The big 10

10 is a wonderful age. 

Like a bit of magic happens when single-digit childhood is left behind.

Books, books and more books.

Gymnastics practice beam!

Sleepover at Bruny with 4 sweet friends (seems a bit of a tradition is starting)

And of course, the ear piercing. 

Long awaited.

Capped off by a masterchef-inspired dinner, "Make me some crepes!"

girls on the way

every good sleepover includes twister

the blondes

just pierced

Anne of Green Gables series

ear selfie

totally loving the cross stitching

cartwheels on the beam

family dinner

the participants

the judges tasting

What an intriguing girl you are Laura. 

Quick and clever thinker, avid reader, caring friend, sensitive, 

brave and confident, yet hesitant to make mistakes... 

We love you more than words can say or you will ever know. 

Such fun years ahead!!

40...really?

It doesn't seem that long ago I was pregnant and turning 30. Seemed such a huge milestone, but nothing was changing - I was already in the middle of what life was going to be for awhile. Sure I was having another baby, but really life wasn't changing that much. I was continuing on, just with another child. I was totally OK with turning 30. At least I think I was. I did love my 20's, but as life had evolved into being a mother, that was a very welcome thing, and 30 was a part of that.

Now 40 is here and those kids are, well, older! From ages 3 to 11. I'm not pregnant. Nope. We may do more fostering soon, time will tell what that will look like. And maybe life isn't changing that much as I turn 40, but wow it HAS changed in this last decade. Wrinkles, yeah they are coming fast! But I like what I've learned in 10 years. I like what my life is. I MISS people - the ones who are far away, the ones who are no longer alive, the ones I am not doing life with that I thought I would be...

But I am so thankful for what is: 

GOD (a deeper relationship and trust with my creator!)

ANDREW (how much and how deeply I love that man)

These KIDS (constant joy and constant effort...)

GOOD friends (doing life together in different ways, encouraging, supporting)

FAMILY here (sharing life day to day, being friends!)

FAMILY far away (so missed, but right there on WhatsApp!!)

There are so many things in my life that would not BE if I did not MISS people. It's part of it all. All the missing, all the deep, heart-burning loss - it is what makes up the whole picture of my life. Doesn't appeal logically, but I am so very grateful for the journey and for what IS, right NOW. 

So it looks as if I'm okay with 40 too.

The people I spend my days with...

Christmas 2015

Probably the smoothest Christmas we've had since having 11 grandkids
in my parents' house, all negotiating for food and space for 2 weeks...
Still constant and busy, but no naps, and much more of kids
making their own fun. In the cold. Wet. Winter.
But Oregon graced us with 2 days of snow,
so that's always a bonus when we're sacrificing some of our summer!! ;)

On the flight we do anything to make them comfortable enough to watch the movies...
The tissue pack trick is an old favourite. :)


At least Mom and Dad still stand with us all around them.
There will come a day when they will choose to sit
and then we know it's all downhill from there!!

Bunch of ragamuffins on Christmas Day. 

Most of us don't like to get out of our pajamas...

Adults night out. Enough said.

Extended fam - also known as the great grandkids, 

or as our kids call them, the camping cousins!

23 at the last count I think.

I love the stage when helping is fun and novel for them.

Which is also the stage where helping is not much help, 

but it's just so cute. But don't be fooled, 

with every ounce of her being she is serious about helping!

There always comes a time when we have to say goodbye...

Our 5-hr layover to catch our international flight 

disappeared in flight delays and a medical emergency stop 

for someone on the plane, so we were stuck in LA for 2 days. 

We weren't up for Disneyland, but Legoland seemed doable - 

 U.S. kids had gone back to school, 

and the LA winter is hardly winter, so it was beautiful. 

And super fun to do it without having planned to, 

making a frustrating situation so much more fun!

This is wallpaper, but it looks so 3D!

Free years old!!

Among many other fun things about turning 3, learning to put just the right number of fingers up is crucial! But of course this can never, ever be caught on camera!

She is interested in all things girly, especially bows and anything pink,
has music in her soul, and an uncanny ability
to remember songs and sing them without any music on key, 

loves Emma Wiggle, having her hair braided and giving running hugs.

She wants to help. All the time. With anything.

We love you dear girl 

more than you can know

and we are overwhelmed 

with the privilege 

of having you in our family.

A bonus long weekend

7 years running with these friends flying into town to grace us with their presence and provide us with a bonus long weekend that the rest of our state doesn't get. The kids get a couple extra days off school and we cross our fingers for great beach weather (which rarely happens!), and make the most of this time where our kids play happily together, are more independent and we can sit back and relax (between feeding the troops and playing boardgames and playing beach cricket and scrapbooking the memories from last year...). A fab tradition with memories to last forever.

(a cheeky pizza/wine/cheese lunch that Lisa and I snuck away for! ...still with 3 kids mind you!)

Soccer birthday

This was the year Nick was able to choose 

a place to have his birthday. 

A location birthday - one that he had wanted 

like Dan and Laura have had, 

a gymnastics venue or something.

He wasn't being particularly decisive, and when we talked about 

what it was he really wanted, he wanted to play soccer with his friends. 

Well, that can be arranged!

So it was - soccer in the park.
Andrew even took time off work to come and run the games -
which really means he ran the whole party - brilliant!

French toast birthday brekky

SO MANY mini lego football figures!!

First proper cricket bat

 Soccer with a view

Every childhood should include a swing at a piñata, no?!

Everyone got to have a whack!

Trying to light candles outdoors...

Quick, blow out the one candle that managed to stay alight!! 

Happy 7th birthday Nicholas. 

You are a bright smiling joy to be around, 

happy with your own company, 

most comfortable in small groups,

aware of other people's feelings,
a clever thinker,

a caring big (and little!) brother, and we love you big.