Tidbits of May.

Funny story. I started a blog last night. That's not unusual, I have a huge number of started/unfinished blogs. But this one was about being more disciplined and finishing what I start and I never finished it!  So TYPICAL!  I really have a bad habit of over-thinking and second guessing myself therefore I am not happy with it and I don't finish it.

SO tonight I aim to finish this and I will not allow myself to go to bed until its done!  Here goes....

 

Family

Super important and we are incredibly blessed to have a substantial sized one.

 I love that we laugh ALOT.

I love that my children know each other.

 

Casey (12) and Jesse (6months) having traditional morning cuddles!

 We love to celebrate.

We love traditions, for traditions tie us to each other, to history and to something bigger than ourselves.

Life is truly empty without traditions.

 

Happy Birthday Jayden (10)

 Turning 10 is a big deal around here and comes with a PARTY baby!

Jayden's choice was an Xbox party of course.

It was such a boy day, junk food, Xbox and pizza!

He loved it.

(I am not fan of said Xbox at all, but its not about me is it)

Our boys generally only get the Xbox on a Sunday afternoon for 2-3 hours so being able to play it for an entire afternoon/evening was a BIG DEAL.

Especially since we got together some of Jayden's Uncles and a friend for occasion.

My lounge was transformed to a gaming arena!

 

 

Excuse photo quality as is was really poor lighting.  But I think you get the general idea!

 

 May is always a busy month for us as a family and this year it was insanely busy.  I found that I really had to work at 1) staying sane and 2) Engaging on a simple level with each of my children.
One thing I love about home-schooling is that we have the time and space to really embrace whatever the kids are interested in at any given time. ( and I tell you it REALLY could be anything)  Kaitlyn got a build-it-yourself (but really get an adult to do it for your because its really too hard for you) birdhouse as a present. So she and Jamie got out the hammer one afternoon and put it together.  This sparked an interest in birds and bird-watching consequently this led to erecting a bird-feeder on the fence outside our lounge window so we could observe the birds.

I am not really sure what bird around here is going to be able to fit in there but none-the-less it has been attached to the tree next to the bird feeder.

 We are also currently into sewing. Sewing bibs for that matter.  All the kids wanted to turn at using the sewing machine and desperately wanted to make a bib for Jesse. I love this about them.  So for 'Technology' we had a look at 1)What was the function of a bib?  2)What makes a good bib? and
 3) What things must a bib have?

Then it was a lesson on making and cutting out a pattern.

Of course I would have to put some written work in there somewhere, (much to their disgust). All my children would rather be 'doing' than 'writing'.

 

 Hand over hand, Kaitlyn and I gingerly used the sewing machine together. Fortunately her legs aren't long enough to reach the pedal so I had control of the speed of the machine.  Thankfully no fingers were run over in the process!

 

 Presto!  A Bib for Jesse!

 

Jesse now has a collection of new bibs, thanks to his siblings.

Sophie and Kaitlyn have found a large piece of gold sequined material (how on earth I came to have that I do not know) and thought it would make a good princess skirt. So I guess that is next on the agenda.  Don't think the boys would want one though.

 

I just thought I would put up these photos of Jamie and 2 of his brothers enjoying a Friday morning breakfast. No we do not breakfast like this everyday but moments like these make me smile. I love that they can get together and enjoy each others company over the simple act of having breakfast.  I pray that my children will do the same in years to come when they are adults!

 

Yay! I made it! Finished!

I am so proud of myself right now!

Delighting....

Winter for me is my least favourite season.  Everything is asleep, dormant, and lying low.  I like to  lie low too.

Home is where I like to be, hibernating.  Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) one has to venture out at some stage even if its to the grocery store.

Winter is all about...

Mud....this is in the paddock next door to us.  Three boys + mud + oodles of energy = mountains of washing!!!  Need I say anymore!  (You can feel sorry for me if you like)

 

Cows, cows and more cows... its calving season round these parts....

 

 

 

Gumboots...winters uniform!

Essential for winter sport watching!

 

 

 

Gods abundant supply of a winter remedy!

 

I just love how God has everything all worked out, right down to the abundant supply of fruit that has all the essential goodness that we need during the winter months!

 

But to see me through these winter months I love to find things that I can delight in, small things that provide me with a smiling ray of sun (even when its crappy weather outside)

 

Delightful things like...

 

Small people and playdoh...

 

 

 

 

my three pet puddle ducks, Jasper, Jemimah and Jillian...

 

 

 

the first of springs gifts, flowers from a friend...

 

Springs first flowers for me is like a sign of hope, that winter that WILL come to an end.

 

The rare day when washing can be dried on the line in th elate winters sun.  You can almost smell summer on the clothes if you burying your nose deep into the washing and sniff....ooo this ones a goodie!

 

 

 

This one warms my heart.  Big brother Casey (11) made his wee sisters a 'Tinkerbell' house!

 

 

 

 But the thing that is delighting my soul the most at the moment is....

 

a good old pot of tea!

 

 

Tea ALWAYS tastes better out of a teapot and even better if its in a cup with a saucer!

This is relaxing and peaceful no matter when or where you drink it.

 Conversations with a friend, the early morning wake-up cuppa, the post lunch cuppa or the 4pm cuppa when you are trying to ward off the urge to raid the marshmallow or chocolate chip container!  Yes I do do that! 

 Desperate times makes for desperate measures I tell you!!

 

I have noticed that the things that warm my heart the most are the little things, each days little touches.  Moments, that if you let them, go un-noticed.

But I encourage you

NOTICE!!

 

 

 

 

Not Feeling it....

You may or may not have noticed my lack of blogging of late.   To be truthful I haven't been feeling "it" lately. "It" being in a state of mind to be creative, to get things done, lack of inspiration, in a rut and/or any other reason you may have for not doing something.  Truthfully I can't clean properly if I ain't feeling it.  But once I feel 'it'...then look out I am on a roll!   So its been about 2 - 3 weeks of not feeling 'it' and after uploading some 178 photos (from 2-3 weeks) on to the computer from my camera I have realise I have missed out on blogging on some seriously cool stuff.

 Darn it!!!

 So I am kicking my own butt and forcing myself to feel 'it'.

So I might just give you a quick rundown in colour of our seriously cool stuff and catch up on myself.  I will however leave out our Easter Celebrations and tell you about that next blog!

Ok lets get ready to ruuuuuuumble!.........

Thomas making his very own Bivvy after watching Bear Grylls make own!

I don't know if Bear would of had a saw handy but oh well.....

Even the brothers and sisters joined in to help!

 

Finished Product!

I am quite impressed this was still standing and intact after two nights of gale force winds in which we lost a bit of our roof!

There was two days of creativeness (and sawdust throughout the dining room)...

.....with a box of kindling!

Check out all that honey!

Poppa Peter came to harvest it and we have named it Puahue Gold!

And we harvested a whopping 110 carrots!

Father and Daughter on garden clean up duty. I just love the way Kaitlyn still has 'pink flair' even whilst gardening!

Its coming to the season for amazing sunrises. I will never ever get tired of opening the curtains to vistas like this. 

Just simply beautiful!

So that's about it, very fast and very simple!  I regret not feeling "it" but oh well I am here now!

So until next time when I'll tell you all about our Easter celebrations...such a special time!

In the meantime please check out my sister in laws

 (from Budds1/see previous posts)

blog.

She has just started blogging and recording her adventures with her family of three girls (15, 12, and 10)  They are one of my most favourite families and source of inspirations!

Awake The Desert

Enjoy and see you soon!

Promise!

Celebrating Boy-dom

It was brought to my attention that I haven't written about my boys for while.  Yes that is true and I just have to say that I certainly don't love them any less.  I think that I am finding my girls play most intriguing at present.  Their play brings me back to moments in my own childhood and times spent with my own sisters.

But.....that isn't any excuse!  So in celebration of my boys I am going out to explore BOY-DOM!!

Boys aren't pretty, dainty and fancy in their play, no they are BIG, LOUD, FEISTY and ROBUST!

Bow and Arrows are so the thing at the moment!

It could be to do with the fact that I am reading Robin Hood to them at the moment as part of 'school'.

In their room I find....

 

Huts!!! 

 I kid you not this is a regular occurrence.  I have come to the realisation that they don't need beds because they very rarely sleep in them.

Even though Casey (10) says he wants his own room, I find him often asleep on the floor of his brothers room. Crazy! 

Creative mess?!

Jaydens 'pet' Slater!

One of the things that I love most about my boys is that they are real 'mates' with each other. They love to hang out, invent games and talk rubbish with each other.  We have an added bonus which is a BIG extended family. Jamie's brothers have got loads of time and energy to spend with my boys. Providing them with other positive and loving role models apart from their Dad.

I am so thankful and blessed to be apart of a multi-aged family and I pray that my boys only carry this on for ones that are younger than them and for ones that are to come.

My boys and the famed Uncle Sam just chilling out!

Sometimes I fret over providing enough 'learning experiences' for the boys but it was pointed out to me, they find their own!

I love the expression on Jaydens face.

 

I have learnt NOT to interfere and say dumb things like,  'What are you making?"  or "Perhaps you should do it like this"  Those are big No-nos!

Here is what they made, the three of them, together!

No for those who perhaps can't guess what it is, I'll tell you.

It is a fort.

For their knights and horses and army men.

Of course! Aren't they creative!

And just so you know...their room does look presentable again!

What are your boys up too?

"A brother shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams."

- Author Unknown