Kirstie's Kitchen: January 2014

This month began with our arrival home from New Zealand to a heat wave. Suffice to say we have spent a lot of time in the pool this month. Within a few days back in the pool, Abigail started swimming independently, dog paddling her way around the pool. She is doing very well and we are proud of her. Sarah gets around with a Floatie pack on her back, and Caleb keeps our eyes and hands busy with watching and fetching him from under the water; he likes to try and swim.

We are slowly reading our way through the Little House on the Prairie series with Abigail and Sarah. I especially enjoy Farmer Boy (book 2) and hearing about all the food that Almanzo's mother used to make! The girls and I had a go at making some butter, and some egg nog. We are now reading Little House on the Prairie (book 3).

Jon and Grandma Randall had their birthdays this month and so we had a combined celebration for it with a picnic beside the beach. The rain and wind stopped just as we were setting up and it turned into a beautiful day. Speaking of picnics, we've had a few this month. About once a week we have been taking our dinner and to one of the nearby parks and having a picnic in the evenings. We've all really enjoyed doing this.

Australia Day found us trekking up to Redcliffe to pick up a Gumtree purchase and we made the most of it by stopping at the local waterpark for a swim and a picnic morning tea followed by lunch at Hungry Jacks. It was nice to see another part of Brisbane.

This month saw me start reading and writing lessons a few times a week with Abigail. Jon and I had a bit of a look at other rental properties in the area, but we eventually decided to sign on for another year at our current address; we've now been here 3 years. I have 'rejuvenated' the front garden by putting in some new plants - the weather has been perfect by providing lots of rain and overcast days, so the flowers are still alive at present. Jon and I are still listening our way through Bonhoeffer. And Caleb has moved into a big bed and both cots have been packed down (we have our room to ourselves again!).

I have enjoyed looking back to this time last year and seeing how far we have come, especially Jon and I as parents. One of my MOPS sessions a year ago asked us to describe our family in 1-2 words (tired and grumpy) and then use 1-2 words for what we wanted to be (fun and loving), and it is quite amazing looking back to actually see us transition over the year to being that! I am reminded of and will end with a verse we read recently from Philippians 2:13: "For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose."

We recently spent 10 days in New Zealand with my family over Christmas and New Year's. Five days in Auckland staying at my parent's home, and then five days down at Port Waikato on a campsite with all my immediate family. It was a great time of connecting and making memories together. The kids had a blast too (we barely saw them - there was so much to do and family to see that they were happily occupied without us most of the time!).