37.52 the classroom bear

Is there any pressure quite like the implicit pressure when your child suddenly brings home the precious classroom bear for a 'visit'????

Thankfully, he was returned to school, unharmed, with all his little accoutrements too.

Frankly, it's a miracle!!

PS Plus, very cute and sweet to see Miles excitement and pride of course. But still.... pressure!

Project 52: A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2017.

36.52 A frog named Minnesota and the girl who loved him

Lily and Minnesota 

I can't believe I have been so remiss as to not have already featured some images and the story of Lily and her little frog.

It all began over six months ago. Our family was helping out at a working bee, clearing out an outdoor area and somebody found this sweet little frog in an old bucket in a shed. My animal obsessed daughter begged and begged to take him home. As providence would have it, we had somehow aquired a small acrylic fish tank a couple of weeks earlier and so I hesitantly (reluctantly?!) said yes. Yes, as long as she researched how to care for him and took on full responsibility for the frog herself and covered all costs. Does that sound too mean?? Ok, I had a lot on my plate at that point so just couldn't take on any more.

Eagerly, she still said yes. She googled and researched his breed, how to care for a frog and his favourite foods. She worked out it was a male frog due to the different number of toes/webbing (?! I don't remember the term because I am not a frog expert, lol, you will have to ask her). She spends her own pocket money on buying crickets from the pet shop, and breeds meal worms for his snacks. She keeps him faithfully fed and watered and changes up his environment with varying little rocks, logs and ornaments. He loves to climb but mostly loves to hide between rocks where no one can see him. She keeps the tank in her bedroom and I never knew a frog (apart from Kermit) that was showered with such love and attention, haha! She also rarely holds him (apart from for these photos) as she knows it's not good for his skin.

Only once, very early on, did he manage to somehow escape his tank in her bedroom. We thought he was gone for good until the next morning he came hopping across the kitchen floor!!!! What a fright it gave me!!

I admit I didn't have high expectations on life expectancy but she has kept little Minnesota alive and happy for over six months now. I am truly impressed with her faithfulness and care and how she has taken on such responsibility so independently.

Needless to say, all this has ramped up her campaign for a dog quite considerably!! ;)

Oh and if you wondered about the name?? Firstly, Lily seems to have a gift for naming things with such quirky and original flair. When I asked about how she came up with the name Minnesota she casually replied that she was just thinking about countries that had lots of frogs!!!!

Lollllll, I love this girl with every fibre of my being. Never change, Lily my love xx

35.52 a father's day amidst the blossoms

For our (early) Father's Day family day, Mark requested a picnic and bike ride down by the lake.

And so, of course, we did! 

#anyexcuse

When we arrived the blossom trees were in full glory. Ahhhh, spring, we have been waiting for you!

So although we were all dressed for bike riding (and not nice family pictures!) of course I had to get Mark's Father's Day photos amidst those stunning blooms!

How blessed these kids are to have a father like this guy. How blessed I am to parent alongside him... like, seriously, phew! 

He is a good one (the best!!) and I looooove seeing his special bond with each child in these photos. They adore him and all have so much fun together :) 

Eli asked to take photos of us. He took these with my big camera and did an awesome job, don't you agree!!! :) 

We love this guy so much!!! 

Happy Father's Day, honey xx

Project 52: A portrait (or a few!) of my family, once a week, every week, in 2017.

34.52 brotherly teeth brushing // siblings learning to get along

Big brother giving little brother a demonstration on 'how to brush your teeth like a boss'.

Little brother soaks it all in. 

Much giggling and brushing and bonding (and spitting) ensues. 

Heart melt xx

It's funny. Sometimes you have those parenting challenges emerge, and you dig in, and work hard, but then as change tends to happen slowly, you kinda forget to even notice the results. Oops.

As mentioned previously, Eli and Miles went through a stage where they just seemed to be riling each other up all the time. In retrospect I really think this little laundry project was a turning point in their relationship. We did a lot of other stuff too - talking things out, skilling them up in how to work things out, role play for conflict resolution, etc. (Also, alternately pulling my hair out and praying for patience!). They did a lot of work too, in recognising the kind of brothers they wanted to be (best friends!) and implementing a lot of self control and trying new strategies. Maturing too, I guess. 

But then I kinda forgot to keep track of it, lol, till just over the last few days I suddenly realised, wow these two have been getting along so great!  When things weren't going well, it had been so easy to focus on it. Funny how the absence of a problem makes it even easier to forget to recognise and be grateful for improvement!! I suddenly became conscious of how they were playing well, talking through problems calmly, working things out , doing chores together happily (like putting away the laundry while giving each other a high five and shouting 'team work!' for every item complete, haha!) and just having fun together without it constantly dissolving into problems. 

And the change happened so slowly I didn't even realise!

Isn't it funny. I worked so hard, they worked so hard, a good change happened but we didn't even recognise it when it came. I wonder how often that happens in our lives. It can be so much easier to focus on the problems and overlook the successes. Well, of course as soon as I did recognise it, I was sure to tell the boys how lovely it was to see them treating each other lovingly and as best friends. They are pretty proud of themselves too! I'm also musing about what else I can do to help celebrate and cement their brotherly bond and progress/maturity.

Of course, there still are, and still will be ups and downs but it warms my heart to see their bond blossom and hopefully we are all on a better track. Lessons learnt will help us all the next time issues crop up again (as they inevitably will because family/siblings/life/etc!).

Siblings can be life's greatest challenge when you are little but hopefully become more and more a blessing and support as they grow and face life together. That's my prayer!

33.52 book week dress up costumes

Dressed up for Book Week...

Wombat from Wombat Stew (nibbling a carrot), Judy Moody and Mr Twit from Roald Dahl's The Twits.

The cuuuuuuuutest xx

And me feeling like a real bookweek parent, rather than a total slacker like I usually am, thanks to generous last minute costume loans from my very creative friend, Jess!



Project 52: A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2017.

32.52 little landscapers

We are in the middle of a big garden overhaul (well, big for us, this ain't Backyard Blitz, haha!). 

The best part is the opportunity to get the whole clan outside working together in the sunshine. Just love these family projects and being outside together.

Eli especially works hard, without break or complaint. My happy helper, he amazes me!

These  kiddos hauled greenery to the trailer, raked and chopped. A day's work (well, a short afternoon, let's be honest) well done.

Will they remember these days - and will it be fondly or as slave labour?! I'm not sure but I know I will treasure them in my heart always xx

Project 52: A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2017.

31.52 baby beethoven at great papa's house

Just my four year old gently playing his first sonata. 

Ha! Just kidding.... if only pictures came with sound you could hear the random (but still sweet) plinking and plunking on his great-grandfather's piano.

We gathered at my 96 year old Papa's home to celebrate and remember some special ones we have loved and lost. 

As you can see, Papa sure knows how to entertain, even still. The consummate gentleman and host. 

How grateful I am for times together like these. Honouring and connecting.

And later, as the sun set and we went to leave, the boys started scampering around and you can bet I had my camera out in a flash to capture that golden hour and those precious moments.

Yes, my 96 year old grandfather baked and prepared all this. He is amazing!

Project 52: A portrait of my family once a week, every week, in 2017.