still on the rollercoaster

after tossing it around and around and around for the past few months, we could no longer take the uncertainty, and have gone back to the farm. The allure of the quiet life, the little school and the wide open spaces was just too much for me. I'm not good in the suburbs.
It's been a rocky start, as it was last time, but I know this place will always test us. Cars tend to break down (and literally fall to bits) when you continually drive them over dirt roads. There are still no taps in the kitchen, but at least it's not too far to the tank now that we have the old French doors leading straight there. The gas hot water unit stopped working so it was outside baths for week, but that's fixed now too. It was lovely having a bath outside under the stars though. Every cloud has a silver lining, I must keep reminding myself. I have many moments of distress, of "what the hell am I doing?"and then I look out the window and realise how lucky I am.
I'm feeling inspired, the veggie garden is undergoing a makeover, and things will be growing there soon. The chooks and alpacas and even the odd wallaby are providing daisy with constant entertainment. Our days are slow but full, and beauty is everywhere.

mum to the power of four

I think I might have the best job in the world.

happy mothers day!

the birthdays of march

it seems that march has become a hectic time in this house, we celebrated willow's 10th birthday last week and yesterday little daisy turned one! It's funny how alike these two are in personality and looks, and with birthdays only eight days apart. They share the same relaxed disposition as well as the blonde hair and blue eyes. It's almost as if we have two sets of twins only they were all born years apart. Weird.
happy birthday sweet little people.

oh, hello autumn

we got off to a rocky start with three days of torrential rain, but today is total autumn perfection. Blue skies, sunshine and a sweet little breeze. It always amazes me how the autumn rain comes and washes the summer away. Everything feels clean and fresh and I can breathe again.
It's been a long absence once again, I'm so bad at keeping up with things. But this little thing is something I think I will always come back to, time and again. Our life is full and also a bit confusing at the moment. We're back in the burbs, and whilst that in itself is ok, aspects of it clearly are not. We came back for high school. Yes, high school. The big unknown. I wanted to make sure the biggest boy settled in without the added pressure of extra travel. And it turns out that high school is great, no problems there whatsoever. He's totally cool with it. The others are back at the big (primary) school, and adjusting to that is not going so smoothly, for them or for me. There are so many things that a school of nearly 900 cannot offer...it's not their fault, just the way it is. We miss the little school desperately, not to mention the open space and animals.
So, we will take it one day at a time and see where we end up. In the meantime, my little friend and I are enjoying slow, quiet days together whilst the others go about their business.

this could end badly

so, it's been at least three years since I've updated the appearance of this blog (probably longer, actually), and I'm thinking it's about time I did some work on it. Just becasue I'd like a fresh start, it being a new year and all. The truth of the matter is, my computer skills are pretty rusty, I do a lot of internet browsing and not much else. Thank goodness for google, I say, in helping me navigate through problems such as how to download new fonts and actually be able to use them, how to get around blogger glitches like not being able to upload photos (switch to html, in case you're wondering too), and lots of other little things that I would never be able to work out on my own. So, with only a small amount of trepidation, I will try to make a few changes here, and hopefully come up with something new and good. Or, it could all just disappear, in which case I will probably throw the computer out the window and end up with a different kind of "fresh start".

a christmassy, new yearish kind of birthday

 still getting over christmas, barely noticed the arrival of the new year and hey, now the littlest boy is five. There weren't many birthday requests, much like last year it was turning a new number that was most exciting. Apple juice, brocolli, some lollies and a chocolate cake with a love heart would be nice too.
I'm just so happy that I'm finally five, he told me this morning. So am I, little man, so am I. Just in time for big school, where all of your questions will be answered and all of your energy put to good use. There's no denying that 4.5 to 5 is the most trying time of all, so much going on in that little head.
The happy birthday bunting that's been on my to-do list for a few years now finally happened, so I can cross that one off. Just need to make everyone else's names when their birthdays come round, because you know, they need birthday bunting.  I'm sure they'll thank me for all this one day, when I'm hanging bunting at their 21st birthday parties. I think I'd better make the most of it now, while I can.

surfing with children

it's ridiculous how much is going on in our lives right now...the end of year is always a trying time as kids become tired and christmas approaches, but this year is extra crazy. We are sending one boy off to high school next year, another one starts primary school, and throw in a year fiver and a baby as well and you have one big busy family. And one very emotional mama. Lots of changes going on around me, I feel like we're on a giant wave being pushed along, and there's no getting off. You just have to go with it and try to keep your head above water. And try not to panic.
The pre-teen is handling the whole thing with so much maturity (more than me, I have to admit). He did us proud at presentation night, taking out the academic achievement...a lovely way to finish off primary school. He blitzed it in maths, willow took home the poetry award. Chalk and cheese. And now we begin the whole cycle again, with jasper just starting. We'll be riding this wave for many years yet.