It's Monday again.

Yes it's that day again...... Monday Monday Monday. It was actually good start to the week considering half my morning was spent watching the Oscars, not the whole show just the good bits.
My predictions for Best Movie, Best Actor and Best Actress came through although hubby still wasn't impressed with Natalie Portman's performance. He's not a dancing buff but I really liked movie and I'm glad he sat quietly all the way through the movie without any complaints. I really can't stand it when you watch a movie and have to sit through it all with someone mumbling about how much they don't like it but still watch it anyway.
So anyway I'm joining Toddler Awesome's survey for Mama Monday No.3. Each week she'll be posting a few questions for mums and a little pamper task so link up. Here's her questions for today:
1. What piece of motherly advice did your own mum give you, that you put to use now on a daily basis?"Don't worry about the kids not eating everything you cook. They might not like the green veggies but one day they'll come around to it."  I always place the vegetables on my children's plates and I have one son who absolutely hates vegetables and he'll put on his "death by vegetables" act and then my youngest son just loves anything green and they would be the first things he'll eat from his plate. Amazing how they are complete polar opposites.
2. When you get time to yourself, what are YOUR hobbies and interests?Time to myself would have to be during nap time, especially when I have Mr Terrible Twos around. I love to sew but it is impossible when he's so curious about the sewing machine so I usually have to find something to occupy him. I love to sew and if I could I would do this all the time.
3. What is your fail safe family meal?I think cooking anything with pasta is the easiest and the quickest. Just whip up some sauce either a tomato or cream base sauce add some chicken and vegetables pour it over the cooked pasta and ta da. Easy and plenty to go around.

 

YOUR TASK:
Do you nails!  Paint your finger nails and your toenails with your best/ favourite colour....
And when I get some time for myself today I'll be painting my nails with some of these lovely colours.

Sunny days down by the beach

Today was a beautiful day full of warm sunshine and calm waters.



Crystal clear waters, blue and green.




Clean white powder sand.



Not too crowded and the beach for myself.



Fun and games down by the beach.



A roar full of laughter by the poolside.

.....you say hello

My just turned 2 year old has just learnt to say "Hi", and it seems to be a whole new a stage of his life when he's realised how that one word can make an instant connection with a much bigger world than his own. He'll say it when we bump into our neighbours while leaving the house, sitting in the supermarket trolley, eating at a restaurant or while we are out doing some shopping. We could be doing something totally normal and when we come cross a stranger and he just has to make that eye contact and out he comes with a "Hi!". 

Jacob and his super smile.

A smile and a giggle, a big grin over his little mouth and than his little hand starts to wave with excitement. It's not just one "Hi" but at least a couple of repeated "Hi's" when the other person responds back. He seems well aware of the reaction he gets from this and the smiling is totally catching when I see his little face light up. I'm amazed by the innocence of it all in a simple greeting from a child to make one forget about their day for a moment and give back with a smile and a hello. 


For my son, his world revolves around our family and as he gets more adventurous and confident he will meet new people and make new friends. Just a simple greeting of hello and an infectious smile and he's made a connection and I think we can learn alot by watching our children to remind us how simple it is to start each day with 

a big Hi! 

My Place & Yours: What I am Reading

I wish I had more time to grab a book and read. I have a few and this is my most recent. This book was given to me by my hubby for my birthday. I think he had the best intentions  when he chose this book but with that title I think it may have secretly been the book that he wanted to read. Anyway, as soon as I unwrapped my present and barely had the time to read the inscription it was whisked away from my hands by hubby. Don't get me wrong I have all of Sue Townsend's books but I didn't get it back for another 2 weeks later. I'm some where around the 2nd chapter. 

As much as I would love to go to the book shop and buy a real book with paper pages I've been stocking my virtual book shelves with some ebooks. Much cheaper than a real book and takes up virtually no space I find they are easier to read on the go or while I'm find some precious free time.

I love the movie and had to get this book.

Yes another movie book but I did get around to reading her blog. Almost finished with this book.

As you see the theme for this week's My Place & Yours over at Danielle's Hello Owl is 

What are you reading?

Polly Dolly - Clever Contrast

This is my first Polly Dolly for the year. It's week 46 of the Polly Dolly weekly Polyvore challenge over at Danimezza. 


The challenge for this week is 

Clever Contrast

I haven't been out for a while and tonight I'm dressing to the nines with this white crepe flowing dress and my black crystal Christian Diors. Black sapphire and white diamond flower ring, white hairband and elegant black and silver earrings. A night of fine dining and stroll along the esplanade. 

My New New Blog Button

I'm was doing a little house cleaning on my blog and decided to revamp my blog button with something more personal looking. I wanted something to show the beach and the family. So I came across a post from Suger Coat It about Blog Design Makeovers ; Making a Button and she's also posted these really good tutorials on how to give your blog a whole new look. If you have no idea what to do and want some expert advise she also offers her services to give your blog a new look, design, twitter account and button. Just click here to find out more.

So I was going through my photos on Picasa and came across a day at the beach with the kids running around. Ashley was at a friend's birthday party and Jacob and I followed along. While Ash was playing with the games, Jacob keeping himself busy building in the sand and chasing the little crabs along the beach.
So here it is, my new button. 

Today Is Your Birthday

Today is your birthday. A teenager now. All 13 years we have seen you grow up into a fun loving girl, full of life and adventure and now on another path through the teens.

You have been like a best friend to me. A little helper always ready to give a hand. Sharing special times together. The laughter, the talking and the best hugs .... I miss that now.

A wonderful sister with a ton of patience for your little brothers. Caring for them I know you do your best to to be a big sister. 

You're in a new place now, new school and making new friends. Always remember that we are never that far.

Happy 13th Birthday Ash!

13 years ago on the same day

13 years ago on the same day I was suppose to have one of the best presents of all my Valentine's Days. It was the due date for my baby girl, a beautiful gift that for 9 months we had felt move and grow, a face which we were yet to see but was so familiar to us. 


The day came and it was filled with anticipation for our new member of the family. The bags were packed weeks ago, the cot was made up and all her new clothes had been washed and arranged in the drawer. Our baby was on her way home and all we had to do was wait for her arrival.


I had read all the books and was given lots of motherly advice to prepare me for this day but I guess nothing can prepare you for an event such as this. Nothing really goes to plan and there's always a few hiccups along the way. So the day passed and I was scheduled for a check up with the obgyn just to keep track with our weekly appointments and if today was going to happen then it would. 


Nothing happened that day and everything was going smoothly but today was just not "the day". So we waited over the weekend and the following Monday on the 16th I gave birth to a little girl with hardly any hair just a fine spray of golden brown, and a tiny little nose, the smallest hands but with the longest fingers and the daintiest feet. All so sweet and perfect in our eyes, my little girl Ashley.


I always remember Valentine's Day for this being the due date, a day held with so much anticipation for our first born. Even though she wasn't born on this day we had put so much into waiting for this day and it is still a special day for the ones we love the most. 


Our daughter is now an almost teenager and will be officially one this coming Wednesday. She's been my best friend over the years and I'm so amazed to see her growing up and moving forward with what lies ahead in her future. She is not with us now but has moved back to Sydney to go back to start highschool. Embarking on a journey without us but holding up so strongly on her own with the things we have taught her and blossoming into her own person. 


We sent her to study and live with my family and to have an experience of a lifetime. It was a decision that was not made lightly but one with a heart of love for her to grow to her best potential. I made that same journey at age 10 when I was sent back to Australia from Holland and my husband was 12 years old when he was sent to boarding school. In a perfect world we would all be in the same place together but she is in the right place now. 


She loves her new school and has made many new friends and we spend everyday chatting away as we have always done but now on a mic and using Skype to exchange gossip, advise and a window to connect us when we are so many miles apart. I'm happy for her and can't wait to see her everyday. She always puts a smile to our faces and today is one day that I just want to say how much I love her. Happy Valentine's Day Ash. We love you. 

It has been a long time since a joined a challenge for Blog This and I'm happy to reconnect with this piece for Blog This: Ghosts of Valentines Past.


... I've been away for a while, a break which I thought would be short but I'm back again and moving forward with a whole new year ahead of me. A new beginning but one I look forward to sharing.