letter recognition

Busy weekend here... two baby shoots ( one 4 month old, one 14 day old... SO CUTE!), gorgeous day at the markets, a birthday party to attend... it seems to go so fast!


Today I wanted to do some letter recognition with Jared. He doesnt seem to know many letters at all, and more the point, he actually doesnt really care. But I want to give him a good start to school next year so I do thing with him that involved identifying letters without it seeming like a complete teachery lessony thing.
He and Amahli were playing with the letters that Jumeirah had out yesterday and were having a great time trying to guess what they were. I asked him to pick out a letter and tell me what it was ( deep down thinking he was never going to get it right unless it was an " R" which is calls "an RRRR like a pirate")
He picked out a T. Nope, didnt get that one ( unless you count, " its a cross like Jesus was on!" )

So he tried another one. A. Nope not real sure on that one either.

I went to walk away and leave them play, a bit flustered that he seems to get it sometimes and not other times, when he picks out a Z. Which is labels correctly.
" ok then, can you think of something that begins with Z?" I ask, thinking that he wont be able to get it.
" A zebra" comes the reply.
"Ok..... ( Im beginning to get that feeling that I am underestimating him, yet again), can you paint me a zebra then?"

And so he does. Complete with feet :) And with some help, ( he copied from my writing) he writes the word Zebra.

And yet again, my little guy teaches me to STOP underestimating him, that he knows more than he lest on, and that next year at school, he really WILL BE FINE :)

cutting circles kandinsky style.. again!

Nearly 3 years ago, Jumeirah and I started talking about the artist Kandinsky. We talked about one particular artwork he did that was all circles and we created some art pieces using cut circles of different sizes. Today, I gave Jared the same activity. I had traced the circles out, and gave him scissors to cut them out.

Stupidly, I grossly underestimated him, again. I wasnt sure he was going to be able to cut them all out, thinking he'd give up after cutting out 3. But he didnt. I didnt think he'd be able to cut the circle shape out much at all. But he did :) All but one, which had a few flat corners to which he said " its ok Mum, its a hexagon (!) instead".

I then gave him the task of sorting out the shapes and colours into correct sizes, and then to group them into three piles of different size and colour. He was able to do all of this and more to the point, he was excited that he was totally capable of doing this.


I asked him to glue them down, and we stood back and admired his handiwork :)

This kid surprises me more and more each day. I am so lovin this amazing little guy.

learning life lessons... from your kids

The story of Thomas.


Ive wanted to write this blog post since it happened but as I mulled it over in my head, it sounded kinda dumb. But this blog isnt just for you... its also for the three beautiful people I helped to create that make this blog what it is. SO! Im writing this for Jumeirah today, but also to show you just how incredible those lessons from your kids can be.


A few blog posts ago I wrote how Jumeirahs beloved bird flew from my shoulder and went missing.
I had to tell her straight after school. I watched in absolute gut wrenching pain as she crumpled to the floor and wailed.


I prayed with her... that God would bring him back. But I also prayed that God would keep him safe, knowing that sometimes God doesnt answer prayer like we would want Him to. Its a tough lesson, one Im still struggling with. Its not a lesson I wanted to have to teach my 7 yr old just yet. She seemed ok with all of what was going on once she had passed that initial shock.


She came to me and told me it wasnt my fault, and that she forgave me. Even though it was my fault and I didnt forgive myself. She had no anger, no blame, no anger to me or to what had happened.
If it was me, I would have gotten cranky, ranted because of something that could have been avoided so easily. She didnt. Not once.


On Wednesday, he'd been missing for a whole day and two whole nights ( one of which rained) but I told her he could still be ok, not holding  out any hope of him being ok. In the afternoon, I had made her some posters to put up around our streets, showing who he was and that he was missed.
The last poster I put up was slightly further than I was going to post but I have one left.
A man came out of his house and asked what we were doing ( I thought he was going to be cranky cos you arent supposed to post up flyers) and I told him we had lost a bird. He went to get his wife who came out to talk to us.
She claimed to have seen Thomas that morning ( 8 hours earlier) in an adjcent street on the lawn. And so we raced around the street, up and down and in everybodys garden looking for him. If he had been there this morning, he was long gone now. I knocked on two houses, both had seen no sign of him.


At this point, Im sorry to say, I got incredibly cranky at God. Frustrated that, as we had finally begun the process of realising Thomas was gone and moving on from that, we were given impossible hope. So so mad as I watched my beautiful girl cry all over again thinking he would still be there and wasnt. And hurt because again I went through that horrible pain of totally hurting her.


An hour later we went home and waited for daddy. He went and did another lap of the street he was seen in without any luck.


Later that evening as I was preparing dinner, I "felt" I should go do one more lap. It was dark and pointless but the feeling wouldnt let up. So I left the gang and jumped in the car for one final fruitless lap.
I ranted at God, telling Him that I understood He had lessons to teach but to give hope when it wasnt going to happen was just plain mean. I couldnt find the bird anywhere in the street and turned to drive home.
Leaving the street, I was stopped. I again felt I should knock on one more door. Annoyed,  I got out and knocked. And older man anwered and I apologised for annoying him but had he seen a small cockatiel, possible anytime between monday afternoon and wednesday night?


His response: " Yes"


Shocked I asked him "really?" and still he replied "yes".


He told me he has found a little bird on his driveway that afternoon and found him very tame and amde for him a makeshift cage from an overturned washing basket and went to ring the radio station to say they'd found an obviously pet bird.
Once he had made the call ( not a station I listen to) he came out to find butcher birds had ripped apart the basket, and Thomas trying to escape their attack. He flew down the street and into a tree.
The man and his wife ran down to see if they could help him, and pulling a branch away from a tree, Thomas fell into his wifes arms.


They took him home, made another cage in their garage and closed the door. The time this happened was 4.30pm, right when we were posting up signs.


I thanked him profusely, all the while meekly looking heavenward and apologising my heart out.


I got home with this little bird to a child who just fell on him in absolute wonder and joy.


The following day, I was thinking again about what I would have said to her if she'd been the one that lost him.... things like " Dont take him outside again" , or " be more careful"... not terribly harsh things but warnings of things that could happen again.


AS I dropped her at school, she turned to me and said " Mum would you mind not taking Thomas outside today? I think he'll need a rest" and I  was again rendered speechless. How does this incredible child at only 7 give me that kind of Grace? From the start the the happy finish she showed me what it was like to be completely forgiven, to be loved when she was hurting, and true humbling grace given without any motive or hesitation.


I was completely floored by her and the lessons she taught, most of which she will never really understand.
And I learnt that God does sometimes answer prayer the way we think and to never let go of that faith in Him.


I know if seems a fairly simple, not that exciting story but thats ok :) I learnt so much from it I really cant put it into words. I hope that you have moments like this too ( well hopefully not quite like this) where you can see just how amazing kids can be, and how God can teach you the biggest lessons from the hardest of challenges. And the lessons continue... over the weekend we went and took down all the posters, with each one thanking God for his awesomeness.We came to one poster and found a note written by a child at Jumeirahs school ( an old kindy friend, not one she currently playes with).
And it says: Im watching your bird Jumeirah. I will try to find it. Dont worry! By rachel.

Kids just know exactly what to say, from the deepest pure parts of a heart, to totally help someone in need.

toy adventures

( still havent finished my other story yet.. its coming!)

All week Ive had troubles trying to get photos on here... finally today its being agreeable!

Over the weekend, Jumeirah had a project for school to do. It was to take class cameleon ( toy one) on an adventure to a wet or dry place and talk about it.
So, sunday afternoon, Jared, Jumeirah, Cam the cameleon and me went on an adventure.
Jumeirah wasnt overly keen, until she could see the plans in my eyes and then she was curious as the what I had in store.


We went down to the end of our street where there is a boardwalk and a paper bark forest. Its a beautiful spot and the perfect place to explore a wet land.
So I showed Jumeirah how we could use cam as though he were real.... and away it went.


SO. MUCH. FUN.


He got into trees, raced off ahead of us, found his reflection in the water, pondered what a wet land was like, sat in the cool of the trees... we had a blast wondering what it would be like to actually be an animal in a rainforest.



Cam racing off...

Cam pondering life in a tree....

I totally would recommend this cute fun idea. It really opens up a new world when you look at things through the eyes of a toy :)

Checking out his reflection...

When we got home I was informed that LOTS of others of our stuffed friends ( of the toy variety) were keen to have their own adventures so we are planning a book to make about each of them :)

treasure bags

Wow what a week we've had!! I have much to write about the lessons we've learnt this week but Ill fill you in tomorrow when I have more time :)

At the end of our rainy week last week, Jumeirah was desperate to go out. She'd convinced me to take them to the beach to do what they love to do best " treasure hunting". But at the last moment as we were buckling up in the car, the heavens opened so much that we couldnt even get out of the street.
Not to be dismayed, Jumeirah came up with the great idea of making our own treasure bags for the beach so that when the rain let up a bit we could go test them out and collect some cool things. I was well keen as it meant that my pockets wouldnt be full of sand and treasures!!

So I gave her some fabric and she set off with two little helpers and a head full of designs.

Once she had finished her drawings, we picked some fabrics and got out the sewing machine and began to turn them into the cutest little treasure bags :)

Whoops... Jumeirahs design may have accidentally been added wrong... she didnt mind it was upside down :)

So awesome to have a little creative brain following me up. LOVE it :)

coping with the big issues

Sad day in this household today.... at least two of us are going to bed with bloodshot eyes and headaches from crying most of the afternoon..


Just before I was due to do the school run, I let Jumeirahs beloved pet cockatiel, Thomas, out for a ride on my shoulder. Hes just a gorgeous bird and loves to be close to you. Just before I went to put him back, he suddenly took flight ( even though I clipped his wings last week) and flew straight over the front fence. I raced through the gate... to find silence. Not a sign of the bird anywhere.


We have searched all afternoon, spoken to neighbours, and asked God to bring him home.
There is still no sign of him.


Its the first time as a mum I have really hurt her, not intentionally, but nevertheless, I caused it and I ache for her. She loved that bird, wrote poems, stories, sang to him, and trained him.

Her final comment tonight ( and she went to bed with two of his feathers under her pillow) was
" Mum, I know its not your fault, but he was the best thing Id ever had." Ouch.


And so we talked about whether he'd survive, she taught him to eat grass seed so he should be ok, and shes gone to bed with the knowledge that hes probably happy.


My neighbour thought maybe I should pretend he came home and go get a new one tomorrow, but I believe that this child would know straight away. Shes not one Ive ever shied away from telling the truth ( and yup, she knows how babies are made the "real" way already cos she asked!)


If you have kids,how do you cope with things like this? What do you tell them? Do you tell them the truth? What do remember of things like this happening to you as a kid?

little bit more cooking

Another cooking day from the holidays... still catching up!

I had an extra child for the morning and both girls wanted to do something " cookery" and "fun" ( what is it these two and making me find them "fun"??)

So I pulled out something I had stashed away for a rainy day, which meant that today was perfect ;) I found the coolest chocolate mould a while ago and some white chocolate and we were set. I had brilliant intentions of colouring the chocolate with food colouring ( DONT DO THIS BIT. It seriously doesnt work well) but next time Ill find some proper wilton colours...

So we set to work... we talked about how long chocolate takes to melt in the microwave, and what happens when you over cook it ( yup I was good at that) and not cooking it enough ( obviously it was still solid) . Once melted, I added food colouring to it. At this point, the chocolate starts to congeal REALLY quickly and impossible to pour into the mould. We had to really work fast to get the chocolate into the mould at all but somehow it worked. ( This happens frequently, I think its totally screwed and then somehow I pulled it off)

How cute are they!! The kids abolutely love them, especially Jared who was totally not convinced that they were edible but was shocked with delight at how good they were :)

For lunch, I set the girls up to make rice paper rolls for lunch. Ive been totally addicted to these for a few weeks now so I had all the ingredients, I set them to cut up the veggies, and then instructed them on how to construct them. They had the choice of capsicum, chicken, cheese, beans, carrot, and snowpeas. Both of them filled them as they liked and then rolled them.

Such an easy yum lunch :)