Keeping memories ~ 2012

It's no secret that 2011 was a pretty up & down kind of year for myself and the boys.

So for me 2012 was all about starting a fresh.

I've set a page full of goals, aims & dreams, all acheviable and all exciting.

The motto that seems to cover most of the other goals for our family is:

"Have more fun, take more photos and create more memories"

I love reflecting back on days we've had, remembering the warm fuzzy feeling or the smile on the boys faces 

and now with a new man and his daughter apart of our lives I thought remembering all the fun and adventures we will be having this year we needed a differnt way of documenting these.

Something fun and creative.

Where do you find such inspiration?

Pinterest of course ;)

And what did I find?

Memory Jars

There were so many gorgeous ideas.

This one below was the first one I stumbled across awhile ago

which is a jar full of all the things this ladies children were saying.

I pinned it to my board for things I wanted to do ASAP

and never got around to it!

But I have finally found the perfect time and reason to do it!

link to creator and post

Then when I searched "memory jars" to see what other inspiration I could find 

all sorts of gorgeous creations came up

Which has inspired me to create MORE memory jars ;)

As I love scrapbooking I thought using the scrapbooking ideas would make our jar a little bit more special but base the idea on, what I would say is the "original."

And I did just that, which resulted in...

THIS :)

I used a jar from a cheap shop, scrapbooking paper, removeable scrapbooking stickers, twine and a white luggage tag.

I think it came together beautifully

I decided to pop something inside to give it a little bit more interest.

The letters inside are the first letters of our first names

(all 5 of us)

Now all we have to do is fill it with photos, ticket stubs, bits and pieces and little notes about... well anything really

It can be a short note about our day or a funny thing one of the kids say

or just an emotion from a certain day.

When New Years Eve rolls around again we will sit down and go through our jar

reminising on all the fun and good times and perhaps some of the not so good too.

I would like to think its going to be a family traditon for our "new" blended family.

I can't wait to see what adventures we get up to this year

2012 is going to be a fabulous year!

How will you be keeping your 2012 memories?

Photos, blogging, journals, scrapbooking or maybe some crafty way?

*edited to link up with the Organised Housewifes Love it, Like it, Link it Party

Respect

When a baby is born there is always the talk of what the grandparents and significant members of the family will be called, by the child once old enough to talk.

In our family we have the normal nana and grandma, poppa and grandpa

There is 3 beautiful Auntys, 3 Uncles and lots of Cousins.

So they are norm right? Most families have those family members.

However we have alot of other family that are all very close to our boys.

Such as our aunts and uncles, our nanas and grandpas and our cousins.

We didnt really think too much about wether our boys needed to call them by anything other then their name or nickname.

For me it was a given that they would have the same respect for our extended family as they do for the rest of the family.

So our boys call our Auntys, Aunty too, they call my nana - nanny and so forth

When it comes to our cousins we just go with whatever comes out at the time

nicknames, full names whatever is said

But I think in the long run I would love for them to be called Aunty or Uncle ... too.

In my family its a sign of respect and authority.

My step 2nd cousins call me aunty thats how its been since they could talk

I love it, it makes me feel resepcted and very much part of their family.

I want the same for our cousins and extended family.

I want our boys to know they are important people in our lives and that we love, respect and hold them in high regard.

I think it also helps build a better relationship with other family members

It helps them to know they are surrounded by people they can trust and talk to if they need to.

Respect to older family members is huge to me so its a quality I feel my children need to have too

Its a stepping stone of life and in turn

will hopefully help teach respect for themselves and others

*image

Do you have family members or friends that your children call Aunty or Uncle etc?

How else do you help instill respect into your children?

Return of the Mumma

new beginnings, time to blossom

Its been just under 2 weeks since I decided to take a Semi Blogging Break

I was hurt and confused and new this was just what I needed to do.

I am so glad I took this time

I have acheived so much and feel so much better about things.

Blogging for me is about connecting with other people.

Embracing the mothering/life journey that I am on and sharing it with the world

BUT

I was starting to want more

I was starting to want instant success

Instant amazing posts that everyone raved about

(ok so i might be being extreme there but I was thinking similair thoughts)

and quite frankly I overwhelmed myself.

Being honest I was trying to post once a day

It was something I had noticed seemed to work amazingly for others

But you know what?

It dosent work for ME

I was getting anxious and angry if I couldnt find the time
I am up against a small group of people who do not like me & its hard to be in the same "circle" especially when they are "working" together

I was missing out on living in the momment because I was always thinking about blogging

I was scared that if I didnt post frequently like others I would be forgotten.

But really its ok

I know that no matter what my children are way more important then anything I have to write

I know I wont be forgotten because the people who really do enjoy my writing will always be here no matter when or how often I blog.
I now realise how much support I have and its given me a little more confidence

As the gorgeous Nathalie of Easy Peasy Kids says

"quality over quantity"

Blogging every day is way to much for me.

I have to many other things I want to do

I want to get out doors more with the boys

These warmer months are going to be differnt for our family i just know it

I want to start AND finish some craft projects I've found on Pinterest

I want to do more of Scrapbooking and even dabble in card making

I also want to dabble in party planning and decorating

I am a little hesitant in this one as I feel like im stepping on one of the most gorgeous ladies I know toes

and I dont want to hurt a frienship

So its one Im just holding close to me heart and seeing what happens

I want to cook more!
I have a huge list of new kitchen appliances I need in my kitchen

and I want to lose myself in there

I want to Organise more

I have so many little organising projects that I would love to get done around the house and in my life

As you can I want to acheive alot of things.

Blogging every day just isnt one of them

Keeping up with one a day is just too exhausting

I love blogging i really do but I think its time for me to cut it down to blogging whenever I have a post

Whenever I can get a few minutes to write one

It might be as little as my 2 posts a week

But it wont be as much as one a day.

I'll be finding a happy medium which allows me to blog, craft, organise and most importantly

spend time with my family.

So yes I am back WOOHOO

My posts wont be full time, they wont be witty or fluently written
they wont be proffessional like I just cant write like any of those things

But they will be real

Which is just how It needs to be

Thankyou to every single person who supported in my blogging break decison

and for all of those who will continue to support me

I truly am grateful and feel very special

Busy Busy Busy.... STOP!

Do you ever reach a point in life where it feels like things just never stop?

That you feel like you dont get to ever sit down?

That there is always something to do?

image from here

I do!

I reached that point last week.

It seemed like i was always rushing around to get things done.

Always rushing to not be late.

Between daycare, speech therapy, playgroups, the gym, Library sessions, blogging, food shopping, swimming lessons and playing housewife

I always felt like there was something to do, places to be people to see

you know the drill

Now dont get me wrong i LOVE doing all of this.

I like to be busy.

All of these things i do for my babes just like the next mum

BUT

I've had enough.

Im exhausted.

There's busy and there's just stupid busy.

I don't want to rush anymore, I want to enjoy the momment.

Each one of those tasks makes me who i am, who my family are.

Each one brings some sort of joy or happiness.

Which is why I dont want to give any of these up

The only solution.... Its time for another attitude change.

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.

~ Maya Angelou

Love that quote and thats exactly what im going to do.

I'm not going to worry about being late for daycare, or playgroup

Its only going to be 5 minutes and honestly thats 5 mintues is 5 minutes more I get with my babes.

I'm not going to worry about the housework everyday

It will always be there tomrrow, I will sit down and play with my boys, even MORE.

I will start going to the gym more often.

It's only an hour out of my day and It's and hour for me. Thats important. I need to look after me too.

I will get things done... one day at a time

I am like this by nature i want everything to happen and be done right then and there

but everything dosen't have to be done at once on one night or one day.

Each night I will focus on one thing, craft, reading, couple time, computer time etc

Of course things will over lap but I won't stress that im not doing the "other thing."

I will cut down on Facebook

As much as i love it and i wan't to be on it,

It's time to 'schedule' a certain amount of time in per day for it

Facebook is way too time consuming and way to easy to access

thanks iPhone

I'm not missing anything

(another trait of mine i dislike)

The same high school drama and politics will be there tomrrow.

The same immatuirty, backstabbing & fake friends will be there to do my head in another day.

Minimising this will, with any luck give me more time to get more done... fingers crossed.

Some of these are physical, mental alterations others are an attitude change

Ither way you look at it they need to happen.

Life is too short

My children are only this age once

Its time to step back into the momment forget the other stuff and just BE...

2 boys & wanting a girl... or maybe not?

I have 2 boys

2 handsome little men

Who i LOVE with my all

In actual labour with master J (L) My 2 babies now (M) Waiting for our induction with Lil C (R)

I wont deny the fact i was disappointed that one of my babes wasn't a girl.

I thought i wanted a pinky to dress up, go shopping with, share the mother daughter bond that i have with my mum

To share in all the girly things.

And up until recently i thought i still wanted that, that i still wanted a girl.

I watched the show 8 Boys and wanting a girl

and i felt for these woman because i wanted the same thing.

After watching that i had a talk to a lovely mumma of 3 beautiful boys Miss A

Who said i shouldn't want to have another baby JUST to try and have a girl

and you know what?

she was ABSOLUTLY right

(I look at the converstaion now and see how superficial it was)

So I was prepared to stop at 2 boys. 2 amazing little men.

But now im not so sure.

If you were to ask me

"are you done having babies?"

I couldnt say yes!

I just can not bring myself to say

I am done having children.

I just know in my heart there is at least 1 more babe in me.

Right now 2 is plenty but i would love to be pregnant again.

have another baby, raise another little human.

I loved being pregnant, dont get me wrong i complained

but overall i had 2 amazing birth experiences and i would love to go through it again

(if possible i know things could turn out completely differnt i was extremely lucky)

Would i want it to be a girl?

Yes, i would love a little princess

BUT

I think I would be just as happy if we were blessed with another baby boy.

(confused yet? yeah so am i!)

All of these thoughts running through my head have made me realise

we aren't ready for another baby yet.

That i need to be 100% prepared to have 3 boys.

(dosent that sound terrible!)

Right now in this momment i would happily birth another boy

But then i see a baby girl and think i would like to expereince that too.

Some people wont understand this as they read it and thats ok they dont need too

I know how very lucky i am

I have 2 healthy boys, i was able to carry my babes to full term with no complications

I was able to fall pregnant quite easily

I really am truly grateful for everything i have

There is just something inside me that would love to have a bond with my own baby girl.

Then theres something inside me that would love to have that mother son bond again.

So for now i am putting my all into loving my boys, they really are the light of my life

they are my everything and you know what 2 boys is fantastic!

I love having 2 Little Boys

We are just going to see where the wind blows us

All i know for certain is we will be going back for number 3

Im sure 3 boys would be even more amazing then 2...

Im BAAAAACCCKKKK.. did you miss me?

Yes im here, im back WOOHOO

i had to take a forced disappearing act as my laptop hard drive decicded it didnt want to be friends anymore!

Its ok i replaced its arse with a new one ;)

So lots has happened in my absence

My little life is taing twists & turns every day

its one hell of a ride somedays!

Il start with my super exciting news =D

no im not pregnant again haha

An awesome new womans forum/website is opening in June called

Lovely Living

It's going to have loads of info, bloggers and real life stories & recipes.

Well the lovely Jen put the callout for people to write some posts on differnt subjects

and

MOI has been asked to write several posts for them

SOOOO excitied!

My little business TeeLee Blue is plodding along nicely

I'l be having a market night as soon as i can get some spare time to create.

Moving on to Mr S my lovely partner!

He was given a 7 wk job on the back dock at work and they are that happy with the arrangment he is doing it indefiantly AND they gave him more hours!

Things are looking up for him

its great to see him enjoying what hes doing now!

Master J,

well where do i start!

Hes turning into such a little man!

He'll be 3 in June & we are planning his birthday with the help from the gorgeous Lil of

Lily Chic Events

His talking is coming along in leaps and bounds.

hes now stringing 3 words sometimes even 4 & 5 words together.

The speech therapy is working wonders! It just what he needed.

He is also doing swimming lessons, without mummy :)

It took awhile for him to warm to the idea of being in there alone with his instructor and 2 other kids

but now he loves putting his Muscles (floaties) on and kicking and splashing.

Lil C,

My little Owlet bless him is now 7 months old

(where does the time go)

He's still smiling ALL the time even when hes crying you can get him smiling lol

Eating 3 meals a day, has dropped his afternoon bottle on his own and is loving sucking on watermelon and salad stuff.

The biggest news for my little man is hes trying to CRAWL

yep on his knees, bunny hopping and rocking back and forth.

Its so exciting for me to watch because Master J never did any of this build up to crawling.

So thats a little update on my family.

Il be sharing more as i blog.

I have so many ideas for posts and just not enough time

so il take it one day as it comes and see where it takes me.

There will defaintly be

more Camera Play, more meal planning, and loads more on my crazy life

ups & downs included!

On that note 

I hope you all have a fantastic Easter!

We are off to the Oakbank Races on Monday & cant wait!!

We are all getting dressed up, mummy in a dress and daddy and boys in shirts and dressy pants.

Hopefully i can get some rather cute pics of us all together.. well maybe just the kids.

Travel Safe and eat lots of chocolate and Hot X Buns

image from here



2 little boys...

I have 2 little Masters

Master J who is 3 in June and Lil C who is 1 in september.

I have no pink in my house,

it is all blue and green and red and brown.

Matchbox cars, building blocks, animals and planes.

I wouldnt change it for the world...

When I first found out Master J had a peen

I wont lie..

I was sad I went to the toilet after my U/S and cried on my mums shoulder.

WHY you ask?

well its a silly reason but i wanted a girl first.

Im an older sister and loved the relationship i had with my brother

It just seemed to me how it was suppose ot be for us.

It didnt take me long to get over it, we were exicited.

we wrapped our baby boy in blue, made plans for him to play in the dirt and play footy when he was older.

He was going to be an awesome big brother I just knew it.

When I fell pregnant with Lil C

I think it was pretty clear i was baking another blue

I still held onto the hope i would get the pigeon pair

because that seemed perfect to me!

And yep he was our 2nd little man.

And yes my heart slightly fell again BUT it was pretty awesome too

they were gonna grow up to be best buddies...

thats the plan anyway haha

"Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero"
~Marc Brown

kisses for little brother on mothers day

The first bonding momment

i love you

6 months on and that plan is looking pretty good so far.

Master J ADORES his little brother.

Always finding his dummy, helping me where he can playing with him, talking to him, making him laugh.

They bath together, have "tummy time" together, sometimes just "be" together

Dont get me wrong he has his momments of terror and jealousy

but im pretty sure thats all normal.

He is also extremely protective!

He has in his mind who and who isnt allowed to touch and hold Lil C.

He has smacked total strangers hands for touching Lil C or yelled NO at the kiddies at daycare.

He starts to get worried if he thinks we are going to leave Lil C behind

and

He will come running if somethings not right

(example if Lil C has toppled over whilst sitting up) 

Its so very cute to watch and makes me so proud.

I can just see once Lil C starts to crawl and walk Master J will acquire a shadow,

they already get along so well, laughing at things they only know,

playing with cars

and just being brothers.

I look at my boys now and think they are perfect.

and, honestly,

I am so happy to have

2 little boys, 2 little best friends, 2 little mischief makers.

I dont think there is anything like the bond that forms between 2 brothers

and i can not wait to see it turn into something so unbreakable.

"There's no other love like the love for a brother.

There's no other love like the love from a brother."

~Astrid Alauda

One day mumma might get her girl but for now...

I will just enjoy the love and bond of 2 little boys for their mummy

because that is like none other too..

Traditions...

Tonight for dinner we had some yummy Balsamic chicken and roast vegies

thankyou to miss Holly Homemaker for the recipe it was delish!

Which got me thinking of sunday night roasts dinners

which lead to family traditions.

I decided then and there that we would be having some sort of

"roast"

every sunday night.

It wont necassarily be roast meat

but it will defiantly be roast vegies and some sort of meat, even if its just schnitzel.

My partner agreed and i think master J will love it as he devoured his roast potatos and roast pumpkin

om nom nom.

So these thoughts and decisons got me thinking about all our other family traditions we have.

image from here

I love traditons i think they are important it gives us something to look forward too to get excited about its the little things in life that make the days so much brighter.

Its also something for just you and your family no-one else shares the same thing at the exact same time

So heres a few of our traditons...

Every Easter we head to the Easter races at

Oakbank

we use to camp there, Mr S and his family have been camping up there for years

since we've had master J and now Lil C it's a little harder

but one day we will camp up there again.

We still get all dressed up for the 2 main race days and have a flutter hehe

Easter Presents consist of one choccie egg or bunny a few small egss and a set of Pj's

Mr S gets ferraro rocheres and i get a Lindt bunny

Every Christmas Eve we open one pressie each

well not so much mum and dad now but the boys will get too

We also try and watch the Polar express or go looking at christmas lights.

For mine and Mr S's birthdays we always ither have homemade sghetti/lasagne and garlic bread or Chinese from our favourite chinese shop for dinner.

Every 2nd sunday (as Mr S works the other atm)

will be our

Family Fun Day

Our newest one will be a "Roast" something every sunday.

I'm also trying to bake with Master J once a week and now i think we will be doing some craft once a week too ive found some gorgeous craft ideas that we can do together

well thats all i can think of at the momment

im a tad disappointed i thought we had more :(

Im sure theres plenty more i just dont realise!

Im sure theres lots of smaller things and things we do in differnt seasons at differnt times of the year.

Anywho because it seems we dont have as many as i thought, i think its time to start adding some more!

What family traditons do you have? i would love for you to share them 

and 

the inspiration would be appreciated ;)