Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Some drawing time...

Saturday afternoon we pulled out some oil pastels and had a draw.  Louis started his artwork straight away, but Jayden was begging him to draw an outline of something for him to colour in.  He finally did it for him...


This was his finished project!


He was quite proud of his effort and stuck it up on the lounge room wall!

I started drawing also and started with a poppy for Anzac day and then played around with our family symbol - infinity hearts. 



The colours made me happy and drawing it was a lot of fun.

It really made me think about the point of art or creating and that's it really isn't it?  If we enjoy making it and we enjoy looking at it then we've hit the jackpot!  It doesn't matter if it's considered good or bad or whatever by anyone else if we feel good about it.

It made me think about my blog and IG page and the point of them.  This may sound terrible to some, but I want to be able to look through those photos or read my words about life and my family and enjoy it.  I get those fuzzy beautiful  moments when I look at our adventures or our everyday moments that I've taken the time to notice and record.  

It makes me grateful for what I have right now, and what I have had.  It allows me to remember without any of the emotional garbage that may have been running through my head at the same time.  It filters all of the unpleasantness in my thoughts and tiredness in my body and leaves me with all of the great feelings and memories.  It makes me look around right now at what I have, who I am, everything I love and take notice.  Because the joy is here, right now, in this moment, it's just up to me to recognise it and be thankful. 

That's why I'm going to write and record.  I want my boys to get that too as they look through this stuff as they get older.  (if the do! haha).

I also played around with some of my Project Life supplies and made some cards I needed.  Cards I would have just bought at the store normally now allowed me to be creative.  I've just started getting a kit mailed out each month from Studio Calico and it's great.  I'm still uncertain and not used to all of the bits and pieces but I'm enjoying it.  It's very exciting to open up a little parcel of goodies to play with! 






It's good for the boys to see me playing around and being creative as well.  They were all happy with their work because they could see that I was happy with mine.  If I said, oh mine is terrible.  I can't draw at all and it's not very good blah blah blah, they would also start to critique their own work.

I think it's time to embrace all the goodness inside of us, all of the imperfections and just love life.  Do what makes you smile, have a good attitude about the things that we may not enjoy so much and just make the most of every opportunity. 

On that note...I must go and do some of those everyday things like washing and dishes, but I'm going to play some music so I can enjoy it as I go.  xo


Anzac Day


Louis and Dylan were part of the Anzac day parade with their Cub scouts group.  I must say it's the first time we've attended and we're all looking forward to heading to a dawn service next year.  It really is so important for our younger generation to show their respect for all of those that have lost their lives in war. 



Dylan was quite nervous which was really cute.  They did a great job! 


I think Louis was just tired...haha. 

















Mum and I...


Mum came up to celebrate Dylans birthday and when we heard "The Water Diviner" was going to be on tv she decided to watch it and have a sleepover.


We had the biggest giggles trying to take a photo of ourselves.  I had tears rolling down my cheeks.  It really shouldn't have been as hard as it was but that's what made it so funny.

Mum and  I have had a pretty up and down relationship over the years, so it's so nice to have overcome so much together and enjoy each other much more now.

I tell you, expectations whether in family relationships or with our spouse or children never lead us anywhere good.  The soooner we accept people for who they are and not only accept them dependent on our own agenda the better.  When we have conflict in relationships it means both sides have to turn inwards to resolve things.  It is never all one or the other.

Anyway...

The Water Diviner was a great movie but so hard to watch.  I'm not afraid to admit that I cried my eyes out.

Here's the trailer...


Monday, April 27, 2015

Dylan turned 8!





Dylan turned 8 last week!

This boy is growing up so fast and we are so proud of him!  He is such a friendly boy and so clever.

He is a sensitive kid who is so thoughtful and we just love him to bits. 

He had a great birthday!  We had to wake him up so he could open his presents before Michael left for work.

The boys always open birthday presents in our bed...


with the birthday hat on...


He loved his card and treats and straight away said to his brothers that he would share it all with them...


and was happy to see himself featured on the wall...


 I didn't take any pictures of the car but it was decorated all over with "Happy Birthday" messages...

I picked him up from school to take him our for lunch.  Dylan chose Subway and he joyously ate every last crumb! 


He also talked me into letting him come home instead of heading back to school...cheeky thing.

Nanna came up in the afternoon and bought more presents from her and Aunty Sharon.   He was very happy about that and asked to take a photo and send it to Sharon saying thank you. 


Dylan wanted ice-cream instead of cake which I was so thankful for after his request for a meat and vegetarian lasagne, plus salad and garlic bread for dinner.  It was a busy day after I'd shopped in Benalla and taken him for lunch as well so a tub of ice-cream tipped out and decorated was nice and easy! 


I tell you, these years keep going faster and faster and as much as these boys keep me on my toes I wouldn't trade any of it for the world.

Happy 8th birthday Dylan!

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Lemon tree...

Our first lemon tree!

Here looks good...

Lots of helpers...

In the ground...

 Off to get some water...



 Dylan driving everyone back down...(Michael is in there as well, you can  just see him behind Dylan)

 All protected from the kangaroos, rabbits and wombats...hopefully!

We marked the height with a tie so we can document it's growth.  That's part of the fun right? 

Thursday, April 16, 2015

The Fisherman Story...

 I love this story...

The Fisherman Story
Author Unknown



An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.  Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna.  The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, “Only a little while."

The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos.  I have a full and busy life.”

The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”

To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.”

“But what then?” Asked the Mexican.

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part.  When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!”

“Millions – then what?”

The American said, “Then you would retire.  Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”


~

Monday, April 13, 2015

Preperations at Homegrown farm...


 The beginning of our chicken coop...


 and the other way...

 
Indi and I watching Michael spread dirt from the top corner of our block...



Welcome to our home...so looking forward to having guests when it's all done! 


Saturday, April 4, 2015

Family time...

We had some visitors up at the block on the Easter Saturday...so nice to catch up!




 Dad made some great swords for all the kids...


 Cousins: Lachlan, Kelly, Jayden, Ethan, Dylan and Chloe...

Robbie

Baby Emily...


Kelly...one day off 16...

They brought treats from the bakery and I had some homemade goodies...it was a very delicious morning tea...

It was time to say farewell...here is Kelly nervously getting ready to drive down our driveway...

What's that in the distance? 


It's 3 boys having a ride in Dads bobcat!

Louis then had a turn operating it...what lucky boys! 

 Such a great day...