Glimpses of our Walk

We've had a full day! So nice to have a public holiday and have Stuart around for an extra day. :)

Mowing this morning for him and William, lots of playing for the older children, some reading and cooking and bits and pieces for me. Fried rice for lunch (YUM! I need to make this more...), rests and then a big walk this afternoon. It's truly wonderful to be able to walk down our driveway and down our road and see the country sights that we see. Up hill and down dale and surrounded by beauty. I haven't always had this, and I don't take it for granted! God is so good. Here are some glimpses.....

Stuart is part of a mixed indoor netball team which plays on Monday nights. Tonight we decided to all go along and watch. The children loved it! There were a few other kids there and they had the best time playing. We've just tucked them into bed. It's 8:30 and I need to go do dishes now. :(

But onwards and upwards into a new week after a refreshing and long weekend!

Head Colds, No Sleep, and a Frog

Today has been one of those days.

William has come down with a head cold and decided to spend about 5 hours of the night sitting up next to me in our bed, telling me about his runny nose ("nose, un-y, gen") and asking me to wipe it every 30 seconds. He also talked about Papa and the mower and the rain and babies and chickens and the children and the light and the dark and the moon. And asked me to get up ("Up, Mama, Up!") about 200 times.

So needless to say, today I am beyond exhausted. I think all up I slept for about an hour, and even that was broken into 2-minute intervals.

And I have spent the day today sourcing out fruit and veg at the markets, baking bread, making lunches, cleaning and doing lots and lots of washing. Which has put me in a not-so-nice mood. Which is why I'm sitting here, at the computer, and everyone else has gone far, far away to do other things. Away from cranky Mama.

But! I'm sure you don't want to hear any more about my I'm going to be 30 in a few weeks and am tired and emotional and have a toilet-training toddler with a cold and I'm about to have a small nervous break-down moment.

So instead I'll show you photos of my children, outdoors, enjoying nature in the form of a beautiful green tree frog, last night!

He was a gorgeous little guy. Saraya found him on the front verandah after dinner, and all 3 children rushed to the tap to wet their hands so they could touch him.

Well, I'm off to make afternoon tea, finish my bread making, and pray for sufficient grace to make it through until bedtime!!

Photo Overload

Sorry everyone - I am about to give you a photo overload! I took so many photos while we were away in Caloundra, and I want to share my favourites with you.

This ties in perfectly with the challenge put out by the writer of Five Orange Potatoes as part of Children and Nature Awareness month - to post a photo every day for the rest of April of our children enjoying the great outdoors. Feel free to join in!

I think the beach is an ideal natural playground so today's photos kick off the challenge well.

And it was Easter time, so of course there was chocolate surprises.........

And fun time spent with this little cousin, whom the children had only met once before!

Off to the beach!

Searching for treasures

And showing them to wonderful Grandpa

Saraya and her beloved Nanna deep in conversation :)

I love the opportunity to wear my flow-y beach dress!

One of the children's great finds

And yes, 'Happy Hour' happened every afternoon around 5pm....

the children loved drinking out of special glasses!

And I can't help but share this photo:

We heard the plane 4 or 5 times a day, dropping these brave / crazy skydivers out ...... and then we'd gaze up to see them descending! I was amazed at the control they had - they (thankfully) made it straight onto the big yellow X on the beach every time!!

What have you and / or your children been enjoying out in nature this week?

The Great Outdoors

I have taken a leaf out of Charlotte Mason's writings (literally!) and made it a family goal this season to spend at least 5 hours a day out of doors. This means we'll eat and read and write and draw and learn and run and play and garden and explore - all outside, whenever possible!

This morning after dropping Stuart to work the children and I headed to the park...... fruit, water, history book, nature notebook, pencils, cuddly toys, dress-ups and balls in hand! We had a great time and plan to do this once a week from now on. It would be nice to have some friends join us from time to time too. As always, photo opportunities presented themselves. Here's a few glimpses of our morning in the great outdoors.

"To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug." Helen Keller