A Reminder for When My Children are Grown and I Feel that My Sleep is a Bit Interrupted

Sunset: Bathtime for kids and baby. In between bath and shower transfers, an attempt to finish off a birthday cake for Tim. Keep Tess happy-on-hip.
6:00: Tim home. Tess falls asleep. Dinner crazy dinner time.
7:00: Some talk, tv (the big football game is on tonight), bedtime routines.
8:00: Tess awake. Feeds, back to sleep. Need to stay awake to watch the first half at least. Nope. Fall asleep in bed.
10:00: Tess wakes, doesn't settle back to sleep. Except in my arms in bed. Tim puts her back in cot when settled.
12:00: Tess wakes, feeds, falls asleep. Zeb comes in. The cupboard doors in his room are open. Take him back, close doors, console, tuck in.
2:00: Zeb comes in. He can't sleep. Take him back, find torch, console, tuck in. Zeb comes in again. There are monsters under his bed. Tim takes him back, checks under bed, consoles, tucks in.
3:00: Tess wakes, feeds, doesn't settle back to sleep. Except in Tim's arms in bed. Zeb comes in. He's thirsty. Take him back, get water bottle, console, tuck in.
4:00: India's asthma is playing up. Give ventolin, tuck in. Zeb comes in. Don't listen to why. Let him into bed with Tim and Tess and I.
5:00: Everyone asleep. Know that I have to get up now if I want to shower and wash my hair. Get up.
6:00: Lunchboxes started. Breakfast started. Big girls up.
Sunrise: Tess wakes, feeds etc etc etc.

Best of Both Worlds

Once upon a time, many blogs ago, I wrote about why we wished for a country change. In the end the decision was made to stay in suburbia. We were settled and content, though I still felt the pull to the wide open of the countryside. 

Late last year, when Tim's parents moved into their family farm down by the tweed river, we started to realise some (part-time) farm dreams!  

Strolling through the veggie patch.

Riding the horse.

Adventuring.

Climbing trees.

Country roads. 

Feeding chooks.

Spending slow time with grandparents, parents, siblings.

Exploring nature.

Listening to the cows.

Running, running, running.

We love it there and are trying to make the trip one weekend a month, to really slow down our probably-too-scheduled lives. Maybe one day country life will be our always reality. But for now, you can expect plenty more farm loving pictures to fill this blog!

*hug*

Mine is the personality type that enjoys knowing personality types more than any other personality type. In other words, it's in my make-up to know myself well, and to be able to discern others well. I have spent many sleepless nights introspecting, so I feel confident about what makes me, me.
But sometimes I am (and we are) faced with questions and even dissatisfaction about who we are or who we have become. I have found that people approach this one of two ways:
Accept. I, for example, am never going to be a modern girl. No matter how much I sometimes dream of being fashionable, or have interests in line with my friends, I can't bring myself to prioritise it. And this makes me who I am (and hopefully, makes me unique and a blessing).
Or, Change. It is good to know ourselves and be confident. I think it's also ok to learn to be different to how you 'naturally are'. I, for example, have been prompted to change by my 21 month old niece. One of her most used sayings currently is "hug?", which means two things: 'I'd like a hug'; and 'pick me up'. Well, I'm either a natural non-hugger, or I've learned to be. I am affectionate with my own children and my nieces but not so much with my adult friends and family. Sorry loved ones! Crazy as it is to consider, one day my children will be my adult family!And I want affection to be as normal and as needed then, as it is to them now.
Plus, I think I need some more 'pick me ups', and I think my friends need some more too! So if you are a friend, I'm inviting you to help be a part my hugchange (but let's ease in please)!

Catch Me If You Can: Snow Trip

I didn't really plan on enjoying myself.

In fact the odds for dissatisfaction were stacked in my favor:

Tim could take only three days leave (plus a weekend); we found out only four days in advance, giving us minimal time to prepare; we had just a small amount of holiday money put aside; and I was halfway through pregnancy.

But I agreed to it, purely in the hope of creating memories of adventure, family and togetherness for the kids.

First step was to deck out the kids in Aldi snow wear and assorted borrowed items. Tim had plenty of suitable clothes from hiking, and I just needed to be warm (as I wouldn't be doing too much snow play.) We collected flying favours from our family members who work for Virgin, and booked a large, old, cold house in the Snowy Mountains to stay.

A few days later, Tim left in the middle of the night to drive to Canberra. Seventeen hours later he arrived at our accommodation and waited for us to land the next morning. The following two days were filled with snow exploration, tobogganing, and games that seem twice as fun when you are dressed head to toe in warm gear! Selwyn Snowfield was wonderful for children and families, and entertained us enough without the need for skiing or snow boarding. Then we spent two long days driving home together, but the children were fantastic.

Astoundingly, I had a lovely time. And not just because the kids did. 

Perhaps, like a massage, when quick pressure is applied, the body relaxes and allows more freedom to move (and love).

The Dusk Feed (In Slow Motion)

She cries, and I slowly take up my position on the couch,
bring her close, fill her up.
Every emotion is magnified for the next twenty minutes.
'I am so tired', I think.
And close my eyes for just a minute.
Everything is noisy here.
Big kids bathing, playing, reading, telling me jokes.
Cars speed down the street, workers anxious to return home to their babies, their families.
Dinner cooks or the stove, or, more often, it doesn't cook yet, though it should.
I cry. I want to be sick from the tiredness.
Her long baby fingers grasp at my shirt, my skin, my hands.
I study her ears, dimpled, furry, perfectly her.
I touch her toes, smooth my thumb across her feet.
And marvel at how she has grown already.
She finishes, full tummy.
Smiles at me and coos, telling me she is thankful, and that she loves me.
I cry. And smile.
And already the sun has set.

Catch Me If You Can: A Sunday Afternoon Drive

I'm not sure if it is the escape from duties, or a love of nature, or a way to relax, or the country life dream.
Our family loves a Sunday (or any day) afternoon drive.
Here are some tips for making the most of it.

Go with a tidy car:
Dump the clutter and do a quick run through with the vacuum. It's so much more enjoyable when you can stretch your legs and enjoy the ride without biscuit crumbs on your seat.

Pack a few things:
A picnic rug or two, to sit on or wrap around you atop a windy mountain. Snacks for breaking up long drives, and lollies help the ears adjust to the altitude changes. Something to do for the kids who get bored of the scenery (two of ours find wonder in everything the outdoors has to offer, and will gladly look out the window the entire trip, one of ours would prefer the imaginary scenes in her favorite book). Drawing packs to sketch what we see on our travels (we love the clipboard storage boxes from Officeworks to keep our stuff contained in the car).

Have a few favourite routes:
It's wonderful to see the same trees, mountains and pastures through the changing seasons. It's thrilling to notice something you haven't noticed before, though you've been there many times. I remember seeing a couple of peacocks walking along a fence once, something I'd never seen on our regular trips, and will probably not see there again. Our local favourite trip is Dayboro, Mt Mee and Campbells Pocket Road.

Try new routes:
Drive a bit further. Find somewhere with different terrain or scenery to your usual spots. Discover, and feel like a true explorer!

Stop somewhere;
Pull the car over if you see something interesting or a picture perfect place for a photo. Find a lookout to check out the views. Have a picnic on the side of the road. Take hot chocolates in the winter, and enjoy them in the open air. Get out for a bushwalk.

Have good music playing;
Give everyone a look in with their favourite tracks. We love Elizabeth Mitchell for the little kids, some acoustic and chillout for the adults and yes, some TayTay for the big girls to keep them happy.

Create traditions:
This will happen of it's own accord. In our family, Dad purposefully drives fast through puddles to create a splash. The kids love it. On a country road sometimes we will let the kids out to run alongside the car in a race. And we can't go past the our favourite bakery without stopping for a pie.

Marvel:
At the shades of green, the shapes of clouds, the raindrops on windows, the beauty, the Creator.