raising of the sweetest kind...

It's funny how your day can go as a busy Mama of 4 young children. Today was no stand out day really, took Dusty to the health centre, and as we expected, doing great and growing like a little mushroom, well not long with an overhanging head, but you know what I mean. Then Tully off to Kinder, and then home again. Cory sleeps as we go about our duties... Today's duty was to make some delicious berry and banana smoothies and then heading out to the shops to buy 2 new camping chairs and a sun shelter... The kids have made we want to cry with the sweet things they say and do, but also made me want to head for the hills to find some kind of peace... they can do that my kids, but I guess that thing that keeps me going, is knowing that I am doing my best to raise happy, healthy and compassionate beings! I have decided to introduce some sweet and hopefully not too many sour moments from our days!

Sweet - Claye hugs me and tells me not to be sad about Maddison leaving, and tells me, "she is a big girl and will be fine once she knows where she is going, but it may take her a few times to get used to it".

And he is right in his own little way.
So dinners done, baths are well underway, and Dadda works tonight, so we look forward to a cuddle from him in the morning. Love
Sometimes I have to sit back and see what I have before me, to see the beauty in each of our little creations.

today I shed a little tear... but smirked a little smile too...

Today at 4.45pm my eldest and dearest niece headed on a plane all alone to France.... She will live there for 44 weeks with another family, whom we have never met... I have been dreading this day for weeks, even though I know she will be fine, I cannot help but feel sad to not have her around... Bon Voyage beautiful girl, experience what ever it is you need! XO

2011 will bring...

a new home for us all... Lilla will be in grade 3, Claye will go into grade 1, Tully will be doing 3 year old Kinder, Maddy will be in France, Cory will progress from trainee to Tech 1, and I, well I am supposed to give up my day job as Mama bear and head back to paid work?? Let's see about that! Dusty will turn 1, My big Sis will turn 40, and we will all Love and be loved! XO

dusty elroy hick in progress...

What a little ripper he is, such a joy to be around, he is already 4 months old and smiling and laughing and already such an important part of our family... I just love watching the kids playing with him and hearing his sweet new laugh come roaring from his little belly... Lillie and Claye take the role of big brother and sister very importantly and I can see it's quite a competition to get the best laughs from him. Tully on the other hand is the protector, he likes to inform everyone that he is our baby, and not yours... he he... He quite often asks "when will he be big enough to play with me?" Soon swet boy, soon! Actually far too soon really, I am just loving the baby phase yet again, it's such a joyous and special time, but it really does fly! For this minute though, our house is quiet and all our babies are fast asleep... ZZZZZ

oh my googy eye...

My sweet little Tully says to me, "Mum, I have googy eyes". I said, "you have a googy eye?, what do you mean by that?, is it itchy or goopy?", to which he replies, "No, it's just googy." Then I noticed that the sun was shining in his eyes, and I said, "Oh, you mean you have watery eyes from the sun shining in them." to which he replies, "Yeah, these ones are watery, you need to get me some new ones." Oh you super cute little human being, how I love your innocence... There really is not a day goes by that you do not hear something so adorable that it melts your heart, being a Mother is a true blessing XO

the progression of crestwood...

OK, so with 17 weeks past since we commenced building, we have most of our home complete! Hooray you here me scream!!!!! Well we are at lock up, mostly painted, kitchen in, bathroom cabinetry installed, laundry cabinetry installed and fireplace was done today.... sounding promising to be in within the next 4 weeks one would think, but we are told possibly April??? I guess when you have waited this long, what's another gazillion weeks.. It's looking good, which is nice to say, because choosing a house from small colour samples and swatches is kinda tricky... the internal paint colour is Dulux Stowe White, with Vivid White ceilings and architraves, I guess I am telling you that so that I can always look back here if I ever need to remember... The external paint is Dulux Kahlua Milk and Vivid White, with Boral Brown Terrain brickwork, but I think we will render all the brickwork that is visible from the street??? Windows are aluminium and powder coated in White, roof and gutters are Colorbond Woodland Grey, with Colorbond Surfmist fascia and downpipes... We have Boral Silkwood timber flooring throughout 90% of the house in a timber named Tallowood and we chose rough grade so you can see the flaws that would occur naturally in a tree, it's an Australian hardwood, so we didn't go hacking into some superb rain forest somewhere exotic! It's quite tricky starting from scratch, particularly the landscaping layout... we have chosen where we will concrete and had some quotes, and Cory has drawn some garden layouts that are looking good... I really want somewhere secret and special for the kids to run and hide and play, so I am thinking of growing a hedge and putting a door into another section of the garden so that it creates a bit more interest and allows the kids their own personal space.. I am saying a flying fox would be awesome or a really cool tree house, but we will have to wait and see. It might be a bit of watch this space I think.. well that's it for now... night night

44 weeks until we can squeeze our beautiful niece again...

After many failed attempts our very sweet niece will board a plane to France at 16.45 on Friday 28th January 2011, yes that is tomorrow.... I am feeling pretty sad after saying my see you soon's, but excited at the thought that she will have an amazing experience and will return all the better for it... not that she is not perfect now might i add!!!!! It's crazy really how fast the time will go and her host family whom we are in contact with on facebook, seem very nice and speak some English which I am sure will make all the difference in the beginning.. I just love her as though she were my own, and want to be there to ensure she gets all the right flights and trains, and gets off OK too but that's not going to happen now is it..... Life goes too fast, where did 15 years go? I cannot even begin to imagine how I would be if Lilla, Claye, Tully or Dusty wanted to experience such a thing.... crying hopelessly I'm sure. It is true what they say, we only hold their hands for a while but their hearts forever! So to our darling Maddison Jade, sweetheart, I will be thinking of you always...