The better of the two.

One thing I've learned as a stay at home mum is that there are two types of home days. There is the one that feels mundane, where time seems to go ever so slowly and feelings of boredom loom. The house seems lifeless and patience is thin, so no meaningful play is had. Snacking prevails all day and endless cups of tea are drank for the sole purpose of procrastination.

Today was the other kind of home day. Filled with the mundane, but not felt like it. Beauty was found in the little things, clothes were hung regardless of grey skies and while endless cups of tea were still had, they were from pretty cups and enjoyed. Meaningful play was had, and time was soaked up.

I like to remember this type of home day - the better of the two.

Linking with IBOT.

Much loved art

This little project is one I've been wanting to do for ages. 

Inspired by a few I'd seen, I just had to summon the kids and create a few for ourselves. It is such a beautiful and fun way to display the kids artwork.

The kids were able to draw straight onto the fabric using fabric markers, but a laundry pen or even sharpie will also work. 

So the fabric didn't pull and pucker as they drew, I taped each of their fabric pieces onto the table around all four edges, making sure it was nice and tight. 

A quick iron over them 'sets' the ink, making the drawings permanent. 

Then fabric strips and toy-fill turned those little masterpieces into really cute cushions!

They LOVE their little pillows.
We all do!

- sharing this project with for the kids, friday favs & do something crafty.

Stills : it's been a while

1/  Invitations made cute with Kiki K
2/  Generosity for a good cause
3/  A weekend away, the kids were so excited to pack their bags.
4/  Her golden hair
5/  Honey jumbles
6/  Feel-good decluttering

Joining Emily at the Beetleshack - It's been a while.

Pistachio Shell Painting

// "Wait, that's not rubbish, we can make something out of that!"

I'll admit it, sometimes I dread those words because let's face it, somethings are just not re-usable (think old toothpaste tube). But other times I see potential in what they are saying. As was the case with pistachio nut shells after the kids helped me make a favourite cake.

I set them up with paint, glue and a small length of wood each. I love seeing how differently Miss Goosey (5) and Master Tiger (4) approach free style crafts.

 

 

 

 

They really enjoyed painting a different canvas (very grateful for no nut allergies in our house for this one!) and picked up a bit more fine motor skills in the process.


Other things we've been playing.

two // lingering longer

Darling JD had a birthday recently. We were camping that day. So in the lead up I added to the end of our camping food grocery list 1 x chocolate cake mix, 1 x violet crumble, and some stick like chocolatey wafery things. Yes I really was that vague. But had a rough mental picture I was working off.

I made the cake base the night before we left and threw the icing packet, chocolates and everything else in the camping food containers. Does anybody else hate the preparation a camping trip demands? Especially when it's three years between trips. Yikes, so. much. organizing. I digress. It's about the boy.

He really is the sweetest. It struck me recently that I may not have a child this age again. That cute little way he talks, those chubby hands, that wide squinty smile, and contagious belly laugh. A part of me doesn't want him to grow up. Ever.

He loves to help. Whether it's emptying the dishwasher, picking up toys or making coffee, he wants to be a part of it. If you can picture a two year old at a coffee machine, measuring, tamping, and crema creating you'll get an idea of how clever our little barista is.

He sure has given us challenges, many of them new ones for us. And two year old tantrums? We're there. We have however reached that glorious point where we know he understands what is and isn't acceptable making it so much easier to respond to his behavior without fear of confusing him.

He is adventurous, enthusiastic, meticulous, and melt-your-face-off cute. I have been trying to live in the moment more with him. When he falls and comes to me, I cuddle him. And I linger a little longer in that moment, realizing his body won't always be so little. But I'm sure he'll still take my cuddles. I hope he'll still take my cuddles. He will take my cuddles whether he wants to or not.

Happy two JD, we love you to pieces.

He turned one here

for the love of over-the-top reactions

Mother's day was not all it's cracked up to be for quite a few fellow mums this year. Between my facebook and blog feeds, lets just say food poisoning, fighting kids and poo were a common theme. Makes me even more grateful for the special effort Mr Cookie and the kids went to on Sunday. Sure there was still fighting kids and poo involved but just the everyday kind, not extreme proportions thankfully.

Mr Cookie took the kids shopping the day before and they each picked out a present. I love that he lets them have complete choice in what they get me providing it's within budget of course. It's a delight to see what they've bought when I unwrap the gifts in the morning and I'm very pleased to say that I have not received any kitchen utensils or cleaning items as yet. This year Goosey chose a little pink owl photo album and Tiger bought a photo frame that said 'best mum ever'. And with some help JD bought chocolate and then cried all the way home because he wanted to eat it.

Of course over-the-top reactions to all the the token gifts and child teacher made cards from kindy, school, sunday school and playgroups does require some energy so early in the morning. But I love it, they love it, and take great delight in getting kisses and cuddles and an "I LLLLLLove it!" after each one.

This year even Mr Cookie joined in the spoils by cooking a delicious lunch and surprising me with an Estee Lauder collection I'd been eyeing off.

I have to say I don't always get spoilt this much on mother's day, but this year I did, and I LLLLLLoved it.

darling it's actually twenty thirteen

The first quarter is behind us, here's how it rolled.

I love that he makes me coffee every morning.

This year was always going to be very different to last. For the first time in five years, I find myself down to one child for some of the week days. That first day when I dropped Goosey at school and Tiger at kindy felt incredibly strange. With just me and JD at home, things just didn't feel right. I got nothing achieved that day, choosing to wander aimlessly around the house snacking all day until pick up. Glamorous no?

too much?

Thankfully things didn't stay that way - or else I'd be the size of my house! I slowly got used to our  new routine and discovered the good things about our new arrangement. Like getting to spend one on one time with JD. And oh my how much I can see he has benefited from this attention. He is calmer, communicating better, and has an amazing understanding of the world around him. 

A spot of reading before bed.

Because school and kindy are at different places, drop off and pick up takes a while. Although we live so close to both schools, with traffic, parking (and of course chit chat with other parents) it's not unusual for it to take an hour to an hour and a half each morning and afternoon. Some days it feels like I have only just walked in the door after leaving them when it is time to go back and pick them up. When we are all together again at the end of the day I just love hearing them telling each other about their day, and comparing who had the most fun. 

St Patrick's day lunchbox.

The kids aren't the only ones reaching milestones this year. Mr Cookie and I got to run away for a few nights to celebrate ten years of marriage. It was our first time to spend a couple of nights away from the kids but it was well worth the cost of flying his parents up to babysit! Goosey was a little worried we would forget her so as we were leaving she grabbed me and wrote her name in a heart on the top of my hand. What a darling. While of course we thought of her and the boys often, we thoroughly enjoyed our time away. We ate out for every meal, enjoyed lazing by the pool, and reveled in uninterrupted conversation. We played a game of tennis with the same competitiveness and enthusiasm of our pre-kids days, and tried hard (okay it wasn't hard) to soak up every minute of our little getaway. It is nice to know that we still get along so well ten years and three kids later.

Fine dining but in a casual setting - perfect!

I took on my first ever paid sewing job. Fifteen long circle skirts for a local high school dance production. I almost didn't take it on, being aware of how busy life is and not wanting to add to the hectic pace. A small part of me though knew that taking on challenges is good for me, and the feeling of accomplishing them nothing short of rewarding. And I am so glad I did! I learned so much, like it takes a heck of a lot of fabric to make long circle skirts. The best thing is I've gained so much more experience and know how about my overlocker and how to adjust the threads, tensions and feeds. And sewing with satin no longer terrifies me. Although I will be seeing that purple one in my nightmares, it was a shocker to sew with. In the end they turned out really well! I loved them, they loved them, and after I got my little pay check at the end, I was thrilled!

Four of the five bolts I turned into skirts.

We went camping for the first time in three years and loved loved loved it. The kids had an absolute blast and seeing them out and about in the bush and on the water made us realize without a doubt it is something we want to do more of. So now we are talking about upgrading our car to one we can fit our gear into a lot easier and making camping a more regular part of life.

A visit to the Goosey Cafe

I wrote this post many weeks ago, and now with so much of the second quarter already done, it won't be long until I'm writing this again. 

Over and out!