13/52

"A portrait of my children, one a week every week in 2013"


Grace: All set for the kindy Easter bonnet parade. I made sure she crafted her hat by herself - I just made a few suggestions, gave her a pile of collage-type bits and pieces and let her go for it. All too often as a teacher I would see projects come back to school, the majority of which had been obviously completed by parents. I wanted Grace to feel a real sense of ownership over her creation. The kindy Easter concert was very sweet and I must admit to getting all teary as I watched our big girl standing out the front with her classmates singing 'Little Peter Rabbit'. A proud Mama moment.

Sophie: Watching intently, in awe of her big sister riding her bike around and around the driveway. She followed Grace everywhere on our holiday like a cute little shadow.

Joining in with Jodi

Favourite snapshots from last week included Jo's photo of her icy-pole covered girl and Steph's shots of her two darlings.  

Three Day Getaway

Going away on holidays with little ones always feels like such a big effort... so much to pack, to have to anticipate and to organize, even for a simple three day sojourn.  I find myself making list after list and leaving post-it notes all over the house as I pack for any family getaway.

However, the precious time spent away together is always well worth it.  Over the past few days, we've been at Paul's uncle's holiday house and while we've returned home today feeling exhausted after a combination of late nights, fresh air and time spent by the Harvey Estuary, there were many highlights that have more than made up for the tiredness...

There's been net fishing (with a handful of blue swimmer crabs caught as well as one mullet), a bit of exploring (a drive to the Lake Clifton Thrombolites - an interesting natural spectacle where a sea of rounded rock-like structures can be seen from a boardwalk platform), outdoor fun on scooters, bikes and swings and games of hide and seek made all the more exciting in a house with plenty of new spots to discover.

The girls have loved the novelty of sharing a room together with lots of laughter after lights out, plenty of giggles and numerous warnings of 'back to bed' as they pitter-pattered down the hallway after being tucked in.  

Today we enjoyed hot cross buns on the gorgeous deck overlooking the estuary.  The sun warmed our backs as we enjoyed the freshness of an early morning outdoors, listening to the birds singing and chickens next door clucking away as they welcomed the new day.

Now we're home again slightly regretting not staying longer on our little relaxing getaway. However we're also looking forward to some slow paced, simple days at home over the Easter break.

Wishing you all a wonderful long weekend ahead...

12/52

"A portrait of my children once a week, every week in 2013"

Last Wednesday, the girls and I spent the loveliest of mornings at our beloved spot by the river. The water was ever so calm, the sky beautifully overcast and not a wisp of a breeze was to be found... perfect for a picnic and play...

Sophie: Ever the adventurer, keen to explore the water's edge independently... glancing back now and then though to check that I was still watching

Grace: Aspiring artist, happily sketching away on her sandy canvas 

Joining in with Jodi

This shot of sweet little Liam and this photo of adorable Olive were among my favourites from last week's portraits.

Morning Bliss

Having Paul home on long service leave has already been SO good.  Small projects have been worked on around the house.  Ikea furniture has been assembled (yes, I finally have a new desk). I've been able to pop out to run the odd errand despite Sophie having to be home for her mid-day nap.  The best perk of all though has been the little outings we've been able to do here and there.

Yesterday, the four of us headed out early morning on the family boat for a few hours, cruising up the Swan River.  It was bliss.  Watching all the cars banked up along the freeway stuck in traffic jams on their way to work made it feel all the more holiday-like.  The temperature was mild, the sky clear and blue and a sense of adventure filled the air.

We went under the Narrows Bridge, alongside the ferry terminals and past the city skyline, dotted with its  towering office buildings.  In East Perth, we pulled up alongside the jetty in the Claisebrook Inlet and stopped for morning tea at Toast, a quaint and cozy cafe with a distinct retro style of decor.  We enjoyed milkshakes, coffee, tea and delicious thick challah toast topped with Nutella before continuing on our journey.

To top off our great morning, we spotted a pair of friendly dolphins and so we stopped the boat for a bit and just drifted, watching them pop up out of the water all around us.  You can see in the photo above how they reappeared right up close next to us.  So magical.

The return journey was a bit bumpier and windier, but as I sat at the back of the boat, enjoying the fresh breeze, city views and blue sky together with my three loves, I was ever so grateful to be enjoying a much happier end to our week than the previous one.  Sophie thankfully dozed off nestled under Paul's arm (she'd been in a rather grizzly mood again) and Grace counted jellyfish as they bobbed past us.  We returned home with full bellies, sand between our toes and an eagerness to go for another little family boat cruise very soon...

A Nod To Australiana

Image above by Everingham & Watson

I've been finding myself drawn to homewares with an Australiana twist over the past few weeks. Gum leaves and blossoms, sprigs of wattle and anything in hues drawn from the colour palette found right outside our windows is catching my eye.

In my aim to simplify our living space, it seems I have a desire to bring more of the outdoors in... to add touches of greenery, to make use of more natural materials and textures like wood and pottery and to fill our home with little snippets of our surroundings at every opportunity. Even the scents I've been drawn to are those with undertones of eucalytpus, tea tree and sandalwood.

Image above by Mango Frooty

This print above (the full image can be seen at Mango Frooty) is currently on my wishlist.  I'm just trying to decide on where it will fit best before I make a purchase.  I'm picturing it paired with a lovely timber frame.

What type of homewares or colours have you been drawn to lately?

For a whole plethora of homewares and products with a stylish nod to Australiana, check out the Everingham & Watson website.

I have one of their hurricane lanterns on my wishlist...