taking stock..

Spring is only a day away, and I'm itching to get so many things done around here.  My head is spinning with all the 'to do's' on my list, its almost becoming too overwhelming and I fear I just won't get to any of it. So its time to take stock and clear my head, thanks to Pip's trusty list..

Making : simple decorations to liven up our new but very bare deck.

Cooking : veggie soup and using the left overs for pasta sauce tomorrow.

Drinking : coffee in the morning, wine in the evening and fresh veggie juice in between.

Reading: I just finished The Girl on the Train, which I loved, now I'm needing something new.

Looking: for a copper shower rose for our homemade outdoor shower, they're way too expensive.  Who knew!?

Deciding: if some intensive private swim lessons for the primary school boys might be more beneficial than the school two week program.

Wishing: I could afford a painter to paint inside and out!

Enjoying: picking fresh herbs and greens now that we've moved the veggie garden directly outside the kitchen.

Waiting: for the slushy yard to dry up a bit.

Liking: a little bit of trash tv.

Loving: Olive's ballet classes.

Listening: to Olive talk non stop, all day long.

Considering: storage options, stashing less and packing my craft cabinet into a single box..eek!

Buying: beautiful handmade treasures.

Watching: my favs right now...The Bachelor, Life in Pieces, Have You Been Paying Attention.

Hoping: our boys room switch isn't as excruciating as I'm anticipating.

Marvelling: at the biggest boy, just everything, all of him.

Cringing: at Olive's new found love of the recorder.

Needing: to get myself to yoga once and for all..and plant life for the deck.

Smelling: open fire's and fire pits in the air.

Wearing: beautiful handmade pieces by Wendy.

Following: vicandbert and trying not to want all the things.

Noticing: the middle guy is seeming a little anxious about high school next year and leaving his friends.

Knowing: our peak season is almost upon us, and trying to brace myself with calm and order.

Thinking: I should just pick up a paint brush and start one room at a time.

Admiring: my husband and feeling blessed that we are in his capable forward planning hands.

Getting: ready to Spring clean, eliminate and simplify. We really don't have all that much, even toys are few around here (apart from lego), but a tidy up and clean out is always nice.

Coveting: too many beautiful instagram feeds.

Disliking: that we have been forced to introduce our children to devices through school education programs and that my children believe they are the only ones not allowed to have a billion apps and hours of itime outside of school.

Opening: the doors and windows on those sunshiny days we've been having.

Feeling: anxious that Olive still isn't grasping toilet training, and isn't terribly willing to try.

Hearing: the constant nattering of a happy toddler at play.

Mixing: spinach, carrot, apple and orange into the kids morning berry juice, and they're loving it!

Slicing: warm out of the oven chocolate cake for school lunches.

Forgetting: to log into our school parent portals, constantly, and staying up to date.

Embracing: the possibilities of the new season.


Aahh, a little taking stock really does help.

ps: apologies for the random layout of this post, blogger is being a bit strange tonight??

august portraits..

35/52..

a night in the ED 

35/52..

she put a tiny magnet up her nose and we spent a worrying evening in emergency until they eventually (painstakingly) managed to remove it.

34/52..
helping hands, picking fresh herbs and adding them to the soup one tiny leaf at a time.

33/52..

this weeks shoe of choice, apparently just as perfect for scaling rocks and scooting as they are for ballet.

32/52..

her favourite place on earth, {still} mumma's neck.

she will run to me at random, squish her little nose into the nook and and breathe me in.

August was a month that reminded me my baby girl really is still just a baby after she spent a week with a head cold, and nestled into my neck for endless cuddles.  Still keeping us forever entertained with her antics and funny ways, of course.  

Then last week she found a tiny little magnet in the shape of a star.  A treasure!  She has never been one to put things in her mouth or anywhere other than her special box or a pocket, so I wasn't the least bit concerned about her holding ever so tightly onto this.  We still don't know where it came from, but I'm guessing its something one of the boys might have picked up off the ground somewhere.

It wasn't until later that night, just before bed, that she said her nose was scratchy form the star.  At first the boys thought she'd scratched her nose but couldn't see any blood so didn't worry too much. When she said it to me though, I knew immediately what she'd done.  I took a look and there it was. A glimmer right up in her nostril, so off to the doctor we went.  

He couldn't get to it after his one and only attempt.  He and Olive are good friends and I don't think he wanted that to change, so it was off to the hospital emergency department next.  

I really didn't think it was going to be that hard.  I could see it was within reach, and she was being very co-operative, but they just couldn't get it out.  After a few attempts, long hours and some happy gas, it was still holding tight up there.  In fact it had moved up even further and the doctor couldn't see it anymore.  I was so worried when they suggested we go home and wait.  Wait to see if she'd swallowed it in which case she would just pass it, or wait to see if discharge developed over the next couple of days which would indicate it was still there.

I just didn't feel right about taking her home and not knowing where it was.  I worried that she could choke on it in her sleep, that it could become infected or that she could inhale it! 

It was so late at night by now and the ED was flat out busy.  In the end, they called up an ear nose and throat specialist to come into the hospital to take a look.  Thank goodness for that, because he wasn't going to let her go anywhere until it was removed, whatever it may take. 

Eventually, after lots and lots of tears, Olive screaming for her star and screaming that it was 'time to go home now' he managed to pull it out.  We had to wrap her in a sheet and pin her down, another doctor holding her head still while she screamed and screamed.  But he got it. Oh boy, what a relief that was! 

I think I'm the only one who was left traumatised by the whole event.  Olive was perfectly fine once we left and promised to never ever put anything in her nose again.

You can join in the 52 project over at Practicing Simplicity.. 

sunset series..

all pics taken by the middle guy, except this last one

A winter walk, just us three.  We had two birthdays in the month of July, and both nights were freezing cold, raining and full of cloud.  We had to break tradition this time, with not a sunset to be had.  Then, one Sunday evening soon after, this happened.  A perfect sunshiny day, a warm(ish) breeze and clear blue skies.

Everyone else was busy doing their thing, but the middle guy and I couldn't resist a walk on the beach at dusk to soak it all in.  He was keen to grab the camera and have a play around, to get in some practice while the light was so pretty. What a great job he did too.  Yesterday he had us all take turns for portrait shots.  I love how he loves the camera and photography.  I love that taking photos makes you notice simple things, beauty you might otherwise overlook.

So our winter sunsets have been few, but they've been pretty.  We're very much looking forward to farewelling the cold. Feeling warmth in the air, having more time in our day to enjoy being outside, and hopefully more sunset walks.

We're counting down now, only twenty more days 'til Spring!!

july portraits..

31/52..

'three cheeky monkey's jumping on the bed..'

30/52..

'I mind them Mumma..' counting my crochet hooks over and over, a new favourite pastime

29/52..
sometimes she uses her hands like toys, her fingers are the characters and the sing and dance and get up to all kinds of wonderful adventures

28/52..

learning to use scissors for the very first time

27/52..

the protest, its a regular occurrence, and the expression on that little face daring me to do something about it

Another month of learning, attitude, favourite shirts...and lots of busy hands at play!

July was a big month for our cancerian birthday boys.  It was a HUGE month actually.  We've taken our business in a new fresh direction, we've had school holidays, we've been preparing for school camps.  There have been about a thousand school meetings and information evenings and lots of running here there and everywhere!

This little girl is looking more and more ready for kinder next year.  The growth is extraordinary.  It was only a month ago that I was worrying about her not being ready.  Not having had more experience with playgroups or three year old kinder like her brother's had.  Suddenly, I see it.  I see that its time to take the next step, time for her to leave my side and try new things.  It's time for big kid adventures.  The baby is growing up.

You can see more lovely portraits over at Practicing simplicity..