A Day in Brisbane City

One day over the Easter weekend we decided to head into the city for the day, something we don't do very often!

First stop after a bite to eat at the Museum Cafe, was the Museum. There was a dino exhibit on at the time and animals were the main focus. This is the kids in front of a bear. There was a robotic/dressed up human dinosaur roaming the museum and oh my it was pretty confronting! So much so that I didn't even get my camera out...mind you I did have a 14month old clinging to me and my 6 year old holding onto my leg for dear life!

Don't they make cute dinosaurs?

Getting in on the interactive fun...
After a couple of hours at the museum we headed over to the Art Gallery and then the Gallery of Modern Art for the 21st Century exhibit

The "kids" LOVED the mass of white LEGO to build with and together with Dad they created the tallest structure there, sorry no pic of this as I was outside with the baby at this stage.

We ended our very full day with dinner at Southbank, a play in the park in the dark(which is a real novelty) and a lovely night walk along the river.

We have really enjoyed having 5 days enjoying a varied amount of activities together as a family...I hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend with family and friends....
Sig

EASTER!!! For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so whosoever believes him will not perish but have everlasting life John 3:16

 The "boys" doing their chocolate easter bunny

 R busy at work!

Some of the end products! They didn't last long, but tasted very good!
We are very blessed that one of the homeschool family grandma is a very experienced cake decorator and from time to time will patiently do a workshop for our children.

 The mummy's got to have a turn too!!!

 My beautiful candy egg. Very proud of my creation. Very sad to see it devoured by hubby, he loves them!

All the mummy's eggs!

 R during weekly art class.

 R's Easter Egg Tree Painting and collage on canvas. Idea originates from Germany

J's canvas

 Making Plush easter bunnies. The kids first try at sewing. This project was a 3 hour one in all but well worth the effort as the kids learnt a lot of skills-cutting, using templates, sewing and stuffing....oh and patience and perseverance!

The end product! So nice for the kids to have a easter project keepsake that is not edible. The pink bunny has been named "Hop" and the blue one is "Zac"

Now we have definitely covered Easter Craft this past couple of weeks. To start the long weekend we are off to church for the Good Friday service in the morning and looking forward to some lovely time with family.

Have a safe and blessed Easter
xxx
Sig

A snap shot of our journey so far...

My hubby and I were married in August 2001 after dating for a year and a half. In January 2003 our journey into parenthood began as we welcomed our first child and son, J. Without mucking around when Jacob was just 9 months old we fell pregnant with our second child who in June 2004 we welcomed our second child but first daughter R into our growing family.
J and R are 16 months apart and are and always have been great friends and although it was tough at the time, almost like having twins, it is so worth it as they keep each other company and have been the perfect pigeon pair.

With me having done studies in early childhood and prior to children working in the industry, when R was 1 and a half and J almost 3 I decided to enter back into the workforce part time. In 2004, we purchased our first home, which just happened to be the one we were renting at the time. As the cost of living kept increasing so did my work hours and sadly my time with my munchkins decreased.

Late 2007, we had a stirring in our spirit and knew that something needed to "change". We decided collectively that I would stay at home with the children and not long after that we began to do some research on homeschooling. At the time I was working with a gorgeous women and mother of God,  and had homeschooled her children. This was such a blessing and a sign(or a nudge) from God that this may be what he wanted for our family.

So 2008, began our first year into our homeschooling journey. This was J's "prep" year so we really had time to research, meet other homeschoolers and connect and most importantly have LOTS of fun together and make up for some of that missed out time.
We have definitely had to make some sacrifices(financially mostly) along the way and rearrange the way we budget and spend our resources but it is well worth it, as the kids grow up you realise this increasingly. Through the years God has really blessed us and continues to provide for us with hubbys work, he has a great job and works hard to provide for our family.
This same year we travelled around Tasmania for 30 days and had an absolute ball together travelling this beautiful state. The children and I experienced our very first snow which was a highlight. Its a trip that was very much needed and will remain in our hearts and memories together! We look forward to many more travel adventures like this one.

2009 we found out we were expecting our third child and in February 2010, C graced our family with her presence. She is such a "joy" and we all LOVE her to bits. She has been a real gift to the children and to our family as a whole.It is so nice watching the older 2 interact and look after her. They are "besotted" by her and every morning they fight over who gets to sit next to me while I feed her!!!

We are now into our fourth year of  homeschooling and are part of an awesome local homeschooling network. The mums in that group have become some of my best friends and the kids have made some very meaningful friendships which I am sure they will have for a very long time. We have all become that close that now we couldn't imagine doing this homeschooling journey without them. We also attend an awesome church which we love being a part of and the children are really connecting with other children and leaders there including some of the homeschooling families.

As a family we have just started getting into camping as we love to travel and get out into nature regularly. So far we love it and we are always planning our next adventure.

Below are some pics of our wedding, the kids when they were little and one of our trip to Tassie.

Well that's 10 years in a nutshell!!! I look forward to keeping this "diary" of our journey and hope you can come along for the ride....