Paint Paint Paint!

Prepping to paint the hall and theatre room.

Yep you read that right, paint paint paint!

These past few weeks this has been my house. We've been painting every single nook and cranny inside our little beauty.

Oh yes she is sparkling like new, but oh my! I have emptied every single built in cupboard in the house. That's one in every room and two extra large ones in the hall. We've moved furniture backwards and forwards and I've pretty much filled our garage with items that I need to decide what to do with.

Basically we have all but moved house these past few weeks and I have a mountain of sorting left to do. For now though I can simply shut the garage door and pretend that it isn't there ;-)

The painters have now moved on to the outside of the house nd we can begin to get on with our regular life as we know it.

That includes some much needed blog updates.

Hope to see you all real soon!

Happy Homeschooling,
Kylie

Morning Routine Chart

This simple little chart has made our morning much smoother since we have been using it, this past week.

It's been one of those little things that I had been meaning put together for so long, a 2 minute job, something quite insignificant really, but something that just never got done.

Why oh why do we do this to ourselves?!

Now, instead of me rattling these words off every morning to the kids, "have you brushed your hair, your teeth, made your bed, tidied up your room", now I simply remind them to check their "I Have" chart, plain, simple, easy.

Should of done this two years ago!

I'm not sure this will be of use to anyone but you can grab a copy via this link.

Our First Big Achievement For 2011

We're barely into the new year and already we have a huge accomplishment in the house.

C has been using his potty!! YAY!!

This is a huge step forward for him (and me, my baby disappearing before my eyes) considering he has known what to do in this department since he was just 12 months old.  During that time he could tell me constantly when he was 'weeing' and 'pooing' but I could never persuade him to use the toilet or the potty. And (maybe a little gross for some point coming) could wee in a cup or similar device in the shower.

No big deal, we don't really do 'toilet training' here anyway, they all end up going on their time, we big folk really have no control over that and why should we? All toilet training does is cause stress for both parties I think.

I'm not a fan of potty's, I think they are pretty disgusting really. B used one when he was first learning (he was close to 3.5 before he got it), but K never did (she was 2 and caught on it so quickly I can't even remember the process), it seems that C will also be a potty user for the time being anyway. We have 2 of them and with our recent sunny days and frequent use of the pool I thought I would leave them out near the pool area. As we all know, with any 2 year old there is always loads of weeing going on after swimming....the perfect opportunity to suggest the potty.

On this particular day (just after new year) he made the suggestion super easy on my behalf when he came to me whilst swimming to let me know that 'poo poo' was coming out. Oh superb! Getting him out of his floatation device swimmers is a mammoth feat in itself let alone when you are trying to rush because a poo is coming. We made it, with only a small smothering on the swimmers and the remainder in the potty, including two more wees later that day.

Finally he was able to tell us that he doesn't want anyone watching. Was that all the problem has been all this time!! Why aren't children born talking? I'm damn sure half our battles would never ocurr if they could just express themselves. Ok so he doesn't want us to watch, fine, we don't particulary want to watch either.

He much prefers to stand when weeing, which is equally fine, but the potty he prefers is relatively shallow as far as potty's go, hence a good deal of wee splashes over the edges and onto the floor. He is not bothered by this at all and will quite happily grab some toilet paper to help clean it up.

After the 3rd wee this morning, and he and I using nearly a full roll of toilet paper cleaning up the splashes, I casually suggested that we really need to try and keep the wee in the potty and his response, "But I can't Mum"! all I could do was agree with him and laugh on the inside.


Potty training for him is not awful, scary or a time when he gets in trouble for making a mess, it is a time of change, growing up, learning new things and growing towards independence (even if deep down I want to keep him as my baby forever).

He is so proud when he comes to tell me that he has 'finished' and after the clean up and the hand washing he's on his merry way, with a smile on his face, as he always has.

Looks like it is going to be a great year ahead.

K Turns 6!!

My baby girl turned 6 nearly a fortnight ago and I am only just getting around to sharing some photo's. You really have to have a quick look at a couple of her 5th Birthday photo's and wow has she grown up or what! She really is blossoming, and this past year has seen her mature so much. Our relationship is growing in leaps and bounds, as her maturity levels grows with her. She is so funny and makes us laugh every day. Even though she's 6 she still very much loves lots of kisses and cuddles from mum and dad.

Happy 6th Birthday Our Beautiful Girl!

We can pretty much brush all of her curls out now, although just add some water and finger scrunching and we can still find them again too.

This dress is from Spain. Her grandparents took a trip there recently and arrived home only a few weeks before K's Birthday. She decided that she wouldn't wear the dress (except for a few try on's here and there) until her birthday.

Now that's when you know they are growing up, when they can resist something so adorable and love so much, see it hanging in their wardrobe daily for over 2 weeks and not pull it out and wear it.

Since last year all of the kiddo's had big full on birthday's this year we decided to keep them small and more casual.

Grandma did up a great treasure hunt that finished with a pass the parcel, thanks Grandma!

We had a spot of crafting for those that wanted to participate.

They made tissue paper covered, recycled milk jug baskets, with pony beads on a pipe cleaner for the handle. Thanks Pink and Green Mamma for the inspiration.

Of course it wouldn't be a birthday without some yummy cake, delightful friends and some gifts to enjoy.

A nice quiet but enjoyable morning.....I just can't believe she's SIX!!!!

Gateway Bridge Opening

Yesterday we went for a walk, a long walk, over a long and very high bridge. It was the offical opening of the 2nd Gateway Bridge in Brisbane. Yes we already have one but ou little city has outgrown that one and we have desperately needed another for a few years. Finally it is here.


None of these photo's are very good or exciting, too busy being bustled by crowds and watching out for the children to worry about photo's really. We drove and parked at a designated parking area and caught a free shuttle bus to the edge of the bridge.


Thankfully it was a cool, overcast day otherwise it would have be an awful walk in the heat. If you click on this image and enlarge it you can kinda see the huge sea of people making their way to the top. I believe they estimated to have 157 000 people walk the bridge, more than double than what they had anticipated. Even though there were alot of people there it was still a good walk, there was room and no one was being squished.


They had children's artwork lining the walls of bridge and many large poster type signs showing photo's of the work and giving small bits of information. This one has some statistics on the materials that I thought was quite interesting.


How far things have come. 4 years to complete the first bridge but only 2 years for the second one, that's not bad going.


Dad carried little C up and over the bridge in our Ergo so he had a great ride. Once we were headed down for the last time he got out and had a blast, jumping in every hole, looking over the fence (he obviously had to be lifted) every few metres or so. Hence it took us much longer to get down then it did to walk up, but that was what they day was all about...the kids.


Here's a much nicer shot of the bridge, just imagine a second identical bridge running right alongside.

Little C had a day of many firsts too, his first time in a bus, his first walk over a very large bridge (I think a first for all of us) and we also took a drive through Brisbane's new Clem 7 Tunnel, it goes under the Brisbane River, this was a first for all of the kids. So in one day we went over the river and under the river.

Inquisitive Minds or Can Mummy Not Even Visit The Bathroom Without You Getting Into A Mess!!!!

Yes that was all I was doing when I left C playing quietly on the floor with some toys and a puzzle. He appeared very engaged at the time so I snuck away to visit the bathroom. You know us mums do need to visit there once in a while and yes we would prefer to actually go on our own if at all possible!

As soon I got out I called C as he wasn't in the same spot I left him, just a few minutes earlier. I headed down to the kids rooms as that is where he normally goes so he can play with all of their things. No not there. I called again heading back up to our bedroom right at the other end of the house only to find him heading for me, looking like this.......





Yes that is my one and only lipstick that I actually wear and yes the entire tube is now empty. He had actually managed to go on a bit of a lipstick rampage during those few minutes.

Lipstick covered rocking horse.

Lipstick on the coffee table.

Lipstick on the lounge.

And even lipstick on the vacuum.

At least though after a shower and a scrub he was more than happy to help clean it all up. (lipstick is very hard to get off the skin and you can still see the faint remains on his cheeks and around his eyes) Thank goodness for my Grease removing Enjo gloves, I needed nothing but them and water. Now you gotta love that! The lounge was the hardest to remove it from and I don't think I have it all yet, but I'll keep working on it!

Sun, Surf, Sand

I know I haven't been around much these past few days I've been busy with the family. Busy sitting in the sand and watching my brood. Oh and I've been taking lots of these too!

Now don't you worry we haven't been completely slacking off (although taking holidays when we want is definitely a plus for homeschooling) we've been non stop since we got here but this is just a quick hello. I'll post more photo's in a few days time when we return home.

Happy 8th Birthday

Where have these past 8 years gone?

We all (especially B) had a very memorable and super fun 8th birthday but I'm completely and utterly exhausted so this is all I have time for now. I'll post a birthday update with lots of pics and all of the fun he got up to very soon.

Happy 1st Birthday Little CBub

Our little baby turned 1 this week, what a bittersweet moment for us. He is just growing up ever so fast.

If you want to see everything he got up to for his birthday you'll need to vist our family blog.

Happy 5th Birthday K

Our little K turned 5 today, if you'd like to see what she got up to for her birthday you'll have to jump over to our Family Blog.

Must Be Doing Something Right, Maybe!

Just a little mummy brag here ;)

Not only do I have 100% confidence in leaving B7 to play with and watch CBub (now 10 months) for the 5 or so minutes that I am in the shower every morning; he really is fabulous with him. But this morning I came out to find my bed made, perfectly (well no better than I would do anyway) and K4's bed made also (she sleeps in our room).

Isn't he just a wonderful son, really can you teach that kind of stuff, I'm certainly starting to wonder!!! He did proceed to run away though when I tried to give him a big hug and kiss for being so thoughtful.

Now you gotta love that. :) :)

Happy Mothers Day 09

Gee whizz I really am the luckiest mum in the world.

Aren't they just a gorgeous bunch!

It was lovely day today, beautiful weather, a yummy breakfast with Grandma and the family then we headed off down the coast to Kingscliff to see Nanny for the rest of the day.

The kids made the most of the glorious weather and spent some time on the beach. My guess is that was the last beach trip for the season. However we did little C a play as well, so that was his first real beach experience. The sun was a little glary for him and it doesn't help that he won't leave his hat on, but he really had fun.