Weekend thoughts...

School holidays Hooray!!  Our plans these holidays have already flown out the window and the weekend has flown buy in a haze of pain killers and pureed soup.
 My beautiful man is home and it's been lovely although I feel guilty as I've really done nothing accept stare at the fridge and drop my lip.  I've been a hermit since Thursday night and am beginning to feel blaa...  I think this afternoon will be a trip to the veggie shop and then hire a dvd for tonight.  Two more sleeps until Ben returns to work and it is quite normal for me to start feeling quietly anxious and regretful (Did we do enough?  Did I tell Ben I love him enough?  Did I put in enough effort?  Are there any jobs that need doing?  How will I cope when I wake and he's gone?) Yes, Yes,  Yes, One and same as usual snap out of it and ENJOY it Jodes!
 Tomorrow we are meeting friends at the Werribee Open Range Zoo it shall be a fun day,  fresh air and smiles and hopefully  undisrupted sunshine.  I'm really looking forward to it lots of holding hands and kids yelling out in delight also we will hopefully have time to visit my new niece and sisters on the way home.
  For now though the children are with Daddy out on the newest addition to our home, the Tyre swing!!  Its creating a lot of laughter in our backyard at the moment even though when I look out there from the deck I can see the empty Chook pen...sob sob...another job for the school holidays after I accept our loss.  I am such a sook, I know.  Any how the tyre swing is attached to a very very long rope from a very very high tree and gets A LOT of air!!  We actually had to chop another tree to allow for this massive air!!
In the cracked jaw department I've had no Pain Killers today and I managed to chew very carefully three piklets and they were amazing, overdosed in Maple Syrup and cream (I had no luck chewing strawberries) and even my husband commented on how good they were...No sugar honey, woo hoo!!

 To make them the children threw in half a bowl of Wholemeal Plain flour (say 4 cups), 2 tsp Bi-Carb, 3 tblsp Chia seeds, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 Vanilla bean, Two eggs and milk  (roughly 2 1/2cups) until a nice consistency.  Yummo quick and easy lemon squeezey!xx

Sunny Days

Happy Fathers day (for yesterday)  to all of the dads out there.
 We had a beautiful sunshine filled day at home spent with my Dad, Sister and brother in law and of course my three cuties (unfortunately Mum and Ben were at work).  We enjoyed a light lunch, bush walk, lots of catching up and the kids played very excitedly with Aunty Laura and Auncle Sam, everything from Barbies and throwing rocks into the dam to an hours play on the Trampoline while dad and I tackled the lawns.  We finished of the day with scones jam and cream.  Its these moments that Ben and I cherish, it's why we bought our block of land, we can come home and chillout, no need to be entertained, you can wonder and be with your thoughts or laugh as loud and excitedly as your lungs will allow and its okay.
 Scarlett and I planted some seeds in the veggie garden earlier, Spring onions, Cos, Rocket lettuce and Carrot seeds and we noticed our Radish seeds are beginning to pop through, we're all very excited by this and are hoping to improve on last years "beginners" crop or lack of.  The chickens are also looking well, Poodles the black fluffy one should resume laying soon and Neville the rooster is looking glorious and shiny strutting his stuff around the yard, we shall  be purchasing some new chicks in the coming weeks to replace those we lost last year.
I'm hoping everyone has had a marvelous week we were luckily enough to, of course welcoming Spring with open arms was easy and glorious, we felt the need to celebrate with french toast and berries (Miss S couldn't believe we were eating "french" food, exclaiming  that we were eating what people in other countries are eating!.....adorable), and of course celebrating the arrival of a new bub...ahhh. Also this week our car has been (unexpectedly) at the mechanics the past week and although I was heavily disappointed to miss training and  meet my little niece it has been a wonderful sunny week to stay at home and hangout.  Speaking of training as well as  missing Wednesdays session I missed today's run, I have done some core training (of which I'm supposed to be doing every 3rd day at least...oooops!), It's another challenge I'm taking part in through Fitness Food and Style although  I haven't given it 100% I'm probably managing 3 work-outs a week however it's not the complete Killer Core and Cardio routine that Jackie at Crabtree fitness organised for us .  I want to take this seriously and I will hopefully get back on track by allocating specific time for this.
Two other challenges that  I'd mentioned in earlier posts were the sugar challenge and also to cut down on my spending. I managed the latter quite sucesfully  and I'm enthusiastic to keep going  although  a change in the season means a change in wardrobe!  The Sugar Challenge was a great success and I'm now reaping the following benefits:

 1.  My energy levels are balanced, I'm no longer falling in a heap at 6.30pm and no longer having "tired and         grumpy" moments
2.  I'm going to bed earlier each night.
3.  I'm falling asleep without a struggle.
4.  I've created healthier eating habits.
5. Am generally more energetic which was ultimatley my goal!!
Good night and Happy Spring to you all. x

Weekend pieces

Little Bears favorite thing in the world,
found like this.........

and like this.......
A naughty puppy making her mark.

Fixed by daddy with love.

Secrets shared on top of the ute.....

Miss S.....

Where there's Heidi there's a stick...

Mr Spaghetti.....

Gumboots all the way....

Plum the naughty puppy and me....

Thoughtful hubby....

Good food after hard work.....

Playtime....

My boys...sent me this while
I was at the hairdressers...

Our Home

In our home on any day you may find;
There's drawings on the walls, and children being kind;
There's yoghurt in our hair and of course a bear in there.
There's a blanket cubbyhouse and cushions on the floor;
There's coffee on the stove and a knock at the door.
My beautiful son yelling frustratedly at me; "I'm able! To do it myself don't you see and I really don't mind if it bothers you and me!"
There's most likely noise and singing and  laughter, although sometimes there's roaring and a guilty mama after;
 And so I cry on the phone to my husband in Perth so supportive and loving every cent he is worth.
There's hopefully music playing and bottoms wriggling to the beat,
And me dreaming of the summertime oh I miss the heat.
There's wood on the fire and washing on the line;
 There's dishes in the sink and never enough time;
There's lifes little messes and toys all around and so many delightful moments waiting to be found.
Life is what you make it that is what they say, a home is where the heart is.... Have a happy day. x