Going away for Christmas

We were so excited that a couple of months back, we were given the amazing opportunity to stay a week down the Gold Coast at a beautiful resort for a very good price. 

Hubby gets holidays over Christmas as his office closes and usually it is way too expensive and difficult to book accommodation over this period so we normally stay home and prepare for Christmas. 

We are so grateful for this past week.... Feeling so relaxed and we have had some beautiful time together as a family. 

Some of the many highlights :

•daily beach swims 

•swim and fun in the pool and spa. Also going to the pool at night is always amazing

•walks into coolangatta to browse the shops and grab supplies 

•Pizza Hut all you can eat buffet dine in lunch (first for the kids ) 

•night beach walk spotlighting for crabs 

•sleeping in 

Celebrating Christmas :

We took a little tree with us and all the presents and decorated the apartment a little to make it feel more festive. 

It was still important for us to spend Christmas with our families while we were Away. Hubby's parents live close to where we were holidaying and we had Christmas night dinner with his family there. Boxing Day my family traveled to the coast to spend the day with us at the resort, we had brunch and lunch in our apartment and had a great day hanging out together. Kids were blessed by both our families with gorgeous presents. 

To conclude...I loved being away for the Christmas season. It didn't feel any 'less' like Christmas and I actually really liked being removed from the busyness and last minute lead up to Christmas. We seemed content with keeping it simple but still special. 

What a great week !!! 

Luke 2 vs 8 to 12 
 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

My beautiful Mother's Day !

My Mother's Day weekend :

Saturday night was spent celebrating this special day with my mum and brothers and sisters. We had a great night catching up over plenty of food and wine. 

Sunday morning I had a sleep in (best pressie!! ) then a very indulgent breakfast made for me of waffles , melted chocolate, blueberries and ice cream) 

Then we went to the Mother's Day service at church , which is always beautiful. 

I had a beautiful relaxing massage and ended the day with a lovely walk in the park with the family. 

I am one very blessed mum! And blessed with an amazing Mum! 

Psalm 127 vs 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

A getaway we are calling a "mini honeymoon"

We are very blessed that each Christmas my mothers gift to us (hubby and I ) is 4 vouchers for "Meme Time". Basically every 3 months (quarterly) Mum has the 3 kids for 2 to 3 nights so that Rob and I can have some "us" time.

We choose to spend the time in various ways and change it up each time..... we have had camping trips, stays in the city, country , hinterland and sometimes even just a beautiful, lazy time at home. It can be so lovely to enjoy your home without the pitter patter of 3 sets of little feet!

We love our children dearly, I don't even need to say that really BUT this is WHY we value and place such importance on time for their Mummy and Daddy. Looking after US is looking after them !

We were "us" -a couple, partners, best friends, husband and wife before we became a family of 5 so I believe we owe it to each other and our children that we look after "us". IT makes us better husband and wife, Mum and Dad and therefore we have more to give to our precious family.

For our last voucher we really felt to splurge and spoil ourselves so we booked a 3 night getaway at a beachfront resort on the Gold Coast.

The location was perfect as it meant we could walk to everything.....patrolled beach, cafes and restaurants, book stores and boutiques and a grocery store.

We started the weekend with a massage-best way to relax quickly........

It was so lovely to:
Sit on the deck with a wine staring at the ocean and having uninterrupted chats.

Eat all our meals not to a schedule but when we felt like it and eat what we felt like. Trying out various cafes and restaurants.

Have long walks along the beach,  esplanades and browse the local shops.

Swim in the ocean and pool without responsibility.

Watch reality TV for some mindless activity.

Sleep in !!!! or NOT sleep in !

We even checked out the casino-something we never do and don't intend on doing often !

This 3 nights and 4 days with the love of my life was very precious, we both reflected and said we would not have done anything different , it really was perfect and very memorable.

We were very ready to give our 3 gorgeous children a very big hug and spend some beautiful time together as a family. They survived, we survived but not only survived we all thrived ! They got to spend some lovely time with their wonderful Meme, whom they love and they got back a Mum and Dad who feel very refreshed, revitalized, very much in love and ready to tackle the world till next time......

“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10vs9
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Mother's Day activities

In the lead up to Mother's Day we got together with 2 other homeschooling families and did some activities.

We started the day with 2 lovely stories about Mum's.

Other activities done in small groups were making cookies from scratch and then decorating and wrapping them up as a gift. 

The children also made beautiful flowers out of crepe and pipe cleaners, post it note holders out of coloured paddle pops and some gorgeous cards. 

We love these days where we can celebrate, learn and create together with other families. 

Easter Fun With Friends !

We are very blessed to have some good family friends to share this home school journey with. On special occasions we like to get together and do some activities as a group. Learning together is so much FUN!

We had various activities set up and the children were split into two groups, one for the over 5 and one for the under 5's and we end up with quite even numbers.

Decorating and creating an Easter card or two for family and friends

Creating a bunny out of paper plates and other craft materials which we would then assemble together to make an Easter bunny basket to fill with our Easter chocolates that we made by Melting Chocolate and pouring it into Easter moulds.

We finished the afternoon by sharing a lovely afternoon tea out on the deck and run off some energy in the backyards with our friends. 

A lovely way to celebrate this special Easter season that is coming up !!!

Girls weekend!!! 2013

I have just come back from 3 nights away with my close friends for a 'girls weekend'.

Every Mummy should do this! It is so great to have a few days enjoying simple pleasures that only a Mum can appreciate.

No cooking , preparing food or feeding anyone but yourself
We went out or bought in for breakfast , lunch and tea. What a treat !!!

Doing whatever you like, when you like.
Some of the things we did...
-strolling up and down the streets browsing the shops
-going for a jog, walk along the beach
-putting your feet up with a good book or magazine or having a nap
-walking over the road to one of the many
Cafes, juice bars or gelati shops for a coffee, juice or ice cream!
-going for a swim in the surf
-playing board games
-watching a movie that is not animated
-chatted and giggled till we could chat no more(literally!!!! One night I nearly lost my voice)

Going to bed when you feel like it and naturally waking up when your body tells you it's time !

Come back feeling refreshed, energized , rested and yes, missing your children!

So good for the whole family, for kids to have Dad all to themselves for the weekend is also a treat.

Go on what's stopping you ?? If you can't do 3 nights , start with 1 or 2 or even a few hours.   

I am truly blessed with great friends who also value this time, this one wasn't even finished and we were making plans for our next one!!!

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times

High tea fit for an 8 year old

Back in June For R's (dd8) 8th birthday we had a high tea party.

R chose 4 of her closest friends to come for afternoon tea.

To start with they had some free play and all dressed up in princess's costumes

The girls then proceeded to the veranda where the table was set for the little princesses.

Food like scones, fairy bread, sandwiches, fruit, lamingtons, jam biscuits were devoured, in the most lady like fashion.

We used a tea pot and cups for some warm hot chocolate.

The girls were using a 'posh voice' when speaking and making sure they were extra polite, like ' could you please pass the tea?' .

Once their tummies were full , we decorated cupcakes to take home as a 'goodie' bag.

A lovely and memorable afternoon to celebrate my gorgeous little princess's birthday ! 

oxoxo

Valentines Day Activities with friends

Our good friend and school teacher opened up her house on Valentines Day for a few home school families to do activities together.

First a story on warm fuzzies was read and the children all discussed the story and brain stormed and shared 'warm fuzzy ' ideas.

Then the children were broken into small groups and rotated between activities:

• Writing warm fuzzies for each other

• Weaving colored card to make heart shape baskets to put the warm fuzzies in

• Reading and following a recipe to

bake a double layered chocolate heart cake 

• Melting chocolate into Valentine themed shapes 

We then shared a yummy lunch and delivered our warm fuzzies to our friends baskets and read them.

A beautiful day celebrating Valentines Day with friends oxox

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up , just as in fact you are doing 
1 Thessalonians 5 vs 11