Happy Birthday My Love

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Jacinta

It’s Greg’s birthday today.  Of course he spent most of it at work, but we all went out for dinner tonight to a local restaurant to celebrate.  The kids were gorgeous and did really well considering we were heading out at the time we normally put them to bed.

Jairah was drawing a plane, so he told me

Nothing like finding some scrap paper in your handbag and a pen to keep little hands and minds busy!

We all survived our outing and came home to continue the festivities.  I’d let the kids choose a gift each for Greg.  I had a giggle at what they decided he might ‘want’. Scarlett chose a unicorn book for Greg to read (to her!), Tenneille chose a singing, dancing Christmas reindeer and the girls chose, on behalf of Jairah, a picture book.  Looks like Greg has plenty of new reading material for the kids bedtime this week.
To balance out his birthday bounty from the kids, his main gift was a remote control helicopter, which apparently he has always wanted. Probably not what I would have chosen, but better to buy a gift someone wants, right? Jairah just about lost his mind when he saw Greg unwrapping it.  I will endeavour to video Greg flying it to get Jairah’s reaction on film.

A bit of light reading for you papa!

Make a wish! Actually, Jairah blew out the candles before Greg got a chance. I was quite impressed.

As for the cake, there is a recipe to come.  It’s too good not to share with you.  Now pardon me while I go lay down and allow the piece of cake I ate to digest.

The cake. Recipe coming.....

 

A little Irish blessing, just for you Greg, happy birthday love:

Lucky stars above you,
Sunshine on your way,
Many friends to love you,
Joy in work and play-
Laughter to outweigh each care,
In your heart a song-
And gladness waiting everywhere
All your whole life long!

Jacinta x

Posted in Celebrations, Family Life, Gastronomic Explosions - aka Yummy Food/Recipes | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Devonshire Tea Anyone?

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Jacinta

We finally had our rangehood properly installed yesterday.  It only took five reschedules with the plumber due to all the rain we have been experiencing.  But thankfully the rain cleared yesterday and today was no exception, in fact it was quite hot.  Greg spent the day filling a skip bin with the old kitchen and I wrangled children in many different ways (see photo below) while potting up seeds for our vegie garden.

It was a hot day here, so Jairah parked himself in the tub right next to me while I potted seeds and Greg slaved away filling the skip bin with all the junk you can see in the background.

When it came to afternoon tea, I decided to finally bake something in my new oven.  It was a unanimous vote for scones.  I am happy to say they were cooked to perfection.  The scones were topped with homemade cherry and plum jam, with a dollop of fresh whipped organic cream that I scooped off the top of the milk this morning.  The scones were washed down with a lovely hot cup of tea.  I do believe my eyes rolled back into my head. And you know, if I could, I’d have invited you all for afternoon tea.  How great would that be?!

The cup and saucer belonged to my Great Grandma

I hope you had a great Saturday too.  Jacinta x

Posted in Family Life, Gastronomic Explosions - aka Yummy Food/Recipes, Renovations (Renos 101!) | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

This Moment

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Jacinta

From Soulemama {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.

For those who were wondering, this is an echidna. They are native to Australia.

I love your moments too.  So feel free to leave a link in the comment section for us all to see.  Have a beautiful weekend.  Jacinta x

Posted in The Natives, This Moment | Tagged , , , , , | 34 Comments

Keepin’ It Real

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Jacinta

– Keepin’ It Real captures the true essence of family life that I know are fleeting, keeping this mama grounded –

This week has passed me by so rapidly, I’m about dizzy.  So much to to, but only so much that can be done.  Feeling frustrated at the lack of completion of my kitchen, I decided to tackle my linen closet that had become the make shift, ‘just shove it in here out of the way’ cupboard.  I went to pull something out and everything from one shelf fell out in a heap at my feet.  A sure sign, this was a well overdue job.

Before

With my ever faithful ‘helper’ Jairah, I managed to sort through the cupboard and relocate items that didn’t belong back to their rightful place and I put all the linen that hadn’t been used in the last six months into a bag for the op shop.  In the meantime Jairah happily retrieved dirty washing from the laundry and decided that it needed to be put on Tenneille’s bed (not sure why).  I put it back in the laundry, only to be told by him that it need to go back in Tenneille’s room.  Hmm, I gave up and put it back in the laundry again, after I had finished.

Apparently the dirty washing belonged here!

Of course, he also had to have a little sleep, or ‘bleep’ as he calls it, in the middle of Tenneille’s bedroom floor.  Well I suppose carting laundry about the house must be somewhat tiring when you are three.

So tired!

I’m happy to say, that it is now safe to open my linen closet again.  My one and only tip for storing bed linen is to put sheets or doona/duvet covers inside on of the matching pillow cases.  Saves looking for missing sets when changing bed linen.

After

On the kitchen front, the good news is apparently the missing pantry doors and drawer fronts should be finally showing up next week.  We just need to do the floors and get the plumber to fit the ducting for the rangehood and my kitchen will be done!

Jacinta x

Posted in Family Life, Keepin' It Real, Renovations (Renos 101!) | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

This Moment

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Jacinta

From Soulemama {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.

Yes, he is asleep!

I love your moments too.  So feel free to leave a link in the comment section for us all to see.  Have a beautiful weekend.  Jacinta x

Posted in Family Life, This Moment | Tagged , , , , , | 27 Comments

Making The Most Of A Situation

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Jacinta

I love the places I find Jairah.  He is very good at hiding in funny locations.  This morning he was curled up, complete with a towel for a blankie in the pantry, making the most of the doorless situation.  I just smiled and it reminds me to not feel too perturbed about the kitchen being incomplete.   A friendly reminder in patience too I expect.

Oh, yes, he is sweetness and light.

I hope you too are able to see the lighter side of a situation that would otherwise be frustration.  Jacinta x

Posted in Family Life, Renovations (Renos 101!) | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

For Want Of A Bed

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Jacinta

Cardamon was in need of a new doggy bed.  The one he had had seen better days and we were constantly tripping over it.  So off I went with the kids to see what we could find.  It seemed everything we looked at was expensive and not very well made.  I had an idea and whipped the kids off with me to Kmart.  One basket, one pillow and one pillow case later, I think he has a pretty special bed.  He is currently curled up in his new basket sound asleep. That is proof enough for me that he likes his new digs.

 

As for the cost:

1 basket $14
1 pillow $4
1 pillowcase $5
Total $23

Jacinta x

Posted in Craft, Family Life | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Oh Lookie Here

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Jacinta

I was so excited to find I had won a blog giveaway recently from the lovely MJ at Wander, Wonder, Discover.  It is Mary Oliver’s Owls and Other Fantasies book.  I can see it becoming a favourite of our little self proclaimed animal lover, Tenneille.  There are lots of lovely passages throughout the book.  I must say The Swan is one of my favourites and Wild Geese too.
The book arrived last week and was waiting for me after a most stressful and emotionally draining day.  I love how life seems to balance out like that.  I think I may have even given the package a hug!

I took the photo on our new island bench, so you can get a sneaky peaky at what it looks like.  It’s so sparkly and pretty.  We have had a hold up with our pantry doors and a set of drawer fronts that the kitchen company forgot with our initial delivery, and then they arrived at the warehouse damaged, so until they turn up, I will have to make you wait for final photos (so frustrating!).  Jacinta x

 

 

Posted in Books | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Checking In

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Jacinta

It seems this week has been rather full.  After all the kitchen fun, it is still not finished.  So close though.  I will post pictures once it is finished.  We had a rather full weekend last week.  With eight people to cater for in a house with no kitchen, awful weather and to top it off, very good friends of ours lost a dear family member.  We had the funeral to attend this week and I haven’t felt much up to blogging.  To top off this week, on the way to the funeral, we were almost run off the freeway by a truck driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel!  I am still having flashbacks.  Gave us quite a fright.

Our in-laws returned to New Zealand and it is always sad seeing them off, as we are never quite sure when we will see them next.  We loved having them here, but feel we sent them home very weary after all the hard work they did for us.  Anyway, things might be a bit quiet around here while we try to reclaim a bit of normal.  I hope all is well with you, my dear readers.  I hope to catch up on all that you have been up to, once I get this kitchen sorted.  Jacinta x

Posted in Family Life | 5 Comments

This Moment

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Jacinta

From Soulemama {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.

I love your moments too.  So feel free to leave a link in the comment section for us all to see.  Have a beautiful weekend.  Jacinta x

Posted in Family Life, This Moment | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments