And i’m feeling good…

What an incredible year it has been and it has barely started.

I feel alive and energised and excited. Also overwhelmed and chaotic and crazy, but I don’t think you can have one without the other. But unlike in the past, it doesn’t worry me as much.

So, what’s going on… Lots!

We are finally building our house – can’t wait to have space and light and more than 2 friends over.
I am the new Ethics Coordinator for our primary school. We already have 5 teachers, soon to be 6 and I need to recruit 6 more – eek!
I am taking on my fitness, diet and health with the Michelle Bridges 12 week body transformation. I need and love structure so I think this will work.
We as a family are doing the Mothers Day Classic 8km walk/run. So proud to be participating in this for the first time.
My photography business is going great and getting better and I am so excited about my new branding, which is taking a little longer than expected. All my fault because I need it to be perfect – ha ha.

So, big year and it will only get better, and busier.

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Celebrations of time passing

Now that I’m not a kid anymore the excitement of my approaching birthday is not as great as it was.  Other things get in the way – work, kids, family, etc.  and unless it is a birthday ending in a zero, it often passes with a card, a candle and a lot of hugs and kisses from little ones.  Not that that is a bad thing, and many of mine have passed wonderfully this way.  But this year I wanted MORE!  I wanted to really celebrate with family and friends and make a big deal of it.  At this age I feel more at peace with myself and my life than ever before and the people in my life are there for the long haul.

I invited 7 of my long time girlfriends to a night away – away from kids, husbands, responsibilities and commitments.  Six of us made it to the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley which was the perfect spot with a 3 bedroom villa, pool and spa.  What more could we want?  Dinner at Leaves and Fishes with very attentive service, great food and an even more fabulous discount.

Short but sweet, filled with chat, swims, coffee, wine, bubbly, laughter, and stimulating conversation.  Thank you girls.  Who’s next?

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No showers for 4 days and other camping stories

Our first ever family easter camping adventure.  I declare it a success.  Great weather, two great families to share the excitement, horses, wildlife, morning coffees, open fires and one hour from home.  Perfect.  Yes, there were the crowds, the lack of showers and toilets, cold nights, sausage stealing kookaburras and under catering on wine, but what’s camping without the downside?

Our fabulous campsite, right on the creek.The days were warm and the nights were cool which meant the creek was the source of many an adventure.All six kids were desperate to ride the horses and with 200 on the property, it was an easy wish to fulfill.  We were given Muriel and Dice, the oldest and second oldest horses.  They knew the routine well and tried it on by eating grass at every opportunity.  My arm still feels the strain!  We could not wipe the grins off the kids faces.My little cowgirls!The Valley is private land, so camp fires were allowed.  Many marshmallows were consumed after great searching and whittling of the perfect cooking sticks.We were invited to a neighbouring campsite for brekkie damper, but next time we will remember to bring our own.  Delicious!Daddy was a great camp worker.I think this was the guy that stole our sausage!One of the highlights was watching the evening muster.The last camp trip of the season.  A perfect way to celebrate easter, my birthday and to catch up with friends.  The kids had a ball and did not ask for technology once.  They were happy to play, explore, run, swim, build, observe, ride and talk, and talk, and talk…Oh, and our favourite tent at the campground!A few lessons learnt:  bring more wine, bring warmer bedding, don’t forget the coffee pot, invest more money in a mattress!  But definitely return to this magical place.

 

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My twin boys

I am surprised by how much I love them, by what a joy they are to have around.  I am a dog person, or at least I thought I was.  But we’re not getting a dog (yet) and so working from home, the cat company is great.

I actually only see Licorice Snake (left) during the day.  He hovers, jumps on my lap, sits on the windowsill next to me and generally chats to me with a “mew” throughout the day.  Sooty (right) is gone – very independent, out monitoring the perimeter.  Such different boys, but both so loving and tolerant and happy to be in our family I think, rather than in the alley where they were found.  They are 10 months old now, and have been with us for 7 of them – still my/our little baby boys.

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52 Portraits Project – 25/52

They are coming fast now… Welcome to week twenty-five of my 52 Portraits Project.  If you have missed the earlier weeks start at week 1 here, which includes more information about the project.

25/52. Rockstar.  Yes you are! You strum that ukulele like it’s your very own electric guitar. Best Christmas gift ever Grandma. The hair suits it well. We’ll have to get a few playing tips, but in the mean time keep rocking it baby!

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52 Portraits Project – 24/52

Still in the middle of school holidays and all that means for my tasks!  Welcome to week twenty-four of my 52 Portraits Project.  If you have missed the earlier weeks start at week 1 here, which includes more information about the project.

24/52. Competition.  At the moment it seems like everything is a competition for you two. Who is better, who gets more, who do we love more, who will win. I love your competitive spirit, your go hard or go home attitude. I do hope that one day you will realise that working together rather than against each other will be more satisfying. Not just as sisters, but also in life.

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52 Portraits Project – 23/52

I am playing catch-up.  The festive season and the school holidays have played havoc with my posting schedule!  But, finally, welcome to week twenty-three of my 52 Portraits Project.  If you have missed the earlier weeks start at week 1 here, which includes more information about the project.

23/52. Camping. Our first ever family camping trip. It was a massive success. Miraculously we fit everything in the car, including the new tent, stove and camp table & stools. There were 9 adults, 10 kids and a fair few ducks. You and the kids held a vigil for the dying duckling but alas the kookaburra got it in the end. Perhaps its kids were hungry, you said. You floated upstream on your boogie board and ran around like a crazy thing, and then 10 of you practiced your yoga moves on fence posts – very impressive. You said the best thing about camping was that you felt free. I see many more camp trips in our future.

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Happy, happy, happy 2013

After a bit of a break we are back and sadly say farewell to the festive season.  Now the summer holidays really begin.  So much to share about plans for this fabulous new year so stay tuned.  In the meantime, a wish to all our family, friends, clients, supporters, readers…

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Merry Christmas

Life has caught up with me, and now that we are on holidays and today is the end of the world, I thought I would go out with a bang – a Christmas message.

So from our family to yours, our wish is that you find the joy in every day, be grateful for every moment and live an extraordinary life.

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52 Portraits Project – 22/52

Welcome to week twenty-two of my 52 Portraits Project.  If you have missed the earlier weeks start at week 1 here, which includes more information about the project.

22/52. Beauty. The technician and the talent. This speaks so much of who you both are right now. Experimenting with big girls toys and relishing in the process and the result. Have fun, but always know it’s what you already are that is the most beautiful.

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