14/52 - my family and me

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13/52 - my family and me

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my family and me - 12/52

I missed last week. But I am not giving up. I'm really happy about taking more family pictures with me and the Captain in them.

We've had a busy couple of weeks.

I did some catering.

There were birthday parties.


Time spent playing at kinder.


We worked out that our dog fitted in the shelf.


And we did another super fun weekend at the beach.

It is no wonder then, that when Sunday came, I really needed to do a whole lot of this.





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I want to be invisible (in the school yard)

A friend recently asked me - "What superpower would you most like to have? And why?". With less than twenty seconds thinking time I answered that I would like to be able to choose when I could be invisible. When she asked me about the "why" part, my response was swift.

"I want to choose when I can be invisible so that I can avoid all those difficult conversations with tricky people in the playground at the primary school". 

She laughed and told me it was a clever answer. Maybe she thought I was joking. But I have never been more serious. Is it just me who feels like the schoolyard is a potential minefield of exploding parental conversation grenades....or do you feel like this too?

Last week another parent shared with me her concerns that the school may not be going "to cut it" for her child in an academic sense. She shared that her child is coming home and saying things like "I'm bored" and "I learnt this last year". She also told me that she thought she would "be pulling him out for a school with higher standards". I stayed largely mute throughout the conversation. We love the school we have chosen and we are actively playing a role in helping to build the community and support the endeavours of the staff. But I felt a bit bewildered. How did she think I would respond? What did she want from the conversation? I guess she wanted me to validate her thinking....agree with her point of view....Whatever the intention of the conversation, it left me uncomfortable and yes, I wanted to be invisible.

A month ago a different parent and I were having a conversation about the Batsman and his skills particularly related to his autism diagnosis. At one point she said "but it's like that for NORMAL children too". I would have given my left arm to be invisible at that point but instead I put my big girl pants on and had a conversation about how we would never refer or imply that the Batsman is "abnormal". I talked about how we NEVER refer to autism as "the big bad thing" or "the abnormal thing" or "the thing that's wrong with him". It's just not who he is, who we are or how we want him to view himself as he grows. The conversation was successful but a little awkward and left me drained and tired. Where was that invisible superpower when I needed it?

How do you feel about the conversations in the school playground? What superpower do you wish you had?

my family and me - 10/52

This is a precious photo.




We had a bit of a close call with my dad a few weeks ago.





There were high temperatures, ambulance transfers, intravenous dips and panicked phone calls.





He's doing ok now after some time in hospital and we are ever so grateful.




A photo like this, with everybody smiling and standing in front of the newly rebuilt surf club which means so much to dad, is one to go on the mantlepiece.





It's certainly one for this #myfamilyandme challenge.


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my family and me - 9/52

The boys had a huge day at the RAAF air show today. They were literally bursting with excitement.




Before they left I managed them to get them to sit still long enough for a quick photo. Love my little blokes.


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my family and me - 8/52

Out there, it's felt like a sad world this week. So we hang on tight and focus on things like family, puppy smooches and friends feasting and sleeping over. It's a sunny Sunday here, perfect for just hanging out together. Wishing you all peace and a happy week ahead.








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my family and me - 7/52

just an ordinary school morning.

everyone was happy and there were lots of 'have a good day' hugs.

so this picture was snapped.





I love it.


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easy Lightning McQueen birthday cake - cars, cars, cars

This is a birthday cake from last year in our house. Let's just say we went through a significant "Cars" period. I made this cake for the Bowler's 4th birthday. He adored it.

Kids birthday cakes don't have to be overly complex to have impact. This cake was two round cakes wedged together to make an "eight" or track shape. I smoothed buttercream icing all over it (the Bowler wanted purple) and then formed the track using "dirt" made from crushed up biscuits.

Oreos all the way around the edge give a wheel look to it all. And let me say that "freckle" lollies make fabulous track barriers and fencing. A little bit of piped on green grass, some white track lines and some of the Bowlers very own "Cars" and here is our amazing and delicious race track.

Our boy's eyes lit up when he saw it and the sugar rush was long and hysterical.

Thomas will most likely always be number one though!

lego exhibition january 2014 - melbourne 'brickvention'

Day by day Lego grows in popularity in our house. The boys both received some for Christmas and have spent some happy hours over the holidays building bricks. They each play with the Lego in different ways. The Batsman loves to make models by following the step by step instructions. He is largely exact in his building standards. The Bowler is a little more 'free form' in his designs and loves to create all kinds of weird and wonderful.

However they use it, it's easy to see that they are learning and growing each time they do. When I heard about Brickvention - a big Lego exhibit at Melbourne's Exhibition Building, it seemed like the perfect time to buy tickets and go. The tickets were cheap too....around $12 per adult and $6 for the kids. Bargain priced entertainment is always welcome during school holidays isn't it?

We forgot to take a big camera so here are a few of my phone pics. I thought you might like to see them. The kids really loved seeing the exhibits, particularly those with movement. The Batsman found the crowded room a little overwhelming but there was space for him to take a breather when he needed to including some areas where kids and big kids could sit and do some Lego building.

One thing I noticed was that of all the exhibits, there was only one built from the 'Friends' Lego. All of the other exhibits were built from traditional bricks. The visit was great fun and finished off with gelati was one to remember.

Do your kids do Lego? Love it? Hate it?