eleven today

A new beanie, a long sleeved top and a fleecy jacket, all ready for winter in Scotland! Some new clothes and shoes for Ellen Grace, some pretty tattoos, a roll on perfume, and an iTunes voucher. I think you AND Ellen Grace were a bit spoilt today! Happy Birthday darling girl!

XoXoX

a lack of photos

I have hardly taken any photos this year. 2016 has been busy and stressful - I haven't had the motivation to be honest! I went though the files from this year so far and stumbled on this. It made me laugh, so I thought I'd share. Months back, I gave Harry and Till an explicit lesson on how to clean a toilet, in the hopes I'd have slaves to perform this task forever from that moment onwards (clearly delusional right)... anyway I took photos of the entire process (step by step) with the intention of making them a Toilet Cleaning Guide, a pictorial How-to for future reference. Don't ask me what I was thinking?!!!!! That instructional placard never came to fruition and it's mostly me who cleans the toilet.

thirteen

I don't have to look hard to see the same baby face from all those years ago!

Our Harry is thirteen today. He is such a great kid and I am so unbelievably proud of him. Ben and I both are.  He never ceases to amaze us with his capabilities and creativeness. I can't wait to get started on these teenage years - something tells me the best is yet to come!

Happy 13th Birthday Harrison!

nine

I don't believe it - NINE!
You are one cool cat Miss Matilda. xxx

personal best

Harry did something today most adults wouldn't attempt in a pigs eye and we are super proud of him. He participated in his first ever triathlon, in the Under 15's category none the less. It started with a 200 metre ocean swim, followed by a 6 kilometre bike leg and finished with a 1 kilometre run. Our almost 12 year old Harry doesn't usually put his hand up for athletic pursuits (being the Lego, book-worm, horse-riding type) and originally signed up to be part of a team after being roped in by mates, the original plan was for him to take the bike leg. One team member decided he wanted to do the whole thing, and then somehow Harry's team disbanded. But he came home one day and announced instead of giving up, he'd give it a crack - and participate in the whole thing too.

I admire your tenacity kid. You weren't nervous or worried (I did all that for you). Instead you were focused and determined. You knew the triathlon would be tough and that it would push you to the limit. But you never stopped once...not even to smile! You were so impressed you didn't get a stitch...which makes me laugh! I would have got a big fat stitch, that's for sure. We are bursting with pride young man - today was a big achievement for you.

And yes, Harry has outgrown his bike!!!

a tad dramatic?

...now you see why.

kids live here

Sometimes I'm a bit slow to catch on. Some fellow bloggers have been sharing their 'kids live here' images for yonks. It's been on my must-do list for months.

I love everything about this photography challenge. It makes me look at the mess my kids make in a whole other light. A positive light. Children are such productive little beings, aren't they? At our house, there's always a project underway in one room or another, often several at once.  I can't imagine how sterile my home would feel without their imprints. It would be very tidy and clean, no doubt of that.

One day I'll miss treading on textas strewn across the carpet, the sound of Lego being sucked up the vacuum cleaner and toothpaste smears on the bathroom sink. Looking back at photos like these will rekindle the memories and sweeten my day.  

Even looking at them now makes my heart sing: I have kids - How lucky am I!

the rules

Here's a heads-up, in case you visit Miss Till's bedroom anytime soon.

Never say I don't keep you informed!

keep playing

My kids are getting older (why do they have to do that? grow and develop and thrive and all that?). I'm noticing they've outgrown some of their toys. Harry put Woody and Buzz on the op-shop pile not so long ago...Mummy put them back in his room! Sheesh, what was he thinking? He's been playing with them since he was two!!!! I'm certain his future wife will keep them on the marital bed.

Their approach to play is changing, evolving I suppose. It's still creative and imaginative and actually a whole lot more sophisticated. But still, it makes me a bit sad. I've always been a little sentimental when it comes to childhood.

Till pulled out the dress-ups today and it wasn't long before her big brother joined the fun...Buzz joined in too!!!!! Muchas Gracias Buzz!

Story Magic

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”
― Roald Dahl

Chapter books now

When did this happen? I'm sure she was in kindergarten just yesterday, sounding out three letter words and practicing sight words. All of a sudden this Year 2 girl can read, well...pretty much anything. There's no stopping Till now - she loves books just like her role-model and big brother (the incredible book-eating boy).

What a relief. The 'helping-your-kids-learn-to-read' caper can be a wee bit stressful, right? Lucky for me I don't have six kids!!!!!

Another Trip Around the Sun

36 is a good number, right!?
Here are 36 things you may or may not know about me....

1. I love Sunday afternoon naps. If it's Saturday, I'll take one too.
2. I lived in the Tooraweenah Caravan Park for 10 weeks by myself...in the before time (AKA marriage and kids)
3. I have very short, broad feet, but thankfully not as hairy as a hobbit's.
4. I love carob covered licorice (followed closely by carob covered ginger).
5. One of my favourite holiday destinations as a kid was Mogo.
6. Put me on a train or a ferry - I'll ride all day!
7. I really like airports.
8. I love the smell of coffee, clean sheets and lavender.
9. I don't drink coffee!
10. Growing up I shared a room with my sister. When she snored (often), I'd yank her bedclothes away!
11. People think I'm really tidy. Sometimes I'm not!
12. My first car was a red Mini Cooper. My Mother-in-Law called it 'The Farting Lady Beetle'.
13. My brother is named after my childhood imaginary friend, Matthew David.
14. I've never been to Tasmania.
15. Wobbly teeth give me the creeps.
16. I was a pretty good down-hill snow skier once upon a time.
17. As a kid, I really wanted a pet donkey.
18. I just read 'The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society' for the second time.
19. Now I want to visit the Island of Guernsey.
20. I'm the eldest of 10 grandchildren on my Dad's side.

21. In 1992 I watched the Disney movie 'Newsies' and fell head over heels for Christian Bale!
22. I like peanut butter and banana. Together.
23. I'm the 4th youngest grandchild out of 14 on my Mum's side.
24. I love  L'eau D'issey by Issey Miyake, but these days perfume makes me sneeze!
25. I was in such a hurry to wed Ben I almost ran down the aisle....and then I balled my eyes out all through our vows.
26. I write lists. I get a kick out of ticking/crossing things off.
27. It takes me a long time to fall asleep. The cogs in my brain never slow down.
28. I'm happy to share my home with spiders....but will run a mile if there's a rat in sight!
29. I'm lousy at apologising.
30. I drive too fast.
31. Wet towels on the floor irritate me beyond belief!


32. Watching 'Charlie and Lola' with Harry and Matilda makes me smile. It's like they star in it!
33. I wash my face with honey.
34. Sometimes I think about my funeral in day dreams. Is that weird?
35. I wish I had curly red hair.
36. I remember my Mum's 40th birthday like it was only yesterday. In 4 years it will be me turning 40! eeek

Her nest under the window

I know I've posted photos of sleepy Till before, but how could I resist these? Harry had a sleepover at a friends place on Saturday night which meant Till wouldn't sleep downstairs all on her lonesome (and nor would I have expected her too). So she set herself up this cosy little nest in the gable window bay of our bedroom. The tiny space prevented her from stretching her legs out, but as she pointed out "I sleep curled up Mum"! In her awake hours Till is such a confident independent girl, but fast asleep she seems so little and fragile. A few months off turning seven, Till is still our baby!

He goes UP

Once upon a time, there was a boy who didn't like heights. His name was Harry. Yes, this poor little fellow suffered a condition commonly known as... 'A fear of Heights'!!! When Harry was a toddler and his friends came to play they always climbed on top of his toy box, but not Harry, no no, he had his feet planted firmly on the ground.  As a pre-schooler, if Harry visited a double storey building he had to be carried up the stairs, sometimes crying (oh dear) and often protesting loudly. When it came to descending a long staircase, Harry would plonk down, frozen to the spot, refusing to move an inch. But then a remarkable thing happened. Harry grew older (and wiser) and taller and taller and taller still and with all this extraordinary growing his fear of high places lessened. His condition really improved when he moved to a magical place called Norfolk Island. For here on this special island, Harry had to become comfortable with big cliffs and stairs. Particularly stairs as his family moved into a double storey house. After a time Harry took up horse riding and he gradually started to feel secure perched high upon a horse. And well, you should this see Harry now...for these days (so the story goes), he's a boy who willingly climbs trees!!!!!!!!!!!! True. Here's proof...

Birthday bonfire & sleeover

No wind + clear skies + a raging hot bonfire + marshmallows on sticks + sausage sizzle + cake and ice cream + pillow fight + movie and popcorn + hot Milo and chocolates + a sleepover + pancakes for breakfast + six of your best buds (and a friend to keep your little sister occupied) = Best 10th birthday bash EVER!

NB. Harry designed his cake - the rocket represents the number one and the moon is of course the zero!