i forgot it was monday

so relaxed i am.
after a few days of rain over christmas...
hence plenty of nana naps and long stints reading new books
i have lost count of the days.
and i'm about to lose count all over again because
we're off on a little holiday.
a few lazy days at the ashram
where we'll eat delicious vegetarian meals
and chant in the new year accompanied by a couple of hundred yogis.
i'll be back in a few days,
in a new year,
with photos and stories.
Until then,
may you smile and warmly welcome 2010.
so much to look forward to x

an early christmas present

Daniel shot this footage in autumn.
He was waiting for the perfect soundtrack.
He's my true love and I am deep deeply in love with HIM!
Home - it's who you're with, not where you are.

monday summer pics

Trying to get a 'good' family Christmas photo.
But did you know that toddlers wriggle? Alot.
Then the batteries died.
And so this is the best outtake.
Which is the only appropriate 'take'.
Joyous Christmas to you xxx

the boy

since the haircut i can see a little boy. no more baby. and i have a much better idea of what he will look like when he gets older. aren't little boys just the most adorable little things. Someone asked him what he wanted for Christmas the other day and without hesitation he said: 'truck'. Of course, why would he want anything else? But we have so many trucks and i love them all but it's time for something a little different. So I bought this (his grandparent's helped) and am enjoying collecting the accompaniments - chef's apron, food, etc.

Apparently all that matters at the moment is blue wellies and a ukulele. Because, why wouldn't you want to wear gumboots in 35degree weather? I have stopped questioning and am just excepting it as the fashion of choice for the two-year-old that melts my heart.

Christmas is all about the magic - magic for the children. And us mamas and dadas are the angels that make it happen. This reminder changed it all for me.

What are you doing to make it magical?

fliss-inspired tree

So I've ditched the bah-humbug attitude and found myself a tree. I read fliss' blog last night (how cute is her little art?!), looked out the window, spotted a lovely, rather dead branch and encouraged Daniel to go cut us a tree.

Daniel and I have both commented on the lack of Christmas spirit around here lately. Perhaps it's the heat, perhaps it's the stories that speak of snow and eggnog and warm winter fires. I think it is challenging for us to really muster that Christmas magic in Australia. But, I'm determined to do so and I can't tell you how special it was to watch Ché place all the decorations on the branches. There was a certain branch, right at his level, that accumulated about 15 stars. When he wasn't looking I spread them around a little bit - because even my Christmas tree needs a little balance.

I'm so happy with my economically and environmentally-friendly tree...and the decorations don't get lost amongst all the pine. Perfect!

I suppose it's been quite a sentimental day. We took Ché to get his first haircut. I love his long curls but he was starting to look a bit shaggy and although I like dreads I don't think they look that great on a two-year-old. Daniel and I both knew it was going to be slightly challenging to get him to sit there so we told him that we would buy him an ice-cream afterward. And so, I had to sit in the chair while the hairdresser quickly chopped. And I watched Daniel try to catch every curl that dropped to the ground. He collected them in a little calico bag and no doubt we will keep those golden curls forever. Only problem is, after all the cutting was done the hairdresser tripped Ché over and he landed on his face, splitting his lip. Who leaves the hairdresser bleeding? We do...I so hope we haven't scarred him for life.

We're counting down till holidays....Christmas celebrations at playgroup, celebratory dinners with family and special night-time stories - just the 3 of us. There's sweet spiced nuts to prepare, ribbon and paper to wrap and a reminder of the number one rule in Ayurveda - never over eat!

monday summer pics

crinkled summer dresses and a grey day outside.
perhaps a little how i feel.
trying not to get overwhelmed by the Christmas frenzy.
trying to stay grounded and calm and be grateful for what we already have
and who we have
the fresh Christmas trees sold out on the weekend.
so we don't have a tree.
wish i could have been a little more prepared for advent.
sigh.
there's still time to bake and wrap and hug.
and that sounds good to me.

monday summer pics

light flare
an evening swim
summer's here