child's play

of course one of the best things about being a parent is seeing your children explore, discover and enjoy - not to mention the added bonus that you get to experience it all again as well, through new eyes.
around here work has continued on the cubby house - it is almost at to the point that i need to contribute, sanding the floor and painting.

books continue to be an immense source of pleasure. i can't see that i will ever get rid of any books - mine or the children's. although bookcases are at the point of needed a cleanup... favourites at the moment are:

for Audrey ~ Miffy books...

for Nicholas ~ anything about dinosaurs (fiction and reference books!)

our recent purchase is the Library Lion, and i love it. the story is gorgeous and the pictures are beautiful. it is about a lion that visits the library and loves story time. it is probably the longest book that i have read to the kids but even Audrey sat quietly on my lap, absorbing the story.

another children's book i have read for pleasure recently is The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse by Beatrix Potter. my interest was roused in this one when i realised one of my favourite blogs is named for this book. i bought the Beatrix Potter set when Nicholas was a baby.

other children's happenings around here (that involve me!!) are sewing these rabbits:

and buying new shoes for Audrey...

many faces of Audrey

sitting at the big table now.

here she is, all dressed up on Sunday in her new handmade Oliver + S clothes. i love the jacket - thank you Mel. i think i will continue to make her some clothes while she is little. Oliver + S have gorgeous patterns.

here she is on Saturday, collecting the eggs.

usually she is quite serious and doesn't smile!! she always has been...

and my favourite... on Saturday afternoon we went to the park. when we got home she was cranky with me and refused to walk inside. she stood outside with her arms folded and ignoring me!

nothing like burying your head in the sand when things get a bit too much. or in my case, in fabric, books and Jane Austen adaptations!
over the past week i have been ploughing through some sewing - some of my French Revival hand quilting, preparing blocks for my Tail Feathers quilt, another Heather Bailey strawberry pin cushion, a superhero cape for Audrey and some soft toys. today i managed to all but finish the skirt from an Oliver + S pattern i had cut weeks ago. and because i am desperate for Audrey to actually be able to wear the stuff before winter is over, Mel kindly took home the pattern and fabric for the jacket...
i have been reading a bit, which always relaxes me. i finished 'Little House in the Big Woods', which is just gorgeous. lots of memories from a time long gone.

at the moment i am reading 'In the Skin of A Lion'. a review of the book can be found here. Michael Ondaatje is one of my favourite authors. i tell people to read 'The English Patient' - don't bother with the movie unless you like the scenery. 'Anil's Ghost' made me cry. his poetry ('Handwriting') is beautiful.
and today i made Tessa Kiros' cinnamon and cardoman buns again. yum.

i finally bought the new adaptation of Emma. and of course love it. the same woman wrote the screenplays for North and South and Jane Eyre. she is brilliant.


i was taking photos of the kids the other day, and when i looked at them i laughed to see Nicholas and Audrey eating in tandem... :)

today it was nice to come upon Audrey, quietly reading in her room. and content.

present in the moment

i had a relentless few days in East Timor - challenging, busy, enjoyable. but relentless. come back to work here and it is the same thing. thankfully David has let me drop my bundle a bit at home. i've kept up to the washing, but after dinner last night he told me to just stay on the couch. i didn't even feel guilty while i watched him clean the kitchen! i just appreciated not having to move.
today, at home with the kids, they have been playing together nicely. we come together for morning tea and lunch. we talk over craft - a telescope made from toilet rolls! Nicholas is waiting for evening, when we can put together the real telescope his uncle has lent him.
i've been enjoying some random sewing. a pile of books. a pile of magazines. the blinds are still closed, the house is warm. i couldn't decide whether to make a casserole for dinner or soup. so i made both. there can be a choice. the kids played camping games with some of their favourite soft toys. their rooms are a little messy. a small amount of washing is almost dry on the clotheshorse. but that's ok. sometimes it is just nice just to be present.

birthday pictures... 2 parties, 2 cakes

Birthday Boy

So my baby is five! This morning he was excited to get his new bike. Actually his first "big" bike!We are all home with head colds. Lots of runny noses, watery eyes and scratchy throats... all except the birthday boy, so that is a good thing!