Each and every moment

I could eat this for breakfast, snacks, dessert and even dinner sometimes. It’s one of my favourites lately. My FIL had me taste this digestive 1st cereal last holidays and I have since added it to my pantry staple. My kids are not allowed to touch the cereal as it is not cheap. So only mum and dad eats it (sometimes ethan tries to sneak a spoonful here and  there). I then discovered this Jalna Low fat creamy yoghurt which taste devine. Add a splash of soy milk with it and there I have it, a favourite snack or meal :-).

The cost total for all 3 items around $13.50, the cereal is quite chewy and full of goodness you only need a little bit of it. The cereal does last me a while and I just buy a new tub of yoghurt weekly.

Today we found out wonderful news. Dad (my father in law) and Cath will be getting married and it was confirmed today. Dad asked Cath’s dad for her hand in marriage and he said “yes”. Cath has accepted dad’s proposal so it’s all good.

Congratulations dad and Cath! We are thrilled.

Holidays have begun and I have been very nervous and busy organising all the activities that we (they) will be doing.

But I won’t get into that for the moment, I am sure I’ll post about holidays and so on in the coming (3) weeks!.

Pray for me! I need it!

Well tonight, the kids have gone camping.

Beanies - Check

Torch - Check

Warm jumpers - Check

Shoes- Check

Excitment – Check

but not the baby …. he does not like anything on his head or Lachlan telling him what to do.

We all went bush walking, we went to see if we could see any night animals. We saw the beautiful stars and the moon. I just could not get the camera in the right mode. So the picture of the moon just does not look like the moon I saw tonight.

Time to get the sleeping bags from the garage

By this stage Ethan was happy and was keen to get in the sleeping bag.

What you lookin’ at Isa?

Isabelle and Dylan told stories. Mum was not allowed to watch masterchef because when you go camping there is no electricty. But I am here right now blogging (so get that). I just loved it as we just talked, marty and I had cuppas, we opened the blinds to see if we could see the stars, I heard one the kids say “I love camping”, Isa complained that there was not enough space (so I was booted), lachlan wanted to get his teddies, Dylan is worried that a (the) mouse will come out at night and get him and they are still in their day clothes (woops)!.

Marty laid down with the kids and they were soon asleep. Ethan is the one with the hood on his head.

Happy (home) camping kids. See you in the morning

They call it weight watchers? Well I call it winter weight.

I’v had too much of this

and not enough of this

so now I have to go on this

*sigh*

This morning Martin and I got breakfast in bed. We did not ask, bribe or request this very thoughtful gesture from our older 2 children. It happened and took us by surprise.

Isabelle came in with a piece of toast with jam on single bread plates for each of us. Then came back and asked if we would like some fruit salad as well. I think Dylan assisted in the process but I am so sure the idea was Isabelle’s

I have never had a 7 year old in the house before but I have to say that I am loving it. I am loving having older children in the house (except their fighting ! I am determined to do some research on how to deal with this). But otherwise, it is great!.

She seems to be going through a “why” stage at the moment. She doesn’t just say “why” like a 2-3 year old. She actually will ask specific questions about specific issues. I do try and answer her questions and do enjoy talking to her and having conversations.

I am trying to get organised enough so I can spend quality time with Isabelle. I’d really like to let her do her own recipe book.

Both my parents are good cooks. My dad a sushi chef and my mum a professional cake maker when I was younger. But I have no recipes passed on to me. I have recently tried to cook a little more so have a few recipes I can pass onto her already.

I would love for her to have something she can remember me by one day.

Dylan got 2 school merit awards at school within 3 weeks this term. I am just thrilled for him for getting the awards. Every Friday the school gives merit awards to 2 kids from each grade for different things that the teacher feels the child has demonstrated well in the last week or last few weeks.

The first award Dylan received was for being kind and thoughtful with his prayer request. I must admit he is much thoughtful in what he prays about at the kitchen table and at bedtime prayers.

This picture was his first merit award with his teacher Mrs Gawthorne in the red handing the certificates out. He did not want to take a photo with his certificate so I don’t have a close up. Is a teachers pet actually true? If so, Dylan may just qualify for this title. But seriously, he does listen and does as he is told which earns him good favour from his teacher.

The second award he received last Friday was for having well presented and well prepared news items.

Isabelle and Dylan have to do news items every Tuesday and it is a stressful time for me!  Yes, me ! the mum. It is even more stressful lately because most weekends we have been staying home or just going around to the local park or river. But Dylan is very good he has the ability to think for himself  and present news without my help (at times). For news that involve research which has been given from the teacher. Martin get’s involved and I must give him credit. He helps the kids with all the pictures and the visual aids needed.

We were thrilled that daddy was able to come and see Dylan get the merit awards.

Isabelle also received a merit award this term for working hard to complete her work. I am also very proud of Isabelle. She had a rocky start to Kindy, struggled through Year 1 and she is now trying harder than ever to do her best in year 2. We are seeing the fruits starting to form and prayerfully she will be at par with everyone else by the end of the year.

The boys were happy to take photos before assembly began.

I did try and get a shot of Myself, Lachlan and Isabelle but it just didn’t work out that way. Somehow, I think Isabelle is over the whole photo thing after a merit award.

As I was walking back with the pram from school. Isabelle’s award ended up in the hands of Lachlan.

There was scissors underneath the pram (I don’t know how or why). Lachlan thought he would practice his cutting skills on her award. So there is a big chunk missing and I have not had the heart  to tell her yet. I guess if she reads my blog she will know then.

Marty mentioned that I should post the recipe for spinach cobb that I make sometimes for parties. I don't know why as only my friends read my blog.

Anyway here it is, it is impressive, simple and taste awesome

1 packet frozen spinach (defrosted) or fresh (1/2 a bunch I’ll say or however much you want)

1 pack sour cream

1 packet french onion soup

1 bread cobb

1 C tasty cheese

1. Mix spinach , sour cream, soup mix, cheese and microwave on high for 2 minutes.

2. Cut the cobb and scoop the insides. Scatter the inside of the bread around the side of the cobb.

3. Spoon the spinach mixture in the cobb and bake until crunchy at 180 degrees

Yumm

I demonstrated it for a cooking class for church one night and I made one for my kids dinner. He he

They eat anything.

Haven’t posted for a while, have got plenty to post about.

Just for the moment I need to post about how incredibly blessed I am to have my 4 children (yes honey your special to me too, but this is not your moment). My children are my world………….

I feel like I have so little time with them on this earth and so little time to teach them, train them, love them, be with them, hold them, kiss them, tickle them, read to them, sit with them, sing with them, dance with them, dress them, bath them, watch movies with them, listen to music with them, read the bible with them, pray with them, cut their hair, tie hair, listen to them, hear their stories, play with their toes, watch them, whisper to them, marvel at them, cuddle them, take them here and there, wipe their tears, prepare projects with them, do homework with them, push them on the swing, slide with them, walk with them, run with them, fly with them, laugh with them, cry with them and the other 101 things I need to do with them.

Time seems to be travelling very fast and yes they often drive me nuts to the point where I want to run in the closet, close the door, cover my ears and tell them to just go away. But I don’t want to look back and miss it, I missed my chance. I have to give it my all …. because for now they want me. They let me do all these things with them. One day they will be grown and perhaps the 101+ things will be reduced down to 2 digits, so for now I have to try my hardest to soak in every moment I have with them.

Them are are my world and I love them so much.