Holiday shenanigans

Spy girls

There are spy girls creeping around our house wearing advanced technology bracelets. Look down and you might find a tracking device has been planted on your sleeve, or your pants.

Also — The Quilt Project is now online. We went along last night to the showing at the (magical) Abbotsford Convent and it was quite moving. Kirsty’s amazing – and so was the quilt.

Seven is my lucky number

My girl is tucked up in bed with a fever after having spent her birthday driving back in the car from NSW feeling lousy. Not much of a birthday. She came home to find a new (second hand!) desk and lots of lovely stationery to fill its drawers but she was too tired and sick to enjoy it.

I can hardly believe she turned seven today. I am so lucky to know her and her kind heart.

Happy Birthday Miss Amelia. xox

Bird Brain

I’m afraid to say that I have caught the birding bug. It’s pretty hard to avoid around here… today we saw a Black Fronted Dotterel and my day was made.  But now my brother and sister-in-law have just arrived and we’ve cracked open a block of coconut chocolate, the kettle is on, the fire is crackling and the playful insults are already flying so I better go and join in the fun.

Saturday night pasta

There’s nothing like a deliciously creamy pasta dish when you are bone tired. All the better if someone else is cooking. Phil’s specialty is a weekend favourite he has nicknamed “Heart Clog” which is actually Jamie Oliver’s Farfalle with Carbonara and Spring Peas. Totally delicious.

We had a birthday party for Amelia’s school chums today and I am so tired tonight that I have made an annoying animated gif.

Hmm. Annoyed yet? Here’s something soothing:

Left over musk sticks from the party bags. Yummo.

Kitchen table drama

This afternoon: Marshmallow bunny factory

This evening: School project 11th hour

Yesterday: Paper dolls

Last night: Testing every felt tip marker in the house and throwing out the duds.

Happy Father’s Day

To all the Greatest Dads in the Universe. Have a fabulous, chocolate-croissant-laden, socks’n'underpants-gifted Father’s Day.

Stepmothers – Meg needs you!

Are you one of those wondrous creatures who has taken on the role of stepmother? Or do you know anyone who fits the bill? If so, my lovely and talented friend Meg would love to speak to you.

“The best books i have read on the issue of step-parenting have all been from the 70s and early 80s. I am wanting to document the modern stepmother’s experience, particularly as the laws have changed more in favour of the biological dads, which directly impacts stepmothers.”

If you are interested in being interviewed for this project, you can find more information on Meg’s blog, and contact her at megland [at] gmail [dot] com. All conversations will be kept confidential.

Thanks to Meg, PJ and Z for the use of the image. xx

I love Lucy

The girls have gone through the fence for a play with the neighbours so the house is suddenly very quiet and very empty… apart from the mess! I started to tidy things up and found this in Amelia’s school bag. Lucy is a reoccurring character around these parts. There have been stories about building tree houses, going to school, dealing with a little sister and so on. I was happy to see our heroine in heart-shaped glasses busting stereotypes again in her most recent adventure. Go Lucy!

Werribee, 11.30am

Werribee Open Plains Zoo – it was a perfect day for checking out the animals. We even had to wear sunscreen.

My favourite part was watching the beautiful female lions have a snack, with a little growl accompanying each mouthful. I only felt slightly nervous that Lily wove her way right to the front of the crowd and watched with her nose pushed against the fence. The girl knows no fear.

My least favourite part was standing in line about to board the tour bus only to have Lily say “I need to do a wee!” followed by me hoisting her onto my hip and running (staggering) my way through the zoo to the bathroom and back just in time, cursing my too tight jeans and my general state of complete unfitness. I felt like one of those wooden hippos up there, only not smiling so much. Oh, of course! That’s why I feel completely wrecked tonight! I’m off to collapse on the couch and enjoy (seriously) some more old episodes of 30 Rock. Brilliant. Even better than the zoo.