One Weekend Wonder {10} Early Nights

One Weekend Wonder - {a weekly link-up} - a special moment or experience captured during the weekend. One you want to cherish.

All photos are from the weekend - all taken on my iPhone through the Instagram app.

For the first time in a while, my good camera stayed in it's case, untouched for the entire weekend. It didn't get dragged along with us everywhere we went, and was not constantly turned on. It rested. And to be honest....so did we....

Saturday morning, I awoke still in my emotional funk from the night before. But routine called, so I abided. Breakfasts needed to be made and then cleaned up, ballet bags packed, Halloween costumes assembled {dressup day at dancing}, floors needed vacuuming etc etc.

I loaded the kids into the car and we headed to dancing 40mins early....so Ryder could nap in the car. A scoot through McDonald's drive-thru for a coffee for me, and a hashbrown for Ella slightly fixed my mood. Seeing Ella in her ladybug costume made me smile too. And Ryder waking in a happy mood definitely pepped me up.

Home again at midday. Chris suggested I head out & have a break. Something I've craved and needed so badly for a while now....and there it was...presented to me....no strings attached. He suggested I go shopping SOLO, or go have a coffee or massage. And do you know what? I didn't take him up on the offer. Crazy I know! But I was so tired and cranky and down. All I wanted was some lazy time at home with my 3 Loves! Who woulda thought???

The afternoon cruised on perfecrly thank goodness. Chris whipped up some awesome pizzas for an early dinner. He made the best dough - thank you to a YouTube tutorial :) Seriously Yummy!!

We were in bed at 8:30pm Saturday night! Yep! Eight Thirty!! Saturday nights rock around here these days :))))) We were both stuffed from a long week and too many sleepless nights!

Sunday was a fairly quiet lazy day at home. We had a business friend of Chris's stay over for the night from Sydney as they had a business meeting here all day today. I put together a pretty mean dinner, and Ella dazzled him with handmade presents and letters :) {Just what every successful business man wants I'm sure :) He came here baring expensive wine and left with pages and pages of 4 year old scribble! Lucky man I say!!!}

We needed a fairly low-key weekend. We needed to rest & recover. Some busy weekends are coming our way soon, so we're seeping in the quiet ones while they're here.

And a huge THANK YOU to the comments here and on my Facebook page on my last post. So relieving to know we're not alone with sleepless babies and the frustrating exhaustion that brings. THANK YOU!! The past 2 nights, he has co-slept with us. He's going to sleep in his own cot and then coming in with us at about 9:30pm. He then slept really well for the remainder of the night. Whatever works! Whatever.Works!!!!!!

How was your weekend?

Feel free to link up if you blogged about it.....

Have a great week all x

Seven Years.

Today, Chris & I celebrated seven years of marriage.

On September 10th 2005, we said "I do". We vowed to stick together through good times and bad, through sickness & health. Through everything.

And so far.....seven years on, we've stayed true to those vows.

Marriage is hard. Anyone who says it's easy - has either been married for about five minutes, or they're lying. Marriage, like any relationship, or any commitment; requires a lot of nurture, persistence & compromise. However, for the most part, being married to Chris is joyous, natural and fun. Most of the time it's easy, and just the way it should be. We laugh and accept and show each other our true selves.

For all the other times, when it's hard work - we have those vows to draw upon. Those promises we made to each other seven years ago. 

Our wedding day was perfect. Beautiful in every way possible. With our families & closest friends, we partied. It was a day of celebration. It was the close of many doors and past stories, and it was the opening of a bright, colourful future.

And when I reflect over how much, as a couple, we've grown & changed since that Spring day in 2005, I feel proud. Proud of us. We've overcome a lot. Pushed a lot of elephants up hills, repaired kicked guts & broken hearts and scraped over many a hurdle. We've come this far, and have only GOOD to show for it. With the unconditional support from our families, who have helped out mentally, physically and financially whenever we hit a low. We're very lucky!

Who knows what the future will bring us. Something I'm finally accepting, as I get older, is that we can't control everything. I can make dreams for the future and set goals. I can work hard towards it. I can steer my kids in the right direction and I can nurture my marriage with all my might, but at the end of the day, I'm not the one in control of what will happen tomorrow.....or in 10 years. I have to just take the ride. And enjoy it as it travels.

I remember watching a segment on A Current Affair a few years ago. It was a feature on an elderly couple who were celebrating their 70th Wedding Anniversary. SEVENTY.YEARS!!!! Ten times what Chris & I are celebrating today!!! Very cool. The feature had me in tears. And some advice that has stuck with me from that segment was..... The TV presenter asked them what their secret was to staying happily married for so long. The wife answered with this: "For starters, we made sure we never went to sleep until an argument or a frustration was nutted out. Never go to bed unhappy with each other. And secondly, we've been lucky to never be out of love with each at the same time! There will always be periods in a marriage where you just don't feel it - it's hard and repetitive. As long as you never feel that way at the same time, you should be right. You need to take turns at being the strong one holding it all together. And then like seasons, things shift and love returns. Just don't hit that low together too often."

It kind of reiteratied with me that marriage really is a union. A team effort. It's not about 'needing' the other person, it's about being together.

I love you Chris. Thank you for choosing me :)

{{ Since the moment I spotted you,
Like walking round with little wings on my shoes
My stomach's filled with the butterflies... and it's alright
Bouncing round from cloud to cloud
I got the feeling like I'm never going to come down
If I said I didn't like it then you know I'd lied. }}

So I'll say 'why don't you and I get together and take on the world and be together forever' {Nickelback/Santana Lyrics}

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Today, is also Nick's birthday. He would've been 34 years old today. This November marks the 10th anniversary since he was tragically taken from us. Happy Birthday Nick. I can feel heaven shaking from here, as you totally rock out your 34th Birthday!!!! I can only imagine the pain his parents feel on the day that represents him entering their world. And every year as we celebrate our marriage, we always acknowledge our special friend too!! RIP Buddy x

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USA Trip. Part 4. Kansas.

I was a tad bit excited about our 7 nights in Kansas :) And not just because this place intrigued me {to see where Dorothy lived lol} but because my big brother Spencer lives there with his wife Heidi & 3 kids, Cooper, Amelia & Imogen! With Spen being in the Australian Army, they move {a lot} and are currently doing a 3 year stint in the USA! There was so many things I was looking forward to for this week ahead..... Cousins playing together! Relaxing! Shopping! Enjoying summer! Being with family! and Seeing new places, meeting new people & experiencing new things :)

The trip from Canada to Kansas was broken into two legs.....with a pit stop in Detroit. {And good ole' me....heavily pregnant, lugging bags & strollers & a 3yr old; paced through the WHOLE length of the Detroit airport at full pace to make our next plane.....to then discover there was a monorail that could've got us there in a smidgen of the time....and with a lot less effort on my behalf haa!!} THEN.....The flight from Detroit to Kansas City was probably the most terryifing experience of my life! It was turbulent THE.WHOLE.WAY! Ella snoozed through it without a care in the world.....whilst I sweated up an anxious storm & said my final prayers & goodbyes...totally convinced this was my last day on Earth! NOT FUN!!!!

Yet.....we made it, safe n sound! And boy oh boy was I glad when that plane touched down & I was greeted by familiar faces in the airport :) 

Let me tell you....our week in Kansas was GOOD! It delivered :) 

{Ella was in all kinds of "happiness heaven".....cousins, summer, dress-ups, ice-cream....it all equalled FUN}

Spen & Co, live in the Army Base {which is basically a mini city...it was HUGE!}. And I really loved it there. Due to the nature of the place, it felt so safe & so 'neighbourly'. I instantly fell in love with the tree-lined streets, the enormity & character of the houses, the squirrels playing on the front lawn, the old yellow school buses, the drive-thru coffee shop.....everything here oozed 'American Goodness'. It felt so different from home, which was nice....that's the point of travel isn't it? To feel new feelings, to see new things, to make comparisons, to be a part of something different! Yet it also felt so familiar, with the comforts of being with family :)

{Above: Cooper & Ella}

This old Carousel museum was gold! The kids had a blast! I think they rode the thing about 6 times :) My cheeks hurt from smiling at them everytime they spun past me!

{Below: The gorgeous Miss Milly Moo}

I excitedly got to experience the magic of WALMART again here :) Kansas was AMAZING for shopping...and shopping up a storm I did :) Ella got a 'Tangled Rapunzel' dress & doll from Walmart for a tiny fraction of the price we would pay in Aus. And she hardly took the dress off all week :)

A big {Wizard Of Oz like} storm erupted one morning whilst we were out.....so we took cover in a quirky little place; "Homer's Diner" for Coffee & real apple pie. This little place ROCKED! It was full to the brim of Coca-Cola memorabilia. I felt like I was in a movie set.....with the colourful locals, and the warm lady/owner who constantly tops up your coffee cup the second it runs low & knows everyone on a first name 'buddy' basis. It was nice!

{Above: I told you...it was my kind of place!! Meant for me! lol}

Even though we were missing 'carnival time' {The Brisbane EKKA & The Ormeau Fair} we were able to experience a 'real' local country fair one Sunday morning in Kansas! It was a hot HOT day & it didn't go exactly to plan, because when we got there, we discovered it was the last day & all the rides were shut down & being packed up :( But....the kids seemed happy enough with ice-creams & balloons and watching the dog show, animal displays & turtle races....yes...you read that correctly....turtle races :) Cool!

And I was super happy with; a REAL Lemonade stand {something totally 'american' in my books!} and delicious ribs hot off the BBQ!!

We ventured through the grounds for a while...wrestling 5 kids & annoying helium balloons {picture a windy day, long string balloons, 5 kids....lots of tangles lol} It was fun though!!

Then we got to tag along to a little girl's birthday party! Ella was in BLISS....a carnival & a party all in one day!

In between shopping trips, carnivals, parties & day trips out and about. We also enjoyed quality time with family & the little things in life.....like sidewalk chalk drawing in dressups:

And an awesome garden tyre swing {horse shaped}:

And enjoying summer with afternoon snacks on the front porch, with cousins {and underwear lol}:

And, Spencer's new toy arrived while we were there :) They will be having lots of water summer fun with this new beast:

We spent one of the days cruising the amazing shops at Legends. I bought so many bargains that day :) I completely stocked up on summer baby clothes, clothes for Ella, bags & purses for me & running gear & clothing for Chris. I was shocked at how overcharged we are here in Australia. Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Converse, Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, Osh Kosh, Calvin Klein & Guess....So So So much cheaper than here! So...what's a girl to do? SHOP SHOP SHOP :)

And, while at Legends, we had lunch at the most amazing place...EVER! The Dinosaur Cafe!

The most magical, animated & terrifying place....EVER :)

Ella went from super excited & in awe.....

To absolutely TERRIFIED :) Lucky she had her cousin Milly to look after her:

These photos make me melt!! Two sweet girls....loving each other!

One of the hardest thing about living on the other side of the world from both my brothers, is that our kids don't get to see each other as much as I'd like! Cousin sleepovers & hangouts are a rare thing, so when we get the chance to see each other & be together...WE DO! And on our 2nd last night in Kansas, Ella had a sleepover downstairs in Cooper's room :) Whilst Spencer & I went out to a Baseball Game....New York Yankies vs Kansas City Royals :) Another awesome experience for me....to tick off the list :)

Yes, complete with the giant finger & a pretzel :) FUN NIGHT!!!!!!!

I can't really pick just one favourite moment of our stay in Kansas, because I loved every minute there! It was the perfect balance of relaxation & busy-ness, out & about and home, rest & play....and lots of giggles & love between kids! That makes me happy!

Cooper, Ella, Imogen & Milly 2011!! Grab some Cousin Love, add some dressups & throw in a Kansas Summer & you get a sweet bunch of memories! Happy times!! And memories that I'm sure Ella has stored away in her book of life...to one day reflect on & cherish :)

Part 5 {the final part} of our trip will be posted up soon! Los Angeles....HOLLYWOOD baby!

Peace Out :)

Cousins Catch Up. {week-a-boo}

With both my Brothers living overseas, we only get to see them & their wives & kids every now & then.....every few months if we're lucky! That's why Christmas last year was such a big deal....having the whole family together at once :) One of the reasons Ella & I are heading off to the USA next week, is to visit one of my brothers & his 'gang' :) 

However, this last weekend, we were able to catch up with my other Brother's wife & their 2 gorgeous kids! They were passing through Australia on their way home from a big USA trip too!!

Ella loves any excuse to be outside, to explore a park, to play with other kids & to enjoy the seaside.....but doing this whilst catching up with cousins.....was definitely the highlight of her {and mine} weekend!

So, after Saturday morning's dance classes, we headed down the coast to meet them at one of our favourite places for an afternoon of fish n chips in the park & plenty of play :)

Hunter is now 5, Jayla is almost 3 & Ella is 3.5 years old. They got on like a house on fire.....hugs from the start & off they went arm in arm to explore & play :) 

I have a lot of memories of spending time with my cousins as a kid....and I hope Ella grows up with that same fondness & recognition of extended family closeness. 

Already at 3, Ella has three gorgeous girl cousins living just 20minutes from us {Ava, Elina & Lily}. Hunter & Jayla currently live in the Solomon Islands & Cooper, Amelia & Imogen over in Kansas! I love our growing family and the fact that we get to enjoy lovely catch ups & time spent together.....

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses."  {~Joyce Brothers~}

Library Days.

On Monday, after a busy weekend, I decided Ella & I would have an 'at home' day together! For the past few weeks, our Mondays & Tuesdays {my days off work} have been consumed with lots of errands to run & things to do, such as passport applications to fill out & process, banking, grocery shopping, post office trips, play-dates, dance lessons etc :) 

However, my plans changed when Chris rung & asked if I could do some banking for him. So....we ended up at the bank....then the shops.....then Ella's request: the library :)

I love spending time with my girl in our local library!

Being a teacher, I am always surrounded by children's books & I love it! And I want Ella to have that LOVE!

Long before I was a Mother, I would try to picture what motherhood would be like & the sort of things I would do with my children! There were several things that excited me about becoming a mother of a baby/toddler/child.....and one of them was; the thought of bringing my child up in an environment that involved a lot of literature, imagination & information....via books! I promised myself that my children would be brought up in a world where reading would be a 'normal' part of our days!

I have many wonderful memories of my Mother reading bedtime stories to me......I still remember the character voices she used when reading me Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree or JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit! I can still remember my Grandma & Grandad taking me to the library after pre-school when I was 5 yrs old & helping me pick out my own books. I can remember winning a hardbound edition of Oliver Twist and The Wind & The Willows as my 'Dux of 1st Grade' prize at the age of 6 {and they now take place on Ella's bookshelf, awaiting the day she's old enough to read & enjoy them!} And I still vividly remember the connection I felt to characters whenever I got lost in the fictional world of stories......hey I even asked my Mum to sew me a pinafore dress just like 'Dorothy from Oz' at the age of 7 and I was convinced a Big Friendly Giant would wisp me out of my window & off to the land of dreams along with Sophie. I truly thought I was part of the Swiss Family Robinson crew & I cried at the end of Matilda, because I didn't want the story to end! And none of these memories or connections were made through watching the movies......they were all from reading & being read to, as a child! 

And I want that for my children! I want them to be able to immerse themselves in a fictional world & enjoy a balance of what's real & what's not! I want them to know how to read at a young age & not only use reading as a 'survival technique' in this 'tech-savvy-information-overload-literacy' world that we live in, but as a way to learn more about people around them....more about the world around them. 

And so everyday of Ella's life, we have exposed her to books. Without force or agony from her, books have become a huge part of her world! She finds humour in them, emotion in them, answers in them. She makes links & connections with them. She predicts and imitates and truly immerses herself in the wonderful world of literacy! And that makes me one proud Mumma!

And Monday afternoons, spent at the library with my girl is so good for my Soul! She's happy......which makes me happy! Win Win! {especially when a Gloria Jean's Hot Chocolate is involved}

{Yep.....that purple BLOB in the bottom of the photo.....is my BIG PREGNANT BELLY.....and I love it!}

A lady I work with, has 2 teenage children, and she told me she still mourns the days when her children were young & they would spend MANY a lazy day browsing books at the library or in the book department of Myer :) She told me to cherish these days with Ella.......and so I do :)

Happy Friday Folks! Have a magical weekend!

Holiday.....HOME.....Holiday

Why Hello there :) And HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We got back from our holiday on Wednesday, and I've sat down to type this post several times....but ended up hitting the 'cancel' button & walking away! Not because I didn't want to write about it......but because I have millions of words going through my heads about the amazing week we had, the Christmas we celebrated & the love I felt and I've struggled to get all those thoughts out & onto the screen!So, I think it's best I keep the writing brief & the photos will trigger my memories for many years to come!

My family are scattered around the world! I am the youngest of 3 children, and the only one of the 3 still based in Australia! So, we've recently made an effort that every 2 years, we all come together as a family over the Christmas break!

And here we are:

{My Mum, Dad, 2 Brothers, My Paternal Grandfather....and ME!}

Our week together was amazing! With 8 adults & 6 children {all under 5yrs} vacationing in 1 house, it had it's noise, it's chaos, it's excitement, it's drama, it's tears, it's moments.....but it also brought us laughs {oh so many laughs}, children playing, proud-Mummy moments, proud-Aunty moments,  way too much food, way too much drink, presents, hugs, sing-a-long night, late night conversations, early morning chats over coffee & memories to cherish! My heart felt good being surrounded by the people that brought me into this world & the people who grew up in this world with me! I felt loved & supported & safe.....and I enjoyed watching my little girl feeling that way too!

The week looked a little something like this:

And although, I teared up when saying goodbye to my family as we all set off on Wednesday morning, I also enjoyed the magic of coming home, with new toys & gifts in hand & finding a new home for them all :)

And....still....as I'm about to press....SAVE & CLOSE.... I have a heap more words streaming through my head right now and a million better ways to describe the week we had.....but these few photos trigger enough memories to make me smile...to make me think....to make me analyse.....to make me wonder and make me feel :)

Christmas is over.....we've even pulled down the tree & packed it away safely for the next silly season! And that makes me sad.....but it also makes me oh so excited about the possibilities a new year brings, new adventures waiting to be embarked, new friends to be made & new lessons to learn!

How was your Christmas?

P.S. Sorry....no week-a-boo this week! I'll be back into next weekend! I'm still in slow-holiday mode & seeping it for everything it's worth :) We're heading off tomorrow for another beach getaway up North....just Chris, Ella & I. And I am so so SO excited about this! We are in need of some quality US time....family time!!!! 2 holidays in 1 month....yikes, all my Christmases have come at once :)