Sock weather again...

Well,the colder weather has finally reached us here in paradise.Soon,it will be rainy(winter)season again(yuk!)but,for now we are still having 'agreeable' autumn days.Perth does not experience the beautiful,chilly,seasonal-changes(those red and gold leafs!)like we get in NZ(esp in the SouthIsland where we are from)BUT-and I do have a point to all this-we DO have sensational beaches which in autumn/winter are virtually deserted and are are a wonderful place to just "BE"...as you can see in the photos in my last post.I do like the colder weather,Dave thinks i'm nut's but that's because HELLO,he grew up Africa!Anyway,Let's look at all the perk's of cold weather shall we?:

You get to stay in your pyjamas 2-days straight(No,not me...see 8-month-old son);
Stripy socks!!Yey for warm socks!;
more inside time...time to snuggle up,time to watch your children play with the wooden dollshouse (which cost an arm and a leg i must tell you),time to watch your baby son attempt to crawl(Nearlly);
you get to watch the rain(and hear the rain on the roof...ah,lovely);
Oh,and SOUP!,the best thing about colder weather...good soup.yep.
and oh,the list goes on but i'm sure i've bored you enough.

It's Anzac long weekend coming up.A respectful holiday to remember the aus/NZ soldiers who fought in the world wars and,to remember our past and how fortunate we have it today.And even better,there is no commercialism-no money changing hand's...it's just good old fashioned unity.

Have a good weekend.

Sea-fever

I must go down to the sea's again,to the lonely sea and sky,
And all i ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face,and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the sea's again,for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all i ask is a windy day with the white cloud's flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume,and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the sea's again,to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all i ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And a quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
-By John Masefield(1878-1967)

Ruby turns 3 years old

Ruby-two-shoes had a good day.She has been requesting we have a picnic for alittle while now.So,I packed a small birthday-girl lunch(fairy bread included ofcourse aswell as ruby's fav:marshmallows!)and we all went and sat in the backyard,on the cozy red blanket that ruby has had since babyhood,and we ate and told stories and sung songs(humpty dumpty,jack and jill,miss polly had a doll...and other ruby favorites).And ruby was happy and that's all i wished for.

Later,daddy came home bearing a couple of yummy things from the bakery(in pink icing ofcourse!)for his only girl.And we all watched as she blew out 3 candles.

How?how did this happen!Where has that time gone?.I will miss her 2-year-old self(tantrums and all)but,a three-year-old girl is a whole new adventure.I will strap myself in,i enjoy rollercoasters.

Weekend ramblings...

We are having a fairly typical doyle weekend of reading,drawing,dvds(i don't know how much more maisy mouse i can take to be honest)and play too ofcourse.

We all did abit of drawing this morning(I adore jasper's impression of the bushfire!,it's the one with the little houses and grass and orange marker pen(which is the fire)cool aye?

Later,we had a little walk and collected a couple bits for our nature table..peppermint plant,a shiny stone that jas picked up...and well,the heart-shaped jasper stone was actually found at a market in southafrica.This week we will vist the beach and collect more bits.fun!

We finally had some decent rain yesterday(i go abit potty if i don't see,smell and touch rain!,dave is the complete opposite!).Ruby was very happy as she got to use her beloved umbrella and wear her new pink gumboots!(a bargain from the op-shop).She loves them!They also sparkle you know which is very importent to a little girl who turns 3 on monday(gulp.)

Finally,I am in the process of clearing out some of will's outgrown clothes(double gulp).I mean,just look at his bassinette now!!(used to hold all the crap in the laundry)sad,but true.Ah well,no time to ponder...as I speak,william is on the floor getting excited by his own shadow on the wall!.

The beauty in a day...

watching the sunrise from our backyard(strong cup of coffee in hand!)
colourful new warm woolie hats(thanks poppa!)
a walk on a beautiful autumn day...to the park
light capturing two cherubic figures on a birdbath...too sweet to not take a photo of.(and they remind me of my two big kids)
Ruby's quiet accomplishment of(finally)getting up onto the big-kids bars,at the playground...well done honey.
And finally...after alot of gazing out at the world from his stroller(blankie in hand)...the little one sleeping soundly.And what is more beautiful than that hey??all you mum's out there know what i'm saying..)

Billy had his first piece of (tiny)chocolate.As expected he got more smeared on his face than in his adorable wee mouth.

The easter bunny hopped in,ate up all the carrots we left out for him/her(?)but left some yummy easter eggs for all.

Happy easter sunday to everyone.

Bushfire

This was very close to us!.We took a walk up the road to have a closer look and fire engines screamed past us.

It has been a hot easter holiday here in perth with those easterly winds causing their mischief.This aswell as lack of rain in weeks...well ,you can guess.

I miss the dismal NZ weather!!

(thanks for the concerned phonecall brother-dear.)

Happy easter

We had alittle creative"fix"this morning by doing some artwork and then decorating some eggs(thanks rose for the cool spray gun by the way).We also pulled out our little puppet theater and the kids re-told the tale of peter rabbit in the only way kids can(chaotic fun!).I have been reading snippets of peter rabbit's adventures to jasper and ruby at bedtime lately and I have been remembering when i had the entire collection of beatrix potter stories as a kid.It's a classic.

Anyway,the rest of the day was spent visiting my brother and family.Happy 8th birthday maddy!And I hope you like the pic Liam!(you cannot escape your aunty's camera!!).Then it was off home to lay around some more.

Oh well,I'm off to put my two eldest children to bed.For the easter bunny comes tommorow.

My boy is sick....

even tiger has sympathy pain...

...a tummy bug i guess...

just in time for easter.Bummer.

But presents from aunty+uncle in NZ cheered him up no end!!

Jasper turns Four...

Jasper.My big four year-old now.I am looking forward to having a four-year-old(as a previous ECH teacher I always relished spending time with the 4 year olds).They are so cool.Jas is very cool.He love's asking why and How?.He knows what to say to make us laugh.He's very creative,and I love listening to him describe his drawings to me.Sure,they still have meltdowns in public places(try a previously silent doctors waiting room!))and can whine alot(Grrr...)but,all in all jasper has left the "confusing Threes" behind and is just a content,curious and happy boy.

Four years ago today(at 5:25 a.m to be precise)in a tiny hospital in the town of Alexandra,Newzealand,jasper was born.He was placed on my tummy and he looked straight into my eyes,capturing my heart forver more.
I thought I knew so much before having Jasper...turns out I knew nothing,nothing that really mattered anyway.All the seemingly "big"stuff tthat I had been hanging onto became small-un-importent "stuff".I grew up.

Jasper had a good day.He rode his new skateboard(his present from us),played with his water-pistol and ran around in the beautiful sunshine.It was a very calm day.

We can only be said
to be alive in those
moments when our hearts
are concious
of our treasures.
-Thornton Wilder

Birthday party pics...

A great day.Lot's of kids to turn the place upside down,many,many presents(thankyou very much y'all),bright colourful confetti,a pinata and balloons.Alot of Laughter and memories gained.

Happy,happy 4th and 3rd birthdays' to my two precious tearaways Jasper Robert and ruby Elizabeth.Love you,mum.

Billy,jas + ruby all at 8-months-old...

William is now eight months and is a little time thief(i can watch him for hours)He has learnt so much in the last month eg,sitting unaided,getting himself onto his tummy,moving backwards on his tummy(he is not far off crawling),hitting a ball,shuffling around on his bum and putting everything in his mouth!.
He now has weetbix for brekky and recently has started on banana and more lumpy foods..gotta love those lumpy foods!Might account for his chubbiness!
Oh yeah,his first tooth has just popped through yesterday.