LATELY....

Ah, the weekend is so close. And I've been reflecting about the past two weeks.

The joy about building and renovating a home on your own, is that you don't really do it by yourself. This past week we have had my husband's darling parents come and help us for the second time in the past four weeks. Their efforts don't go unnoticed and are appreciated greatly by us. They came to help knock down the old lean to, and came again to help lay the concrete - two very important stages in the building process. We know that we couldn't have done it without them.

I'm always amazing at how quickly a house seems to be built after the concrete slab is set. The frames go up quickly, and voila. A house. Well, not quite. This stage has stayed the same for another week as my husband plumbs in the fittings, and squares the house up. Gutters are installed, and there are a million different jobs that no-one sees until the building inspector comes and visits.

It's still super exciting to see everything happening, and feels all the more real every day.

An open fire on Friday night | A captured moment of my mother-in-law while we played with my camera (she loves photography too!) | nailing in the frame | new Lego thanks to Grandma and Grandpa | evening singing with Dad | the boys delight in visiting the "Big Guns" | framework is up! | this boy never stops | the pencil always weaved in his ponytail. It seems he doesn't stop much either!

Thanks so much for seeing what is happening in our little world.

What did you get up to this past week?

WHAT HE SAID NEXT...

"When I sniff these flowers, snot comes out."

REVEALING THE BEACH COTTAGE KITCHEN.

Hello! Here were are, revealing the next stage of renovations at our little beach cottage at Port Fairy (the first renovation reveal is here and the extension reveal here). This 1850s cottage is being transformed from the inside out, and we hope that we do its original whaler's beauty the justice it deserves.

This room was originally a small dark room with a low ceiling, crooked floors you could roll down (a great joy for the lads!), and a space that wasn't big enough to do anything with. It was an enclosed room, and cut off from the rest of the house. The original lean-to kitchen... well, you will have to scroll down for that!

EAT: APRICOT CHOC CHIP CAKE.

SERVES 20 | PREP 20 MINS + 1 HR STANDING TIME | COOKING 60 MINS | VEGETARIAN

You know what's great about this cake? It's like a family heirloom. My Aunty Pam passed it down to my cousin Brooke, who then shared it on Instagram. As soon as I saw it, I begged for the recipe. Brooke says that she always adds more nectar and choc chips. I've made it three times already, and she's right. I've included more choc chips and apricot nectar below to make this a truly decadent experience! Thanks Brooke and Aunty Pam for letting me share this here!

FANCY PANTS [ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL]

Sometimes the best photos are the ones that aren't posed, but best taken with kids as the photographers (telling you what to do), in the middle of a really great day. (Even, perhaps whilst still eating a baked good from this morning's farmer's market.)

These lads are crazy. Do you hear me? CRAAAAZY. I love it, and wouldn't have it any other way.

Do you find that the best photos directly reflect an awesome day?

Thanks so much for popping in!

Kymmie wears: TUNIC, PONTE PANTS + JUMPER, Witchery. SCARF, Katies. KNEE HIGH SOCKS, Eastland sock shop. CORDUROY BOOTS, The Kick. WOODEN EARRINGS, Just Jeans. SUNGLASSES, Chemmart. | Madison wears: TSHIRT + SHIRT, Milkshake by Myer. SKINNY JEANS, Gumboots, SHOES, Rivers. LEATHER-LIKE JACKET, Pumpkin Patch. | Noah wears: LONG SLEEVED TEE, Button Tots. SHIRT, Seed. SKINNY JEANS, Target. LEATHER-LIKE JACKET, Pumpkin Patch. GUMBOOTS, Rivers.