Quatro

Sienna turned four while we were away. Since we were camping I didn't have an oven to make her a cake (the cake ritual is her favourite part) so we made sure we made a fuss of her in other ways.

Presents as soon as she woke up, from us and other family members. A cafe breakfast of blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. A play in the park and then an hour at a beachside childrens activity stand. A helium balloon. An ice-cream in a cone. A swim at the beach. Fish and chips in town for dinner.

Spoiled, no?

To top it off, when we got home from dinner an old family friend staying at the park had heard we didn't have a cake for S and he'd made one for her in his caravan. Chocolate cake with chocolate icing. 4 candles on top. We were so touched.

So yes, definitely spoiled and so well deserved.

Happy birthday to my beautiful S. You're growing in front of my eyes with each passing week. I just hope its fast enough for you...you want to be so big so quickly. x

New Year, new skills

It’s a whole new year.

For several reasons I really feel this year is the time to close my mouth and open my ears. Open my heart. Listen. To what’s going on inside me. To what’s happening around me. Does it feel good? Is this working for me?

Listen to what others are sharing. Sit back a little instead of taking the limelight. Take stock of myself. Stop talking and start doing - quietly. Without pomp and ceremony. Without seeking approval. Without talking about it. Only talking about it.

I plan to slowly, quietly, day by day, chip away at my dreams for myself. Just for one year. This year. x

Starting off 2011 in a tent

We were lucky enough to call and they had a cancellation that we could take. And so it was that our little family packed up and headed to the Great Ocean Road for a week's holiday in the new year.

Our modest set up

We camped at a little caravan park that I'd camped at between the ages of 12 and 22. It'd been over 10 years since I'd camped there and it felt strange  yet wonderful to return and see all the old familiar faces that I grew up with...and meet their children!

Typically our days started with a walk to the toilet block followed by a walk on the beach. Shells and rocks were collected on each walk. We ate breakfast in the sun then got ready to head down the beach for the day, or into town for a coffee.

The creek that runs along the top end of the caravan park provided ours of fun for the girls. Safe fun. Is has turned out to be a dare devil and would crawl right into the waves given the opportunity. After a minor dumping on her first day she quickly learned to crawl into the waves and then stand when they reached her, then crawl some more.

S spent hours and hours in the water. She loves the sun and sand. One day she was a mermaid and I was visiting her rock pool castle. The next she was too cool for mum as she played with the older kids in the creek. The following day I'd be her side kick as we explored the rocks and the holder of found shells.

We camped directly behind the sand dunes and would fall asleep to the roar of the ocean each night. If we positioned ourselves correctly we could enjoy a vino and an ocean view while still staying close enough to hear and "supervise" sleeping children (that is, when they finally slept).

My sister visited us for 3 days. She brought with her a world of excitement for the kids (she has an amazing imagination) and some repreve for the parents. She'd encourage me to go for a walk, go see the sun setting, have another drink, sit in the comfy chair. She even fixed up the toe situation I had going on by painting them bright red. Thanks Studio Christensen. She was a breath of fresh air and so fun to play with...and I'm not just talking about the kids.

Is with Aunty Lise

Being a seasoned tent camper I had learned (sometimes the hard way) that the illusion of privacy that one may feel inside a tent is exactly that, an illusion. That flimsy canvas does not block out your private conversation or confessions when you're 15, nor the honeymoon sex you're still enjoying in your first year of marriage.

Enter two children into the mix. Our first time camping with them. I was acutely aware that the way I spoke with, played with and disciplined my girls was public knowledge. I even yelled in whispers at one stage. It is possible - email me and I'll give you a run down on how to execute it. I think its all in the scary, earnest face.

Anyway, we couldn't have been too much of a problem for our neighbours even if S woke at 6.30am and couldn't for the love of God master the whisper. One of our neighbours told us how well behaved our girls had been. The next day each overtired child flipped out on separate occasions for a looong time...perhaps they'll be so kind as to keep their compliments to themselves next time.



Dad shielding S from the strong winds whipping sand onto S. Ouch!


All up I'd say it wasn't always easy but it was a wonderful holiday. It was warm and sunny with no rain (a campers enemy). The girls played in the water every day and made friends with a family of 3 girls next door. Our beds were comfy and the food and wine was good. I'd do it again next year if I could convince the Big Fella its a good idea.

No luck so far as he claims he came home more tired than when we left. He may or may not have a point. x

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours, enjoy and happy and relaxing Christmas.

I for one am feeling very tired and a little emotional (?) after all the Christmas celebrations and am looking forward to relaxing with my mum and sister tomorrow with a glass of wine or two (child free!). 

Christmas Lights

So excited in her car seat about to leave...in her pj's.

I took S out tonight to see Christmas lights for the very first time. She was the perfect age to go. The excitement of waiting up until it neared darkness. Knowing that her little sister was tucked up fast asleep as we "snuck" out of the house and drove out of the driveway towards our little adventure.

As we approached the street that I planned to visit she could see houses lit up along the way. All I could hear were exclamations of happiness from the back seat. I had the biggest grin on my face and a lump in my throat as she said "Look mum! A Santa on the roof", "oh mummy, thank you, thank you for bringing me to see the lights", "those lights...they're so...so...gracious!" (I have no idea where she gets this stuff from, but I love it).

The pictures tell the rest. Definitely worth the drive and a great lead up to Christmas. Something we'll be doing again next year. x

No more dummy

She must have been ready. I told her I had a surprise for her in the morning if she went to bed without a dummy.

One catch though (isn't there always?) - you can't have the dummy back. It's gone for good.

And just like that S ditched the dummy for her surprise and was wrapped with it when she woke up this morning (at 6.30am). Mum's pretty impressed too! Unbelievably painless. x

Second chance

These pics will be going into the grandparents Christmas cards. Hope they like them. I broke out in a sweat getting them. A couple of nice ones out of over a hundred shots people...

Thanks Nonna for your help. x

A blooper...but so cute.

If at first you don't succeed...

This was my first attempt at getting a festive pic of S to go in the grandparents Christmas cards. Is was asleep and S was surprisingly compliant about putting on a pretty dress and letting me do her hair. It seemed like it was going to be easy...

The actual "photo shoot"? She wasn't that interested from the start. It's not as easy as photographers make it look. Right facial expression, bad light. Great light, she's won't look. Subject will. not. stand. still. Subject is 3 and is having way too much fun mucking around. Subject is bored and is leaving the room.

Lets just say there'll be a second attempt once I gather more courage. x

Vases

Since spring we have been breeding vases with flower heads precariously sitting on top.

I've tried explaining to S the virtues of enjoying the flowers in the garden, where they're happiest.

I've even gone the route of asking that if she must pick the flowers, perhaps pulling further down their stem would be best so I don't have to fill the vases to the top just so the poor, wilted flower head can drink some water. There has been limited success with this notion.

Either way, you're pretty much guaranteed around our house that there will be little vases of flowers striving to bloom after being plucked, played with and eventually brought inside to live out what life they may have left in them.

Bless her. x

Advent

Here we are at December already...yikes!

Just as I was talking myself into being ok that I completely forgot to make an advent calendar like I'd planned to...I stumbled upon this post (yes, Tracey saved the day again), directing me to this freebie.

A paper advent calendar. Fancy paper bags, no less. I was beyond chuffed and motivated to give it a go, even if it was last minute.

So, while S was at kinder for too two brief hours, I printed off, cut out and hung the first 10 days on our fireplace. Instead of a chocolate every day I planned on writing little notes that outlined little activities we could do every day, getting us ready for Christmas. 

When I arrived at kinder to pick S up I was all excited that I'd made the beginnings of the calendar in the nick of time. All prepared to show her a little surprise when she got home, S pipped me at the post and had a little surprise of her own for me...in the form of a pale face, a towel and a bucket.

Fast forward to her lying on the couch (in front of the fireplace) after emptying the contents of her stomach in the car...without any interest in my pride and joy advent calendar hanging there awaiting her attention.

By 5.30pm I'd long since  given up on the notion that we'd be implementing today's activity - putting up the Christmas tree. But alas - ever the unpredictable 3 year old - she rallied, expressed interest, read the note and was dancing around me as I was putting the tree together getting both of us caught up in the string of beads she was wrapping around us.

By 5.45pm she'd lost interest and I continued until 8pm when at last it was completed.

And so it was that the celebration of Advent for this year had begun. x