Around here

So I'm now a mother to a 9 year old, a 7 year old, a 5 year old and a 1 year old! How did that all happen?

We are going through all sorts of behaviour changes and growth spurts at the moment with pretty much all of them so our parenting skills are being tested and we are all changing. It's good and bad because I worry that I am making mistakes with the big one, but I think we are both learning along the way.

It's now school holidays so I'm excited to spend some time with all four kids, and I really do mean that. I love watching them all interact with each other and Darcy sure does enjoy having them all around.

So I best be off because not only is it the first weekend of the school holidays but B's not at work either! So happy Sunday y'all! Hope the weather is nice where you are and you get to spend it doing something you enjoy.

Looking back

*WARNING* This post is VERY photo heavy.

Looking back to 2 years ago our life was different yet the same as now. We had not long relocated from Queensland to Western Australia and were still adjusting to life in the Pilbara. We had just taken the kids on their first trip to Perth (we've now been about 4 times in 2 years) and we were a family of 5 and thought we would stay that way seeing as my body wasn't really co-operating.

But 2 years on we are well and truly settled here in WA, we've moved from a small 3 bedroom house to a small 4 bedroom house last December and this is where we will most probably stay until Caden reaches high school and we pack up from this remote part of the world to somewhere that offers better schooling opportunities for our kids.

We have also welcomed Darcy into our family and have become a family of 6. Looking back I can see just how much the kids have grown and changed but yet are still the same. It's weird how things can be the same but different.

What has changed for you in the past 2 years? 


Linking up with Essentially Jess and Life Behind the Purple Door.

Right Now

Right now life is busy, but nice. The kids have just gone back to school after two weeks holidays, most of which they spent playing outside together with minimal arguing.

Don't get me wrong, my kids do argue, sometimes more than I like, but most of the time they WANT to play together and do so pretty well. I'm not fooling myself thinking that this trend WILL continue without effort, but I hope with some nurturing of their relationship with each other they will continue to get along AND like each other.

Darcy is noticing the quiet at home today. He has wanted to be held for most of the day so far which is unusual for him. He is usually pretty happy to just lay around and watch the world go by. He is probably my easiest baby so far *touch wood* and I have joked to B that it's time for another. I wont repeat the words he uttered, but lets just say they weren't pleasant.

Darcy is now 7 months old and sitting for short periods. He has changed so much since his birth. He was born with a head full of dark hair but has gradually lost it and is now left with light wispy hair just like his biggest brother. C actually seen a few of his baby pictures last week and commented on how much Darcy looks like him and I have to agree.

Like I said, life is busy but good.

How's your life at the moment?

Wordless Wednesday

Gifts for Boys (8-12 years)

It's that time of year again when the kids start writing their letters to Santa. Above is just a small snippet of what Caden has on his list.

It's heavily focused on on Minecraft and Video Games.

1. Minecraft Steve Figurine
2. Skateboard
3. Yet more Minecraft figurines
4. Rabbids Invasion The Interactive TV Show game
5. Fuji Instant Camera
6. And MORE Minecraft merchandise

He is just a little obsessed with Minecraft at the moment and he has finished most of his video games that he received for his birthday in September so a new game in the house will be very welcome and he loves Rabbids Invasion on Foxtel so this game will be a no brainer.

Do you have a Minecraft obsessed kid in your house? 

What about video games, do your kids play them? 

Is there a limit on the time that they are allowed to play them? 

Wordless Wednesday: The Darcy Chronicles

There's always one

I was trying to take a few pictures of the kids this morning before my camera battery died...

It didn't go so well as one was either squinting or pulling funny faces. But I guess I now have plenty of photo's to look back on and laugh...

The week that was

1. Ollie the poser
2. Back to school baking
3.My Granny has been knitting for the new baby
4. I pulled out all my scrapping supplies and did a few new pages for my scrapbook. I'm sharing them over at ASWC soon.
5. We are finally back at soccer training after a long break for the holidays
6. I finished the babies blanket
7. Ethan was less than impressed by our Sunday morning soccer games
9. I made a huge stack of burp cloths for the baby
10. Ethan's crochet blanket is getting bigger.

Be Still And Know

• Nothing bad will happen because the clothes aren't folded or the dishwasher isn't unloaded...
• Nothing bad will happen because there are toys spread all over the loungeroom
• Nothing bad will happen if you simply pack the kids up, walk out the door and head to the park instead of folding said clothes or unloading said dishwasher, infact only good can come of it.

It is true the saying 'the days are short but the years and long'. But even the years aren't very long and before you know it they will be flying the coup and you'll be left wondering why you worried about the dishes or the clothes or the toys so much.

I don't know about you but I need to stop worrying about the mess the kids make when they are having fun and just simply bask in the glory of them having fun AND making mess.

I need to get the paints out more often, let them go wild with the glitter... oh the glitter. Not worry about the playdough ending up in weird places about the house because nothing bad will come of it.

That's right, nothing bad will come of it. I need to say that to myself more often and focus on creating memories instead of worrying about mess. It'll be there for me to clean after our hearts are full from simply spending time with each other. And sometimes just being still and relaxing together is enough too.

And when you have had enough of the noise and you simply want to be still ALL BY YOURSELF, well nothing bad will come of that either.

Winter Sunshine

This morning I packed some food and herded the kids out the door with their soccer balls and I took along my crochet. We were destined for the outdoors out of necessity as B is on nightshift at the moment and I needed them out of the house so he could sleep.

But what started out as necessity turned into a very very very pleasant morning spent in the winter sunshine. The kids ran around, played soccer and explored all without ANY fighting and I sat in peace with my crochet and well, simply enjoyed the peace and quiet.

There was no one else at the 'lake' the whole time we were there as well, so it really was just us and the birds.

They are all having quiet time now and I'm going to have a cuppa and do that same before the afternoon madness starts.

Rainy Day Activities

Yesterday I put a call out on the And Sew We Craft Facebook page for some ideas for what to do with the kids since we are were into our second day of rain and since living here we haven't had to worry about rainy day activities because when it rains we get like 30 minutes of rain/storm and then it buggers off again.

But this rain is sticking around and the kids were getting a little bored with the board games, painting and movies.

Here are the fab ideas the ladies came up with:

Post by And Sew We Craft.

So what activities do you do when it is raining outside?

Five on Friday

1. Two of our neighbours have had snakes this week, so today we are making sure that there are no snake hidey holes anywhere near our house and getting rid of our compost. As much as I love having a functional compost patch, well I dislike snakes more. One of the snakes that was found near us this week was a Gwarda  one of the most highly venomous snakes there is. Funnily enough it was found in a compost bin

2. Caden received a merit certificate for excellence in numeracy on assembly yesterday. He was proud as punch.

3. Both Caden and Mahli have had school swimming lessons for the last 2 weeks at school and by all reports they are doing really well. They both swam 50 metres freestyle the other day too. Being 5 and 7 years old I think that's a great achievement.

4. We got Ethan kindy enrollment information in the mail today...

5. We have been doing a fair bit of Christmas crafting lately. I've shared some of it over at ASWC and am hoping to get some finished this weekend so I can share a bit more.

Saturday Morning Crafting

The kids had been begging me to do some painting for the past few days, but we have just had too much on. But this morning we had some quiet time and I broke out the kids watercolours.

 They loved it! And we need to do it more often!

And I can't wait to hang these up on the wall. They will add some much needed colour to this house.

Do you paint with your kids?