Sunday

 

When we attend to the moment, the weight of our attention slows time down and we see we have been given gifts. Ann Voskamp

Sunday

While we enjoy camping and all the activities that go with it, late last year I had booked three nights at Broulee.  We had a two bedroom cabin which was very comfortable.  After a busy start to the year it was nice to just arrive with our clothes and open the door.
The kids brought their scooters and soon made friends.  They met up in mornings after breakfast, and after dinner for a game of spotlight before bed.  We didn't do too much at all, except wander into Batemans Bay for coffee one day, and then to the beach at various times.  (Of course the lolly shop in Mogo was a big hit!) One morning I took Maggie down to the beach on my own and we built sandcastles.  After a while I left my blanket on the beach and thought I would take Maggie back to the cabin and return on my own to read.  By the time we got to the cabin, the rest of the family had decided to join us.  That was ok - Nicholas and Audrey swam with David, Maggie got her feet wet, and then the girls and I collected shells to decorate the sand castles.  Nicholas spent lots of time on his scooter with old and new friends, so pictures of him are few...

On the way home we stopped at Mogo Zoo, where my camera battery promptly went flat.  I have some photos on my iPhone of the kids feeding deer and giraffes.  Priceless, so will try to download them.  It was a gorgeous zoo, and everything just felt so natural.  The kids had a ball, and enjoyed feeding deer and giraffe. 

David and I brought a couple of our favourite tv shows on dvd, but really just relaxed at night caught up on sleep.  The perfect "re-energising" holiday. I did feel a tinge of sorrow to have to be home so soon.

Thursday

Balloons and egg and bacon rolls for breakfast

 

Friday

So, last paper submitted and returned (Distinction ;))
The best feeling is that tertiary study has finished in our household for the next little while.  After David's 7 year part time and my straight into one year I feel it was really taking its toll.

Now I am enjoying this. I want to live deliberately, starting with the small things, starting at home.  I get so much satisfaction from seeing the produce from our garden.

 

And loving my "cups of tea" with this girl.

 who loves to help in the garden.

 

 and today while Nicholas and Audrey were at school we made chocolate chip biscuits together for the first time.  She loved mixing with the beaters!

 It was a productive day :)

 

(a little in love with our IKEA spice jars and my retro label maker...)

 

For a long time I have picked up books like these ones, all with a similar theme... simplicity and a more thoughtful approach to living.  Now that I feel I can walk away from my working week each Wednesday, and not think about it again until Monday morning, I feel I am in the perfect position to make more of an attempt to put into practice what I am drawn to.

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.