Just chillin with my boys

 It's the middle of the school holidays.  We aren't doing a lot at the moment and it's lovely.

Just playing at home, a little bit of lego, a little bit of kennex, some scootering and a lot of running around the house chasing and going nuts....but most importantly playing at home.....and reading. 

I can remember holidays as a child, one of the highlights was reading comics.  If we visited my grand parents in Hervey Bay we would always stop at the "Book Exchange".  A man with big ears and who smoked like a chimney used to sit there all day reading, smoking and selling second hand books.

Gabby and I used to get as many Richie Rich and Archie comics as we could.  That afternoon we would laze around and pretty much read everything that we had bought and then beg to go back to the book exchange and trade them in for a new pile.  We just devoured second hand comics.

I've found a couple at our local second hand book shop, but not enough to trade and swap every day.  The boys are just happy to be reading them all over again.   While I'm just happy to sit here on the front porch in the company of my boys and do a little crochet.

Though I wouldn't mind having a little read of a Richie Rich comic...anyone got any??

On the home front

Donald is finishing his work contract this weekend.  He will be back working from home....should the work come in.  

I don't think we'll have to wait too long before the next project comes in, it's just the spaces in between projects that I'm worried about.

But it is a little unsettling not knowing where our bread and butter will be coming from again.  I guess that is the life of an animator.

We're hoping that when he's home there will be a little more of this in the front yard though.

When left to their own devices

Lunch gets made

Toys will be played

All without my aid

Et voilà! C'est fini

Behold.....the wonky hat,

that is wonky no more.

My first crochet project and it was very therapeutic....now off to hook a hat for Ethan.

Friday

....and it was Good.

Sunshine, picnic and a tour of Donald's work, yes he worked today.  It's crunch time on the project he's working on, only one more week to go.

Happy Easter Weekend

My boys

Among other things I wanted to share with you was Ethan's talk.  His class are learning about community groups they belong to and so had to write a talk to present to the class.  Now to make the classroom a little more exciting and special, Ethan's teacher has created a blog for their class.  It displays a little of the work they are doing, writing, artwork, even some science experiments and we as parents finally get to see a little inkling of what goes on in the class room.  Ethan's teacher Mr Squires is big on technology and the kids just love it.  I think it's a wonderful way that we as parents can interact, learn and feel a little part of their day.  The kids really love it when we leave comments about their work, a fantastic way to build up their esteem too.  So here is the link to the 3S Blog Dogs as they've called themselves....

The Blog Dogs: 
News from 3S to the world

....and to hear Ethan's talk click on the podcast below (thanks Mr Squires).

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On another note the boys have been very busy for the past week.  Sam and Ethan ran in their school cross country race last Friday, which is why they are wearing green and holding up numbers (it is the place they came).  Ethan came 31st for the 7-9 age group, so lots of kids ran in that race and Sam came 10th for the 11year olds.  I only managed to see Sam's race as Toby's swimming lesson was on during Ethan's, but Sam ran a really good race even though it was a stinking hot day.

Saturday was an early one as we took Ethan and Donald to the airport, then Sam left early Monday morning for his first school camp.  Monday night Toby and I picked Ethan and Donald up at the airport and then last night Sam arrived home from camp.  Busy days, early mornings, late nights, everybody is a little tired, a little emotional and feeling a little misplaced, big boys and smaller ones.  But we're all home together again.  Hugs at the airport on Ethan and Donald's return and a rundown of their weekend, wedding and catching up with family.  It was wonderful that Ethan could spend some quality time with Donald in Brisbane.  

So last night Ethan, Toby and I were sitting in the car waiting for Sam's camp buses to arrive at school.  Excitement was building, parents were arriving, then the buses turned the corner and the shouts went out, parents came running from everywhere, it was one of the loveliest moments to experience.  The joy on everyone's faces to see their children arrive safely home was truly a beautiful moment and then to spot Sam on the bus lifted me even more.  The best hugs that brought tears to my eyes and melted my heart were the ones Ethan kept giving to Sam last night after camp.  How beautiful my boys are, Ethan said "It's been six days since I saw you Sam" (really it was five, but must have felt a long long time without his big brother and best friend).  Toby too gave Sam lots of hugs (secretly Toby had the best time without his brothers around and loved having me all to himself) but was very excited to have Sam home.  How wonderful to see my boys after their adventures.  We are so looking forward to a quiet relaxing Easter Holiday at home.

Off and away

Another early start, bags packed, excitement rising, Toby's torch at the ready.

Sam's going to have so much fun, they have so much to see and do in Canberra.

The War Memorial, National Museum, Portrait Gallery, Parliament House, Questacon and lots more in between and at night.

They are going to be so tired when they come home.  I wish I was going, there's still a lot I haven't seen in Canberra.....and because I love exploring with my boys.

I think I did very well this morning only a few slight tears in the car before we left.

I was very brave, all smiles, lots of blow kisses and signing "I love you" back and forth.  I like my Sam, I like him a lot.  The house feels very empty now.  Just me and Tobs.

Sunday afternoon treat

It's been another hot day, I don't know where Autumn has gone to, it's supposed to be here, it's supposed to be cool and snuggly.  Sam is off to camp for the first time in the morning, so we had a special afternoon treat, iced chocolates and white/dark chocolate chip cookies.  The cookies are for Sam to take away, but we had to have some fresh from the oven. 

I just wanted him to remember that home is the best place to be, camp is fun but home is best.

Conniving aren't I?  Either that or I'm trying to make him sick so he doesn't have to go on camp.  I've been missing my Ethan and Donald this weekend.

They come home tomorrow night, so it won't be a full house until Wednesday night when Sam comes home.  

For the cookie recipe go here, I just used my jam drop recipe and added lots of white and dark chopped chocolate.

9 pm

Painting toenails by candle light during earth hour

I might just have to redo them tomorrow

10 am

Hair flying

Feet flying

Spirit flying

5 am

I just waved two of my boys off at the airport this morning.  

They are going to Brisbane for a wedding.  Donald's youngest brother Campbell is to be married this afternoon.  I wish I was there.  So does Sam and Toby.  Sam has his school camp on Monday and we need to be up bright and early again for that.  We are holding the fort, and going to soccer and church this weekend.

So this morning at 5am it was goodbye's at the airport.

We are home, the sun isn't even up yet.

I think I'll go back to bed.

For a little while anyway...

Friday afternoon munchies

Feel like a fantastic Friday afternoon treat?  

Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Very ooey, gooey and yummy.

 Go visit "What's for dinner Mum?" for the recipe.

The front porch

I sit, I sniffle, I watch the clouds drift by.  I hear the gentle whistle of the rainbow lorikeets as they drink the nectar from  the delicate, pink camelia flowers.

I snuffle a little more and crochet a few more rounds.

Toby has persuaded me to make him a warm hat, he loves them so.  He chose the wool, the most colourful wool and now I crochet him a wonky hat.

The slow cooker is full of minestrone cooking for me, the bread maker is baking for me. I sit, I sniffle with my cold and tired head, I doze off....

I am awakened by the constant buzzing on and off, on and off of a whipper snipper a few doors down.  It goes on and on disturbing my beautiful but brief slumber.  I wish it would stop...

It has stopped at last and I hear the birds once again and smell a waft of baking bread and a hint of minestrone.

I do love my front porch.

I've been practicing...

...with some of my favourite colours.

I have some ideas up my sleeve, I just need a little more practice.

A weekend in Melbourne

A couple of weekends ago I spent 4 days in Melbourne visiting with my lovely Aunt Desley and the ever energetic Uncle John, on my own, without kids or husband.  I've just been a little too busy to blog about it though.  After an early start and arrival in Melbourne we stopped in Lygon Street for a little morning tea. 

It was building up to be a hot day, but that didn't stop us from going to the Melbourne zoo to visit the new baby elephant 'Mali'.

To get a glimpse of Mali we had to stand in line for about 45 minutes so that we could see her for a brief 5 minutes.

She is so adorable, just a tiny little munchkin with a sweet little trunk and she sticks close by to mum.  It was hard to get pictures when peoples heads were in the way, but I managed to hold my camera up paparazzi style and was lucky to come out with some good pictures.  I think there is another new baby elephant in Sydney's Taronga zoo, might have to go and visit her too!  Amongst other animals at the zoo we watched the gorillas,  various monkeys and the gibbons.  Although it is yet to be decided who was watching who.

This gibbon just liked hanging around and every now and then reached down to his bottom and had a little poop snack, a little gross, but had everyone in hysterics as he innocently reached down and had a nibble (and I mean the one in the picture above not below).

The meerkats were fascinating  creatures to watch as they slept sprawled out across each other while one stayed alert on guard, then they all did a mad scramble when the guard let out a warning.  Fun little animals.

I am a big fan of the giraffes and the zebras and love to watch the giraffes at feeding time with their long sticky blue tongues as they reach for their treats.  We didn't get to see them feed this time, we were in a bit of a hurry to get in line for the baby elephant, but the zebra's were so close you could almost touch them.

It ended up being an action packed weekend that Desley had lined up for us.  We went and saw 'Jersey Boys' on Friday night, the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and how they came about.  Some fantastic singing by the cast, which kept the story flowing, I really enjoyed the performance.  On Saturday we went to a matinee of 'The Merchants of Bollywood', a highly energetic, colourful, loud, bollywood dance production that covers a little of the history of bollywood dance and movies.  

It was wonderful, yet exhausting watching, the dancers just kept bringing on the next dance and then the next, all with lively costume changes too.  Did I mention how loud it was??  I guess being in the 4th or 5th row from the front and right next to the speakers kind of contributed to that.  I love a bit of Bollywood, it has such a joyful, energetic way of telling a story, through dance and song.  Did I mention it was energetic??  I think 'The Merchants of Bollywood' is coming to Sydney next week, if you go keep an eye on the lead male, he doesn't say anything but boy can he dance (I think it's something to do with all of those rippling muscles).

My stay in Melbourne also involved going for a few walks, lots of sleeping in between activities, the movies (Crazy Heart) and catching up with the lovely Jessica and her beautiful little Harry.

The End

(PS:  Now you can see why it took me so long to post this)