Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Fun in the Sun




My bigger little ones (the wild, wild ones) spent the last few days up North with Beloved while I had a blissful holiday down South with the littles. I am slowly beginning to feel almost human and am most grateful to my parents for all the spoiling and my in-laws for taking on the bigger ones.

Just before the babies and I flew south, the pool was blown up and there was an afternoon of fun (while I did frantic last minute packing. I thought it would be half an hour and three hours later I was still trying to jam things in!)

I think the older ones had a great time playing in the pool Up North. And I've been all nostalgic in my childhood home and really enjoying the little ones and time with my folks.

But my big ones have flown down now, they're in the taxi, on the way. And I've missed them sooo much. (Although I admit, it took a couple of days rest to realise it!)






Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Berry-Picking with Cousins


Down in Melbourne, we visited my Nana and her garden full of flowers and fruits and (while I squelched my jealousy for an established garden - soon, soon *) the kids ran around and then picked the loganberries along the side fence.

 In my ignorance, I believed the berries to be raspberries, but my six year old niece disillusioned me. They are quite, quite different. Whatever the name, they were very delicious and the children loved picking them. 

It has been a long time since the cousins met up, and though it wasn't quite the reunion it will be when the two older girls meet up, it was so sweet to see how similar the pre-schoolers are in looks - both little blonde ones! The little ones thought berry-picking (and eating) was a very serious business. 

Fruit picking seems such an iconic childhood activity - heart-melt is watching the wee-ones eating straight from the vine! 



*I have planted many fruit plants - I have mangos, apples, lemons, mandarines, mulberries, strawberries as well as cinnamon, tea, coffee and vanilla plants... but none of them are yet producing. So far only my basil, tomatoes and lemongrass have been at all successful. On my list to plant are pineapples, bananas, macadamias and avocados... I have plans but it will be awhile yet till I have the lush, fecund and overgrown garden I dream (and pinterest) about. 











*Giggle Bear is rocking a cap belonging to her big sister and a dress I found at a kids and babies market. I went to my first one since I was pregnant with Adventure Boy recently and it was amazing. I found if a mum (or dad) was selling one thing I liked they were generally selling lots of things O liked and I swooped on so many very reasonably priced - under five dollars - treasures... The markets are going on my calendar for next year! 

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Storm-Light and (not quite) Newborn




A very welcome tropical storm swept through a few days ago. After a sweltering day lightning broke through dark and bulging clouds as we drove home from school. Thunder rumbled. The temperature dropped sharply and a welcome wind pulled at the trees.




In the evening the storm-light slanted through our front windows and reminded me of the storm that came through when I was still heavy with our little one. Now she has been here five weeks and it's impossible to imagine life without her.

We are still learning her - so much of her is familiar - the milk-drunk expression, the way she has of pouting out her lower lip when she's replete and stretching into curves, is so much her brother, the markings on her face and the delicate shape of it is so much her oldest sister, and yet she is so much herself. I'm still learning her humorous expressions, the way she scrunches up her nose before she lunges for the milk, the funny old-man look as she lifts up her pale eyebrows and her forehead wrinkles. The swirls of fine pale hair on her arms, and the way she pumps one foot as if it will make the milk come faster as she's feeding.

Another storm came through today - spectacular with its lightning and thunder (which I am convinced my in-laws' dog thought was the Great Dog in the Sky growling). I also made the acquaintance of another snake today - this one at close quarters as I helped my father-in-law get it out of his pigeon coop.  Beloved informed me again that this will be a Proper Queensland Summer - full of storms and snakes. My last Queensland baby also brought with her a lot of rain, although not so many snakes. While I love the storms and rains I am hoping this summer is not quite as rain-heavy as that one of 2010-11.

The lightning has stopped now, thirty-thousand homes are without power and the rain has paused, but moisture still hangs heavy in the air. My little ones sleep. I savour the cool. The quiet after the storm.