Tuesday, August 31, 2010

night words


~ cuddle me mama.
~ itch my back mama. no the other side. up. yeah. itch it harder mama. that's enough.
~ move over mama.
~ turn over I want your face mama.

she is soft and warm and smells of loveliness
she wriggles and turns all night
she needs to touch my skin
she listens to 'the three little pigs' or sometimes its 'the gingerbread man' while we lay together, me pretending to sleep so she'll stop talking and close her eyes
she squeezes so tightly saying 'your a good mama, I love you'
she is three and sleeps in our bed.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

weekends are for...

~ backyard sunning and playing with puppies



~ browsing second hand stores with friends


~ board games

Hope your weekend was filled with fun and friendship.

Friday, August 27, 2010

a moment


....to remember.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

needing nature








all of us.
it soothes
inspires
feeds
and brings us back to
who we really are,
at the core of our
beings.
creative souls
created in the image
of the
great
Creator

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

tea & talk


In a homeschooling family of four children we get to spend lots of time with one another but that doesn't always add up to quality. Sometimes I feel as if I missing them, who they really are, their little heart whispers. Sometimes the dynamic of four kids can get crazy and all I'm seeing is loudness and bickering.

At these times I'm reminded that perhaps a little one on one time is needed. And so after the other children are asleep or reading on their bed a tea and talk time on Mama's bed begins.
A tray is laid out all nice with flowers and its hot chocolate or tea, perhaps we'll have ice cream sundaes with hot fudge sauce or perhaps someone will be inspired to bake.



Recently my eldest girl really needed some Mama time. She got out her cookbooks and chose these butterfly cakes. She was so intentional and got a bit upset that they didn't look like the 'picture'. I thought ( as did all the googling eyes) they were perfect and it was hard to wait till the night hours to try some. Jasmine being a kind (and not so good at waiting ) girl allowed everyone to test one and my, they were SO delicous.
After getting the boys to bed and falling asleep with a little three year old who was taking way too long to get to sleep, a little tap on the shoulder brought me back to a girl growing up way too fast. She brought her bible, I brought the tray and we talked, actually she did most of the talking but I think thats exactly what she needed- someone to listen.

Friday, August 20, 2010

a moment

......to remember.

Monday, August 16, 2010

gluten-free scones and cooking with a little sister





There has been such a flurry of cooking here lately and some particular people around here prefer to cook not with the gluten-free flour so eldest boy has not really been getting to enjoy all the yummies coming from the kitchen.
Which has lead him to do some cooking of his own. He loves lemons and we have a pile of them so after browsing through the cookbooks he settled on Lemon Butter and scones to go with them.
Whenever someones cooking, like a magnet comes a little three year old shouting 'I'm helping!'
And whether or not the help is wanted she stays until licking and dipping requirements have been satisfied. Which as seen in above photo can lead to some fiesty (and messy) times in the kitchen.
But in the end the results are oh so good and with lots of Lemon Butter to spare I discovered it goes quite nicely with ice cream.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

weekends are for-




surprise getaways with my love and friend......

Friday, August 13, 2010

a moment

....to remember.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

what i love :: winterish

:: the morning sun

:: the crisp blue sky

:: nature art

:: the boys taking their dogs on morning walks

:: a splash of red amidst the muted cold afternoon

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

the princess in her pea-green dress





My big girl wanted to make a dress.
I suggested as I'm not an experienced sewer perhaps we could start with a smaller, slightly easier project.
No she would not be moved. "It's easy mama, I know what I'm going to do. I'll just lay out my material and put my dress over it and trace the shape, then we can cut around it and sew the pieces together!!
So with determination and constant reminding, she made her dress. And isn't it beautiful!!

Friday, August 6, 2010

a moment


.... to remember.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Whatcha readin??

This is a question often on my lips. I'm always on the look out for good books, for all of us. Not that we've actually got any book space left but hey, there's always a basket that can be filled.

Here are some of the books getting around our place at the moment:-

Mama ::

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4pncFRB1raJDeHRmJOm_Li3z6wjC3QWVntdN8L_C9rghCiXh7vaNkZslRuEwyA1O3l7B40DQNULJjTe3eEKkNGPEGXRRbZN24tMffGTReRue1d278SvvsB_0FKuNtxTP02qtNGPjWh29/s220/Lunch+in+Paris+-+aussie+cover.jpg
Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard- I was drawn to this because when I was younger I had a real thing for Paris- for years. I took french lessons, bought Paris travel books and studied the city in depth. I planned to work as an Au pair over there and it was a dream I held for a number of years. Wanting something a bit light I picked up this. It's peppered with recipes and love and is pure escapism.

http://images.seekbooks.com.au/9780143202714.jpg
Monkey Grip by Helen Garner- I'm about half way through this one. Its not the happiest of novels but its interesting to watch as the two main characters are in a constant tugging and pulling with each other and how this can effect everyone that's close to them. As I'm reading I'm asking myself what do I have a monkey grip with and why?

http://pjfdesigns.com/sc_images/products/531_thumbnail_image.jpg
Get Out of That Pit by Beth Moore- I actually picked this one up at a second-hand bookshop. Yes, the title grabbed me... I am a little sick of the pits.

http://rgr-static1.tangentlabs.co.uk/images/ar/97801401/9780140136005/150/0/plain/how-children-learn.jpg
How children Learn by John Holt- I picked this up again last week as I've been questioning the what and how of our home school.

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Wreck this Journal by Keri Smith- my daughter wants this book so I'm going to buy a blank journal and fill in the pages. She loves checking what crazy thing I've done and telling me which ones she would love to do. Fun especially when you need a creative vent.

Wives and daughters by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell- This one I'm reading when I get a few minutes here and there on my iphone-it's on the ilibrary app. I'm actually reading a few-they are all mostly classics.

http://img.tesco.com/pi/Books/L/04/9780747598404.jpg
River Cottage every day by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall- Aren't cookbooks great reading material? Especially when the daily dinner inspiration is low. I am so in love with this book!! There are so many doable recipes and the breakfast ones are delicious!!

Next up( that is when I get to it) will be what the kids are reading and that could be a very long post...
Any good book recommendations anyone??

Monday, August 2, 2010

gratitude

A great way to start the week!


~ Bella sleeping in her own bed for most of the night
~ getting a shower all by myself, with no little interruptions
~ morning cuddles with two strong, growing taller everyday boys
~ the secret goings-on of Matthews planning
~ shaggy-dog cuteness and his boy who loves him
~ morning coffee in bed with Bella still asleep
~ getting back to my Bible reading plan
~ children's faces as they proudly show me their creative thing
~ drawing from eldest girl saying 'its of the most beautiful girl in the world...you! '
~ conversations with eldest boy which plumb the depths of his heart
~ a small visitor in our backyard with a song I haven't heard before

I'm writing it down, to notice and remember.
To lock it into to the thick walls of my mind- there is so much to be thankful for.
And even in the murky waters of life the light penetrates.
Everyday is a day full of grace if I would but step into it, let go and release myself to the work that is taking place inside this life.




Sunday, August 1, 2010

weekending

~ the day with treasured friends at their 'weekend house'
~ kids rummaging outdoors for hours
~ two little munchkins playing 'nail polish time'
~ great food, amazing wine and crazy antics
~ clear blue skies and green forever
~ a most spectacular sunset
~ time to just be, and be understood



'To Love and Be Loved is to feel the sun from BOTH sides'
- David Viscott