Celebrating Life DISNEY style.

Wow, we're in July already!! Can you believe it? We're half way through the year already! It's winter....but some days, you just wouldn't know it here.....coz we still get to enjoy fun in the sun & ice cream:

Just a couple of months ago, I was struggling so miserably with all-day morning-sickness, and although I'm not one to wish my life away....I was sure as hell wishing away those months & holding on to hope that the sickness would relieve & life would return to some sort of normalcy & a beautiful baby would greet us at the end of it all :) And...now...it's July! I'm 23weeks pregnant!! I have my energy & a zest for life again. My bubba is growing nicely, our trip is just 4 weeks away & the school holidays have been GREAT! 

Chris celebrated his birthday last Tuesday! We went out on Sunday night with family & friends to commemorate his special day, and then stayed home for some family time on his actual special day! Ella & I made his favourite dinner, baked him a chocolate mud cake {even though he doesn't even like cake....let alone chocolate cake lol}, decorated the house with balloons & set the table ready for a party for 3. It was nice! Ella loves LIFE! Like most toddler, she embraces life for all it's grace & glory & lives it 100%! She loves to celebrate & the girl loves to PARTY! So, as we celebrated Chris's 37th year of life, I smiled & cherished all that we have at this moment! I'm so very grateful! 

On Friday, my Mum took Ella & I to Disney On Ice! IT.WAS.AWESOME!! I've been to a Disney On Ice once before when I was about 13yrs old with some friends & I also saw Cinderella on Ice a few years ago. But this one was PURE MAGIC! I don't know if it was the pregnancy hormones or because I'm weakening in my old age or if it's because I see the world in a whole new light now.....but the show was so entertaining & I even shed a tear....a happy tear of course!

{Above: My Mum & Ella: aka Tinkerbell, walking into the Centre}

{Above: My girl & I waiting for the show to begin!}

{Above: Mum & Ella....and one of Ella's scores for the day: a $30 Princess Light Wand! Total rip off....but hey, how often do we get to be Tinkerbell at Disney On Ice?}

Ella was in complete awe the whole time! She clapped & cheered & was screaming out at the top of her lungs "Just kiss her" to the prince in the Little Mermaid :) She loved it! And so did Mum & I :)

Today, Monday, Kirsty & I packed 3 kids, 3 esky bags, 2 nappy bags, a stroller, several grocery bags & the NavMan into her car & the 5 of us headed into the Northside of town to meet our lovely friend Kim & her 2 kidlets! It was the first time we went to this park....and Oh.My.Goodness. we'll be back!! It was so cool! The kids had an absolute blast! Four hours later, we re-packed the car, however this time with empty eskies & VERY dirty yet VERY content kids back into the car & headed home! IT WAS FUN!! One of those perfect days really!

{Sophie, Jet & Ella}

These three have been friends since babyhood. Ella was 6 weeks old, when I nervously stepped foot into the local health centre & joined a New Mother's Group! One of the best decisions I ever made....coz Ella has lifetime friends from it...and so do I :) 

And below: This is one of their first park play dates back in 2008 when these kindred little souls, were just getting to know each other :)

{Ella, Jet & Sophie in 2008!}

And now in mid 2011, that 3 has grown to 5....and later this year I can't wait to see our little man in his pram, making it 6, amongst this crew :)

It's been a great week!

School holidays ROCK....even if it's only teachers & kids who agree with me lol! I love being off work with my little lady! We've been busy enjoying life, seeping it all in & I couldn't be happier! We've baked & played & rekindled friendships & slept in {well....kind of}, we've laughed & loved & everything else in between! I wonder what this week will bring? 

A Whole Lotta Love.

Excuse the dodgey photo.....I snapped it on my iPhone early this morning whilst marking some school books.

I teach Grade 3. And lately, we've been learning how to write letters. We've started to move from personal letters to persuasive letters. One of their first writing tasks last week was to write a letter to anyone they knew, telling them something special. I prompted them to write from the heart & to write to someone who they felt very comfortable with. Some wrote to their best friends, some to their Grandparents, some to their next door neighbour....hey, 1 boy wrote a letter to his Apple....apologising for eating him...haaa love it! But this one caught my attention..... This girl wrote to her Mum.  This letter made me smile...it made my day:

"Dear Mum,  I love you so much, you don't even know. You are a sweet and very loving Mum. You make sure everyday that we do our jobs, first thing in the morning. At night time, you cuddle us so cutely, that I can't stop saying "I Love you so much Mum". I love you Mum. Sometimes you tell us stories or stories about us when we were little, I love it. We do chores when you don't ask, you love it. When I was little you use to dance to music with me {just like Dad used to}. I still have the photos from when I was little. I love you."

WOW!!! I can only hope, Ella cherishes the love I have for her & the love she has for me, when she's prompted to write from the heart & to express emotion!

Sweet hey!!?

Best parts of my job :)

Have a gorgeous Thursday!

At My House.....{Fairies in the yard}

I had to work today.....PUPIL FREE DAY! So my usual Monday routine with my little girl was a miss.....however, she still had the most amazing day!! Her Grampy {my Dad} did his first solo babysitting gig because my Mum {being a teacher too} had to work half of today as well!! Ella & Grampy had a wonderful day together.....a walk to the park, outside play, inside play {which consists of A LOT OF role play.....Ella's latest fave thing to do!} and a trip to the local Strawberry Farm!!!! She was one very happy, content little girl when I got home!!

The best thing about working student-free days is, I was home today by 2pm so we still managed to fill an afternoon with PLENTY of adventure & fun :)

There was pirate playing!

There were fairies in our yard :) And yes....she came with me to the post office this evening...dressed like this, wings, gumboots, wand & all :)

There was time for dandelion wishes!! {we always make time for that!}

And with the weather this glorious, we ate dinner outside & admired the sunsetting over the back fence:

What has been happening at your house lately?

Visit Lou's place to have a peek into other people's houses!

Lunch Box LOVE........

As a child {and even as a teenager}, my Mother would hide little handwritten notes in my lunch box! It wasn't a scheduled thing so I never knew when to expect it....it was always a surprise....and I loved it! And even when I would make my own lunch...she'd still find a way to sneak it in there...or into my school bag!

They were just a little piece of paper with a simple message or sketch...to let me know she loves me, that she's proud of me, that she's thinking of me, to wish me luck on the test or just to brighten my day!!

That little tradition always made me smile....and it definitely brightened my day!

It was that special little thing my Mum did that gave me the inspiration for these:

A set of 8 Lunch Box Notes to leave in your little one's lunch box or school bag to BRIGHTEN their day!

Designed, printed & made by me....and available for purchase from my madeit store ~ Scissors Paper Rock! Or email me [scissorspaperrock {at} gmail.com] to place an order!

Only $5.00 {plus postage}

Head here to BUY THEM!!

I plan of leaving cute little love notes in my little one's lunch box when she's school aged...and I'd love for you to participate in the tradition too!

ENJOY!!

My 100 Favourite Songs Of All Time....{Part 1}

MUSIC is a massive part of my life! It always has been.....from learning the Violin as a child to singing in the choir and then dance taking up most of my teenage years with travel, performances & musicals!!

My Dad is a talented guitar player, song writer, sound engineer and singer! He wrote a hit song back in the early 80's {Gypsy Girl} that held a record for being in the number 1 spot on the charts for the longest period of time! Still today he is writing kid's songs & musicals with my Mum and 1 of the lead roles in Forever Everly....an Everly Brother's Tribute Band :)

{image from here}

Songs play a massive role in my life....I can't imagine a life without music and that's why I'm grateful everyday for my hearing!

I decided to make a list of my 100 all-time favourite songs!!! I won't swamp you with 100 now....so here's part 1:

1. Drops of Jupiter ~ Train
2. Breathe ~ George
3. You Give Me Something ~ Jamiroquai
4. Bubbly ~ Colbie Collait
5. At Last ~ Ella Fitzgerald
6. Why Don't You & I ~ Santana featuring Nickleback
7. Chasing Cars ~ Snow Patrol
8. Suddenly I See ~ KT Tunstall
9. Isn't She Lovely ~ Stevie Wonder
10. Ordinary Miracle ~ Sarah McLachlan
11. Dammit ~ Blink 182
12. You Give Me Something ~ James Morrison
13. No Such Thing ~ John Mayer
14. These Words ~ Natasha Beddingfield
15. Man In The Mirror ~ Michael Jackson
16. So Beauitful ~ Darren Hayes
17. Let It Be ~ Beatles
18. Adiemus ~ Enya
19. Porcelain ~ Moby
20. I Gotta Feeling ~ Black Eyed Peas

What music tickles your fancy?

I love a bit of anything and everything really!

To my Mum.....

Today is Mother's Day! It's my 3rd Mother's Day as a Mummy....wow....time flies when you're having fun :)

I wanted to wish all of the Mothers & Grandmothers a wonderful, relaxing, love-filled day!!

As Mother's Day approached this year, I thought a lot about what I love most about being a Mum....but mainly what I love most about being a daughter & what I'm thankful to my Mum for! I wasn't sure how to put all of those thoughts into writing, until I read fat mum slim's post about what she's gained from her Mother's love and her fairly new role as a Mother herself! She was able to sum it all up perfectly in 1 short post :) However....my problem is....once I start writing, I struggle to stop! I always plan to write a brief post....and then 6 paragraphs later I wrap it up hehehe :)

But....with my inspiration from Chantelle, I'm going to sum up all of my feelings & thoughts into just 1 list:

To My Wonderful Mum.....I'm thankful to you for:

• Your nightly phone calls to say Hi and to chat about everything happening in our busy lives
• Your positive, optimistic & sunny outlook on life! You've taught me that it isn't always greener on the other side!
• Being such an amazing role model....even with 3 children - you worked fulltime, kept a perfectly clean & routined household and still found the time to teach us, guide us and love us! We are so lucky to have you as our Mother!
• You taught me to be grateful of all the wonderful things in my life and that family, love & happiness are more important than ANY materialistic items
• You showed me patience & calmness...even through the stressful times
• You embedded in me a belief that I'm special, a good person & deserve happiness 
• Your fortnightly playdates with Ella....she loves playing & creating with her Grandma
• Your unconditional love & close relationship with Dad has modelled to me what a marriage should be and what really matters in this crazy world we live in!
• Making me want to be the best Mother possible to my own daughter
• All your support, love & guidance through those cloudy parts of life

Thank you Mum! I love You!!

My Mum, Ella & I!

Have a lovely day everyone! What is everyone up to today?