End of School Holidays.

The Autumn School Holidays are almost over. Monday will see school resume and routine restored.

The past two weeks has been lovely. Yes, that big fat elephant has been in the room all the time, but more importantly - we've had our girl home fulltime. We've managed to cram a lot into this past 2 weeks. No vacation trips away or extravagant adventures. But plenty of friends, and family and simple days of joy....

These past two weeks contained:

10 trips to the park, 3 indoor playgrounds, 1 Mummy/Daughter date, 1 trip to the cinemas, 1 family day-road-trip, 1 full carload of loud hypo kids, 3 morning craft sessions, 1 trip to the library, countless hot chips, 4 picnics, 1 day at the Rock Pools, 7 playdates, 1 tea-house-mountain-drive, numerous coffees, 5 trips to a Doctor or specialist, 2 packets of 'espresso' brown hair dye {goodbye blonde....you lasted a month!!}, zillions of books read and examined, 1 drawn-on wall, 2 eggs on the head {Ryder}, 1 severe injury {Chris}, many litres of rain, 2 beach trips, 14 'goodnight moon - driveway' sessions, 5 new pimples on my chin {easter egg overdose!}, 0 full night sleeps, 1 new story written {my next children's picture book}, a few too many toddler-tantrums, a zillion "I-love-you's", 1 website built, 1 song written/composed and 3 tanks of petrol in my car. 

I hope your Autumn has been wonderful.

Winter is starting to make a debut....I can feel it in the air. Winter PJ's are being dug out and the windows are getting shut at dusk. I'm trying to load us all up on extra vitamin C and healthy-packed dinners to scare off any nasty winter bugs. I DO NOT want a repeat of last year! C'Mon immune system - you can do this!

Back to school next week. Ugh. I kinda like having her home. The house is going to be so quiet next week!

Happy Holidaying....

Choc-Buzzed 2013

Yesterday started early. Ella came rushing in to our room before 6am to tell us the exciting news that the "Easter Bunny" had been.

So, we all crawled out of bed and headed downstairs to see the magic....

I love experiencing such days through the eyes of kids. Pure bliss.

Ella's letter gone and replaced with one from 'HIM'. The carrot munched on, cookie crumbs lined the plate and the milk sipped dry. And an array of foil wrapped goodies and treats left for our two cherubs....

Ryder didn't need any prompting.....he was straight into a choccie egg before we could even blink - foil and all :)

His cheeky grin says it all....as he licks his fingers clean :)

The 'usual routine' then occurred - an egg hunt adventure followed by {more} chocolate for breakfast....

I love this shot. Blury I know - but they were moving fast!

this photo says it all really.

Our Sunday rolled on with a quick Doctor visit {yes, even on Easter Sunday!} a gorgeous family park play and some fresh air in hope to 'burn off' some chocolate.

A fairly slow rest of the day, and a few champagnes shared with family later in the afternoon.

It was nice. A good mixture of slow and busy.

I'll be honest - Ryder has been full-on lately. Teething, mixed with another bout of Tonsillitis, and general toddler tantrums. Throw in some sugar-buzzin-easter-fun and he's all kinds of crazy! Crying one minute, happy the next. I can't keep up! He's been very testing lately. I'm drained to be honest. I keep chanting: this too shall pass. This is exactly {16months} when Ella hit peek fussiness and I struggled. Déjà vu,. Survived it before - will sure as hell survive it again! I'm just rolling with the punches.....

And a HUGE thank you to grandparents {my parents and Chris's} who have been such a support network lately in a time of need. Mwah to you 4 xox

How was your Easter?? Were your kids hungover come evening from all the chocolate? I simply let down my health-food-guard on the Easter weekend and let them go choc crazy....then come Tuesday, we regain good eating habits once again!

Have a great week All.

Easter: done & dusted.

Easter called for a Lace Dress :)

Well well, another Easter has come & gone! Done & dusted for another 12 months! It seems each year the 'chocolate' season rolls in quicker than the year before & then slips out even quicker!

With that said, we had a really awesome Easter Weekend this year! It contained absolutely everything that a 4 day weekend should entail, I think! We didn't go away....in fact, we hardly left the house! As Monday morning rolled around, it occurred to me that the kids & I had not left the house in almost 4 days! We had basked in the luxury & comfort of our new home & neighbourhood. It was so unbelievably nice!! And as much as I love to fill my days with adventures & being out in the big bad world....I also love slow days at home full of crafting & coffee & lazy couch sessions watching movies! It's all about balance baby :)

The lead up to Easter was beautiful.

Dyed boiled eggs & crayon drawings :)

{we gathered sticks on one of our evening walks, stuck them in a vase and decorated them with a packet of $2 foam eggs....simple, easy & kind of fun!}

Ella was a buzz of excitement on Saturday afternoon. She carefully drew pictures for the Easter Bunny & put a lot of thought into what she was going to leave out for him. She asked lots of questions about the famous Bunny, and I stumbled my way through some sufficient answers :)

She went to sleep that night a very excited yet content girl. That's something I really love about being a parent....seeing & feeling the magic & joy of life through the eyes of a child! It opens my memory up to wonderful flashbacks of my own childhood. Sometimes, having children around makes life seem even more worthy of celebration!

And at 4am, Ella crept into our bed and whispered "in the morning I have to show you the most amazing thing Mummy!!" ..... she had spotted the trail of shiny eggs on her way to our bedroom :) And just like that, she fell off to sleep again, snuggled between Mummy & Daddy...waiting for the sun to rise!

And, it did.....so the festivities began...

We haven't spoken a lot about 'Christianity' to our kids yet. It's been briefly talked over & I've attempted to make some simple explanations about God & Jesus & Church & beliefs! But for now, we're keeping their minds open. Open to choice. Open to their own beliefs & values. As parents, we will instill faith & a sense of doing what's right. I want my kids to be kind & honest & loving. I want them to be grateful & aware. I want them to believe in something....in life. But....when it comes to religion, I want them to follow their own instincts & beliefs. Some people may find that shocking that we're not driving our children down a 1-religion road....but to be honest, Chris & I are both still figuring out what & who we believe in....so who are we to force just 1 religion on our children? Christianity will probably be the main drive, but an open mind & an educated choice is what I'd rather present to my kids.

However, with that said.....as Easter & Christmas celebrations roll around, I do relay stories {Christian Stories} about these special days & why they are significant on the calendar. 

As a child, my Mum would take my Brothers & I to church. I liked it there. I enjoyed the safety of growing up with a Christian upbringing. But now....I'm grown and have the freedom to do & follow whatever I like....and I do believe in something.....but what? I don't know! While I figure it out....my church; is wherever my family is. Being surrounded by happiness & love & homely things is religion to me....

Nanny & Ella. Easter Sunday 2012.

Grandma & Ryder enjoying some snuggles.

Pa & Ella. Dancing on his feet.

'Aunty Mon' sharing the Easter Joy.

I regularly talk about traditions, and how I want to embed them into my parenting. Well, how's this for tradition....Chris's Nan has worn these exact Bunny Slippers for 24 Easters now!!!! Every Easter Sunday she whips them out & sports them all day. LOVE!

We hosted 'brunch' {basically a fancy way of saying come around for wine, food & fun mid-morning} on Easter Sunday. Surrounded by family & friends we celebrated Easter, we celebrated life & we simply enjoyed the little things in life. That makes me happy. And having the space to now accommodate guests & host such events makes me VERY happy.

Easter 2012 was lovely. And as it winds down and is done for another year, I can look back at these photos & smile. Remember & smile!

I hope your Easter was filled with things & people you love!

Now, to pack away the Easter crafting & decor and look forward to the next chance to celebrate :)

P.S. 15 days left to go into the draw to win an iPad3. Over here for details.

P.P.S. I'm also giving away a $50 iTunes Gift Voucher on my Facebook page if you spread the word about the iPad3 promo. Ends this Sunday night....QUICK!

P.P.S. The TEENAGE TO ME photo project will be wrapping up late next week. Have you entered?? If not, please do!

Easter....and My Big Girl.

I know Easter was last weekend, and thank you for bearing with me, whilst I am slow at the moment! Morning sickness is still lingering.....but I think {well....hope} that it maybe slowly creeping it's way out of my system! The last 2 days I've felt slightly (only slightly......but better than nothing) better!

It's Friday afternoon, I've been at work all day. For the last 3 months, I've come home from work & crashed on the couch with a spew bucket & some snacks :( But today.....I got home & wanted to (absolutely craved) uploading some Easter photos & blogging!!! YAY.....hopefully this is a sign of morning sickness LEAVING ME ALONE :) 

So.....How was your Easter?

Ours....perfecto! The 5 day weekend was BLISS! Oh my, how I wish every weekend could be 5 days long...if only! LOL! We had lazy days, busy days, choc-filled days, lunch with friends, lunch with family, early morning egg hunts & art n craft sessions :) It was nice! 

Mornings have still been my yuckiest time with the sickness.....so our little Miss has filled the time with lots of independent play & art n craft :)

{Finding goodies from the Easter Bunny early Sunday morning} {And Ella was super excited that the Easter Bunny had eaten the carrot she left him & taken her drawing!!}

{The first egg of the day!! YUMMY!}

The best thing about Easter is.... Chocolate for Breakfast :) 

I'm so proud of my little girl! My girl who somewhere over the last few months has gone from a 'toddler' to a 'kid'. A real 'kid'. She's now 3 & 3 months and I am LOVING this age! She's always been witty & smart.....but lately, she has me gobsmacked on a daily basis with her wisdom & spark! Her newest word which she uses in every sentence possible is: CERTAINLY. I smile everytime :) Me: What would you like for morning tea today Ella?" Ella: "Oh Mummy, I'd certainly most like a strawberry yoghurt, please. But certainly NOT a banana one, coz they're certainly gross" Haaa....the girl can justify with expression :)

She's had a growth spurt & her scrumptious chubby thighs & cheeks have slimmed down. I think it was this change to her little body that made me realise I have a kid! Not a baby or even a toddler.....but a KID! 

She's loving 'Peppa Pig' on her iPad at the moment.....I think we've watched every episode....several times now!

And her drawings.......they are starting to make sense! She's been drawing 'people' for a year or so now, but now they have bodies (not just legs stemming from their faces) and she draws whales & mice & pigs & flowers....that actually look like those things :) 

She insists on dressing herself each day. If it's not a dress or skirt, she doesn't want to know about it. She's more independent these days....and more stubborn.....so we often leave the house with her undies on back to front & inside out.....or 2 different leg warmers....because that's how she rolls....and no-one can tell her otherwise :) 

She's super excited about "HER BABY" that it's Mummy's tummy. She talks to my tummy & tells everyone that we're having a baby. I think she's going to make the perfect big sister!!!

It's funny how these changes in our children can stem so many emotions! I'm full of pride.....so much pride, that my girl is growing & learning & grasping the world around her & wanting to know more & taking it all in. But also sad.....sad that my baby is no more.....that she's a......KID!

As they say...time flies when you're having fun :) 

Oh Miss Ella....how I love thee! 

HAPPY WEEKENDING ALL!

P.S The 12 week Baby Scan was AMAZING! I will post pics of Bub & my massively growing belly next week! Until then, fingers crossed my sickness IS on the way out!!!