25/52 - Zooventure!

We were lucky enough to attend a birthday party for some dear little friends of ours last week... at the Zoo! It also included a special guided tour by a Zookeeper to meet and even feed some of the animals! The kids were so excited... and I was glad to have kids to use as a gateway to meeting the animals too :) To make the most of this rare Zoo visit, we stuck around after the party and racked up a six hour stay! It was such a lovely day with our little clan and our friends - relaxed, fun, exciting and surprisingly sunny too! Animals are cool :)

Lily

Oh yes, my four year old is just feeding a tiger some raw meat. No big deal, huh?!

She was super brave and super loving it!

Eli 

A brave little Eli took his Emu feeding task very seriously indeed!

(I can't stand Emus, as I grew up on a small farm and when I had to 'go get the cows' from the bottom paddock after school each day, the Emus on the farm would chase me. Terrifying for 8 year old me! I did my best not to pass my phobia on to the kids but I did give the Emu 'the old side eye' when it came to close to me!)

Miles

He was enthralled with all the animals. Ha!

But in all seriousness, my chilled out Little Mister happily cruised around the Zoo for six hours without complaint. He amazes me how he just happily rolls along with busy family life, getting toted here and there. I try to prioritise his sleep and rest needs as much as I can but with the reality of day to day life, I am grateful he can be so happily flexible - we love having him be part of the family fun!

Project 52: A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2013.

More highlights from the week that was...

Lined up and listening to the Zookeeper's instruction before the
fun  begins!

'Did you see me, Mummy?!'
Hand feeding an Emu... she was loving it!

Emu was pecking so quick, can't believe I managed to capture him!

Eli fed a kangaroo some grass.... very cautiously. Then he gamely touched his ears. Getting away with that, he
tried touching his foot and Mr Roo quickly jolted his foot away. Lesson learned, Eli walked away, accidentally treading
on poor Roo's tail!! Thankfully Eli did not get the swift kick that he certainly could have!! Just glad this kid survived the day all around, haha.

The highlight of my day - feeding the giraffes!

The under 4's needed an adult to assist them feeding the giraffes... I looove these beautiful creatures and was so glad to use Eli as a gateway to get up close myself, haha! Aren't they just so beautiful. With very long tongues!

Ha, Eli really made him streeeetch!

Got it!!

Getting to know a snake.

'I did it!!!!'

My wonderful friend who hosted the party organised a delicious lunch
and a bunch of classic party games for everyone. So hilarious seeing
everyone getting involved, especially in Pinata-whacking!

The classic Sack Race. First the dads raced, then the mums (I was involved in
a big Mum-pile-up and almost died laughing), then the big kids and finally
the littlies. Eli finally put his 'bouncing like a pogo stick' energy in every day life
to use and was jumping around like a mad thing. Too cute!

Boy and Bear

Two Lion Buddies. These guys really made me smile - cute and majestic at the same time.

Battle of the Sexes: Lily and her buddy Edmund wrestle it out.

After seeing our clever percussionist friend Bree on Playschool all week, Lily told us she had set up a 'real' band in her room w 'real instruments for everyone'. We discovered she had made this makeshift xylophone (or marimba?) inspired by Bree and had instruments for everyone in the family - clicking hairclips, tapping wooden coat hangers, etc!! She insisted we sing a 'grown up song' and for some reason Mark could only think of Meatloaf's 'I would do anything for love' (!!) so thats how we formed a family percussion band bashing away on our instruments and singing like crazy! We are a strange bunch, I realise.

Crayon drumsticks for her very own percussion band!

The heavens declare the glory of the Lord!

24/52 - Bunk Buddies // Changing Rooms // Grandpa's French Toast

It was a busy milestone-filled kind of long weekend around here. Not only did my Dad and his lovely wife come to visit us, but they provided a good incentive to get the new bedroom arrangements sorted out to free up the guest room Miles has been occupying. After a zillion hours (more or less) of online research, we finally ordered a bunk bed for Lily and Eli. So, our busy weekend of fun with the Grandparents also contained bedroom shuffling and associated tasks!

Miles moved from the guest room to Eli's old room (and into the cot!), and Eli moved into a bunk bed with Lily. We assembled the bunks, and ripped out, re-structured and repainted the wardrobes to more efficiently store all the kid's clothes. The house was littered with kid's toys and clothes while everything got sorted and shifted. It is the dawning of a new little era in our home!

The big kids were beyond excited to be sharing a room... and yes, much giggling and chatting was had at bedtime! These two are already so delightfully close, but room-sharing is cementing their sweet bond even further. I love to overhear their precious and hilarious little conversations in the dark (I've secretly left my iPhone voice-recording in the room a few times for posterity). They also love gleefully presenting themselves at my bedside in the morning when their toddler alarm clock lights up!  They seem more of a 'duo' than ever now. I know they will store up a treasure trove of memories from these days of room-sharing.

Lily

Proud and pleased to be on the top bunk! 

We thought she may have been nervous, especially using the ladder, but she scampers up and down skillfully, carefully and confidently. Well done, my darling.

She loves her cosy little top-nest :) 

Thankfully, the bunk is sturdy enough for me to clamber up for night time cuddles and chats... not sure if I am always going to be nimble and energetic enough though?!

Eli 

Proud to be in his Big Boy Bed, he was thrilled to 'gift' his cot to his little brother, Baby Miles. 

Eli had a massive transition, not only moving into a bed, but also a bunk bed and sharing a room with his sister! 

Being Eli, he of course had to check the placement of every boundary around this new arrangement! The first night of 'freedom', he was in and out of bed like a yo-yo, coming out to make all kinds of requests, trying on his gumboots at 9pm (!!), and chatting and giggling with Lily till all hours... to the point where she was asking him to be quiet so she could get to sleep! He was just so.so.so excited.

A few strategies have been employed to keep him in his bed after a set grace-period, and thankfully he is calming down now! No doubt there will be further (mis)adventures in the future as he learns to cope with his new found freedom but all in all, he is doing well. 

He is such a grown up boy now, that is for sure. My little man, it is so good to see you take this leap and relishing this milestone! 

Miles

'Are you leaving me here in this Baby Jail, Mummy?!'

Haha - seriously, he loves being in the cot and it's great he now has space to wriggle around to his heart's content... though it's disconcerting to see him scootch from one end of the cot to the other!

It is so good having him set up in his own room - at last! 

 Project 52: A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2013.

More highlights from the week that was...

'Now I can really streeeetch out!'

Love that furrowed little brow!

Mark and Grandpa setting up the bunk - with assistance from Handyman Eli

In my father's hands, he gnaws his own little mitts!

Her favorite vantage point.

We had so much fun shopping together for new cosy flannelette sheets and doona covers for their shared room.
You can't quite see but the doona covers are pink/blue versions of the same stripe and spot. Too cute!

When we were little, whenever Dad cooked, it was French Toast. I like to tease that it was all he could cook, haha.
 I have such sweet memories of us girls lined up in front of dishes of mixture, dipping and flipping!  Dad introduced my kids to the wonders of the dish and it was pretty darn adorable to see them in the kitchen together. :)

Grandpa explains the finer points of French Toast flipping to an enraptured and inquisitive Grandson

'So, you're saying it's all in the wrist?'

'Let me just check if the milk/egg ratio is correct'

She's got the writing bug... 

*melt* 

Eli 'gently' introducing Miles to the wonders of the iPad, while I scream in horror.
Grandpa brings all the technology to town!!

Playing hairdressers with Grandma and having the time of her life!

Making yummy healthy Bliss Balls with the kids for a snack, thanks to Amber for the recipe and tips!

23/52 - spreading ourselves thickly // winter upon us

Lily 

'It's real ice, Mummy. It's really real ice and I found it outside!' she squealed.

You know winter is here when the kids run into the backyard in the morning and find slivers of ice from the water pooled on the backyard play equipment. Brrrrrr.

Eli 

'You don't want this chocolate biscuit back, do you?'

Miles

All rugged up in his cosy winter coat.

Darling third child, in case you ever feel like all you get is hand-me-downs... and yes, this will likely be mostly the case... let the record (blog) show that I did buy you this brand new warm little jacket to get you through this winter of chilly school drop offs and pick ups! I shall try to set it aside for you as evidence when you're grown,  in case you feel hard done by! :) xx Mum

Project 52: A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2013.

More highlights from the week that was...

We have hit a new groove for our family lately. Life has settled down into a sweet, slower, relaxed pace. We are spreading ourselves more thickly - doing less, but getting more out of it. Spending our time with intention rather than scattered, hectic activity. Ironically, the relentless busy-ness of life with young children forces us to slow down but also gives us more energy and purpose in doing what really matters to us. I want to appreciate this season for what it is, and the gifts and lessons that God brings with it.

Several things we have long prayed for and worked towards for our family and faith have met us in this place... and so a feeling of peace and contentment pervades my days. Of course, there are still ups and downs and grumps and dramas as real life tends to contain. But overall? We know we are in the right place and space for our family. Blessed to be able to savour this season, and determined to be conscious and generous with our bounty.

Yup, he knows the right way to eat a chocolate-based biscuit!

Deliciously soft and cosy alpaca wool booties... a sweet gift perfect for these little feet.
By the way, despite this shot looking so calm and restful, don't be fooled!
These little feet pump up and down like pistons and it took a zillion shots to get this one!

The day long begged, pleaded and cajoled for arrived. I allowed her to do the
'stand up hold' that she assured me she's been practising with her dolls.
Oh darling girl, looks like it was worth the wait! And no dropping, phew!

Yes, his hair is out of this world :) And it always sticks up.

Blissed-Out Mini-Mama xx

Love. Love. Love.

22/52 - a foggy day in canberra town

Lily

* Little Purple Riding Hood *

My sweet girl off to church (instead of Grandma's house)... on a very misty morning.

Eli

My little ray of sunshine on a cloudy  foggy day. 

(Perfectly cosy in his lovely woolley jumper handed down from his buddy, Finn).

Miles

Lily said today, 'Oh Miles, you're just so enchanting!'

I can only agree. We are positively bewitched by this little pixie!

Here he is looking extra jaunty in this delicious little knit bonnet... perfect for keeping those tiny ears warm over these winter months.

Project 52: A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2013. 

More highlights from the week that was...

Little Purple Riding Hood (and Catty) inspect a Rose Hip.

Little quiff

Retro Baby

Cannot get enough of 'Baby in Bonnet'. Sorry for the image overload!

When Mark came home from work, the kids were hanging out under the kitchen counter. 'Dere's plenty room for you, Daddy!' Eli sweetly proclaimed. With an invite like that, who could resist (even in his suit)?!

E delivers some mail to Daddy in the bedroom and anxiously awaits a reply.

Rainy days go hand-in-hand with indoor cubbies.

Kicking back in the winter sunshine while Mummy gets ready to go out.