My kids are amazing 
They’re so creative, funny and confident and I have no idea where they get so many of their wacky ideas, but it keeps life fun and interesting!
Mitch’s latest achievement (and big news that you’d definitely hear if you were to visit us in person) is that he can ride his bike without training wheels! Not only is he proud of that fact, but he’s also proud of the fact that grandad couldn’t ride without training wheels til he was five and Mitchell’s only four. He’s spending heaps of time outside just zooming around and we’ve also had a few trips to the bike track so that he can practise his new found skill.
His latest buddy is the postman. Mitch’s taken to racing out the front to wait at the letter box when he hears the postie heading up the other side of the street so that he doesn’t miss him on his way back down. Last week he had several meetings with the postie, who seemed happy enough to stop and hear all about riding without training wheels and the fact that he’s a year ahead of grandad . Then one day Mitch raced out and it wasn’t long before I heard a beep, then Mitch returned again, empty handed. When I asked him about the mail he said “no, there wasn’t any mail, he just stopped and let me honk his horn!”
Amelia’s loving school. I’m so happy that we went with Sonlight, we are all enjoying it and the kids are learning so much and are so enthusiastic to start everyday! After a couple of weeks of schooling I asked Amelia if it was as fun as she had thought and hoped it might be, and her response was “Funner!”
She’s a sensitive little thing, and can get worried by things pretty easily, and often has bad dreams. I spend lots of time comforting and praying for her. I was in her room, just before bed the other night and said how I was glad she’s been sleeping better and having better dreams and she said “Well, I haven’t been having any dreams. Basically all my dreams are bad, so I like it when I don’t have any and can just relax all night without seeing horrible things in my eyelids.” Poor little chick. I love the way she verbalises things
And just one more thing…I was putting her to bed another night, and we’d done the whole night routine, she was clean, her teeth had been done, hair up, she’d had a drink, we’d done the daily before bed debrief, we’d said our prayers, and I was leaving the room when she said “excuse me mum”, and I mentally started checking off the list to try to work out what I had forgotten, when she said “I love how much you take care of us.” And my heart melted.
New Year, Fresh Start
Almost a whole month of 2013 has gone already. I think the time goes faster as I get older. But here I am, and I still (almost) remember how to blog.
This month has been a whirlwind of new schedules, ideas, renovations and preparations. We transformed our dark guest room into a light and airy school room. I’ve been prepping and organising my schedule ready to begin homeschooling in the next couple of weeks. My little girl who was a baby not so long ago has lost two teeth and is ready for kindy. Wow.
So far I’ve been successful in sticking with my New Years resolutions, although I’m not calling them resolutions, I’m scared of that term, as it sounds too committed. Mine are just ‘goals’ this year. I’m pretty sure they’re actually the same thing when it ones down to it but the word goals sounds better to me. Less of a failure if I don’t make it…
Anyway, I decided this year is going to be a more fit and healthy year for me. I’ve started a run training app and I’ve just completed my fourth week. I’m not loving the actuality of getting up early and pushing my body to it’s limit first thing in the morning but I can already see that I’ve improved and it’s exciting to be getting fitter and to be able to go further each week.
I’ve also started a bible in a year reading plan, which I’m actually loving. I chose a chronological one, and decided to do it over two years, but so far I’ve found it manageable enough to keep up with the one year plan. I’m using this app.
Apart from that I’ve been making lots of bread using this awesome recipe as well as lots of other scrummy things in the kitchen, and then, killing myself while I try not to eat them, because this is my healthy year!
Anyway, I think that’s our 2013 in a nutshell. I hope you are enjoying your new year and fresh start as I am!
Just because my kids crack me up.
A conversation I overheard yesterday:
M. Guess what Amelia?!
A. What?
M. No, you have to guess.
A. I can’t guess, I used up all my guesses yesterday, remember?
M. Well, I can’t tell ya.
A. Ohhh, alright then…Dad let you help push the lawn mower?
M. Nup.
A. You saw the dogs up close yesterday?
M. Nup.
A. You like the curly slide at the park?
M. No.
At this point I realised exactly why Amelia had used up her guesses yesterday and figured that this could go on all day so I offered some advice. ”Amelia has had three guesses already so when she gets to five if she hasn’t guessed, Mitchell has to tell.”
After two more failed attempts I heard.
A. Right, Mitchell, that’s five, now, tell!
And, so with great gusto he shouts: NIGHT ANIMALS!!!
A. Oh…
And…
My roses are blooming — happy happy.
Trying to think of a post title always makes my brain stop working.
First things first: Huge apologies for the disappearing post that went up and down all in the one day recently! A few people have asked me what happened…I was working on a large post (which I still have not got around to finishing) and thought I’d be really cool and do it on my iPad, with the wordpress app, and when I went to save it for later it published itself, so then I had to go and get it back and put it into drafts where it belongs.
Life here has been busy. Sam has now finished his first year of uni, so glad to have it over and also happy with how it went. We’re 25% of the way though the degree now, only three more of what we’ve been through, which to be honest went super quickly, and then we’re done! Do you like all the ‘we’s’ there? It feels like I’m doing a uni degree too :)
After Sam’s last exam we went away for a week. We spent a few nights in Port Macquarie with Sam’s parents, and while we were there, left the kiddies with Grandma and Grandad for a night and went and stayed in a cabin in South West Rocks, and, I don’t think they even missed us. At the end of the week we went to Sydney to stay with Meaghan and family, where Mum, Dad and Tain were also staying for the weekend, and had a grand ol’ time with everyone there before making an epic trip to Ikea and and then travelling home! It was a big and fun week. :)
I spent last week washing, washing, washing –ten loads in all– and then this week has been full of gardening, groceries, and the beginnings of more renovations! Today the carpet in the dining/lounge area was pulled up and we’re looking forward to getting all the gaps filled, sanding, finishing and having smooth timber floors.
The kids and I are flying to Qld on Monday to spend a week with the family up there, and we are so looking forward to it. I’m busting to meet little Seth!!!
Anyway, just a note to let you all know we’re still here, and I ended up rambling so I’ll go. Hopefully I’ll be in touch here again soon!
Photo by Sam.
