Mammajoy

Day 3 - The Park

The kids and I managed to complete a surprising amount of learning today.  The internet, I have discovered, is absolutely BRIMMING with free resources just waiting to be printed.  I am loving that if a particular topic is being discussed over breakfast for example, I can quickly jump online and find some learning material to match with what has caught the kids attention and voila! we can turn it into a quick lesson.  

 

I have no idea what they were doing here - they woke up and ran straight outside and it involved glitter and goop.

 

Jessica was especially keen this morning to get some work done, and she flew through the worksheets I had planned for her.  She even asked for more work.  Strange child.  Joseph did some math sheets, geography and counting money.  I tried some paraphrasing exercises with Rachael but she wasn't too sure how that works.  When we get the kids school books early next week it will give me a better idea of where they're up to with their work....at the moment I am flying blind!

 

Isaac potted around between playing outside and completing some online puzzle games.  Samuel loves doing money counting at the moment - his favourite thing is to tip out a big jar of coins and count them all up. *note to self - check the amounts each day to make sure he isn't slowly pilfering the loose change. LOL

After lunch we went for a drive to the lake, one of my all-time favourite spots.  We took painting supplies, snacks, picnic blankets, cameras and books.

The joy of a slippery-slide!

We played and lazed in the sun for hours and it was just beautiful.  Just being outdoors and surrounded by nature and fresh air does absolute wonders for the soul.  I overheard one of the kids saying that they 'love doing homeschooling'.  My heart swelled, just a little. xo

 

 

Having fun with paint

 

 

Holiday Camping

 

It's the first day back at School tomorrow, and so it's quite fitting that I should spend tonight looking back over the photos from our camping trip.

Keeps me distracted you see.  From thinking about THE HORROR THAT IS A SCHOOL MORNING.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a great time, the kids love camping.  Although the start was a bit rocky, when on our first night there that little grub above was sick.  All over the freshly-laid out black camping mats.

Let me just say that cleaning up vomit without the presence of running water, disinfectant or a washing machine is NOT FUN.  The girls had been sick a few days prior to this and we thought we were in the clear.  So not being sure of who was going to be next, and feeling like we're sitting on a ticking time-bomb, we promptly packed the kiddies back in the car and drove home!

Three days later, after no more sickness and countless whinging about 'why aren't we caaaaaaampiiing???' we headed back and enjoyed our 4 nights in the great outdoors.  Sickness free.

We...

::  swam

::  explored

::  built cubby houses out of fallen trees

::  climbed rocks

::  toasted marshmallows

::  chased possums

::  built rock walls

::  rode the rapids

::  rode the bike track like a pro

::  admired dragonflys

::  found giant muscle shells

::  almost got lost in the bush (according to Jessica.  We were fine. Really..)

::  got so dirty there was dirt upon dirt

::  laughed and told stories around the campfire

::  fell asleep each night tired, happy and full of the joy found in spending time with the ones we love the most

It was everything a good camping trip should be!

I hope that tomorrow the 'back to school' morning ritual goes smoothly at your place :-)

 

p.s. Photos taken by my awesome photographer/husband Matt.  Check out his facebook page to see more of his work.

 

Choo Choo! Our visit to the Rail Museum

 

During the first week of the school holidays we ventured to The Workshop Rail Museum with the kids.  It was a bleak, raining, freeeezing day so we thought we'd leave the house???

Well...it seemed like a good idea at the time!

We didn't take any warm jackets with us so we spent the morning shivering.  What is it, winter or something?! Ha!

 

 

If you haven't been to this musuem, add it to the list of things to do with your kids.  If you're local, it really is worth it.  My sister mentioned that we might not see everything in one visit, and I thought, 'yeah, my kids can move pretty quick y'all'. 

But no, we really didn't even see half of the displays and buildings they have.  Thankfully we purchased a Family Pass so now we can visit as much as we like for the next 12 months.

The museum is a great mix of hands-on experiments and 'how-it-works' displays, real trains that you can board and explore, and exhibits of memorabilia and antique train things (not the technical name).  That's Joseph up there wearing the welding helmet, learning (and trying for himself) how they build trains.

 

 

During these school holidays they had a special 'Build-it' program where kids could explore how trains are built and what skills are required to be a train builder.  One activity was to build a wagon from the ground up.  Really, this thing was in pieces, boards, wheels and nuts and bolts were everywhere!  The kids had great fun (with Dad's help) constructing a real wagon and then taking it for a test run.  So lovely being able to watch the kids develop skills and have pride in their accomplishments.

 

 

See Rachael's hat she made?  That little beauty was molded by hand at the Tin Smithing section.  I didn't know what Smithing was but after bashing away at several sheets of soft metal, got it!  Rachael wore that hat proudly.

Within the museum grounds is a huge undercover play area for kids, with bikes, rail tracks, roads, pretend trains and stations.  We had a great time exploring, playing and pretending to take the train 'to the country please!!'  Jessica makes a mean station master.

'Tickets Please'!

 

 

 

It rained the entire time we were there but the museum was nice and quiet so it turned out to be a great day to visit.  And the cafe was almost empty (Yay! Said the kids, more room to run around in!!) and the food was delicious and affordable.

We'll definitely be visiting this amazing place again.

 

P.S. How are there only 2 days of holidays left?  Uggh.

 

well....hello!

Or should I say welcome to the most in-frequent blogging known to man-kind.

I think it somethings to do with running your own small business. It seems to be a vortex into which all of my spare time just dissapears.

So that's my exucse.

Let's move on to some photos.  These are from Matt's camera, because ever since the big move I've been unable to find the cordy thingy that attaches the card reader to my camera and I have a full memory card that I can't download onto the computer.  Frustrating?  Yes.

 

Did I mention that we went to Noosa for a holiday?  We had a lovely time and unlike our holiday plans I talked about here (which we'll never speak about again), everything went smoothly.

We took the kids to Underwater World at Mooloolaba and they had a great time.  The hot favourite was watching the wading pool and they even got to have a hold of some starfish!  I'm surprised Jess didn't freak out about this - cold, wet, slimly things aren't really her thing.

 

Not really sure why Joseph has this seroius look on his face.  Maybe he's thinking that starfish there is going to leap out and suck itself to his face.  'Hurry up mum, just take the dang photo, I gotta get out of here....'

 

We spent hours at the beach, which most days we had blissfully all to ourselves.  I forgot just how much I love the beach.  It just feels like I've come home when I'm sitting on a beach.

 

 

it's show time

We had a blast

Jess and Rach on the superslide, a favourite each year.

Joseph on a smaller superslide they had just for toddlers.  He played happily on this for twenty minutes.  I want one for the back yard!

My toffee apple was DE-LIC-IOUS.  Super juicy and the toffee was so crunchy.  YUM.

The kids loved the animal petting pen, it's a hit each year.

Cowgirl Rachael on her trusty steed.  These ponies (miniature horses? shetland ponies? I'm so not a horsey person) were so cute and gentle natured, Rach just adored them and enjoyed standing at the fences patting them.

Well, the shows over folks!  It was everything we were hoping it would be.  Oh, except for the freakish jet-powered super-charged UTE OF DEATH that raced around the main ring, burning off a heap of fuel every 20 meters or so, scaring my children to death.

That was not fun.  Poor Rachael just ran from the grandstands, screaming, covering her ears shouting 'I wanna go home!'  Ahhh, precious memories.  Good times.

But apart from that, it was great.

See you next year show!

 

 
 

100th Post

So yesterdays post was my 100th!

Not a huge milestone, but hey, I'll take it all the same.

So to celebrate this little bloggy-occasion I thought that I would see if there are any 'lurker's out there who I haven't heard from yet.

I know that there are people who read my ramblings, so come on outta there and say

'Hello!'

I don't bite.

I promise!

fairy party

Yesterday my first born babe turned five.  FIVE.  Can someone please tell me where the last five years went 'cause I don't remember being okay with this.  I can't believe it's been that long.

Here she is at four months old.

On her first birthday.  I still have that sippy cup.  See if you can find it in my next post.

 

Yesterday on her fifth birthday .  I seriously couldn't watch this cake being cut.  I know logically that yeah, you make a cake in order to then eat the cake, but really?  I spent so.much.time on that cake.  Can't we just, look at it for a few days then we can eat it?  No?

I love how Matt dressed up as a fairy, complete with a blonde wig and a wand.  I love that guy, he did such a great job hosting the party, organising all the games and making sure the kids had a great time.  We had painting, balloon animals (well, mamma could only make a poodle, dad gave up trying after bursting so many!), fruit-loop beading, colouring and playdoh.  It really was a great day and we had some wonderful help from family which was a life-saver.  The party was at 3pm.  At 12pm nothing was set up.  Nothing.  So yeah, we were a tad un-organised but it all came together at the last minute.

We bought Jess a digital camera and she loves it so much.  She wanders around the house taking photos and I love flicking through and seeing what has caught her eye.  It's so funny and tender and delicious to see photos of her feet, and her baby brother, and her toys carefully arranged in order of height, her lunch and the weird looking beetle we saw outside the other day.  It's like getting a peek at the world through her eyes.  I'm thinking we'll get her a scrapbook so that she can print out her favourite photos and create her own album/journal.

That's it now for our family birthdays for '09.  Next one is Joseph in February and he'll be two.  TWO.

Oh don't even get me started!

Sleepy Poetry

Sweet, soft skin

Small hands

Warm, tender

Breath on my neck

Snuggle in close

Life

My heart swells within me

 

inspiration and celebration

I found this cute little doll at a friends garage sale and immediately knew that I had to buy it and make more just like it.  Cute?  Oh.I.do.think.so.

It looks relatively easy to make but I'll be winging it a lot as I don't want to cut this doll up.  I have a feeling that I may become slightly obsessive about doll-making and so I can see myself spending many a cold winters day making dolls!

In other not-nearly-related news Matt and I celebrated our five year anniversary last Friday.  Five years.  Is that all?  Really?  It feels a lot longer given that we've got three children and are about to have our fourth.  Time is a funny thing isn't it.  But the past five years have been the best and I can't wait for the next five.

 I love you baby.

pimp my ride

Up until one week ago, this was our one and only mode of transport.

 

A 1974 Volkwagon Kombi.  At this juncture I will point out that said vehicle has no air-conditioning, no power-steering and approximately ZERO comfort features.

This is our new car.

 

A 2002 Toyota Tarago.  All I can say is OH HAPPY DAY.

Air-conditioning in cars is the best invention ever.  And the kombi was a very loud car, so the fact that I can hear the girls when they want a drink, or the music turned up, or to tell me they saw a cow, or to tell me they are hot; is seriously great.  The other day I heard Jess muttering to herself about something, but I loved listening to her, BECAUSE I COULD.

Usually when they want something?  I have to yell back at them ' I CAN'T HEAR YOU, WAIT 'TILL WE GET HOME.'

Good times. Precious memories.  We still have the kombi, we (and what I really mean is Matt) is planning on doing some work on it so that if/when we sell it we can get a good price.

She served us well, ye ole' kombi.  And now she can enter a time of sweet, sweet retirement.

Love my new car.