Walking

We have had lots of trips to different beaches since we moved down to the South Coast, but on Sunday we decided to take the girls inland a bit, to the Porongurup National Park for a barbecue and bush walk. 

 

G and I are a bit partial to a bushwalk. We met on one. And even though I am in no way as fit as I was, we still like to venture out now and then. But for some reason, I don't think the girls feel quite the same way.

 

Walking up the hill among the karri trees, the girls whined all the way to the top. Not even our usual silence saver, "Shhh. Whisper or you will scare the fairies" worked its magic. Whine, whine, whine. Throw in a sulk. Maybe chuck in a tantrum, too. Throw oneself down on the track and refuse to move. Charming!

 

 

 

 

But then, when we turned around to walk back down, well, that was when the magic really happened.

 

"How was the Earth made, Mummy?"

 

"How did the fish start living on land?"

 

"How did animals grow fur?"

 

"How do trees grow?"

 

Wow!

 

 

In the end, a magical wander and wonder!

xx

Handy parenting hint

 

 

One of the best bits of parental advice I have been given by a friend is this:

 

If your child is having a case of the attitudes, if they shout or speak to you in a rude manner, if they forget to say please, or thank you....

 

to help them think about their manner and give them time to take a breath and regroup,

 

 

say, "I think you should try that again."

 

 

This has been brilliant for me with my sometimes moody brood! It helps to diffuse overwhelming emotions - on both sides! Of course, there are times when a little person's emotions are completely out of control and in need of a different strategy, but 4 times out of 5, this works a treat.

 

So, thanks, Deb! Mwah!!

 

 

Do you have a favourite handy parenting hint to offer?

What helps to calm your little people down?

 

 

On another note, we had another 'magic day' yesterday - the weather was glorious, and we took the opportunity to head east to Cheyne's Bay/Beach, hence the photo at the top. Beautiful day!

 

Hoping you all had a lovely weekend.

 

 

xx

 

 

 

 

Great Day

The perfect morning view,

 

 

a family beach adventure,

 

 

and Knitting Club.

(or Crochet Club, or Bubbly Club, or Wine Club as some have suggested it should be called!)

 

 

A great day!

 

 

xx

Perkins Beach Paddle

Every year on ANZAC Day we also celebrate my Mother-in-law's birthday, which means a picnic for the extended family is in order, as long as the weather is good enough.

And today, it most certainly was!

A picnic at the Torbay Inlet campsite with a paddle on Perkins Beach for afters - perfect - for family, reflection and appreciation for what we have and how we came to have it.


What did you do for your ANZAC Day?


xx

Easter Outings

 

If we weren't painting the front room* this Easter weekend, then we were playing with friends, new and old**, eating chocolate, or spending time at the beach.

 

I gotta tell you, I've been thoroughly enjoying this landscape painting, material collecting, research caper! And while the weather holds, I am planning some more field trips this week. Yippee!

 

Hoping that you have all had a wonderful weekend.

 

 

Sam xx

 

 

* It looks amazing! Shame about the furniture.

** Loooved seeing friends from our old Mundaring stomping ground.

Glorious

 

 

The weather is so glorious at the moment that we are taking advantage and visiting the beach to wash away the day's renovation dust!

 

And each time we visit, we are amazed at how much water and swimming confidence all our girls are developing, although sometimes they can get a bit too confident and that's when Mummy runs full pelt down the beach to drag them back......

 

but that's another story!

 

 

What's your story today?

 

 

Sam xx

Circus!

 

 

We haven't taken the girls to the circus before and, given that it has been in town for the last few days, and Miss J has been supremely excited by the expanse of yellow-ness that is the Big Top, we decided that this was the perfect time for our first circus experience as a family.

 

It was Hilarious!

 

Oh, don't get me wrong. The performers were very talented and it was obvious that they worked very hard at their craft. Clever people.

 

And there were no wild animals, about which I was pleased, not that I expect to see them in the circus situation anymore.

 

So, there were no lions, no elephants, no tigers. But there were ...... cows.

 

Cows??

 

Performing circus cows???

 

Beautiful black and white cows. And as I watched them saunter around the ring I couldn't help but laugh at the apparent absurdity of a circus cow. And then, of course, once I started that uncontrollable giggling, that was it. It just seemed so bizarre, so...... surreal! So completely unexpected!!

 

But you know what? Those very well trained cows did what they were trained to do.

 

It had to be seen to be believed....

 

 

.....so you had better go yourselves when the circus comes to your town!

 

 

 

Have you been to a circus lately?

The Australian, the international, the metaphorical?

 

 

 

Hoping you have a great weekend!

 

Sam xx