Birthday Season in Full Swing!

NB: No one has been punched in the face in these pictures, my camera has developed a black smudge on the lens and depending on the direction of the lens or the position of the subject it can look dubious!

Yes its the beginning of birthday season in our house.  Birthdays are a really big deal and we celebrate well.  Traditions have been created within our family and continue year after and year. (as traditions do - duh)  This year Kaitlyn turned 7 and while 7 isn't  generally considered by many as a "wow-you-are-7" number (not like 1, 5 or 10), we felt we needed to make it an "oh-my-goodness-you-are-7-that-is-so-cool".

Our birthdays always starts off the night before when decorations go up, then with present opening first thing in the morning and then progress on to birthday breakfast of choice.

                                         

Because turning 7 is something to be celebrated, this wee little lady got treated to getting her ear-pierced. She had asked me a couple of weeks prior if she could get "holes in her ears" and I thought that would be a pretty special birthday present.

One very excited girl (and one nervous Mama)

Ear-rings in and a celebratory morning tea was in order!

(I was so glad that was over)

Definitely can't have birthdays without cupcakes!!

                                                  

Its been a long standing tradition that the kids can choose their birthday cakes or choose to have me make a surprise one for them.

Kaitlyn's request was a giant chocolate cake!  And really you couldn't get anymore chocolate than this one.  Maybe even bordered on too much chocolate - if that is even possible!

(Did I just say that?)

I found this photo on my camera, I am assuming one of the kids took it.

I actually think it looks quite cool in all its blurry-ness!

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Kaitlyn

Happy Birthday to you!

                                         

Three days later......

The changing of the decor'!

Sophie wanted a Minnie Mouse party for her special birthday!

She was turning 5!

Birthday wishes from big brothers always appear on the windows all ready for the morning festivities!

When you are five you get to have TWO birthdays!  One for a few friends where party games are played and a special table is set!!  No Big Brothers allowed at this table!

They did get fed though!

You also get to decorate/create you own ice cream cake!

This brings out the control freak in me - I want to help!!!

Her creation!!!

Minnie Mouse would be proud!  You know I am not the most creative person around and I am more than willing to admit that I did not come up with any of these ideas myself. Pinterest is a wonderful thing for those of us who are creatively challenged.  Even for those of us on a budget you can still glean ideas and make them your own.

I will say though that the table cloth was my idea, 

one of my rare (very very rare) creative clever moments!!

The table is set, already to enjoy!

Another Pinterest gleaned idea!

When working with ice cream cakes, you have to work fast as they melt really fast and burning candles on top of them doesn't help either!

Party number TWO!! Is a party with family, extended family, good friends and important people in 

Sophie's life!

More Cupcakes!

Sadly I can't take credit for these beauties!

Thanks Aunty Tash!

Presents!!

Presenting opening for little kids always has the potential to be a little embarrassing.

In my observation of many many children opening presents - they ALL just want to open them as fast as they can and most will say at least one inappropriate thing. I don't think they are being rude - its just EXCITING and they are LITTLE!!

I have learnt not expect any child to gush over a present I give them when they open it.

 Life is too short to get offended over it!

Sophie definitely had a Minnie Mouse theme going with her presents this year.

We love Minnie Mouse around here!

This year Sophie's choice of cake was....a unicorn or a volcano!

Random choices and poles apart!

I choose a volcano purely for selfish reasons....1. a volcano is far easier to make and takes less time and 

2. A unicorn really???  Did you not see my last attempt at an animal!!

Sophie was very very blessed with her two special days!  They are so many people that are important and that we appreciate their input into her, ours and other kids lives! 

Celebrating is an important part of our family life. I don't think as a society we do it enough or very well.

That is why we make an effort to create a big deal of even seemingly small things (or seemingly unimportant birthdays like 7) because its those small things that make up the majority of our lives.

"Birthdays give us the opportunities to stop and appreciate all the beautiful things and people that we have been Blessed with." -Author Unknown

Happy Birthdays Girls!!!

 See below the reason why I did not attempt an unicorn!  Jesse's 1st birthday cake was suppose to be a duck but turned out looking like a .....seagull with a broken beak and issues with its feathers perhaps?

Lessons from my 4 year old

I am not sure I like the title that I have given this post.  So bare with me if it doesn't make any sense at all.  Sometimes things happen in your life that show you just how far you have come (or sometimes but hopefully not just how far you have fallen) I like to think you and I have more of the former. This one is about how far I have come - Yhuss! 

My journey over the past few years to a more peaceful and intentional way of parenting has had many surprises and challenges.  It has provided me with challenges opportunities for reflection, learning and growth.  Oooo don't we all love those.  For too many years my parenting was more or the kind of "just deal with whatever crap comes your way - no direction - no theory - just do what you know - control your kids" kind of parenting.  But that was then and this is now. As with the rest of my life I am discovery and embracing a new way thinking and acting. And wouldn't you know I am becoming a better person in the process.  I said better - not perfect. I still stumble at times but now I am in a place where I learn from those stumbles.  We all like to learn don't we?

Yesterday my son Jayden (10) came into the kitchen and said in a very serious voice, "Mum you better come and take a look at this".  Uh oh.  Words of that sort is never a good thing.  A myriad of scenarios went through my mind from poo on the walls to feathers from a duvet all over the room and everything in between.  You know likely scenarios when you have kids.  He lead me into his room and pointed to his sister, Sophie (4) colouring in her dolls face with bright coloured pastels (aka face paint). 

Superhero dolls!

If you look closely you can see they even have masks around their eyes!!

Past Parent-Me: "What the hang do you think you are doing?  You should know that we draw on paper and not on dolls!  Now look at them, totally ruined.  That is just plain naughty.  I can't believe you would do something so stupid!  What the hang am I going to do now?  Ahhhhhh! 

.......and so on and so on!  Reads pretty awful and it sounds even worse but that is how I would of reacted and how a lot of parents still react to situations. I say this because I have heard it many times in loads of different situations.  But this isn't about them its about me.  For many many years I was guilty of reacting like the above and that makes me sad.  I would see the little girl and her eyes tearing up, yet I still wouldn't be able to stop. I would of totally missed what was actually going on or happening. Totally missed the moment in my anger.  Not to mention I more than likely would of felt bad and guilty for reacting like that, felt a failure as a parent/mother/person AND I just know I would of had to apologise to her. And who likes to do that! But fast forward to few years to yesterday and the scene played out like this!

Present Day Parent - Me: "Oh. pause BIG breath in. Sophie, what are you doing?
Sophie: looking at me with her big smiling eyes Um colouring in her face.
Me: Yes I see that.  Why are you doing that?
Sophie:  We are playing dolls and they are super-heroes and I am making her a mask on her face. See?
Me: on closer inspection Oh I see. I actually thought it looked pretty cool.  She looks like a Ninja Turtle now.
Sophie:  Kaitlyn did hers too!
Me:  Right, so even though we have super-hero dolls, what are we going to do about the drawing on the dolls because drawing on dolls isn't ideal
Sophie: It might wash off?? Yes you can wash it later.
Me:  Well you might have to help me wash it.
Sophie: Yeah but later we are playing now

I think you get the general idea.  I know that if I had taken one look at what she was doing and flew off the handle like I had done for all those years, I would of missed out on her explanation, the display of her imagination, totally shut down her creativity and how proud she sounded and made her feel ashamed.  Yes yes I know many of you will think that drawing on dolls will be seen as naughty and not looking after toys/disrespectful.  But I now know that she didn't set out to do something naughty, but to create something she needed and I actually thought it was pretty darn neat.  And the problem was easy fixed too. Soap and water!

So the problem (drawing on dolls) was still there and still had to be dealt with regardless of how I was going to react.  Now I (try) choose to leave my dignity intact, to come up another level as a parent and as a person. I am not perfect, still have moments where I react just like a big baby but moments like that are getting further apart - fortunately. Phew!!

I know that this will REALLY stretch some people boundaries in their thinking. Maybe you are thinking I am completely bonkers! That's OK - a lot of people do.  But stretching our boundaries is good, especially when it challenges you. Isn't that how we learn?  I know that we all want to have deep and loving relationships with our children. 

Let me ask you, if you were Sophie, how would you have liked me to react? 

One loved cat

Around here we love cats.  Even my husband had a severe soft spot for cats, especially poor abandoned ones.

(although he may try to deny it)

This tiny wee kitty was an orphan and only 2-3 weeks old when we somehow became her owners.   She moved in last October about 4 weeks out from my due date.

This is the kitten that Jamie fed with a dropper 3hourly day and NIGHT!

The first night that we had her she was sleeping in our room and I got up to go to the bathroom(as you do when you are 36weeks pregnant) and she woke up.

I woke Jamie up and he shot up out of bed thinking my waters had broken but no it was just to feed the kitten.
This is the kitten that had a bed made for her complete with a hot water bottle covered in soft towels for her to sleep on.
This is the kitten that Jamie taught how to go to the toilet.
(I will spare you the details to how he did that)
This is the kitten that he taught how to lap.
This is the kitten he has bathed and deflea-ed with a pair of tweezers.

Such dedication!

 

We call her Stella.

(Stell Bells, Stella Rubella and Stella Bells)

 

All the kids love her but the one that loves her the most is Sophie.

Sophie loves her so much that Stella gets lugged around nearly all day.

I don't blame her for hiding at every given opportunity.

Thanks to Sophie, Stella gets to 'high 5' everyone that comes into our house with her paw including a visiting Financial Advisor - thankfully he kindly obliged.

Sophie plays games with her, attempts to dress her, push her in push chairs and likes to put her in cupboards.

Last week I opened a cupboard where we keep our newspapers and Stella was sound asleep in there. Who knows how long she was in there?

I do have to say that she doesn't help herself by climbing into cupboard while they are open only for them to be shut on her.

Unbeknown to me I have shut her in the fridge for a good five minutes, Silly cat!

 

Our other cat is Trixie.

Stella loves Trixie. Can you tell?

I think this is a case of 'anything you can do I can do better!'

 

 

My cat likes to hide in hats!

 

There is never a dull moment around here as you probably already know.

This time it involved dear wee Stella.

See that tree, see the very top of it.

Well that is where she got stuck!

When she didn't turn up for breakfast, Jamie went on a brief walk around and heard her meowing.

We couldn't even see her.

 

It was about here, when Jamie finally got a look at where she was.

He gingerly climbed as high as he wanted to and then a bit more.

 

Poor thing was so scared that he didn't even need to hold on to her while he was climbing down, she held on to him!

 

On the ground at last!

I hope she doesn't do that again.

 

It is a little bit of a worry though when you have pets. We have had two cats now that have been run over in the last few years (R.I.P Sylvie and Tuesday) and none of them has been loved as much as Stella.

I really hope nothing happens to her, as there will be very sad little people in my house.

 

 

In our 'school'...

We are nearly at the end of our Moon Study.

It makes me smile when I hear the kids describing what phase the moon is in.

"ooooohh its a waning gibbous moon"

"Hey Mum the moon is a crescent tonight"

We did take the opportunity to have a look at the full moon this month. It is amazing anyway but through a telescope its even better.

(sorry the photo doesn't do it justice)

 

I have even learnt a fair bit. I have always known that the moon effects the tides, the water table and the water in vegetables and fruits etc but I could never have told you why. A lot of people think that its a bit hocus pocus. BUT I now know why and it makes complete logic and sense.

 

We made Moon/night-time sky pictures too!

All you need is black paper, a craft knife and a hole making device (we used a screw driver) and

Presto!

 



We put them up on the window and the light shining through the black paper makes it look like the
night-time sky

I found this photo on my camera. 

Being dressed up and having your photo taken by your older brothers....

 



 Priceless!



In my life this month...

In my life this month...
 

We have flies!  We have had flies since the beginning of summer and I can say most definitely that I am soooo over them.  We don’t just have one or two flies.  We don’t just have those crazy flies that fly in a group of three or four in the middle of room in a seemingly pointless circular pattern.  We have FLIES!!  It gets to me after a while (can you tell). At present there is one crawling over the computer screen as I write, no make that two.  Aahhhhh!  Late afternoon in our house see families of flies having a reunion at the tops of our windows, on the floor, in the bathroom and on our benches.  As much as I HATE fly spray, it is unleashed at this time of day by one brassed off Mama who has had enough of swishing flies off her sleeping baby.  Just moments later the insane sound of buzzing and fizzing of dying flies – what a sweet sound it is and it makes me happy.  Only now I have to vacuum. Dumb.  I must be the only person in the world that vacuums her bench of dead flies.  Now just in case you are thinking that I must be the dirtiest person in the world, I’m not.  We live on a farm, a farm with cows! I shouldn’t have to say anymore.  It’s one of the very few downfalls of living here.  Fortunately they only last for three months of the year. Thankfully. And no I am not going to post a photo of flies, they don't deserve that.

Ok so now I have that off my chest I can carry on.

In our home 'school' this month...

We are looking at the moon and all its glory!  Its a very interesting topic once you start delving into it.  We have been hindered by a terrible sickness though and there are some days that school gets push to the side in order just to survive.  I am waiting for the next full moon to haul out my Dads old telescope so we can get a closer look at it.  Kaitlyn is very interested in doing workbooks as is Sophie (3) who is itching for me to teach her letters. She will do school at any time of the day and will shove the workbook in my face whenever she can. Long may that continue!

 

Helpful Home school advice or tips...

Be organised. School doesn't just happen around here. As much as I love the idea of unschooling I have to be purposeful and intentional to some degree and that requires organisation on my part.  I suggestion here, an idea there and a request along the way.  If I didn't do this then I am pretty sure the boys would play Monopoly and Cricket all day everyday.

Jaydens Home-made Cricket Bat - lasted two deliveries but still good effort!

 

 I am inspired by...

 

My Children's Creativity

 

"Enjoying the Small Things" a blog by Kelle Hampton, Good Friends and Good Conversations

Places we are going and people we are seeing...

We have been in self-imposed isolation for three weeks now, due to a hideous and contagious bug. Jamie however has been away for three nights (lucky him) as part of his training.  So my darling friend came to stay with me as did my lovely brother-in-law while Jamie was away. Oh and we have seen the doctor too!

My favourite thing this month....

My wrap, a life saver for me, in a busy home. I can wear Jesse on me and he sleeps for longer than he would in bed.  He also sleeps better during the day in the lounge in amongst the noise and goings on that is everyday life.  Every now and I might pop him into bed but its always ours, obviously so much snugglier than his!

 

What is working for us...

Our prayer bowl - names of our entire family, extended family and close friends are put into a bowl and once (sometimes twice) a day everyone pulls a name out and they pray for that person. The kids love this and it encourages them to pray for other people and not just themselves.

The construction of the family "Prayer Bowl"

Our job bowl - every job that I can think of is in this bowl (I take out what isn't required at the time) and we all pull a job until they are all gone.  Today I had five jobs, clean 1 toilet, clean 1 basin, vacuum the lounge, tidy the front door area and dry the dishes. The boys had four jobs each, Kaitlyn had two and Sophie who desperately wanted to help was given the job of assisting me. Jamie was the over-seer. Result all housework done in three quarters of an hour!  YES!

 

The girls made a train whilst I was washing the floor.

Can you see the 'Stella' cat got to play too?

 

...not working for us...

Night-time!  No one is getting much sleep and that's not fun. Being housebound!  Just a little over it.

Questions/thought I have...

I am thinking about...

What to learn about after the "Moon",  Ideas for the ladies ministry for this year, A communion message,  Writing for Blogs - I have so many in my head and on the computer, but often wonder is it too much of me out there, too much to be judged, abused and misunderstood but then again why write in the first place if no one is going to read it, be inspired by it, be encouraged, entertained or challenged by.

Things I am working on....

Being Organised!  I am wanting this so much that I am frustrated at my lack of it.  I am learning!   Also getting this "post baby body" back into "pre baby shape". That too is a work in progress.                                                                                                                                                   

I'm reading...

'Galatians', Home Birth Bound (again), Books about the Moon, Alaskan Brides (yes I know - laugh if you must) and The Remarkable Women of the Bible (again)

I'm cooking...

Apart from the copious amount of baking I do, I cook.  Favs at the moment are Risotto, Pizza and Spaghetti and Meatballs! Nothing special there.

I'm grateful for...

My husband, who is willing to forgo his bed and take up a mattress on the floor next to Sophie and help her during the night while she is so sick. The Lords continual provision of our wants and needs during this journey we find ourselves on. Friends that I can share my heart with. Our country where we still have the choice as to where and how we birth, where and how we educate and where and how we live our lives. Being able to have my family around me almost all of the time and watching my children interact with each other

I am praying for...

Healing for our children. 

Gods continual guidance and provision.

"Moments of  Everyday Life " Photos

Our carrots weren't the bumper crop we were hoping for but still 'Thor' the resident rabbit got his fill!

A lesson in 'Fractions' if you will
(oh and subtraction of course)

 

Cows!
One reason for our fly problem! No make that 550 reasons!

 

 

This is Sophie watching a movie. 

Don't ask me why!

 

 

 So tell me...................

Whats happening in your life this month?