EARLY THIS MORNING...

17/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013.

Noah: Everything you do is full of wonder. You see the world through fresh, new eyes.

Madison: You've learnt very early in life that to become good at something, you need to practice.
Learning to pop bubble gum has been your latest craze.

Mentioning two of my all time favourite bloggers this week, not only because I love them always, but because their photos really were beautiful this week. Check out the most gorgeous expressive faces at Mira Narnie, and someone who shared not long ago that she wasn't a photographer. Look at her now - Maxabella Loves.

Linking in with Jodi @ Che and Fidel.

YOU ARE MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN YOU THINK.

I saw this tonight, and just had to share. How do you see yourself? Is it the way others see you?

Please watch this.

You are more beautiful than you think.

WHAT'S IN YOUR LUNCHBOX?

FANCY PANTS [RACING OUT THE DOOR]

If miracles don't exist, then why is it that today I had the best sleep in a girl could ever ask for? Perhaps my husband is an angel (or perhaps I was a complete ogre). But he fed the kids breakfast and I slept in until 9am. It was glorious!

Then my ogre-self encouraged my husband to take the kids out so I could have a little kid-break. Which he did. I can't remember now, but I might have mentioned Father Of The Year in the same sentence. And off they went.

In the silence, I wondered how I was going to spend one glorious hour alone. It took no more than a minute to mull over the possibilities, and staying home in my jammies was not one of them. The sun was shining and I didn't want to waste it. After all, it's a day where I can actually do my hair and not hide the mess under a baseball cap.

16/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013.

Noah: Skipping to the beach with your buckets and shovels. You can't wait to build a sandcastle!

Madison: You've got the moves, and are such a natural on a skateboard. And after riding this one, you want one even more (if that's possible)!

Last week I loved this gorgeous sandy face at A Little Pink A Little Blue and I can hear the giggles at Sunny + Scout.

Linking in with Jodi @ Che and Fidel.

THIS LIFE.

How blessed am I? I have four incredible children, and one amazing husband. They are my world.

Such diversity: little boy conversations that kill me with laughter and frustrate me to tears; grown up girl conversations that fill me with pride.

My husband has most understanding nature, the kindest eyes, listening ears, and a heart full of patience, trust and love.

Sometimes, I wonder how these people became part of my life. I sure don't think I deserve it in any way, and yet here I am. Surrounded by these beautiful people.

I love this life, and this family of mine.

WHAT'S IN YOUR LUNCHBOX?

Clockwise from main compartment: macadamia + pesto pasta salad with parmesan | grapes | apple sauce + carrot sticks | chicken crimpy biscuits | assorted non-gelatine jellies.

Clockwise from main compartment: cheese + sauce sandwich (because, why not?) | strawberries + blueberries | apricot + choc chip cake (oh my!) | BBQ rice snacks | mini easter eggs.

Clockwise from main compartment: tomato + mayo toasted muffin | seedless grapes | date + LSA breakfast muffin | yoghurt + honey | Babybel cheese with rice snacks | mini easter eggs.

Clockwise from main compartment: noodles with tuna, tomato + cheese | sliced nectarines | apple sauce with sour cream rice crisps | candy cane | pretzels.

Clockwise from main compartment: Tuna, tomato + mayo on sourdough | grapes | apricot + choc chip cake | sliced cucumber| cheese stick | marshmallow.

For Christmas my lads received a Planetbox each. And they love them. Weeks after Christmas, they were carrying them around, over their shoulders like a stylish accessory. It took a while for me to get use to smaller portions and more compartments, but now I love it!

All it takes is a different mind set. Nowadays, I focus on the food pyramid and start with the fresh foods first: one serving each of fruit and vegetables, some dairy/protein/calcium, a main event, and a special treat. Before the adjustment, it took a while to fill all the spaces, but now all the healthy options are thought about first, there's never any room for all the things I imagined I'd put in there! I'm sure perhaps I could do better, healthwise (we all could, couldn't we?), but I want my kids to be excited by their lunch too.

And I think they are. Because lunch is always checked before they shut their lunchboxes. "Looks good, Mum!" my eldest usually says.

The telltale sign? A completely empty lunchbox at the end of the school day.

What have you packed in your lunchbox recently?

IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL...

... we are still smiling.

Just.

The renovating is making life quite tricky - we're now living in one room and on top of each other. There is dust (lots of it), visitors too (which is divine). And there is the need to get the kids out of the house. They're going a little stir crazy. So is my husband. So am I.

It must be the end of the school holidays.

This week has included, a quick trip back to Melbourne, lots of quick trips down the beach and up the street. There have been backyard kicks of the footy and trips to the library. It's all been essential.

Deadlines. Oh, the deadlines. A kitchen to be installed. A million things to do beforehand. It's exciting. It's daunting.

This has been our week.

| My junior photographer tells me to say Cheese!; post-Easter paraphernalia on the mantelpiece; holding hands as we walk to the beach; sibling fun; Port Fairy scenery; we've discovered footy; building sandcastles; the boardwalk; technology loving Gen Yers - she's more attached to her phone than I am. |

FANCY PANTS [LADS + LEGO]

It was high time we did a Fancy Pants for the men. You know, the little ones. These guys looked so cute in their coloured skinnies and flannel shirts, it was time to feature them.

Of course, the photo shoot was to show off their new Lego. It worked. They were happy to pose with their new toys. They even smiled.

Gosh, I'm never sick of eyeing off these two little blokes.

Oh, yes. And see Noah's sideways pose?

"Because that's how you pose, Mummy".

Have you purchased some bright clothing for your kids at absolutely fabulous prices?


Madison wears:
SKINNY JEANS, Target ($8).
TSHIRT, Target ($8).
FLANNEL SHIRT, Target ($12).
SHOES, Rivers ($6).
LEGO, Kmart.

Noah wears:
SKINNY JEANS, Target ($8).
LONG SLEEVED TOP, Milkshake (gift, thanks Nana!).
FLANNEL SHIRT, Target ($12).
SHOES, Cotton On Kids ($20). 

15/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013.

Madison: To cool off, you sat in a tiny bucket of water. And then looked up at me like this.

Noah: Far too big for a high chair, but still too short for the table.

Leah: You have grown into such a beautiful lady. We are so proud of you.

Linking in with Jodi @ Che and Fidel.

THERAPY IN THE KITCHEN.

The photos prove it: there has been a plethora of cooking in our little beach cottage. During the Easter long weekend, my step-daughter Leah and I were in the kitchen talking about this very thing; why do we want to cook so much? We decided it was a mixture of a few things: therapy, the need to use food up to make more space (it's pretty cramped in here), or the holiday vibe. But one thing is certain: there is the desire to spend more time in the kitchen, and try new things.

Like on Saturday night, we stuffed potatoes; went through the fridge and put just about everything and anything in. (They were delicious.) There was this fish the neighbours had given us and I wanted to make a kid friendly meal. A short visit to google ("Kid Friendly Fish") and I had a meal the family were actually excited about. And unlike when I'm at home, I'm always trying to empty the fridge and pantry to make more room. Also, I stick with the familiar recipes, rather than experimenting.

It seems when I'm not cleaning, moving stones, dirt, timber or tools, it feels like I need to be preparing for the next meal. Because putting the kids in the bath and cleaning up the renovating mess usually coincides with dinner, and it usually means that I should have done one of the above things sooner. Besides, baking is something I can do with the kids, that also serves a purpose. So, preparations begin for dinner or tea, or a treat for lunchboxes; perhaps even dessert.

Whatever it is, there is usually something baking in our little lean-to kitchen, filling the cottage with warm comfort smells, and plenty of love.

| Pancakes with maple syrup, berries + yoghurt; caramelising bananas; sprinkles + marinated feta on our salad; apricot + choc chip cake (best recipe ever, Brooke!); miso fish (freshly caught by our neighbours) with cashew, raisin soy rice + vegetables; caramel filled chocolate easter egg muffins with peanut butter.  |

THIS WEEK IN PICTURES.

Becoming a member at the local DVD shop, booking the kids into swimming school during the holidays, and obtaining a library card were few of the things we did to feel more like locals this week. Madison sang at the local retirement village on a school excursion, was saying g'day to school buddies on the main street, and I was even acknowledging a few ladies from around the traps.

Yes, this is feeling less like a holiday and more like a place where we live.

Being a local has its good points: we're feeling more at home and becoming more familiar with our surroundings. But then the con is that it's feeling less like a holiday. I guess, we have to take the good with the not so bad, right?

One of the highlights was having our one of our big sisters come and stay with us for four days over the Easter break. During her precious few holidays, she came to help us renovate. Now, isn't that that the sweetest thing?

| Rock skipping at Pea Soup Beach; making Easter crafts; renovations are coming along slowly - we've been putting in some late nights; making Easter crafts; hanging out with big sister Leah; Standing on the fence chatting to our neighbours is their favourite pastime; instagramming on the beach; visiting the Big Guns; my handsome husband; more funny faces. |