. And while I sleep, I'll dream of my other Christmas.

Foody Friday - Kids version

2011-11-04T07:18:00.000+10:00

The older girls have been cooking dinner twice a week for a few weeks now.
Though I do see the novelty wearing off a little once again
(I gotta keep on top of those girls I tell ya! why is it such hard work?)

I'm still on the lookout for easy to prepare, 3 or 4 steps only, recipes - know any?

These are recipes I make myself, but they were on the simple enough side that my 8 and 10 year olds could make them with only a little help from me. I thought we could bring back the old 'Foody Friday' but with the things the kids are cooking... Kids Foody Friday.... So we are going to start off with our new favourite recipe. A secret recipe given us by a friend. We've made this atleast four or more times this month. Everyone in the family loves it, and always asks for more and they fight to lick the pan!

made by Miss A

Ritzy Chicken

2 cups Ritz cracker crumbs (I just crushed one sleeve)

2 tsp Garlic powder

8 chicken breasts (I only use 3 breasts and slice them in half to get 6 pieces)

3 TBL Parmesan cheese

1 tsp Seasoned salt

250 ml container natural yogurt

1/4 cup butter, melted

Soak chicken breasts in yogurt for a few hours. Smash Ritz to make crumbs. Mix crumbs, cheese and seasonings. Coat yogurt covered breasts with crumb mixture. Place on foil-lined 9X13 pan. Drizzle 1/4 cup butter or margarine over breasts. Bake at for 25 mins in moderate oven.

We made this recipe with JUST the Chicken, Ritz and Yoghurt and it tasted sooo good. I can't believe how good these two ingredients taste together. Easy recipe for kids to do. Take chicken, coat in crumbs, place on a foil lined tray, pop into oven. Voila.

On a side note, its funny to find out what kids think they can't manage. K made this Pioneer Woman - Sour Cream Noodle Bake dish almost with no help until her pasta started to bubble and boil over a bit, she got all flustered and came looking for me saying ' ahhhhhh .....what do I do!?!?' So funny because I thought it would be obvious to move it or if you are worried about burns/fires etc to just turn off the stove. reminded me about what really needs teaching!

Miss A had a friend over when it was her turn to cook one of the times and the friend thought it absolutely wonderful that they got to cook the dinner and couldn't believe that I expected them to make our whole dinner. Wish my girls were as excited ;) Note to self. Invite excited friends over and then your kid suddenly gets a whole lot more excited about it...

Purple blooms

2011-11-01T21:34:00.000+10:00

There are easily about 50 Jacaranda trees in the few blocks surrounding my house.

I LOVE THEM and always want to take family photos under them. Alas most are on a busy main road, near alot of signs (visual pollution!) or in private yards. this makes it hard to photograph them.

Also the season is very short. the trees only bloom for 6-8 weeks. Each time I ask the girls to do a photo shoot they say ' another day mum, we want to do.....'

and then I say but they won't be around much longer!!.

Well last week I convinced them on a Saturday afternoon that we WOULD go today!

Except my camera is pretty crappy and most of the shots didn't work out, don't you hate that when you look closer at your photos on the computer later, you find at least one child isnt looking at the camera, has their fingers in their nose, someone is crying or pouting, lots of the back of our toddler running in the opposite direction, or in the efforts to get toddler looking at the camera the older sisters trying to ensure that it is happening are now the ones not looking right

and I havent even started on the Christmas Card photo yet (oh help me!)
(well actually we have, but we haven't found the winner yet..)

As the Jacaranda blooms fall silently to the ground giving us purple carpet everywhere under our feet we will remember them till next year xx

Her Royal Highness

2011-10-31T12:30:00.000+10:00

zoom doesn't work on my camera - believe me we could see more clearly than the photo shows

Did you miss me? My computer was out of action for a week! Heck I missed me!

so I got a bunch of stuff to catch up with.

First of all we'll start with The Queen.

I don't watch or read much news.

I didn't even know the Queen was coming to Australia till the day she arrived. I didn't know she was coming to pretty much my house till the day before.

So I hummed and harrrred and decided I would brave the crowds and go check her out. After The Mr told me I MUST GO cause HE was going in his work lunch break! (closet royalist remember?)

Then I heard they were telling people its was ok if you wanted to take your kids out of school to see the Queen.

well now, any excuse to ditch school.

So I took the older girls out of school and we went to see the Queen

It seemed a doable crowd at first, I just wished we knew exactly when and where the Queen would walk so we could get a perfect spot, but I just didn't know. We checked out where she was to first arrive and walk down and that crowd was huge easily 30 people deep in all directions. I felt so bummed because I knew all we would see in that crowd would be the person in front of us armpits.

We back tracked and found a spot only 3 people deep about 20 metres away from the dock she was to arrive at. It seemed 'the best spot' we were gonna get so just took our chances.

It was fun to wait and chat and be with the crowd. Holding tight to the Mr in pressing crowds is also fun. A lady kindly let my older girls sit on the wall of the river. In the end we had an uninterrupted perfect view of the Queen as she sailed by on the yacht. She was only 15 metres away!

After the crowds dispersed I was smiling big and fist pumping.. the Mr laughed at me and said

'Enjoy yourself did you?'

Heck yeah..... I achieved what I came down for... even if I don't care for the royals that much.

I felt it was important for our girls because:

Our family history on both sides is nearly purely English

The Mr and I believe in instilling a sense of respect and pride in our girls (even though we aren't opposed in any way to becoming a republic, while Australia has a Queen/monachy we will show the correct respect)

It was probably the last time The Queen will visit Australia

It was a fun thing to add onto a list of 'things I've done in my life'

and that was the day that I saw The Queen! yipeee!

Chicken Soup Anniversary

2011-10-19T08:29:00.000+10:00

You wanna know my secret to winning The Mr over?

Chicken Soup.

Oh yes. And not even the homemade variety.

From August - October 1998 The Mr and I were passing silly emails every couple of days.

Then one day he got sick. Sick enough to stay home in bed.

He sent a long email about being sick and signed it - virtually yours *sniffle*

Well that was my opening. And looky now, we are celebrating our 13th chicken soup anniversary!

From: Thisgirllovestotalk@qut.edu.au
Sent: Wednesday 21 October
To: TheMr@bit.net.au
subject: RE: Help me!

Oh my dearest darling!
Are you feeling any better? I do hope you are. I hate to hear that my sweetie pie is not feeling the best... I hope you are well enough to come see me at institute tonight... thank you for your long email... wasnt I just complaining the other day that they weren't long enough... well I have nothing to complain about now... oh you just are perfect arent you? I bet you treat all the girls like this. I am just one of the many that you have on a string, sending emails to..... Oh why, why does it have to be this way... Is there more to life, or will it just be a life full of cold and unloving computers, with no real touch or affection?

Be well... just think of me... oh no that could make you more sick!!!!

This girl loves to talk xx

I dropped the hint atleast 3 times that night at institute (he got himself off his sick bed on the chance to catch me there) that I could visit him after my university class the next day as he was taking a sick day home. Took 3 big hint drops for him to say sure come on over. (our first date? First time alone? and he was sick and didn't even know it... poor guy didn't know what hit him ;)

So I came bearing soup and chocolate.

We still have the can of soup!! It's starting to rust now after 13 years of sitting with the food storage. I should have preserved it better. Also looking at the gastly nikko I used to inscribe our names... I wish scrapbooking had been around then... I could make an awesome soup can cover now ;)

I'm thinking we should totally celebrate this special day with Chicken Soup every year. Strictly speaking canned soup would be more authentic but now that I'm older and wiser (and a much better cook) I'm thinking homemade soup is the way to go. Plus we never ate that Can soup for a reason.. yick.

So in years to come when the kids ask "Why do we eat Chicken Soup on the 21st October"

The Mr and I can wink at eachother and reminise.

On the First Day of Christmas...

2011-10-17T08:58:00.000+10:00

A *kind* friend mentioned on facebook how many weeks till Christmas....

then someone left a comment like..
'yeah but how many paychecks do you have between now and then!?!'

YIKES!

Some years I am very organised - starting in June or July. Other years I'm scrambling last minute.

Most years I start around October.

If you're like us and have lots of traditions and things you like to do for the Christmas Season you'll have plenty of lists and things to start on! (I'm already thinking its too late, and I'm going to have to let go of some of the plans I have. OH WELL. I'm always glad that Christmas comes every year, because there's always next year to do that project I wanted to do!)

So did you know its only 10 weeks till christmas? Pefect time to start my Christmas posts

my true love gave to me

Personalized Ornaments for the Tree...

These were hard to photograph, they're much cuter in real life :)

I actually started these back in September. If I want annual personalized decorations for everyone I better start early I thought! However I enjoyed making these and it took me about a week or two (slowly) I saw the pattern in Handmade magazine. Basically it is a Circle of material embroidered with a name and a wreath. Then using a bit of padding and a circle of cardboard smaller than the embroidered circle you stitch around the edge of the embroidered circle and pull tight. It will then encase the cardboard and padding. Using some christmas material do the same again and you create two circles. Sew some ric rac around one of the circles. Place some ribbon to be able to hang then glue both circles together. To make sure the circles are neat and tight invisible stitch around the edge of the circle.

Previous years Personalized Ornaments found here here and here

I'm so excited to start the season! wahoooooo.....

Clover

2011-10-12T13:02:00.000+10:00

I don't have much reason to head down the side of my house
(even though thats where the clothes line is :)

so the other day I was surprised to see it was a SEA of clover.

But I love clover (almost as much as dandelions remember? ) such a lover of weeds I am.

Or Bee food as I like to call it and we all know bees need all the help they can get.

We've made daisy chains a few times before but it's been a while.

Maybe this could be a spring tradition?

Twice yesterday I sat on the ground with the girls and made clover headbands, bracelets, anklets and rings.

So relaxing.

We even spent some time photographing our bee friends.

I'm sure there are more indepth, neater ways to make daisy chains but basically I just use my thumb nail to put a slit in the middle of a clover stem. Then thread another clover through the hole. Then make a slit in the new attached clover and continue on till desired length.

Our neighbourhood is full of clover so go and enjoy laying in the grass making chains.

Vigilance

2011-10-11T12:26:00.000+10:00

Parenthood seems to be a constant realigning.

Otherwise those kids get away with anything.

When they are little you cant wait for the day they are a little bit more independant in doing things for themselves. Oh and then that day comes and they don't wanna do anything..

I know I wrote about Chores and Family Work not so long ago (and sadly have to admit that my girls are no longer doing the laundry - another thing to get them back to!) I've realised it's time once again for a little realignment. A bit more of a push. A bit more of reigning the kids back in.

It starts out subtly too. They asked to watch their favourite show after school, after homework - no harm right? yeah that leads to a descent into ' a few more shows', more irritablity and less helpfulness around the house. I hate it when I get caught out in my desire for some peace and quiet and I allow things I shouldn't then I realise how much more hard work I've actually created for myself!

Constant vigilance is hard work isnt it? Just when you think things are hunky dory it doens't take long for them not to be again. I am not very good at backing myself up. oh and dont kids learn THAT quickly. I don't WANT to have to be a person forever following everyone up to make sure they are doing the things they are meant to be doing. I really struggle with 'splitting myself in 5' to follow everyones schedules. which equals everyone knowing how to get out of doing things.

The part of motherhood I am learning. - It's never going to get better, there will always be some 'phase' that people are going through, don't wish 'for the day when...' as when that day comes it will only be replaced with yet another set of child rearing problems, you must never rest for that is when the adversary can enter your home, consistant and calm directing will always work (if you can be consistent!!) DO NOT ALLOW your 'ideal' family life to flitter away because its too hard to keep up with it.

So this week its back to a schedule. I've tivo'd the girls favourite shows for them to watch at once on Friday/Saturday. Each day we will do a different art/activity. Each girl will cook once a week.

Now pray that I have the endurance to back up my words!

Last night Miss K cooked this recipe from Pioneer Woman. She mastered it with a little help from me. As we sat down to eat she looked everyone squarely in the eye and stated " You WILL love this" To which I laughed my head off and said 'ohhhhh... the tables have turned have they" There's nothing like teaching gratitude by making them the ones to work for the gratitude.

If it goes well perhaps I will start a collection of recipes kids can cook and share them on here. Would you be interested? I would love some easy recipes suggestions from you too!

Mango Mango

2011-10-08T21:39:00.001+10:00

I don't know how it came to be... but it's definately another family tradition.

I think four years ago I photographed the girls eating their 'first mango of the season'
see here here here

Now it's like a family tradition!

Don't tell the girls but a few months ago I was at a function and there was mango on the fruit plate! I was like 'it's early for mango.. this really MUST be some of the first mangoes for the season!'

So apart from my little *ahem* indiscretion....

These are the FIRST MANGOS OF THE SEASON

(for us that is)

and we just love little celebrations like this. Seems a good way to usher in the coming HOT season!

My girls groaned in pleasure, covered their faces, declared Mangoes to be their favourite fruit in the world, ate with such vigour on purpose because they knew I was photographing them. ITs all so funny!

Wishing you as much happiness as a 'first of the season mango feeling.'

Camp

2011-10-03T21:01:00.001+10:00

I know my husband loves me because he puts up with my complaints

It's so dusty here
I really don't think we will all fit in this area
There are no toilets down here (it was a looong walk to the loo's)
We should move our campsite
I hope N doesn't fall off the small cliff into the creek (next to our camp)
and more Worries about this and that, that I can't remember now.

I must have complained about several things in the first few mins and he kindly said please don't say another negative thing. Lets just have a good time.

It's not that I don't want to go camping or that I dislike it (I actually like it very much) but my nerves always pick up on the things that I think are going to go wrong. And I just LOVE TO SHARE my thoughts.

It's hard work to take this bunch camping. Hours of packing (and the dreaded unpacking), alot of set up and a lot of physical work. Work work work. I could NEVER do it alone.

The packing, the tieing down the the trailer, the hours of driving, the lifting, putting up our HUGE tarp and poles. I saw The Mr help out three other groups put up their tarps and tents. He constantly collected and cut wood with an ax. Numerous people borrowed our ax, hammer, shovel that he packed to use. Up early Up late. Adjusting tarps for rain and digging trenches. The last to leave camp after helping yet another group tie up their trailer. Going on a three hour hike that he didn't have to be on but felt he should to accompany the young women, Vigourous labour just hours after vomiting.

Now I'm not writing this to tell everyone how awesome my husband is {I'm sure most peoples husbands are awesome} but it is more to tell myself. A sure knowledge for me that I know what a hard worker and honest man he is. One who cares about the wellbeing of so many that he wouldn't even leave camp until the very last group of girls were safely on their way home. One who worked without complaint for four days straight.

Camping makes me love my husband more. A sort of mating call if you will.

Put people in certain circumstance to make them shine. It also kinda makes me realise how not a hard worker I am and what a complainer I am. However, I look after whiney kids. I precooked the food. I pack the clothes, bedding, food. The girls and I put the tent up and put the camp kitchen together. I do realise we are a team and we need eachother. The reason he has more stamina and mental strength and a sure knowledge of doing many things 'just because it is the right thing to do' is because that is what is needed for me. For ME! His strengths are gifts to me. I'm crying as I realise this. Like an offering divine, my weaknesses are paid for by this strengths. It is truly a gift to realise that I can be forever carried by someone else.

and camping makes me realise this.

We had a day and half of family camping then we were joined by about 100 other people for girls camp. Luckily we were only looking after 10 of those girls.

It turned our small family camp alot busier with people everywhere but it was great in a different way to our usual camps. The lack of quiet and family time was made up by chatter, giggling, older role models for my girls to follow around and play with. Girls platting hair, making wool headbands for my girls, sharing and snuggling in camp chairs, scary stories around the campfire, games of 44 home and ghost in the graveyard, smores, glowsticks, sparklers.

I was super impressed with the young women at girls camp. Our YW did everything they were asked without complaining. They were helpful and friendly. They looked out for eachother and didn't mind looking after and befriending our girls. What wonderful examples they were. There was not a single problem or fight the entire time. Seriously- PERFECTION!

Well this camp turned out great and not much more could have gone wrong!

While we set up fine, the day everyone else arrived it was raining. The Mr spend half the day helping other people set up and wore wet clothes all day. That dust turned into mud and the girls were filthy and there was only one shower in this whole camp ground {I've become very good at bathing the girls with a pot of boiled water and a cloth!}I woke up with the worst headache ever { I dont think I should partake in marshmallows and hot chocolate but who can resist while camping!} Miss N got what I think was a tick on her head (but I pulled it off pretty early just squished it and blood popped out) Four members of our family had a vomiting bug. {thanks again to miss N who started it all} Then it spread to one of the young women {oh noes! I felt terrible!}It was very hot when the young women and The Mr went on their hike, then it rained during pack up time again.

But hey I don't dwell on the negative. Camp was awesome!

I may have fallen into bed exhausted by 7pm the day we returned home but it was worth it.

animal sightings: wallaby, cows, possums, goanna, red parrots, rainbow lorikeet, spiders

favourite things: hayrides in the back of the trailer, going down to the river, playing in the mud for hours, making homemade swings out of rope, fires, glowsticks and sparklers

want a camp cleanup technique?

Place your kids on top of the car with a mattress. Our stayed up there about 1-2 hours while we packed up our stuff and helped other people. genius.

Bloom

2011-09-27T07:36:00.000+10:00

Sometimes it feels like there are no drastic changes in season here.
There aren't really. It's green all year round.

I think I'm lucky to live somewhere warm most of the year but it can get a bit samey.

I've realised I just need to look closer.{I always do, but look even closer}

Just as in winter I rejoice in the few deciduous trees, rejoice in owning a fireplace, spend time snuggled in blankets, love my rice heat bag to bits, rejoice in staying home and staying warm.

However Spring is here now and I have been spying it.

The revered Jacaranda has started to show itself! The totally bare trees are now sporting purple tops. Just hinting at what is to come - purple everywhere!

I wish I knew the names of trees/flowers because I have quiet a few in the local area that are blooming.

Its been fun to photograph some of my favourite blooming trees - mostly on the side of the road and in empty lots and shopping carparks and at daycare. I've gotten a few strange looks.

But hey Its Spring!

Lazy Communication

2011-09-21T16:10:00.002+10:00

Usually The Mr and I go to bed at the same time or I retire earlier than he {often}

It is a rare event that he is in bed before me.

However he is trying to get more shut eye and it has happened a couple of times lately.

The other night in the dark I was banging into furniture trying to manoever my way to bed.

I grumbled 'you could have left a light on for me'

This woke the Mr up and so I kept going with my grumbles and said

'All the times I go to bed before you - I always leave the ensuite light on or your bedside lamp on so you can see when you come to bed!!! Why can't you do the same for me? where's the love?'

To which the Mr replyed

'OH!.. I thought you were just Lazy!'

And I laughed to myself. Years of leaving a light on so my dear husband wont bang his shins/toes and be able to see to find his PJ's, bedside things. An offering of pure love and devotion to him and he thinks it was because I was too lazy to get out of bed and turn the lights off!?!

OKAY so to be fair I am kinda lazy. Not in a 'never get off the couch lazy' (I rarely sit down at all during the day) but in a "I never finish anything 100% due to my lack of attention span" so its to be expected that I'd hop into bed and be too lazy to get back out to turn off a light. Like how I wash dishes every night but never put them away or since I sweep what feels like 10 times a day I leave the pile of dust/crap/crumbs next to the bin instead of getting the dust pan out to sweep it up as I just know I'll be adding to the pile in a few hours. (I do sweep it up each day and put in the bin!) Or how I leave the ensuite door ajar because as a constantly pregnant/breastfeeding mother I knew I would be in and out of that room several times each night and its just become habit now. Or how I move from room to room cleaning not ever staying in one spot to finish it all in one go (I blame children! Internet! Having to break to cook! so many distractions :)

I thought of communication. How often are things lost in translation? I ponder because I like to think we have pretty good communication. I was reminded about honing this skill at our recent adults session conference. What things do you do to have and keep good relationships? At Mothers Group this morning we were discussing the importance of having regular family council meetings or being better at ensuring Date Night happens as a means to have some time to actually talk and think and be alone together.

Let your people know you love them.

They may just think you're lazy.

Dr Who

2011-09-19T12:47:00.000+10:00

It was hard to take super straight short fringe and try to boof and curl it..

My striped shirts and jackets have been raided.
The Mr's one bowtie has been taken.

These things equal Dr Who outfits.

Perfect for playing Dr Who with the neighbour (who has long hair so is relegated to be Amy :) and Perfect for the school disco when asked to dress as your favourite character.

When she saw all her friends dressed as Vampires and Zombies and Princesses and Super hero's she was a bit bashful to be dressed as Dr Who but she pulled it off. Nearly all the teachers and a couple of kids knew who she was dressed as even if her friends had no idea.

A while back it was a bit of a debate between Harry Potter and Dr Who. Important things like who is better looking, who is smarter, who is cooler (lol so funny, it's fight between the nerds ;)

Who would have thought I might have need for those bow tie tutorials I see around the internet.

Simple and Important

2011-09-16T13:49:00.001+10:00

Pulling in my sheets from line drying in the hot spring sun. I'm so glad I force myself to line dry most things when I would rather be lazy and put everything in the dryer. I can literally smell the sunshine on those sheets ♥

Finally getting around to making Strawberry Pie when it is almost the end of Strawberry Season

Eating German Chocolate Cake made by The MR!

Cleansing the girls bedroom for their Spring/Summer Wardrobe

Popcorn for movie night

Finishing my first personalized family Christmas decorations for the season :)

A quick impromptu visit to the beach yesterday still has me smiling

A big house clean to give us a clean slate for the school holiday

Riding bikes everyday taking advantage of beautiful weather

Remembering the SIMPLE things helps me focus on the IMPORTANT things

Dear House

2011-09-15T17:56:00.002+10:00

This Post over at Apartment Therapy caught my eye this week.

5 Completely free ways to make your house a home.

Even though I do most things on that list I really felt that I needed reminding to LOVE MY HOME.

I complain the house is too small
I don't really have a laundry so there is always laundry ALL OVER MY DECK
I have four girls who share one room so it is always messed up
The house is not insulated AT ALL so is usually either freezing cold or boiling hot

I realised that these things dont really matter. And I shouldn't constantly make excuses on how embarrassed I am over it. There is nothing wrong with the house (it could be cleaner ;)

It's the feeling one gets. When strangers enter my home they usually comment on how lovely it is
The feelings created in a home are so much more important than how it is. If you treat it with the love and respect it deserves the home will fill with those positive vibes - they will be etched in the walls.

To appreciate what you do have - that you actually have shelter while so many are homeless
To remember home is not a collection of things - but a reflection of who you are
Hopefully people are coming to visit you not your home so relax and have people over more.

Once when K was having four friends over for a sleep over I told the girls they had to be good as our house is very small and there is not much to do. One girl stepped in and was all like "WOW your house is SO BIG and BEAUTIFUL!! {she lived in a very small apartment I found out after} And one should always take advice from children. They are usually right.

Dear house

I love you very much. I love your cute little cottage face. When I come down the street to look at you, you make me smile. You look very happy. I love your high ceilings and coloured glass windows. I love that you cover this family and provide us with safety. I love that you are small and quick to clean. I love your deck and outside areas that make it easy for me to entertain and invite others over. I love your large spacious kitchen that allows me to cook/bake numerous times a day. I love your fun fireplace that allows us family time toasting marshmallows. I love your green hedges that we cannot kill no matter how badly we treat them. I love your ~~crampedness~~ cozyness that allows us to be always together even when we might not want to. You are helping to make us a close family.

You complete me xx

Windows and Grass

2011-09-13T12:34:00.000+10:00

Old photo that has nothing to do with this post except that it's the window I speak of.

Another love of the girls - climbing out of the windows and walking along the fence ;)

I love windows

The window in our lounge room next to the computer is of the most used.

Today (Last friday) the rain was pouring and I had a little captivated girl peering out the window.

We had a big truck and digger parked right next to our house all day with lots of workmen coming and going. Sitting next to the window watching the rain/work was our major activity today.

The light was soft and gentle and it seriously almost bought tears to my eyes. The cool rain was making for a cozy feel, my heart leapt. There is just something about windows, rain and soft light.

I love when these gentle moments remind me that I am right in being home with these little ones. I am right to take things slow. I only wish I was better and more patient and understood better what really matters in life. I feel like I achieve very little in the relms of being with my children and *doing* things with them that will improve them knowledgably, spiritually, emotionally, physically. Sometimes I feel like I'm already too late. Too much talking at, directing, cleaning, ignoring seems to happen. How does one repair this?

I have been feeling lately that time is fleeting. I've been a stay at home mum for 10 years and I feel its flown by and I can barely remember what it was like when K was a baby. It makes my heart break. I wish I could remember. I wish I could remember all the times I've peered out the window with a intrigued tot. I wish I could remember soft filtered light kissing the pink soft skin of a child.

A wish for a window to my soul.

***

The very next day after the crazy rain storm was blue blue sky and blustery wind.

A perfect day for flying a kite.

If only my kids could do things without the yelling, directing, squealing and fighting that comes with them doing an activity together. {sigh} Once their bossing eachother around was sorted it was lovely.{and I'm sure the people who live near the park rejoiced that the screaming session was over!}

I laid down on the grass and my body seemed to release unknown tension.

I thought when was the last time I laid down in the grass? A month? or more?

There is just something about connecting with the real world. It centres a person.

I googled some reasons on why this is:

If a building or appliance is “grounded” that means that its electricity can be transferred to the earth in order to prevent an electrical buildup and the damage that can come along with power surges.

All living things have low levels of electrical activity running through them, so this concept is applied to our own bodies as well. When we step onto the ground without the insulating factor of shoes, our free radicals (those bad things that promote aging by scooting around in your body and causing damage to cells) can diffuse out into the earth and we can gain a flow of healing electrons in return – instantly giving your body a healthy boost.

Don’t tell me you don’t feel less stressed and more balanced after a day at the beach or a barefoot twirl across the lawn! I know I do. I’ve been taking barefoot walks through the forest lately, and I have to say – it feels amazing. The connection to the trees and bushes and mother earth around me feels acute and beautiful. It would be a certain challenge to feel stressed in this situation ♥

Barefooting gives a better contact to nature because life-force energy called Chi (also called Qi or Prana) can only be absorbed through the soles of the feet. Ground Chi is absorbed automatically and unconsciously when walking barefoot, which may be one of the reasons why it’s so relaxing to walk without shoes on and why exercises geared toward strengthening the body and relaxing the mind (yoga, tai chi, martial arts) are also typically practiced barefoot..

I shall have to resolve to roll in the grass more.

The simple things I learnt last week.

Hearts

2011-09-09T11:59:00.002+10:00

I wont tell you how long it took to scroll through my thousands of photos looking for some heart ones. I obviously need a 'heart photo's' folder....

I have a secret hobby.

Taking photos of random found heart shapes.

I've been doing it for quite a few years. I almost squealed when design mom blogged about someone who does similar at Boy Sees Hearts. Through its popularity he started World Sees Hearts where you can submit your heart photos.

I've taken photos of heart shaped leaves, rocks, clouds, shadows, mushrooms, cracks in the cement, tomatoes, potatoes, rain patches. Hearts are to be seen in so many places. I see them quite often.

You know you have a problem when your child looks a oil stain in a grimy carpark and yells MUM - A Heart! for you! Take a photo! (see they know me!)

This last few weeks alone I've found more.

Can you imagine my joy when I opened my butter and found this:

and I love butter so double joy!

or when I was at the Ekka and noticed this nice pattern on a cow.

Doesn't it totally look like a teddy bear and a heart?

Hearts are everywhere people.

You can't escape the love.

Welcome Spring

2011-09-05T14:41:00.001+10:00

Due to the rhythmic season following over at SouleMama and Welcome summer party ideas of NieNie I've been drawn to wanting the same. We are pretty mindful of special occasions here and will pretty much celebrate anything. However I've never been organized enough to have seasonal parties. I decided I wanted a welcome Spring Party this year. Yay! Winter is over! (though I did try really hard this year to love winter and I think it worked, but it's time to move on winter!)

Saturday was chosen as it was only the 3rd of the month, near Fathers day and we would have fireworks to end the night courtesy of Riverfire. Lots of reasons to party.

Menu:

Camembert and Brie
Strawberry and french vanilla almond salad
Lasagna
Zucchini Slice
French Stick

Blondies
Cherry Pavlova

We started the morning with our Fathers day celebration. It was such a good idea! Sunday Mornings can be pretty hectic around here, so we chose for a more leisurely start on Saturday with breakfast for Daddy and opening all his gifts. It also gave him time to spend learning to fly the new helicopter he got.

It was gift day for me to! I've wanted a white tablecloth for a while and have just never splurged to get one. Flowers were a must for a spring party and I scored a half off bunch. My mother found a bargain cake plate for me and even delivered it en route to a weekend away (I've wanted a cake plate for years but have just never found the right one at the right price, I've scoured many an op shop to find one but have never seen one in an opshop... they must get snapped up quick??)

Of course you have to dress spring like too, except that it was cold! what's with that! It's been colder the last few weeks than when it was in July! crazy! my green and butterfly dress was only worn half the day till I got too cold :( but I was feeling the spring - y - ness!

A wonderful late lunch/early dinner with family and friends. Then off up the street to watch the fireworks.. Back home for more dessert and chatting

Welcome welcome spring...

Fathers Day

2011-09-04T14:06:00.000+10:00

Fathers day 2011

As I moved all coy like in front of my husband and gave him a wink and said

Well you have me to thank for Fathers day in your life thankyouverymuch...

he looked at me and said

No I think that woman was a lot younger looking...

ouch! Touche!

Which of course he backed up with "But you're still beautiful of course"....

He's a cheeky one that man in our life.

Only a very special guy could live with 6 women (my sister lives with us at the moment)

I'm so very grateful I get to spend this parenting ride with such an awesome guy. I sometimes feel I've been let in on a big secret and I'm the only one who knows the real him. {which I secretly love}

The last couple of years I found some Fathers Day questionaires online. I love to see the girls answers about their dad. Here are their answers. I've combined the three older girls answers below

My Dad is how old?
16
48
39

His hair is_____ and his eyes are:
black and bluey green
black and bluey green
black and blue

My dad likes to wear:
Ties and white shirts
His super cleanup shirt and pants (ie His Blue work overalls!! lol)
anything

He loves to eat:
Soup and chocolate
A big bowl of chocolate Icecream
Chocolate Icecream
(they all say this because anytime a child whinges about something -ie hourly/daily - Daddy's answer is always "And I want a big bowl of chocolate icecream... but am I getting it?")

He is smart because he knows:
Everything
Everything
Everything

My dad works hard at:
Work
Fixing computers
Computers

Daddy always tells me:
Secrets
He loves me
He loves me

It makes daddy happy when:
I do good things
I help mum clean up
I help him

If he could go on a trip he would go ___ and he would take:
To the beach and take us all to the island
Camping and he would take a torch and a tent and me
To the beach and he would take everyone

I really love it when my dad:
Puts me on his shoulders and pushes me super high on the swing
Helps me and gives me hugs
Plays board games with me

If I could give my dad anything it would be:
Lollies
Things we wants and a long hug
A hug

My favourite thing about dad is:
I love my dad because he lets me go on the roof
He is funny
He is funny

This year he got lots of gifts. We decided to move our fathers day to saturday. So we could have a longer slower breakfast and enjoy the gifts.That was such a good idea (next blog will be about our fathers day, spring party and fireworks)

He got a remote controlled helicopter! Arent we awesome!
Socks
Whittakers chocolate bars
car cleaning kit
Big Bright torch thingy

I'm super grateful for the fathers in our lives. I'm lucky to have a wonderful father too!

Happy Fathers Day.

Spring is Here

2011-09-01T21:34:00.000+10:00

On the first day of Spring we had a little visitor to provide us with much joy and happiness.

It's a ladybug if you can't tell :)

Spring is Here!

I'm also making these flowers for a little family Spring dinner with fireworks for Saturday.

And menu planning for it. What does one eat for spring?? Lamb? lol.

Wet Saturday

2011-08-29T17:29:00.001+10:00

It's a rare thing to have a free saturday.
We even recheck our calendar to make sure we have it correct {we have forgotten things before}

Except that on Saturday it was pouring with rain.

But it seems we like to do crazy things in the rain.

If it's raining, might as well get wet right?

{And if you're planning to get wet, then it makes planning the cleanup easier
- by packing towels, blankets, change of clothes and hot chocolate after}

IN the grey terrible weather we headed to the beach and had a terrific time.

It was seriously like the clouds parted just for us. Rain all morning and afteroon. There was foggy rain on both sides as far as the eye could see, but where we were was only very lightly pattering.

I *know* families all around the world spend time together. I've done many a family activity myself over the last 10 years. However its been on The Mr and mines minds lately and we are trying to be more thoughtful in our distribution of time. Telling ourselves and reminding ourselves {and the kids}how special it is to be out as a family. How important it is.

How important it is to plan upcoming activities and outings, to have things to look forward to.
Knowing this time as a close knit, small, nuclear family is but a short time
Life is to be lived, we don't want to have regrets of things we 'never got around to doing'

Sometimes I can feel guilt over the lack of extra curricular activities I can give my children. Be it cost, time, and not being able to split myself into 4, many activites are not possible for this family. But the other day I read an awesome comment over at SouleMama that said
"Being in a large family IS a sport" oh and that it is!

I don't really like the beach in summer. Too hot, sand burns your feet, I hate suncream and sand sticking to it. I really like going to the beach in winter. A sunny day is even better, but we had lots of fun regardless. I also like to go on low tide. When the waters high, what good is that? Low tide is where all the fun is at. We can explore, walk, find and run in the marine wilderness that is low tide.

As it was low tide we were also able to walk out to nearby King Island. We found a jelly fish on the way that provided much entertainment {dear jellyfish, if you weren't dead when we found you, I'm sorry for the way you were treated} we also found half a catfish, watched a gorgeous sea hawk flying and diving, found crabs and lots of shells.

We were alone on the island and we felt like Nim's Island. We dreamed and explored and laughed and shook our heads at eachothers crazy ways. Squeals of begging sisters to 'come and look at what I found' to squeals of pretending to be blown away by the umbrella in the wind, to hiding spots, to poking jelly fish, to collecting pockets of shells and hermit crabs, to removing shoes to let little toes feel the ground and squelch in the water. Nature is one of the few activities all ages can do without any competition or feelings of inadequacy.

These lessons are what my children need. Life lessons

Outings are starting to become easier for us. With small girls all grown up, not needing our constant vigilance it gave The Mr and I time to stroll and hold hands and talk and kiss. Each time we stopped for a quick kiss Miss G would run up to us and draw a heart in the sand at our feet. 'for love' she would say. Sometimes we were too quick and she would yell 'wait wait' and make us stand there until she had drawn our heart.

These lessons are what my children need. Life lessons.

And it's important to me.

Oh and these wet outings remind me to work on our wet weather gear. We basically don't own anything waterproof. Such is the joy of living in a sunny place :)

A garden! A garden!

2011-08-23T21:17:00.000+10:00

We've never been a green thumb family.

Most stuff gets killed by us. I remember being excited about winning a flower pot (full of flowers) at a church activity, praying that the flowers would live. Well it wasn't long before they were all dead :(

We've always known the importance of having a garden but just haven't been able to achieve it, which always makes me sad. There is many a life lesson to be learnt by the law of the harvest. Let alone the money savings, and environmental savings ( growing plants in home gardens uses less water, pesticides, less energy miles - delivery of foods from far away cost more in energy than the food gives etc so if everyone grew more of their own food less of the world would be destroyed)

About 7 years ago we decided that WE WILL have a vegetable garden. The Mr went and bought wood to make the large boxes, cane mulch, dirt, seeds etc etc. We made a garden that took a bit of work and cost a pretty penny. Of course nothing grew. NOT A THING!! heartbreaking it was.

Actually, I lie, something DID grow - one beautiful tomato plant that we DIDN'T PLANT.... it grew out of the compost bin next to the garden. Everytime we ate one of the tomatoes that grew on it, I would say "I hope you're enjoying that $10 tomato!"

That ended our escapades as gardeners. We didn't try again on a big scale and just knew that gardening wasn't for us. We just didn't have green thumbs, didn't have the knowledge, didn't have the money to throw away on attempting to grow food that might not grow, I don't know but we just didn't have whatever IT is to be good gardeners. And then we moved to the city to a house with no garden, so that helped us calm our guilt for about 5 years.

Earlier this year I borrowed THIS BOOK from the library. It was upbeat, positive and simple to follow with great little handdrawn garden plot maps eg a salad garden, a stirfry garden, a curry garden. It inspired me to want to try again and be successful.

After reading this article with several quotes about the importance of having a garden I knew that we should attempt a garden again. But as with most things it takes The Mr to be on board for them to actually happen :) (ie I wrangle babies while everyone else works )

We crazily planted this year in April, just before the start of winter hoping to catch the last of autumn.

And guess what?? STUFF GREW!

I was so excited.

Not everything grew but enough did to give us the gardening bug. I have not had to buy a single lettuce in months! We just pick a leaf or two as we need it and we only planted five lettuces! Though our pea's didnt grow abundantly the pods that did grow were snatched up by the kids and eaten while still in the garden. They taste like mint! one child exclaimed. Kids that don't eat many vegetables happily eat raw ones that they've plucked off a vine or from out of the ground. Interesting.

We have just redug the garden and are looking forward to growing our Spring Garden.

Fingers crossed things will grow again. *pretty please*

Tell me your gardening advice.....

Email Month

2011-08-19T21:09:00.000+10:00

The ball - we both attended with dates, yet ended up embracing at the end of the night ;)

A disclaimer before I start these. These emails were completely ridiculous and meant to be silly. We were trying to oneup eachother. We didn't even know we were interested in eachother and our 7 year age gap made us purely acquaintances through friends :) now you can all see what a silly flirt I was.

From:Thisgirllovestotalk@qut.edu.au

Date: Thursday 10 September 1998

To: TheMr@bit.net.au

Subject:

Hey Darling....

Hope you have a fantastic day at work....

I have a speech to do at uni..... arrrgggg..... I'm scared. Oh what do I have to be scared of? I can talk under water!

Well I'll be thinking of you all day....

Hey... when am I moving in? I have my bed ready.

Ystyn said he thinks it is a good idea... I could really brighten up your dull household!!

Well love and mush

This girl loves to Talk

From: TheMr@bit.net.au

Date: Thursday 10 September 1998

To: Thisgirllovestotalk@qut.edu.au

Subject: RE:

Hey babe

I will have a fantastic day at work, especially when I get emails from sexy women.

Little does Ystyn know that once you move in he and Peter and Phillip would all have to go ;)

You 'n' me babe, all the way

Virtually Yours

The Mr

Ha! I am totally pyschic! I actually DID end up moving into their house 5 months later! (Married to The Mr of course) And the MR was wrong, because the boys didnt move out... I just moved in to their 5 bedroom house! (yes a very funny arrangement I know, but we were all poor uni students and the house was in a good central area and it helped us afford to live etc and they guys were awesome)

From:TheMr@bit.net.au

Date: Monday 14 September 1998

To:Thisgirllovestotalk@qut.edu.au

Subject: Only You

"I cant get enough of your love baby!"

email #1

Cheers

The Mr

From: TheMr@bit.net.au

Date: Tuesday 15 September 1998

To: Thisgirllovestotalk.qut.edu.au

Subject: Email 2

"sometimes when we touch, the honesty's too much (blah blah blah), the fear in me subsides"

Virtually yours

The MR

From: TheMr@bit.net.au

Date: Wednesday 16 September 1998

To: Thisgirllovestotalk@qut.edu.au

Subject: Email 3

"Shake your groove thing baby!"

"I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want"

Cheers

The Mr

From: TheMr@bit.net.au

Date: Thursday 17 September 1998

To: Thisgirllovestotalk@qut.edu.au

Subject: Only You

When God created Adam and Eve he was thinking of you. He knew that although they were created immortal, then became mortal, our forefathers were working to create you. All of history was designed and crafted to create you - the whole world exists for you... that means I'm virtually yours.

The Mr

From: TheMr@bit.net.au

Sent: Friday 18 September 1998

To: Thisgirllovestotalk@qut.edu.au

Subject: How goes it..this is number 5

So this week I have confessed my undying virtual love for my dear and yet she still rejects me. Oh well there are plenty of other fish in the sea.... Except they are all whales...

You have a good week? Mine sucked except I went and saw Mulan at the movies (on a date!)

Have you been asked to the Ball?

virtually yours

The Mr

From: Thisgirllovestotalk@qut.edu.au

Sent: Friday 18 September 1998

To: TheMr@bit.net.au

Subject: RE: How goes it..this is number 5

Hey babe

When did I reject you?

You know I love you!

So you went on a date.... Have you been cheating on me!!... sob sob sob.. tears are welling up in my eyes and its all your fault!

I saw Mulan on Tuesday night with William. It was good hey?

Yes I am going to the ball.... so I will see you there in all your refinery... watch out for me... the hot babe in the dark purple dress... I'll be waiting in line just to have a dance with the Infamous Mr... I think I will have to fight off the other girls.... but I am tough... I can do it!!!!

So till tonight... mmmwah!

This girl loves to Talk.

and yet we still weren't dating or talking.....

only a few more weeks of these crazy emails before it all fell into place ;)

To Ekka To Ekka (about my 30th time!)

2011-08-16T12:56:00.000+10:00

The day ended the same as most years...

A fervent vow of "I'm never going to the Ekka AGAIN!"

too expensive, too loud, too dirty, too long, too crowded, too everything..
perhaps it was because we ended the day with a lost grandfather whom we couldn't find hoping that he had two kids with him, cause we knew they weren't with us! A little bit of fear running through the veins when at 9:00pm you've lost half your family and have no way to contact them and have been running in circles for half an hour looking for them. (they were found waiting for us at the car)

But we all know next year when the winds change and the weather (sometimes) gets a little warmer, we'll once again tackle the mountain that is taking four kids to the EKKA! (Oh help me!)

Perhaps instead of just nikkoing my mobile number onto the inner arm of the children I'll have to do one for the grandparents instead. You never know who you might lose. The kids didn't get lost once!

I frequently remind my girls that they are extremely blessed to be able to go to the Ekka each year. It is only because they are kindly funded by their great grandmother, grandmother (and granddad), their parents and their own moneyboxes and even our elderly neighbour that we could ever fathom taking four kids to the Ekka.

So once again we faced down THE EKKA

I've been (and the kids) every year of my life bar two when I had babies born around this time of year.

I think we are officially Carnie Lovers for life or something.

Perhaps its nostalgia, perhaps its the awe on a childs face, perhaps it is city meets country, perhaps its just in our veins. I can't think of many other reasons why we would torture ourselves so. Perhaps it is just tradition. A tradition that we love. A tradition we look forward to. A gift to the child in all of us. I don't think the kids would ever allow us 'not to go'.

We achieved all the important items below:
Eating of Dagwood Dog
Ride on the Ferris Wheel (with just one kid!!)
Getting of crazy funky wigs
Consuming of Strawberry Sundae Icecream Cone
Showbags Got
Fairy Floss
Holding baby Chickens
Patting all the baby animals
Fireworks
Obtaining of Whoppee Cushions
Getting the best deal of the fair - $20 bag that included a RipStick! bargain!

The kids were actually pretty good, but the constant comings and goings of four little ones all needing different things is very taxing. The questions, the whining, the spills, the tears, the tired legs always makes me think IS IT WORTH IT?

and yet when I had one baby snuggled in a blanket on my lap with wide eyes, one five year old tucked right in my side with her mouth open agape both mesmerised and SILENT! watching with awe the fireworks my heart swelled and ofcourse I knew it was worth it.

It also happened earlier in the day when myself and two of the girls were able to see a baby lamb be born. It was almost a spiritual moment shared between us all. The sighs and gasps of the crowd each building on the last. A simmering pressure of love and emotion as we all egged that sheep on. The women in the crowd were sympathising with that sheep, you could FEEL it in the air! With each push deep breaths were drawn in all around us. When it seemed one step forward two steps back we all sighed. But cheer we did when that lamb finally came out! OH the relief! I was so happy to be able to share that moment with them and they thought it was amazing. When the little lamb pushed the goo off its face and breathed for the first time we were in love. The wonderful job of nature reminding us how precious and what a joy life is.

Till next year my friend Ekka...

though I really think its a love hate relationship

Email Month

2011-08-11T21:47:00.000+10:00

Oh you so want to know what The Mr said in return to my flirty first email of 'lets get married' don't you?

Well tonight I was sorting through the hundred pages looking for snippets to share and guess what?

I found it! His reply's are there, just in severely messed up order.

So for a refresher here's what I said:

From: This girl loves to Talk
Sent:Thursday 13 August 1998 9:27
To: The Mr@bit.net.au
Subject: hey babe

hey hey hey
How's things going? Well I thought I would try out your email address..... but I don't have anything to say.... except.....
Let's not go to convention... Let's get married instead....

xxThis girl loves to talk :) :)

From: The Mr
Sent: Thursday 13 August 1998 9:49
To: Thisgirllovestotalk@student.qut.edu.au
Subject: RE: hey babe

HA! You wish girl...... hang on, if marrying someone means that I don't have to plan the budget for convention and can get me off the committee and therefore remove all blame from myself if the convention is a flop.... I'll meet you at the altar... :-)

Now that you have sent me an email I can correctly add your name to my email address book.

Have you seen the pictures of you on Michaels wall? There is a really good close up one of you. I was thinking of pinching it for myself. Cause its a great picture of course!

Are you able to look at the YSA convention website? I helped build it and would appreciate your thoughts on it

The Mr.

....................................................

From: This girl loves to Talk
Sent: Friday 21st August 1998 2:08
To: TheMr@bit.net.au
Subject: Hey good lookin'

My little sweetums, hows things?

I did finally get into the YSA home page, I must say I was quite impressed and in awe of your expertise and knowledge for it is a fantastic home page... be proud of your endless hours of work!!! How's your ego now? Feeling better? Well that's my job done for today, to make all living human beings feel good about themselves. And if The Mr feels happy, then I feel fulfilled.....
Catch ya round.....

This girl loves to talk

From: The Mr
Sent: Friday 21 August 1998 15:18
To: Thisgirllovestotalk@student.qut.edu.au
Subject: RE: hey good lookin'

Do what needs to be done today :)
You made my day.

Virtually yours

The Mr

.................................................

From:This girl loves to talk

Sent: Thursday 3 September 1998 9:45

To: TheMr@bit.net.au

Subject: mmmmmmmm

Hey good lookin'

Hope your having a wonderful day at work...

Keep smiling :) :) :)

For I will be smiling just at the thought of you!!

This girl loves to talk

PS I had all my hair cut off, see if you can recognize me at the boat cruise! hee hee

From: The MR

Sent: Thursday 3 September 1998 10:21

To:Thisgirllovestotalk@student.qut.edu

Subject:RE: mmmmm

I'll love you no matter what you do to your hair. I mean hey whats hair ever done to me? :)

Are we all meeting somewhere beforehand then travelling to the boat?

Virtually yours

The MR

.........................................................

I think that's enough for this week. Can only have so much ridiculous flirty emails between people who just became friends. I've got a really good one to share next week. Another pyschic moment for me. I totally predict something that came true! Oh and I think I'll have to start signing my emails to The MR with 'virtually yours' again. I love how he started saying that in his second email to me!!

So cute!

Quitting

2011-08-10T21:35:00.001+10:00

I've been struggling with blogging for a little while now and it makes me so sad.

Because I don't want to stop!

Some of the reasons:

I'm finding it hard to find the time now N doesn't nap during the day
{eating lunch at my computer and blogging/reading stuff on the net was my guilty pleasure}

I feel bad when I ignore the kids to blog/surf the net
{I hate it when they pull my arms away from the keyboard and I say "I've just got to finish typing this..."}

I'm way too tired at night to blog or think coherently
{I'm definately a go to bed early gal, how can I keep up this cheery disposition otherwise}

Don't mention early kids bedtimes to me or I might cry!
{I honestly think things were easier when kids were smaller. Back then they used to all be fast asleep by 6:30/7pm and I would be free for hours to do things I WANT to do, I used to do stitchery, craft, watch tv, plan stuff. Now I have kids up till 9pm in my face not to mention the kid that reads till after 10pm. I follow soon after falling into my bed thus no time for me!}

My kids starting to play computer games more seriously
{half hour each which turns into a little more x 3 kids = No computer time for me!}

I don't feel that I am spending enough time with my kids or parenting them correctly
{so the last thing I should be doing is wasting precious time on the internet}

I went to a class about the pitfalls of the internet and a few things resonated with me
{when we think "I need more followers, I need more friends, I've just got to capture the perfect picture to go with that post" you have problems, When we start thinking in terms of what to put on the internet instead of just getting on with our lives, Even emotional infidelity was thrown around in terms of using the internet as a reliance for your emotional or social outlets instead of letting your spouse and family to be the ones to do that for you. I know that I think about this blog a little too much}

When I receive more comments on my post about Lemon lime and bitters cordial than I do for things I've written seriously about and poured my soul into I start to doubt my ability as a writer.
{And doubt the reasons for why I blog. Is it for feedback? Would I do it if no one was reading? I count you all and I know that I only have 30 - 100 visitors per day. Sometimes I think thats awesome and other times I think I'm wasting my time, I'm NOT THAT GOOD a blogger}

While I was at the Time out for Women I came upon a person whose blog I read whom I don't know personally. I told myself that I was going to go up and say hi (we have shared comments/emails) but I just couldn't do it. It was almost like embarrassing. I don't know that person, They don't know me. Yet I know everything about them and their family and recognized them instantly. I thought 'I wonder if people think that way about me.' For the first time I felt a little silly for being part of the whole blogging world. Does everyone really need to know my business?
{I'm not scared or fearful of people knowing personal things about me, but it just all of a sudden felt so shameful??}

But don't worry...

I really don't think I will stop

its an addiction and its a free creative outlet {which totally appeals to the cheapskate in me!}

and I'm super pleased that I have kept this blog up near perfectly for 3 years. I haven't kept a journal that well since I was 16.. ahem thats around 16 years ago now!!

I've mentioned to a few people about maybe quitting the blog and they all replied with a resounding NO! {thanks for the love}

I joked on facebook after a mention of quitting that I probably wouldn't quit, that I would just blog about quitting... how's that for irony!

Anyway no quitters here, just excuse my hit and miss posting.

I've lost my muse, my time and my sanity.

Hopefully it will be back soon.

Two

2011-08-08T14:09:00.000+10:00

Idea here. Might be a new birthday tradition?

Two.

Miss Tata had a wonderful birthday.

She had mini marshmallows for breakfast (her favourite)

She received more train track for our set and a doll (both of which she loved)

The four missionaries serenaded her with "Happy Birthday" song

Her sisters all wore their hair in pigtails just like her (they came up with the idea??)

She did not have a nap (little girl has stopped napping most days now :S)

There was lots of sweets and cake at her birthday potluck family dinner

She ran around chasing her cousins all afternoon

Was tuckered out and in bed zonked by 6pm

Some details for you all.

My new favourite addictions

Strawberries with Dip. (the dip is just cream cheese and betty crocker icing whipped together)

Chocolate Pots - recipe from Rachael Ray (super easy and make minus the rum of course!)

Note: Use good quality chocolate and a little more than the recipe says. My first batch did not set and was like thick chocolate milk. Serve in mini shot glasses as this dessert is super rich!

Birthday Cake

Originally Miss G wanted this cake for her birthday.
So I made it for N instead! I think it would be fine to do it with nothing on top and just a ribbon around it. I put a ribbon around while the icing was setting to keep everything in place, and I think it looked good. Nice and simple. I was going to use plastic farm animals and the night before they could not be found. We ended up with horses from our extensive horse collection :)

Inspiration from the Womens Weekly Party Cakes Book.

Yet another balloon banner. With so many helpers in my house I can whip these things up pretty fast now! Next time I'm going to try just one or two colours for a matching theme. I think these might become a birthday tradition too. There is just something about them that make me smile!

And that is the end of the birthdays for the year for our nuclear family.

Birthdays are now over.

Hopefully this will give me plenty of time to start thinking about Christmas!

Or before I know it, The Mr's big 4-0 !!

Email Month

2011-08-04T10:58:00.000+10:00

I blogged once about how October was 'our' month
The one we got together and spent our first one on one time getting to know eachother.
Two weeks later in November we were engaged.

However, I remember our very first conversations were actually over email. In August.

This was back when email was a brand new thing and the screen was black with green boxy writing - I had to use the email at university - my family didn't even have internet! The Mr worked for one of the first internet companies in our City and he had an email address!! I knew hardly any other people who had an email address!! (OH the technology!!)

So one day at a function I said 'Give me your email address and I'll send you an email!!"
(oh the excitement of using said technology!)

I had forgotten just how awesome that correspondance was until I refound all 200 pages of them.

The Mr had the foresight to print out all our correspondance. Some of it is missing (mostly his replys - his work server had kept all of my emails, but I did not have the ones he sent me) so he was able to print it out before all was lost. I'm so glad he did. This stuff is pure gold to me and makes me laugh and blush. I recently was unpacking old boxes and I found it.

It was just too hilarious not to share with you all.

If I thought October was our month...

August was the month I laid the trap.unknowingly.
It's just so obvious we were always meant to be. even when we didn't even know it.

So this month I shall share the most awesome emails between us. Oh we were a flirty duo!

And the very first email I sent The MR (without knowing him very well!)

From: This girl loves to Talk
Sent:Thursday 13 August 1998 9:27
To: The Mr@bit.net.au
Subject: hey babe

hey hey hey
How's things going? Well I thought I would try out your email address..... but I don't have anything to say.... except.....
Let's not go to convention... Let's get married instead....

xxThis girl loves to talk :) :)

Ha! OH YES I DID! Obviously I am pyschic and can see the future! (we did go to that convention but we were engaged!!) How crazy was I? And what a first email to send someone. Unfortunately the emails with the replys we do not have!! I wonder what he said back in return.. If only I could remember!!

I'm sure it was something on the lines of 'sure thing!'

Folder Renamed

2011-08-02T12:06:00.001+10:00

It needs to be done.

When I was pregnant with Miss N, I had some digital ultrasound photos I put into a folder on the computer named "BABY". Then later I had some gorgeous pregnancy shots taken which I added to said folder.

Then the baby came along and newborn shots were put in the baby folder.

Then more and more photos.

Every time I add photo's I say to myself - I must really rename that folder.
(everyone else has a folder bearing their name, she deserves one too!)

On her first birthday I said I will definately rename that folder. She is no longer a BABY!

But I didn't and I still haven't.

Today while sitting here preparing one of these, for her upcoming birthday I thought

OKAY Babyhood is well and truly over.

You can do it.

And hours later I still havent.

Bye Bye little baby. I can do it.

But the problem is you're still my little baby.

I've got a few more days.

I can do it.

Schooling in the Sabbath

2011-08-01T11:58:00.001+10:00

So I facebook whined about how sometimes Sundays can be difficult for me.

Sometimes Sunday's can be lonely and frustrating

oh well there is always food to look forward too :)

And then with lot of comments about how my husband is gone 3out4 sundays the whole day well into the evening, we have no car so can't go out, the baby has a long nap so can't go for a walk, the other kids are crazy daredevils so I don't get to nap, I end up cleaning and cooking but I feel guilt over these not being appropriate sabbath activities, I can't sit down and study/do quiet things because this invites my kids to climb on me, touch me, steal my food, wrestle, jump on me from the couch, Oh how I want to be doing so many things that I just can't physically do!!

I felt bad that people might infer that these desperations are linked to my husband or my religion.
(we don't miss him that much ;) and it's important to me that he fulfills his responsibilities. Because it isnt about those two at all...

It's purely about me. (when isnt it?)

I also felt badly about complaining about one of my favourite commandments.

Keeping the sabbath day holy.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

It is an important commandment and one that is fairly enjoyable with lots of rewards so why should I have a problem? In actuality I LOVE keeping the sabbath day holy. Oh the blessed relief when you know you cannot school study (when I was a student), shop, sports or do frivolous things on a sunday. It truly is a day of rest for ones mind, body and bank account :) Several scriptures mention the blessings of the earth being yours, peace, rain in due season, fruit of the earth, to dwell in safety, become unspotted from the world, to rid of selfishness - There is alot riding on having respect for the sabbath for not only as an individual but as a community too.

It can be hard to reconcile ones beliefs on what it is to keep the sabbath day holy, with reality.

While my husband is out serving everyone else I feel the pull too.

I want to visit the sick, I want to bake food to take to others, I want to visit our great grandma's, I want to sit and debate a gospel doctrinal principle, I WANT to take a nap!, I want to mentally prepare for the coming week, I want to write in journals, I want to take a sunday afternoon drive and show my children the beauty of the country we live in, I want to pay my respects to Lord for all he has given us, I want to do my calling more effectively and visit with each young woman, I want to do my visiting teaching....

I want I want I want... you get the idea

We have never shopped on the sabbath, we don't watch tv, we try not to do too much housework (near impossible to not do ANY) we don't attend sporting events or play sport, we don't attend parties, we don't frequent any business or store BUT

..sometimes it can feel very far from the Sabbath when one is home with little children. It can lose it's meaning and become a day, well... a day like any other....

I felt so frustrated and and don't get me frustrated, that just leads to embarrassing facebook rants.. and when a friend left a comment about how she deals with sunday afternoons it really helped.

I realised that right at this moment I cannot do the above things I want, but I can allow my husband to do them. My service is to let him go without complaining (to my defense I feel I don't complain that much and generally am happy to let my husband go - he's been gone several times a week for 10 years now, so you think we'd be cool by now :)

I cannot sit and have quiet to think and do family history, write in journals, or spend hours studying gospel doctrine. My calling is to serve my children.

I can serve my children and find appropriate activities to do with them.

How many seasons in life do we really have an excuse to stay still, stay home, and just be with our little ones? This time, while it may feel a drudgery to bear is actually a gift.

I HAVE the opportunity placed in front of me to use Sunday afternoons at my leisure. To play, cuddle, read to, and look for some simple service opportunities with my children. No one is expecting me to do ANYTHING ELSE. This time will be over soon and MUCH more will be expected of me. I won't have the demands of four small children to hide behind. I will have no more excuses.

So why is it not enjoyable?

I obviously really need to learn to slow down, sit still and meditate. I really need to teach my children this. We do not need to play with the neighbours. We do not need the computer to entertain us. We do not need activity 24/7.

I must learn I do not need interaction with others to be OK (I am terribly lonely on Sundays and ring my mum and bother her because I have no one to talk to and no friends). I can be me. I can forget housework, I can forget the wants and pull of the world. This will fit in so well with my Simplicity goal for the year. Can a sunday get much more simple?

my new mantra. I must enjoy our little bubble.

TOFW - The long version

2011-07-28T19:44:00.001+10:00

My cute friend Sole rang me back in March to ask if I would like to go to Sydney with her and attend
Time out for Women.

First instinct is this - that would be lovely but in no way would it be possible.

Cost, kids,schedules, time off etc.

I thought it so kind an offer, but just not possible for me. THE END.

Then a few weeks later I was reading this post over at Crazyland. She had asked several people and could not find anyone to go to Womens Conference with her in Utah. So I left an angry comment...

Tell all those people they just DONT KNOW HOW LUCKY THEY ARE to have womens conference on offer to them!! How dare they not go and attend with you!!! And a sleep over one?? AWESOME!! TOFW is coming to Australia for the first time ever and its 1000 km away from where I live. You all just DONT KNOW HOW LUCKY YOU HAVE IT.

Then I sat thinking that I need to put my money where my mouth it. Surely it would be possible for me to work out a way to get there. Surely I could participate in a First. Surely this is important to me.

And you know what? All things are indeed possible.

{Especially when you have a super awesome friend to arrange it all for you.}

Even when I said several times when it looked like things would not work out....

I just knew you would not be able to get the time off work to look after the kids
I just knew we would get sick and prevent me going
I just knew our ride to the airport would not work out
I just knew....

Nothing, because all worked out in the end!

I have so many pages of messy handwritten notes. I'm finding it hard to organise them in a way that would be readable here. So sorry if these make no sense. Indulge me in my ramblings.

Laurel Christensen

"Well aren't you just the most cheerful pessimist ever"
I laughed at this point in her talk because I felt an instant pierce to the heart - THAT describes me perfectly! I'm happy and cheery and talky all the day long but boy I love negative things too!

Widow's Mite Principle. Even if your faith is small, if it is all you have - IT IS ENOUGH.

Don't be the one thing standing in your way

God has high expectations for us; therefore we can have high expectations of God.

Beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing {fear}

Often we have more faith in outcomes than faith in Jesus

Ask for bread be given a stone principle.
Often we are too scared to ask of God because we might not want what we are given. If I just don't ask I wont be dissapointed in God. Therefore I think I have a good relationship with God. However this self protection actually weakens faith. Choose to ask God.

Hillary Weeks

We have the eternities to know our children as adults, but only precious few years to know them as children.
Oh how this spoke to me. I've blogged about learning to love my children as adults because frankly we will spend more of our time with them that way. But I love how she put the positive, time ticking slant on it. I must enjoy them now.

The divinity that shapes our ends comes from within ourselves

BE KIND - Everyone you meet is enduring something difficult.

Visualise outcomes as an extension of your prayers

Virginia H Pearce

Mothers should accept you unconditionally, help others to become what they need to become
You can be a mother to many

Think of a way you want to become and find mothers to help YOU

Good mothers are stable and anchored

I don't need to be recognized {praise of man} I just need to be USEFUL

None of us are entitled to a life without pain.

Brad Wilcox

A version of the whole talk can be found here

It's not what Jesus saves us from... But what is he saving us for?

Grace isn't the light at the end of the tunnel, it is the light that surrounds us.

God is more concern with the offerer than the offering

Those who say there are too many things that Mormons have to do don't understand Grace and Atonement.

Jesus doesnt 'make up the difference' HE makes ALL the difference

On the last day there is no Him or me, but ONLY WE.

'..After All that we can do'
{nearly his whole talk was a dissection of that scripture - I'll never look at it the same again}

Sheri Dew

Sometimes we act as if we are going to stay here {on earth} We can't We arn't We wont.

More interested in the long hereafter not the brief present - Satan knows he has but a short time.

We have to have roots, otherwise it won't take much to uproot us

We ALL have influence and we are ALL influenced.
So choose wisely where we are looking and who we are listening too.

Be aware that most of the world is an illusion. How much of the world we live in is fake?
We were shown another version of this Dove Ad which had quotes along with it
(which I cant find) and Sheri said
We can never say I'm not as cute as her! She's NOT even as Cute as her!
The world is full of distraction, illusion, falsities which will attempt to take us offtrack

My claim to fame? Sheri Dew asked for a Pen to sign peoples books and I totally said

"I HAVE A PEN!" Afterwards we were acting all fan girl 'Sheri Dew touched MY PEN'

{totally joking I hope you know} but it was fun to fan our faces and pretend to be all fangirl like.

Yeah we're totally crazy.

^ Look closely. That's MY PEN in her hand :)

Normally I have a personal 'NO approaching famous-ish LDS speakers' rule

{I really don't like to bother them and feel sorry for people who have to shake a million hands and hug people they don't know from a bar of soap - yick.} but Sole talked me into some walk bys and photos :) We even got a hug from Laurel Christensen and she Sheri Dew. I suppose since TOFW was a paid event as opposed to Free we paid them to put up with hugs and sobs from us, so thats how I justified Sole twisting my arm to go up the front and have a few brief interactions even though I felt completely rediculous doing so. She was making fun of my not wanting to.

Time Out for women was a great event and uplifting and I hope they come back again next year.

I'm so glad I got to participate in the very first one to Australia.

I should be sent to Time Out more often...

2011-07-25T21:09:00.000+10:00

Leaving Sydney. Do I look relaxed? I have my darling friend Sole to thank. Without her booking my tickets, arranging a place to stay and rides everywhere I would NEVER have gone on my own. As loud as I am, I'm actually a shy retiring type person who's nervous about these types of things.

I went to Sydney for three days. I had an amazing time!

Did you know it was the first time I had ever left my kids with The Mr overnight? I know, right! Poor Guy. I've just never had anywhere to go alone for an extended time. Plus I always prefer to bring The Mr with me whenever I go away. So the super dad he is, he did great. Better parent than I he is. But talk about 10 long years in the making. I went away on my own for three days!! wahooooo.

The main reason for this trip to Sydney was to attend Time Out For Women

So after my first flight in 5 years, arriving in the pouring horrid rain, driving in the horrid rain (thankgoodness I wasnt actually driving. I was crossing my fingers my young driver would be a good one. And boy was she a Sydney driving machine! We would have died if it was I driving) we arrived to the family we were staying with who met us with warm milo's and delish homemade indian food. I kid you not, I stayed with the best family in the whole of Sydney.

So the next day was TOFW.

At first I was sitting there thinking 'hhmm... I have been to Local and Free women's conferences that are just as good as this. I *hope* this gets better. Some people who've had to lay out airfare and hotel and taxi have paid hundreds and hundreds of dollars to come for this. (seriously I am such a anxious worrier, I was worrying about everyone else....)

As the day progressed and the feelings swelled I was glad I came.

(dear TOFW take note that one day is not enough. I was just getting into it when it was time to finish. Or atleast keep going well into the night. 4pm is way to early to finish. 8pm sounds more reasonable I see it goes for 2 days in the USA!)

'Choose to become' wasn't just found in the speakers

It was found In

:: Meeting with friends new and old

:: Seeing people I havent seen in over 7 years and picking up conversations like it was only yesterday we last saw eachother

:: Everywhere I look seeing someone I knew by face if not name

:: Having people I have never met drive me places

:: Staying with the kindest family (whom I didn't know before hand)

::Snuggling in bed with said family after TOFW laughing our heads off talking

::Having a super excited american lady who we'd never met pay for our lunch

:: Just the buzz from being in the same place as 2000 other LDS women

:: Being able to sit and enjoy every meal for three days and not have to share my food

:: To sleep through the night for three days

:: Spend time laughing and talking with friends

:: To catch my first plane in 5 years!

And by the copious pages of notes I've written obviously I got something out of the speakers and was touched by the spirit of inspiration. I might share some insights in another post.

Here's hoping I can choose to become.

Relief does come

2011-07-19T14:34:00.002+10:00

did you miss me?
I've been fighting the germs in our house for about 20 days. Someone gets sick then 5 days later the next one gets sick. They are sick for 3 days then 4 days later the next one is sick. My hands are raw from antibacterial gel, bleach and glen20. But I finally lost my battle and succumbed to the sickness. Mum's are supposed to be immune arent they? I haven't caught any of my kids germs in about 6 years. I was going strong!!

Last week the Mr was in jail.
Solitary Confinement.

And by the end of the week I was wishing I was there!

Please I'll swap places with you. Jail sounds wonderful about now.

Ok so he was working there, not in, in jail.
But it is a new jail and he was the only one in the whole place - doing I.T stuff.

Usually we don't mind when Daddy is away. Shhh don't tell, but we slow down our schedule, we eat what we want and watch movies in bed.

But last week was just horrible.

We had sickness, we had messiness, we had unwilling disobedient children.
I lost my cool a million times.
So on the weekend I was so happy to have him back.

So nice to have another set of hands for calm peaceful meals.
To watch them quietly play blocks and trains with their dad.
To see the joy on their faces when daddy danced with them.

We needed intervention Thursday night from killing eachother - an emergency phonecall had to be placed to Daddy. He helped us calm down and talked down some girls and gave the reprimands they just don't listen to from me.

Later that night at 10:30pm I texted (see I'm getting good with the phone :)

Brief Sanity reigns as I drift off to sleep
- everyone and everything finally in it's place
and know that I love you and you're the only thing that missing.

So despite illness from 2 of us I had a great weekend!

First Stop French Festival

Patriotism and Brie Baguette

Then onto father in law's 65th birthday party. Apart from a sick child we had a wonderful time.

With rock and roll music and jazz band the kids couldnt help but dance.

I think this is the one of the first times G and N have danced with their dad in public.

She's still saying days later "Did you know Daddy is such a good dancer?"

ie he will throw you over his shoulders, pull you through his legs, twirl you around, chuck you up and catch you - while all mummy will do is shimmer and shake and hold your hand - noone wanted to dance with me..

.and the reason I convinced The Mr to get up was to dance WITH ME! As I couldn't remember the last time we danced together... and it didn't happen... I tell you, having all daughters in love with their dad can be a bad thing! Talk about competition! You owe me a dance MR!

Dear Father in law, Can you please have another awesome birthday party with bands and dancing so I can have another go minus sick child and husband hogging children who won't share.
thankyouverymuch Love your favourite daughter in law xx

The weekend was just what I needed.

And now I'm getting better from the sickies, next weekend is just what I need too.

Did I tell you I'm going to Sydney to Time Out for Women?

And somehow this one day event has turned into a four day trip!

I can't wait.

Mittens

2011-07-15T11:26:00.000+10:00

More sewing with K.

Now, not a lesson persay, but more a child led

'I wanna sew some gloves....'

So I have no tutorial or the like for you.

Basically it started with an outline of her hands on some polar fleece materal and she wanted to sew some gloves. I think after we cut it out she realised how hard it would be to sew around all those fingers, so I suggested how about mittens?

So with a basic trace of her hand and thumb she was able, with a little help, to sew the curved lines of some mittens

(she needed me near by to remind her to sew slowly and to stop and lift the foot and shift the direction of the mitten to obtain the curve shape)

Once she was done though I thought this was a simple sewing exercise I could share with those who also want to teach their children to sew.

Except now all her sisters and friends at school want a pair :/

Cousin Love

2011-07-12T12:43:00.000+10:00

As my almost 8 year old nephew had his 2 year old cousin wrapped around his little finger I reflected on the nature of cousins.

It reminded me of the bond my now 8 year old had with her cousin who was 6 years older when she was born. That boy would carry her everywhere. They just loved eachother so much. When she got to be about 4 years old we would remind him that perhaps she didn't need carrying and babying so much. But he didn't care. She was his favourite little cousin.

When my girls were born they were the only girl cousins in the family except for one older girl. They were always surrounded by boy cousins. And they LOVED IT! While they are young I just adore this cousin bond, its so precious and can be fleeting (because how many of us grown adults still look at our cousins with starry eyes? Not I!)

Sibling bonds are strong and fierce. You love eachother but often hate eachother too.
Friend bonds are important, they have your back, but you aren't necessarily in love with them
There's just something about a cousin bond that I love so much.

When G was around 3 or 4 she was most indignant that her cousin X would not marry her!
"He says he won't marry me!!"
Of course we reply, he is your cousin. You can't marry him, but you can be best friends forever.

There is a sweet little age when things seem so simple. Even though it weirds us out as adults (ewww!) I think that first love often belongs to a cousin.
To that someone who isn't your immediate family, whom you admire and love so much you think you want to marry them. Someone who is around often enough to love, but not so often you that you hate. The someone to look up to, the someone to run amuck with at long boring family functions, the someone who cares because they know you are family.

I'm grateful that my girls were able to experience that feeling and that they have lovely cousins who look out for them. They honestly have loved each of their seven boy cousins, with a special attachment to the ones the same age or older than them.

It's a first love of the heart.

5th Birthday Party

2011-07-11T13:26:00.001+10:00

Whenever holding a party outside its normal to obsess over the fact of if it will rain or not.

I checked the weather every day for 2 weeks leading up to the party and was so happy it wasn't going to rain. I thought with my obsessive list checking I had everything under control.

Except I didn't think it was going to be windy and freezing cold.

I was desperately trying to get tablecloths and pretty decorations to stay down.

The Mr, myself, my sister and our international student were all braving the wind trying to stop everything from blowing away. I was so mad and sad! I'd had this table decoration/party idea in my mind for months! Nothing was going to plan. We had to sticky tape everything down. Miss K even sticky taped down all the makeup sponges she was going to use for the facepainting booth.

But as we found out it didn't matter. What 5 year old cares about matching table decore? They don't care that the hard to find expensive red and white striped popcorn boxes kept blowing away. Or that you had plans to peg little packets of fairy floss on string all around the place. They don't care that you thoughtfully tried to match several elements to come up with a carnival themed party.

Best investment of the party? A $6 balloon arch we made inspired by this one at Design Mom. The kids pulled it around and chased it for hours. And that is proof of all you need.
Kids joy of simple things.

Keep it simple people.

My favourite thing?

These Photo Booth Props ! So much fun. Cheap and Simple entertainment. Mine are still in perfect condition packed away neatly, so if anyone wants to borrow them, feel free to ask!
(There's about 20 or so) it'll make any party fun!

I also had a birthday cake fail. Here's the real one we saw in a cake book and thought would be oh so simple. Why did I not realise that it is impossible to ice muffins neatly all the way around. Mine were super messy!

But I also made this simple cake that I just love the look of. I love all the tiny bunting cakes that are everywhere on the net. Super cute and super simple.

What was Miss G's favourite part of the day?

Even with our police scare last month we had to stand by a promise. For years G has wanted to climb on the roof with her sister. One day The Mr randomly blurted out "You can't go on the roof until you are atleast 5 years old" And she has always remembered that little piece of information and for months reminded us that "when I'm five, I'm allowed to go on the roof!!"

and being the good parents we are... (well the Mr) she got her wish.

can't reneg on a years long promise now can we?

Sitting up on the roof with her dad at sunset - a perfect ending to a perfect birthday.

** The beautiful photo's above, courtesy of Zanabelle Photography .
Need a photographer? You need Zanabelle!

Details

2011-07-08T10:55:00.000+10:00

1. Sewn Confetti strands 2. Water bottles 3. Pinata

4. Photobooth props 5. Birthday Shirt 6. Photobooth Props

7. Cake Pops 8. Tiny Cake Bunting 9. Fairy Floss Loot Bags

I so do not like party stress. I really don't like it when at a party you spend all your time running around before during and after like a crazy chicken and do not get to enjoy, talk or just take a few minutes.

The party's over and you never got to interact with anyone.

Every time I do a party/gathering I swear the next time I'm gonna employ someone/find a friend to help out/find a neighbourhood teen to be a servant or something!

And every time I never do.

OH WELL.

But one thing I do enjoy about parties is the little details I can do well before the day.
OH they make my heart sing!

To accomplish things slowly and surely without rush, makes me think that if I don't get to enjoy the actual party, I can enjoy something before hand.

I usually have a week/two week plan before Parties.

I like to make pinata's about a week before. I make bunting or decorations 5 days before. I bake the cake and freeze it (un-iced) 3 days before. That leaves the last day or night before for food prep.

I'm never stressed before a party, just during. Heres to preparation making it a little easier.

*I think I've found a new addiction. Using a 2 cm circle paper punch I punched out a bunch of circles then put them through the sewing machine. Voila - paper confetti strands. IT was so RELAXING and FUN. I want to make a bunch more! Very very cheap decoration idea and they look really cute!

*For the pinata this time I invested in a large 18 inch balloon from the party shop. This makes the pinata a lot bigger than using a regular balloon and it has a lot more impact. Worth the $1.60! Pinata's were $35 in the party store, I made mine for about $5.

*Free Printable Photo booth props from OH Happy Day and thanks to Aunty Gilly for printing and cutting them all out. They look amazing and I can't wait to get some wacky photos.

Foam-erators

2011-07-06T08:13:00.000+10:00

A sunny warm yet windy cool Winters Day.

Also the first day were we haven't had anything planned.

I actually thought we might not get to any of the crafts/ideas I listed for things to do on the holidays.

The kids have been totally fantastic at making their own fun so far this holidays.

But we didn't have anything to do so I thought we would make bubble foam makers.
(idea sourced from Betz White)

These are EASY PEASY and lots of fun.

Take some plastic water bottles

Cut off the bottom

Find an old towel or facecloth and cut a square bigger than the bottom of the bottle

Using a rubber band (or string if like us you DONT HAVE ANY RUBBER BANDS)
secure the towel to the bottom of the bottle.

Dip bottle into a mix of detergent and water in a bowl

AND BLOW!!

(remind small children to breath in first before they put their lips to bottle, otherwise they will get a mouthful of soapy foam)

Super foamy snakes everywhere

Thousands

2011-07-04T21:51:00.000+10:00

Last week we passed 1000 posts!!

Looks like I DO HAVE A LOT TO SAY!

I started this blog thinking the only people who would be reading were myself and my family.
Even I thought I would have run out of things to say by now!

To celebrate I really wanted to have a giveaway.

I wracked my brain thinking of something that people would want, that wouldn't be too heavy to send in the post.

I thought I should compile a few of my favourite things...
then I remembered I don't have any favourite things
The stress to pick a favourite DVD or chocolate bar or designer apron or purfume or shampoo was too much

I could compile some kids craft stuff..
but we make most of our stuff out of ~~rubbish~~ recyclables and tape and sticks

I could buy a gift card to the only store around here to shop at
(My mantra is ... If it can't be found at the Target.. It won't be bought)
but then thought that was pretty lame

I thought I would scroll Etsy shops looking for the perfect vintage looking hairclip or earrings, or a cool word art poster, or, or, then I realised I've never bought anything online ever and don't really know how... and it wouldn't get here in time for this announcement..

I thought I could make something to giveaway
but thought even though I am a jack of all trades/crafts I am not really proficient in any of them to make something good enough to give to someone else...

hmmmm... I've been bummed about it all week

So this is a terribly anticlimatic post about how I WOULD HAVE HAD A GIVEAWAY...
If I could just think of something to, well.. give away.

There was no one product that seemed to define this space.

Is it a craft blog, a sewing blog, a mama's musing blog, a snarky parenting blog, a LDS mormon mummy blog?

I have no idea what it is people. Therefore I have no idea what to giveaway.

A big mess of everything that comprimises my life is what this blog is.

So thank you to all that come here to hear my ramblings.

You truly do make my day. And make it all worthwhile.

Especially like on Sunday when a reader visiting from Sydney gave me the greatest compliment I've heard in a while. *waves* Thanks Caroline!

So to all of you who may have read all 1000 posts...

Consider yourself *hugged* and *patted on the back* - my gift to you.

Along with my words.

6th month simplicity update

2011-07-02T07:54:00.000+10:00

I've made this bread easily 10 times in the last month.

Turns any simple meal (soup, slowcooker stew) into one worth sharing.

I bet you thought I forgot.

Well I did.

But I'm only two days late.

Soooooo I'm thinking I should almost give up my new years resolution
Each month is going impossibly fast to me! I honestly can't believe another month has gone by.

But I did do something. I did stand by my thoughts/resolve to have more people over. In the first week of last month I must have entertained atleast 5 different groups of people alone! We had many people over this past month and I loved it! Pride certainly does stop me from having people over and IT IS best just to swallow it and serve what I have with love. A fully set table with table cloth makes all the difference. A simple meal IS the perfect one to share.

The only physical simplifing we did was simplify our study/craft/baby room.
We simplified it all right - it had to dissapear to make room for our student

(who by the way has turned out to by wonderfully awesome and I can't believe I was worried. It's like riding a bike people!! Easy to get back on even after a long break. I was surprised at how easily I fell back into the old routine of including someone else, taking them sightseeing, speaking engrish (I sometime even continue to speak that way to native australians and they look at me like I'm crazy) having dinner time conversations . Alice is perfect in every way :)

There are still a few more items that need to find homes but I think we did well at squeezing 7!! people into this house. Always a good reason to find ways to simplify things!

I read some books this month too. The Hunger Games Triology which a friend lent. I enjoyed spending some time reading and getting into a series of books.

As half the year is past I'm going to have to get serious I think

parts of my life I need to get better at

Listening
Less talking
Simplify so I can get the kids and I out in the mornings with no raised voices
Set out better guidelines to get the children to help out more in the house
Get up before the kids and read scriptures and 'centre myself for the day'
Keep a gratitude journal
Continue to ride or walk to school

Hopefully I do better this month. xx

The case for free adult entry prices

2011-07-01T07:59:00.001+10:00

I always wanted to be a parent who joined in.

(except parks. I don't like to play at the park...)

But I'm finding out it's costing me a lot extra to partake in torture.

Like Iceskating the other day. There were many mums sitting, reading in the stands.

Now I know I am a young mum and many women are alot older than me.
Perhaps the fear of a broken hip is too much or the lack of energy or their tweens dont really need them out there...

Now if I were an adult going iceskating as a date or with friends (which I have done )
I would expect to pay entry.

NOW as a mother of four children I take exception at having to pay twice as much entry as the kids when it is obvious I am not going for my own enjoyment.

No this is not a date. This is not hanging out with friends.

This is basically torture.

This is having little monkeys hang off me, nearly topple me, fight over who gets to hold my hand, beg to go around and around, carry me, hold me, a chaos of legs going in all directions.

Why should I pay so much more?

I should be half price! Kids entry should cost more than parent entry. Same with when you go to any of the 'worlds' - seaworld movieworld dreamworld. It's a tad unfair for me to pay $60 when I am not going to go on any rides for me, or look at any displays I want to see...

So maybe those mums on the sidelines had it right. They get to save their $17 entry.

And spend it on hot chocolate at the cafe.

While I nurse blisters and bruises.

But it was fun to whizz around once everyone worked out how to stay upright. Thank goodness for the little ice plow to keep G up. She was doing the splits all over the place and could barely lift her feet with the boots on. IT was hilarious, but very tiring. After rounds of trying to keep her up I begged for a thing to hold her up. PLEASE.

But I wouldn't have it any other way. I need to join in to keep me fun. Keep me upbeat.

Otherwise I would just fall over and never get up.

Late Night City

2011-06-29T17:46:00.001+10:00

the things... I'll do for a date..

Walk all the way to city with the Mr while he is on the phone the whole time (very necessary call)
But atleast I got to hold his hand and a parting kiss

Instead of going on a quiet date by myself I end up being dragged around shopping by a friend who just happened to be in town
It was fun though. Thanks Tatjana. And I got to see an awesome view from a hotel.

(as someone who hasn't shopped in a long time I suddenly felt the need for that purfume from Forever New, that lipgloss from Sportsgirl, that cute mustard dress from Tempt, new shoes and the list goes on (I didnt buy them though).... why must you corrupt me so, retail therapy?)

Instead of my promised fancy expensive restaurant meal I end up eating at the only takeaway we could find open in the whole city on a quiet Tuesday night
But hey I saved a bunch of money

Spent half the night listening to jackhammers while I try to read and sleep on an extrememly hard couch
But got to experience the quiet that is an empty office building late at night and people watch all the people down below. I challenged myself just to sit and be and relax for the almost 5 hours I would be waiting.

Get home and to bed in the wee hours of the morning
But had such a sweet warm feeling as I sped home by cab at 1am looking at the twinkling lights zooming past thinking I LOVE MY CITY!!

Woke atleast 5 times when I am MEANT to be sleeping in
But I forced myself to lie there until 8:30am

But that's life and it was still fun.

I love spontaniety!

And I love grandma (who took the kids)

schedulehead

2011-06-27T17:56:00.001+10:00

I've concocted this post several times over in my head this week.

Then I read This Post by Anna Maria Horner this morning. oh it encapsulated soo much better what I am feeling. With a positive slant! (Go read right now! perfect for anyone with kids!) It lifted my soul as to how life is with a bunch of little ones underfoot and how one as a mother dreams..dreams of fixing it all..

The last week I've felt like I was going crazy. And I didn't know if it was just regular crazy or if it was a symptom of the slight thyroid problem my doctor told me I have (apparently irritablility is one of the side affects ;) and the pain I have in my side almost daily from another problem (suspected kidney stone dust) everything was bothering me!

Last week the poor Mr was discussing some action plans that we could try with our 10 year and I all of a sudden went off on a tangent about how it is so unfair how he only has to look after himself. I said you get to lie in bed every morning and read scriptures, you get up take a shower, eat your breakfast when you want and leave for work without having to think of anyone else! You just do what you want when you want. IT'S SO UNFAIR!!!

Then I apologised and said that 'I'm not angry, I'M JEALOUS. JEALOUS BEYOND BELIEF!

Jealousy is a curse people!

It makes you think all crazy things in your head that the other person has NO IDEA about!

My head is being done in with thinking about 5 other people all the time. I can't even relax at night without thinking about it all.This one needs to be taken back and forth daily to band camp, this one needs a nappy change, this one is on the roof :) this one needs some reading/writing practice, the house is mess - I'm lucky to get the lounge clean and 4 loads of washing done, what am I going to make for dinner, did I get a shower today, I'm so tired I fall asleep on the couch instead of reading my scriptures, I turn around and another mess is there, every room has a mess, someones making science experiments in the kitchen, someones upended the hidden away boxes of stuffed animals, someones emptying makeup everywhere... AHHHHH everything is a huge shamozzle.

I was looking forward to the holidays with glee. I just want it all to stop!

I think while women may be good at multitasking (well we like to tell ourselves we are) it seems really hard to turn this multi tasking off. I COULD choose to take things slower as per the MR. I COULD choose to think of myself before everyone else. I COULD choose just to let the mess be.

But the truth is I can't escape it. I DO have 5 schedules running in my brain. I do have 5 people to look after everyday. It's never going to stop. To be fair The Mr quietly responded and said "I DO think about everyone everyday" (which brings tears to my eyes as I type this, it was unfair of me to think differently)

Maybe I want to hear reassurance. Maybe I want to hear:

"I don't know how you do it everyday, you're amazing, I could never do it."

But I would then have to offer the same to the MR. I truly would not be able to go to *paid* work everyday. (And still have to cook, clean, look after 5 peoples schedules ;) I don't think I could stand the stress of the work force and office politics. I AM GLAD that he gets to do all that businesss. To have the financial welfare of 5 other people on your shoulders is stressful I'm sure. Impressing your boss is no fun picnic.

So while we do appreciate eachothers hard work and tell eachother so often, maybe it needs to be a little more often. A little appreciation never goes astray?

Perhaps it is because I feel like nothing is ever 100% done, that if I even stop for a day or two I would fall so far behind I would fear I would never catch up! But you know what, that is Pride talking. It would be nice to think my little world revolves all around me (surely!) but it doesn't and it is prideful to think otherwise. The world would run and go fine if I wasn't here constantly picking up. Have you wondered why the certain chores in life never seem to end. Why do we need to feed ourselves, clean ourselves and clean our living space EVERYSINGLEDAY? I'm sure this repeative business to complete the daily life giving tasks is the Lord's way of saying 'you are never done. There is always work to do' and there is a reason why our bodies and world is designed this way. So we can NEVER become lazy! There is always something to do!

The one thing I do know about stressful weeks, is that they do end. I had stressful times when I only had one baby. Then two. Then three. A busy life never ends, but the upset stressful feeling can and will. At the end of last week on both Thursday and Friday afternoons all the girls and our neighbour played quietly for hours. I ahhhhed to myself and thought 'YES! Sometimes they DO know how to play nicely and quietly'.

And my mood today was lifted by that article, this bit spoke to me so forcefully.

I've learned (and I write this sitting in my utter mess of a dream studio) that its not the size of your space, the perfection of your organization skills or the cleanliness (what?) of your children that keeps you feeling all tucked in and happy.

It is actually just deciding to feel tucked in and happy.

When the Mr noticed I was going crazy (not hard to miss I'm sure) he offered to take the kids on Saturday so I could rest. But I said 'No (yes I am crazy) I might be tired, but whats the point of a few hours nap? That's not going to achieve ANYTHING'

So we went on a family bushwalking trip. And it was nice.

Nature can fix ones soul. I'm sure of it.

So can the Mr cleaning the kitchen and defrosting the freezer and looking after N today.

I'm feeling better already.

Winter Holiday Inspiration

2011-06-24T12:29:00.000+10:00

image credit

oh its that time again.

HOLIDAY TIME

(did I just groan?)

What I know to be true is that holiday time goes much more swiftly and nicely when I am prepared.

Why is this even a shock?

However with budget constraints holidays are not a time to give in to my girls every dreams and desires of movies, themeparks, insert anything that costs a bajillion dollars for a family of 6.

I just hate that prepared seems to = lots of money.

So I'm trying to devise a list of things to do at home - you know STAYCATION?
I like the tick box idea in the photo above. Or if I keep the list to myself then I can change what we are doing each day depending on how I'M feeling (it's all about me isnt it??)

So some ideas to keep us from killing eachother on the holidays

:: Make several batches of playdough
I'm thinking this rainforest idea , or this volcano/dino idea or this mermaid one

:: Paint hunks of wood leftover from our bikeracks and make blocks
how about these city scape ones?

::Play Forts using this technique (smart hey?)

:: Winter crafts - snowflakes, snowmen,

::visits to the park

:: have another crack at making a Play Tree house (this one is so awesome and just hot glue gunned!)

:: Learn to Knit (who wants to teach my girls?)

:: Make an outdoor firepit and roast some marshmallows

:: Open Ended PaddlePop stick sculpture

:: Fly our kite

:: Make potions for our jar collection (fairy potion, life potion, magic potion.. the list is endless)

:: Go to movies

:: Iceskating

:: Science experiments

::Visit confectionary warehouse to buy a box of lollies for the girls to sell (their first job?!!)

:: Aluminium foil river

:: Cardboard Box Doll Houses

Here are a few activities from my archieves we might try again.

:: Make an Ice Wreath

:: Spray Bottle Painting

:: Homemade Marshmallows

:: Shadow Puppets

:: Awesome Newspaper Dome

I've had such a busy week this week that for last few days I have actually been looking forward with hope to the holidays. Let's pray I don't change my mind by Tuesday :)

Enjoy.. and tell me your holiday ideas...

Winter Solstice

2011-06-21T21:44:00.000+10:00

I always remember Winter Solstice because it's my mothers birthday.

However yet again I didn't really have any plans till the day came along and I thought

I wanna celebrate Winter Solstice in some way with my girls

well I'd prefer a nice celebration with The Mr but he isnt here :(

Do we do some sun related activities now that each day shall progressively bring us more sun?

Do we celebrate the longest night of the year with snuggly activties at home

We did a bit of both of course.

We went to watch the sunset on the shortest day. We almost didn't make it! It was pretty low in the sky when we ventured up after 4pm, but it didn't truly disappear until 5pm. Also apparently today was Fete de la Musique. There was the coolest Balkans Folk Band playing some Gypsy type music for free for us to enjoy. The idea was that all around the world on the 21 of June, music would be played for free everywhere. Apparently 100 countries were participating. The girls had lots of fun dancing around to their beat.

And even though we had a fire last night, we decided to have another tonight to celebrate in true Yule (winter solstice) style. For the shortest day of the year it was pretty much a spring/almost summer day today!! Warmest its been in weeks! So even though we werent that cold we built a fire. I think The Mr shall be proud of us. He has taught the girls well in how to build a fire. They know how to layer it all and get it burning good. We almost don't need him :) (Just joking darling.. nothing could replace you, even a warm fire)

The astronomical definition comes about as the winter solstice is the day when the Sun is at its furthest north, it is at its lowest in the sky and the length of daylight is the shortest in the year. The North Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its northernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude. This is the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the southern hemisphere.

Did you miss solstice? Well guess what you can celebrate it tomorrow! Even though 21 June is the traditional solstice it changes a little each year and the exact solstice for this year is June 22 at 3:16 am A perfect time to do a little astronomy with the kids. (not at 3am, just tomorrow night sometime :)

I think we might have to celebrate again tomorrow too.

The Day the POLICE came around..

2011-06-20T21:25:00.002+10:00

her first and *hopefully last* run in with the coppers :)

Picture this:

It's late saturday afternoon in winter

One of your daughters is wearing just a tutu (and a dirt beard)

Your little toddler has removed her track pants and is just wearing a jumper and nappy
(and a huge green snotty dirt covered face)

Your yard is a mess (intensive cleaning going on and we pushed all the junk outside.)

There may have been a little *witching hour* screaming happening

The Mr is sitting there in his PJ's reading a book on the back deck when:

Some police walk into the backyard through the open garage.

They are here to talk about our parenting practices

OH MY GOODNESS!! EMBARRASSMENT MUCH!

WE LOOK LIKE A BUNCH OF FERALS!

(I was just about to put everyone in the bath before we got prettied up to go to a restaurant)

Why you ask?

Someone had rung the police about our 8 year old daughter being on the garage/house roof
(earlier in the day) .

yes yes I know. Climbing on the roof is *not* the safest thing in the world, but she is always very careful, is a very good climber, has never had an accident, and knows not to go near the edge. There is no ladder involved, she just climbs up the metal X struts of the garage, onto the fence and onto the roof. There is risk involved of course but one we are willing to take. Often her father goes up with her, but if she climbs when there is only one parent here, we feel it safer to stay down with our 4 and 1 year old rather than climb the roof.

To the police's credit they were very polite, but had to take down all our details and interview Miss A extensively about whether her parents know when she climbs, if she ever climbs in the rain, does she wear shoes, does she know it scares passerby's who then ring the police. I've never been questioned by the police over anything... I'm so glad The Mr was home who did all the talking cause I would have just burst into tears.

All the while snotty faced baby is crying.

I was mortified and so embarrased.

When placed in this situation I wanted to say..

BUT.... we are very good happily married parents, we have a no smacking/hitting policy in our house, I'm a stay at home mum who is with my children 98% of the time, I cook meals from scratch everyday, they are only allowed to watch tv on Thursdays and the weekend, they have only had 2 absences from school, they are read to and bathed every night, I try my hardest to do arts and crafts with them, I've never drunk alcohol or done drugs in my life, so I have never been 'under any influence' while looking after my kids, we bike and walk to school and go to the park regularly. In my 10 years of parenting I had never been to the emergency room/hospital until last year (for at school accident)...

But, but, *stutter* but..

Nothing... *hangs head* and says

Sorry Officers. We weren't aware that someone was scared by our daughter climbing on the roof. We'll tell her not to do it anymore.

And Miss A said "Well I havent climbed on the roof in ATLEAST 3 weeks!"

It's her quiet place, she likes to go up there to watch the clouds, another neighbour sometimes goes up with her (her mother is very freerange and thinks its great and is fine with it), she goes up there to escape her older sister who isn't confident with heights and wont climb up there, basically she loves it up there and has never had any problems.

So STRIKE ONE for us.

I was mortified people, mortified! I've never been so embarrassed (Ok well maybe I have)

So late Saturday night when my toddler was keeping me up I dwelt on it and dwelt on it.
I was so sad.
Then I also got to thinking about how this teaches me about judging.

When we see someone dirty, messy house, dishelved kids, sad, angry, lost, confused

we should not judge.

This might not be who they are.

OR who they think they are.

I was so embarrassed when I was caught out at 'that time of the day' with my family.

We live well and live large. We make a huge mess everyday. But everyday we clean it.

IT'S NOT FUN to be caught out in the middle of the mess.

When it makes you look bad - like you don't care about your children.

Especially when I know the truth.

So now I KNOW how it feels to be wrongly judged.

A lesson learnt. A lesson learnt.

I would have prefered if said worried person approached us personally, but if I think of it from their view I suppose I'm glad someone was worried enough to call the police. I also realise our children are very short for their age so perhaps our 8 year old could have been easily mistaken for a much younger child. My feelings were also placated when all of my neighbours (an elderly Greek lady and a single mum, and another older couple) all said that we were some of the best parents they have ever seen and would have gladly said so to the police if needed :)

And of course when she tried to climb the roof today I forbade her (cause you know I've got a reputation to uphold!) to which Miss A said "WELL the POLICE didn't say I COULDN'T climb on the roof! Just to BE CAREFUL when I do."

Gah! Double Gah!

Though I do remember going up on the roof of our double story house on a long rickety ladder with my dad as a child...

The School of Life

2011-06-17T11:59:00.000+10:00

I've got that feeling.

The excited nervous one where I wonder if our new international exchange student will

Love us or Hate us

Think we are messy and loud

Love my cooking or not

Be lovely or difficult

If I will have *enough time and patience* to have someone else live here with us

The girls keep asking daily what our students name is and when is she going to get here.

Some people say they could never have exchange students in their home whilst they have kids but I say I couldn't do it without the kids. Kids have no worries talking to someone who can't understand them. They gabber on regardless, where I feel frustration if my point isn't getting across.They can treat someone like family after only knowing them a day. The greetings, hugs, read me a story, telling them how to do everything. The girls truly make it more easier to host a student.

I've been on break from this for 2 years! I can barely believe it! I blogged about it here - The end of the world as we know it - the good and bad with finishing being a homestay family, and now here I am 2 years later doing it all over again.

They come here for school, but I often feel like I am the one being schooled.

Wish me luck.

I'm so worried about the poor girl freezing to death in our house I've got her a big fluffy dressing gown, a homemade heat rice bag and a packet of tim tams waiting as her welcome gift!

Sewing lessons for kids.

2011-06-15T15:57:00.000+10:00

oh it's hard not to forget your older children sometimes.

I think yay! finally they can look after themselves without bothering me a million times a day, bathe, get themselves food etc. My job is done!

But oh there is so much to teach them and when I am all wrapped up in my toddlers I often leave the older ones to their own devices. Only lately I've realised they aren't progressing anywhere fast. There are new skills they should be learning but I'm too tired to teach them. The wonderful little darlings are regressing and being less helpful than the smaller children! oh upcoming teenagerhood!

On Saturday I found myself with N asleep and the other two girls out with Daddy.

Finally! I thought. Alone time Time with K. Time to get on with teaching her some sewing lessons.

Ever since I read about these simple sewing lessons over at Chocolate on my Cranium I've been wanting to do them with K. K has sewn a pillowcase and toy dog blanket before, so she has touched the sewing machine, but I had not given her any tips or how to's really.

Using the sewing lesson guide, K

Did Zig Zag stitch changing the length, width and tension every 5 cm's or so
Did every stitch on the machine
Learnt how to thread the machine
Made herself a little triangle head scarf

no matter how many times I tell them, my girls all prefer to wear scarves 'the babushka way'

instructions/pattern here

She was very excited and I was excited to teach her a skill that may come in useful one day.

Like sewing your own formal dress ;)

I'm finding it hard to keep up with teaching K things on the chores at what age list because she is really not interested in doing much. (Which is EXACTLY why I need to teach her, but why does it have to be such a challenge/hard work to get kids to do things?!)

Well one thing down (lets look at it positively hey?) many more to go..

That Golden Glow

2011-06-13T18:17:00.001+10:00

That Golden Glow.

There is truly nothing like it in the world in my opinion.

I make the effort to *really* watch the sunrise about twice a year.

It's not enough. I LOVE IT.

Last Year for the Queen's birthday we headed out to watch the sunrise. It's easier to catch the sunrise in Winter because it happens so late! Unlike Summer! Except that it's cold out there!

This time we bundled the kids in the car and headed out to our new hill. It's funny to me when the kids are super excited about driving around in the dark with little traffic. I realise to them it's a great adventure because they are never in the car that early in the morning. Their eager-eyes delight reminds me to continue to plan random outings for them because it truly is amazing and special to them. While I complain about the effort it takes their nervous energy about being in a new situation brings me back to remember the reason for it all - To give my girls daily wonderous experiences.

Rugged up in Doona's and sipping milo we watched the sunrise. At first we were dissapointed as our hill faces north-west - Not good for Sunrise watching! but eventually that golden burning ball got high enough for us to see it and enjoy it. YAY! It was almost a non event. We even saw a rainbow! At 6:30 in the morning! That's never happened to me before. So special.

So two years in row now.. will it become a tradition? See you next year Sunrise.. see you next year.

Earnestly watching the sunrise reminds me that *each day* is a gift. We are given the gift of starting over again. Isn't it special? Our life isn't one continual long day. Each day starts over and, that lifegiving, choicegiving golden glow awaits us each day. It truly is a testimony to me to enjoy and regroup and do better with each day that arrives.

*I'm sure The Mr is real glad he can't find his black beanie and will now be immortalized in the colourful clown beanie that belongs to the girls.

Lopsided

2011-06-10T18:09:00.001+10:00

Feeling a little ...

Slopey

(though I notice that the numbed side has no wrinkles.... hmmm dentist is as good as botox?)

All went well, only had one tooth out and am not in too much pain.
Thanks to my mum and The Mr for taking care of me and the kids.
Mmmm Jelly for dinner...

...and I am the worst patient. So far I've gotten frustrated at the Mr for not putting his folding away, interfeared with dinner making, and done the dishes. Obviously I'm not sick enough. I can still walk. Much to his annoyance I'm sure.

crazy hats

2011-06-09T10:40:00.000+10:00

With a bit of cold grey cloudy weather hitting us the past few days my girls love to drag out their crazy hat collection. Even the older girls.

A favourite for many years is the cat ear hat knitted by their great grandmother - Nanna (or Nanee as they call her) I think Nanna has knitted one for each of the girls but we can only seem to find one.

Our other favourites are some very bright hairy ones knitted by The Mr's mother. So fun. They love them. Seems N has discovered them too.

Not much else is happening here. I'm making soup so I have something to eat after my wisdom teeth come out tomorrow. Maybe I'll head to the shop to buy some jelly and custard. Mmmm I love jelly..

stay tuned for chipmunk looking photos of me. Should be fun no?

Chimney Sweep 101

2011-06-07T13:50:00.000+10:00

The train robber look was in at our house on the weekend.

"Chim Chiminey, Chim chiminey Chim Chim Cheroo"

On the weekend I started with a gentle suggestion:

WE should clean out our Chimney. It's full of ash. Something fun to do on a Saturday!

And by WE I totally meant The Mr of course.

Don't you just love those types of suggestions? (I do)

Lucky for me The Mr gets my 'passive jobs for him to do statements' and got straight to it
(well maybe after 20 statements from me during the day ;)

I get out of these things under the proviso of 'looking after the baby' to keep her out of the way. But if jobs are timed with her nap, even BETTER for me!

I'm now the owner of one clean fireplace. All spick and span.

Except perhaps don't listen to me when I suggest vaccuuming up the hard to reach ash in the corners of our large 'hole'

Because then your house will look like this:

Which will equal a lot of cleaning for you and not just your husband.

I don't think we will make great chimney sweeps anytime.

As my girls have seen movies like Oliver and Mary Poppins I so motherly-like kept reminding them of the 'children in the old days' that had to do dirty jobs like this *ALL THE TIME*

Ahhh I'm all for a bit of child labour.

We've used the fireplace several times this winter season already and have burnt way too much paper. But old bills and telephone books are so much fun to burn to get those logs going! However I am still secretly enjoying this fireplace too:

It's our faux fireplace that plays on the tv. So much fun. It seriously works subconciously. You totally feel warmer just watching it and hearing it crackle. We played it as well as having a real fire when we had a group of youth over to our house - fireplaces everywhere. One kid thought we had a camera inside our fireplace to beam it over to the TV!

I'll have to try anything to keep warm this winter. Last week I was rethinking my 'haven't had a heater in 6 years' and don't need one plan.....