Making me happy

Just a few of the things that made me happy last week

my lovely sister'n'law came to stay for a couple of days with her 4 month old bubs! (Look at that cute little chubby face :)

This boy being a brilliant 'self starter' in the morning and having about an hours worth of lego play before school because he got ready and did all his jobs SO SO quickly 

Snuggling and reading with this boy at bedtime and Rylan taking random pictures of us (oh so flattering I know :)

And the bright Autumn leaves adorning our lawn thanks to our neighbours lovely big trees. They make me smile. Everyday.

Creative persuits part II

So I almost didn't make it for my photographic challenge for May due to the crazy rainy weather that's been lurking around Sydney but luckily it cleared up Friday afternoon and I had the lovely opportunity to meet and photograph Peta and her 'bump'! (wow - that was a really long sentence :)

 this was my favourite belly shot.......

and this was her favourite and the one I got blown up for her today! 

Have I mentioned that I LOVE taking photos!!!!

Sweet and Feisty

Although this girl is completely sweet and lovable, she still packs plenty of feist into such a small package.

Here she is captured in her sweetness.

If however, you want to see the feisty side of her, the best way is to take her bike and ride it in front of her. 

Exhibit A below (I know it may seem mean to be taking pictures......but it was too funny not to capture her 'stomp' when she realised someone else was riding her bike :)

 

 Exhibit B (this one cracks me up - check out that face and those swinging fists :)

Exhibit C

And finally Exhibit D

Generally it's her brothers that experience her 'wrath' (poor little fellows :) and yes that cute hand you see above has just finished hitting her brother's back all the while chanting "my bike RaRa my bike. gib it me (give it to me)" 

 

eventually the bike is returned and then it's back to 'sweet' little Jazzy while she rides off into the sunset.

and then within seconds she's once again forgotten about her bike and abandoned it for the swing......

   

Just don't even think about going near that swing :) Ahhh the drama of a 2 year old!! hahahaha!

PS) for the record, I was asking her brothers (the other one joined in too) to get off her bike and we don't generally let her go around hitting people - but my camera happened to be in my hand as this little drama unfolded and her stomping across the park with fists and all was making me laugh.

PSS) I should also state here that she is more often than not the sweet Jasmin not the feisty one :)

The bump

The boys 'get' that soon there will be a new little baby in our home. A real baby. Not just an eternal bump in my tummy we call baby (thank goodness :). They understand what it all means and what's coming. 

Jasmin on the other hand.....i'm not sure how much she really understands. She calls my tummy 'baby seester'. She kisses it. Cuddles it. Talks about how the baby is 'crying' and we need to "ssshhhhh" and even tells people "baby, hobitu (hospital) out soon".......but translating all that into a real baby will be here soon......hmmm not so sure.

So this morning Jazzy and I were sitting together with the bump exposed talking to "seester". Usually baby's extreme movements are saved for late at night (you know that crazy awake time after the baby is born when you desperately want to sleep between 9pm and midnight and the baby is wide awake - well yeah that pattern is already establishing its self :) but this morning she was happily moving and kicking around.

Jazzy was excitedly touching my tummy when all of a sudden she not only saw my tummy move but she felt the baby move. This was a first for her. 

It was so funny watching her face. At first she pulled back a little shocked and looked at me like 'what was that' but then when it happened again it sent her into little fits of laughter. Everytime was the same. A little surprised at first, followed by laughter. So we spent the next 20 minutes sitting there watching and laughing. So.ridiculously.cute. I loved it! And I love her :)

Maybe this helped her understanding. Just a little. I loved listening to her relay the story to everyone we then saw or spoke to. "baby move. arf (laugh) mummy's tummy. funny".

If only we all had personal videographers (that weren't creepy :) following us around capturing all these beautiful little moments!

Speaking of sisters

Isn't she beautiful. Already. I am in love.

 

Everytime I have a scan (which is fairly often) I cry when they re-confirm "it's a girl". I'm so happy for Jazzy.  There's nothing quite like a sister. Even if you don't realise that until you're all grown up and you stop fighting over clothes.

30 weeks 1 day. 10 weeks to go. I will show the 'belly' soon :)

Sisters Retreat......

In 2 days I'm 'running away' with one of my sisters and rendezvous-ing with the rest of my sisters (and parents) on the Gold Coast for 5 days.

 

5 days.

Whatever will I do without my constant little companions for this time.....I'll tell you what I'll do. I will sleep through the night (unless I'm too busy talking or I have to go to the bathroom :)  Eat delicious food. Talk until I laugh and cry. Do some fun 'workshops' we have planned. Talk and laugh some more. Celebrate my parents birthdays. Finally attempt to buy that new bra that is about 5 months overdue (sorry if that's too much information for you :) Relax (maybe?) and find my patience that I seem to be loosing soak up this time before my life turns crazy I have my new baby. I Can't wait to be with all my sisters (and parents :) and spend this time with them!!

Now I just have to get everything organised before I leave......aaaarrrgggghhhhh........

our Mothers

To our beautiful Mothers that gave us life and so so much more.....

We love you and can't express the gratitude we feel for everything you have taught us, everything you continually do for us and for the wonderful Women that you both are. Above all we are grateful for the friendships that we share with you.

xo

We hope you both had a Happy Mothers day!!

Mothers Day

In my work and throughout my life I have often been exposed to the more tragic examples of parenting. So Mother’s Day is, without a doubt, the day I appreciate Felicity more than any other. As a mother, there is definitely something special about Felicity. I know there are lots of other great mothers out there, I had one myself, but I love Felicity’s focus on child rearing and the mother she is to our children.

Right from our dating I knew she would be a great mum. We even had parenting practice dates with Felicity’s then three year old sister to test this. It was certainly the first and foremost quality I was looking for in a wife.

I  witness every day the amount of time she spends thinking and learning about how to be an even better mother. Whether it is in our lengthy conversations about the children’s needs, speaking with the kid’s teachers, reading parenting books or analyzing herself and other parents. Even a large part of the ridiculous amount of time she spends on blogs is about parenting.

I love the traditions she’s started in our home. She has morning devotional (singing, quoting, reading and praying) every morning, spends individual ‘talk time’ with the children in bed at night and the ‘service’ and ‘best of the day’ questions we each answer at dinner time.

Even in the most trying times, when the frustrations have pushed her to boiling point, Felicity still remains aware of her interaction with the children. If a mistake is made, it will be fixed. And, perhaps to me that’s what sets her apart as a mother, is her self awareness and ability to constantly grow as a mother.

Of course Felicity’s influence as a mother also has that ripple effect within the family. It makes the children happy, helps me to be a better father and husband and makes me excited for our next baby and what the future holds for our family.

So Felicity, thank you. You know how much the children mean to me, so thank you for doing so much for their happiness.

Love Chad and our four kiddies.

p.s. I'm hoping this second celebrity guest blog will beat Felicity's 24 comments on the giveaway even if that means commenting myself.

Through his eyes

Sometimes it's hard to look at things from a different perspective. A different angle. A different point of view. 

To see something through someone else's eyes.

This is what Rylan saw when he looked at Zahn and I the other night. Not what I would have seen had I been taking a picture of this scene.

But now that I see it through his eyes, from his angle, I would'nt want it captured any other way.

Oh how I love the simple perspective of a child. A perspective that at times can be so different to that of an adult. 

I hope I can remind myself when misunderstanding next occurs, that our perspectives and 'angles' are different. I hope I can remember to see and understand what he sees. Who knows. Maybe i'll surprise myself and realise once again that it is his perspective that was better after all.

  

"I am not my body".....

I honestly have no words to describe how this clip makes me feel and the emotion it stirs when I watch it. 

If you haven't already seen it (or even if you have) you should watch it now and feel your spirit gravitate towards heaven and this most remarkable and inspiring woman. 

I am changed because of the words and gratitude 

this woman shares with the world.

Easter Wrap up

OK I know that Easter was a whole month ago now........but here's a few more pics to sum up what we did......

we park played and explored. A lot.

 had our traditional last supper (with a few modern conveniences :)

Jazzy tried to eat EVERY egg she could get her little hands on......even the foam ones we had on our display

 (if you look closely you can see the bites out of the egg below :)

we played some more......

 bought a couple of chickens HERE as part of our Easter service (then did the chicken dance when we'd finished :)

 

made some oil lamps with our family (mum, dad, Zar and ligits) to go with our lesson on the parables of Jesus......

the 'little' kids lamps

these were the 'big kids' ones (love my mums detailed little 'pot')

had an early morning Easter egg hunt (love those sleepy little faces :)

watched Jasmin DELIGHT in the world of finding and consuming chocolate eggs :)

pulled apart furniture in order to find those eggs (it was raining outside so the hunt was brought in doors :)

and spent lots of time with our family!

We loved Easter Weekend and HOPE that next year Chad-dad will be here :)!!