Back To School

Happy 2015!!!! I hope you all had a magical Christmas and New Year break with your loved ones. We have taken some much needed time away as a family and I have come back feeling refreshed and re-energised to get back into things!

Many of you are sending little ones off to BIG school over the next few days and for some of you it may be bitter sweet in that you may have more time to yourself without a little one wanting your constant attention but bitter in that it means your baby is growing up and it is time to start letting go. I for one, get teary just thinking about the day I need to send my little man off to school and he is not even two yet! Lord, give me strength when the time comes!!! I am going to be one big mess :/

I cannot tell you how many times these holidays I have heard parents around the shops telling people 'Oh I can't wait for school to return!' or 'I am counting down the sleeps until they are back at school'.....While they have long faces, I chuckle to myself. Many parents are struggling for 6 weeks, thats only a fraction of what teachers deal with day in day out 10-12 weeks at a time but multiply that by 20-30 students at a time! In saying that I know that many of these same parents do treasure the holiday time with their children, doing activities that they normally wouldn't do, making memories to last a lifetime.

From a teachers perspective back to school means so so much....it means starting fresh, decorating your classroom, getting to know 20-30 odd students and all about their strengths and weaknesses and quirks! It means getting back into the rhythm, planning, programming, implementing, reporting just to name a few. It means starting a new little classroom family and growing and learning together :)

From a mother's perspective, my heart aches. It aches for those first time mammas sending their first born, second or last born off to school for their first day of kindergarten....some days when things at home are not so easy us mammas can't wait until our little one starts school but when that day comes it is hard beyond words to explain how much your heart hurts.
That little person you have nurtured, protected, nourished, soothed and loved to pieces is now a little independent kindergarten in a BIG school uniform with a school bag as big as them starting their very first day. As a mamma you pray for so many different things for your little one about to enter a different chapter in life.

So, here is a prayer to help all those mammas out there who have a little one starting BIG school, a new school, high school or simply just starting another new year at school.....the words to this prayer are perfectly written, they made me cry and most importantly touched my heart. Thinking of all you mammas out there xx

Better Late Than Never....

I know I am a few days behind but this festive season caught me a little off guard and snuck up on me! So from my little family to yours, I hope you had a magical and memorable Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! We had an amazing day with family and seeing my little man's big brown eyes light up all day and night with everything Christmas just made our day that extra special. I have always loved Christmas (and any other celebration through the year!) but with our little man around things just seem so much more amazing and make me feel so very blessed!

I also wanted to stop by and let you know that things will be quiet on the blog and fb front as we are going on a much awaited for family holiday to relax and spend some quality time together making memories! Once we return and life returns back to normal I will be sure to do a photo dump of all the happenings we have had going on lately!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, may it bring love and happiness xx

Sydney Sadness......

Today has been a sad and heart breaking day in Sydney, a day that will forever be in our hearts and never forgotten.

I have no words to explain the sickening feeling I had yesterday when it was announced that numerous hostages had been taken and were being held against their will in a Lindt cafe in our renowned Martin Place. 

Early this morning I simply could not sleep. I tossed and turned all night thinking of what those poor innocent victims and their loved ones must be experiencing. I decided to get up and switched on the t.v and was shocked at what I saw unfold. Two precious, innocent lives lost. Several injured but free hostages. Their lives will never be the same again. 

I have lit a candle for those involved and for those two lives lost in such horrific circumstances. It has been the only thing I can think to do as I pray with all my heart that those who survived and their families can find the strength in God to get through the hard times they still have to face.

With a heavy heart thinking about what has happened in Sydney, I will hold my little man closer and tighter tonight....light a candle, say a prayer and hold your loved ones near.

A link I found through Retro Mummy on the Mass that took place at St Mary's Cathedral today for the victims....heartfelt and touching, it really hit a chord with me.

End Of Year Christmas Gift

Each year as Term 4 comes to a close I like to give my students a gift, acknowledging their hard work through the year. As I have a number of students on my books I can only give each one something small otherwise it would become an expensive exercise! The last two years I have given the Smartie Pants gift. I used it back when I was teaching my Year 1's and have used it with my tuition students the last two years. It is always such a hit with parents and children alike!

This year I have been super busy and time just passed me by, before I knew it the final two weeks of the term was upon us. After perusing so many cute ideas on Pinterest I decided to go with the cute little reindeer idea and so far it has been a hit with both the little ones and older ones!

The idea was so simple and easy to make. After finding a stencil of a reindeer, I outlined it onto green board drew on eyes and a smile and finally cut out the nose. Then with a a piece of tape, I stuck a strawberry flavoured Chupa Chup to the back and created Rudolph! Not the most creative gift this year but it definitely had the cute factor!

Elf On The Shelf

Well it finally arrived! Our Elf on the Shelf bundle landed on our door step yesterday afternoon and boy was I excited! I have been patiently waiting so that we can start this little tradition with our main man and now I can get into teacher mode and have some fun with it :)

I purchased the boy Elf for our little guy and then purchased the girl version for our sweet Goddaughter and her little sister as part of their Christmas present. I purchased these two bundles from here as they had the quickest delivery time for the start of Christmas but you can purchase from numerous online stores within Australia.

The story behind the Elf on the Shelf is a simple one....to keep the magic of Christmas alive!
The story and product were created by a mother-daughter team. The idea is that this clever little Elf is Santa's eyes and ears and he/she reports back to Santa each night to let him know if they have been naughty or nice. Each morning the Elf is waiting in a different location around the house keeping an eye on the comings and goings in the house. You can read more about the Elf on the Shelf tradition here.

Stay tuned to discover what adventures our little Elf goes on in the lead up to Christmas! There is even an app you can download to help you get some inspiration

A Little Bit Of Everyday....

I have been a little MIA lately and for that I apologise. This has been one heck of a year for us......seems like when it rains, it pours for us and it has been for many months.

I have procrastinated for so very long about posting another blog post. Countless times I had begun writing a new post and just as soon as I had written a few lines I deleted it. Can't really tell you why because I am not so sure myself. We are going through a lot here in our neck of the woods, I am feeling pulled in so many different directions and truth be told, I just haven't been able to focus on much else.
I am in a funny place in that I think I am trying to find myself I guess you could say! I am getting close to turning 30 and looking back on what I have achieved so far has had me wondering, questioning, evaluating and reflecting......a midlife crisis I have been saying! Haha!

So this post is simply to touch base, say 'hello' and let you all know I haven't forgotten about my little blog, I have just been a little pre-occupied..

I thought I'd share some everyday photos of our adventures lately.....not all that exciting but might help me get back into the swing of posting a little more consistently.

We spent a fair amount of time at my parents beautiful home and made a sweet Jesus-inspired Halloween craft.

We have been devouring the most divine pizzas in Australia.....made by my amazing and talented husband at his  Pizzeria.....and we have been rejuvenating with some yummy fresh juices while baking cupcakes and cookies!

We have pottered in the garden and had our first rose and gardenia of the season bloom! We also have harvested some of home grown produce :)

We have enjoyed unseasonably hot Spring days wading in our little pool and re-organising our playroom!

When I look back and reflect on these photos I get reminded that life is good and life is precious....I am so very blessed....savour and cherish each day x

Tearing For Toddlers

Okay, so I have been a little quiet on the blog front......actually that is an understatement, I have been a terrible blogger lately! Sorry to those of you who check in regularly only to find no updates :(
I could say I have been super crazy busy (which is true, we have ALOT going on personally at the moment but then so does everyone!) or I could say I have been more exhausted than usual (which also is true for so many reasons I can't even begin to explain!) but to be brutally honest.....I am a perfectionist.
I have procrastinated posting a blog simply because I wanted it to be perfect....I wanted the perfect picture and the perfect post to go with the perfect pictures. But let's face it perfection is near impossible and nobody wants perfection. People want real.
So, I promise to try my very best to worry less about posting perfect pictures and worry more about just posting regular, real, meaningful posts :) Bare with me, as my friends and family will know that 'letting go' and just 'going with it' does not come easy to me! But for all of you, I will try ;)

Tonights post will be short and sweet (I hope!) Like many mammas out there I juggle many balls in the air when the bath/dinner/bedtime part of the evening hits....I have many little activities I whip out to keep my little guy buzzing busy so I can get dinner prepped, cooked and served. Recently I was perusing the wonderful world of google and came across an activity that managed to keep my little guy busy for a lot longer than I expected!

 I cut up strips of coloured paper,

supplied him with a tin dish....

 and let him tear to his hearts content!

This was such an easy and minimal prep activity that not only kept him entertained but helped encourage fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination.....fun and educational, it's a double win!