Another week almost down.Can not,I repeat NOT believe it is Friday already.Friday,and one week until we move.
EXCITING!
Looking forward to the new area,excited to be with in the estate so the kids have footpaths to ride their bikes on and parks to play at that do not require driving to.
And also it means we can begin the process of setting up the class room and decorating the house :-)
We need new furniture in the form of new dining chairs and some rugs and buffet/hutch and kids book shelves,so we are going to get right into that once we settle.
On to the part of moving that is not my favorite...packing,yes you guessed it!
I have successfully packed...1.5 boxes!I conclude 1.5 boxes because only one is taped shut.I have a garage full of folded boxes that require filling and with all this rain set to hang around for a few days I guess this weekend is as a good a time as any to start.
Sigh.
4 kids inside all weekend...double sigh.
BUT a positive,yes there is one,I won't be doing it on my own.Always nice to have a husband handy to assist with entertainment!!!
Hoping Oli sleeps every day over the weekend like he has today.Going over 3 hours now and it is lovely.Nick is due home soon as he finished work early today.Means I don't have to go pick the girls up from school in this rain,which I will add has been dripping between heavy and very heavy all day.Nonstop.
The rainy season is here!Albeit it is late and didn't see the need to ease us into its arrival but it is here,grateful for the rain,lack of flooding and considerably safe driving I was a part of this morning.Yet to pass a accident so hoping none took place.
So other then packing I assume our weekend will consist of coffee out in the morning with the family,and then home to pack/bake/clean and pack.
Week ahead looks much the same.
Bear with me in the next few weeks.Between moving,beginning of school holidays and Easter we will be very busy.Oh My Goodness-Easter,really?
Knowing myself as I do I am sure I will find time to come and catch you up on our activities,or lack there of.
Have a fantastic Friday,and happy start to the weekend everybody!
xx
Love At Large FAMILY
Thursday 15 March 2012
Monday 12 March 2012
Oli,our little screamer.
Yesterday was an emotional day.
It started out great.I had all the kids clean,dressed and lunches made for school and bags packed by 8am.We were leaving early to go to the shops before school drop off.
Within moments of being in the car and on our way Oli lost it.He just began to scream,and scream,and scream.
And then continued to scream some more.
Once at the shop he screamed until I allowed him to walk,and then I had to chase him through the shop with the girls to keep tabs on him.
Then home after Lilly tipped her milk all down her school dress.Thankfully we have a spare in the car :-)
Then off to school we went.And once back in the car Oli began to scream again.The.Entire.Way.
It was painful.
Once there a quick kiss and a hug and Amber took Lilly to class for me.There was no way Oli was leaving the car that day.We had enough public exposure for one day,and it was only 8:45am.
Back home we went with Oli screaming still in the back.
Once home he stopped right up until he was placed in his cot.He had woken at 4am,and it was now 5 hours later and he REALLY needed a nap.
Rocking a 21 month old to sleep who squirms is not the easiest task,but he was happy to snuggle and after a few minutes asked to go in his cot.He was not able to get comfortable in my arms long enough to fall asleep.
He slept for 2 hours.It was bliss.
Did I clean?No.I did some research on Home schooling and went on Facebook.I had already mopped floors and done washing.My work was done.
Oliver waking in a brighter mood sure did lighten mine and with us out of our morning funk we went on to do some baking,and built some towers and bridges for a while.
Our ''not so good at mowing'' lawn mower man came.He mowed our lawn finally after being weeks late.He mowed it badly,as usual.
So when we move I told Nick to either find a new and better mowing company,or buy a mower and do the job yourself.Safe to say he is sourcing a new mower man.
We move next weekend,so in 10 days.It is coming up so quickly,and I have only packed 2 boxes.You can just imagine how many more a family of 6 with four bedrooms,2 living spaces and all the other rooms has to pack.A LOT.
But next week I will confront that.Right now I am putting it off,and off and off.
We happened to be out late last night so we ended up eating out,and broke on of our rules,which was to not waste money on junk food.But it just worked out to be convenient.
Today's Tuesday,and my washing machine is calling me as I write this.So off to prep kids for school and after drop outing,if I don't do it now..someones likely to leave this house naked!
It started out great.I had all the kids clean,dressed and lunches made for school and bags packed by 8am.We were leaving early to go to the shops before school drop off.
Within moments of being in the car and on our way Oli lost it.He just began to scream,and scream,and scream.
And then continued to scream some more.
Once at the shop he screamed until I allowed him to walk,and then I had to chase him through the shop with the girls to keep tabs on him.
Then home after Lilly tipped her milk all down her school dress.Thankfully we have a spare in the car :-)
Then off to school we went.And once back in the car Oli began to scream again.The.Entire.Way.
It was painful.
Once there a quick kiss and a hug and Amber took Lilly to class for me.There was no way Oli was leaving the car that day.We had enough public exposure for one day,and it was only 8:45am.
Back home we went with Oli screaming still in the back.
Once home he stopped right up until he was placed in his cot.He had woken at 4am,and it was now 5 hours later and he REALLY needed a nap.
Rocking a 21 month old to sleep who squirms is not the easiest task,but he was happy to snuggle and after a few minutes asked to go in his cot.He was not able to get comfortable in my arms long enough to fall asleep.
He slept for 2 hours.It was bliss.
Did I clean?No.I did some research on Home schooling and went on Facebook.I had already mopped floors and done washing.My work was done.
Oliver waking in a brighter mood sure did lighten mine and with us out of our morning funk we went on to do some baking,and built some towers and bridges for a while.
Our ''not so good at mowing'' lawn mower man came.He mowed our lawn finally after being weeks late.He mowed it badly,as usual.
So when we move I told Nick to either find a new and better mowing company,or buy a mower and do the job yourself.Safe to say he is sourcing a new mower man.
We move next weekend,so in 10 days.It is coming up so quickly,and I have only packed 2 boxes.You can just imagine how many more a family of 6 with four bedrooms,2 living spaces and all the other rooms has to pack.A LOT.
But next week I will confront that.Right now I am putting it off,and off and off.
We happened to be out late last night so we ended up eating out,and broke on of our rules,which was to not waste money on junk food.But it just worked out to be convenient.
Today's Tuesday,and my washing machine is calling me as I write this.So off to prep kids for school and after drop outing,if I don't do it now..someones likely to leave this house naked!
Sunday 11 March 2012
A moment in parenting:a Fathers way.
So it's the last day of the weekend,and the kids have just been so ''manic'' in behavior today.A every moment of today,someone was on the time out mat,in their room on their room for quiet ''think about what you did time'' or being talked to about the ''right kind'' of behavior.They just didn't manage to get along.Poor Nick.
He is learning to be patient.He currently has nil patience.It is a work in progress.
So this afternoon the kids had passed the point of no return.Dinner was due and they were attempting to ''play nice'' together.Fail.
So in order to just tune it out Nick got inventive.
And here you have it!My husband having had enough of tantrums and fights,knowing he is reaching breaking point and not wanting to be ''mad'' at the kids put his heavy work wear ear muffs on.People use these to block noise from the machines that hammer at concrete....so it is safe to say they worked.
It kept a semi level of peace,and being honest I can handle the kids going crazy,but I can't handle the husband going crazy at the kids.
So the afternoon has calmed down.Kids have been tucked into their beds with stories and some giggles and I am in the progress of finishing some cheese and bacon rolls.
Interesting conversation with Lilly took place at bed time.
She was all wrapped up in her blanket shes had since she was 4 months of age.
She asked me ''Do you know what I am mum?''
I answered ''No Lilly''
''I am a cucumber'' she told me.
''A cucumber?'' I asked ''Are you sure?''
She giggles..''Yes mum'' I sigh (this is not a odd conversation to have with Lilly).
''And soon I will be a beetle'' she goes on to inform me.
I am lost,but only for a moment.
''Oh,your in a cocoon?'' I ask.
''Yeah mum that's what I said''
And then she giggles some more.
I can always guarantee a good laugh from my Lilly.
And if you are wondering where that came from,she is currently learning about the life cycle of meal worms.
There is still plenty to do to put this household back to rights so some form of order takes place tomorrow morning.
I look forward to the day we no longer have to rush to put shoes on and pack our bags to get out the door.
Homeschooling July 2012 can not come fast enough!
He is learning to be patient.He currently has nil patience.It is a work in progress.
So this afternoon the kids had passed the point of no return.Dinner was due and they were attempting to ''play nice'' together.Fail.
So in order to just tune it out Nick got inventive.
It kept a semi level of peace,and being honest I can handle the kids going crazy,but I can't handle the husband going crazy at the kids.
So the afternoon has calmed down.Kids have been tucked into their beds with stories and some giggles and I am in the progress of finishing some cheese and bacon rolls.
Interesting conversation with Lilly took place at bed time.
She was all wrapped up in her blanket shes had since she was 4 months of age.
She asked me ''Do you know what I am mum?''
I answered ''No Lilly''
''I am a cucumber'' she told me.
''A cucumber?'' I asked ''Are you sure?''
She giggles..''Yes mum'' I sigh (this is not a odd conversation to have with Lilly).
''And soon I will be a beetle'' she goes on to inform me.
I am lost,but only for a moment.
''Oh,your in a cocoon?'' I ask.
''Yeah mum that's what I said''
And then she giggles some more.
I can always guarantee a good laugh from my Lilly.
And if you are wondering where that came from,she is currently learning about the life cycle of meal worms.
There is still plenty to do to put this household back to rights so some form of order takes place tomorrow morning.
I look forward to the day we no longer have to rush to put shoes on and pack our bags to get out the door.
Homeschooling July 2012 can not come fast enough!
Saturday 10 March 2012
While I Blog
Vision Board
Many of you may of heard of a Vision Board.
I had heard of this from my mother in law about 4 years ago.But it was just on paper,on your fridge.We didn't take much notice of it and never gave it another thought.
Now we are planning to put ours together.
Basically a Vision Board is made to suit your own self or family.You project all the ideas,desires and goals for the year onto a canvas/poster etc using pictures cut out from magazines etc and paste them.You also use words and phrases that are inspirational to you and your family and draw or paste them on,how ever you like.
The rule is,if you like it,paste it.Because it means something to you,even if you don't know what.
Then right in the middle,surrounded by all of these items,you place a picture of yourself,or your family.Then once completed you place it in a frequently visited room,where you can see it daily and meditate over it.
Give it a part of your day everyday to remember what you want to gain,why and what your doing to get there.
In doing this you allow the universe to bring you these new experiences/dreams and desires.
Materials you will need to gather before beginning your Vision Board:
. Magazines
. Scissors
. Glue
. Canvas
. Textas
. Family or self portrait
I intend to begin ours this week.
I will document each stepwith photographs and then post about it later in the week.
Very excited to hang this in our new home.Just deciding ''where'' to hang it will be the hardest part.(I hope).
I had heard of this from my mother in law about 4 years ago.But it was just on paper,on your fridge.We didn't take much notice of it and never gave it another thought.
Now we are planning to put ours together.
Basically a Vision Board is made to suit your own self or family.You project all the ideas,desires and goals for the year onto a canvas/poster etc using pictures cut out from magazines etc and paste them.You also use words and phrases that are inspirational to you and your family and draw or paste them on,how ever you like.
The rule is,if you like it,paste it.Because it means something to you,even if you don't know what.
Then right in the middle,surrounded by all of these items,you place a picture of yourself,or your family.Then once completed you place it in a frequently visited room,where you can see it daily and meditate over it.
Give it a part of your day everyday to remember what you want to gain,why and what your doing to get there.
In doing this you allow the universe to bring you these new experiences/dreams and desires.
Materials you will need to gather before beginning your Vision Board:
. Magazines
. Scissors
. Glue
. Canvas
. Textas
. Family or self portrait
I intend to begin ours this week.
I will document each stepwith photographs and then post about it later in the week.
Very excited to hang this in our new home.Just deciding ''where'' to hang it will be the hardest part.(I hope).
Homeschooling
For a while now,talking in terms of weeks,I have been at war with myself concerning wanting to homeschool our children verses keeping them enrolled in the Qld school system.
I firstly ignored the calling to Homeschool not possibly believing I could do it.Or that I could take my kids out of school.
So I had some point I wrote down once I realized the idea was still tugging at me.
10 points on how we reached our decision.
1. Yes my kids have great teachers this year,but I can not guarantee it EVERY year,I consider us very lucky to have received these teachers for my daughters.
2. My daughters ARE affected by school.They do come home seeming more like aliens then my children,and I only glimpse my kids on weekends.
3. I feel they are not being taught to their individual abilities.I feel and believe I can do that for them.
4. My kids do not benefit from being one of 20 odd something kids in a classroom vying for their teachers attention.
5. I can control WHAT they are leaning,when and for how long.So if I dont think they understand it yet,then we can keep at it for as long as is required.
6. Lilly sometimes gets overstimulated,and can cause her to have emotional break downs.It is hard to send her to school like that and I know I can make sure her day is more suited to her when that is the case.
7. My girls are excited at the prospect of being at home,even if Amber's is due to the fact she can use shiny pencils :-) .
8. Nick and I are excited!Since deciding on this we have felt at peace with the decision and feel we are doing something special for our kids and our family.
9. Being able to take my kids out into the world to explore their surroundings as tools for their development.
10. As a family,we will learn,grow and blossom.What more can I ask for?
So.When do we begin?
We are in the process of moving home.We will have the girls enrolled in their school for term 2,then we will withdraw them and begin homeschooling on July 10th,then beginning of Term 3,semester 2.
I have a room in our new home waiting to fill with learning tools.I have found and decided on our supplier for their curriculum materials.We have made contact to fill out all paperwork required to make it official and legal with QLD Government.And I have reached out to the Homeschooling QLD community to meet other families walking this path so our kids still have social interaction.
School Photos.
School photos are coming up.We have decided we will NOT be getting them done.Instead I am going to purchase a snazzy camera and get the girls to 'pose' for Homeschooling photos.
I am purchasing some plain colored polo shirts from Kmart and having the kids names monogrammed on the front so when we leave the home for a school excursion(planning for 1 a week min) we can create routine for the kids,so they know they are in ''school mode''.
We will have all 4 kids enrolled in swimming lessons,and a sport of their choice.The library will become a weekly drop in for us.
The internet will become my best friend,just as Google has.
To put into words just how buzzed I am about this is impossible.But I really am.
There is a lot for us(me) to do in the next few months,but I am determined to make it possible,and fun and I am determined to do it well.For our kids.
I firstly ignored the calling to Homeschool not possibly believing I could do it.Or that I could take my kids out of school.
So I had some point I wrote down once I realized the idea was still tugging at me.
10 points on how we reached our decision.
1. Yes my kids have great teachers this year,but I can not guarantee it EVERY year,I consider us very lucky to have received these teachers for my daughters.
2. My daughters ARE affected by school.They do come home seeming more like aliens then my children,and I only glimpse my kids on weekends.
3. I feel they are not being taught to their individual abilities.I feel and believe I can do that for them.
4. My kids do not benefit from being one of 20 odd something kids in a classroom vying for their teachers attention.
5. I can control WHAT they are leaning,when and for how long.So if I dont think they understand it yet,then we can keep at it for as long as is required.
6. Lilly sometimes gets overstimulated,and can cause her to have emotional break downs.It is hard to send her to school like that and I know I can make sure her day is more suited to her when that is the case.
7. My girls are excited at the prospect of being at home,even if Amber's is due to the fact she can use shiny pencils :-) .
8. Nick and I are excited!Since deciding on this we have felt at peace with the decision and feel we are doing something special for our kids and our family.
9. Being able to take my kids out into the world to explore their surroundings as tools for their development.
10. As a family,we will learn,grow and blossom.What more can I ask for?
So.When do we begin?
We are in the process of moving home.We will have the girls enrolled in their school for term 2,then we will withdraw them and begin homeschooling on July 10th,then beginning of Term 3,semester 2.
I have a room in our new home waiting to fill with learning tools.I have found and decided on our supplier for their curriculum materials.We have made contact to fill out all paperwork required to make it official and legal with QLD Government.And I have reached out to the Homeschooling QLD community to meet other families walking this path so our kids still have social interaction.
School Photos.
School photos are coming up.We have decided we will NOT be getting them done.Instead I am going to purchase a snazzy camera and get the girls to 'pose' for Homeschooling photos.
I am purchasing some plain colored polo shirts from Kmart and having the kids names monogrammed on the front so when we leave the home for a school excursion(planning for 1 a week min) we can create routine for the kids,so they know they are in ''school mode''.
We will have all 4 kids enrolled in swimming lessons,and a sport of their choice.The library will become a weekly drop in for us.
The internet will become my best friend,just as Google has.
To put into words just how buzzed I am about this is impossible.But I really am.
There is a lot for us(me) to do in the next few months,but I am determined to make it possible,and fun and I am determined to do it well.For our kids.
Wednesday 7 March 2012
Hump Day
Managed to get Amber and Lilly to sort and tidy their bookcase of books before dinner..what a feat!It looks wonderful now and was long overdue.
I was able to spend that time getting dinner made,and going back to basics with meals has made cooking so much easier.Also having the new meal plan to follow is a life saver as almost every night there is some form of ciaos causing everything to not go as I planned.
We have a wonderful tropical storm tonight.Very overdue,with it being our wet season and this being the first solid rain we have had almost 4 months into the season.Lilly was woken and upset by the storm so much it cause her to get a nose bleed.Not very nice but she was fine once we calmed her.
Lilly is going through what I assume to be a growth spurt and mental development.It's around the right time for her and she is more emotional,eating more and sleeping till 8am,when usually she is up at 6am.Also adjusting to the routine of school and making all these new friends and going to parties is getting the best of her.
Second attempt at Oliver being in his bed today.He required being rocked to sleep which is common with him,but only for his day naps.Once he was sleeping I placed him in his bed,and he slept only for an hour before he came out of his room all proud that he was able too get out of his bed on his own!I know it means less sleep but he was in such a good mood that it didn't bother me so much.
Other then that we enjoyed a rather full afternoon of baking scones,cleaning and then the usual night time routine.
Was a fufilling day and night,but the rain has made me even more tired so I am off to bed.Goodnight.
I was able to spend that time getting dinner made,and going back to basics with meals has made cooking so much easier.Also having the new meal plan to follow is a life saver as almost every night there is some form of ciaos causing everything to not go as I planned.
We have a wonderful tropical storm tonight.Very overdue,with it being our wet season and this being the first solid rain we have had almost 4 months into the season.Lilly was woken and upset by the storm so much it cause her to get a nose bleed.Not very nice but she was fine once we calmed her.
Lilly is going through what I assume to be a growth spurt and mental development.It's around the right time for her and she is more emotional,eating more and sleeping till 8am,when usually she is up at 6am.Also adjusting to the routine of school and making all these new friends and going to parties is getting the best of her.
Second attempt at Oliver being in his bed today.He required being rocked to sleep which is common with him,but only for his day naps.Once he was sleeping I placed him in his bed,and he slept only for an hour before he came out of his room all proud that he was able too get out of his bed on his own!I know it means less sleep but he was in such a good mood that it didn't bother me so much.
Other then that we enjoyed a rather full afternoon of baking scones,cleaning and then the usual night time routine.
Was a fufilling day and night,but the rain has made me even more tired so I am off to bed.Goodnight.
Monday 5 March 2012
Growing up,dramatics of Miss 5 and It's still Monday
So it is now only 6 hours post my blog this afternoon,and I am sitting down for the first time since I posted that blog,so 6 and a half hours ago.
School pick up is not so relaxing now that Oliver isn't sitting in his pusher.He prefers,and will scream if otherwise,to walk around with Heidi and the other kids and play.He eagerly awaits his 2 older sisters coming out of their rooms every afternoon.
After school was the usual change from uniforms,have a snack,play,tidy up do homework,then dinner bath teeth,story time and bed.
Lilly is giving us a rough time tonight.Sleep is not coming easy for her and she is just in an emotional way.Lilly is naturally emotional.She wakes pretty much every day in a bad mood.I jokingly say its because her beds against the wall so she only has one side to get up on and it must be the ''wrong side''.
Lilly is not always like that though.Here is a wonderful happy version of Lilly,this photo taken in pre friend birthday party excitement over the weekend.She can be the happiest child,or the saddest most unhappy child.Either one can hit at any moment.
In saying that,this girl is so amazing.
She is 5,and has the most unique personality.She is a dinosaur obsessed,flower people making,tantie cracking,break dancing,drama queen!We always say she will make a great actress one day.
Lilly can make or break your day,but when she makes it,she really make it good.
And on to Oliver.This is the little guy that keeps me running on my toes,literally.This was him at school this afternoon waiting for the girls to finish.Anyone that knows him understands my excitement for many reasons in taking this photo.
Reason 1-he is standing still..following me around where I was going as instructed,no sooking or running in the other,and usually wrong direction.
Reason 2- He is wearing shoes!Oliver since the age of 12 months when we introduced him to shoes has had a strong dislike for them.This morning I placed these on his feet and told him to walk.He did.Not once did he complain or sit and rip them off as he usually does.It was a real step for him.And a relief for me.SHOES!!!!
This is me.And in my hands is my version of liquid gold.I love,love,love truly love coffee!It is a life line to me on mornings following no sleep or little sleep.And Nick just happened to come across this amazingly adorable little place called Bistro One that has the nicest coffee in town.I have had many a nice coffees over the almost 3 years we have lived here but this one took the cake.So we drove into the city to grab this before going shopping,and it was glorious.My love of coffee was made even greater by this and my love for my husband greater because we will go there for breakfast every Sunday. :-)
This passed weekend was a big one for me for many reasons.I feel sometimes like I don't have enough time in the day let alone a week to actually sit and watch each child and see changes in them.They really do change almost over night,and Saturday morning Amber was just chilling on the lounge in their play room playing Ps2 with Nick.She was so involved in her game of snowboarding that she didn't notice I was just there watching her.The other kids were doing their things quiet nicely so I got a bit lost in focusing on Amber.She then turned to me and smiled her 100 watt smile.And did this little smile sign she has taken on as her token thing.She is growing up.That is my conclusion.I sense the changes in her more then seeing them.She is just blossoming right now and I feel saddened and proud and full of love for this lovely little lady that is growing into a young lady more each day.
I see in her a girl that has so much potential and I hope we are fostering everything in the right way just for her,so she reaches that potential one day.I know as parents Nick and I both struggle with her dramatics and sometimes over board behavior,but most kids go through it....and just seeing this picture reminds me that it is really all worth it.
I definitely find it hard to believe that this little girl is my baby girl.Heidi has always been our baby girl,and now she is 3 1/2 and really coming out of her shell.She is a zany live wire and just the sweetest little soul.I am very sad she will be off to pre prep next year.Maybe because that means she is almost in school like her sisters makes it that bit harder,I don't really know,but imagining her in a uniform heading off to school seems so fat fetched a possibility yet it is really just around the corner.How will I survive?Only 1 child at home???
Photos are my way of looking back through these last 6 years and seeing all the changes our family has undergone.I am one to look back in order to help me look forward.I have no regrets now that I see we seem to be doing alright with raising these kids.They are turning out okay as we pack a bag and send each one to school.
This weekend was a big one for me emotionally.I see that my family is growing up.My babies will always be my babies,but in literal terms they are growing into young people.Its going to make for a very big change and adjustment for us.Hope your all here to help us enjoy it!
School pick up is not so relaxing now that Oliver isn't sitting in his pusher.He prefers,and will scream if otherwise,to walk around with Heidi and the other kids and play.He eagerly awaits his 2 older sisters coming out of their rooms every afternoon.
After school was the usual change from uniforms,have a snack,play,tidy up do homework,then dinner bath teeth,story time and bed.
Lilly is giving us a rough time tonight.Sleep is not coming easy for her and she is just in an emotional way.Lilly is naturally emotional.She wakes pretty much every day in a bad mood.I jokingly say its because her beds against the wall so she only has one side to get up on and it must be the ''wrong side''.
In saying that,this girl is so amazing.
She is 5,and has the most unique personality.She is a dinosaur obsessed,flower people making,tantie cracking,break dancing,drama queen!We always say she will make a great actress one day.
Lilly can make or break your day,but when she makes it,she really make it good.
Reason 1-he is standing still..following me around where I was going as instructed,no sooking or running in the other,and usually wrong direction.
Reason 2- He is wearing shoes!Oliver since the age of 12 months when we introduced him to shoes has had a strong dislike for them.This morning I placed these on his feet and told him to walk.He did.Not once did he complain or sit and rip them off as he usually does.It was a real step for him.And a relief for me.SHOES!!!!
This passed weekend was a big one for me for many reasons.I feel sometimes like I don't have enough time in the day let alone a week to actually sit and watch each child and see changes in them.They really do change almost over night,and Saturday morning Amber was just chilling on the lounge in their play room playing Ps2 with Nick.She was so involved in her game of snowboarding that she didn't notice I was just there watching her.The other kids were doing their things quiet nicely so I got a bit lost in focusing on Amber.She then turned to me and smiled her 100 watt smile.And did this little smile sign she has taken on as her token thing.She is growing up.That is my conclusion.I sense the changes in her more then seeing them.She is just blossoming right now and I feel saddened and proud and full of love for this lovely little lady that is growing into a young lady more each day.
I see in her a girl that has so much potential and I hope we are fostering everything in the right way just for her,so she reaches that potential one day.I know as parents Nick and I both struggle with her dramatics and sometimes over board behavior,but most kids go through it....and just seeing this picture reminds me that it is really all worth it.
I definitely find it hard to believe that this little girl is my baby girl.Heidi has always been our baby girl,and now she is 3 1/2 and really coming out of her shell.She is a zany live wire and just the sweetest little soul.I am very sad she will be off to pre prep next year.Maybe because that means she is almost in school like her sisters makes it that bit harder,I don't really know,but imagining her in a uniform heading off to school seems so fat fetched a possibility yet it is really just around the corner.How will I survive?Only 1 child at home???
Photos are my way of looking back through these last 6 years and seeing all the changes our family has undergone.I am one to look back in order to help me look forward.I have no regrets now that I see we seem to be doing alright with raising these kids.They are turning out okay as we pack a bag and send each one to school.
This weekend was a big one for me emotionally.I see that my family is growing up.My babies will always be my babies,but in literal terms they are growing into young people.Its going to make for a very big change and adjustment for us.Hope your all here to help us enjoy it!
Sunday 4 March 2012
Monday
It is now Monday afternoon,but I am blogging about my Monday so far in general.
I was in fact impressed with how my day began.
I woke before any kids did,so that is to us a sleep in of sorts.One by one kids began to ''rise and shine'' and by 630am everyone was up,Nick had left 15 minutes earlier for work and breakfast was being handed out to the kids.
After that I believe it was the later then usual start to the morning that got us behind,but 750am I was not dressed and the kids needed shoes and hair done.
Thankfully we have that down to a art form and with constant coaxing to Amber to hurry it along we were all dressed,ready,lunches made,and all bags packed and out the door by 830am.
It does not end there though.Getting in the car take at least 5 minutes,maybe more..lots more.
Kids fight about pretty much everything,Oli screams for water and Heidi searches for her pink gumboots.
Once we are all strapped and seated I look around and realize I REALLY need to tidy the car.Preferably before we move.
Getting to school after 830am means we missed out on a park nearer to the entrance,so we have to use the pram for Oli,which he hates,and walk down to the school.Once there I show love to Amber before she goes off to class,and decided I will be brave and stay for Lillys ''Goodbye Song'' her class sings to the parents every morning.Never had the chance with the younger 2 wanting to attack the classroom,but they seem better lately.
So convincing Oli its time to leave is no fun,he screams and tries to escape being p;aced back in the pram.I win.
Off home to do some housework and after a morning of cleaning and feeding kids Oli needs to go down for a nap.It used to be night sleeps that were a hassle to put him down for,but now it is his day naps.
I attempted right away after school drop as he has liked the 9am bedtime of late but this morning he screamed No,so I left him up.Come 1130 he needed that nap,so some snuggles and love and 10 minutes later he was sleeping soundly,and I am now blogging 2 hours and 15 minutes into his nap.I had hoped he would sleep right up till we left to collect the girls,and he is.Yay!
OOhh spoke to soon,as hes now awake!That is all for now.
I was in fact impressed with how my day began.
I woke before any kids did,so that is to us a sleep in of sorts.One by one kids began to ''rise and shine'' and by 630am everyone was up,Nick had left 15 minutes earlier for work and breakfast was being handed out to the kids.
After that I believe it was the later then usual start to the morning that got us behind,but 750am I was not dressed and the kids needed shoes and hair done.
Thankfully we have that down to a art form and with constant coaxing to Amber to hurry it along we were all dressed,ready,lunches made,and all bags packed and out the door by 830am.
It does not end there though.Getting in the car take at least 5 minutes,maybe more..lots more.
Kids fight about pretty much everything,Oli screams for water and Heidi searches for her pink gumboots.
Once we are all strapped and seated I look around and realize I REALLY need to tidy the car.Preferably before we move.
Getting to school after 830am means we missed out on a park nearer to the entrance,so we have to use the pram for Oli,which he hates,and walk down to the school.Once there I show love to Amber before she goes off to class,and decided I will be brave and stay for Lillys ''Goodbye Song'' her class sings to the parents every morning.Never had the chance with the younger 2 wanting to attack the classroom,but they seem better lately.
So convincing Oli its time to leave is no fun,he screams and tries to escape being p;aced back in the pram.I win.
Off home to do some housework and after a morning of cleaning and feeding kids Oli needs to go down for a nap.It used to be night sleeps that were a hassle to put him down for,but now it is his day naps.
I attempted right away after school drop as he has liked the 9am bedtime of late but this morning he screamed No,so I left him up.Come 1130 he needed that nap,so some snuggles and love and 10 minutes later he was sleeping soundly,and I am now blogging 2 hours and 15 minutes into his nap.I had hoped he would sleep right up till we left to collect the girls,and he is.Yay!
OOhh spoke to soon,as hes now awake!That is all for now.
Saturday 3 March 2012
Tecnology and Friendships
I was late to join the world of Facebook.But happy I did join it I am.
In 2010 we became pregnant with our youngest child Oliver.Like with all the girls before him I would go online to the site Birth Center,where I could get informed on everything baby,toddler,birth etc.
Also on there I came across a Birth group segment,where we could interact online with other mums due at the same time as me.
It became a big part of my day.I was able to see how they were doing,hear some funny and at times not so funny stories,and we were able to share our pains and laughter together,all this being online.
After the births of our babies we managed to find Facebook as a good tool to keep in tough more easily,and we now have our own group there.
Most of these friend ships have blossomed on line alone.Some of us have met up,others are too far and wide for that.But we are able to find out way to our little group online and be a constant support to one another concerning any issues.
Its a breath of fresh air.
I had no success in a actual mothers group where you meet up weekly.But with this,we can talk to one another daily,anytime,someone is usually there to help,or they help in their only quiet time after the kids go to bed at night.
Out of Facebook I also met some very wonderful women I love dearly.My closest friends.
Jessica is my longest friendship..we have been fast friends since 2009.But before that we went to the same high school,and even though we did not spend time together then we came to find we shared a lot in common and a friend ship formed,online,very fast.Jessica has 3 daughters now,and our kids bar my eldest Amber are all very similar in age.We have met up once since our friendship really began in 2009 in 2010 and it was an amazing day.Wasn't long enough,but it was what we needed.Jessica is always there when I need her,and that is what friends are for.
Tash-who commented on the same topic I did on a Facebook group called Circle Of Moms.We found out we had ALOT in common.Same age,month of birth,husbands in same field area of work,due with a baby on the same day..the list grew as we came to know each other better.The main and hardest downside is that the friendship is essentially a online friend ship.It does make it hard,there is o little visits to one anothers home a few times a week for tea and kids to play.We catch a phone call when we have the energy,we chat online when we have the time and we try and I mean really try to keep up with our friendship,making sure it keeps growing as we change.Distance is hard,but when you find these real friends I think it is safe to say I don't care where they are,just that they are a part of my life.
So now almost 2 years after meeting and having met in person with our families once,in December 2010 we continue to be friends and I love being a part of her family.
Then there is my newest by very loved friend Pauline.She is also a mother of four,and her youngest son was born 2 days after Oliver.And we live many hundreds of kms apart from one another,yet we are very good friends and can rely on each other to pick the other ones mood up when we feel sad and low.It is a wonderful friendship that also includes our families,with both our 6 year old daughters sharing a friend ship even though they too have never met.Our families and Pauline and I will meet for the first time in Brisbane at a very much awaited joint family holiday..we are all so excited!
Friendship online means the firsts are always hard.''First Phone call'' ''First Skype date'' ''First meet up''.It is harder but really these friendships are my most rewarding,and I cherish these women.Their a part of my family,and I am honored to be a part of theirs.
In 2010 we became pregnant with our youngest child Oliver.Like with all the girls before him I would go online to the site Birth Center,where I could get informed on everything baby,toddler,birth etc.
Also on there I came across a Birth group segment,where we could interact online with other mums due at the same time as me.
It became a big part of my day.I was able to see how they were doing,hear some funny and at times not so funny stories,and we were able to share our pains and laughter together,all this being online.
After the births of our babies we managed to find Facebook as a good tool to keep in tough more easily,and we now have our own group there.
Most of these friend ships have blossomed on line alone.Some of us have met up,others are too far and wide for that.But we are able to find out way to our little group online and be a constant support to one another concerning any issues.
Its a breath of fresh air.
I had no success in a actual mothers group where you meet up weekly.But with this,we can talk to one another daily,anytime,someone is usually there to help,or they help in their only quiet time after the kids go to bed at night.
Out of Facebook I also met some very wonderful women I love dearly.My closest friends.
Jessica is my longest friendship..we have been fast friends since 2009.But before that we went to the same high school,and even though we did not spend time together then we came to find we shared a lot in common and a friend ship formed,online,very fast.Jessica has 3 daughters now,and our kids bar my eldest Amber are all very similar in age.We have met up once since our friendship really began in 2009 in 2010 and it was an amazing day.Wasn't long enough,but it was what we needed.Jessica is always there when I need her,and that is what friends are for.
Tash-who commented on the same topic I did on a Facebook group called Circle Of Moms.We found out we had ALOT in common.Same age,month of birth,husbands in same field area of work,due with a baby on the same day..the list grew as we came to know each other better.The main and hardest downside is that the friendship is essentially a online friend ship.It does make it hard,there is o little visits to one anothers home a few times a week for tea and kids to play.We catch a phone call when we have the energy,we chat online when we have the time and we try and I mean really try to keep up with our friendship,making sure it keeps growing as we change.Distance is hard,but when you find these real friends I think it is safe to say I don't care where they are,just that they are a part of my life.
So now almost 2 years after meeting and having met in person with our families once,in December 2010 we continue to be friends and I love being a part of her family.
Then there is my newest by very loved friend Pauline.She is also a mother of four,and her youngest son was born 2 days after Oliver.And we live many hundreds of kms apart from one another,yet we are very good friends and can rely on each other to pick the other ones mood up when we feel sad and low.It is a wonderful friendship that also includes our families,with both our 6 year old daughters sharing a friend ship even though they too have never met.Our families and Pauline and I will meet for the first time in Brisbane at a very much awaited joint family holiday..we are all so excited!
Friendship online means the firsts are always hard.''First Phone call'' ''First Skype date'' ''First meet up''.It is harder but really these friendships are my most rewarding,and I cherish these women.Their a part of my family,and I am honored to be a part of theirs.
Friday 2 March 2012
Dining In
Even with just 4 kids,sometimes getting everyone dressed and ready just takes all the fun out of going out to dinner.Add the fact we are in major saving mode and we did not have the desire(okay I lie the desire was there for me,but Nick stuck to his word with words like ''I am putting my foot down'') to go out for dinner tonight like we have many times in the past on Friday nights.
So rather then sit at home and sulk about not having a nice not made by me meal I decided to gather my smarts and get into the kitchen.Friday nights for us are ''mish mash'' dinners.We basically have a easy nights meal whether it be home cooked or a treat of eating out.Either way it is always something special.
But considering we are on this new diet that allows very little for dinner other then chicken or fish and rice and veg and salad I was brain storming how to make it work.And work it out I did!
So some yummy seasoned chicken breast with home made wedges as a treat and then beans,lettuce and rice and OOH it was perfect!Kids ate almost every scrap of it and I was not disappointed we had stayed home afterward because if we had of gone out the kids likely would not have eaten every scrap of food on their plate.Basically the same as what we have but minus the wedges every night.
So even though sometimes we really do want to do something it was not the right time but we made the most and likely had more fun.I know the kids had a blast and my husband was very pleased.But moving hurry and be over with!!!!
So rather then sit at home and sulk about not having a nice not made by me meal I decided to gather my smarts and get into the kitchen.Friday nights for us are ''mish mash'' dinners.We basically have a easy nights meal whether it be home cooked or a treat of eating out.Either way it is always something special.
But considering we are on this new diet that allows very little for dinner other then chicken or fish and rice and veg and salad I was brain storming how to make it work.And work it out I did!
So even though sometimes we really do want to do something it was not the right time but we made the most and likely had more fun.I know the kids had a blast and my husband was very pleased.But moving hurry and be over with!!!!
Thursday 1 March 2012
Kidlets and Baking
School holidays,a Speeding year and Naptime!
I need to begin stockpiling art supplies for the holidays especially as we are always at threat of it being a wet lot.Rain season is still very much with us and it can be blaring heat one day and dark clouds and raining the following,tropical living at it's very best.
School holidays are looked forward to buy 3 people in our home.Me,and Heidi and Oliver.Me,because I don't have to leave the house if we have not planned a daily outing,so NO school drops and pick ups,YAY!
And Heidi and Oli because they both love playing with the 2 older girls and some days seems a bit lost with out them around.
Last year Amber was counting down her return to school and Lilly asks me every day as it is if she is going to school tomorrow so it's a given she will want to return asap too.
Nick is not phased.He comes home at the same time every day so if they have not been at school or have makes no difference to him.
With the new school term beginning in April we will have passed into the 4th month of the year in record time and then we have the 2 month countdown to Olivers 2nd Birthday!As I pre mentioned,this year is just zooming right by me.I feel like I am standing here waving back at the memories even though it feels like we were just experiencing them.
Being a almost 21 month old in 4 days is considerably hard work and I would think Nap time would be vastly looked forward to,I know it is for me.Yet for Oliver it seems to be on the lowest of his list of things to do every day.Just today,nap time happened an hour and a half later then usual and took place in my arms for 15 minutes before I bravely placed him in his bed.Night times use to be this way,but the switched clicked and he now loves bed time and goes to sleep at night just fine,no supervision or hugs required.Just keep chugging I guess.This way is better then no naps at all.All 3 of his big sisters quit naps at 2 years of age and rarely went back into having them less they're ill.So I will just take what I can get! :-D
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