Summertime.....

Hello and Happy New Year to all! We have been away since the 22nd Dec and are finally heading back home tomorrow. It will be a 6hr drive to Mt Eliza where we shall collect our Christmas goodies from Aunt Junes and most likely stay the night. We've had a wonderful warm, relaxing holiday. Lots of swimming, bike riding, soccer games, to much eating, a couple of surfs, lots and lots of laughs, some amazing new friends for all of us and a New Year's Day sunrise on the beach. The kids swimming has improved incredibly and the girls have both learnt to whistle...finally.

Ho Ho Ho!......

Hello!  I hope everyone is enjoying the season, the beginning of holidays for many of us in Aussie land!
I love holidays, I love warm weather, I love Christmas, I love giving and receiving presents, I adore my memories of Christmas and Santa and watching Christmas carols on the 24th and love that those experiences are our children's now to have, I love the family catch ups, the drinks with friends and the bubbley with sisters and cousins, I love planning the coming year with my husband, our children excitedly decorating the tree, Christmas shopping, making decorations and surprise visits from Santa at (it seems) every gathering during December!
I'm blessed that I get to be at home during this busy time and that work deadlines are not interfering with Christmas planning and the numerous events that pop up.  I used to be that person, working huge hours, busiest time of the year  that we'd been planning for since early October.  I once worked Christmas Day, it was toward the end of my Chef apprenticeship  and I swore never to do that again.
Sometimes we are in a rush or the day is not working out as planned or we are trying to juggle many things at once...I know but try to think of the beauty in the season, look at the children around you counting down the sleeps, stop competing for the best Turkey, Center piece, outfit and appreciate those pesky relatives that you dread,  take your time to get to your destination if your late...to bad, don't fight it, go with it, smile when things go wrong and continue on and if your a lucky one blessed with time to count sleeps until Santa's arrival than appreciate those less fortunate for whatever reason, show some compassion and forgiveness and top it of with a smile!!!  HO HO HO....xx

One happy day from many on our recent camping trip.........

Nethercote Falls, Pambula  NSW

                                     

                                     

                                      

                                      

                                      

                                      

Holiday fun!

Sleep ins (in theory), not having to rush out of the door (stay at home mum),  weather warming (very slowly) Yes It has been been September holidays!  Some holidays we spend at home intent on staying in our pajamas for as long as possible, others we might go away as a family usually a beach of some description. These holidays (of which Ben has been away for most of) we've been enjoying day trips. It's been relaxing and exciting, coming and going as we please and only travelling an hour or two here and there so apart from a few snacks not much planning is involved...relaxing.

There is so much to offer children these days and much of it dosen't need to be expensive.  I recently  came across an app which locates the nearest and dearest local parks,  fantastic if your'e planning a road trip with children and also for discovering new playgrounds in your local area. Also the local library, I think many family's have forgotten about the old  library.   Library's are such a great tool for children's imagination and learning they offer a range of Cd's and Dvd's as well as storytimes and activities for school holidays, not forgetting the thousands of books on offer.  The best part  is that its  free and younger children can enjoy a little independence browsing and choosing there own books. Another loved  freebie is of course play dates!  What child does not enjoy having friends to play with while us parents enjoy the company of others, whether its at a park with a picnic or inside with a coffee its so lovely to ignore the call of the ironing and catch up with friends instead.

With a little more free time on our hands we've made a couple of trips to the beach these holidays, wind in our hair, salt on our lips and the smell of summer evoking glorious memories!  My children love the beach as do my husband and I and we love to nick down for a coffee while the children run free and we all reinvigorate!

  My sister and brother also live in Ocean Grove and Geelong so it's lovely to catch up especially with a new bub in the family...we are all absolutely smitten, she is adorable....Ahh!

With school holidays comes the release of many new children's films at the cinema and I try to take the children most holidays.  It is, as many of you know quite expensive but its such a lovely holiday treat for all.  These holidays we saw Madagascar 3 it was fantastic the children and their cousin loved it as did my sister in law and I.  Another treat for the children was a visit to the Werribee Open Range Zoo.  We caught up with a bunch of Ben's family and had a great day.  The weather was glorious! The children were free and the animals were beautiful especially the Meerkats and Giraffes.  All Miss S wanted to see were the Giraffes and while we were driven through their paddock the keepers were feeding them they came so close we could of touched them so so beautiful,  it was a wonderful experience. We love Giraffes!!

And so now we are coming to the end of the holidays and they've been wonderful, even the days spent at home tackling the ironing while the children put glitter everywhere.  We made popcorn and planted veggies and picked flowers too.

Next week is the begining of  the final Term for the year, wow where did that time go?!!  I'm excited about summer and the girls Ballet recital and my up and coming first ever fun run! The count down is on....

We are delaying the new term though with an impromptu camping trip!!  Ben is home and we're taking the camper trailer up to Mallacoota and then on to Pambula for a week or so where we will meet up with my Brother and Sister in law and their bubs at her parents beautiful property.  All very excited, the girls have already packed  and once the weather clears we are off.

I hope everyone has enjoyed themselves these holidays and kept safe and well! xx