The Loveliness of Eggs

Aren't eggs just lovely? So warm. Such a soft colour. So humble. Perfect little packages.

I found these photos and they brought back memories of last Autumn, on a beautiful quiet sunny morning.

I needed to look at photos to remember what the sun looks like....'cause we haven't seen it here for ages! 

Just rain, rain, rain.

But we can still have eggs for breakfast.

Cyclone Oswald

Well, after a long hot period without rain, we have had Cyclone Oswald. At first I was grateful for the deep, soaking rain. We had some great plays in it, riding the inflatable boogie board down the drain and sliding in the giant puddles all over the football field. But as it gained momentum, I began to feel uneasy. I didn't sleep well last night, with all the big gusts of wind. I actually was a bit scared! 

And look at our backyard this morning:

We copped it. Our poor trees. I loved that beautiful big olive tree!

So that's been a bit of excitement in the neighbourhood. And Jimmy shouted with glee, "Hooray, that's our playground now!"

But guess what happened to our friends? Their trampoline got swept up two storeys and crashed into the neighbours roof! And the neighbours are away on holidays....oh boy.

I hope you are all safe and well and Oswald behaves himself in your area!

The Love Jar

There's nothing like a bit of bribery to get you out of trouble with the kids. I have to say I was feeling a bit grumpy putting up with all the bickering and whining. And my reactions probably weren't helping either....I seem to recall something about boarding school...

Anyway, why not resort to a bit of "positive reinforcement" aka "bribery"? I slapped a love heart on a jar, got out some wooden beads and explained to the beasties - sorry, children - that every time they did something loving, or used nice manners, or helped as soon as they were asked etc, I would put a bead in the jar. Their reward would be a dessert of their choice when the jar was full.

I was pretty generous with the beads; it's hard for little people to wait too long and I didn't want the interest to wane! What a change in my children! When it was almost full (about two weeks later) Alfie the Elf helped out one night and filled it to the top.

Kees had chosen the dessert, agreed upon by Jimmy and wholeheartedly supported by me: 

 raspberry ice-cream. 

I took the opportunity and got him to write out a shopping list.

We bought the ingredients, and made the ice-cream and darn, it was good!

Now we're working to fill up the jar again!

Living it up

I felt lucky today, when Kees made me a cup of tea. I lay on the couch and read a magazine while my little helper did the whole lot by himself. And it tasted pretty good! I will definitely be encouraging this interest and I hope it will become a habit. ;0)

I want the Funny Card

Most mornings at breakfast time, the kids and I each choose a card from a selection I made. I was thinking it would be a nice way to encourage us all to be mindful of virtues in our day.

We each choose one, but the kids have their favourites. If Kees pulls out "obedient" (which he often seems to - funny, that) he crosses his eyes, goes all droopy and sighs loudly. Then he puts it back and sorts through the box until he finds the "happy" card.

And Jimmy? He just asks me for the "funny" card. Don't worry, Jim. You've already got funny pretty sorted. ;0)

Catching Rainbows

Sometimes children are just divinely lovely.

Couch Cuties

Two Moments

Sigh.

Smile.

A Very Coddled Chook

This is our favourite chook, named "Goldie-Silver".... I'm not sure why, but that's her name. She is one sooky spoilt chook. When Kees holds her, she actually lays her weary head down on his shoulder and has a little snooze. I've said it before, but chooks really do make great - and useful - pets. I may have had a few chook lice down me bra the other day, but you just squash them with your fingernail and you're all right, nothing like headlice. ;0)

We love our chookies. xx

Our Little Monkey or Why I Have So Many Grey Hairs

Jimmy is seriously into climbing and exploring (running away) at the moment. It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't get stuck half the time, because then I have to try to get him down, which is usually awkward, embarrassing, frustrating and painful. It must be funny for the neighbours though, watching me cajole and scrape my shins. The other day, when I eventually found him, he was at one of our neighbours' houses, inside, trying on her lipstick!! They weren't even home (thank goodness) - he'd climbed in through their catflap. Exactly what Kees used to do at that age. What's with that?

So, "STAY in OUR yard!!" has been my catchcry.

Then the next day, our Jim leapt over the back fence into a yard with two dogs, who started chasing and jumping up on him. The dogs were playing but Jimmy was terrified - I had to jump over to get him and then, what do you know? Of course, I couldn't get back over. Faaar out. And the guy that lives there is really grumpy. So there I was scrabbling and swearing like a fool, wishing I wasn't such a weakling and had done a few more push-ups, until I finally got a leg up. Then I had to wobble along clambering over three fences to get back in. Grrrr. There were no ice creams that day.

This post documents some of Jimmy's latest achievements, scaling the heights of our home.

Jimmy's motivation here is chocolate. It doesn't matter where I hide it; once he has located the stuff, nothing can dampen Jim's enthusiasm for the task of getting his greasy mitts on it. Here he is, loading up his shirt with a stockpile of Easter eggs I'd hidden in March and forgotten about. But this little boy never forgets where chocolate is concerned.

Then he climbed way beyond his ability up this tree. He called out to me for help: "Mum! I'm stuck!" When I commanded him to come down, the little beggar just kept climbing higher.
But this one really took the cake. I think I'm quite liberal when it comes to letting my children explore their own physical abilities, but I actually got a surprise when I saw this. I had been in the kitchen, getting our lunch boxes ready, and I could hear Mister Two prattling on about something in my bedroom; as long as he wasn't poking his finger into my lipstick or breaking my necklaces, I wasn't too worried. I could make out a few odd phrases:
"Mummy, I'm in your undies."
"Yes, dear."
"I need a ladder, Mum."
"All right, love."
"Mummy, I can touch this!"
"Mm hmm."
I never like to leave Jimmy too long without checking what he's up to (wrecking), so I went up and looked in the door and it took me a second to find him. I could hear something but it wasn't till I looked up, and up...that I found him!

Oh, Jimmy. We were lucky to get you. You lovable little devil. xx

Spring Help for the Birds

We're very lucky to have lots of cute tiny Silvereye Finches in our garden. We thought we'd give them a little bit of softness to cosy up their nests this Spring.

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Silly

Just a few of the many, many, many silly things that go on around here. Whipped cream, anyone?

Naked jumping on the trampoline, first thing on a chilly morning? No?

Everyone enjoys dressing up though, right?

And this really brought back good memories for me. I remember doing this with David and Ben, in front of the mirror, with tears of laughter streaming down our faces. I think it was one of the funniest times we ever had.

The only trouble is, it really hurts when you have to pull the sticky-tape off!