Week 6: Slipping

The sixth week of the year continues to be one where Victoria is on fire. The State is burning, temperatures are high and everyone is on alert, checking weather reports, fire apps and smoke in the sky.

Our week was pretty normal, I did the school run, I went to work, I taxied people to ballet and hip hop, to swimming lessons and milk bars.

There were many times that I could have organised a photo of me with my family. But I didn't.

I slipped back into old ways. I kept thinking that I would grab a photo when we did something worth taking a photo of, but that moment just never arrived.

I could have got off my butt when I was taking the lazy grown ups way and sitting on a deck chair while we played elastics.

Or I could have made an effort when we did what we rarely do and went out to a cafe for breakfast. A spot new to us that included a craft corner for the kids, you pay $5 per child and they are entertained for you.

Excellent.

Mr H and I not only chatted without interruption but he ate most of his big breakfast and read the paper. No need to find places to go out for dinner and get baby sitters!

Immy is not really all that keen on this school caper. She seems to think its been blown up as something great but it really isn't. There are too many rules and not enough play times and it goes for too many days and her best friend isn't there. I decided a post school special treat was in order so we headed to a new cafe for milkshakes. I could have asked someone to take a photo of us, but I didn't think of it. You can see me chilling out if you look, but it's not really a photo for an album.

Today the girls and I are hiding from the heat with a My Little Pony movieathon and an epic Minecraft session which was the perfect chance for us snuggle up and take a selfie, and that gives me this weeks #Myfamilyandme image. It's a great image to show off that Popps lost three teeth in six days and now has four teeth missing!

Next week I am hoping to do better, play along if you can.

Taped

If you are of a certain age the image above will mean nothing to you.

I received this card from a very dear friend this week. Seeing her handwriting on the envelope was enough to change my day, seeing the perfect image on the card just made me really laugh.

I made many tapes for friends once upon a time, and anyone who sent one in return you should know that I still have them all! I also have a car so old that it has a tape deck. I am thinking of getting out my felix the cat suitcase where they are all kept and having a listen...but I am worried about what my 17 - 24 year old self may have been saying. Maybe there are some things best kept in the 1990s (especially New Kids on The Block, Ms Herbie!)

These tapes were when mobile phones were barely around and the cost of using them was extreme. Phone calls on student funds were not possible, so making a tape was like having a week long conversation with your besties that were studying around the country at different universities or jobs.

I loved them. Always will.

Do you have any handmade tapes? 

On Our Bookshelf: January 2014

This summer I have been reading a lot. Everything. Frankie magazine to Country Style, opinion articles on more things than my brain will ever recall. On the advice of her teachers I have a mini book club with Miss 8, so I have read Sophie the Hero one night and Barracuda the next and Dork Diaries after that. I threw in Bridget Jones Mad about the Boy and then Zoe and Beans Pants on the Moon and Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris.

Somewhere along the way I read an article, which I can not find again, that highlighted the things that highly successful people do. I am sure you can guess what it was...they read. All. The. Time. They read everything. Not just their favourite authors. They read journals, magazines, stories, novels, online, hardcover, even the Herald Sun.

We then had a school literacy night and again the leading literacy teacher just said over and over and over, you MUST read to your children and you must model the behaviour of reading. Fill your child's life with books and you are giving them so much.

So here we go, here are the favourites from us from the last month for anyone looking for a book to get them reading.

Me: Mister Pip

This is not a new book, nor a long one, but it certainly is worth reading. It seems like I am the only person who didn't know about Mister Pip. Usually Mr H and I don't share delight in the same book but I told him he would love it, he read the back and said, yeh, read that a few years back! Not sure why he didn't suggest I might like it? Perhaps it was the violence that does occur in some sections. Thankfully I have read it now and it would be my favourite read from all my books completed over the summer. Matilda is stuck on Bougainville during war time, there is no communication with the outside world and then Charles Dickens is introduced to the local children by the one and only white man left in the village. Matilda uses her imagination to cope with everyday life and this leads to some pretty dire consequences.  Excellent novel. 

Him: Matthew Reilly Jack West Series

My Mum is in moving house mode and that means cleaning out books. Mr H grabbed an old Matthew Reilly book and finished it very quickly. He then got in the car, paid the fines at the local library and got the next books in the series. I have no idea what they are about, but he certainly enjoys them. I am not keen to read them, but a gazillion other people love them, are you one of them?


Miss Eight: Actually Factually

There really is such a glut in the primary school kids book market for girls. There are the wimpy kids, the dork diaries, and a stack of fairy type things. There are a few shorter chapter books and there are the old classics, but for kids that burn through books in a matter of days the search is constantly on to provide new options. I found Actually Factually at our local decent book shop and it was a hit over the summer with kids of all ages, and grown ups. There is something very fun for kids when they ask grown ups a question to see if you know how smart they are. Largest desert in the world? No, it's not the Sahara. How many hours in a day? No, it's not 24.


The Little Girl: Mouse Mansion

Never run too fast from the glory of picture books. They are such a pleasure for kids and adults to throw themselves into. Mouse Mansion is really amazing. The images are of Mouse Mansion, which has been hand made by the author and photographed for each part of the story. These books could be an introduction to the idea of chapter books, they are long, but each double page begins a new chapter in the book so you can easily stop and pick up where you left off. The images will keep non readers entertained and able to read their own story to themselves when they need to.

What's your favourite read this summer? 

Week 5: My Family and Me.

Five weeks into my family and me and this is still an easy challenge - even when my phone is still in la la land.

It was an easy choice this week. With Immy starting school for the first time we took so many photos that she asked if we could "Please just go to school".

We tested out the self timer on an app and managed to get a photo of all of us.

There were no tears from Immy (or me) and the the first morning went off without a hitch. I was a bit lost with what to do with myself for Thursday and Friday but next week I am back at work so the days will soon be overflowing with to do lists.

I hope all those having a return to school, kinder, creche or work had a tear free kick off!


And now the linky for those playing along this week:

I had one very basic thought...

We spent Sunday at the beach. Just packed the car with a moments notice, drove an hour and plonked ourselves on the sand for the whole day.

We stayed until tea time, ate fish and chips and then drove home and put the kids to bed.

This week, Immy will start school. Deep inside I have those 'my baby is growing up' feelings.

I loved baby hood. I loved my babies. I struggled through Popps' nightmarish non sleeping years but still was pig in shit happy to have a baby.

On Sunday as we sat at the beach, a very family orientated beach, and I looked around at all the families still in the baby hood years, I had one very basic thought.

THANK FUCK THAT IS NOT ME.

There was the Mum in the car park changing the toddler in the back of the car, at that age when they don't really fit in the back of the car and really don't want to be changed.

There were Dads dragging strollers backwards across the sand, because we all know it drags on two wheels backwards best.

Mums of tiny babies with 45 bags surrounding them.

There was the Dad who asked his little boy if he needed to do a wee. The toddler nodded. Dad picked him up and had not remembered that those swimming nappies are no good for keeping in wee. Dad needed a quick swim.

Beside us was the cutest bubba boy happily playing in the sand, except when he needed to be lathered in suncream and the 47 moments his mum tried to tie his hat back on.

A baby covered in designer togs kept her parents up and about by crawling straight into the water over and over while they tried to build castles with an older child.

At afternoon nap time there was a big exodus of families, heading home for nap time.

But me?

I walked on the beach with the girls, we laid around on our towels and ate lamingtons. Mr H and Popps went walking around the rocks while Immy and I built a castle for a snake made of seaweed. We buried Immy and made her a mermaid. When the beach cooled down we drove to the next town, played at the park, ate fish and chips, played some more and finally drove home.

Days like this never happened when we were in babyhood. Or if they did, they required much more organisation from me, much more stress, more thought about the needs of the baby.

Babies are so sweet and lovely and gorgeous. They are hope, they are fun, they give so so much. Babies are hard work.

Little girls are also sweet and lovely and gorgeous. They are hope, they are fun, they give so so much. Little girls are not quite so much hard work.

So when I wave my baby off to school this week, I will be sad. I will be thinking about how she is taking a teeny step into a new world where so many other people will be there to influence her and I won't always be there to protect her.

But there are good times ahead, and I won't be carrying a nappy bag or pushing a pram during them.

Week 4: #MyFamilyandMe Broken Phone

At only week four of my personal #MyFamilyandMe challenge I have hit trouble.

Two words: DEAD PHONE.

My trusty pal, my extra limb, my life in my palm, she simply curled up her toes, switched herself off and will not be returning. I have lost my contacts, my photos that were not backed up and my connections to the world outside my home.

It's not such a bad thing. I can't check my work emails, facebook accounts, twitter, blogs, readers, ebay, text messages, instagram, and no one can call me. I have found many extra hours in the day.

So this week, my photo is a little more arty farty. It's me, it's my family, but we are faceless, I am but a shadow, capturing the moment on this magical day. The Halls Gap fires were still burning, but we visited the Halls Gap zoo and had the entire place to ourselves. We walked the with zoo keepers and got to feed and pet animals like no one else does. We got to feed ALL the deer, but these wallabies were a particular favourite. We feed them for half an hour and they sat quietly while the girls patted them and tried to coax joeys out of pouches.

It will be a couple of weeks until my phone is fixed, if you need me, you will need to act like it is 1984 and send a letter or use the home phone - if you still have one!


I love seeing all the images on instagram each week. Please remember that if you have a private account I am unable to see your images, you would need to tag me with my instagram name @Claireyhewitt and let me follow you for me to see them (not necessary but I don't want people to think I am not seeing their pics!)


Linky is open for those that like to link up.

Week 3: #MyFamilyandMe The Grampians

It's been a really big week.

Our holiday at Halls Gap has been interrupted by mother nature who became very feisty and unleashed her anger at the Grampians, causing a heatwave and fires that you don't want to be near.

To escape the heat we spent wonderful days by the water, at pools and lakes but once the fires began it was time to leave.

We had to change the plans to celebrate Popps' 8th birthday, but there was still a cake to finish the day.

It's been a week of broken car air conditioner's, driving away from fires, trying to keep cool during 45 degree days and celebrating.

And moments of me and the girls just doing the everyday. Probably the best moments. This year, they are here in full colour, not glossy professional shots, but our moments, captured forever.

For more about this yearly challenge read the My Family and Me details.

Week 2: #MyFamilyandMe The Pinnacle

It's Week 2 of #MyFamilyandMe and I am thrilled that I have made it through the challenge so far. Only 50 weeks to go.

This week we took a little walk. A walk that was going to be one where we drove to a carpark and took the short cut walk to the top of the mountain, but then the guy at the Adventurers R Us shop where we went to grab a new back pack suggested we really should try the full walk.

Make sure you go through the Grand Canyon he said. Don't miss the best bits he said. Stop as you go and you will find it easy he said.

So we did.

It is the middle of summer and it is really hot, we probably didn't have enough water with us but we had a few packs of sultanas and some Monte Carlo biscuits and we also had the promise that anyone who makes it up and back without whinging gets a DOUBLE CONE ice cream.

Up we went, over rocks, through rocks, under rocks, slipping on rocks,

Stopping for the usual photo. The type we usually take of just one of us or just the kids.

I seemed to be the weakest link and had to take a selfie to try and show what I was climbing through. During this section the girls were yelling out "Dad's bum won't fit through here!"  I was just thankful they were not yelling that Mum's bum wouldn't fit through.

See the crack of light down low behind me, that is where we came through.

We climbed and climbed, ate sultanas, rested, ate more sultanas and gazed at all the lizards.

We got to the top and Mr H made the effort and asked another couple to take a photo of us. Of course they were happy to do so and he returned the favour for them.

So here we are, week two and there is another photo for our yearly album that includes us all.

Exhausted, untidy. Together.

The Pinnacle Mountain climb (long scenic version) was 5.45kms.

Three Hours return.

It all ended with double scoops.

Link up if you are playing along on a blog, or use #MyFamilyandMe on Instagram.