Summer's here

Today the temperature reached 40 degrees Celcius in Melbourne (104F). I went into Michael's class to do a Christmas craft for the kids: little snowmen made from Styrofoam balls. Not very fitting with the weather conditions, I know. But the truth is, as ridiculous as it may be to sing Christmas carols that mention sleigh rides in the snow in a place that gets hit by extremely hot weather conditions in summer, it is SO MUCH FUN!!! To even imagine 'walking in a winter wonderland' is elusive at this time of the year down under, but I think it adds to the magic of Christmas for us here and in many parts of the world (south of the Equator mainly)... One day, I tell my kids, one day, we will stop 'dreaming of a white Christmas' - and actually experience it. But for now, our Aussie Christmases will be filled with the fun of endless summer days.

 

Today, in the inflatable pool. So awesome.

 

Christmas preparations

It's beginning to look, sound and feel like Christmas! How I love this season. I've borrowed a whole lot of Christmas DVD's, storybooks and magazines from the local library and have been devouring them with the kids before bed. Decorating the house has been fun. I just wish I had more lights, more tinsel, more cute little ornaments from second hand shops. A home can never have too many Christmas decorations.

Well... maybe it CAN... yikes


Tonight the kids spent a good couple of hours writing Christmas cards for all their classmates (22 each on average). Sienna was extra thoughtful by writing down 2 things she liked about each one of her school friends. She drew and coloured in pictures. Michael got artistic too and drew awesome characters for each one. Joshy was cute too. He wrote 4 cards to his little mates from his Sunbeam class. He drew them an 'electric rock' in each card. Please do not ask me what an electric rock is. I'm guessing though that if this type of rock ever fell on somebody, it would not only seriously hurt them, but also electrocute them. Joshy has vivid, sometimes violent imagination. Like the other day when he informed me that sparrows were likely to take people to their nest and feed their chicks human brains. I honestly don't know where he gets these things from. We are peace-loving parents!!

 

 

Picnics and outings

Yesterday was Melbourne Cup Day. Hubby was at work though (sigh...), so I took the kiddies to the Melbourne Museum. Had Louie been with me, we probably would have gone somewhere more adventurous. But the kids were excited to go, so I took them.

You know, one of my favourite things ever is PICNICS. I love the idea of settling down on a cosy picnic rug with yummy food, sitting under the shade of a leafy tree and enjoying a gentle breeze. Well, that was us yesterday in the museum garden: except that the idyllic moment only lasted about 2 minutes. For when I had finally managed to finish making up tuna sandwiches for all of them (all whilst Jacob was walking on top of everything), and started eating my own sandwich (finally the mum gets a bite), Joshy loudly announced he needed to go to the toilet. Yeah. That picnic didn't last long.

After we got tired of all the stuff in the museum I took them to the Carlton Gardens playground. And we sat down again, on my cute picnic rug.  A few moments later, there was a little panic.  Sienna had unintentionally wandered off. So far off actually that she looked the size of an ant. There was some scolding (ok, there was lots of scolding). I am wary of public places. And then there was some more scolding, when Michael started chasing an injured pigeon that they had found. The poor bird. Michael has been chasing birds since he could walk. It's all on video.

So, yesterday wasn't the best day ever. My picnic dreams evaporated quickly. And I was missing Louie lots. However, I'm grateful that although sometimes I'm not a likely candidate for Melbourne's Best Mum awards, I am with them. And they with me. And we get to do lots of stuff together. At the end of the day, they often ask: Mami, is it your turn with me? Louie and I rotate tucking them in bed and staying in their rooms for a little chat, a story, a song, or in the case of Joshy and Michael, simply some company until they fall asleep. I tell myself I must not be doing too bad a job if they still want me around for the last bit of their day. Even if all they've seen or heard, has been this imperfect, sometimes crazy woman they have for their mother, for the past 14 hours.

My favourite part of the day yesterday: Icecream at home and lying in the hammock. And when Louie got home, at 8:20pm.

 

General Conference Weekend

Twice a year, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a.k.a Mormons) get to listen to inspired messages from Church leaders. It's conference time, and it is a blessed time. Listening to Church leaders, especially those who form the presiding council, is very much like listening to the voice and will of God himself, for we believe that they speak through divine inspiration. Their messages are inspiring, ennobling and enlightening. I always feel renewed and have a more solid resolution to be a better person after conference. I want to be a better wife. A better mother to my little ones. A better neighbour and citizen. A better me. I love conference time!

Family camping trip

Life has been great as of late. We enjoyed a wonderful and inspiring church service this morning and spent time with the grandparents this afternoon. Nonna cooked an amazing dinner, as usual. She is such a good cook!

We recently returned from a short camping trip in Daylesford Victoria. We took our old caravan out again. The kids love our old beat up van. I'm happy with what we have done to it to make it more pleasing to the eye, but we still need to make more repairs. Minor repairs, but repairs nonetheless. 

This weekend we created some precious memories as a family. The kids bonded with our next door camper, an older man with a kind heart and and a cute little doggie. Nonno and Nonna, as well as Los Abuelos joined us on day two. It was so fun to have them join us. We love them and cherish them. We had a fishing adventure, warmed up in front of a campfire, climbed a tower, ate icecream, bought souvenirs and ate lots of sausages and steak. Perhaps too much. We had a picnic and even played a game of cricket. It was great.

Now as the beginning of another school term approaches I am reminded that the kids are growing fast. Sienna turned nine recently and Michael can't wait to turn seven in a month or so. 

Life is racing fast. Better keep on recording more happy moments as we go along this interesting journey we call life.

September 26th

Well, today got to a nice slow start. Louie had the day off so we had pancakes for breakfast. Made with buttermilk, of course :) Michael had a go at helping me make the mix and flipping pancakes for the first time. He did great! After all, it takes practice getting the whole flipping manoeuvre right.

 

Afterwards, we headed off to the library to veg out. We borrowed and brought back something like 30 items. It was windy and miserable in Melbourne today, so we needed some serious reading material to stay cosy and warm inside the house.

Serious reading material! This cake reminds me so much of Tanya, my sister in law and rainbow effect baking expert.

 

 

 

 

Sienna and Jacob played peek-a-boo while we were there. And then my advanced one year old killed it at chess (get it??)

 

I had the opportunity to serve someone in need tonight, and I had Nonna and Nonno to thank for, because they looked after the children while I was out. Our family is amazing.

I would like to take a few lines now to acknowledge some of my blessings. I know God loves and watches over us all. I would be ungrateful if I didn't express my gratitude for all His tender mercies.
- I am grateful  for my husband.  He is the man I chose to be my forever companion. We are good together. I am better for having him in my life. He is a choice father. How grateful I am for his love, support and for loving me even though I turned out faultier than the perfect bride he thought he was marrying.
- I am grateful to be a mother. Even though today I jokingly asked Louie if he could take a couple of them with him to work. They were driving me crazy! Though each of our children have come into our family on purpose (and not by surprise etc), I never thought i'd be the mother of four children. But here I am, and every day is an adventure. And we're in it together. Forever. That's the goal.
- I am grateful to know that 'families CAN be together forever, through Heavenly Father's plan'.

Spring holidays

I love spring. And I love having the kids at home for the holidays. It gets a little demanding sometimes though, like when they start each day asking what amazing thing we are doing that day. It's hard for them to understand that not every day will be an extreme adventure, like yesterday's full day visit to the zoo.
Today we had no plans. We just took the day as it came. No looking at the clock. No endless car trips to and fro. Today the kids played with the next door neighbours on the trampoline with the hose on. They got absolutely soaked (except Joshy, who hates water play). They caught a monarch butterfly - and released it again ( I reminded them butterflies have only hours to live). A few minutes ago Papi took them to the park - at sunset. And I'll be waiting for them with ice cream. Maybe a dvd will follow. And me? Well, I even had time to hand sew a headband for Sienna. AND I got the sewing machine to work again. Sewing projects here we come! I love the holidays.