a glass half full

Saying goodbye

2012-01-04T22:55:00.000+11:00

3/366

4/366

3/366

The last two days, there has been lots of intense, uninterrupted play for these three. Swimming in a new pool, playing with toy sets that haven't been out for year. It is as though they are saturating their memories with their little playmate. There have been many quarrels as each of my children felt a little left out and overly emotional. They are feeling the loss of their friend.

When they saw him boarding his Granny's motor-home, the following conversation took place.

The Rooster: I didn't know that you could drive to Melbourne.

Mum: Yes, you can but its a long drive. We might drive down with our own camper van to visit.

The Rooster: But you can fly, can't you? We will fly, won't we (demand not a question here).

I think the only good thing coming out of losing his best friend is the opportunity to fly (and only fly!) down to see him.

Christmas lego

2012-01-02T21:28:00.001+11:00

2/366

When the Rooster really wants something for Christmas he always asks his Nanny. Not Santa. The harbour was top of his list and he knew that his Nan would come through with the good stuff. Unfortunately, his grandparents left all the presents at home this year when they were packing to come away with us for Christmas at the beach. The kids took the news really well, knowing that Nanny would bring their most desired items to them on the 2nd of January. Our guy was so pleased with his harbour and this is where I found him when I went upstairs to check that he was asleep.

Self portrait

2012-01-02T21:07:00.002+11:00

1/366

Daddy got a new camera for Christmas, a point and shoot that must feel a whole lot more accessible to Ellie than my DSLR. She can't keep her hands off it and I have just downloaded a bunch of photos of her day. I love this self portrait taken lying down on the ground. I think a little camera just the gift this girl needs when her birthday comes around in February.

First day of 2012

2012-01-01T22:20:00.002+11:00

1/366

Our gorgeous intelligent boy. You are self assured in so many situations, a risk taker ready to dive into whatever presents itself. You love to read read read and you will often be distracted by a book when you are supposed to be doing other things like getting dressed, packing up or going to sleep! We often find you, book across your face when we creep in to kiss you good night. You are hungry for knowledge and absorb everything around you. You are sensitive and thoughtful and you are working on taking initiative rather than waiting to be told to do. You have an amazing memory and will recall the tiniest details. You have a best friend in your sister and she has unleashed your creative energy. It's difficult to get a decent photo of you these days as you are intent on pulling silly faces. You want to be an engineer when you grow up, this month an aeronautical engineer. Happy new year my boy.

First day of 2012

2012-01-01T22:00:00.001+11:00

1/366

I wanted to capture my girl on the first day of the year. Full of energy and ideas and imagination, you are curious and full of insight as you move through your day. We are always blown away by your expressions and your sophisticated way of describing things. You are fiery and passionate and take tremendous offence when things do not go your way. You are tenacious and fiercely competitive believing you are your brother's equal despite the two and a half year gap. You are sensitive and generous and you will always think of others before yourself. You love to draw and write and if you are sitting still you will have pen to paper illustrating your little world and all who are in it. Happy new year my little darling.

Advent: Day 13

2011-12-13T22:57:00.000+11:00

An archangel (as opposed to regular angel) for the Christmas Pageant

Advent: Day 12

2011-12-12T22:08:00.008+11:00

And so the christmas baking continues. Today I was really glad for our small kitchen. With my foot up on a stool I could sit at the bench to mix and then quite easily turn and open the oven door to set the trays in for baking. The microwave was a little difficult, but with a little help from my elf we managed to soften and roll out the icing for the tops of our spicy Christmas biscuits.

sifting

Licking

dolloping

Heating

decorating.

Advent: Day 7, 8 and 9

2011-12-10T18:03:00.013+11:00

Our ginger bread making this year was a two day event. This Mumma has hurt herself pretty bad and I am functioning from the lounge with my foot up high. At times, not quite elevated enough for my husband who is is carefully measuring the distance of my foot above my heart, but high enough to still be the Christmas angel to my little guys who are just so excited about Christmas this year.

So Day 7 was the dough making with all ingredients fetched by the littlies as I called out instructions of the what and whereabout of every item and implement we would need. The mixmaster was reluctantly bought out by Tools are after being guilted into it by the kids. He was not happy about the whole making of gingerbread when his wife is playing invalid and he would be left with a floury, sugary, doughy mess to clean up after the kids and I were done. As you can imagine, I wasn't brave enough to ask for a photo.

Day 8 had us rolling and cutting and toing and froing to the oven. Luckily we had Dadda on side now as I had no idea how I would manage getting the hot trays out with crutches tucked under my arms.

A few snaps from the lounge where we wrapt and taped together 65 snowmen and stars for the kids to take to school as Christmas treats. On Day 9 there were little snowmen poking out of pockets for hungry tummies to eat with breakfast.

It's hard this year being incapacitated to keep up the usual Christmas activities. I know we will miss doing lots of things we have done in Advents past, but its only me that knows we have not been able to do them. And it's only temporary. The kids don't remember at this young age what we do from one year to the next. They are satisfied with a little chocolate and the anticipation of December 25 and the fun that it brings. This year I just need to let it go, do what we can manage and get myself back on my feet as quickly as possible.

Advent: Day 6

2011-12-06T13:51:00.001+11:00

On the 4th day of Advent we made Christmas gift tags

Advent: Day 4

2011-12-04T13:30:00.000+11:00

On the 4th day of advent our little ballerina had her ballet concert.

Advent: Day 3

2011-12-03T13:05:00.000+11:00

On the 3rd day of Advent the Christmas angel left a treat for a special friend.

Advent: Day 1

2011-12-01T21:15:00.005+11:00

Our tree has been up since the 22nd. I figure if you can't put the tree up 8 days early for a 6 year old, then there is something seriously wrong with my Christmas spirit.

First day of Summer, first day of December, first day of Advent. The Christmas angel left a little note in the kids advent calendars telling them to look under their beds for new Christmas books to read through this season's lead up to the big day.

Six

2011-08-19T09:15:00.016+10:00

Our Lego loving lad has turned 6. My beautiful boy in love with Lego and learning, books, bikes and big adventures. I remember feeling sad last year at what five meant; all that independence of coming school days. But at six I can't believe quite how proud I am of the little man he is becoming. Confident and strong and ever so curious about his world and how it works. He has a quiet determination to be the best and yet is not boastful of his achievements. The best mate to his sister, the other pea in his pod, he is loyal with an innate sense of what is fair and honest and right. Our guy loves that he is older and able to do big boy things, like staying up late with his Mama on the lounge and reading in bed with his light on until he falls asleep, a book across his sleeping face.

Happy Birthday my boy. My your year be full of love and adventures.

My favourite living thing

2011-08-05T14:13:00.003+10:00

This weeks news item was my favourite living thing. The Rooster choose his sister. Sweet!

Let it snow

2011-07-21T12:34:00.011+10:00

These holidays just past we tried the snow again. Two years on, two years older. Steadier legs would mean more things to try. Our little adrenalin guy took to skiing with gusto. He loved going high up on the lifts and zooming down with strong legs and a determined mind. He loved the one on one time with each of his parents, the quietness of his snowy surrounds and the challenge of returning to the bottom without falling down.

Our Missy once again hated the snow, exclaiming within the first 30 minutes that she hated this place and never, ever, ever wanted to come here again. On our first day there wasn't quite enough snow to build a snowman and there was no wind. Imagine her dismay when she got out of the car on day two to blizzard conditions, 70km/hr winds and 4 foot of snow. Suffice to say she spent her holiday in the cafeteria, took 108 photos on my camera of the comings and goings around her and cost us the equivalent of a lift pass in hot chocolate. We will return to the snow next year but may leave our girl at Nonna's for a beach holiday. The snow is hard enough with kids and all those layers without adding an unhappy child to the mix. We forget that she is not yet 3 and a half which is so very little to keep up with all our adventures.

The Rooster though, is full of stories of falling off lifts and sliding into fences. Of snow ploughs roaring along the road and tobogganing at high speed down a hill. Building snowmen in a blizzard and keeping warm with cups of hot chocolate.

Vivid

2011-07-01T12:35:00.005+10:00

We went to Vivid about a month ago. Here's a few highlights from our very wet, but lot's of fun, evening

Firsts

2011-05-09T22:50:00.008+10:00

My guy has been waiting patiently for 12 weeks for one of these. Each Monday his school has assembly and each week, every teacher nominates two students to receive an Effort in Learning award. It's all very democratic; every kid gets two a year, but my guy has been waiting oh so long to hear his name called out, receive his certificate and stand in front of the assembled children.

Missy and I have been at every assembly, determined not miss his special moment. Today was his day. He was bursting with pride and was only just holding himself back from tearing down the aisle to show us.

Tonight we had homework. Up till now we've had readers and sight words but we haven't really had to prepare anything for the next day. This week for news we had to find and draw something man-made and something made by nature. The Rooster decided on an Autumn coloured garden to take for show and tell. Its gorgeous, complete with Lavender from his Nan's garden.

Easter Monday

2011-04-26T22:19:00.010+10:00

So, yesterday we got up very early, too early for a public holiday and a house devoid of children. The weather was bleak. Actually, bleak is being generous. It was pouring and we were up at dawn, not for the ANZAC services but for our first triathlon. Preparing for this "event", I never imagined rain. I had visualised the running and the cycling and had just got my head around swimming in that very murky, man-made lake, but in all the visualisations there had never been any rain.

Last night, race results came through. I came predictably last but satisfyingly within my goal time. What struck me though, what kept me awake for a little while thinking, was my age written next to my name. 39. Where did that come from? Surely I am still 32? 22?

40 is next year. I have a few things I am quietly ticking off a list before January, a triathlon being one of them. I once had plans for a great South American adventure for my 40th. That was a few years before children. Actually, it was just as I was making the commitment to have children. Back then, I thought I would take off and have a great hurrah as I turned 40. Clearly, I had no idea what having children was all about. The strong-hold on your heart. I can leave them overnight, even for a few nights. But a couple of months? At this age, when I am their everything? Quite unimaginable. I want these two spitting on my cake as they help me blow out my candles.

A very good Friday

2011-04-23T21:53:00.007+10:00

Our Good Friday hunt has become a tradition. My friends have told me how their children anticipate the day. The kids remembered making ears and baskets whilst they wait for the "bunnies" to hide the eggs. They even remembered where to drop off the eggs so that they could be redistributed to another part of the garden.

As they children have got older the day has got easier. Less squabbles to sort out and more quiet play amongst the older boys. The little girls, not long ago babes, have grown together and now have friendships to equal their brothers. It is a time for the adults to bask in the warm autumn sun and have a little down time. To share food and stories and create memories for our little folk.

Easter Tree

2011-04-07T10:37:00.016+10:00

The Easter tree is up. It looks really pretty this year, filling up with new bits and pieces. The kids have taken a decoration into school for news, to show and tell about a different Easter tradition that their relatives on the other side of the world embrace.

The Lost tooth

2011-03-08T21:43:00.014+11:00

Today the Rooster lost his first tooth. At school. It hurt a little when he ran to tell me and handed a little tissue wrapped package over. Along with all the other parts of his day that I miss witnessing, today I added milestone to that list. I drove home thinking about the post I would write tonight documenting the loss of his first tooth. I remembered one of my favourite photos of Luca and knew that I would include it. I had most of the post composed in my head by the time I got to the park this afternoon.

However, the story of that lost tooth changes here. At the park, one of the kids needed a tissue. I found a clean one in the bottom of my bag, along with a whole bunch of other half used, balled up discarded ones. I began systematically cleaning out my bag, pocket by pocket, thinking to myself, man there was a lot of crap in there. I put the debris into an empty biscuit packet and thoughtlessly tossed it into the rubbish bin when we got up to leave.

When I got to the car I gasped. OMG!!!! The tooth was in one of those balled up, discarded tissues. The blood left my face as I raced to the bin, squeezed my head under the little roof that public bins have and with a huge breath, I threw my head into the bin opening. There it was. The biscuit packet. ALL THE WAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BIN. There was no way to reach it. The Rooster was hysterical, more I think, because of the whole tooth fairy deal and I was distressed, as I had yet to clap my eyes on the little peg.

I dangled Luca in but his little arms were not long enough. We found a coat hanger but that didn't work. I admitted defeat, convinced the Rooster that the tooth fairy would accept a letter of apology about the lost tooth and belted up to go home.

It was then that we noticed the umbrellas poking out from under the seat and dashed back out to try again. Two attempts and we had success (the first saw my son dangling once again head first into a council bin). The tooth is safely tucked into his tooth envelope and ensconced under his pillow to wait for the magic.

I misplace my keys on most days. I struggle to keep my phone charged. Once a week my purse and I get separated, but when it comes to the Mumma things, I don't drop the ball. I am on it. To lose that tooth... I don't think I would ever live that one down.

We like a good story here in this family for the big things that happen in our lives. We love the retelling and the embellishments as it is told and retold again. Losing your first tooth at school without Mum, before recess, was not enough. It needed a good story with a happy ending. Something to really remember. Something to tell his kids about when they lose their first teeth.

Oh, and here is that really cute photo I was thinking about way back in the beginning of this tale.

Note for later. That tooth he lost was the first that he got. Front left.

2011-03-02T14:14:00.009+11:00

It would be remiss of me not to post Ellie's Ballerina High Tea. Oh my, the pink! In all shades from fairy floss to hot pink (and of course it's derivative purple), the cult of pink was very apparent. I have tried so very hard to avoid the influx of this hue into our lives, but I admit defeat.

It is indeed innate, this desire and love of all things rosy. My resistance has been to no avail and after all the red and green and navy and yellow, what I have is a 3 year old who loves pink.

I have a sense that the princess phenomena is on it's way but for now my girl lovingly puts her bubbas to bed and will potter endlessly within the walls of her sweet doll's house.

Can I bottle this sweet phase and release it when I have a cranky hormonal teenage girl?

From little things big things grow

2011-02-14T19:49:00.006+11:00

March 2008

February 2011

I always knew that this babe of mine would be born on Valentines Day. A Valentine cynic, I had bah-humbugged this day since I was a girl. Now our day is consumed with her celebrations and there is little time to think about ourselves and what this day might mean if we didn't have a child born today.

For our first Valentines, Tools posted me an enormous banner with the words "Joy of my Joyfulness". I have it stashed in a box somewhere in our roof. I sometimes think I should dig it out, along with all those other mementos tucked away and long forgotten. However, I don't need to look far to evoke that memory.

This girl is the joy of our joyfulness. She is kind and thinks of others before herself. She is generous and loyal. Confident and yet very shy. Missy wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. She is a best friend to her brother, the Lola to his Charlie and we often think how lucky he is to have a pal like her. She is the greatest companion to her peers and her elders.

Her chatter and inquisitiveness exhaust me but I will never yearn for quiet. Her day runs at high speed, always engrossed in whatever has captured her imagination. She paints and draws and loves to listen to music. And, when she is satisfied that she has squeezed every drop of goodness from the day, when she finally allows herself to be still, our Missy drops off exhausted to recharge her senses for what will come the next day.

Happy Birthday my Ellie Mooch. May this year be full of happiness and love and laughter and cuddles.

2011-02-10T10:11:00.008+11:00

My girl is missing her brother and often asks how long until it is until we pick him up from school. She needed a new project, something to keep her busy in the time when he is gone. Missy can't stand being idle. She is always on the go; exploring, investigating, discovering with an endless narration in place.

Her new flower garden is her pride. She took the Rooster and Tools out and explained carefully the process she would take to water her new plants. Moving the stool to help her reach the higher shelves and filling her watering can from the bucket nearby. She finds the smell of mint intoxicating and loves to throw her face in its big green leaves and inhale deeply. She was mindful of the order of her flowers, choosing carefully where each bloom would go. She has adopted the larger plants in pots as her responsibility too, knowing full well that I am too busy to water them with any sort of frequency.

2011-02-02T21:56:00.008+11:00

Today was much harder than I expected. It was very emotional and I was quite shocked by that feeling of letting go. It hurt.

My guy was so prepared. He was calm but excited and, like thousands of 5 year olds, had been counting down the days for about a week. Mama on the other hand was not so ready for the wave of emotion that overcome her. I have been cool all week, not really thinking about what was to come, focussing on my first day back at work. I had payed little attention to the significance of that moment.

Today really marked the end of an era and a change to our days. And I felt it. I will only be privy to such a small part of his life, much of it going on inside the gates of his new school. I will miss the times where the adventures would unravel as the day progressed. I am so proud of the little boy who walked confidently and proudly into his new classroom. Who waved goodbye with such little ceremony.

There were so many best bits about the Roosters day but for me the best bit was collecting him, feeling that little hand slip so neatly into mine and of hearing all the tales of this very first day.

First day of Pre-school

2011-01-14T23:22:00.009+11:00

There was a lot of excitement in our house this morning. As soon as she woke up Missy knew exactly where she was going. New lunch box, new bag, a full tube of sun-screen that was hers with her name on it. She was set to meet this new adventure head on.

As we turned into pre-school she noted that she had not yet turned three and would it be OK to go today. I assured her that she could go today being not quite three, that being 2 and a half is OK. No, she said, I am actually 2 and 3 quarters.

This conversation could have gone on and on if I explained that she is 1 month from three. This little girl of mine who needs an explanation for everything, who needs to understand the whys and where-forths of each concept she encounters. She exhausts me with her questions and conversation and cracks me up with her expressions many times each day.

Today was bittersweet as a dropped one child to her first day of pre-school and then took the other one shopping for school shoes and uniforms. We are a few weeks away from his first day. I know that his drop-off will be a little more difficult and that a few tears will be shed.

The time with my babes has flown. I know now that these will be my only two. I am holding dear these times, the unfaltering, unquestioning, unconditional, to the moon and back a billion times, love. The Rooster still holds my hand fiercely, and although he assures me that he will always want to hold my hand, I know that soon enough he will walk near to me and save that affection for the quiet times in our home. Sometimes I want to stop time just where it is, but I couldn't deny my children the adventures that lay ahead of them as they head off into their own little worlds.

Advent: day 24

2010-12-24T22:58:00.006+11:00

Celebrate Christmas at mass tonight.

The littlies thought today was Christmas as this morning was the last of their pockets on their advent calendars. There has been such a build up in this little house over this season of Advent. They truly understand the meaning of waiting. They were angels at mass this evening, sitting quietly emersing themselves in the true story of Christmas. Our house is quiet. The children are tired from a big week.

I am looking forward to tomorrow morning and what awaits our small folk. Small gifts to give to each other and something larger which will be a total surprise. I hope to not overwhelm them but allow them to enjoy the small and thoughtful gifts waiting downstairs.

Wishing you the merriest of Christmas' and the very best for the New Year.

Advent: Day 23

2010-12-23T21:30:00.000+11:00

" Take a train ride into the city"

Giant christmas trees, Santa trains, Christmas windows, buskers singing carols. A day full of festive cheer, with a little bit of Charlie and Lola thrown in for good measure.

Advent: Day 21

2010-12-21T23:12:00.001+11:00

Have an early Christmas celebration with your family.

Advent: Day 20

2010-12-20T22:48:00.002+11:00

Make a gingerbread house with your cousins.

(The Christmas Angel was not prepared to let this gingerbread malarky get the better of her. She saved two slabs from the disastrous first house to use closer to Christmas. Not perfect, but it did stand up and survived a two hour transfer intact).

3rd Sunday of Advent

2010-12-19T08:32:00.003+11:00

Advent:Day 18

2010-12-18T07:59:00.000+11:00

Advent: Day 16 and 17

2010-12-17T00:35:00.000+11:00

On day 16 the Christmas Angel said "make a christmas paper chain". She forgot to take into account that Mama had her Christmas party. What with dinner, babysitter preparations and getting ready for the party, there was little time left to complete our task.

On day 17 the littlies rushed down the stairs to discover empty pockets. Apparently the Christmas angel doesn't leave a message unless previous crafts are completed. Late on Friday night, exhausted and seedy from the night before, we got our paperchain done.

Advent Day 15

2010-12-15T13:16:00.000+11:00

And the Christmas Angel said: "Make placements for your cousins when they come for Christmas dinner".

Advent: Day 14

2010-12-14T15:08:00.002+11:00

Write christmas cards and thank you notes to your teachers.

Day 13

2010-12-13T15:02:00.002+11:00

Make a gingerbread house. (Fast Ed has a lot to answer for. My friend and I followed this recipe without detour and look what happened!)

Day 12 Advent

2010-12-12T14:55:00.001+11:00

Light the second advent candle

Day 11

2010-12-11T14:59:00.001+11:00

On the 11th day of Advent the Christmas angel had a weekend away.

Day 8 Advent

2010-12-08T10:24:00.000+11:00

On the 8th day the Christmas angel said " make tags for your ginger bread"

Advent: Day 7

2010-12-07T13:22:00.001+11:00

The Christmas angel was a little late this morning. Make gingerbread her little note said. We ended up with lots and lots of gingerbread cookies. They will become little gifts for the kids pre-school pals.

Advent day 6

2010-12-06T16:44:00.006+11:00

Today you need to gift wrap your teachers gifts.

advent day 5

2010-12-05T16:44:00.000+11:00

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Light the first candle of the Advent wreath.

Advent day 4

2010-12-04T16:43:00.002+11:00

This one was from the Daddy Christmas Angel. Make rocky road christmas trees at Nonna's for your teachers for Christmas.

Note the amount of chocolate on this little muppet's face and clothes. All in the name of "tasting".

Advent: Day 3

2010-12-03T16:41:00.009+11:00

Today you need to make an an Advent wreath, 3 purple and one pink candle for each Sunday in Advent.

Advent: Day 2

2010-12-02T22:52:00.005+11:00

With money from your money box, choose a child from the giving tree and buy them a gift for Christmas.

1st day of Advent

2010-12-01T20:50:00.006+11:00

This morning was the first day of Advent. The tree has been up since last week. The Advent calendars empty, waiting for this morning and the first chocolate and message from the Christmas angels (who have teeny voices by the way, that only Mummy can hear as they whisper their instructions each night).

New Christmas books waiting under beds for excited children to find, to be read over and over as we wait out this special time until Christmas.

Delayed Gratification

2010-09-18T20:41:00.010+10:00

I often talk about how different my children are. I watch them travel through their days adopting different approaches to everything that they encounter. One child's weakness is the other child's strength. It's funny though, as Missy grows older the disparity is getting smaller.

Tools is reading the Time Paradox. The other night he stumbled upon Mischel's Marshmellow Test. I studied this in my Child Psychology days but had clean forgotten about it. You can read about it here, but basically it was an experiment studying delayed gratification in the 1970's, carried out on 4 year old children.

We always talk about the Rooster being really good at delayed grafification. We can give him his fruit and place a lolly or Tiny Ted next to his plate with the instruction that he has to eat the fruit first and he will calmly eat his fruit with his eye quietly on the prize. He knows what's in his reach and he has no inclination to eat things out of turn. He can quite easily wait for the goodies, knowing they are within his grasp. He is good with action and consequence. He is easy to discipline and does not like to disappoint. He is a rule follower and prides himself on doing things just as they are suppose to be done. He knows what's fair and gets out of sorts when things don't follow as he expected. There are downfalls to this way of thinking but at the moment his world works for him in this way.

Missy is another story. Given her sweets and fruit, she will eagerly gobble down the treat and we will battle to get the fruit into her. She barters with her brother to help her get the fruit finished so she can leave the table. We have had to change the sequence of events for her as she has very little self restraint. Sure, she is only 2 and a half, but the Rooster could exercise delayed gratification at this age. Our girl has very little self control, she will touch everything even when told not to. She has no fear of consequences and I am constantly having to rethink how I will manage her behaviour. I fear that one day her lack of self restraint will result in some kind of serious injury. Just today she spilt half a bottle of juice because her compulsion to pour the juice was greater than her compliance to the instruction given by me to leave it until Mummy came over. She is so independent and with a strong streak for self discovery.

All of that brings me to today. We decided to do our own little marshmellow test with some M & M's. Given that the two of them had relentlessly hounded me to buy them a packet today, it was the perfect choice. We told them we were playing a game (the Rooster was so excited. He loves games. It's the rule thing again). We would give each child two M & M's on a plate.

They could eat them straight away or, if they could wait till Mummy and Daddy came back from hanging out the washing, they could have two more. Always the negoitiator, the Rooster proposed if they ate one while we were gone would they get one? No, its all or none.

Our money was on the Rooster.

Have a look at what happened when we came back.

This was a surprise, although you have to note that Missy has M & M smeared across her forehead. She obviously was not going to eat them but nobody said anything to her about not playing with them. I am not sure we would have found her with two M & M's had she done the test alone. Maybe watching what her brother was doing was enough to hold her back. Tools gave them the opportunity to double their loot tonight after dinner if they could hold out. 5 hours is a whole lot longer than five minutes and they laughed at him as they gobbled down their 4 tiny sweets.

It will be interesting to see if their ability to delay gratification will develop or wane as they get older and if some of the characteristics noted in the original experiment will apply later in life. I thought it might be worth capturing this moment as a "remember when" for the future.

Do fun stuff

2010-09-04T16:00:00.006+10:00

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Not sure if you have ever dropped by Pacing the Panic Room. Ryan Marshall is an awesome guy, who spent the best part of this year putting together an album of kids songs to raise money for Smith Magenis Syndrome

, a condition that his gorgeous stepson is living with. Little is known about this condition and funds are much needed to research and create case studies for the families who live with SMS.

After a crazy amount of work the album was launched on Monday. Its a kids album for parents, a compilation of very cool songs from artists who are mostly NOT from the children's genre

. Everyone involved in the album has donated their creativity and their time and all funds raised will go directly to the SMS foundation.

Have just noted that the widget does not fit into my column but the links are still visible. Click on the links on the widget to read all about it. You can listen to it up there too.

Five

2010-08-19T21:44:00.010+10:00

Finally five, my bright eyed boy. You can read and ride a bike. Build Lego from your maps and want to be a fireman when you grow up. You have a great sense of adventure and think that every new plan 'awesome'. You love soccer and scoring goals and your competitive streak has dealt with the disappointment of not being the best at something. I worry that you are not resilient enough to withstand the humps and bumps that you will encounter but I know that your heart is open and honest and generous and I hope that this will hold you in steed for what is to come. Five means that I will soon lose you to school and another world that I will not be entirely privy to. I will let you go, wobbling on life's training wheels as you enter this big new exciting world.

A day late with this post, you woke up today and asked "Am I still five?" Yes, my boy for a whole nother year. Happy Birthday Luca. May five be fabulous.

Happy happy 101

2010-08-03T19:28:00.011+10:00

I have been tagged by the very sweet and very clever Sophie for a meme. Reading Sophie's top 10 was like reading a list of my own happy things. I guess when you are a mum its the simple things that make you smile.

Here are 10 things that make me happy.

1. Listening to my boy laugh. Luca is a serious kinda fella, smiley and shy, but when something tickles his fancy, is really funny, the giggle, the outright LAUGH that comes from him, makes my day.

2. My first (and only) coffee of the day. I have sworn off instant in attempt to drink less coffee. The effort to obtain that first hit, the ritual of ordering, sitting and sipping. Ahhhh....sweet.

3. A date with my husband. Far and few between but enough to sustain us until the next time.

4. Holidays. I teach for the lifestyle (certainly not for the money). The first few days away, leaving it all behind, is so re-energising.

5. Walking back into a clean house. More often than not, I clean our house and close the door behind me and head out. Stepping back in, all tidy with that clean floor smell....if only it lasted more than an hour.

6. Miss Ellie. She's a handful, the maker of messes, but truly, the joy of my joyfulness.

7. A good lesson. There is a certain feeling that you get when you walk out of a really good lesson. One where your explanations were good, kids were on task and they leave all smiley and happy with a thanks Miss and have a good day. Teaching Utopia.

8. New shoes (made even more sweeter when on sale. Actually saying that, I only ever buy shoes when they are on sale).

9. Happy movies. Sad movies. Intense movies. Sitting in the dark and emersing myself in someone's story leaves me with a buzz. Maybe it's the opportunity to take time out away from the kids and get some time for myself that is the happy.

10. Good friends. Long chats. Cups of tea and with yummy cake.

So many people have shared their happys already. Here's a few who haven't.

Dandelion
Bare feet and a free spirit
Red Chocolate
Munnkey Business
Ellieboo

Going on and coming off again.

2010-08-01T21:51:00.007+10:00

How can it be that my children have never had their faces painted? The Rooster is almost five! I can promise you though, the opportunity has never come up.

I imagine the Rooster was a little anxious and Missy being the sweet little soul she is, sensed he was nervous. Look at her fussing over him making sure he was OK. How sweet is that kitty face?

Countdown

2010-07-25T19:50:00.004+10:00

A calendar made with incredible care.
The countdown to five has begun.

And a few gorgeous shots of my girl that I couldn't resist adding.

Introducing the talking shopping list

2010-07-20T21:12:00.005+10:00

Conversation as were arrived at the supermarket this afternoon.

Me: Poop. I forgot my shopping list
Rooster: Don't worry mum. I will be your talking shopping list
Me: Could you? Do you remember what was on it?
Rooster: Sure do! Cat litter. Butter. Hundreds of thousands.Toilet paper.....

I tell you that list was spot on, word perfect.

2010-07-15T19:28:00.004+10:00

We have a new after dinner activity. After the table was cleared and wiped, the cards were dealt and laid out. Eyes focussed on the colours and numbers and on the special cards, the "switchero" and the dreaded miss-a-turn. The rooster won the inargural two games. Tonight he was the doppio uno of uno.

Winter fun

2010-07-09T20:41:00.003+10:00

Four wheels. Three boys. One dumpster BBQ trolley and a very clever dad.

Spoonificent!

2010-06-29T23:22:00.006+10:00

Remember last year when I blogged about this?

Now this collection

Has become this charm bracelet

Earlier this year I was reading the Sunday paper and I glanced upon a story about the Spooning Society and the cute jewellery that Claire and Tory were creating using souvenir teaspoons.

I knew that this was the place for my collection. I shot off an email and she created this beautiful bracelet from a few of my favourites in exchange for the rest for my stash.

I sent a spoon from Hawaii that just happened to have a matching partner in their collection. The girls couldn't help but add these to my package.
Check out their shop full of their quirky fun creations. Clever, clever idea.

String of hearts

2010-06-23T20:42:00.004+10:00

A string of hearts made by Beck over at dandelion. In between the bunny making, op-shopping, crafting and full to the brim family life, Beck somehow found time to put this package together for me to celebrate her birthday.

We may plant some of her biodynamic garlic in our vege patch, a little bit of Daylesford transported to the Blue Mountains.

Vivid

2010-06-06T16:42:00.011+10:00

The break in the week long rain was a sure sign that we were meant to head into Vivid Sydney for a night-time adventure. Rugged up and snuggled in the pram, the littlies loved the light pictures beamed onto the historical buildings along Macquarie Street. Busy spotting butterflies and flowers, money and racing horses, they couldn't wait for the opportunity to try to touch the images. The Rooster walked with apprehension towards the Hyde Barrack wall, not sure what he was going to feel. His disappointment was most evident when the flowers disappeared behind his shadow.

Our evening walk ended at the magnificently lit up St Mary's Cathedral. The Rooster thought it looked just like a castle. We watched arrows rise and stars fall, the turrets entwined in vines and roses. The changing images mesmerised our small folk, so much so, that they completely forgot that it was time to swap seating positions in the pram (a much negotiated battled decided with a flip of a coin; Missy is always the queen and the Rooster is whatever animal is on the reverse side).

We are still eating the gelato we stopped for at Bar Italia on the way home. Enormous portions of toblerone, coffee and strawberry. Much too much to eat late at night.

I didn't even attempt to capture any images. These shots from here.

Golden Days

2010-06-02T22:32:00.011+10:00

For too many weeks I have been ravaged by sinus and a raging headache. I would soldier through our morning activities and arrive home exhausted only wanting to crash out and let sleep come. The littlies would bicker around me, unstimulated by a mother who could do little more than lie on the lounge and cope with what was unravelling around her.

But today was golden. My fog has lifted, the dull ache on the left side of my head has gone. Mummy has returned and we didn't waste a minute lolling about. Cakes baked and play dates. Mixing paint colours in the sunshine, sitting on the floor with the Lego, cooking dinner before rushing out to soccer practice.

We had one of those days when you feel you can go on doing this gig forever. It made me think how little time we have left, just the three of us. Next year will be just me and my girl. We will strike a different rhythm I suspect, our movements dictated by school drop offs and pick ups and completely different interests altogether. My days lying on the floor feigning interest in brooming cars are numbered. But until then I wish for more golden days like today when I feel worthy of these children who have been gifted to me.

Sticky Toes

2010-05-30T20:33:00.006+10:00

It's been a very long, cold, wet week. We've been sick and very sad at the passing of a dear friend. But little discoveries like these can't help but make you smile.

White

2010-05-22T21:10:00.003+10:00

Camillas from my mother's garden. Missy spent the afternoon with her aunt and they made white (not vanilla!) cupcakes. Cranky cat. This pile hasn't got any smaller. A very old toy. This was unearthed today. It was mine, which would make it very, ahem, vintage. I have such distinct memories of playing with this. The coloured records are stored in the back and I remember lying on the ground playing the tunes over and over.

I have really enjoyed the challenge of posting everyday for Lisa's Colour Week. I have also discovered a bunch of new blogs stretching across the globe. The images captured this week have been stunning. It was a fascinating way to peek into a person's life.

Green

2010-05-21T21:31:00.007+10:00

Green is our favourite colour. Living in the bush, surrounded by it's gentle hue, we are greeted with it above and around us.

It was green day at preschool today too. Thankfully, as yellow week last week was really hard to clothe. The Rooster's favourite colour is green and because she loves everything that he does, Missy's favourite colour is green too. We have one green cup that they fight over every meal time and have a lovely sage green lounge. It is sounding like we live in a pond but I assure that the green accents in our home are earthy, calm tones and not traffic light green to scare you into existence.

Lunch boxes ready. Calm bath at night. I couldn't resist posting another pair of shoes. Feet up with a pile of marking, I finally put my pen down anxious to post and I smirked at the pen I was using.

Head over to Curious Girl to see what others have posted. Last day tomorrow of this rainbow coloured week.

Purple Haze

2010-05-20T20:52:00.004+10:00

Purple almost escaped me. A new pair of shoes for winter, a sweet new picture and Vietnamese silk bags. I tip toed into the Rooster's room to kiss him good night and a blast of purple greeted me.

The Rooster loves this blanket. He chose it two years ago when he went into a big boy bed and only said last week when I pulled it out for the winter, "Ah Mummy. I love my purple blankie. I was wondering where it was hiding"

Loads more purple over at Curious Girl. She is hosting colour week. Am really enjoying playing along. have seen so many beautiful images and discovered a bunch of new blogs.

Yellow and orange

2010-05-19T20:44:00.006+10:00

I had grand plans today of showcasing the delicious autumn hues blanketing our mountains. But this morning I got called into work and I taught four lessons and then sat in the bush for 2 and a half hours on a chair watching kids run a cross country. I looked and searched but not a hint of yellow was in that eucalypt, gum tree bush. Not a deciduous tree in sight.

Bursts of yellow still managed to catch my eye. A spade to trip on. An autumn wreath made for the front door at preschool. Mother's Day chrysanthemums that catch the morning light as it streams through the kitchen window. These grape vine leaves were taken late tonight as I hung out washing (vomit covered washing....yes, lots of yellow and orange there).

More yellow and much more orange here. Go check out the other colour week players on Lisa's sidebar.

Hues of Blue

2010-05-18T20:53:00.009+10:00

The sky held no blue today. It was damp and wintry and positively grey. We have been spoilt with glorious sunny days in the first few weeks of autumn. Today the blue skies have disappeared and the washing is still damp on the line. The fire has burned and we have busied ourselves indoors. My eyes caught plenty of blue as I went about my day. My gumboots to feed the chickens, a new pendant, a beautiful card that has a new place in our home. Our throw rug from Iceland, bought on the spur of the moment but so much a part of our winter days. The sweetest pair of shoes in our house and that last shot, found on my camera taken from 2 year old height.

Tomorrow orange and yellow. Autumn in the mountains is breathtaking.

Head over to Curious Girl and see what other azure hues people have captured.

Red and Pink

2010-05-18T08:02:00.006+10:00

I discovered Curious Girl's week of Colour very late last night after I had written a lot of school reports. I think that this is just what I need to get me through a very busy, work-laden, grey beginning week. I looked through some of the shots I took and downloaded yesterday and by chance some of them were very red and pink. A sign that this was definitely something I should play along with.

Stay tuned for a week of colour. This week seems so dull and wintry.
Check out what others have been doing here.

Time flies

2010-05-17T20:28:00.007+10:00

5 years ago I was filling in forms preparing for the birth of the Rooster. Tonight I spent some time dotting the i's and crossing the t's on the Roosters enrolment forms for school next year. Sheesh! Where did that time go? I needed a passport photo of our boy so asked him to stand still and try to look serious. Ridiculous what he thinks is serious. He's been sick for the past few weeks and all cold sorey and wind chaffed lippy. Have touched up the last shot smudging away the minge that has over taken his face.

I feel a little achy at my boy going off on this next adventure. He is very excited but has no idea what 5 days at school away from Mum really means. He knows he will catch the bus from Mummy's school and that he will have his best buds starting with him. He can't wait to read books so that he can sit up in bed and read under his reading lamp. He is ready already but it is still many months off. He has a birthday and Christmas and summer to wait. In the world of a nearly 5 year old that is forever. Which is OK too. Time to fill our days with play and swimming and cooking and reading before the business of school days kicks in.

To pee or not to pee

2010-04-26T21:50:00.006+10:00

A funny thing happened today that I just need to get off my chest. And get clarification on. And stand corrected if need be.

Today we were at soccer watching Tools huff and puff around the paddock. 20 minutes from the end Missy called out that she needed to pee. I looked about and realised that the public loos were on the other side of the field. Newly toilet trained, I was unsure if a) we would make it or b) that this in fact was the real deal and not just a false alarm.

Giving her the benefit of the doubt I headed behind the spectators to a grassy patch and let her squat. As I stood in front of her I heard two things; the roar of a goal from the opposition and the squawk of a woman calling out that there were toilets across the road at McDonald's. I waved her off saying we were OK and thanks for the tip. Little did I know that it wasn't a tip but a reprimand to get myself and my little girl to the loo pronto, citing that it was indecent for her to pee in public in front of all these people.

I was a little taken aback and embarrassed that I had made such an error of judgment. I have toilet trained before and thought nothing of a bush pee if the moment necessitates. Mind you, my first was a boy. Is it inappropriate for a girl of two to squat and pee? Did I put my daughter in an indecent position as my commentator suggested? Do I need to reign myself in and flee to the public amenities?

What is the story? Can anyone help?

Bunnies in my garden

2010-04-02T22:01:00.003+11:00

Lots of bunnies in my garden, looking for some eggs.

Two little tired bunnies, fast asleep in beds.

Last drop of summer

2010-03-29T21:19:00.008+11:00

I feel relieved that today was a little cooler with the rain providing relief from the heat of last week. I can't remember a March quite so hot, but the heat gave us an opportunity to squeeze every last bit out of summer and bank it for the cooler days ahead. I never thought we would be swimming outdoors in Katoomba at the end of March, but we were greeted with glorious sunshine with plenty of warmth to take the chill off the usually cooler mountain air.

How much fun is it to find a tree with a built in seat?

36 hours

2010-03-22T21:29:00.007+11:00

Went to Canberra to catch up with some friends.
Got up early to watch these take off
Sat in queue
to see this
Mind you, this was last weekend. A weekend away and 4 days of work left me so exhausted that it has taken me a week to post this adventure. The Masterpieces from Paris exhibition was impressive despite the queues and crowds. We were lucky to wait only an hour after opening to get in. My advice if you do make the trip is go midweek or arrive an hour before opening and get in queue. We took breakfast, bought coffee and had the kids watched a DVD. The family room inside the exhibition was a treat for all of us. The kids were well catered for with engaging activities related to the paintings and we tag teamed supervised, meaning that the other could wander about freely unencumbered by tired out children.

The Rooster talks of starry nights and looks through his little catalogue pointing out his faves and this week Missy noticed that my 10 year old umbrella is sporting a masterpiece. Who knows what they will take from our adventure. Maybe that Mum and Dad are a little mad. Hopefully it will encourage them to do the crazy and give it a burl.

A day with my favourite girls

2010-03-08T22:29:00.003+11:00

Mathilda's Market, turned into Paddington Markets, turned into Oxford Street shopping, turned into very late lunch here.

There was lots of chatter, giggles, eye rolling and shoe trying (the littliest one no less!). No tantrums, no "come on Mum", no bored husbands. Just lovely browsing, some smart buying, good coffee and our little Miss who loved every moment of her day with the girls.

Missy insisted that someone try this shoe on. Every time I chose a sensible flat she would push a brighter, flashier, more inappropriate for a busy mummy-ier, shoe towards me. She was not letting up on this multi-pastel stilleto and was relieved when it was slipped onto her very own foot. If her passion for shoes stays strong she just may inherit her Aunt's divine collection.

Who can deny a little girl her cupcake? Even if it was a very adult, orange polenta sweet treat.

Doing it for the laughs.

George

2010-02-27T21:40:00.008+11:00

When I was turning 13, my parents gave me 3 tickets to my first concert. I choose 2 very excited friends and, dressed head to toe in white and fluro, we saw these 2 lads. Our hearts fluttered as we danced and sang and felt like every song was being sung to us. I remember it was Andrew Ridgely's birthday and the entire audience sang Happy Birthday to him. I also remember standing around outside the gates, screaming, as we waited for the boys to leave the venue. Our vigil paid off when our heroes not only stopped but got out of their limos to say hello and sign autographs. Do stars still do that today?

Fast forward 25 years. This time I was the lucky recipient of a paid ticket from a friend. We danced and sang but this time we knew that every song was most definitely not being sung to us. There were a few WHAM! songs thrown in to satisfy the remnants of our collective teenage desires and a few gay anthems to keep the rest of the audience happy. Our man could still swivel his butt and grooved his way through the best of our favourite tunes. The thirty-somethings in the audience went home to their sleeping children with songs in their heads wondering at all the amazing things that have led them to this place 25 years later.

images via here and here.

Two

2010-02-14T21:41:00.008+11:00

Our gorgeous girl, who makes busyness out of every minute of her days, is two. A strong head and gentle heart, she is inseparable from her brother, the other pea in her pod. She will be the little girl bringing home the strays pleading can we keep it, can we keep it? And of course we will because it is very hard to say no to her little face and her brown eyes. She is already so aware of her power to persuade and the effect she has on people she encounters.

A few weeks ago I saw this illustration over at flossy-p. Titled Wilderness, it spoke of Ellie. Her bravery, her gentleness, her stubbornness and her peace. Our girl who mothers her teds with such tenderness, who can bait her brother beyond distraction, who butts heads with me countless times each day and who melts her father's heart with a glance epitomises this girl. It was the perfect picture to hang above her big girl bed.

Miss Ellie, Happy Birthday. You are the joy of our joyfulness.

PS The other handmade gift Missy received this birthday was this sweet dress made by Sophie from Barefoot Babes

Free thinking

2010-02-09T20:49:00.005+11:00

Another way to wear yesterday's newly acquired accessory.

Vancouver 2010

2010-02-08T20:42:00.007+11:00

original story and image via

This story arrived in my inbox this morning. My sports mad brother is loving the controversy that is unfolding in his adopted home town over our Boxing kangaroo flag.

And these arrived in our letter box this afternoon.

These boxing kangaroos can't wait for "Vancouver" to start so that they can spot their Uncle .
If only it was that simple

Summer holiday

2010-01-22T23:19:00.011+11:00

A new adventure for us this summer and a return to simpler pleasures.

Cooking and eating outdoors

Finding shady spots to eat lunch

and quiet spots to swim

Walks at dusk

and plenty of time to just hang out with each other.

Night-time Picnics

2010-01-17T21:11:00.006+11:00

The littlies are getting into night picnics this summer. Before Christmas we went to Carols by Candlelight in Sydney's Domain. Based on the success of that event, we took them back to the domain for an evening of African music.

Play dough, cars and tea sets kept the heeby-jeebies at bay, while papers and people watching were enough for the adults as we waited out the hours until showtime. The drizzle of rain did little to dampen their enthusiasm for a night under the city skyline. They danced and played and ran through the picnicers. Oh, and there was a free photo booth that had them intrigued. It took alot of effort to lift those two babes high enough to get us all in and then they sat squat to wait for their little photo to pop out. Small things.

Leaping into a new decade

2010-01-04T21:19:00.011+11:00

They say that you should start the New Year in the manner in which you intend to proceed. Unfortunately I spent New Years day doing housework only to hear this proverb a day too late.

The Rooster and Tools threw caution to the wind and plunged into the new decade. Nothing could hold our fearless boy back as he followed his father, leaping so quickly that my camera only captured his little splash.

We brought the new year in with just our little family. The zoo, an evening swim, pizza at one of our faves and a DVD. We clean forgot about the fireworks we have seen every year and went to bed 15 minutes before the stroke of midnight.

Our summer has taken a vacation. Our garden is lush with all the rain but we need some sun so we can open up our van and get to work before we head away on the weekend.

Hope your New Year has been filled with little bursts of sunshine.

Phew!

2009-12-28T21:45:00.011+11:00

I am not sure what happened to December. One minute we were lighting the first of the candles in our floating advent wreath and the next its a rainy boxing day on Shark Island.

The elves kept us busy, delivering daily messages into advent calendars instructing us to make and write and create and make believe. To dance to Aussie Jingle Bells, sing carols by candle-light and to be the best little duck at Christmas concerts. To love the stories that make Christmas real and to learn how to be patient and grateful for what comes our way.

The rain of Christmas day brought a gentle mist and cooler weather to enjoy a house full of family and a table full of food. Admittedly, the same rain caused us a little stress as we packed for Boxing Day on Shark Island. But the weather gods were kind with only a gentle drizzle to spoil our fun.

I am not sure where our summer has gone. I am glad that we got the chance to flop on a beach before Christmas to celebrate the end of another year and the start of our holidays. New Years Eve, camping in our van, overseas visitors. There is much more to come this January.

Wishing you the merriest of New Years. I hope you welcome in 2010 with the silliest grins.

A Christmas wish

2009-12-01T21:17:00.006+11:00

Peace. Not world peace. Although that would be nice. Not peace and quiet. That would get boring after a while. Just peace amongst my children.

They love each other way too much. And of course they are polar opposites. Missy walks around singing an old Playschool song "I like peace, I like quiet" which is the most ironic tune to ever pass her lips. She charges through life with a bang and a crash, upsetting as many things and people that pass through her day. Don't get me wrong, she has the sweetest of natures and everyone she meets can't help but fall in love with her, but she is quite simply, an antagonist. Which does not mix well with my gentle boy.

The Rooster loves a quiet place to broom his car and push his train and look at his books. He doesn't need someone upsetting the space that he has set up so very carefully. It distresses him to no end to see his things disturbed.

The day started out so joyful, the littlies finding a treat and a note in their advent calendars, but by 10 I was exhausted from sorting out their squabbles.

So please Santa can Mummy please have some peace. I won't be greedy. One day will do. OK, I will be greedy. Maybe just once a week?

This weeks eye spy brought to you by the gal that puts it altogether, Cindy.

And then on number 25 it will snow at my house

2009-11-30T21:44:00.006+11:00

The Rooster has been counting down the days since the 2nd of November. We even made a countdown calendar just to get us to today, when I said we would put up the tree, and tomorrow, the start of advent.
I didn't even remember the Christmas train we had under the tree last year. But I am not a 4 year old boy who spent the day lying under the tree's lights watching it go round and round.

The kids needed something to do while mummy battled with the branches. And what train doesn't need a tunnel to run through?

The advent calendars are ready for tomorrow, stuffed with a treat and a little Christmas activity, a different one each day to keep the littlies busy until the 25th. Tomorrow we are off to the library for some christmas borrowing. I am not sure how many more times I can read Aussie Jingle Bells without wanting to throw myself in front of a Rusty Holden Ute.

Adventures

2009-11-19T21:50:00.005+11:00

We have just got ourselves one of these. Admittedly, ours does not look exactly like this. Its a little older and a little more pre-owned but we are just ridiculously excited by the many adventures that await us.

Thanks to Louise for such a well timed theme and to Cindy for hosting. Go check out the skirts she has been busy making for Mathilda's Markets.

pic via as ebay wouldn't let me copy a pic of the real thing. The one we now own. Yikes!!

New favourite gadget

2009-11-12T22:12:00.004+11:00

A set of these, too sweet to resist, measuring cups arrived on my doorstep earlier this week. After spotting them over at Georgielove I couldn't resist getting myself and 3 other special people a set (wouldn't you when the postage was the same as getting one and Christmas is just around the corner?) .

The littlies love them and they currently rank as most fought over toy this week. I can now happily retire my little handpainted set from Prague back to the treasure shelf.

Getting sick and tired of the gadget that I am tapping away on. I have now written 81 school reports on my mac and I have to say quite frankly I AM OVER IT.

More gadgets at Cindy's.

PS These little guys were from here just in case you were wondering.

Orange polkadots

2009-11-05T21:56:00.005+11:00

Yeah for me! I am having a tinny week. Had a win on the horses on Tuesday and have just discovered that I have won this cute as a button, shirred top for my Ellie from another Ellie who haunts the blogsphere. I have no idea how Miss Ellieboo does all she does. I am constant awe of what she packs into her week. Go check out what she is up to now. I tell you she never seems to sit still!

Will post shots of my girl flitting about and strutting her usual attitude later.

Rainy Sunday

2009-10-25T22:23:00.007+11:00

My girlfriends joke that we should have a trophy made up to be awarded at our monthly dinners for Mother of the Year. A ferry ride in the rain to the city might get me a nod. So too might this ridiculously rich chocolaty afternoon tea that we had here (yes, those are my children's fingers poking into the melted chocolate). But I think what really won the award today was the spew that we stood next as we fooled around taking these pictures while we waited for Tools to pick us up.

I can hear Missy coughing upstairs right now. Do you think falling asleep in the pram as it rained on her head would cause her to catch a cold? It couldn't happen that fast, could it?

Pirates and Scoundrels

2009-10-18T21:25:00.007+11:00

My two fight. I am utterly exhausted by their bickering, particularly when we get in the car. They screech and scream at each other like a pair of banshees. Missy is not asleep in this shot. She is pretending. Its her new weapon in the fight against her brother. He wanted the car. She had it. So she closed her eyes, hand protecting the prize in her side pocket, and zoned him out. He had no comeback to this very simple manipulation.

If only he could summon his inner pirate and swindle her with his treacherous ways. Maybe then they would be on an even playing field.

2009-10-11T22:26:00.008+11:00

I love our front door. I love that it has a rapper rather than a door bell. It is almost always draped in a few cobwebs and even though our house is a "shoes on" kind of home, it almost always has a collection of boots beside it. It's a quiet door that doesn't creak or squeak or get stuck as you close it, meaning that it can be closed noiselessly. Very important when transferring sleeping children into the house late at night.
I love how it opens into our ridiculously large entry. The previous owners were generous with their proportions when they renovated and our entry is bigger than our bathroom. As such we treat it like a room. It is one of my favourite corners in our home. We have filled this space with a collection of treasures, each one with a story of it's own.

There's our telephone table, once teak with an orange vinyl seat cover, rescued from a council cleanup in the inner west about 7 years ago.
Sitting above it is this sweet set of shelves that my father built for my nursery. I am almost too scared to say that they are nearly 40 years old. I guess they could be classified as vintage. They have moved with me from room to room and house to house. They are the perfect fit for this little wall and house all my special pieces that I have accumulated in my travels.
A mirror from Balmain markets from uni days sits above an old washstand. That's a goldfish bowl marking space 'till just the right bowl and jug finds its way to me. Orchids from my garden and my African water bearer, one of the best surprise birthday gifts my mother ever bought me.

Another two-for-one Eyespy Sunday here at glass halfful. Life has been pretty full on, so much so that there seems to be too much to blog and so little time to do it. Thanks to Cindy and Karin for the themes. More doors and favourite places over there.

Here we go 'round the mulberry bush

2009-09-20T21:31:00.004+10:00

Down in the bottom corner of Nonna's back garden is the most enormous mulberry tree. Heaving with mulberries, I could only just reach the lower branches to collect perfect, ripe berries for our morning tea. Stained lips, stained fingers, Missy could not resist. The Rooster was apprehensive but was determined not too miss out. I think this sums up how my two approach life, one with gusto and with level headed caution.

In bloom

2009-09-09T21:47:00.011+10:00

I am enjoying this springtime. There are freesias sprouting on the side of the road, their scent heady in the afternoon sun. The blossoms and magnolias, lilies and camellia's are in full bloom. So too are many of my friends and family.

I love how a woman blossoms with her pregnancy, how carrying something so precious and important gives a woman a glow of self assurance that is rarely seen at any other time of her life. I love how a woman's face fills out and that unmistakable glow takes over her whole being. How it connects her to the women before her, who have carried and birthed and to our great earth mother. I loved the secret feeling of carrying my babes, of feeling their movements and their cycles. It gave me a spring in my step knowing that I was growing a tiny human being as I went about my daily business. Growing babies was something I could do with relative ease. My heart aches for those mama's whose pregnancies are trial, who awake to sickness almost everyday of their 9 months. It surely taints the joy when you feel poorly for most of the day. My sister in law, way over in Canada is pregnant and I feel just a teeny bit sad that I will miss this part of her life when she blossoms and blooms into a mother. I will miss seeing my brother be a first time father. I have watched him play with his godchildren, my two little super heroes. He has buckets of patience and an abundance of knowledge. Too boot, he really is just a big kid at heart. I will miss witnessing him guide his babe into the world.

More blooming marvellous things here.

PS Another ridiculously late Eyespy Sunday but this one was sitting in my draft box just waiting for me to hit publish

Red (and something to try)

2009-08-25T19:47:00.009+10:00

I am ridiculously late in posting this Eye-spy Sunday. What, with a party, a birthday, a trip into the city, 3 days of work, two other 4 year old birthday parties (I tell you my social life is a whirlwind!), a 20 year school reunion....there didn't seem to be a smidge of time to breathe, let alone blog.
But I really wanted to post this one. A few months ago I dropped into Mathilda's markets to visit a special somebody over at bugandpop. She had blogged about this gorgeous cape and when I clapped eyes on it, I knew it was just the cape to match this one.

There is something very special about a little girl walking around in a little red cape. She wears it almost daily and the comments we receive as we wander down the street are just amazing.

My friend has a twenty-something son who recently applied for a job in children's television. His CV stated that he is waiting patiently for the day when capes will make a comeback.

Missy is not waiting for any comebacks. She and the Rooster think their capes are the bomb. Just today, the Rooster was marvelling at how his cape was blowing in the wind, just like a real superhero.

The joy.

Imagine if we all threw caution to the wind and donned our capes. I think that I'd like to try that just for a day. It could transport me back to simpler times when a cape and a heartbeat was all I needed for a great adventure.

More punctual posts here. Thanks to Ellieboo and Kimono Reincarnate for their great themes. Quite by accident, I have managed to combine the themes. That would make me almost on time.

Bunny Pigs

2009-08-17T22:34:00.007+10:00

It seems our Missy is born to love all creatures great and small. I suspect she will be the little girl bringing home the strays and imploring us to keep it.

Today she came face to face with this little creature. Having discovered rabbits a few weeks back, she immediately thought she had met another.

"Bunny Mama".
No. A guinea pig.
Ahh...."Bunny pig"
There was no convincing her. And so the bunny pig was born

Our little friend, a true Bindi Irwin and wildlife warrior in the making, had Missy entranced.
Already she loves the bigger girls couldn't help but mimic all the actions of her older friend.

How she would have loved to have taken this critter home and patted him to sleep, all the while singing, nina nana, till his little eyes shut.

The party is over

2009-08-16T20:32:00.017+10:00

Count them.1…2…3…4
It’s what I’m turning, that’s for sure
Mum and Dad tell me it’s what I’ll be
And I’m well over being three
August 16 come around 1
Join us for music, cake and fun
We’ll cook some snags, salad too
At Glenbrook Park, no presents, just you
Here’s Mum’s email address to drop her a line
RSVP by the 12th would suit her just fine

I was right. It is all about the cake. Tucking our tired little birthday boy into bed tonight I asked him what was the best part about his party and he said the cake. He loves it when people sing happy birthday to him and he gets to blow out the candles. Such a simple 4 year old pleasure.

So too is brooming cars in the mud. Not that there was any mud about on this unseasonably hot August day. Just a very big water container and lots of toing and froing with plastic cups. Wet, muddy happy boys. Is there any other way they should be?
My kids love the party treat bag. I on the other hand, usually don't. My children don't cope with sugar well (a bit like skinny girls getting tipsy on one glass of wine) and go pretty feral on just the smallest amount of sugar. With that in mind I sent this little stash home. (I must credit my friend Bec, who doesn't have a blog but should because she is making the best smocks as we speak, who made nearly 4 kilos of green play dough to add to our treasure bags)
Borrowed from Bec over at Red Chocolate, they are filled with crafty bits and pieces to create an alien monster. I can't resist a little competition, so instructions were given to make and then forward photos of their creation so that the Rooster could pick his favourite. The ultimate long distance party game.
Not sure what I was doing all day but I came home with only 4 photos on my camera, all of which have been posted here. The last, our family shot, taken for prosperity.

I can't believe that the Rooster is 4. This time 4 years ago my labour had just started but it took 2 more days for him to come out and meet us. He's still a shy guy, unsure about new situations and always a little apprehensive to enter into them. But once he gets going he is unstoppable. A ball of energy with the softest and sweetest heart. As he lay in bed utterly exhausted, he thanked me from the bottom of his heart for his lovely party and all his friends who came. And you know what Mum, he said, it's not even my birthday yet!

Blast off

2009-08-14T20:50:00.009+10:00

The Rooster has been tearing the numbers off his countdown book one day at a time. While patiently waiting for number 18 to arrive, he has been browsing our very old birthday cake book for inspiration for his cake. He was teetering between a racing car, a dump truck or a race track number 8, until he spotted this book at the library. I have no idea how he knew it was a birthday cake book, but he snatched it off the shelf and found exactly what he was looking for.

Each morning our Rooster makes a rocket with his Lego while he waits for the morning to arrive. This cake was right in his universe. It was the one he was waiting to discover.
He knew something special was waiting for him downstairs this morning. He snuck down and found his Rocket ready for take off.
We like to recycle our cakes and get a few uses for our cake making efforts. The cupcakes, 30 moon and stars, were for preschool with instructions that the rocket could not be cut. The rocket will make its maiden voyage on Sunday at the Rooster's party.

Reading the introduction to our latest cake book, it talks of children not remembering what they were given for each birthday or who came to the party, but the cake. It seems that the highlight is the cake. I can remember many of the efforts of my mother from that very first train covered WW birthday cake book. I wonder which cakes will hold fast in the Rooster's memory?

A collection

2009-08-05T21:14:00.007+10:00

I am almost too embarrassed to reveal this collection. I have a vague idea how it all began. I was about 8 and a family friend brought a Mickey Mouse spoon back from Disneyland. Cue the floodgates and look what happened! My mother recently dispatched these from her house. At first I thought I would sell them on ebay. Ehhh....too hard.

Then a friend suggested bringing them out, a few at a time, for everyday use. The kids love it, often asking for a particular spoon to eat their breakfast. I can quite easily say, that there would be enough spoons to use a different one, each day, to stir my coffee for the next two years.

Far cooler collections over here. Great theme Hoppobumpo!

Waiting

2009-08-02T21:10:00.009+10:00

We have a little boy around here who is turning four. But 18 sleeps is a long time for someone with the patience of a fly and no concept of time.

So we sat down and wrote down all the days until his birthday.

He cleverly wrote all the numbers by himself, closing his eyes each time to visualise before confidently scribing.

All the pages were put together to make his Birthday Countdown Book.

Each night, when he gets into bed, we rip out and "throw out the window" the day that has just been, until we get to his new favourite...

The number 18.

My little Beauty

2009-07-27T20:56:00.000+10:00

On the surface, this weeks Eye Spy theme dreamed up by Stacey over at Sheep's Clothing appears dead easy. There are so many things that are truly beautiful. But where to begin? I started to list and then stalled and in the end I took the easy and most obvious route.

Missy is a natural water baby. Having an older brother has meant that she has spent almost every Monday of her little life paddling after him. Today, it was her turn for a swimming lesson and the Rooster had his chance to cheer his sister from the sidelines.
Have I mentioned that my daughter is strong willed? It's scary. I'm not sure exactly where her tenacity hails from. She was amiable to the idea of lessons but when it came time to be left on the side of the pool she was not happy. And the whole pool knew about it. Today I was that mother. With the disagreeable child.
However, her beautiful nature soon overtook her separation anxiety. After being peeled away from me she was given a duck to keep her amused and divert her attention. In no time at all, she had her little plastic duck huddled to her chest as she patted and rocked. It's OK ducky, it's OK, she soothed her new ally.

She calmed herself right down focusing her attention on nurturing this little duck that needed a mother. And when she got into the water and started to swimming? She took to it just like a duck to water!

More beauty over here at Cindy's.

Just like Christmastime

2009-07-22T21:46:00.016+10:00

Its amazing just how quickly the impression that snow and winter equals Christmas. As we drove through the snow gums climbing higher and higher towards the snowfields, the Rooster would catch glimpses of snow and call out "It's just like Christmastime!" He is right, but it is not like any Christmastime he has experienced. How did that stereotype sink into his little 4 year old subconscious, particularly when we were still reading (and singing!) Rusty Holden Ute until Easter?

After two days at the snow I have to be thankful for living in climates where a hat and scarf and a jacket will suffice as winter warmth. Our first day at Perisher was met with temperatures around zero and a wind blowing that was fierce enough to literally take Missy's breathe away and turn her the colour of her little snowsuit. She was not a happy snow bunny and this first impression was to be her last. She was not impressed with the snow. She would not wear her gloves and as you can imagine her little hands got very, very cold.

The afternoon proved to be much kinder. The winds calmed down and we were able to find a sheltered spot for a bit of wintry fun.
There were snowmen to be built (seriously, our attempt was too pitiful to insult it with a photo) and snowballs to be hurled.

Snow to be eaten and a spot of sitting around watching the winter world pass us by.

And of course the adventures of a boy and his dump truck continued. Sandpit, playground, beach, skate park, there is no terrain that a boy and his truck cannot conquer.

The Rooster is a funny kind of little chicken. He is so fearful of some situations and yet, has absolutely no fear when it comes to pursuits involving adrenalin. I knew he would love the rush of tobogganing and that it would only take a few runs down before he was ready to hit the slopes on his own.

He thinks he is ready to don skis and get pulled up the snow on that thing between your legs so that he can come down really, really fast. I think that may have been before he face planted the snow at very high speeds. Mummy, I only like to go down slow now. I can only hope that this vow holds true until his teenage years are over.

Spotlight

2009-07-13T13:48:00.006+10:00

In the late 70's and 80's when my parents were probably my age they used to have these great parties almost every weekend. Saying that, they probably weren't parties as such but just friends over for a meal. There would be a few families and everyone in those days had 3 or 4 children so it was always great fun for us kids.

I remember playing spot light, dashing and flashing about in our backyard. Hiding behind the trees and under the house long into the night.

Drop over to Cindy's to take a trip down memory lane and thanks to Kristie for our favourite party game theme.

Old school twittering

2009-07-06T22:09:00.005+10:00

Sometimes you look out the window at just the right time.

A little Eastern Yellow Robin flittering between a branch and the ground cover. Flit, drop, flit drop until Bingo! He pulled out a worm. The Rooster was delighted.

An Eastern Spine bill foraging on the lower shrubs, sticking it's long beak into the winter natives. "Birdy! Birdy!" Missy called out as we peeped through the window.

And a pair of Crimson Rosellas balancing on a frail Grevilla branch. Pulling and twisting until Pop! the flower came loose and the two birds shared its sweet nectar.

The Rooster closed his eyes to remember what he saw. "Got it Mummy",and came up with this little drawing.

Missy's version of the same event. The Rooster thinks she just drew the feathers and forgot the birds.

Images from here and here. (I could've grabbed the camera but without a doubt, the noise of the door opening would've scared our friends off).