sweet strong ...and 5!

ooo mushy babe, all of 4 weeks old, and nearly outta his basket

almost 5! and growing everyday

5 arrives! and we so celebrate with all the superheros from near and far!

Micah Jack...you are so very precious to us all.  we love your curiosity, your pondering of how all things work together - your considered questions to the links of info still out of your grasp.  I love that you think before you speak, that you love to find out how things work, your compassion and slow to anger temper.  You are a lovely, lovely, lovely lad, who is super creative, making things everyday to improve some aspect of whatever thought-wave you are on.  I heart-adore the fact that despite being a busy lad, you fashion me the sweetest jewelry, thinking through the sizing and placement of jewels (this week shyly placing a tiny package in my hand during a work meeting; revealing 100 pieces of sticky-tape and wrapped; inside lay a beautiful 'diamond ring', that I have proudly worn all week).  You are loyal to your family, protective of me and my heart; your dad's buddy in all things fish/workshop/lawns/weights ...and more.  

We celebrated in style this week, inviting precious family and some of his little friends, dressing up as superheros and eating superhero style...a few games, as everyone seemed to love running and hiding and playing in the secret garden...and we all had so much fun remembering how to skip.  the very best part ...we get to hang EVERYDAY, ALL DAY; as you are now a big school boy - in MY class; so exciting! love you my treasure, to the stars and back!

right now~

:: its the very start of the school holidays- HOORAY!! We are all still in our pjs- HOORAY again.

:: yesterday ~ was brilliant sunshine - we sunbathed and relaxed on the deck; now its raining-boo.

:: listening to ~ Kimbra still, and Mudford & Sons - oh and Peppa Pig is on in the background.

::planning ~ on paper the summer vege garden looks amazing! In reality the ploughing of the paddock and     fertilizing is done, not much else

::caring for ~ our sweet lambs - one of who is very poorly; we are hopeful though; a pig, who is getting bigger daily, 14 lovely lady chickens, and a raft of wild pukeos - who parade themselves daily for us.

::dreaming of ~ long summer evenings, with a tinge of sunshine on our backs, and a happy tired feeling from working the vege garden - and report writing but a memory!

::reading ~ a selection of mild trash - yay me! Gardening journals, and lovely blogs.

::thinking ~ I should go get the kids dressed! and the day planned, and started - maybe not! It's holidays after all!

easter 2012

my fav photo of the night...unstaged candlelit guitar song writing...under the stars - sigh

the egg hunt in our rather overgrown jungle garden

mr mans idea of dressing up was adding a tie - ahem

a special feast was prepared ... a real treat

We love Easter and the precious meaning it has to our family...I love family traditions and rhythms, and Easter definately has them at our place.  We always spend time together exploring the Easter story, and egg hunt at some pojtn and a dressup dinner where we read the Easter story once again together...no ICT allowed...just stillness and reflection.  I love that our  girls are helping to lead our little boys in these rhythms....

harvesting

todays harvest...we are picking like this every 2 days (in some cases every day)...the weeds are thigh high, and you have to know what you are looking for, but its all there, waiting for us.  I am thankful for such bounty...and proud of my family's effort is helping create such a HUMUNGOUS paddock/vege garden....its still got more to give yet!

romp it....

Dinosaur romp anybody???

take 8 crazy kiddies (4 not pictured) and 2 crazy mamas, 1 crazy papa...some stompin' music, a pterdactyl burger or 2..and you have yourself a dinosaur romp!!

a good pressi idea-no?

I made this sweet pressi for a friend who just had a bubby (took fresh toeat of course and this for later)...thinking it might be a quick solution to fresh baking...thinking it might be a sweet gift for christmas treats....eapecially with cranberries and white chocolate....!

14

large birthday cake knife - its a tradition to use it...ahem.

sweet sisters...didn't even squabble for the night!

small boy 2

small boy 1

our biggest gal has had a birthday - a very special birthday ...well now, aren't the all?  Menu request: NO VEGES....hmmmm, trouble with that order, but given the quantity of tomato sauce consumed and homemade potato wedges, maybe I could feel a little better??  So, large homemade meat pizzas, icecream sundaes with raspberry sauce, and a big slab of mud cake later...they were are asked to go for a run in the paddock!...who would've thought we would be here, at 14!!!

our babies....celebrating life!

this gal is sassy, fun, clever, caring, logical (think McCleod daughters logic), a bit crazy, loyal and is developing a wonderful strong sense of who she is...we are so proud to call you ours sugarplum. x

my gurls blinkin` cook!!

seriously stoked!!! came in late from the garden, to find my girlies having a cooking session...back to the garden!!

being 35...

 My lovely family threw a happy birthday teaparty for my 35th.....complete with ladies in dresses, beautiful food, and all my pretty teacups out...we greeted guests with a cold glass of Rose` and everyone seemed to enjoy the sunshine and flowers everywhere.  Judy Garland sang her sweet tunes for the occassion.  So very sweet of everyong to come.

a few thoughts on tunring the ripe old age of 35....
~ I love it.
~ I am learning so much about life...and am so very glad learning never ends.
~I am far more paitient than a younger me.
~I very much admire the women who have walked before me, and those that walk along side, and look to them as a life sisterhood.
~I am as capable as my self imposed limitations....and am learning to shuck those in areas that I wasn't confident before-this is indeed a work in progress.
~I have accepted that I will never be miss-twiggy, or even a normal size...but will still strive to be a healthier me....all the time.
~I am passionate about life balance, raising children to walk with the Lord, and to grow true to who they are meant to be.
~I am more in love with my husband than when we married - sounds a bit silly I know - but we have been sorely tested, and thankfully with much learning, it has brought us closer.
~I now have some experiences to back my ideas and theories, and am happy to admit when I have no idea what I'm talking about!
~I love the sense of being able to more and more remain true to who I am and not be swayed by what others think, and I so hope give others the room to be who they are too...
~All in all, I try hard to chose to focus on our blessings, and chose to find happiness and contentment in the here and now, and in the tiniest things; for they are the things that make our days sweet - are they not?....
~lastly, I am so very blessed to have another (small!) line added to my face....it means I am able to claim another year with my babies....
is there anything you love about your age??
xx

strawberry love

its jamin` season already! woohoo!!, the kids and mr man came home to the glorious scent of heady simmering strawberries....so very luscious and beautiful.

ouch

We have given her the day off!

Arisen....

Easter Sunday is pretty special huh!.....I have always woken with a sense of anticipation on Easter Sunday....and often trek the journey that the 2 Mary's would've made before dawn to the tomb, in my mind, the wet dew, the heavy hearts they might've had; as they made their way to Jesus's burial place....how incredible it would've been to see first hand ancient prophesy's fufilled and the dramatic news the angel shared with them....'He had arisen as He said he would'!....amazing.

We so love celebrating the life we have been given around here, and of course awesome news such as this MUST be celebrated in style! So a family feast in the secret garden seemed to be a wonderful way of remembering what Jesus had done.... So after church, we set up a table and all our decorations we had been making, and had a wonderful teaparty, followed by a treasure hunt....I so hope you have been able to take some time and reflect on what Easter means to you and yours....YOU are loved enough to die for.

5...really!?

seriously, how cute is this guy!...and look how big he is now....

my charming firstborn son turned 5 this week!....seriously, no one gave him permission to get this old!!!....Jose, you're are a real sunshine boy, full of charm and sincere caring, compassion and warmth...you are competative and learning about sportmanship, have a love of hotwheel cars and tracks, your bike and riding real fast! You love being where I am and helping out (till it gets boring - ha!) and ALWAYS have a special greeting for whoever comes to see us and are full of chats and smiles....my son, you're a welcome and wanted pleasure in our whanau...happiest of happy birthdays to you my little love....

We celebrated his special day with most of his cousins and family, lots of friends and plenty of party fare and games...and of course being a 'rug-py' (yup, not rugby) party we had to have a little game of Ripper...so cool fun - yay!

goodness

so much produce being harvested from our wee block....so wonderful to be able to share all this

organic goodness.....

....and what not salvagable makes awesome target practice for cricket....hehe

sweet boy

from this sweet babe....to....

.....this wonderful boy.....

how in the world did this happen...my sweet baby boy turned 3 yesterday on the 1st day of Autumn.....such a wonderful adventure to be 3, and one I know this wee lad will live hugely and love.

How do you put into words your love for your children, your side splitting proudness of who they are, your admiration of their hearts ... truly the words are not enough.....this wee man of mine is the 4th baby to grace our world, and he has enriched our lives more than we knew possible.

Micah is strong, determined, hard-working (truly! with amazing stickability to the task), independant, hugely loyal, creative and loves his family....he can stand up for himself when its important to him, but is a bit of a cruiser....he has the most amazing imagination, and LIVES it thoroughly...he is currently a pirate and only takes his wee hat off to sleep.....you can most often find Micah Jack, on the back of the trailer, with his oars, fishing rod, 'petrol' can, and supplies...wearing his beloved gumboots and talking to Pippi the dog, or any low flying bumblebees....he's such a delightful boy.

We celebrated largely I can tell you - with around 18 toddlers and preschoolers and their Mamas, coming to play and pick fruit from the trees....and my Ma and Pa, sister and my sugar coated neices (they're so lovely).... with space cupcakes and a rocket cake.... Pirate Micah had a wonderful day turning 3.....Happy birthday my boy....you are loved.

pretzels

I mentioned on FB that I had made pretzels today...and how wonderfully simple they are to make, a few lovely ladies wanted the receipe, so thought I'd share it on here for you all.
Seriously scrummy!
3Tblsp oil
450ml warm water
6 c flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast.

If you have a breadmaker throw it all in on the dough cycle, if you don't then go ahead and treat this mix as usual bread - ie, yeast and oil in warm water , let it froth for around 10 mins, then add in your flour, mix it up real good, knead for 10 mins or so then leave to rise for about an hour+....you already know how, so I'll shush!

Preheat your oven to 220c, and pop about a litre of water and a teaspoon of salt onto simmer...once its gently bubbly, pop in 2 tsp of baking soda and watch is explode (FUN), this acts as a lovely brine for the dough....

Now while you are waiting for the water to simmer, divide you dough into around 12 pieces, these will make large pretzels, so double it if you want smaller ones...its really no trouble how you do it, just make sure that its evenish....roll each piece into a skinny sausage and pretzel its shape up....THEN,

pop each one into the simmering water for around 20 seconds and then take it out, putting it onto a cake rack to drain off....once they are all done, pop onto a baking tray, sprinkle salt over and into the hot waiting oven....for around 10 minutes....

If you can wait, once cooler split 'em and smoother them in cream cheese...bet you love 'em!
p.s. this photo is so not mine, as i didn't get one I found this on the net...you get the idea tho!

December...what a joy

what a huge month December is...my camera is full of wonderful celebratory photos still to be downloaded,....SO. MUCH. BAKING. has been done and enjoyed; kids prizegvings and shows, Sunday schools concert, Christmas presents made, brought wrapped and awaiting tomorrow...a momentous sweet neice entered our world and lives - welcome my dove, you will bring us all so much joy.... a wee nephew celebrated another year of life - much love to you also....my special brother, his wife and babies have come home for the holidays...December is just SO BIG.

Christmas for us will be the smallest it has ever been...with just the 6 of us....I'm still trying to get me head around that, and determined it will be a fun-filled feasting special day....remembering Christ's birth and the reasons for it.

I confess to being rather sentimental today, a tad weepy and lots to do....

we are in the process of moving house (like on the 27th!), and I am still trying to do all the pickling and jaming that this time of year brings....my sewing machine has a small coat of dust on it and calls forlornly, but we will hang together next week....

I will be visiting all your lovely blogs, but taking a wee break from this one for a couple weeks.

May Christ's love wash over you, bring you joy, peace and happiness as we celebrate His birth.
much love
B

homemade ravioli

1st go at homemade pasta- a bit thick as rolled by hand and not enough rolling at that! but not bad for a first attempt....stuffed with feta, bacon and spinach from the garden - you can't go too wrong...YUM!

jungle fever

Schools out and we sent off the term in style!

I love family nights...which come in all shapes and styles round these parts...and to be honest, sometimes don't happen for a week or 2- but I'm super glad when I do make the effort - doesn't cost anything/much and memories are made - WHOOP!!

Jungle fever hit our place...and hey presto before you know it, we have the menu, the decor and the costumes .... jungle music and BAD jungle jokes....a bit off face paint and everyone gets a bit silly - tis fun eh?!....introducing....

the asian rastafarian bongo playing elephant, the girl kitty black panther, the terrifying t-rex, the wild 'pippy' dog, the waterfall man and the butterfly.... waterfall man took out the prize at the end of the night - I suspect bribery and self promotion had ALOT to do with that!....

...a movie with intermission (little boys put to bed), and a wee relax - ahhhh; totally LOVE school holidays!