She rides on 2 wheels!

Firstly, thanks goes out to my sister Jenn for her fabulous trick in Teaching Kids to Ride a Bike 101: seat low so their feet are flat on the ground, with pedals off so they can run along, push off and coast. Then when they have the idea about balance and holding the bike, put the pedals on and it's a short road from there!

So, I thought she could do it and so I took Laura's pedals off on Monday, and on Friday (after only 2 times practicing without pedals), we put the pedals on and she rode. Simple as that. First try. She didn't expect it and neither did we. But how thrilled was she!

...nevermind the bit where Daniel kicks a soccer ball in her path, well done for not crashing Laura!

Gut Feeling.

You know it's going to be one of those days when it's 9.30am and you:

- have already changed your top because it had poo on it. yep.

- cleaned up spilled milk AND throw up at breakfast.

- don't care that he's only 2 and he's sick, you just want him to stop whinging.
- arrived at school to find out that you were supposed to bring
a shared plate for the class party lunch.

- leave school and decide to get an Egg McMuffin for breakfast
and you like it.

Ok, I"m off to keep living this day! I feel better already. 

More sleeping

It's becoming a common thing in the morning for Nick to wake up and wander into Daniel's room to climb in bed with him or play in his room while he is [of course] still sleeping. But to do it quietly at bedtime without us hearing? Good effort Nick. This is what I found at 9pm when I turned off Daniel's light after he fell asleep reading. Made me want to snuggle in too! 

Don't worry, I didn't.

And one morning last week Daniel said Nick came and stood by his bed, waking him up saying, "I have to get in your bed Daniel." I just told Daniel that he didn't have to let him get in if he didn't want to, to which Daniel said, "Oh Mum, I'm not going to say no to him." Good onya big brother, if you don't mind my Aussie slang... 

How can this be???

Completely and utterly asleep.

I think my mom might say like mother like daughter, not sure... ;)

Superwoman

I really do not strive to be this particular image of a woman...

...but it's a striking image nonetheless...

...and a great article about perfectionism, high standards, what it is I am striving for, and whether or not it's valuable to me or predetermined by others to be valuable.

Personally, dot point 3 and 5 are ones I relate to...

That's all. :)

41 years (or 492 months if you prefer)

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! 

Thank you for your wonderful example and support all these years.

Snow Yeah

It's been pretty cold here. The mountain has had snow for weeks and a student-free day at school meant we had no excuse not to go!

Snowball fights...

The view driving home

7. A pretty great number.

7 years of this kid, what a treat. I love him more with each year, though that doesn't seem possible. I love how his smile starts in his eyes, and how he is so often aware of how people are feeling. 

Happy birthday Daniel, it's a joy to be your mum.

Opening presents...

A new desk...

...turns into a group event. Fun!

Taking me by surprise

This boy is growing fast, as they all do, I know... but he has a favourite colour, and it's from inside his own mind, not copied from anyone. It's just adorable, to me, of course. "Me like green. And blue. But green my favourite, I love it." And he loves to move. Moving to kick anything, or moving to music. He loves doing air guitar and air drums. He loves air hugs and air kisses. No more babies. Just 3 kids who play cafe together, a big sister who can help the little brother get dressed, and a big brother who makes toast for them all, on a school morning, and even on Saturdays! These are the days I remember as a kid, parents who stay in bed on Saturday and kids who get their own brekky and watch cartoons. Bummer about the lack of good cartoons, but that's another story altogether... 

Sunrise from my bedroom window

I think I posted a very similar picture last winter, but it never seems to grow old for me...