Thursday again

Officially Spring!  Although in Canberra tradition there will still be some cold days yet.
I find since having children Winter goes a little too long.
I am looking forward to clearing our deck,and spending many afternoons/evenings outside.  Kids can play and we will cook dinner on the bbq.

With winter passing, and many weeks without posting, I find I have missed recording TWO significant evens in our home.  Nicholas turned 11 in July, and Maggie recently had her third birthday! 
Her excitement and awareness of having a party that was all about her brought everyone joy!!

Wednesday

Look at me.  Something I never imagined I would do.  I am reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

I remember when the first (of how many??) HP books was published I got on the bus to work one day.  As I looked down the aisles of the bus, almost every person was deep into the novel.  I thought at the time, what? And rolled my eyes (a bit high brow).

Nicholas saw the movie at a friends house about a month ago.  Admittedly I was a little surprised that it had  not been mentioned to me by the other parent.  Now Nicholas' teacher is reading the novel to the class, so I bit the bullet and bought a copy.

I have to say, I love that it has brought something new to our relationship.  Nicholas comes home and immediately says "did you read any more Harry Potter?!" 

And even more surprising, I find I do actually look forward to seeing what happens next!  
 
And Nicholas sweetly borrowed another book from the library he has been reading and thought I might like. Xo

I am still reading Woman in Gold.  Admittedly, I did what I prefer not too - halfway through the book I watched the movie.  Given I have past the point in the book that both Gustav Klimt and Adele Bloch- have died, I feel like I can skip through to various points of interest in the book.

All ready to read next (and may not have appeared in my earlier lists of books to read, nor are sitting on my bedside table) are All the Light We Cannot See by  Anthony Doerr,and The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman, which I definitely want to read before seeing the movie.

Finally, a book I have had for a while but not been brave enough to start, is The Child In Time by Ian McEwan.  I first heard Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales talk about it on their podcast.  Annabel Crabb said it is her favourite novel and she used to read it every year... until she had children.  Therein lies my problem.  The novel follows a family in the years following the disappearance of their three year old daughter.  Sometimes it can be too scary to face something that you know will bring sadness.  Still, I am intrigued.

No beautiful image of these three novels though, as they are all on my kindle.  I love my Kindle, and it is so practical and easy... but I do miss the feel of turning the pages in my hands, choosing the most beautiful cover, and lets face it, pulling it out on the bus to share with all (admittedly I have been a little more subtle pulling Harry Potter out of my bag).

And I haven't even got to books of faith and sewing!

 
 Books - everywhere you look!

Saturday

Now, 2016.  Our New Years was quiet.  To be honest, I think seeing the new year in quietly at home and then having a lazy New Years Day bbq  on 1 January has become more appealing to me.  Nevertheless, we took the kids, along with David's sister and her family, to the 9pm family friendly fireworks.  Then we walked into the City for ice cream.  Admittedly, by the time we walked back to our parked car and got home, it was 11:45PM.  We gave the kids a slushie as a new years treat and said Happy New Year.  They had their showers and went off to bed, and David and I sat down with a cheese plate to watch Downton Abbey.  I got season 6 for Christmas but we wanted to refresh our minds of how season 5 ended.

Anyway, I get ahead of myself - Christmas Day!  We had a lovely day,  very relaxed.  Great food, and kids having a wonderful time.  The way it should be.

Sunday

When I have some time (ha) I check a couple of my all time favourite blogs.  I get the feeling people don't read blogs as much these days, and although I often have the "I want to blog about this" moments, time escapes me and the thing I wanted to remember has since faded away or been overcrowded by the events that come with the season.

I have found Christmas over the past couple of years a bit stressful.  Work commitments, study (for either David or I) and the general season running about has left me feeling less than festive.  I am determined this year however that in spite of looming assessment dates, work commitments and the required shopping and cooking, to put the best into creating home as a fun, exciting and relaxed place to be as we anticipate the Christmas holidays and some desperately needed down time.

David is working until 18 December and I am working up to 22 December.

To kick the season off, we put the Christmas tree up the last weekend of November  and we let the kids have more freedom in putting up the decorations :)  Watching Maggie on her first Christmas that she is actively participating in, was gorgeous.

 

Can you tell which decorations Maggie put on the tree??

She concentrated so hard.

I made a quick Advent calendar (although I do have one with pockets I sewed up a couple of years ago) made from tea soaked tags and stamped numbers.  I must admit I do like a quick craft.  The next day I made a wreath, using some garden clippings and coathangers.

Now I have moved on to preparing the fruit mince for tarts to share with family over the next couple of weeks.

I must admit that for all of the Christmas magazines I keep stored away each year, I turn to the usual favourites.

Nicholas' Minecraft

This was in March 2014.  Nicholas' first (and to date, only)Minecraft video.  I don't want to lose it, so I am saving it here.  xo

Sunday

The weeks seem to fly by now.  Spring is (thankfully) around the corner. 

This past week we celebrated our baby's second birthday.  Two already!  Just to prove time does fly by when you are having fun (even if you are exhausted most of the time!)

Presents in the morning....



 Cake and coffee (for mum) after taking her brother and sister to school...

 A family party on the weekend :)

Trying with all her might to blow out the candles (we did move the cake closer in the end :))

The past week has also seen us celebrate book week.  Although originally I thought Audrey might like to dress as one of the Rainbow Fairies (a series of books loves) I later imagined the number of fairy/princess costumes that would be paraded at assembly and suggested she do something different.  Audrey was sceptical at first about the Paper Bag Princess, and when I produced a pillowcase with holes cut in in for the neck and arms she did not seem convinced.  When I told her we could put charcoal from the fire on her face, she was sold.  I loved making the crown from a toilet roll...

Nicholas had wanted to wear his star wars cape and go as Anikan Skywalker... I would rather he didn't.  So, good mother that I am, I played on his passion for AFL and suggested he go as Specky Magee, an aspiring football champion.  Nicholas said: "you mean I can wear my footy gear?"  He was thrilled :) 

And to top my week off, an unexpected card from my boy after I received my assignment grades. (Love the picture of me working on my laptop.)  :)

This afternoon we had lunch at a friends place just north of Canberra.  The kids loved the freedom of the space around us.  David and I loved the mud brick home.  :D

Another reason to celebrate - David got his permanency with the ACT education department!!  Certainty for the next few years! (Here doing the honors and cutting the lamb for today's lunch)

Nicholas brought his compass...

Skimming stones in the dam... (listen to those birds)

Phew.  After that overindulgence in remembering and photos, I am off to bed.