Splish Splash!

So Summer is fast approaching here in Brisbane and that means alot of water play! We've had lots of Harry's friends over lately and spent time splashing around with buckets, watering cans, containers and figurines.

Water play is such a fantastic sensory experience for small children and helps develop early mathematical concepts such as volume and measurement.

And summer wouldn't be complete without a few good watermelon sessions. Yum!

Strawberry Shortcake anyone?

There is nothing better than a fun and successful family outing. Anyone with a young family knows that even the best laid plans can go pear-shaped when overwhelmed with nappy bags, hats, dirty hands, whinging, snacks, giant overstuffed strollers, whinging, nap times and more whinging. You get my point?

So, we had a very successful outing last Saturday when we visited Gowinta Stawberry Farm. A great place for kids to run, taste, pick and frolic amongst the massive strawberry patch. You simply pay for what you pick and they are totally cool with lots of small (and big!) hands tasting as they pick. Its really easy to keep an eye on the kids and Harry just LOVED being there.

Having my children involved in cooking is really important to me but having them understand where food comes from is even better. We have a vege garden and small strawberry patch at home but to come to a rural environment and be involved with the land is really special. Being there really inspired me and I've decided to write a book/blog/thingy with 50 or so fun family (and sometimes frugal) ways to hang out as a young family. So stay Tuned!

He ain't heavy.....

Just for funsies! Here are my two boys around the same age as babies.




                                             Harry Jesse; 2 months old here.
                                My sweet, affectionate, wild and crazy joyful boy.

Flynn McArthur; 4 months here.

My cuddly, soft, sweet and observant little-sleep-camel of a son.

Holiday! Celebrate! Pt.2

So after our fun adventure camping, i decided that i needed to have some tricks up my sleeve for the second week of the holidays. Daddy and i had planned a 'redo the garden day' which also involved a rather nice family outing to Bunnings. (Who knew you could get seedlings, coffee, cake AND a moments peace on a swinging garden chair with your snuggly baby as your big one plays happily in the enclosed playground all in the one place!)  *sigh*  Bunnings, you make a mother happy. But aside from that, i had no plans.

Enter the magic of the great colour-it yourself cubby house! I found it at Target reduced to $15 from some ridiculous price and snapped it up. The i had to hide it in the laundry room for a few days.

After a little wrestling with the actual construction of the cubby house (much to Harry's amusement), it finally emerged in our lounge room as a crafty piece of playing goodness.

So since then we've spent a few good hours colouring in together AND removing felt pen from various places around the house. Note to self: 2 year olds cannot be entirely trusted with a box of felt pens. There's been puppet shows, hiding games, colours, counting and play dates with his cousins. In my humble mummy opinion, a well spent $15. Viva La Holidays!

Holiday! Celebrate! Pt 1.

Huzzah! The school holidays are upon us and my little army of men and i decided to take off to the rainforest camping for a few days.

No pressures, no stress, no cleaning or washing or phone calls or internet.

We hired a 'safari tent' that had a little wooden balcony, beds and was completely water proof which was the best part because boy did it RAIN! It rained and rained for the first day or two which saw us all huddled on arrival on the balcony drinking cups of tea and eating all the delicious treats i had baked. Muesli slice, vegan chocolate cake and vegan pumpkin walnut bread (for this recipe see an awesome blog called 'Joy the Baker', you can click the link below)

Harry enjoying his 'tea' .

So after a delicious afternoon tea i presented Harry with one of his many 'surprises' - a toy story torch.

Mark eating muesli slice.

The first 24 hours were a time of winding down as Mark and i spent time reading 'Pride and Prejudice' together, drinking espresso (yes, we do good coffee even on a camping trip) and eating dark chocolate. I also had some delicious baby time with my little sweetie Flynn.




The view from our tent was gorgeous. When rainy, it was misty and magical and when clear we could see all the way to the Gold Coast high rises.

Harry enjoying the rain and his new umbrella.

When it eventually stopped raining we got to make a fire (yay!) and toast marshmallows.








We also took a drive around the hinterland and my hubby took some snaps with his new fancy DSLR! Here's a glimpse...

The best part of camping though was spending time just hanging with each other. It didn't matter if it  was eating pancakes from the BBQ at midday or snuggling under the doona at night reading stories. It was great to take a step back from our lives and appreciate each other and just how awesome God is in planning families:)

He's just a little man.

What has been happening at the Blackmore Ranch?
Well, Mark and i both got new cameras and are enjoying pursuing our collective hobby together. It's coincided with our month long fast of TV and Facebook that was inspired by the need to give our marriage a little spring clean!




In other news, my darling first born Harry has 'been in the wars ' as they say. On sunday we had a dash to emergency as harry had dislocated his elbow. Apparently a fairly common injury in childhood, it broke my heart to see his little arm dangling there and to hear him say "Mummy, hurt my arm" The whole time at the hospital he was cheerful although quiet and it really is quite evident the character that God has put in him.

He is a man of joy.



Even when he was a small baby his nana used to look at him and say "There's a smile in his eyes, a joke resting on his lips!" It's true. What moves Harry is a silly face, a funny voice, a crazy movement. Joy is to be his strength in this life. Thank you God. Take 2- Today he woke up unable to walk on his right leg and spent the morning scooting around on his knees. Poor little bunny. After a visit to his beloved Dr Seema (who may i add is 'da bomb and gives a good lolly every visit) it was discovered that he has a virus that causes inflammation in his hip and knee joint. It will pass and leave no damage. But every time he slithers to the floor from a chair or comes crawling around the corner making some wild exclamation it just makes my heart melt! Good on you Harry. Mummy's little soldier.

Boys, They go adventuring!

Hey all.

Life is crazy busy at the moment.

In the absence of posting longer material, i thought i would post a photographic journal of what my boys have been up to.
Enjoy!






Harry chasing our rogue bantam chicken Strawberry. We found her nesting on a clutch of eggs in a strawberry field on a farm at the sunshine coast. So we brought her home and she is our beloved house pet. She always tries to sneak inside when the door's open!







Harry and Daddy at the 'Railway Workshops Museum' at Ipswich. It was a fantastic morning together and a gorgeous museum to go to with everything from railway antiques, model railways and a miniature railway yard. (pictured above)








Flynn meeting his cousin Amos.







Harry giving Flynn lots of cuddles and kisses. They love each other already!








Harry and Daddy getting ready for church. A boy's gotta have good hair!








Have we been busy? Enough said!