Saturday

Although there is still a coolness in the air I couldn't help but dress Audrey in something more akin to Spring!

Wednesday

Random things today -

The other day I said my kids were starting to express their faith a little...

Yesterday Nicholas had a friend over from school and he stayed for dinner.  part way through the meal Nicolas got his bible and gave it to me, asking me to read a story for his friend, as he "doesn't believe in God".  So I figured David and Goliath would be a nice boy kills giant story that would appeal to a 7 year old.  The Jesus Storybook Bible tells it really well for that reason...
When I finished Nicholas said "now do you believe in God?"  "No" was the reply.  But he liked the story!  Nicholas then asked me if we could ask the kids mum if she believed in God when she came to collect her son...  I love his faith.

I am LOVING this Sarah McLachlan/Cyndi Lauper duet.  Sarah McLachlan has long been my favourite female artist.  I have great memories of my first year at uni - studying my dream field of anthropology, archaeology and museum curatorship.  I'd listen to her all the time.

Later she came to Canberra on tour and Dave and I went with another friend.  I was heavily pregnant with Nicholas and I am sure he was dancing.  He rolled and kicked inside me like never before.  Cyndi Lauper?  Well, with a 25 year school reunion coming up revisiting some of my 80's music is a prerequisite!  Girls Just Wanna Have Fun anyone? :)



And while we are onto the '80's these are brilliant!  I can see a kitsch little corner of our hallway with these framed on it...

Breakfast Club, Princess Bride and Labyrinth... there is also Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Pretty in Pink! 







Not to mention various Star Wars and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ones Nicholas would like...  enough of that though.  I have to get on top of other UFOs before I start anymore.

Tuesday

I am LOVING this weather right now! (really, who isn't)  When I came home from taking Nicholas and Audrey to school this morning I sat in our sunny morning spot with a cup of tea, a slice of David's bread toasted and read.  It was divine... I can hear the breeze blowing through the huge gumtree in our neighbours yard and the hum of traffic along the road behind us.

 

I am hoping this can be the beginning of a joyful ritual I endeavour to undertake when I am on leave.  5 working days to go, but who is counting?  Certainly not me when I think of the reports I need to have written and finalised before I finish...

 

 

 At the moment I am reading Romulus, My Father by Raimond Gaita.  I had seen the movie, but particularly wanted to read the book after David and I spent a little time in the area the book is set in.  I love the way it is wrtitten as I think we all come from families with everyday stories that have contribued to making us who we are.  I love social and personal histories.

 

Then with Nicholas I am reading the Borrowers by Mary Norton.  I read these when I was younger.  And Audrey is reading the Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Anderson.  When she likes a story she likes to read it every night.  For days.

 

At the moment I am cooking dinner, from my favourite go to family cook book.  I've made this sweet and sour pork before and one of my favourite things to do is to make the Chinese five spice myself.  Fennel seed, star anise, szeshuan pepper, cloves and cinnamon.  It smells fantastic.  We've also taken to eating more brown rice. Nicholas has a friend over from school today, perhaps the first time we've done this?  I can hear them squealing and running outside so I'll have some uninterrupted time to get this ready. :)

 

Saturday

Friday

 

The Lord has been using my kids to speak to me lately without them even really knowing it.  Last week I went with Audrey to the National Museum of Australia.  As we walked through the exhibitions Audrey saw something and ran ahead.  It was the word 'Eternity' displayed in a light shining onto the floor.  She stood under the light and immediately folded her hands beneath her chin, closed her eyes and began to pray.  The guide who was near me said "well, that is appropriate!"

 

I looked at Audrey and then looked above her, wondering if she had had some kind of Joan of Arc experience!

 

But really, it meant something more to me.  The story of Mr Eternity can be read here.

Nicholas and I walk to school together on Thursday and Friday.  Lately he has been asking quite a few questions that require a more considered response, and require me to search my heart...

Tuesday

Thinking about how quickly this little girl is growing up...

Saturday

 I don't have an extensive wardrobe (the season of a mortgage!) and I've never been very good at shopping for clothes.  If I had money to clothes shop I'm more likely to see an outfit I like and buy the exact peices - I'm no good at putting peices together myself.  Maybe that's why I like black, grey and white.  At least I know I can accessorise with coloured scraves, bags or jewellry.  This is such a cute clip!  It is for a Finnish clothing company called Samuji.  I think I'd wear everything in it!