Postcards from Sydney

Unfortunately I didn't take a lot of photos from our time in Sydney.  

I usually take loads so I'm not sure how I only ended up with a few but here is what I have.

Excitement as we board the plane in Melbourne.  

Taking it slow at my sisters house.

Paddy with his youngest cousin (my sister's daughter), Annie.

Grace was beyond thrilled to push Annie in the pram.  

 Cousins!

Walking through the streets of Glebe with my sister's twin boys, Hamish and Liam.

My parents live in a rural part of Sydney and the kookaburras visit them daily.  

Paddy was in awe of them and loved waking up and greeting them each morning.

 My parents took the kids to Putt Putt.  I think I lost my ability to count because courses that I thought took 5 strokes, apparently only took 3.  Yes, there was the occasional scoring cheat - two guilty parties one start with P the other G!

Checking out the bookstore at Sydney airport before returning to see Martin in Melbourne.  Yes, he had to stay here and work while we headed to warmer weather in the north.  Poor Martin!

A huge apology to those that we did not get to catch up with.  

Unfortunately this trip was a quick one and we ran out of days to see everyone. 

Displaying Art Works

It is that time of year again - art show time.  Patrick has his next week and Gracie has hers tonight.  At this time of year I reflect on the various arts that the children have created over the years and where they are displayed around our home. Displaying children's art work has always been important to us.  The kids love seeing it around the house and I think it is always a focal point when visitors come to our home.  I also believe that it's great for their self esteem.  

I know that a lot of art work is displayed on the refrigerator but we like to frame the kids best work and proudly display them on our walls.  So this morning I went around the house and snapped a few that we have on display.

This was painted by Grace when she was 6 years old.  It hangs proudly and happily in the kitchen.  Although it is tricky to see, the girl has a beautiful Japanese style print dress on and she has a huge smile that goes from ear to ear.

Gracie drew and coloured this sweet house in when we first moved to Melbourne.  The house that we lived in first was two stories and this is her interpretation of it.  

Sorry about the reflection.  It's a BAD photo but this was the first piece of art we bought at a school Art Show.  Paddy created the background and zebra when he was in Kindergarten/ Prep.  He was 5 years old.  This one hangs in Martin and my bedroom and it brings me back to a happy time when Paddy had just started school.

These little beauties are Martin's pride and joy.  Some are made by Paddy and the others by Gracie.  They were all made at pre-school (the kids were 3-4 years old).  The kids love that Martin hangs them on his bedside table.  I don't know what we would do if something happened to these.  They are irreplaceable.

When we moved to Melbourne we needed a little something for a bathroom wall, so Gracie and I got busy one day with some cardboard and paint.  She wanted something pretty for the wall and decided to create her favourite flowers - lavender.  I think it is just perfect for our wall and her little fingerprint buds warm my heart.

I love incorporating the children's art work into our home.  I'm excited to think of the new art works that will be purchased tonight and next week and where we can proudly display them.

Grandparents

Martin's parents arrived last week and stayed with us over the weekend.  I love seeing my kids being entertained and delighted in the company of their grandparents.

It makes me smile.

 

Every time we're all together - I remind myself how grateful I am for family, even though now with the kilometres between us and we see each other less.  It makes the time extra special and meaningful. When I see all the laughing, hugging and reminiscing I take note and think "We should do this more often."

The conversation buzzed all weekend and there was a lot of head tipped laughter.

@Grandparents Day

A special time was had by all.

Thank you for the visit, Nana and Pa.

A Pink Leotard and a Netball Skirt

Once upon a time I had a little girl who loved ballet

She was enthralled with it.  It was the highlight of her week.  She loved to move, to laugh, to meet new friends and to have fun.  When ballet class was finished she would come home and dance in her room and go over and over the new steps that she had been taught.  She would passe more than she would walk.  She also sat on my lap at the desk and would gaze into the computer as we watched Youtube after Youtube of dancing and ballet moves.  My little girl had a passion for it.

On ballet class day she would rush home from school, get dressed and be waiting in the car for us to be there on time.  She didn't want to miss a minute of her precious ballet class.  She made sure that her pumps were on correctly, her tightly secured bun was just right and her leotard was sitting as it should.

From the moment that the class begun Grace had poise, moved gracefully and she enjoyed pointing, flexing and stretching at the barre.  She also loved seeing her reflection in the long mirrors and smiling at herself as she floated by.

The joy she experienced was obvious and infectious.

...and then we moved to Melbourne.  

Her biggest worry when we moved was her ballet.  I was a bit anxious too.  Even before we thought of a new school, she wanted me to look into ballet schools just like the one she attended in Sydney.  Well, we tried and we tried.  Our first experience was with a strict Russian school that left Gracie in tears - we never returned.  The second was at a local school that had been recommended to us but the day we arrived it had been flooded and the stench of mildew and mould was in the air and it was enough to put both Grace and I off.  Our last experience lasted nearly 12 months.  It was in a local hall, some of her friends attended, the teachers seemed lovely and Gracie went in with her head held high and with all the hope in the world that this was her new ballet 'home'.  It wasn't to be.  Not only did she not enjoy it but in between all the changes my little ballerina lost her passion.  Gone were the days of flitting around her room, of dreaming all things ballet, of watching ballet steps on Youtube.  

I must say, my heart broke a little when ballet took a backward step in Gracie's life.  It took a while for her to heal from the loss but I am happy to report that she has discovered a new love.

 Netball!

...and if that makes my girl happy.  Well I'm happy, too.

Plaits might not be as pretty as a tightly secured bun and a netball bib as flattering as a leotard but my girl has found a new joy and that is what life is about.

I will support her no matter what.  I smile as I drive her to netball training or to her Saturday game and feel excitement for her new found love.  I even felt joy when selecting new runners to play her "Bestest netball...ever!"  Because I love her.  

Grandparents Day

Grandparents descended upon Gracie's school today to celebrate Grandparents Day.  The children displayed some of their classroom work and each class did a special performance.  Some classes recited poetry and others sang songs.  Following the classroom visit and performance, the grandparents enjoyed a special morning tea.

Gracie was incredibly lucky because my parents flew down to Melbourne to make her day.  She was so excited to have them here.  She had a grin from ear to ear as she proudly showed them around the school and introduced them to her friends.

Thank you Mum and Dad for making her day! xxx

My Favourite Time of Day

Dinner is my favourite, most treasured time of the day.  Unfortunately, Martin is not with us often during the week (he travels a lot for work both internationally and domestically and when he is in Melbourne, he works LONG hours and he is not home by the time the kids and I eat) so I guess I have to correct myself  and say that WEEKEND dinners are my FAVOURITE time.  It is such a special time, a celebration of family life.  It's a time that we are all together, in one space,  A time to chat, enjoy, gather and be one. 

I like to put extra effort into dinner time.  Sometimes I create a special place with flowers, a drawing in the centre, a quote or daily affirmation to reflect upon, a candle (or two, or three).  However, lately, I've noticed that the children have started to take on this role.  They love to create their own atmosphere, their own scene.  Sometimes there are days where it feels laborious to make a fuss about the setting and of course, days when a slice of toast and a boiled egg are suffice, but even on those days, we still try to make our ritual as special as possible.  Even a small effort is worth it - as the busyness of the day quietens and settles for the day, even for a few minutes.  Events from the day are discussed, ideas and plans are shared, worries or concerns seem to come out, too.  The communication seems to flow at a steady pace.  It feels so right.  To me, it is what being a family is about.

It's funny to look back and see where our dinner celebrations have come from.  I have clear memories of kids in high chairs - mess, oh, the MESS, the occasional eyes closing from exhaustion, a wee one crawling under, or sometimes on top of the table.  Oh, joy!

We have two celebrations coming up this weekend and today the kids (with a bit of help from me) decided that we needed to get the table ready.  They are so excited to be celebrating Daddy's 40th and Mother's Day, with an extra blessing of having their grandparent's and an aunt to share the day with.  

Do you have a favourite time of the day?  

Mother's Day

Did you realise that Mother's Day is approaching fast?  May 13 to be exact (also my little sister's birthday and the day after Martin's 40th).  Anyway, when I was teaching, it was about this time that I would scour through craft magazines, teaching resources and rack my brain to come up with thoughtful but useful gifts for my student's to make for their mother's/carers.


I am not teaching this year so I can relax a bit but I thought that I'd compile a few ideas of things that you can make for your own mum, or if you're a teacher, for your student's mother's/carers or even for a special grandmother or a neighbour.  As you know, I am all about things homemade.

Spa Slippers

I love these cute spa slippers from Flamingo Toes.  Easy to make and they'd go perfectly with the scrub that Grace and I made earlier this year.  Just what a Mummy needs!

Scrabble Picture 

Flickr Photo by Samantha (This Home Sweet Home)Scrabble is a favourite game at our house and I love Scrabble crafts.  I also adore these Scrabble pendants .  The pendants are easy to make and I know a lot of mother's and grandmother's who would adore wearing them.  Scrabble tiles can be purchased in many places but I have bought some from Beads Online before.  They were good quality and arrived in the post 2 days after I submitted my order.
Flower Paper Canvas

These flowers are super easy for a child to make but I think they look so effective.  

Homemade Mother's Day Cards

My kids always make cards for special occasions and Mother's Day is a must for this in our house.  

Aluminium Can Flower Pot

Source: blog.craftzine.com via Jane on Pinterest

I have made these a few times with classes that I have taught.  The kids love to decorate the tin, plant the seeds and watch them grow. The mother's/grandmother's/carers love receiving them.   

Fingerprint Pendants

The kids and I will be making these on the weekend.
We intend to make them into bookmarks for my Mum and my Mother-In-Law.

Mason Jar Vase

Source: georgiapellegrini.com via Jane on Pinterest

If only we had family close by because I would love to take some beautiful flowers to my Mum and Martin's Mum for a table centre and enjoy a lunch together...if only! 

(FYI- Both Martin and my family live in Sydney - 880km's/550miles  away)

Our Holiday

I can't believe that in just two days we will be heading to the US for a wonderful family holiday.  We have been counting down the days since we booked the trip in January and to know the day is just about here is wonderful.  While we're gone we have some special friends staying at our house here in Melbourne and that also makes us happy.  Knowing that our friends can enjoy a holiday too and we can share marvellous Melbourne with them.

Our first stop is NYC.  We will be staying in Manhattan, my favourite city in the whole wide world.  Martin and I were lucky enough to live not too far away from there (about 40 minutes or so) prior to having the kids.  We have such special memories of the city and we cannot wait to share them with the kids.  Grace is most excited abut going to The American Girls Cafe while Paddy is looking forward to The American Museum of Natural History.  Me, I cannot wait to visit Central Park and walk up and down the streets that I enjoyed wandering years ago.  I have a few favourite restaurants in Greenwich Village that we hope to re-visit.  We're also planning to take the kids to a show on Broadway.  We thought of seeing Annie but that is showing in Sydney right now and one of Patrick's friend is Annie so we will try and see it there.  Our other thought was Billy Elliot.  I know there is some swearing in it but it might be the best pick for the two of them.  Any ideas?

From NYC we will drive through New Jersey and show the kids where we lived.  We often talk about the incredible time we had when we lived there so it will be good to show them what it was like.  We also hope to visit some outlet malls along the way.  Nothing like American outlet shopping, especially with the strength of the Australian dollar...yay!  

(Princeton~NJ)

We will then head straight to Washington DC where we will spend most of our time at the Smithsonian Museums and visit Capitol Hill,  Arlington National Cemetery and the White House.  I also hope that we have time to visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Then it's a flight down to the happiest place on earth 

~Disney World~

Squeal...happy jumps!

I am just as excited as the kids.

From there, we'll take our happy but tired bodies for some rest and relaxation in Hawaii

And that, my friends is what I have to look forward to over the coming weeks. 

Can I say excited...yippee!

Missing My Boy

This week my boy is at camp - abseiling, bushwalking, trail bike riding, chatting by a campfire, gazing at the stars and spending time with his school mates.  You know I don't think there is anything more beautiful, or inspiring than children being with nature and spending time with their friends, their mates.  I just hope that he feels free - free of mind, free of spirit - free to enjoy this special adventure.

As much as I am excited for him, I am missing him a lot.  You see this is the first time that I have ever been away from him.  He has spent a night here or there at a friends or at his grandparents but not four days in a row.  He said that he didn't sleep well last night because he had mixed feelings of excitement and nerves.  When I told him that I felt the same, I think he felt relieved almost knowing that his feelings are perfectly normal.

Last night Martin and I wrote a letter to him.  It was so lovely to give them to him before tucking him into bed.  He laughed and laughed at Martin's (Daddy's can get away with writing things about bodily functions and bathing or lack of) but when he read mine, he gave me a huge hug.  

Laughing at Martin's letter

Reading the letter from me

 

Look at him wheeling in his big bag to school. 

We are all on the countdown to Friday.  

As we left the school this morning and hugged him goodbye,  

Grace said "I miss Brother  already!"  

Me too, beautiful girl.  Me, too

Roll on Friday!

A copy of the letter that I wrote to him

12 March 2012

Dear Patrick,

I am writing this letter to you on the eve of your first school camp.  It’s the first time that we’ve been away from each other for more than one night.  I know that I will miss you but I also know that you will have a fabulous time.  I feel incredibly lucky to have a son like you and the special relationship that we share.  You are such a bright spot in my life.

At 10 years of age and on the precipice of your first camp and extended time away from home.  Here are a few things I want you to remember.

• Have fun, stay safe and be good
• Enjoy the time with your new school mates.  Try to make at least one new friend everyday
• When you’re not sure about something, pause before you act, look before you leap but then follow your gut
• Appreciate the outdoors, the sun, the stars, the clean air, your friends, your teachers
• Find magic in the simple everyday things
• Be happy - smile
• Find humour in the absurd
• Listen to your teachers and camp supervisor.  Remember that they are giving up their time to make your camp special.
• If you have a cloudless night, go outside look at the stars and remember that you're looking at the same stars as Daddy, Gracie and I
• If you make a mistake, remember to say sorry and reverse course if necessary.
• Be proud of what you achieve.
• Remember snippets of each day so you can come home and share with us all the fun that you had

You know that we’ll miss you while you’re away but we’ll be eagerly waiting to hear about your adventures when you return on Friday.

I love you, Patrick!

Love,

Mum xxx