The Gingerbread Man

I'm sitting in my car blaring my speakers listening to my favourite album of 2015 - well 2014 really....this album is the one that got me through all the loneliness of the year that has just gone. After moving at the end of 2014 to yet another town, another church ward and a whole new life ( did i say yet again!) this music is what got me through. Every track has a little trigger of a memory of a smell, a particular day or even a certain street in our town where I used to go and drive to get away from it all. The loneliness of motherhood at that time was dark and I know that the music probably, no definitely, magnified that darkness. But here we are at the end of the year and I'm still listening to his smooth sound and perfect exact lyrics to what wraps up a hard but good year. I still feel my heart rise in my neck as I remember that awful feeling when Johns car would roll away yet again, with no end in sight for a positive change. When, when, when. I'd always cry, everytime he would leave, yep never got used to it. Ever.

Unaware that I was being moulded and changed and still cared for at the same time, like a perfect ending to any struggle, all our prayers would be answered and all my wishes would come true through the remarkable gift of a dream job offer. Dream being that we would now share the same bed each night for the first time again in almost 7 years.

Dayum is all I can say to the last 12 months.

Here's to Mr Ginger himself, Ed Sheeran...

X

Dr Sears

Probably the best article on discipline I have read in a loooong time -

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/parenting/discipline-behavior/discipline-for-children

We have our fair share of not knowing which way to turn in this parenting situation. I have so many ups and downs, and always lean on prayer to guide me. Today my prayer lead me to this wonderful article from Dr Sears. I need to print this out and read it weekly. Everything - EVERYTHING fits whats going on in our house to a T. I am thankful for prayer and support in my motherhood. And for smart phones that can get you so much help in an instant!

x

1. Our collection on the way home from preschool, beautiful natural Christmas decor!

2. Mama and son lunch date

3. Lego club!

4. The tree is up and we're excited! 

Sometimes I feel like I have a lot to say, and other days I feel like I just talk too much! I'm in a mood to stop and write it all down, remember lovely things that have been happening lately to look back on and think how great my life really is!

Its early November and just yesterday afternoon we put on the Buble Christmas album! It felt so good to be back here at this season again and now with everyone another year older. It feels like every year things get that much more enjoyable as now they're able to experience even more things that the previous year they were just too little for. Its lovely! Now our eldest is really coming to understand the purpose of Christmas more and even thinking of all the fun Christmas activities we get to do together now that he is a big 5 and a half year old. I feel like life is pretty sweet right now.

The other day though it was rough going, the boys were acting up and each one of us in the house were fed up. We all had had it! So good to now have perspective from a happy day and happy weekend to look back and think what could I do better

I definitely know it all comes down to taking things more slowly. More quiet days at home with books and just a peaceful bike ride to the park or something simple. I love that we are in a smaller town now. Not so much crazy business happening.

So the boys managed to get themselves back on track and the grown ups did too :)

Now its onwards and upwards for the lovely season ahead. I'm thinking of all the things we love to do at this time of year. Its sad that old friends and the rest of the family aren't close by but I'm hoping our same old traditions can keep the same spirit alive.

I love that Christmas is here again!!

1. Got a turn of a real life Australian Army robot that searches for bombs. Asher was obessed!

2. Happy summery children at Mothers group

3.Bunderberg Drinks means Summer!

4. A moment where they are playing altogether happily

5. Our Magic Beach

6. Some special angels surprised us and gave us this beautiful new dining setting. A luxury item we've never had - a couple with grandchildren remembering what it was like to be young parents trying to get by. How we are blessed!

Today is a good day, because I have 2 children asleep at the same time. That is normally what happens but with the move and staying with family for a bit, the routine has been disturbed. I'm grateful for a day like today!

Some thoughts on my mind right now are all jumbled around budgeting - making money stretch. I love playing and figuring out how to make money go further. We are on a small amount but somehow there is always room to play and for life to feel comfortable. It is such a blessing.

I've thought about what will happen when the children will become old enough to have part time jobs. I used to catch a bus late at night all by myself at 14 years old after the thursday late night shopping shift. Looking back I don't think I'd expect or allow my kids to have to do that, but I would like them to know the value of work. I wasn't good with money til I was married, even though I started work at such a young age. However I did have to buy EVERYTHING on my own, including school lunches uniforms and pay for camps and excursions myself too - but thats another story. I really really really want my kids to contribute to the family and appreciate the comforts we provide. I know this will come with time. Its something I think of often.

A little way we have started sharing and teaching the boys so far is by buying second hand ... a recent favourite purchase is the boys first bikes! Asher is 5 and only just got his first bike - from the tip for $5. He was soooo happy it was ridiculous. So we have been riding everywhere. Jet got one too again for $5. Perfect condition - jets was almost brand new!

I am thankful for the wisdom to take care of the money we have and to teach the little ones to be satisfied with what we have. Its a great feeling to be able to make them so happy and then for it to not cost a fortune!

1.  The new wheels from the tip!

2. Outdoor playgroup, on everyday in our new city

3. We have free water parks where we are now - summer all day everyday!

4. Breakfast in bed for fathers day - he is a diamond in the rough my Johnny. 

I get so down on thinking 'is this all I do everyday - cook clean deal with tantrums give baths wipe bottoms and noses and clean some more'. This is every single day. There is no relief in this work. There is no clock in clock off - other then a few moments in the night you are not interrupted.

But then I remember somehow that I really wouldn't want anyone else to be doing this for my children but me. Even if it sends me over the edge. I try to fix the reasons for why i could be getting close to the edge everyday with  little tweeks here and there to perfect the flow of how things go.

Right now, we have had a serious answer to prayer come our way in the last little while. Our family has been longing to have daddy home more, home each night and with us on the weekend. We are so happy that our desire for our family has been granted and are soooo happy for it. He now is flying for a company monday to friday and home every night!! I can't believe this day has actually come.

Now i don't know if all my dreams are going to come true as I have longed for this day for many years now (7 years or so its been) so I am remembering that this is a gift that might only be a short season. Right now we have a new house new job and new pre school for little asher. Its a very exciting time. All new routines and playgroups to go to and outings to explore  I love the feeling that I get to make the house my own, there's no pressure to have to go to work outside the home for me so I can potter away and take my time. It really is a lovely time in life. I hope I will be able to teach our children well how we have waited for something which has now come and it is all from the gifts our Heavenly Father has blessed us with. I don't mean to sound flowery or strange but that is an honest feeling I have. These blessings have come from Him and I am happy and grateful to know that.

Gosh the news has been keeping me up at night worrying about so many different aspects of society right now. Violence and greed, drugs and deception. It makes me never want to turn the news on. It may seem naive but I am happy to keep my little family safe from harm and innocent for as long as I can. I love that I have the power to do that right now as when they get older its all from outside my control. I know that as I work hard now the lessons and training I give these little ones will be a blessing to them for their future decision making. As I hold their hand now and as they fully trust me to take good care of them I feel honoured for the priveledge  to do so.

lately at our place

Lately...not a great deal has happened but its coming up to 6 months before our first child begins school - so i constantly feel there's so much I want to do before life changes and is stuck in between the 9am and 3pm time slot.

We recently went to our annual disney on ice show - lots of fun, was able to take grandma with us and the boys were in their superhero gear they were so proud to show off their costumes amongst the pretty princesses.

As a family we climbed Tabletop Mountain. This is a full on climb! But boy what an adventure. I would recommend this for families...maybe not babies but we did it with ours. Looking back it probably was a bit risky. But the climb is so interesting, rocks galore and a serious incline. On all fours for a lot of it. THe boys were so into it - again wearing super hero costumes! Oh dear...      I loved that we got to enjoy that special day together though, having the boys see what a beautiful world we live in was priceless.

I'm really enjoying my success in not having the kids touch technology during this whole year - including television in the home. I've said it before, we watch a weekly movie for family movie night and when we visit family which is probably once a month they get to watch a little tv there if the other kids are watching it. Boy am I amazed that at home, my kids just don't need it. I think there is this trap that you (i mean me!!) just fall into with this tv thing. Like the kids just keep asking and asking so of course the easiest thing is to just give in. I'm so proud of myself for sticking this out.

I can't imagine how much tv/video games/iphone/ipad is being used as we are in the middle of school holidays...I wonder if parents tried to go screen free for the whole holidays what a difference it would make in their homes. Like just the less "frazzled" feeling enough is what keeps me motivated to keep them away from it all.

Yesterday we were able to visit a beautiful playground in the city. We were there for 6 hours straight and still they didn't want to go home at the end. I know (and heard kids yesterday) who say to their parents "can we go now, lets go home" and i know these kids are struggling to do anything other then get back to their devices because they just don't know how to enjoy doing anything else. Its so sad. What a world!

Here's a few pics from the latest at our place

xox

I've  been thinking lately on little things that make life run smoothly around our place. I reflect on them when things aren't going well and think how can I get back to that. I have these tips and secrets down pat but they are just for my specific children and situation we are in as a family as well complimenting my personality.

I find that by doing less each day is key. When i say less, of course I'm on my feet all fay long with the little ones but i mean, go out of the house less and schedule less things to do. I have found if we attend one thing in the morning ie a playgroup, music group or playground visit - i find the days go better. We come home at lunch time, eat and then all rest. Jet and Sariah will have a decent sleep, and Asher gives me about an hour to myself where he is in the toy room - listening to stories on CD and playing quietly. I reward him after that hour by having one on one with him until the others wake up.

After this rest time we will have a snack: either a smoothie, popcorn, crackers and dip or fruit. They look forward to making the smoothie and the popcorn and the 3 year old is happy to nap because he knows what he will get to eat when he wakes up.

Naptime is from 12:30 til about 3pm. From 3pm - 5pm its free play. The boys do whatever they like and there's a good chunk of unstructured time where they can just chill. It usually ends up being some kind of role playing with their super hero costumes on.

If we have something to go to in the afternoon or i have to run to the shops or something i don't feel as relaxed or chilled out in comparison to this free time. Since we have a trampoline now, we all have a decent play on there too which can tick off my 'exercise' goals for the day. Its a work out!

Its ridiculously hard what is required of stay at home ms oothers. To make it work better and smoother is my goal every single day. Routine is so key for us here. Everything we do has a routine, we all know whats coming next and i love it.

To make the mundane more managable too we like to plan family activities as often as we can. We love having friends over for dinner, beach trips and holidays away. Although money is tight, we plan to take the kids to a hotel once a quarter - thats a holiday 4 times a year! We all look forward to that so much and both John and I feel so revived from the little treat. We have been lucky enough to invest in a timeshare hotel so thats  how we manage to do it. Defenitely recommend this :)

We all need to take things slower - mothers and fathers and children. More to time to be still - not necessarily more "me" time. More time to be quiet and ponder. Other ways i try to incorporate this is by taking a bath once they're in bed, quiet reading of a good book when they are playing at a park or nicely at home, quiet music when we are driving in the car together (the classical radio station), quiet time for myself each morning before the boys wake up - reading scriptures and my personal prayer time, and something i look forward to every morning is yoga stretches and strength movements. It all helps me to manage my days and time within the chaos.

Loving life with our cherubs xo

My version of bliss

We just celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary this past week. I can't believe it. I remember all the excitement leading up to our wedding day, then the packing and collection of things as we moved in together after our honeymoon. It was such a special time in our lives and I always look back with happy memories. I remember thinking - I feel so happy right now when is this feeling going to stop as in will it just fade and go back to normal and routine like soon?

I can truly honestly say, that happy giddy feeling has never really left. I actually still get excited, still want to put on make up or lip gloss before i see my man after its been a while. Maybe its because of the amount of seperation we have anyway because of the flying... but it has made for a beautiful 7 years.

I remember a month or two after our wedding John and I were asked to speak in front of almost a thousand of our youth and young people from our church. Their ages were 18 to 31 - i didn't think we had much wisdom and didn't really prepare much in advance as to what we would say. The reason we were invited to speak was to discuss how we were able to decide to get married and why we chose to do so. Some people are scared, some are from broken homes and could never see the point of marriage and some really wanted marriage but there were no prospectives. I remember standing next to john and feeling proud that i had made that leap of faith and step in the dark to get married. I know that i did cause john anguish during our dating as i was always unsure and very fearful of my heart getting broken or if he just wasn't the right one. It took me a little time to get used to having someone else as well as i was so independent. Through the whole experience i prayed and pondered and was able to receive and answer and it was YES!

Seriously from that moment on i have never looked back, i shared that with those were speaking with. I shared that we were married in the temple and i felt even more safe. John always knew very early on we would be married but i took my time to figure that out :)

He is a wonderful man that does more as a husband then any other husband I know. I feel proud and happy and am so thankful for these past 7 years of marriage and 8 years of dating - here's to 70×7 more!

A little inspiration

In between thinking on Easter and teaching my cherubs all about it, I am reading Little Women at the moment. Yes and it is my first time at the age of 30! I know that at a younger age I would not have appreciated its tone and influence like it has on me now in this season of motherhood.

This just struck me, I need to remember this day in day out during the grind - during the tantrums and 4:30am wakings (from the 4 year old not the baby!!!)

" So they agreed to stop complaining, to enjoy the blessings already possessed, and try to deserve them, lest they should be taken away entirely, instead of increased, and I believe they were never disappointed or sorry that they took the old woman's advice."

Oh that i could be a mother so intent to teach my children that well. I want to be just like her. Her husband is away at war and she is teaching her children diligently to never complain. What power she has!

Easter

Easter is on its way to our place, we love Easter and love teaching about it. There is plenty for me to learn - to try harder to live kinder and gentler as I understand the trials the Saviour went through so we could have the peaceful life we have now.

We again are without daddy for the Easter long weekend, (almost every public holiday this year he is working!!) so we hope to make the season last a long time at our place. The boys get all excited about chocolates and bunnies and it is beautiful and sweet seeing how giggly they get caring for their little pet bunnies all over the place. I hope that even from this young age they can take lessons from the life of Saviour and how it can help them. 

Some traditions we do and ones we hope to fulfil this Easter:

28 days of Easter - daily scripture countdown

Weekly family night learning about Jesus Christ

Boys to purchase one new Easter item 

Easter photo and card for family and friends

Easter books, unwrap one a day

Decorating our Easter tree 

Names of Christ paper chain 

Easter front door wreath (have been doing since before the little bugs were with us)

Activity books, games and stickers all about Easter

A craft a day - a month full of easter crafts

Teach about palm sunday and the passover

Make home made hot cross buns

Class gifts to friends at Kindergarten and primary

Pet Bunny to tuck in each night

Easter bunny cake

Easter family brunch and egg hunt!

There may be a little more or a little less we end up doing. We always visit the beach, eat a lot of chocolate and enjoy being together. John is always away and that does make it seem sad but we do what we can to do all these things together while he is home.  I hope the boys have beautiful memories as we celebrate the Easter season and live it daily forever. 

🐰🐇🐣🐤

No spend year

I have a very generous and selfless grandmother. Other then all the things she does, still at the age of 30 she gives me birthday and Christmas money. Now that I have children - once a month or so she pops money "for the kids" into our account. That money is so appreciated at this time in our lives.

So I decided this year that I would not purchase one thing for the boys - at all. I have come to realise that they have EVERYTHING! And i really just enjoyed adding to the things they already have. A trap of commercial wants!

So what about when they actually do need something, a new water bottle or hat shoes or swimmers? Well we just have to make do, and then get creative.

I'm looking forward to their birthday parties this year - and again this will include the no spend policy! There will be no - purchased - gift from us. I want to see if its possible. The parties will need to be on a strict budget with serious creative ideas to pull it off.

When grandma does spoil them, I save making any essential purchases for then. Today it was new pjs they did desperately needed, all thanks to grandma!

We manage to live quite comfortably although on one small income. I'd like to think we can keep this up and remain self sufficient.  It is teaching me a lot and hopefully the children will gain appreciation for their posessions  also.

I'm grateful for the blessing of knowing money is a gift and not my own. There is much good we can do with what we have been given and this is my responsibility.

Anyway, just some of my thoughts for today

xx

The life of a pilot's wife

The life of a pilots wife...

So he's been gone for more then a week, about 11 days and surprised me by coming over for the weekend - just over 24hrs he will be with us before another week away.

I heard a familiar sound pull up in our drive way and quickly opened the door to see him standing there. I was so shocked and happy. I threw my arms around him and held him tight - ( probably as tight as a kid would do when you pick them up from a day at day care!! )

He had a tiny bunch of roses (I know for a fact we can't afford roses but he did it anyway) - my heart melted seeing him. I knew the boys needed to see him, sariah did - we all did. I was determined to make the next 24hrs count so I said "right, no naps today! We are going out!!!"

We had a delightful trip doing a grocery run, then onto an afternoon drive around our town and a stop at a huge playground, packed with families for the weekend. To top the night off we had a movie night enjoying hot chocolate and jelly!

Right now he is asleep, which is annoying but just the way it is - its like their home time is just so they can sleep and have the energy to go through it all again.

We love daddy!

xx

Book reviews & Sea World!

I'm in and out of things, and always on the go never really with a moment to myself. Thats ok with me as what else would I be doing?

But in the middle of it all I like to read. Generally several books at once that i dip in and out of - unless its a novel that i love and i don't end up putting it down until I'm done. And there are certain books I should read more and over and over.

Good books are like gold - little treasures of wisdom. The books I've been looking at over the past many months are about parenting (of course) and about teaching children.

Obviously using my own heart mind and judgement, I decide what suits us and what doesn't. I would say though that unless it's not from an area I already feel passionate about - I probably wouldn't continue reading as I know my heart feels different.

So a while back I read this book -

It is the montessori one I wrote about some time ago. I must have been 'guided' to this book as I stumbled across it in an old op shop...seriously a diamond in the rough. I think it was written in the 70s but so much good knowledge! Talks about how we really have only just tapped into the notion of how much babies and the under 6 crowd actually do take in within these first years of life. How there is so much more we could be feeding them, knowledge wise, and how that transforms these little ones and therefore our joy as we parent them - if there is more pleasure rather then just 'babysitting' all day long, the task is joyful!

Another are these by Dr Shefali Tsabary. Seriously, revolutionary stuff. For me anyway. This is not at all how I was raised - nor anything like it within my extended family. 

Again, this was something that I stumbled on...I follow Oprah on instagram (yep i do) and just was scrolling through her posts not looking at anything in particular - as you do while on the internet! Then bam. Here was a post about an indian clinical psychologist presenting a different mindset as to how we parent. There is some great stuff on Dr Shefali on you tube to check out. I love her TED talk. 

There is also this one - i love the way this is written as I believe the author has no professional background - but is a mother herself. So wise in how she uses scriptures to bring to life what was the intention of us being mothers in the first place. 

There is also the Dr Sears library - a collection of parenting books that i like, in particular The Baby Book. All about attachment parenting while also from a western medical point of view. 

I like their notion of trying to do things naturally ie medication wise before taking on drugs to treat children with illnesses - 'skills before pills' is their motto - which i love. 

There are plenty more books I haven't  mentioned that I've read and have helped me during these years - all in all - I love spending time on the different theories and hearing why they work. 

I pray about my kids and my parenting. I seek for correct guidance and I don't take any of it lightly. If something i do isn't working I go back and learn where to make changes. I love that this is a learn on the go kind of job. I love that I've been trusted to look after these babies - such a long way to go though for me and my maturity and understanding in my motherhood. 

Here is a little pic of a recent trip to Sea World. More then 4 hours return drive - by myself with 3 hooligans - it actually was a great day and they were remarkably manageable and well behaved. They were thrilled when I told them I was taking them there...Asher kept saying " I love you for taking us mummy " and several times during our visit he just randomly would say thank you over and over. It was worth the sacrifice! 

Daddy is not sure when he's coming home, could be another week, could be more. The boys miss him. We all do and look forward to hearing him come through the door. Until he does, we will keep occupied and work hard at all the fun there is to do from the eyes of a child. 

xx

I

New year, fresh start.

This past year has been my biggest to date so far. Biggest because now I have 3 babies! All still while daddy is away flying. We are so thankful for a good job and lots of gained experience - though we hope for daddy to be home more real soon.

Our new place is lovely, the town is so pretty with less commotion from where we used to live. Lots of beautiful greenery and parks for exploring. I miss comforts of home and friends and "city" living - but know this is the right place for us right now.

My children prove to test me more and more each day. I'm tired, I'm cranky and fed up more then I'd like to be or even thought I'd ever be. I've been reading some good books, one in particular - Christlike Parenting. I can see it helping me in the daily grind of it all. 'Be of good cheer' is one lesson that is ringing in my ears at the moment from the book. Clearly our goal is to strive to learn and live as Christ - so all of my parenting challenges will become less of a burden as I keep that focus.

We have now given up TV for the most part for our kids! Can't believe I did it but it had been in my heart and mind to do for a long time. I thought it would be torture to not have it - seriously took about 3 days or less to kick the habit. We still have it there for family movie nights whenever it feels right...i can see a difference in the children wițhout its noise and nonsense. The thought that i was being mean to not let them have it or to not let them see their favourite characters/tv friends did cross my mind. I realised that its just a gimic, a lure and really just a false idea that those things are good for them. Me spending time with them is far better. The boys playing games together and imagining pretend stories is priceless and can't be beaten by a half hour tv show.

The boys don't touch a smart phone or ipad at all st any time of the day. I love that I've been able to maintain that as well.

We listen to lots of music, lots of 'read-along' books and play lots of games. The 2 year old messes up a lot of these games and it more often ends in tears but we're doing it. Our eldest loves memory card games and puzzles.. I'm talking serious puzzles. They are huge. I didn't think he could do them but man do I underestimate him. Probably we all do when we really think about it. There is so much more they could be doing that we just say they're too little. Our eldest is 4 and this morning unloaded the dishwasher and was seriously accurate and fast at it. He sets up 3 different kitchen timers we have when he has 'jobs' to do. They are a favourite motivation of his, those timers.

Anyway, although this all sounds amazing - no tv, puzzles, doing jobs around the house - reality is its hard and trying and draining every single day. I don't find any day cruisy or easy. I struggle. The baby is so much bigger now and needs even more. More food, more attention and having less sleep at nap time. She is delightful and so good to be around - the boys just can't stand that she takes up a lot of my time. It is teaching us all a lesson in patience.

We have had lots of outings and things going on over Christmas - here are some cute photos of it all.


Doing these fun things keeps me sane. Some mothers coping strategy is to stay at home - mine is getting out of those walls. Neither is right or wrong. I find i get lonely so going out makes me feel i have companionship... My eldest is like this too, has always loved being around and amongst people.

happy new year and hats off to mothering!