52 weeks of grateful :: quintet

I think Bron is a pretty special woman. Of course I've never met her. I don't need to, to know she's special. Some people just exude that quality, and she is one of them. You don't need to be in the same room as them to feel it. When I first joined in with the grateful linky when I was a blogging baby (I'm totally a toddler now), Bron welcomed me with open arms. She stops by for a visit regularly and her comments are always so thoughtful, insightful, honest, giving. There is so much wisdom and honesty in her words, I believe that's why she makes such a strong connection with her audience.

I have been a little absent in my gratefulness of late. So this week, I'm making up for a bit of what's been lacking.

Hubby's flexible hours :: While sometimes his work hours suck arse, sometimes they are terrific. This week was a quiet one for him so he was able to leave later in the mornings, always making beds, putting a load of washing on and waiting to hang it out, washing the breakfast dishes, taking Ruby to dancing, taking the car in to be serviced, home early Friday afternoon for early dinner. Bliss.

Saying yes :: I said yes more this week. And it felt good.

End of term :: This term felt really long. I think it was a combination of the weather turning dark and so many germs coming in the door. Trying to keep everyone happy and healthy when I was far from it myself. I can honestly say that I don't feel like I have ever really struggled with the responsibilities of being a mother. Until this term. So I'm bloody glad it's over.

Holiday horizon :: I've decided to be lovely and greedy these holidays. We'll spend the school holidays at home, having some day trips out and about, joining in with some birthday celebrations, catching up with old friends and finally meeting new ones, and then we'll have a grand total of two routine days back into the new term before we pack our bags, airport bound, headed for a fortnight of sea air and sunshine. Completely overdue. Completely necessary.

Maxabella :: For making me stop and take the time to be grateful for the things that make my life wonderful. Some weeks I'm even grateful for the shitty things. Because they make all the awesome things, just that. I think your little grateful space has impacted people's lives more than you realise. Some weeks it's like being given a little gift, to wipe the fog of the week away, to start afresh, to give us the kick in the pants we need, to remember what's important, to feel sorry for ourselves, to feel glad for ourselves, to feel ~ grateful.

Happy Anniversary Bron! Cake?

*Linking up for Bron's two year grateful anniversary over at Kidspot Village Voices}
**Photos by Tim

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

Linking up with the ever-inspiring SouleMama.

~~~~~

Hurrah! Happy school holidays, friends x

{snap it} :: on the ground

I know, I'm late.
And clearly, I couldn't make up my mind.
A (large) handful of things you would find {on the ground} around these parts.

More snap it fun over at Sarah's.

52 weeks of grateful :: the small things

I have been feeling very bleh of late. That's totally a feeling.

I am trying to get out of that funk. I am trying to say yes more and not be too concerned with the consequences. I'm not in charge of world peace or happiness. I am in charge of Chateau P happiness. Like many at this time of year, our weekends of late have been eaten up by illness and recovery. And I am so over it. Last weekend I wanted to get out, even if it was freezing. Sunday morning, we left hubby with his coffee and quiet house and the kids and I headed to Flemington Market. It had been a little over a year since we had been there last. Babywearing Eliot.. so tiny.

The weather gods were smiling on us. The sun shone all morning, it was glorious. When I told the kids we were going to the market, the first thing they asked was 'can we please get our faces painted?!'. They still remembered having their faces painted last time we were there. It was our first stop. Thankfully we were early enough that there was no line up yet. Ruby marched straight up to the face painter, climbed over her up on the chair, sat bolt upright, huge smile and asked for half face paint please {half because there are two little faces to be painted and we are a one income household, people}. She chose a rainbow and unicorn. Cole was spiderman. Again. Same as last year.

The joy that shone out of those two (Ruby especially) from something so simple as a bit of paint on their faces, is quite amazing. It made me smile, warmed my heart, made me love them even more.

I would be lying if I said I didn't yearn to go to the market some day soon, by myself. To dawdle, look at every stall, drink my coffee slowly, people watch, not be constantly on the lookout for little hands touching precious items. These markets have the most beautiful stalls of handmade goods and fresh produce. But Sunday was really for them, and I knew that before going. I had two things on my list. Uggboots for me (really over buying $6 Kmart slippers), and a new pair of little leather boots for Eliot (I bought two pairs for Cole as a toddler and Eliot has worn them too, at $18 a pair for serious quality, I don't bother looking elsewhere). Eliot is wearing in his new shoes. I am still slipperless.

To go with their face painting, {I felt} they needed chinos, gingerbread bears, old school boiled lollipops, $5 bargain bag of plaster of paris. Happy kids, happy mama, happy hearts. And for that, I am grateful.

{Linking up with beautiful Bron for Kidspot Village Voices. A special grateful reunion is happening this weekend, be sure to check it out.}

yes

Our Tuesdays of late have not really been the family affair they should be. With all the ongoing ailments of the season, each week at least one of us has not been well enough to be sharing our germs in a public pool, or collecting more. Ruby goes for her lesson, she showers, dresses and we're on our way. Library, shops, errands, whatever is next on the list before she puts her dancing shoes on.

Today we stopped off at St Vinnies on the way home in search of some little furniture for Eliot's bedroom makeover {eldest two went into beds at 18 months and he will do the same, which means a little project}. Two minutes in the door and Cole was doing the wee dance. The closest public toilets were a short walk down the road and across the street to the golden arches. The kids have been there once before for dinner, after a long day of driving and fun and no husband to come home to, for hot chips and apple juice. They refer to it as the other fish and chip shop that has thin chips and a playground (our local has fat chips). I'm happy to keep it that way. Urgent business was done and whilst washing hands I thought it was almost lunch time, should we stay and have those hot chips and apple juice again?

I feel like I have been saying no a lot lately. For many reasons. Because it's too hard, I'm too tired, they're too tired, it's my parental responsibility, blah blah blah. At some point last week I told myself to stop saying no. I should say yes more often. Even to the silly stuff, the naughty stuff, the parental responsibility stuff. They didn't ask to stay for lunch, that was some little voice inside my head. I suggested we stay for those thin chips and apple juice and a play on the playground. They jumped for joy and clapped their hands, their little faces lit up. We had our lunch, they played on the playground for five minutes before declaring it too scary (it was four stories high!), so we walked across the road to the proper park playground, where of course all the slides were wet. But they still had a ball. We walked back to St Vinnies (with some little wet bums), found no furniture but left with a pair of pink fluffy high heels for the dress up box and a little red bulldozer. They peered over the counter and paid for their goods, and walked back to the car with a little spring in their step.

In the spirit of saying yes, I broke one of my very important parental rules. No dress ups in public. When asked if she could wear her new heels to dancing this afternoon.. I smiled and said yes. Hubby rolled his eyes and I smiled harder as she clip clopped down the hall and off to class.

Sometimes saying yes to the silly stuff is just what you need.

{Am I just anal or do you have the no dress ups in public rule too?}

weekend love

Drawing, crafting, animals, yummy ricotta gnocchi, stewed apple cake, indoor camping, sunday morning marketing, unicorn, spiderman, lion cub, gingerbread, hysterical car boot laughter, painting, baking (from here), sunset, soup (which was unusually lumpy after my blender died last week and I had to resort to the food processor which just didn't work ~ whiz bang chopping-blending-pureeing-thingo purchased today), standard selfie.

Lovely.

I hope yours was lovely too x

{Linking up with lovely Lou for Point + Shoot}