43/52 - things were hopping at tidbinbilla

Lily

On Sunday morning as we were getting ready for church, Mark spontaneously suggested that afterwards we head out to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve for their big Open Day. Now, I am admittedly not a very spontaneous person (what can I say, I like to plan!!) but I agreed that sounded like a grand idea, so we grabbed a few extra supplies. After a lovely morning at church, we headed out to this gorgeous nature reserve that's just a mere twenty minutes away.

There was everything from carriage rides and reptile shows to jazz music and obstacle courses. Best of all was just being out there together exploring with our clan :) A little getaway from the city and the regular routine does wonders, I find... especially amongst the beautiful bush land...

My darling girl was all eyes, ready for adventure and any wombat-sightings ;)

Eli

My wide-eyed blue-eyed boy....the remnants of a 'hot chips with sauce' treat very evident on his otherwise gorgeous little face ;)

Miles 

We were ready to head home after the festivities and were loading into the car when the kids spotted kangaroos and wanted to explore the bush near them. So we decided to toss out the picnic blanket once more, stay a little longer and soak up some extra sunshine (look at me, so spontaneous these days, haha). 

We enjoyed chilling out whilst watching Miles toddle around near by, just loving the wide open spaces. He would roam a few metres away, then turn around with that million-kilowatt cheeky grin, come racing back to the blanket and throw himself upon us for cuddles and giggles... before setting out once again. 

I loved seeing him roam freely and confidently, but then hone back in to us once more - his safe base. It will always be us, sweet boy xx

Mark

Hanging out in the backyard in the late afternoon, while the kids blow bubbles and the chickens peck at our feet. 

No one else I would rather have by my side than this handsome fella. Love doing this life with you xx

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

More highlights from the week that was....


Earlier this week, I got to participate in something pretty special. A couple months ago, I won (!!!) a one-on-one mentoring photography workshop with the incredibly talented Robyn of Robyn Geering Photography (who just happens to be the 2013 winner of the Australian Best Family Photographer award!!). After getting a new camera for my birthday (yippee!) it was time for my session. Robyn had very generously offered to split my win into two sessions - one session to discuss camera settings and so on, the other to do a shoot together of the kids, so I can learn from her on the go. What a prize, huh??!!

It was an amazing session, she was so full of knowledge but also knew how to convey it all to my non-technical non-professional mind. How wonderful it was to have time set aside just to ask questions (over and over!) and play with our cameras. Robyn was incredibly generous with her time and talents. I was a bit awestruck to have such an opportunity - and felt a bit unworthy, I must admit! Now my mission is to start applying what I learnt to my photo-taking.... no excuses now!!? It still takes me a while to connect all the dots but I feel like things are starting to sink in more clearly at long last. Check out her gorgeous website and - and if you are in Canberra - you know who to book for your next family session!! She is a real gem :)

Keep an eye out for my shoot with her in a few weeks hopefully - once I get a chance to apply more of what she taught me :)

He always has his sister to lean on. The simple comfort is just too beautiful for words.

How can I stop taking photos of this face?? Every face is so different (to me?)

The kids had a ball zooming down these huge slides... every time, Eli pursed his lips
like so! Love it!! PS One shoe 'cos he was getting a blister ;)

Victory! So proud of herself for her first solo slide :)

He was ready to head for the hills... and seriously attempted it before I nabbed him ;)

The kids were so excited to find a few kangaroos, two with joeys peeking out of their pouches! The kids were jumping like kangaroos, doing their earnest best to blend in so they could get close enough. Their cunning plan didn't work, alas! 

Off on another adventure, hand in hand.

Two chooks nom-noming on the kids' apple core

I am a teensy bit enchanted by my chookies - just love their lush feathers. Who would think they would look so fresh from rolling around in the dirt?! Doesn't work for kids, sadly ;)

There has been a lot of creative play this week using this pipe offcut!

Home made obstacle course. These crazy kids :)

26/52 - our family's little happy place // in the garden

Lily

She has been eager to wear her new/old poncho this month and I can't help but remember having a cool retro poncho when I was around her age (I think it was a hand-me-down from my Aunties).

Although not super practicial, oh, how I loved to wear it. It's like a skirt for your top half - what's not to love?!! ;)

There are many joys of a daughter, one of which is seeing elements of your childhood come cycling through once more.

Eli

'The chicken cuddler'.

He loves our chooks, and best of all, he loves to cuddle them. 

They are mostly pretty accomodating to his requests, especially now he has improved his holding technique ;)

PS This sweet boy said to me onight after a giggle session with Miles 'I wanna keep that baby here with us forever'. Precious... plus a good thing as I'm pretty sure M is past the 12 month return warranty?! ;)

Miles 

I had to snap a shot of Bear playing his favourite game... throwing this simple little ping pong ball.

It always seems to be rolling around the house somewhere (I think we have a couple), and he love, love, loves to throw it. I gotta say, this kid has a pretty fierce over-arm throw too!!! It's the perfect size and weight to not do any damage, and gives a satisfying little pop as it tap, tap, taps across the floor. He scampers after it like an eager puppy, hunts it down (going under chairs and tables if required) then gleefully tosses it again. And again. Happy as can be.

Yeah, third kids are pretty good at entertaining themselves!!!!

Mark

Our happy place.

This scene warms my heart. It's my very favourite place to be these days. Pottering around our garden on a sunny winter afternoon - in that crucial hour before the sun drops and the fierce chill sets in. The chickens roam and peck the grass. Lily and I are planting seeds in our forlorn veggie patch (hope you enjoyed the kale, possums!!). Eli and Daddy are mulching all the shrub clippings and sticks. Miles is happily swinging, watching the family, tracking the chickens and only requiring a push and a chat every few minutes when the swing slows to a halt. We potter together... as a family. In the earth, in the garden, we work and chat and laugh and play. We dig and weed and mulch and nurture. Nurture our little country corner, and nurture each other. Quiet, simple days together. I know these 'every day' memories will be the most precious. 

There are contented sighs from the parents amidst the kids' stream of chatter. 'This is great' one of us says, and the other smiles and nods. A simple scene of family time. A sweet spot in domestic life, the kind of time I dreamed of while we slowly cleared the jungle from this back corner to make way for coops and veggie patches. Now, here we are.

I cannot help but survey this scene - a scene richer in blessings than I would ever have dared to hope and pray for - and thank God for this overflowing cup of goodness. Our family of five, just tinkering outside together. God has given us each other and come what may, we are journeying together. I am just so very grateful. I find it hard to even extract why this scene affects me so, but my eyes well every time I get to soak it up. In these little moments are the greatest treasures, I guess.

Thank you, Mark, for building this beautiful, simple, messy, currently often exhausting but always richly blessed life with me. What more could we ever ask for? I love that we get to journey through all of this together - you and me make quite a team, huh? Te amo xx

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

More highlights from the week that was...

Lily and I created a little nature scene to surprise Eli when he returned from grocery shopping with Dad.

He got right in there, with his animals exploring the jungle!

Eli's face after the chicken flutters out of his arms!!

Eli takes his stick gathering very seriously. The cheeky chooks scratch around near by!

Miles is always tracking the chookies, calling 'Dook dook dook!'

His gleeful face every time he throws the ball.

Sibling spotted

Oil pastel drawing time together with my little Tiger x

Yes, this is the Prince's preferred mode of transport around the home ;)

Ten minutes before it's time to leave for the school run, I love glancing over to find this scene! Kids happily reading together, all ready, and chores done. Hooray!!
(Please note this chilled out scene does not happen every morning, haha)

Half way through 2014, half way through another Project 52! 

'The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. 

My heart leaps for joy and with my songs I praise Him.'

Psalm 28:7

21/52 - mini foodies

Lily

A fun new activity that works those fine-motor skills like a boss... peeling hard boiled eggs ;)

Eli

His current fave snack - 'Ants on a Log'.

(Peanut butter and a line of sultanas on a celery stick, if you somehow missed this childhood rite of passage).

Oh, we thought we were super clever to create 'bugs on a log' too - 

hummus and pepitas lined up on celery :)

Miles

Mmmm, just noticing a food theme in the portraits this week! What can I say, it feels like these kids do little else but eat!!

Miles had half a hard boiled egg and I was amused to see him spend quite a few minutes just taking the yolk out of the white and putting it back in, over and over. I thought to quickly grab my camera as I was so charmed by his cute activity, but when I returned he had decided to eat/destroy the yolk and was busy filling the empty egg white with sultanas. Why not, huh?

Mark

His default 'chill out mode' in the evenings, as we kick back with a cup of tea, a bit of chocolate and a little TV show watching together after the kids are finally tucked into bed.

Ahhhhh, peace. 'Switch off hour' is how we survive these little years ;)

(Bonus points if you can tell what show we are watching!?)

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

More highlights from the week that was...

It's kinda like he is in chocolate bar commercial, showing of the product so perfectly, lol!!

It was one of those melting moments. A photo capture where the memory is definitely more important than the poor picture quality. It was a day when the kids just played outside for hours after school and didn't want to come in. Dusk was setting in, the chill was pervading but still these two capered and adventured happily around the yard together. I overheard sweet voices saying 'Let's just sit down and look at this lovely sky and sunset together' 'Wow, a sunset!! It's so beautiful!! Wow!!!' And so, they sat and giggled and marveled at God's creation, and I stood and marveled at the same thing, though from a different perspective. What a gift it is to see this sibling bond grow and flourish.

This book. It is amazing. I highly, highly, highly recommend. I gotta say, I am a big reader and know the gist of the many
parenting 'bibles' out there and honestly, not much feels new or helpful, but this one is really set apart. The title kind of says it all! It is filled with so many practical, varied, mindset-changing examples, my eyes were really opened to new ways to listen and communicate. I particularly wanted to learn how to be a better listener with the kids, especially with Lily in school now. So hard not to just jump in with a moral when she tells me school stories!! It's also filled with comic style cartoons that get to the point, good for hubbies ;) Anyway, just wanted to throw a little book recommendation out there. NOT saying I am 100% on board with everything in it (we all make up our own parenting recipe, right?!) but it has plenty of good stuff in it that can apply to any parenting style. I feel like I need to read it 5 times just to help it all sink in!!

Sensory Bin fun. Rice and beans are good for play too, not just eating ;) He poured and scraped and played and dug. 

His favourite thing was having me bury these glass marble 'treasures' which he would then dig for!

'Look, Mama, I made 'Eli'!!'

Exploring with a vintage set of Cuisenaire rods before school.

At the library for National Simultaneous Story time. The same book is read in libraries and schools all around Australia at the same time. Anything to support and encourage literacy, we are on it!! :) They read 'Too many elephants in this house' by Ursula Dubrowsky. A charming story and a fun morning's activity for Eli, along with his buddies Harper and Zoe (and Miles!)

Eli amazed us all with his egg peeling skills, he was the most proficient of all of us! Will have him on duty from now on ;)