Beach Therapy

We needed today quite badly. We have been having a challenging time this past...year, but especially the last six months. Today we managed to shake some of the stress, exhaustion, hurt & worry off with a day at the beach. For a really wonderful change, we had Ealesy with us on a Monday, so the whole family went to the beach, where we met up with a few other home ed families.

The six of us scaled the rocks and sand for every shell we could find (which will be used to fashion mermaid crowns in the near future). Watching Yemaya & Frida get lost in the task was especially wonderful. Children are so divine when they're deep in their private universe, focused and determine. It's a personal and very love-filled form of meditation to quietly stand by and watch them at the work. They somehow simultaneously bring you back down to earth while carrying you away to another world.  

In a rather epic role reversal: Yemaya didn't want to leave, and Gaia was the first to ask for home! This was a testament to how engrossing the sea shell collecting caper was to our dear May.

We inspected a rock face that was a little cave-like, strolled through rock pools and played on the sand with buckets, shovels & a ball. There were hand stands and laughter and lots of conversation. There was also a great mix of home schooled kids and parents of many ages (and they worry about socialisation!)

In addition to all the great folks at the beach, we also met this little fellow, who completely delighted the children:

 

'twas another #blessedasfuck day;)

Gaia's First Stage Show

It was a big week for Gaia, she was in a play for the first time. She learned the lines and lyrics for 2 supporting roles, spent 24 hours in rehearsals over 5 days, helped me create her costumes & finally performed on stage in front of a crowd.

We are positively bursting with pride. It must also be said that I'm quite proud of myself too, it was a very demanding week for parents too. But I manged not only to keep my cool all week, I also found the fun and actually enjoyed costume making with Gaia. Unbeknowns to her I was fa-reaking out that we wouldn't finish her costumes in time...but I took notice of the little voice reminding me that my daughter doesn't want perfect costumes (especially if it comes with a grumpy mother) and instead I soaked up some mother/daughter bonding as we finished the costumes together the night before. Gaia used a sewing machine for the first time and made use of her hand sewing skills to complete her outfits and she also had the pleasure of making a fairy wand.

It was a thrill to see the kids put on a show with such determination and joy. I'm wondering how we can find more opportunities for Gaia to stretch her thespian muscles in the future (though I'm in no rush to make another costume!). 

February Moments

a busy month of getting back into the swing of the school(free) year.

Beach days, telling time, pizza making, music classes, first smiles, water park holiday, family reading nights, picnics and parks, a first hair cut and plenty of play and craft at home in between.

2006-2016

Click to enlarge

In 2006 two close friends became a couple. To celebrate our anniversary this year I made a collage of a few favourite moments from the past ten years. Pre-children silliness, a wedding, those bathers on that honeymoon, four pregnancies, four homebirths, the baby spew-splosions, the Mexican themed 26th, zorbing, nature walks, the crochet boob hat, lego, lawn mowing, professional family portraits, belly cast mah jong, babywearing, reading stories, the Mario 30th birthday, blue hair, yoga, breastfeeding, the child who licks all the things including her father's bald head, the baby slings for everyone's dolls,the beach, ice-cream, matching rainbow shirts, the first fun run, the giant chicken statue of random, shaving the toddler with the back of  a razor, I even through in one of me lost in tandem nursing (taken during a terrible moment during PND). It's been a wonderful decade...and the best is yet to come....

Not-The-First-Day Back with HEN

Every year the home education network in our state organises a "Not back to school" day at water slide theme park. It's what keeps us parents home schooling through our darkest days ;) 2016 did not disappoint.

It all went down in a very us fashion, with one child too small for waterslides and two others who refused to ride them. One child plonked herself on the carousel and did not want to budge all day (to the point where Eale fell asleep on it as he accompanied her round countless times). And then there's that one kid who has to DO ALL THE THINGS who we lost for large chunks of the day to other families and sections of the park.

In related news Gaia's not bad with a bow and arrow, which was a pleasant surprise.

Bird, Baby, Beach & Basketball

We've an eventful start to the week. The day started with a magpie in the kitchen. She did not want to leave and our cat was too scared to shoo her away! We ended up leaving the back door open for her and dashing off to the many things we had planned, hoping that by the time we returned she would have seen herself off. 

We had an appointment with the maternal child health nurse to track Lenus' progress, followed by a few hours on a beach with a bunch of home ed families. Finally Gaia had basketball training.

The beach featured a massive rock pile the kids loved. I believe it had been assembled to protect the life saving club from rising tides. But as far as the children were concerned it was a mountain to be climbed, a series of caves to hide within, and a place to find hidden treasures. 

We also enjoyed the natural bubbles the sea had washed assure, taking a long stroll through them. It was a perfect afternoon catching up with some of our home ed friends in the community and making the most of the sea, sand and sun. 

Before heading home, I overheard Gaia discussing her day with one of the parents. The mother told Gaia she was very lucky to get to spend a school day at the beach. I could not agree more! We really are blessed to live this quirky school free life.

 

PS. We were relieved to discover Maggie had departed, when we finally made it back home at 6PM. Alas, the girls are now nursing some bird fear and have taken to not only closing the back door but also bolting it shut, lest a magpie should figure out the door handle!

January Moments

A few highlights from last month

Birthday parties, miniature train rides, beach days and nights, a local reading challenge, enjoying street art and one on one time for Gaia and Sazz, a move into a great big old house for temporarily, with room enough for yoga and cartwheels, learning new card games and starting the family game night routine, many a playdate and trips to the park.