Monthly Archives: March 2012

how do the french women do it?

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snap shots of our house.

on tuesday next week we are moving house ! but it is not just moving house … we are leaving the place where we met 10 years ago (almost to the day!), fell in love, made promises to be committed and faithful to one another for life, where we had our first two babes, where we have met some incredible friends, where we discovered a love for surfing and chai, where we have the b.e.s.t. neighbours in the entire world … a place of blessing.

my friends keep asking me “are you sad to be leaving?”. it is a good question. i have found it difficult to reply because of course we are sad to be leaving this place of blessing. but it has also been a place of reality and hardships. it is hard to live in a small place with two littlies who (are trying to) run around, it is hard not having a table to sit at for each meal – a place to chat about the day, it is hard to sit on the same couch (not kidding … only one!) for a couple of hours a day (while the kids sleep) staring at the four walls of our teeny tiny living room because that is the only room in the house to sit, it is hard to live out of each other’s pockets all the time … especially in the kitchen where we have a kiddie table, our laundry, our surfboards, and our food ! it has been a lot harder on me than i have been brave enough to admit … even to my closest friends. living here has really got me down in a big way this past year. it begs the question, “how do the french women do it?” raising kids in small places, not having a place for them to run around while making dinner, never escaping the mess of toys and just plain old stuff. so i am sad to be leaving, but to be honest, i am much more excited about entering a new season in life.

autumn is my absolute favourite time of year. the water is warm, the air is cool, we celebrate Easter … it is the best. i love that we are moving to a new place, a new season in life, a new way of life, during autumn. it just smells like good times to me ! hopefully after next week my husband will have back the wife he married, my kids will have back a mum that is less stressed & more fun, and i will be able to breathe once again.

i will always cherish the good memories we have had here. i will be ever thankful that we have been blessed enough to move on at just the perfect timing.

xx

what i am working on.

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at the moment i am working on so many things in life.

i am working on being a better photographer. let’s face it … there is a lot of room for improvement.

i am working on being a better friend. i am hopeless at making telephone calls or initiating hang out time. this needs to change !

i am working on loving my husband better.

i am working on being true to myself rather than what i want people to think of me.

i am working on creating a better home for my family both in look and in feel.

i am working on lots and lots and lots of things !

what are you working on?

xx

the gift of giving.

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stunning wrapping.

the gift.

open pages.

about a week ago a friend called and said ‘i have a gift for you, will you be home at 6pm for me to drop it off?’.

YES ?!?!?!

Of course I am home to receive a gift ! But what for? Nothing. Just for being me. Amazing. This gift made me feel so loved and accepted, so cherished and affirmed, so honoured. the gift was not just a gift, it was the gift of giving. wow. how powerful – the gift of giving. it has inspired me to give more of myself, more of my things, more of my love, more of my faith. i feel incredibly honoured and blessed, and with that i must honour and bless others.

but seriously, how c-u-t-e cute is this little gift ! it is a treasure of treasures. it is inspiration. it is gorgeous.

thank you friend.

xx

it’s a girly kinda day …

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today was a girly kinda day.

first, the babe’s first proper leotard arrived in the mail. so excited ! she will wear it this coming winter with real leg warmers. i myself have attended a total of two (2!) ballet classes in the entirety of my life. nevertheless, i am still so excited that the babe will wear leotards and tutus. go figure?!

second, i found out that a good friend of mine is expecting a girl later on this year.   woo !

here’s to us girls ! hope you have a girly kinda day soon too … they’re so much fun.

xx

on a date.

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green chair.

glasses on.

glasses off.

relaxed.

mark & i try to have a date night each week. it is something that we treasure and look forward to e-v-e-r-y single night of the week until it swings around again. we don’t have a dining room table in our unit (because the unit is too small) which means we sit on the couch to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner!?! so any chance for us to get out & sit & gaze is a good one. lately we have been way way way too busy for words with work meetings, church meetings, social stuff and of course finding a place to live ! so, the other night, we jumped into some ‘play clothes’, walked along the beach front and ended up sharing an evening at one of the new hot spots in town. we were stoked to walk in and find that it was live music night and there was a five piece jazz band playing with a trombone as the main instrument … too good to be true ! (we love love LOVE live music … ahhhhhh).

on these date nights we talk. We talk talk talk talk talk about everything that is not kids, house, work or study. things that interest us or challenge us. we ask each other how we’re going … really going. we ask each other how our marriage is going. we celebrate the good things that have happened during the week and we dream about our future together. i love that this man is the one for me forever… he loves me for me and takes all my junk and good stuff in his stride. i love that we are building a family together, and i love even more that we know our kids will leave us one day and it will be just us two once again. i can’t wait for our date night this week ! it will be a surprise & it will be awesome.

xx

happy day.

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the sun has been out this weekend and it has been glorious ! hoorah ! la nina has been sticking around for waaaay too long and we’re all ready for a bit more sunshine. that said, here’s to happiness that our dam is now full to the brim ! first time in over a decade. yippee.

today was such a happy day. it was a perfect sunny autumn day & we celebrated this morning at our annual church service on the beach. there were helium balloons, a sandcastle competition, lots of celebrating, music, sausage sizzle, swims in the ocean, babies playing and best part of all remembering our Creator who gives us all good things. what absolute gloriousness (yep … i just made up that word!).

the babe sharing a bread roll with her baby boyfriend and his big brother.

the babe’s baby boyfriend. isn’t he just divine. squishilicious! (his parents are way cool peeps so i hope they’re ok with our daughter popping by every now and again ;) )

the babe and her favourite person in the whole wide world.

yes he does !

our peeps. love you guys.

us !

next year we won’t be able to walk to church on the beach because … we’re moving ! yippee ! we only have two weekends left in our glorious hometown then off to suburbia. i. cannot. wait.

will keep you all posted on how we are going with our move from the sea to the forest in the next couple of weeks.

xx

the master …

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mark & i are so very proud of our brother-in-love who has just finished his masters in fine arts. wow ! andrew – you amaze us. andrew’s projects over the last two years that we’ve been involved have included: advent art project; mega mix art collaboration including fingerprints, a self-portrait & your favourite tunes on CD; and an estimations project (inspired by vito acconci). yes. we have all had loads of fun while andrew has been piecing together his masters.

on the weekend we enjoyed andrew’s exhibition in the back corner of the city of sydney, millers point. it is a hidden treasure, full of history, romance, artsy peeps, and for us, fond memories of the early days of our love. we were sad however to see the palisade hotel had gone out of business. please someone take this beautiful place with 360 degree views of sydney and make it fun again !

here are some of andrew’s amazing art works on display.

the artist.

Yellow Cutouts. my favourite art work. i am privileged enough to own one of these ! so beautiful. i love the ballerina bottom right.

My Desk at the End of the Day. genius.

Stacked Memories. i love the ‘porch’ feel of this one. and the piano backdrop.

zines.

the babe. enjoying some free time.

joey having loads of fun with uncle paul throwing stones in the front window. priceless.

xx

it’s lunchtime.

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on saturday, we went to our absolute favourite place to pick up a sub. curly’s on the corner. yumo ! we only discovered curly’s about a month ago while we were house hunting. it just popped up out of nowhere and we haven’t looked back! i can’t describe the deliciousness that comes from one 12″ sub. so instead, here is a video that captures the delight of our favourite sub … the harissa chicken. seriously. good. sub. this was the first time we had taken the kids to curlys. the expressions on their faces are priceless when they see the sub. exactly how i feel inside when i see it coming !

i hope that in the days to come we will have many more family moments at curlys.

ready for that sub.

sharing a “stripes only” moment with joey and bear.

the babe.

xx

*music in clip: “Napoleon Says” by Phoenix

long weekender on the south coast part ii.

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we really love our little getaways to the south coast. things i love about the south coast:

- cool people;

- great op shopping;

- easy parking with no need to purchase parking tickets !

- relaxing fun times.

joey in his dream chair … on a tractor !

joey, uncle paul, pa.

stamping fun at nana’s.

being a ‘water fountain’ in bath no. seven.

the babe … finally asleep !

we have loads of long weekenders booked this year for weddings, parties & getaways so watch this space for more fun times.

what are your favourite destinations for a long weekender?

xx

at the moment …

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… i am really enjoying driving the car all on my own with the music really really really really loud. it makes me feel free. it happens rarely, but when it does it is a special treat. currently i am listening to paloma faith. the bass. the bass. the bass. love it.

Paloma Faith – Stone Cold Sober – Live from Abbey Road 2009

what quirky little things make you feel free?

xx