Classics

Late night reading with my oldest. 

Pollyanna. My childhood favourite!

I am determined to raise these babies of mine on the classics. Beautiful (sometimes quirky) books that have characters whose values and beliefs are outstanding! 

Our favourite part so far; When Pollyanna met 'The Man'. I of course accentuated how excited she was to talk to him, and how grumpy and rude he was in response. It had us both laughing out loud!

When we've finished the book, we'll borrow the 1960's movie from my mum and watch Hayley Mills in her glory.

Day 8 - "The baker"

The official bread maker in the family.....

Or, 'the baker' as I like to call him (which of course only encourages him to make even more yummy loaves of bread ;)

He has officially now made more loaves of bread than I have (I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not :) 

On Sunday he made a loaf for lunch and decided to experiment a little with custard powder instead of milk powder. It turned out to be a delicious sweet bread that we smothered in butter and jam and devoured between the six of us!!! 

10.

In a few months, the boy that made me a mother is turning "double digits".

I think I might have to start referring to him as the man-child on this blog. I mean look at him. He's practically an adult :)

He has a good soul this one. You can see it if you look closely.

He started reading Harry Potter yesterday. He's almost half way through and has set a goal to finish it by Monday. I have no doubt that he will achieve it!

(as a side note......I wish I could set a goal to read a book by monday - maybe then I'd actually finish my book club book for this month ;)

Rylan time

Parallel reading with just 3 of us........

The perfect way to spend time together once the other 'littles' are in bed!

Piano practice and AMEB exams

 After months of preparation and LOTS of hard work for one of the little people in our house (and his mumma ;) we can finally breath a little easier and have a few days break.....

Over the last 3 years I have on occasion thought about how easy it would be to not worry about daily piano practices and how long those practices go for. But that would be the easy way out (for both of us ;) and GOOD things, REALLY good things rarely come easily :)

 

The look on his face when he finished the exam and opened his results was proof enough that hard work is so worth the effort (even if on somedays he "wants to quit" and only practises because he "has to" ;)

Big brother love

Nothing really compares to how lovely it is to watch them love each other.

I'm so thankful for big brothers that help care for little sisters!

Traditions and mystery days

"In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time." Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I think these few words sum up quite perfectly WHY family traditions are SO important.

It doesn't matter so much what the traditions are, what matters are the feelings and connections that are created because of them. The sense of belonging within the family and the memories provided that bind us to each other, inseparably. Moments and memories that are remembered and talked about forever.

One of the things I LOVE about blogging is that there are so many new and inspiring ideas out there. Almost everywhere I click I find something I want to tweak and adopt as our newest family tradition (luckily Chad is big on traditions too otherwise I'm sure this would drive him mad ;)

So enter 'mystery days' to our repertoire of family traditions! I saw the original idea a few months ago on a blog I frequent and knew immediately we were adopting the idea (it's basically a random surprise family activity)

After I told Chad about it, we announced it to the kids and the next morning when we opened the scriptures, this note fell out......

hahahaha. This is obviously not a note from either Chad or I (gotta give Rylan credit for trying ;) And while we acknowledged it was REALLY funny (it still makes me laugh) and a great idea, the boys would actually be going to school and the mystery activity had to be organised by us, the parents (for now).

Yesterday however, when we opened the scriptures, there was an 'authentic' note announcing a mystery day. It was all very exciting!!

The dancing and repeated chants of 'no school today it's a mystery day' were well worth the absence of academics (i.e missing school :) but we did go to the aquarium so there was still 'educational' value ;)

So without further ado, here's a few pics from our Mystery day in the city........

 

I think the look on this sharks face (it looks like a smile doesn't it :) pretty much sums up our day (even with the 'I'm so tired' melt downs on the way home......;)

ps) thanks for the tickets to the aquarium prattsama!!
pss) does it seem funny that we had sushi for lunch after going to the aquarium?? hahaha

Running races

I love it when I see the kids do something they don't necessarily 'love' doing. Especially when it 'pushes' them and it's hard.

Rylan's school cross country was kinda like this. At first he said he didn't want to run, then he did, then he didn't again, then he did (ok you get the idea :).....but in the end (with LOTS of encouragement), he decided he would run.

It made me laugh that at the beginning of the race he looked like this.......(he's the one smiling and waving at the camera)

still smiling......

straight after the race still smiling.....

and then he looked like this......and may have said he thought he was going to throw up....

luckily he didn't and it wasn't long before he was back to this again.....(ok the smiles a little forced but he was trying :)

It was so funny watching all the boys sprint past the 'supporter area' where everyone was cheering for them (all trying to impress :) and the second they where over the hill (and thought they were out of site), they would almost all drop their pace back to a 'normal' run and not a sprint! So funny!

I felt like a proud mumma watching him run and loved seeing how hard he pushed himself.  You did a GREAT job bud!!

and let's not forget about his cute little cheer leader......

She faithfully cheered for about the first 30 seconds then occupied the rest of her time rolling around on the seats and playing in the bubbler water.

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 admit I play favourites......

favourite gifts that is......

And this was DEFINITELY the thing I loved MOST that was gifted me on my birthday!! I was even lucky enough to get some similar on 'birthday eve'.

Love it! and love the thoughtfulness that is this boy!!!

Talk time

I was recently reading in a blog that I frequent, that in the world of teenagers, there should be an unwritten law stating, "DRIVE TIME IS TALK TIME". Basically suggesting that parents should never miss a moment to connect with their teens and impart their words of wisdom, talk about life etc etc.


luckily we are still a few years off 'teenager-hood' in this household (which I am completely afraid of by the way) and although we do A LOT of talking about A LOT of things in the car, the conversation never gets too far, or too 'deep' without being interrupted (due to the almost 2 year old that also likes to TALK while we're driving :)

But we still do have 'talk time'. Just not in the car.

For us Bed time is talk time. Somewhere in the world of parental advise for 'younger kids' this should be stated in big bold fat letters!!!!!

It's funny cause this really kind of started accidentally. Rylan is our first child. and unlike our other 'trained' children, either Chad or I would lie down with him pretty much every night until he went to sleep. This lasted until he was about 6.

So by age 6 Rylan had started school and when we would lie down together at the end of the day it always inevitably resulted in a few minutes of talking!

AND MY OH MY I can't tell you all the things that started 'spilling out' of this boy.

After being at school for a while he started asking all kinds of questions. Questions about 'this word' and 'that word' (some more shocking than others). Questions about friends. Questions about right and wrong etc etc. Our chats are now often still about friends and apparently a time for him to confess whatever it is he thinks he needs to confess.

So this has become our little opportunity to talk about 'life' and all things relating to the musings of a young boys mind.

Sadly we haven't done this much lately. The climb up his ladder to the top bunk has seemed like a rather extreme activity - and then i've got to ackwardly climb back down when i'm all relaxed and sleepy......but i digress.....

Now that's he's a little older I'm pretty sure that he's catching onto the fact that when we lie down together, there's just some things i'll ask and talk about and there are just some things he'll say. (to illustrate this point a couple of months ago he said "mum tonight can we just talk about pokemon"......and so we did :) but not without me sneaking in a few 'questions' about school and friends first :)

Like I said before, teenagers scare me. Maybe girls more than boys. But I do worry about communication with boys. Let's face it, when Rylans 16, I can't imagine that we'll be lying down together having little chats before he falls asleep????? (I imagine it more like sitting on the end of the bed chatting ?? but then do 16 years old boys even let their parents in their rooms???? And even talk to them????

I hope so! And if I'm too uncool by then hopefully Chad will be granted access to his room :)


I often hear that now is the time to create open communication with children. That way, by the time the 'terrible teenager' years arrive, TALK TIME is something that is already established. something they are already comfortable with. Something they already do. Man I feel a LOT of pressure about this. AND I often feel guilty if I don't feel like we're doing it often enough..... like at the moment!

Luckily we're still 5 years off teenager-hood around here, so hopefully there's still plenty of time to TRY and establish good habits for 'talk time' and confessions of a teenage soul :)

deprived and reconciliation

Until Thursday, this boy thought he was somewhat 'deprived' because he'd never had a double scoop ice-cream.

But after his 'surprise' lunch during school he no longer feels that way!



I loved seeing his little face light up when it was revealed we were 'running away' together for the lunch break.



After ice-cream, sushi and a little time together all feels right again!

(AND i'm pleased to report there was NO complaining while practicing the piano this morning :)

WHO??????

Who in their right mind would choose a white polo shirt for boys aged 4-11 years old for a school uniform. Yes, that's right I said uniform. A white shirt EVERYDAY (not just on Sunday when they put it on as we are walking out the door to church, and then take it off as soon as we get home)......EVERYDAY.......while eating, playing, painting, drawing (with textas) rolling down hills, and possibly hugging trees (i'm just going by the grass stains and crazy bark patterns that appear on Rylans shirts) running through some serious mud piles (again just going by the mud splashes all over the back of his shirts) and well just being a boy in general.(seriously even as an adult Chad dosn't wear white T-shirts)!!

So i have come to the conclusion that although the shirts do look nice (on the first day they are purchased and before they are worn) It must of been someone that dosn't have a son that chose white for a boys uniform!!!!

This is only 1 side of the shirt and doesn't do justice to how filthy it was :)

Arrrgghhhhh - I need some more napisan!!!

Star of the week.....

Growing up in the Bryen household we had various types of bribes awards given to encourage us with different things. One of these prestigious awards was STAR OF THE WEEK.

I don't personally remember receiving it :), but I DO remember the excitement and hype over WHO it would be awarded to (and I remember thinking desperately 'oh please let it be me' :)!!

So last week we introduced star of the week in the Aston household......

To start off this new tradition we opened with an honorary FHE for the winner of this exciting and prestigious new award.

and the award goes to.............

none other than Chad Rylan (this is how he often likes to refer to himself)!!!!

There are so many things we love about this boy and it was so good having him stand in front of us all while we talked about why he had won this special award and what we all loved about him.....seriously......he was beaming!!! (and therefore, so were chad and I).

So here are just a few of the reasons (other than being such a great kid) why Rylan was the first recipient of the star of the week......

• He gave an excellent talk in primary on Sunday (and bore his own sweet testimony about the importance of mothers (*sniff sniff* loving it)

• He prepared an AMAZING poster for a topic talk at school by himself - the pictures he drew were so good (i can't even believe i didn't take a picture before it went to school.....SO unlike me)

• He received a MERIT award because his topic talk was so well presented (apparently he was the only one who got one that day for the talks (more about that to come)

• He was chosen to be the new CTR8s class president (proud parent moment)

• He got a singing time award in sharing time
  

• He read an entire novel over the week (which took him just over 3 hours......so dedicated)

• He is doing EXCELLENT on the piano......it's amazing watching him learn so quickly

• He is VERY grateful for things he is given
  

• He's always a great big brother and loves to help out and play with Jazzy
  

This list could go on but we'll leave it at that and call this his 'highlight' list.

So the next question you may ask is "what did he receive" (other than the title, and an acrostic poem about R.Y.L.A.N (for some reason he loves these kinds of poems). I have to say the best thing that goes along with this award is that the winner gets to sit next to Chad-dad at the dinner table, everyday for the whole week. I would love to say that the boys fight over me every.single.night, but, it's just not true :) I do usually get a charity "oh yay I get to sit with mum" but really both these boys idolise their dad and it's a fight as to who will have the honor of sitting directly next to him at the table.

So here's to a new tradition in the Aston household and hooray for Rylan for being such a star!!

We love you buddy!!!

Park Play.......

Ahhhhhh. The energy that is Zahn is never short in supply!

Mini Mozart

When Rylan was 3 he started playing soccer for our local team (the tigers)!!

I was SO excited to be a soccer mum. Every Wednesday night and early Saturday morning for the season we would be at his training and the game with 'baby Zahn' all bundle up for the cold weather. I was so happy to be "that" soccer mum and thought Rylan was going to love it as much as me......but....well....he didn't.

I diligently took him and encouraged him for 2 seasons but then realised that my dream of being a soccer mum, with Rylan, was over and at the age of 4 his 'childhood' soccer career came to a close.

During summer of these same years Rylan also did little athletics (which again I LOVED but him, not so much. But he did it for 2 years then decided it was time to move on from that too.

We've been trying to find something that can be 'his thing'. Something he enjoys and something HE WANTS to do. So about 3 months ago Rylan started taking piano lessons. He was really excited to start and unlike the other things he has undertaken he still LOVES it even after 3 months......(that seems serious for a 6 year old dosn't it???)

His teacher said she was 'AMAZED' after his first lesson at how well he had done (true story not just "parent blindness" :) and she continues to tell me that he is "a natural" and that he LOVES his lessons.

I'm so glad he LOVES it and he seems to have found something for him.

Maybe we'll have a little Mozart in the family after all...(after all meaning i didn't quite master that skill...... :)

My new favourite picture

Is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen (ok so i'm a little bias) Rylan brought it home from school the other day and I completely LOVE IT....when i first saw it I actually teared up (believe it or not :) because it was so beautiful!!

Don't you think it just dipicts us so well.....Zahnny's 'orange' hair, dinosaur shirt and skeleton pants, Chad with his back pack on ready for work, Rylan in his favourite piping hot shirt and his skull and cross bone shorts (which totally don't match but I let him wear them anyway because HE LOVES THEM SO MUCH.......(don't ask me why :) and then there's me and Jazz - how cute does little Jazzy look in the baby carrier....even the details of the "pouch" are so precise!!

What can I say.....I completely LOVE this picture.....it is definately my new favourite!!!!