Free thinking

Another way to wear yesterday's newly acquired accessory.

Vancouver 2010

original story and image via

This story arrived in my inbox this morning. My sports mad brother is loving the controversy that is unfolding in his adopted home town over our Boxing kangaroo flag.

And these arrived in our letter box this afternoon.



These boxing kangaroos can't wait for "Vancouver" to start so that they can spot their Uncle .
If only it was that simple

Summer holiday

A new adventure for us this summer and a return to simpler pleasures.

Cooking and eating outdoors

Finding shady spots to eat lunch

and quiet spots to swim

Walks at dusk

and plenty of time to just hang out with each other.

Night-time Picnics

The littlies are getting into night picnics this summer. Before Christmas we went to Carols by Candlelight in Sydney's Domain. Based on the success of that event, we took them back to the domain for an evening of African music.

Play dough, cars and tea sets kept the heeby-jeebies at bay, while papers and people watching were enough for the adults as we waited out the hours until showtime. The drizzle of rain did little to dampen their enthusiasm for a night under the city skyline. They danced and played and ran through the picnicers. Oh, and there was a free photo booth that had them intrigued. It took alot of effort to lift those two babes high enough to get us all in and then they sat squat to wait for their little photo to pop out. Small things.

Leaping into a new decade

They say that you should start the New Year in the manner in which you intend to proceed. Unfortunately I spent New Years day doing housework only to hear this proverb a day too late.

The Rooster and Tools threw caution to the wind and plunged into the new decade. Nothing could hold our fearless boy back as he followed his father, leaping so quickly that my camera only captured his little splash.

We brought the new year in with just our little family. The zoo, an evening swim, pizza at one of our faves and a DVD. We clean forgot about the fireworks we have seen every year and went to bed 15 minutes before the stroke of midnight.

Our summer has taken a vacation. Our garden is lush with all the rain but we need some sun so we can open up our van and get to work before we head away on the weekend.

Hope your New Year has been filled with little bursts of sunshine.

Phew!

I am not sure what happened to December. One minute we were lighting the first of the candles in our floating advent wreath and the next its a rainy boxing day on Shark Island.

The elves kept us busy, delivering daily messages into advent calendars instructing us to make and write and create and make believe. To dance to Aussie Jingle Bells, sing carols by candle-light and to be the best little duck at Christmas concerts. To love the stories that make Christmas real and to learn how to be patient and grateful for what comes our way.

The rain of Christmas day brought a gentle mist and cooler weather to enjoy a house full of family and a table full of food. Admittedly, the same rain caused us a little stress as we packed for Boxing Day on Shark Island. But the weather gods were kind with only a gentle drizzle to spoil our fun.

I am not sure where our summer has gone. I am glad that we got the chance to flop on a beach before Christmas to celebrate the end of another year and the start of our holidays. New Years Eve, camping in our van, overseas visitors. There is much more to come this January.

Wishing you the merriest of New Years. I hope you welcome in 2010 with the silliest grins.

A Christmas wish

Peace. Not world peace. Although that would be nice. Not peace and quiet. That would get boring after a while. Just peace amongst my children.

They love each other way too much. And of course they are polar opposites. Missy walks around singing an old Playschool song "I like peace, I like quiet" which is the most ironic tune to ever pass her lips. She charges through life with a bang and a crash, upsetting as many things and people that pass through her day. Don't get me wrong, she has the sweetest of natures and everyone she meets can't help but fall in love with her, but she is quite simply, an antagonist. Which does not mix well with my gentle boy.

The Rooster loves a quiet place to broom his car and push his train and look at his books. He doesn't need someone upsetting the space that he has set up so very carefully. It distresses him to no end to see his things disturbed.

The day started out so joyful, the littlies finding a treat and a note in their advent calendars, but by 10 I was exhausted from sorting out their squabbles.

So please Santa can Mummy please have some peace. I won't be greedy. One day will do. OK, I will be greedy. Maybe just once a week?

This weeks eye spy brought to you by the gal that puts it altogether, Cindy.