Sunday, 16 June 2013

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!



Sunday, 9 June 2013

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.



Sunday, 2 June 2013

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.

Sunday, 26 May 2013

21/52 - helpfulness + hiking



Lily

Our little family theme this week was 'helpfulness'. The kids and I talked a lot about what it means to be helpful, why we help each other and how to be helpful to others. We looked out for opportunities to be helpful around the home and gave extra doses of recognition and thankfulness when we spotted it. It is natural for a child's focus to be on their own little world, but I hope to continually open their eyes over time to the needs and activities around them and to see how valuable it is when they step in to lend a hand. Everyone has something to give!

My sweet-hearted Lily had some precious ideas such as tidying up her Daddy's office - Mark sure appreciated finding all his office things tidied into little piles, heehee! One evening she offered to help me make dinner. She worked really hard grating a huge pile of Parmesan and even helped stir the risotto... and we all know that takes some time! 

Love her happy, helpful heart. 





Eli

Puppy dog eyes.

Quite literally, as he is in the midst of playing 'Doggies' with Lily. Unsurprisingly, he is the puppy and she is the owner. He scampers around the house, fetching and rolling and happily displaying all his tricks. 

Such an accommodating little brother! Always ready to play and be part of the fun. And who could resist those baby blues?!






Miles


The bath is his happy place. Mine too! It's one of my favourite rituals with him... especially since he graduated to the full-size bath tub in recent weeks. In an inch or two of water, he can happily flail about, kicking and splashing to his heart's content. He just loves it and already I see the look of gleeful recognition when I lay him down in the warm water. I love contentedly sitting on the little green stool in the bathroom, continually dripping warm water over him from the wash cloth, rubbing his hair, and laughing, chatting and gently singing with my little happy camper. It is a sweet time, bested only by that delicious moment when I lift him from the water and wrap him quickly and snugly in a cosy big towel. Ain't nothing like a freshly bathed, towel-swaddled baby, is there?

Of course... although this child rarely spits up, five minutes after his cleansing bath, without fail, he always manages to spit up on himself. Cheeky boy! Hmmm, maybe it's his way of ensuring he gets another bath soon?!




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




More highlights from the week that was...

It's been a lovely relaxed week with a renewed sense of energy to devote to my family and home. I have recently wrapped up about four months of Public Relations/Marketing consulting (from home) for an old friend who just starting up a new web business. It is a wonderful business and I really enjoyed being involved in the launch of something so exciting and stretching those old work wings! As fun as it all was, finishing up for now has felt a little like releasing a breath I didn't even realise I was holding. It just feels nice to have recaptured some time and space (both physically and mentally) for my busy young family and I'm grateful I can keep that as my main job for now!


With a Saturday spread before us, we decided to hike up Mt Taylor, a very popular walking track not too far from us. Canberra is getting super frosty but today after the mist cleared, it was a gorgeous blue day and we wanted to get out and enjoy it! We have never done the track with the kids before and certainly did not intend to go the whole way (it is a pretty intense upward climb) but somehow... we did. Admittedly at least three times I suggested at a rest stop that it was probably time to turn back but each time we decided to go 'just a little further'. When Mark suggested 3/4 of the way up that the kids have the little chocolate treat he had smuggled into his jacket, Lily exclaimed 'But Daddy, those are for when we get to the top!'. Shamed by our four year old, on we trekked!! And somehow, some way, we made it to the summit - with me carrying 7ish kilos of baby the whole way (yes, I was pretty proud of myself!). Miles had the time of his life being toted along, he just napped and looked around without a peep the whole morning!

I was super impressed by how well the kids did walking all that way. After we reached the summit there were a few tears from our exhausted little duo who realised we had to walk down again!! But hand-in-hand (it was a steep descent) we finally made it back to the car and cheered for our family accomplishment... it felt pretty satisfying!


Ready to start the walk. Definitely overdressed, we had to carry the coats most of the way! (iPhone pic)


Headed back down...


Lily decided to try and make letters on the floor. Corralling her wriggly
non-literate brother took some effort but they got a pretty good 'T' in the end!



She loves to read to him and I love to see them!

Parmesan-grating



Eli was keen to assist at bath time. Little Bro was happy to see him!




 





When I said it was hair-washing time, funny little E said 'Mummy, 'dis a new way to wash my hair!' Nice try!