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."

Christmas in New Zealand

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!). 

All the 'new' babies - all born within 6 months of each other

Story time with Little Grandma

Shekinah and Caleb - born just a few weeks apart

Tasha - the much loved dog; Caleb was especially fascinated with her :)

Sliding down the sand dunes was a literal drag....

Sarah crash landed while pretending to be an airplane at the airport - hitting the corner of a glass shelf just before our flight home

Sarah Turns Three

Sarah trying to work out how many fingers to hold up :)

Another milestone was reached this week with Sarah turning 3. It's hard to believe she has only been 2 all this time! I think the change that happens between two and three years old is a big one - from a baby to a child, and I have certainly enjoyed watching Sarah become a little girl. This little girl is different to her older sister - where Abigail loves pretty dresses and shoes, Sarah is my leggings and gumboots girl. My bugs and worms and geckos girl. My cheeky moody girl.

As for our birthday 'traditions', the day started with her opening presents. We then had playgroup, and as it was the last for the year it was a party (great timing!). A free Subway was enjoyed for lunch (members get a free meal on their birthday; it's free to sign up); both girls love Subway. After all the morning's party food they didn't eat much though! After a short afternoon rest we went to the park and then to the shops for ice creams. A swim in the pool with her new floatie backpack was next before doing the birthday cake and having our special dinner (I usually cook something European for special occasions as that's not our usual fare, so we had roast beef, roast sweet potato and zucchini, steamed parsnip and broccoli, and coleslaw), followed of course by eating of the cake. It was a lovely day and it all went well. Very thankful that Sarah is part of our family.

A quick pictorial update

Sheehy gathering to see the Myers!

The mothers :)

Myer's children and Sheehy children. My they have grown!

Decoration for Day 1 of the Truth in the Tinsel 

Abigail had a go with the camera...

And so did Sarah :)

Our advent wreath - each night we light another candle to mark down the days to Christmas

Playdough hedgehog

At the park

Giggly gerties :)

My little girl whose confidence is growing in leaps and bounds to try new things

xx

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I am big on Christmas traditions - it is a wonderful time to tell and tell and tell about God's love for us and His gift of Jesus. So much symbolism in Christmas (yes, even in Christmas trees and candy canes).

Our tree is now up and we are ready to start our Jesse Tree advent on Sunday using Ann Voskamp's The Greatest Gift (I'm kind of a big fan of Ann's writings; highly recommend her book One Thousand Gifts [I've just reread it recently], and her blog). 

I loved this webcast on having a sane and sacred Christmas (watch it in the evening instead of tv one night?). There is a great explanation of what a Jesse Tree is at 36:24 if you don't have time to watch the whole webcast.

And I am looking forward to doing our Christmas shopping for Jesus with the kids using Gospel for Asia's and Christian Blind Mission's Christmas gift catalogues. (We don't buy these on our loved one's behalf instead of gifts - we buy them as gifts purely for Jesus, to celebrate His 'birthday'; the accompanying gift cards are opened and read on Christmas Day as our gifts to Him).

The 6th of December is Saint Nicholas Day. Voice of the Martyrs has a great book about who he is.

This is such a wonderful time of the year to really teach our children about God's love, and His gift of Jesus - and all that that means for us. Let us be intentional about celebrating with our children and teaching them what it is all about. The Christmas Story is romantic, and it is part of a bigger love story that started at the beginning of time.

* Christmas star topper and nativity set from Oxfam (highly recommend the Nativity Set - only $34.95, fair trade / ethically made, non-toxic and sustainable wood source)
* Koorong stocks both of Ann's books. Duck out and get The Greatest Gift to follow this Christmas? Jesse tree ornaments can be downloaded from her website, or you can make your own.

Caleb's Birthday

This week started with Caleb turning one year old! So incredible to think that a year has passed since he was born. Wonderful, wonderful times. I love my fast growing little boy.

Happy Birthday little man.

Celebrating My Marriage

Establishing family traditions is something I'm keen on (particularly when it comes to Christian celebrations), and an idea I came across a few months ago and have since been doing is celebrating our anniversary date each month. The 13th of each month is now the day Jonathan and I celebrate being married. I made some heart bunting that the girls help me hang up over a picture of Jon and me. I cook a special meal AND dessert. And once the children are in bed, I read to Jonathan the last 30 days worth of entries in my Husband Gratitude Journal (I highly recommend keeping one of these - I have found it very easy to overlook my hubby's good qualities and the things he does for me at times; keeping a list has opened my eyes to notice things about him I hadn't before, and that it turn has grown my love and respect for him). It has become a day I really look forward to, and as our children grow, I hope they will glean much from it too (studies show that the best thing parents can do for their kids is to love their spouse). Oh, and clean sheets on the bed is also very nice (especially when they don't get changed as regularly as they did before child 3 arrived....) ;)