Autumn Holidays

We had a very quiet family focused break from school and work - with a lot of time to grieve and also rest as we all managed to get quite ill.  The highlight for me was a trip for a night to the Pyrenees Mountains.

 

 This is the release of doves on the day we celebrated our special Granny's life.  We are thankful for the peace and joy she gave us all.  We miss her so much everyday.

In contrast to this is my children at the Shadbolts, when we took a couple hours out to be in the bush.  For me I need nature around me to get deep inside.  But my children took the opportunity to turn into bike bandits.

 

Grandma and Q - love his choice of cutlery!  Perfect for not eating too much Easter lunch to make sure there is plenty of room for the afternoon Easter egg hunt.

The moment before the hunt...

The girls with Easter clips I made - they were so good to wear them on the day - my heart was singing!  Below you will find more singing with some special friends who came to visit us on Easter Monday. Go Boys!

Good Friday evening was very chilly and we had a very relaxing time as a family in the Pyrenees - a time to reflect and rest.  This simply has been an exhausting and sad time in our family.  But perhaps this picture might just show you just how relaxing this time was!

A sleep over in a magical garden

This is the garden of a very special friend of mine - who despite of lack of contact since moving on from our uni lives - we are able to fall in and out of each others worlds quite easily. My children and myself just loved her home and garden - we had a fantastic sleep over and play.

Epic Canoe Trip on Loddon River

The second day of these school holidays I booked myself (being the adventurous mummy) and my son for a canoe trip on the Loddon River. I thought it would be fun and a great opportunity not only for some good wholesome one on one time with my son, but to get into the spirit of canoeing as we plan to purchase a family canoe, when we trade in the car.

It was advertised as a two hour paddle, however leaving at 10am and arriving back at 3pm that afternoon I certainly had very sore elbows and was amazed at my deep capacity for endurance - as this is what the poorly planned trip our host provided turned into.

Thankfully Kd and I were separated close to the start of the adventure as he used his paddle to splash me and in my fumbling to work out how to paddle the darn canoe he would yell out "We're DEAD. We're DEAD!"

Should I have the opportunity again I would definitely go - it was magic being on the Loddon River so full of water, the trees, the birds and the promises that you made yourself as you approached each bend in the river.

Here is the canoe hero




This was our canoe


Our fellow adventurers

The O'Keith Trail

Last Sunday we took a ride along the O'Keith Trail - I have been in Bendigo for ten years and can't believe I haven't done this before! You can down load a map of this trail from the link above.

It runs along an old train track and has plenty of historical landmarks and relics to make the trip into a discovery adventure.



(Hj bandaid from a previous skateboarding accident)

there is a family bike riding day along the trail this Sunday - but it is 50kms - Kd not quite up to it yet (not sure I am either - but will be posting about our enduring canoeing trip earlier this week soon!)

My London Niece (poem by RW)

Hi

I'm Madeleine

I can:
Smile
Laugh and giggle
Hold my head up
Lie on my tummy
Hold toys and lots of other things
Put things in my mouth
Suck my thumb and fingers
Play peek-a-boo

I like to:
play with my rattle
pull my blanket over my head
Look at the tv
Pause for the camera
Sing at 5am
Push on my legs and kick
Have baths and swim
And I love my mummy and daddy!

Hj Celebration another transition in her life

It has been two weeks now since Hj decided to put her dummy in the bin in exchange for a new fairy dress.

We had been slowly weening her off the dummy - saving it just for night time. It has been reasonably easy transition with lots of celebrating and sharing her story with others in our lives, who have been very happy for her.

Here is the plan

I couldn't help myself but post about this incredible creative feat at our home.


This post is about a concept developed by a certain son of mine and then working to realise his design intent.


I think he did a pretty darn good job in realising his concept!

(do you remember bommy knockers? - that is the name of that clobbering thing he has in his hand!)

Celebrating and creative activities happening around our home lately

Twins

some musical inspiration

Daddy Rocker and Hj Rocker featuring the Gossling T


Some musical inspiration



Tunes I remember well from when in Rome

Birthday Wishes to Mummy

An unforgettable birthday with something causing me awful pain in my right hip - the blood taking lady saying to me maybe your just feeling old.

Still managed to get a lot of love despite being a crippled couch grump. Here is the evidence. Thanks to my sister who came and played with my daughter and brought lots of bright colour into my home xxx and a brother who cooked me tea and a CAKE yum! Phone calls and gifts from the UK and a special text from another brother first thing in the morning!

A darling husband who took off two days of work to keep the household running and me off my feet - healing up with the pain easing off now - what is going on in this 35 year old body of mine?

A cousin sewing and cup cake scoffing afternoon (in the autumn)

We visited the place where the sky is everywhere

Where I grew up the sky was large and endless and I have an ongoing romantic longing to return there.

This week during the school holidays, thanks to the magic of facebook and the generosity of a farming family we visited a diary farm not far from the land were I grew up. It was lovely to reconnect with an old school friend and enjoy her family and farming achievements with her husband. They most certainly have a farm to be admired. Although in the following shots there aren't any cows (don't ask me why!) their cows are so gentle, quiet and happy milkers.

What's been going on? MUMMA???

Here are some snap shots of what has been happening in our funny little home since the last post, see life goes on despite a festival taking over a Mummy's life. (not to mention some really trashy Scottish historical diary novels!)

An illegal restaurant

The glittering effects of love


Making do


Cleaning

Skate board art & forts





Some relaxed driving