Wordless Wednesday - Family Fishing

A few Flathead to start with

Hubby - Expert, instructor, driver, fillet master

Master 5 - getting into the fishing now

Miss 9 - quite a good angler

The view

Great day on the water together

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with:

When There Is Wind .... Fly High

There are certain situations in life where you just have to look at it for what it is, and make the most of it. Like lemons! Personally, I like lemons and their flavour. There are many people who don't like them. As the saying goes "If life gives you lemons, make Lemonade".

Wind is one of those things that I find hard to appreciate.
I appreciate the wind's ability to dry my clothes. I also appreciate the role wind plays in creating Energy. Beyond this, I find wind to be an inconvenience and it makes me irritable.

We scored some breezy conditions after Christmas. I had already planned for this though.
Like people given lemons, we embraced the situation and gathered the new kites from Christmas to watch them fly for the first time.
The conditions were perfect for flying kites.
We had so much fun.

I now have a new appreciation for wind. I have also crossed another thing off my 2012 To Do List.

When was the last time you flew a kite?

Olden Day Activities

 My children often ask what activities we did when we were young (because it was the "old days" and things were sooooo different).
This question gets asked when they are bored. Even all the toys they have full of batteries, noise and movement doesn't stop this from happening!
Hopscotch was a favourite "way back then", and really is one of those classic activities that is simple, but keeps the kids active and amused.

This week the driveway has been full of different size Hopscotch, as well as drawings with chalk.

Joining in with

Catch My Words
From pdx with love
Heartbeat Magazine Blog
Taylor Joelle Designs
Crafty spices

The steps to a successful kids party?

We have attended a few kids parties and also held a few parties. With the help of Pinterest and our past experience, I planned Master 5's Birthday Party to be enjoyable, simple and fun.

My first instinct was to pay outrageous prices and throw the party at a venue that organised everything, including food, cake, entertainment, party bags and decorations. This idea is so appealing as it lowers the stress factor considerably, not to mention the cleanup efforts.
We opted for the more personal and cheaper option in the end. Why? It meant that Master 5 could invite all of his friends instead of limiting the number to 10. Also there are so many discount stores now where you can buy party supplies at great prices, like your plates, cups, balloons, party bag bits and pieces, etc. We also wanted a local venue for the convenience of all guests.

So this is how the party panned out, and the parts that made it a success.

Cake 
I like to make the cake myself, unless the kids request something totally beyond my skills (which are quite limited). Again, there are many things on the market now to help you do this. I am a huge fan of the Cake Toppers available in different themes, ready to add to the top of your cake. I get mine from The Cheesecake Shop. I went in ready to get something around the theme of Fireman Sam or Lightening McQueen, neither of which were available. I then spied a very cool (by 5 year old standards) A4 Super Mario Bros. Cake Topper. SOLD!

We bought a large cake tin a couple of years ago, which proved to be a good investment. It was the perfect size for the A4 Cake Topper, which I positioned off-center to leave room for some candles. I used Betty Crockers Super Moist Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix x 4 and added green food colouring to the Frosting (included with the cake mix) to decorate the cake, along with some large coloured choc balls. I wrapped a board in some colourful wrapping paper to place the cake on, and my job was done.

Venue
We wanted a local park with BBQ facilities, shelter and play equipment. We chose not to go with the larger park, complete with bike track, play equipment, swings, etc. WHY? The park we did choose was smaller and less popular, which meant that we could monitor the children better. We didn't want to be searching across a sea of little heads trying to pick which kids belonged to our party. The smaller park meant we had exclusive use of the play equipment, park grounds and toilets, allowing us free reign on what activities we did and how noisy we could be. We also reserved the BBQ area through our local council for a small fee to ensure it was available.

Time
On the invitation I specifically wrote 11am - 1.30pm. WHY? People like to be able to plan their day. If a parent is staying at the party, they like to know how much of their day it is going to take up, so they can then plan accordingly. If the parent is not staying, this gives a clear indication of when they should return to collect their child. Also, giving a time allows the parent to prepare their child for the duration of the party, sometimes by giving a rest time beforehand, or by informing the child that the party will be about as long as Playgroup, so that get some indication of timing.

Supervision
Regardless of the age of the children, supervision is important. Accidents happen, children have disagreements, not every venue is 100% child-proof and children are inquisitive.
I encouraged parents to stay if they wanted to and/or thought their child would prefer. The majority of the children at the party were 4-5 years old, and while some are confident, can tend to their own needs and communicate well, not all fall into these categories, especially when in the company of strangers, in a large space, surrounded by a noisy group, and distracted with excitement. It is also a good idea to stand in front of the group and introduce yourself so the children know that if they have a question, need something or are upset, that they know your name and that you are the parent they can come to.

What comes next?
Children, particularly younger ones, benefit from clear instruction and knowing what is coming. It is good practise with children, so they can prepare and get a sense of time, to keep them informed what they will be doing, for how long, and what comes next. So, for example, you might let the children know that they will play Duck, duck, goose until everyone gets a turn and then have something to eat.

Games
The games we played were not based around a reward or a winner. A great range of Party games can be found on our Pinterest Board - Party Games. We chose games that were age appropriate and fun for a group.

Doggy, Where's Your Bone?
The person in the middle (The Doggy), hides their eyes while a person from the circle grabs the bone. The circle then sings
Doggy, Doggy, where's your bone?
Somebody stole it from your home.
Guess who!  Maybe you...
Maybe the monkeys from the zoo.
Wake up doggy, find your bone.

The Doggy then has 3 guesses which of the people sitting around the circle may have the bone, all of whom have their hands behind their backs. With each guess, the person shows their hands. The person who had the bone then is the next Doggy.

Duck, Duck, Goose
The group sits in a circle facing the centre with one person walking around the outside. This person walks around the circle tapping each person on the head lightly, saying Duck to each one, meaning that this person remains seated. The person must chose one in the circle to chase them, to whom they say Goose. The Goose then chases around the circle until they reach their original spot in the circle. The last of the two to sit in the Goose's spot, now becomes the person on the outside of the circle.

Sack Races
Sacks can be anything of suitable size and durability. We used Wheat Bags. Each child puts their legs into a sack and stands at the line. At the command of "Go" the people in the sacks jump toward the finish line. This game always gets a laugh and kids love to race again and again.






Follow The Leader
The person at the front of the line is The Leader. The rest of the people in the line must go where The Leader goes, and to make it more fun they can also move like The Leader.








Food
Wanting to keep it simple we opted for some old favourites.
We chose to have sausages and cocktails in bread, which were great to warm the belly on the windy day. We also provided colourful biscuits, bananas coated in chocolate and decorated, cake in ice cream cones, caramel slice, chocolate crackles, mini cupcakes, top hats, chips and sandwiches.

All of these and more can be found on our Pinterest Board - Party food

Lastly, remember that this is a kids party!
It is easy to get caught up in being organised, being responsible and keeping events on track. Remember that schedules need to be a little flexible and there should be a fun atmosphere. I am sure that if I had told the children at our party that they couldn't keep playing Duck, duck, goose for over 20 minutes, because I had so many others things on my list for them to do, I may have ruined the atmosphere and been a little unpopular.

Just Do It! Monthly Health Assessment

I met with the Company personal trainer today. Remember? The great Australian company that cares so much for it's employees that it is paying to look after us? I know - still hard to believe! It's a month on from my Grateful .. for being accountable post and I am still pinching myself.

So my weight had been measured, my measurements noted down, my blood pressure recorded and my glucose and cholesterol levels checked. We talked about goals and a strategy.

A month has passed and I have been a little casual in my efforts, but still very conscious of my goal and pushing myself when needed.

The first week was great. I was motivated. I wrote religiously in my food diary. I joined other employees to make a lunch walking group. I tried to be better with my food choices. I pushed myself to fit more exercise into my week and did it solo.

The following weeks were not so good. I got slack writing in my food diary. I ate a few things that I knew were not ideal, but I didn't go overboard. I continued to walk with the group and exercise solo. The last week the Winter Netball Roster started, which is something I enjoy, so I got the most out of the first game.

My trainer had suggested that I don't check my weight or measurements at home. "Let it be a surprise"she said. Overall, I had been eating better and moving more, so I was confident that I should be heading in the right direction. I could not tell a great difference with my clothes ... maybe a little more comfortable instead of tight?

I went into my monthly assessment positive but not overly confident. My trainer put me through a Strength & Conditioning Circuit which really got the blood pumping and the sweat dripping. It was great but I was thankful it only lasted half an hour. With a cool down and stretch done, it was time for the nitty gritty.

I stood on the scales and waited for them to display my current weight. I stared at the little screen, not really registering the numbers. My trainer had to say it several times before it sunk in. "You've lost 4 kilos!" She could see that it wasn't sinking in at first, because I certainly wasn't mirroring the excitement she was showing.

4 kilos was a much better result than I had been expecting.

Given that I am a person who can find an excuse not to do things or procrastinate until the opportunity has passed, I am glad for those little pushes I gave myself to get out there and JUST DO IT.

motiveweight.blogspot.com.au

Spinning around

Today Master 4 is in a spin.

He wants to do something, but can't decide what that something is. I totally empathise, as I have days like this too. As an adult though, you eventually have to make a decision.

He started his day at swimming. This was great. It was a planned, structured activity. No problems here.

When he got home though, he wanted to warm up under the blanket and watch some cartoons. He would watch for a little while and then say, "Do you want to watch another one? Is this one a bit silly?" No amount of reassurance from me could convince him that I wasn't in fact watching the TV, so he could choose whichever channel he wanted to. This swapping and changing of channels went on for a while.

He then decided that he might like to play the Wii. I thought this was a great idea, as maybe he was restless from inactivity. As I went to put the Wii on, he decided that he was watching the current cartoon. It then took a little discussion to decide whether he wanted to play the Wii or remain watching cartoons.

"Nope, I want to play the Wii". So back to setting up the Wii. Silly me asks which game do you want to play?". In hindsight, I could have asked "Mario Kart or Skate Boarding?", to narrow down his options, but something tells me that he would have ummed and ahhed anyway. So, I set up the Wii for Skate Boarding, at which time he says, "Nope, maybe Golf .... or Segway?" Hmmm ... do you see a pattern here?

So, after chopping and changing between different activities, for which he needs my assistance, he then decides on Mario Cart, so out with the steering wheel.

I can happily say that after a little dummy spit about his driving ability, he has now settled for a good five minutes.

Master 4, I love you, but you send Mummy into a spin too sometimes!

The day I climbed a tree

 As you get older, there are some things, you realise, you haven't done in a long, long time. Some may be because you physically can't do them anymore.
I did attempt to do a handstand recently. Needless to say that my biceps are certainly not used to holding up my weight. My face and the grass had a very sudden, intimate meeting.

There are other options, depending on your age and the things available to you, that might still be able to do.

I had this exact thought when I was making my 2012 To Do List.
I admire my son often as he climbs nimbly. He looks so free, and he always has the best view.
So, on our recent trip to Wayatinah, I eyed off the trees at the playground. This was the perfect opportunity. No gusting winds, no sharp objects on the ground, a little energy to burn.

Although, my shoes were not exactly built for tree climbing, I strode up to my tree of choice with confidence.

Now, I know that the tree of choice does not look huge, but it offered the perfect angle and thickness of branch for my limited ability.

My friend also pointed out that I shimmied up the branch, rather than showing a climbing style. She is really picky!
Regardless, she took photos between giggles and tried to get the best angle to show how I wasn't really high up high I was. I even managed a couple of poses.

Not to be outdone, Master 4 though he should join me. He was probably thinking, 'what is the big deal'.

I must admit, it was cool being up the tree. I felt young again, until it occurred to me how much it would hurt if I fell. The view is better from up there. A little padding on the branch would have been lovely.

Have you explored your adventurous side lately? What did you do when you were younger that you haven't done in a long time?

Ling up with

Life with Twins 2 a Drama Queen

Where's My Glow

Happiness is .... A Stay-At-Home-Dad

Sunrise on Channel 7 did a great story this week about the increase in Dad's staying at home. The story actually focused on which parent is better as the stay at home parent. Personally, I think it would depend on the couple. I don't think you could say that all women are better at it, or all men, it's a task suited best to the individual who has the most patience, can relate to the children, can manage the household chores, and remain sane by the end of the day.

I am proud and happy that my hubby put his hand up about 18 months ago to stay home full-time with our youngest, and part-time while our oldest attended school. He is the go to person around the house while I work 30 hours a week. This suits me fine. I am one of those people who go slightly insane at home full-time.

I have noted a lot of advantages to this arrangement. My husband now has first hand experience at answering the questions he used to have. Such as, have you cleaned the house today, or why is our son running around naked? Hubby also has a different way with the kids than me. He is slightly firmer, but his patience can often outlast mine. Hubby also likes to do different activities and the children appreciate that they get a bit of both of us. Hubby has also become a dab hand at keeping the house tidy and has his own routines. Whichever parent is home on the day usually cooks dinner, which is great to come home to.

At the end of the day, I would say that this is working well for us at the moment.

As usual Iam linking up with Rub Some Dirt on It and with Where's My Glow? .

Painfully obvious

This week I took a big step that I have been working towards for 8 years. I wish I had taken this leap sooner, as the longer I waited the harder it was.

There are several things that I have learned from my little adventure this week.

1. Don't put things off! The sooner you you jump back in the less daunting it will be. It's amazing how we build things up in our heads the more we are away from something.

2. I move around a lot in my day.  This became PAINFULLY obvious after I first sat down. I played my first Netball game in 8 years this week. My muscles let me know how long it has been and that I am that many years older now.

3. Warm-up and cool down are crucial. I already knew this. My Netball career ended with a ruptured Achilles tendon. I was aware that I should take extra measures to warm up this area of my body. Somehow, I forgot about the rest. I was also so keen to get home and collapse in a heap, that I didn't do a cool-down. Big Oops! Today is the 4th day after the game and I am back to walking properly now.

4. If you enjoy doing something, keep doing it. I had played Netball since 1983 until 2003. I really enjoyed it. The running, the skill, the teamwork, the friendships. Giving it up after 20 years was just plain silly.

photo source

I know ... I have spent money wisely

I remember learning to swim as a child. Today swimming is just a natural, automatic thing I do when I am in water. My body takes over and knows what to do and how to move. It's not something I need to think about.


Living in an island state, which is part of a bigger island, I think knowing how to manage, should you come into contact with water is important. As much as you might think that the drowning stats would be on the improve, the National Drowning Report which can be viewed on The Royal Lifesaving website has some pretty startling figures. Some of which are:

315 people drowned in Australia between

1 July 2010 and 30 June 2011.

241 (77%) were male and 71 (23%) female.

Sex was unknown in three cases.

107 (34%) drowning deaths occurred in NSW,

93 (30%) in Queensland.

38 (12%) people drowned in the Queensland

floods throughout December and January.

114 (36%) drowning deaths occurred in River /

Creek / Stream locations.

16% (50) of drowning deaths occurred while

Swimming and Recreating in water.

15% (47) of drowning deaths occurred as a

result of Falling or Wandering into water.

Drowning deaths occurred all year round

with 129 (41%) occurring in Summer. There

were 2 cases where season of drowning

I know that I have had a lifetime of enjoyment from swimming. As a recreational activity as well as a physical activity I have benefited from knowing how to swim.

As a parent, I think it is money well spent to have my kids attend Learn to Swim classes.

Both of my children have already experienced swim classes. Miss 7 started in the pool as therapy for her post hip dislocation treatment. It was just natural that we followed on from these with classes. She has always been hesitant around water, and sometimes, you could say she was full-on freaking out. I feel much more confident when she is near water now that she has a better understanding of the risks and what she can do to help herself.

Master 4 entered the pool with water orientation classes when he was 6 months old. I must say, the parent and baby time in the pool is a great bonding experience. Unlike Miss 7, Master 4 is over-confident around water. It was just as important for him to gain swimming skills.


After a small break from classes, they are both back in the pool. From the first lesson I can see the joy on their faces from the enjoyment they get out of swimming, I can see the boost in confidence and  I can feel the reassurance as a parent.

Joining yay for home