16/52 - hooray, hooray, it's school holidays!

Lily

Many years ago, a lovely friend of mine gifted me this gorgeous little book featuring people in great art works, generally 15-18th century paintings by European artists. 

I casually placed it on Lily's bookshelf a couple years ago, with the cheeky high hope that in the midst of hundreds of children's books she might be drawn to the artistry within. Little did I know that she would discover it and fall in love. Without a word from me about it being anything different or special, she treats this book with such reverence. She pours through the pages, examining the paintings. She tells me often that she loves it, repeatedly adding that it is her favourite book. We sometimes sit and examine the pictures together, and she asks me to tell her the artist's names and read the complimentary poetry. We dissect and discuss what the scene might be about. 

As an art lover (though not art expert!), this warms my heart and I must admit, amazes me! It is a beautiful thing to see a child so naturally drawn to fine art from centuries past. And yes, it feels a little surreal to be discussing 16th century Dutch painting technique with a five year old too ;)

One of her favourite images - Madame de Pompadour by Drouis (1763)

Eli

Swinging through the Autumn sunshine... 

Miles

At the park on an extended playdate, Miles needed somewhere to hang out while I was pushing Eli on the swing - somewhere he couldn't also consume his body weight in tanbark!

Then I spied this shopping trolley sitting all lonely near by... and yes, yes, I did let him chill out in there. He loved roaming around and exploring this bizarre metal structure. I mean, a portable grated playpen, what's not to love?! ;)

Yeah, yeah, we are all class in this family, ha!

Mark

Hard at work in his man-cave, aka home office, aka future-walk-in-wardrobe ;)

Project 52: A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2014.

More highlights from the week that was...

At last, at last, our chickens have started laying eggs!!! My murmured threats about KFC must have started to
sink in, haha ;) We all screamed with excitement when we discovered the first egg, frying it up that night for one precious and delicious bite each. We declared it the yummiest thing ever - and are enjoying seeing them now
arrive day by day. Having chookies is so much fun :)

They had a much anticipated school holiday 'sleep over' and actually fell asleep all snuggled up together. Pretty sure
that's the first time ever they have fallen asleep like this? Cue the 'awwwww'.

Quiet mornings, painting in pyjamas... these are the cosy home days we love! 

This holiday break seems to be an important time for reconnection for Lily. On the first day of school holidays, Lily hugged me hard and told me 'I love you, Mummy, I just love you so much' at least a dozen times that day. Over and over!! At first I was bemused (though appreciative of course) but then I realised... she had been so immersed in this new 'school world'. Now it was holidays and she was emerging, ready and needing to reconnect with me and the family, it seemed. We are ready to do the same! I am realising how vital these school holidays are. Thankful for quiet days of refreshment and reconnection. 

Eli wanted to paint a teapot after seeing a teapot painting on Playschool. He
asked me to paint one for him because 'he didn't know how to do it'. I suggested
instead that I get out a real teapot so we could work out the shapes together.

He examined the teapot and we identified spout, body, lid and handle and
he carefully painted each element. At the end he surveyed his work and was very
pleased except he noted 'Oh no, I didn't put them all together!' Bless his heart!!
We decided he could work on that next time, now he knew all the parts.
So adorable. Well done, buddy!

  

Oh E. Got tight ownership of the container and stuffing his face full of crackers! Mr Personality ;)

I won't even tell you how long he spent setting up all his 'friends' so they could watch Playschool with him. Yes, he made sure they could all see the TV. This boy is such a sweetie, he just slays me.

Experiencing the fresh egg, so smooth and warm!