Day 181

Just a simple post for today ... a lovely, special day... all these good days are doing wonders :)

Very happy Friday all! x

Day 180 continues!

Just when you thought you'd seen the last of me today! :)  I just had to share the rest of our day... 

While Sam was at Kindy... I decided that as we would be having lunch when he got home anyway.. why not go for a picnic outside, instead of sitting at the kitchen bench like always! When Jacob and I picked up Sam, he was so excited to hear we were going on an adventure! I decided on Sandalford Winery... how is it possible that I've never taken my boys here before?! It's a 5 minute drive from our house and it's gorgeous :)

One day I'd love to come back by myself to take some photos (maybe I'll wait for the grapes to grow back :) I was holding Jacob with one arm and taking these photos with the other.. so I didn't get a chance to play with the settings too much.

Our little family has moved into another phase... and I'm really loving it. Jacob, as he is almost 1 (where DID that year go?!), is now on cows milk rather than formula, can eat most things by himself and can stay awake and handle being up a little longer. This all brings me much happiness!

You know how some people love the newborn stage, some people love the toddler stage  etc etc? Well for me, and I remember it so clearly with Sam also, I feel like I can breathe a little easier when we hit the 1 year mark... when the formula is no longer needed, when food doesn't have to be especially prepared earlier for baby, when we don't have to rush home for nap time....

And we are THERE... and I'm breathing easier :) 

Our little family is complete... oh boy, it feels so good! SO GOOD! This is probably why this last week I have been feeling extra fantastic. When I pack away a baby thing that Jacob has grown out of, it doesn't bring sadness that I'll never do the baby thing again (quite the opposite actually!!!!) ... it makes me so excited for our future... and the adventures to come with our two beautiful boys :)

So yeah... I'm feeling great and making the absolute most of this high while it lasts... till I come crashing down again when the usual routine grates on me and the challenge of raising children rears its head again! Life is a roller-coaster they say and ohhhhh boy is that true!

So.. back to our picnic!!! We set up our picnic blanket in view of the pond.. the boys loved it and so did I :) The weather was gorgeous, no one around us and we sat and and munched on Vegemite sandwiches and fruit...

Laying on the grass.... we even rolled down the hill... that was fun! :) Tonight, while doing the dishes my arms were really itchy, then I realised it was from the grass! hehe love it.. I can't remember the last time I got a grass rash! 

While Sam was rolling down the hill ... Jacob was content to sit and eat the fruit. Whenever we moved to a new location, Sam would look around, while Jacob would go to the bag and get out the fruit! 

Words do not describe.... my precious precious boys...

Good times.... good times :) xxx

Day 180

Sam has always had a knack of making Jacob laugh.. this was our morning while we waited to take Sam to Kindy... love it :) 

Have a wonderful, happy day all! x

Day 179

When I woke up this morning, I knew straight away that I wanted to do something fun with my boys.... go on an adventure together, get out of the house and do something different. After a quick google search for some animal parks.. we decided on Cohunu Koala/Wildlife Park in Byford. Oh this place! SO MUCH FUN!

It's just a small park but the staff were so friendly, it was a really chilled out place, where you could just roam around with the animals and I felt like we could all just wander around and take our time.. love love love :)

It was especially perfect for Jacob, as I could just let him wander around wherever he wanted to go...he really loved it, he laughed so much and was totally mesmerised by the animals.

I got a beautiful glimpse of my boys special relationship today... as they are getting older, day by day, they are really enjoying being with each other... Sam has really taken on the 'big brother' role and it made my heart want to burst with love when Sam would encourage Jacob to look at the animals, make sure he was okay and look out for him.

You could buy a bag of popcorn at the front desk to feed all the animals with... I was so proud of Sam, he was so gentle and made sure he gave a few pieces of popcorn to every animal he passed.

I think the kangaroo and wallaby area was my absolute favourite. I loved watching my boys just wander around and pat and feed them... it was so refreshing seeing them interact with the animals and be in nature without restrictions, time limits or interruption.... (this did not help to dull my desire to move to the country!!!)..

"Come on Buddy, let's go!"

This made me laugh so hard.. just like he did with the animals, Sam put some popcorn on the ground for Jacob...(don't worry, I did intervene!)

There was an area with bikes etc for the kids, so we had a little play here.  The rocking chair wasn't working, so Sam told Jakey that he would have a look to try and fix it.. when he couldn't see how to fix it he jumped on the back so that he could rock it for him... precious!

Sam was a little unsure of this dude! Once he realised he wasn't real, they became the best of friends...

It was such a fantastic day! So enjoyable and peaceful... if you haven't been to this park before, it's definitely worth the trip!

To finish off a great day.. it's home made pizzas for tonight...yum, yum, yum :)

x

Day 178

I came across this clip on YouTube... I smiled the whole way through it - funny stuff!

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Had a lovely day today, quality time at home with Jacob while Sam enjoyed daycare. I didn't take any photos so had no choice but to photograph my dinner prep! This is a great winter meal, healthy but tasty... 

Tomato & Lentil Soup with Bruschetta

Soup prep (oh so quick and easy!)..

Chop up 1 onion, heat oil in large saucepan and cook onion until soft. Stir in 1 clove crushed garlic, 1 tsp ground cumin and 1 tsp ground coriander and cook stirring for about 1 minute.

Stir in lentils (you can use either red lentils uncooked or else use a can of brown lentils), 400g can of diced tomatoes and 3 cups of vegetable stock. Bring to boil. (If you used red lentils, then simmer for around 10 mins or until lentils are soft.. if you used can of brown lentils, heat through and soup is ready!).

Bruschetta - toast both sides of a nice crusty bread. Spread on Basil Pesto (I love pesto so I do a nice thick layer :)

Chop up some tomatoes, red onion and mushrooms..mix together in a bowl and add some salt and pepper.

Put on top of bread.. and there you go! All done!

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Quiet and productive Tuesday! xx

Day 177

New life...

I really love Mondays... even though it's full of cleaning and washing etc, it's always got such a relaxed, fun feel to it, where me and my boys can potter around and get ready for the week ahead. 

The train! Sam put together his new toy train... he even sat on the chairs to have his breakfast and lunch, and got Jacob and I to join him on a train ride.. "to Bali"....Christmas Bear was the driver, he did well and got us to our destination safely. 

I know it looks like Sam is falling over the chair here, but he actually meant to do this! My little climbing monkey....

Innocent??!

My neighbour gave me a whole bag of lemons... any ideas what I can use them for?? (Something healthy preferably!!!)

Lovely Monday! xx