32/52 - little lego lovers // independence days

Lily

She asked if she could make her own school lunch and of course we said 'You bet!!!'

Busily, she worked away in the kitchen and produced this pretty good selection! Ok, the crackers are not what I would usually pack, but they have avocado on them so I let it slide ;) Avo crackers, apple (creatively cut!!), cherry tomatoes, home made oat biscuit. There is also an extra container with capsicum for her 'fruit break'.

She has been packing her own lunch most days since. I am going to make up a little 'rough guide' to help her eg one or two fruit, one or two veggie, one protein, etc but for the most part let her work it out along the way. It's been great to chat about these food choices while she packs her lunch.

Not only does it lift the load (Mark and I usually pack lunches late at night) but I just love to see another step of independence blossoming. She is so ready and eager to take on these responsibilities... and we are so ready and eager to let her :) 

She was very pleased with her creation (and of course ate every morsel!)

Eli

My little Lego lover. 

A funny thing has happened in recent weeks. Both Lily and Eli have moved from merely 'liking' Lego to loving it. Relishing it. Every free moment... there they are, boxes out, building, creating, exploring, experimenting. We are much more into free creative building than following kits, and I love to see the fruit of their handiwork... and even more so, the satisfaction and pleasure they gain from their efforts.

Eli, my busy boy, quiets his hands and mind by beavering away in the middle of a pile of Lego. I love watching him at work. 

I think Lego is going to be a long and loving relationship in this home!!

Miles

Seven blocks: his Personal Best.

:)

Mark

My handsome, beloved hubby... home again once more. So very good to have him here with us, where he belongs! Missed him like crazy. It's just not home without him.

PS Loving the beard :)

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

More highlights from the week that was...

Very frosty mornings // the coldest week in 45 years, with it below freezing every night!

Big brother is so eager to help little brother... whether he wants it or not!

Lily likes to assemble all her creations in a little display area :)

I am so thankful for Mark's childhood Lego collection!! Finally worked out a great Lego storage solution after a friend
gave me some old tubs she was decluttering that were low enough to store under the couch. The kids roll them out for easy access and play, then can quickly roll them back again. Win! I think I will also keep an eye out for one of those Lego drawstring mat bags like this to help gather up the stuff that inevitably goes on the floor and to also transport it around. Yes, Lego is seeping through the house bit by bit! ;)

Quite a sign to discover on our bedroom door. 'We celebrate Mum and Dad' :) 

I got the kids ready for an outing then said I needed just five minutes to get ready myself in peace. This was at the end of Mark's time away, lol!! Of course, they interrupted me and of course I had to talk with them about that. After, I found this precious note outside the door from Lily. Melt.
'I am sorry that I was calling out when you were getting dressed. I am sorry.'

The kids now get their own breakfasts - they asked to! As soon as the 'sun' comes up on their clock, they come out giggling, extracting equipment and food. They eat (giggling) then pack it all away. It is pretty much awesome!!! I thought such a day would never come and now here we are. Turns out, they do eventually start looking after themselves!! In the early years, it really seems impossible but look how capable they are, heehee. We love it, they love it, win/win :)

My quirky kids. They invented this game where they say they 'watch movies' every morning by getting a stack of DVDs and one kid 'reading/acting' out the story of the movie. Yeah, I dunno, they are strange but I adore them anyway! (Ummm, they do know what books are, haha!!)

(Economical) Egyptian Soup // Nourishing and Delicious!

This soup.

There is just something about it. I know, I know, it does not look like anything special or sound like anything special but...it is SO DELICIOUS. And so nourishing... seriously, you can feel it nourishing you all the way down to your toes. :) This recipe has been a family fave of ours for years... since before we had kids (e.g. the dark ages). I wish I could cite the original source but all I have is a patchy printout from an old work colleague of Mark's (in his old workplace, they used to recipe swap, very cute!), which I have adjusted quite a bit over the years anyway. So, I'm claiming it, haha ;)

This is Lily's often requested and very favourite meal - all the kids gobble it down. The adults too. Everyone who comes to our place and eats a bowl of this just LOVES it and asks for the recipe. I'm not taking the glory, mind you. The glory goes to the humble red lentil - one of the most delightful little legumes around, I reckon, with its subtle and tasty ways! ;) And cumin too of course - it just makes everything taste yummy!

Anyway.... you may not be convinced, but trust me... please give it a try - it's delish! :)

I must apologise in advance, I'm a 'cook by feel' kinda gal so the recipe is not super precise but with a soup like this it doesn't need to be - it's pretty forgiving!! Go with your gut ;) Anything I can clarify, just ask in the comments! xx


Ingredients

(These ingredients are approximate, I tend to throw in more or less depending on what I have on hand or want to use up!)

• 1 Package of Red Lentils (around 400 grams)
• 1 Leek
• 4-5 Carrots
• Half a celery (leaves and all!)
• 2 Onions
• 3-4 garlic cloves (Ok, I'm a garlic fiend so would usually put in around 6!)
• Chicken Stock or Broth - 3 or 4 cups in whatever form of stock you use (I usually make my own chicken broth these days)
• 1 Tb or more of Cumin Powder
• Salt and Pepper
• Tomato Paste - 4ish Tablespoons
• French Onion Soup mix for extra tastiness (Optional - if you are trying to avoid preservatives and such as we are these days, you can add in a home made variety - I just add a quick few shakes of these ingredients)

To serve -

• Lemon/Lime wedges
• Sour cream/greek yoghurt
• Crusty Bread/Lebanese Bread

Directions

1. Soak the Lentils (for a few hours is great, or even just 10 mins while other food is being prepared is ok if you forget earlier!) then rinse thoroughly in a strainer.
2. Roughly chop and lightly fry the leek, onions and garlic in oil, in a large stock pot.
3. Roughly chop the carrot and celery and add them in. No need to chop finely as will all be blended up. (I like to leave skins on carrots and include celery leaves too). 
4. Fry lightly for another five-ish minutes, mixing around as best you can in the stock pot.
5. Add the rinsed lentils and lightly fry further.
6. Add in stock.
7. Fill the rest of the pot with water (to about a couple of inches above the veggies) 
8. Simmer at length - usually around 40 minutes till veggies become very soft.
9. Add Tomato Paste to give a rich orange colour,
10. Add a good dash of cumin (a tablespoon at least I would say - but we do love cumin!) and the french onion soup mix or equivalent ingredients
11. Blend with stick mixer in the pot
12. Add salt and pepper to taste
13. Serve - with a squeeze of quartered lemon or lime, bread and butter and a dash of sour cream or greek yoghurt if you like! Definitely include the lemon/lime... I never used to think of it and once we tried it, I couldn't believe the lift it gave the dish! Deeeeeelish.

Hearty, nourishing and delicious...

Hope you make it - and hope you like it after this big build up I have given it, haha!!!! ;) 

lily // sweetly six

Here she is, all of six.

My darling Lily, my only daughter and my first born. I kinda love this kid like crazy! She has been a delight to parent these six long/short years. So patient with us as we muddle our way through this parenting gig and 'experiment' on our first baby!! 

Oh, Lily. You are something else. Filled with sunshine, the sweetest heart and a social savvy that often leaves me in awe. You truly have a heart for Jesus, as evidenced by your recent 'Jesus' themed birthday! You love to plan and organise and manage... yes, you are definitely my daughter in this respect, and I imagine you will soon outpace me!!! Always checking on the time, reminding me of things to be done, heehee!

You have the most tender heart. You care so deeply for those around you, always concerned for others. I love hearing your post-school chatter, as you share your day and the various interactions. Your deep desire to look after others, to do right and to try your hardest flavours all you do. I am so grateful for your kind and loving heart. You love to learn, you give it your everything and I hope I can always encourage and nurture the hard working, adventurous spirit in you. I love watching you lead the way in your learning, eager to soak up all the world has to offer. You love to learn, you thirst after it and challenge yourself daily to create and do more. 

Lily, you are so aware of those around you. I am kind of in awe of the subtle social cues you can pick up on, how you can move through various social situations, how you easily empathise with what others are feeling. Your distress when others are upset is acute. Your joy in others happiness is total. You have a lot of heart for such a little girl.

You have a heart for dramatics too, I must admit - my emotional little one! Shades once more of your mother, I confess! We are going away to the beach for a week later this year (during the school term) and at least once a fortnight you check if this is still happening, then sob (literally) at the thought of missing a moment of school. As if a week by the beach was a punishment!! Oh, my girl :) 

I love how you dote on your brothers. You love them utterly, you love to play with them and be with them and protect them. I have never heard you shriek like you do when you fear one of them is in danger. Your inner 'Mama Bear' is already released it seems! How blessed they are to have such a tender and caring sister. I have no doubt that you lead them in your gentleness and a good part of the loving way they treat you and each other is because of how you display it to them. What a precious example they have. What better big sister could there be?

You are so silly at times. You love to monkey around, to joke and giggle, perform and be utterly crazy. You love singing and rhyming and dancing. Wrestling and climbing. You are tender, gentle, thoughtful. Strong, resilient and resourceful. Sweet and precious and amazing in every way. 

Happy birthday, my darling daughter. How grateful I am to call you this. How blessed I am to mother you, to watch you grow, to nurture you while also learning so much from you. Your innocent yet wise little soul is utterly beloved.

I love how you are your very own mixture of YOU. You love dresses and sparkles and princesses and yet you will not let yourself be defined by them. The other day while I was doing your hair for school you mentioned 'Some girls at school, they ONLY like Princesses and princess things, like they always choose princesses! I like lots of other things. I mean I DO like Princesses' you hastened to clarify, perhaps concerned I was going to clear all the princess-related paraphernalia from the house 'but I just don't ONLY like Princesses, I like lots of things!' Oh, what a relief to hear! And how good to know you wont let yourself be narrowly defined as one type of girl. You are your own glorious mix and I love that you are still free to explore the parametres of what that means for you everyday... relatively free of commercial pressure. You are a mighty girl, and as long as you can be you, I am happy, whether that includes sparkles or not!

Likes

Rhyming, joking, creating crafts/box construction, writing letters and cards, drawing, rainbow looming, Lego, Lottie doll, holidays, singing, playing with friends.

Dislikes

Feeling embarrassed or laughed at, spinach, seeing her brothers in 'danger', running late (or even imaging she could possibly be late!).

I was recently clearing out a bunch of 'stuff' in the spare room and dredged up this bunch of lillies we used at our wedding (a display somewhere). Yes, Lillies were our wedding flower almost a decade ago. It was my favourite flower, and before we even married, Mark and I would daydream about one day having a little girl named Lily. I never even thought we would have a girl in reality, as Mark comes from a very boy-dominated line, but... here she is. Our little Lily :) The flowers are pretty old now so I am planning to give them away, but before I did, I wanted to take a few photos of our Lily with the lillies from our wedding day.

Who could have known way back then that such a precious child would one day be ours? 

An Interview with Lily 

What are you going to be when you grow up?

A gymnastics teacher

What’s that going to be like?

I like it because I get to help kids

What are your favourite toys?

My Snoopy and my Lottie doll

Who are your best friends?

Addi, and Elsie

What makes you happy?

When its my birthday, and when Mummy gives me a hug

What makes you sad?

When someone dies like when my old little fishie died

When you dream at night, what do you dream about?

I dream about whats going to happen the next day. and also dreaming what its going to be like.

What do you like to do with Daddy?

Have horsey wrestles

What do you like to do with Mummy?

I like to do my home readers with her

What do you like to do with Eli?

Play with him on the trampoline

What do you like to do with Miles?

I like to play in the playpen with him

What’s your favourite colour?

Silver and gold

What’s your favourite book?

'How they make the TV news'

What does Daddy do during the day?

He goes to his work and does what his boss says and he writes on some of his paper, or sticks or glues some of his papers.

What does Mummy do during the day? 

She looks after us and sometimes she goes to meetings. 

What do you do during the day?

I go to school and I go to gymnastics and swimming class

It's good to be six because.....

I like it because I get very tall!

The collage - six years of my sweet Lily...

31/52 - our happy revolving door

Lily

Mark spent this week down in Melbourne, doing a week of intensive theology study. I had been bracing myself for a week of 'flying solo' but at the last minute ended up with two lots of wonderful guests to fill the house and our week - I certainly did not have much of a chance to be lonely!

Our first batch of house guests for two nights were a true delight....the lovely clan from Documenting Delight, that is! What fun it was to have a 'twin family' stay with us (they also have a 6 year old girl, 4 year old boy, and a baby boy!). Eli was only concerned Errol (their Dad) would not have Mark to play with, haha!

Oh, what fun we had. The kids instantly clicked and enjoyed playing, playing, playing while we parents chatted, chatted, chatted. What a blessing it is to welcome new friends into our home. They are such a beautiful, good-hearted family. It was ridiculously cute to watch our six children connect in such a lovely way too.

So, here is Lily and Priya. The moment I told Lily a six year old girl was coming, she was thrilled. They shared Lily's bed at night, and by day they giggled, played, crafted, dressed up, rainbow loomed and just generally did what insta-BFF's do ;)

Eli

Our second guest for two nights was my dear old Dad! We always love having him stay. We usually tackle a project or two around the house (this time - the front garden!) and enjoy just hanging out. The kids simply adore him and they always get up to all manner of hi-jinks (it's basically like having four kids to corral, haha).

My middle boy in particular just adores quality time with Grandpa :)

Miles

Hmmm, looks like someone got into the textas!!!!!

Mark

My handsome man before he set off for the long drive to Melbourne.

So strange to have him away from us for a whole week, we missed him like crazy (even amidst the crazy of a week full of house guests). I'm so thankful he can fulfill his dream of doing this study (theology units through an American University), and I will be even more thankful when he is back home with us once more.

Hurry home to us, honey!

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

More highlights from the week that was...

A little early morning Jenga between Eli and Priya. It was so cute, he really struggled with their names. First he called Theo 'Leo' for quite some time, then he settled on calling Theo and Priya 'Prio and Thea', heehee!! :)

Theo spotted the Kinetic Sand tub under the play table and asked what it was and could he play. Before long everyone was digging in and having a wonderful time (including the parents and the desperately determined babies!)

Sweet Georgia generously gifted my trio with their very own pair of Slugs and Snails tights from Baby Goes Retro - who said boys can't wear tights?! These are so adorable and cosy, paired with a coat, shorts and gumboots - ready for any weather! Georgia got some gorgeous shots of all six kids in tights and gumboots! Eli said 'I love these so, so much, they are so, so, so warm. Why did they put red cars on them, I think they just knowed I like red'! :)

Can't believe I made this adorable little batch of legs!! :)

I mean... c'mon!! Cutest little legs ever!

These guys made themselves busy at the craft table, making all kinds of creations together. Theo kept gifting me with little drawings, which totally melted my heart!!! Sweet boy. Note Miles by the way... he is soooo desperate to be
part of the crafting action, he is always seating himself at the table, ready to go! Actually, most of the time he climbs on top of the table, haha.

I think my dinky little camera got intimidated by Georgia's amazing camera (oh yeah, not to mention her amazing skills!) and totally refused to take any decent pics, blurring and warping the colours everywhere. Well, that's my story anyway! ;) So, this is a dodgy pic of a very sweet moment (well, just after a sweet moment). Miles obviously thought Florin was a very cool baby cos he kept gently patting his hair, it was soooooo precious! 

Six gorgeous kids all in onesies. Cuteness overload. What a delightful bunch.

The kids treated us to a puppet show. There were some dubious story lines and much hysterical giggling from both the actors and the audience!

He is a busy boy but he is also drawn to stillness. He just LOVES puzzles and it amazes me to see him so still and focused! I think puzzles are so great for kids. Lily was never keen but now gets into them too thanks to E's fascination. We got him this gorgeous Djeco puzzle for his birthday - it's 100 pieces and pretty big but I thought would be good to stretch him. And it did, but he works away patiently till it's all done - time and time and time again!

Such a cute scene - animals walking the snowy streets of Paris :)

Yep, the loom band craze has hit our home! We got a kit for Lily's birthday after several requests. I have to say this is one fad/craze I can happily jump on board with... enhancing fine motor skills, concentration and encouraging giving to others.. what's not to love?? We found the easiest way was fishtail finger looming and I spent a happy afternoon with the kids on our bed, as we all fumbled our way through looming. It was very satisfying for all of us!

Even Eli got in on the action. He was so cute, concentrating so hard!

These colourful little things seem to crawl out of the box at night and seep throughout the house!??!

Last weekend we took the kids to the theatre for the first time as a Birthday treat
for Lily. We saw the musical 'Wombat Stew' and it was simply magical. The
kids loved the whole experience, it was so exciting and involving! The first of
many trips we hope - live theatre is such an enriching experience. The day made
this theatre-junkie mother very happy :)

Lily's first Swatch watch (birthday pressie). The most adorable watch ever, I think :)

Her first attempt at looming. A little wiggly but she straightened out on subsequent attempts!! She only wore it for a few hours then decided she prefers to make them, not wear them ;)

I was transferring the rock collection into a new basket when Miles came along and decided to help me out by transferring them back again. He was so methodical, I just loved watching him at work :)