Big News!

While biting into his apple today at school, Jie's tooth come out!

The Tooth Fairy is visiting to our home tonight..

Dad says the tooth is worth 55c 

Jie says its worth $55

What do you say?

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Thankful Thursday - Fathers!

I never had a great, or even good relationship with my father until I myself became a mother. Between the ages of 13-16 I was placed into over 25 different foster homes most of which were single mother environments. It wasn't until I was living with a good hearted Christian family that I realised the importance of a Dad within the family and since then I had found Jesus and my heavenly Father. Earlier this year I got married, something I never thought would have been possible back then, but God blessed me with a wonderful husband and fabulous Dad for my kids. My Father walked me down the isle on our wedding day and making him proud that day was so special. As part of our wedding my partner also dedicated himself and promised my son (from a previous relationship) that he would always have a Dad to encourage him to be the best man God created him to be. I remember feeling so joyful underneath the pack of nerves. Now I have my heavenly father, my real father, a wonderful father-in-law and my kids have as awesome Dad too. And for that I am forever thankful!

My Dad and my son Jiedyn - 2006

Matthew and Nevaeh - 2010

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I'm One Of The Editors Picks!

Check me out by clicking here..
List your blog on they're website and leave your link in my comments below!
I'd love to follow, vote and review your blog..
I'm so excited to be featured!
Can you tell?

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My 10 Essentials

Kate over at The Tales Of Me after sharing her 10 essentials, mentioned that I share mine!

Here they are Kate..

1. Fresh Water - Everytime I turn the tap on in my home, I remember how lucky I am.
2. Jesus - I don't know how I ever lived a day without being thankful for Gods precious gift.
3. People - The diversity of people is somewhat humbling to a girl like me.
4. Freedom - Does this ever enter you mind?
5. Sunny Days - Light, Life, Warmth.
6. Fresh Air - Thank you Jesus!
7. Love - Being passionate about something and the feeling of knowing your loved.
8. Dara Maclean - I admire because she inspires..
9. Empathy - Something not taught in school that really should be!
and 10. Bible - I'm sure if we didn't have it, God would have found another way to speak to our hearts.

Did I miss something? Comment your 10 essentials..

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A Lunchbox Love Note..

With school photo's scheduled to be taken today at Jie's school, it was only too appropriate to send Jie to school with a fresh cheese sandwich. His normal requests these days are honey or peanut butter ..but I think I'll get away with it being accompanied with a cheeky note!

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Scripture Sunday: Matthew 18:20

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

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Why am I not a photographer?

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I remember {friday}

 So many photos of memories I have paused I can't share..

But heres a few more I love that are rare..

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I remember {thursday}

I remember her first night at home..

Her beauty, her sweetness, her joy to our home..

I remember..

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I remember {wednesday}

I remember the good times we had when Matt and I first met..

The love we had for each other..

The trips we took just to get out of the house and make a sweet boy smile..

I remember..

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I remember {tuesday}

Nana's first hold..

her first hug..

her first loves to her first great-grandson..

I remember..

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I remember {monday}

I remember putting Nevaeh's hair in pig tails for the very first time..

So thin, so delicate, so precious..

I remember..

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I remember {sunday}

Waiting..

Waiting..

and waiting..

Before holding my sons tiny hand for the very first time..

I was 17 years young..

I remember..

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Embrce The Camera: After Dark

This life never stops giving..

Delightful..

Cheerful..

Crazy Times..

Last night while in the bath Nevaeh comes in bare naked and jumps in..

"I want to do your hair Mummy, look up!" 

she says with a cup of water in hand

I had never had a bath with her before but I had no say in the matter.

It reminded me how much my kids are exactly like me..

Pushing boundries for that extra bit of fun!!

Here is us embracing the camera before tucking her into bed.. 

She is an amazing little girl, and I am so glad she is mine!

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One time, stop everything to help someone else..

Last Saturday, while planning a {family impact day} of cleaning we received a text message from family friends asking if we could baby sit two littlies. Without thinking at all I accepted. Another massage came saying that they were in search of others to look after the other 4. I said not to stress, that I could have them all. I ended up baby sitting 5 of them plus bringing Jie too equaling 6.

Being in another persons home, watching how the kids all interact with one another, how personalities shine through, how each child handles they're emotions and the extent of the littlies tantrums was all a very new experience not only for me, but for Jie too.

All I could do was teach. Teach how important it is to work as a team, treat each other with love and kindness and that the only person that they can control of is themselves. It was struggley for a while but soon the kids got it. Time outs went to those who kept forgetting but only two before they realized how serious I was ;)

After dinner and some cleaning, age appropriate board games came out and the kids were laughing and having a tonne of fun! "It's my turn next" was the most said word of the night and yummy surprise treats all round after gaming was the highlight for the kids.

Noodles and Vegemite seemed to be the crowd favorites as far as food went and after the littler kiddos went to bed me and the two elder ones hooked into a choc muffin each.

The following day the kids spent the day amusing themselves, playing games, watching movies and skyping to friends on the computer, more board gaming, watching foxtel and nerf gunning.

Later that night the kids went from being good to all fighting. It was mental. Emotions everywhere wondering where Mum and Dad were, how long until they would be home, dinner to be done, cleaning to do etc. It all got too much for the oldest who took it out on all those around him. I was in shock but understood.

All in all it was a very eventful weekend, great kids, great family and a lot of entertainment!

Best of all I checked off a RAOK Challange by just being me.. just me!

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Jie's School Walk-a-thon

Jie showing me a prize he won while walking.

Jie's Prize and freckley face. (for you Katherine!)

I asked Jie to pose for a photo and he insisted of getting it with his friends.
Conner, Chili, Cody and Jie.

Jie lining up with some of his class mates after the walk-a-thon. 

The weather was horrid so the kids ran to keep warm. 

Jie completed 9 laps in 30 minutes.

All money raised is going towards class room air conditioning.

Thank you to those who sponsored him.

He had a great time!

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Meet Little Miss Whiskers!

Nevaeh made her very own kitty today, naming her Little Miss Whiskers!

Thank you to the family friendly staff at DIY Bears for making my little girl smile today!

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Parmesan Pastry

Are your kids sick of having the same old food in they're lunchbox each week?

Do you remember having that boring old sandwich week in and week out?

A piece of fruit and a bag of chips just not fun anymore?..

Go out of your way for your kids!!

At 8 o'clock yesterday morning I made some simple parmesan pastry for my little man to take to school with him. At his school, Tuesday is fruit day so his lnchbox is usually packed with fruit, fruit and more fruit but yesterday there are some flaky goodness in there as a bit of a change!!

So simple, anyone can do it!

Cut some pastry into strips..

as a bit of butter to each strip..

rub on some parmesan cheese..

cut and twist the strips..

bake for 10-20 minutes..

and..

wa-lah!

 

The perfect addition to any lunch box, even for those fussy eaters like my son.

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My three loves..

my whole heart.

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Top 100 in Australia!

This week Jie's hard work and enthusiasm has achieved him 

a ranking in the Mathletics Hall of Fame!

His love for maths came natural to him when he started school this year 

with his mid year report card showing him at a year 1 level. 

I love the concept of the hall of fame as it has really encouraged him.

Not only did he rank 61 this week, but he was the only one of his school in the top one hundred!

There will be no stopping this wise guy in future.

What an achievement!

So proud right now..

*Click the picture to view the mathletics website.. I highly recommend it!

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little guys can do big things too..

He's big but God's bigger 

And when I think of Him, that's when I figure 

With His help, little guys can do big things 

With His help, I know I can do big things 

With His help, little guys can do big things too 

{VEGGIE TALES - BIG THINGS TOO LYRICS} 

While Nevaeh took a nap today Jie and I went out to kick the footy around. Making things different from every other time Jiedyn wore his new super man suit..

After kicking the footy I grabbed a few snaps of him which you can see above before sitting ourselves down in the grass for a bit of a chat.

It was while we were sitting there that I asked him a few nosy questions. Things like what did he want to be when he grew up and etc.

In those small moments I got a rare glimpse into my growing sons heart.

He told me that he wanted to be a police officer or and army man when he grows up (something I'm not sure I like) and said that he can't wait to grow up to fly in a plane. The thing he most wants to do in his life is to look for treasure on an island somewhere and he explained that he didn't want to grow up too fast because he was afraid of dying.

I love his personality, his honesty and his sincerity. He has such a beautiful heart that I hope someone will never ever break on him.

After our chat he wanted to show me this and show me that. "Mum, did you see that?" and "Watch this Mum!" were two sentences he shouted out the most this afternoon.

As I watched I couldn't help but think of my own childhood. Thinking that if I had have been showing off wanting so much attention that I would be smacked around or sent to my room. I also thought of the children of the world who miss out on having a childhood that I and my son so freely takes for granted.. I am forever thankful for the life I have been so blessed with and that Jie is free to be anything and anyone he wants to be.

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Jiedyn's First School Disco Video!

Press play and enjoy..

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Three little moments..

*Jiedyn made breakfast for himself and Nevaeh..

Nevaeh: "Where's my spoon?"

Jie: "I made you brekky Vae-Vae, three wheatbix because your three!"

Nevaeh: "Where's my spoon then?"

Jie: "Here, have mine, I can get another one"

Nevaeh "Thank-you Jie-Jie"

Jie: "That's okay!"

Nevaeh: "No, your welcome!"

Mum: "Jie, when you were little, after I said thank you, you would always say "That's all welcome." it was so cute that Uncle Al used to say it too."

Jie: "Thats because we have the same life"

Nevaeh: "What's life Jie?"

Jie: "A life is a heart, because if you didn't have a heart you wouldn't have life"

Nevaeh: "Me got a heart.."

*a little while after while Jie was putting a video on..

Jie: "Which button do I press?"

Nevaeh: "Just press X"

Jie: "It doesn't have an X"

Nevaeh: "Just press two then.."

*While watching the movie and writing this post..

Mum: "What's you favorite color Jie?"

Jie: "Pink, blue and purple"

Mum: "Why Pink?"

Jie: "because I think it's beautiful."

Mum: "Whats your favorite color Vae?"

Nevaeh: "um.. green - no purple, purple."

Mum: "Why?"

Nevaeh: " ..'coz!"

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Nevaeh's favorite past time..

Her favorite book is Maisy Mouse, we couldn't find it today but when we do I'll make sure she shares it with you too! Isn't this so clever.. She has memorized three books so far..

 ..and counting!

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Blogging on the go..

So, here I am blogging from the comfort of my couch! No laptop, no connecting sd cards or cameras into the computer, no opening a million windows to edit photos, download photos or save and upload photos.. I finally got myself a smart phone and joined the 21st century!!

I'm so excited to be blogging this morning using an android app called Blogaway. I can do pretty much anything I would normally do on my laptop using my new Sony Ericsson Xperia 10a I brought off ebay on Friday!

So this means you'll be hearing and seeing a lot more of us in future..

..the first photo for the first post brought to you by my my new phone!

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