The new tent

We had a lovely weekend ‘camping’ in my parent’s backyard this weekend. Some may argue (yes, that would be you, Rachael!) that it wasn’t really camping, but the point is that we were sleeping in our

new tent.

You could call it a practice run! I’m glad it was a practice run, or we would have forgotten the can opener and toilet paper! (...and socks and toothbrushes...) We also had a nice picnic and bushwalk at one of the local falls.

The weekend also included catching up with some friends (nothing like a leisurely lunch with friends under a big old shady tree), and cuddles with a new little baby (so sweet!).

Lego, Lego, Lego

The last three days, as the children have been recovering from their various illnesses, they have been playing almost non-stop with their Lego. It's such a great toy for developing their concentration, co-ordination, manipulative skills, following instructions, etc etc!



Now chicken no.1 when she grows up doesn't just want to be a scientist/vet/farmer/run an orphanage - she also wants to be a Lego designer. Wouldn't you love to be 6 again?

Explorers bag

I used my time-out this weekend to whip-up a bag for my nephew's birthday. It's a pretty cool design (choose your own adventure bag), with lots of extra pockets - even on the straps, so hopefully it will make a good explorers bag for a growing boy.

Who needs toys..

.. when you have boxes to play in?

This week in words

medicine & bandaids,
infections,
raging fevers,
spots,
crying & moaning,
creams & oatmeal baths,
grumpy mother & tired father

Sick children alternate between making me want to tear my hair out, and being all adorable and snuggly. We're not having too much of the adorable bit at the moment, if you get my drift! Very thankful for videos. Don't think you really want a picture to go with that....

Actually, despite my moaning, it's all quiet at the moment - the children are either in bed or quietly reading. There's the gentle evening sounds of sprinklers and crickets, and there's a sunset spreading across the sky. I think it's calling me to go and sit in the cool of the evening and watch the colours change.

A sigh of relief

There has been a collective sigh of relief as little chicken has accepted a substitute monkey.

Disappointed sighs have been heard from the children, as we give back the guinea pigs we have been looking after this week.

I have been sighing over the question of just how do you keep a sticking plaster on a two year old foot.

And I'm sure I heard Don sighing as I've been looking at tents in the autumn catalogues... Those camping stores are dangerous places to enter, I tell you!

R.I.P toy monkey

Sweet littlest chicken has been very sad today. Her much, much loved little toy monkey has been loved to pieces (quite literally). And they don't appear to make them anymore, so I can't even subtly replace one for another.

Do you remember a favourite toy when you were little? I had a little dog called spot, and I was devastated one day when I left it at school and had to go to sleep without it. Oldest chicken has a little bear which she can't do without at night, and middle chicken swaps between a soft turtle and shark. I find it fascinating that the favourite toys are not the gorgeous plush ones, but the scruffy funny looking ones. Boy, was that monkey ugly! But well loved.

Happy birthday & a confession

Happy Birthday to me, that is! ;)

I made myself a birthday bag, to try and kick-start my sewing for the year. I used the monk's bag pattern, which is very comfortable.

Oh yes, the confession. Well I did have a day planned out for a domestic catch-up frenzy, and in my defence, I did get some washing out (and packed away - extra points!). But then I made the mistake of picking up The Book Thief and I just couldn't put it down! This is why I don't read a lot of books (apart from children's) these days - once I start the rest of the world just fades away...

A quiet morning

It has been fairly quiet here lately. Just getting into the groove of school work, and the usual things. I've given us the morning off this morning, so I can catch up on the domestic front (why is it that when I get one area of my life sorted something else falls of the pile?). The children have celebrated by doing what they do best:

Chicken no.1 is reading Famous Five (hopefully the library will run out of them soon!),

Chicken no.2 is playing with trucks and helicopters,

Chicken no.3 is clipping things to herself (will I have to keep an eye on her for body piercings when she's older?), and generally wanting to sit on me when I'm typing, or me to carry her when I'm standing (it's just as well she's so darn cute!).