Hello World!

I have decided to go public! 

I started this blog as a personal journal of my day-to-day Mama experiences but, then,  as I started to read some of the other wonderful blogs that are out there I came to realise what an amazing opportunity this can be for sharing ideas and experiences and and for creating friendships and even little communities of like-minded people.

So... if you are reading this... Hello! I hope that you will enjoy what you find here :)

 

I guess I might introduce myself. My name is Amber and I'm a stay-at-home Mama of two beautiful boys. Hug (H) is 4 3/4 and has attended a Montessori preschool since he turned 3.  Lovely is 2 1/2 and he spends most of the week with me except for Mondays when he now goes to preschool with his big brother. My husband is T and we were childhood sweethearts. He's a great daddy. 

I discovered Montessori when I was choosing a preschool for Hug and since then I have tried to read and learn as much as possible. I feel a real connection with Montessori - it speaks such truth to me. Its focus on PEACE and individuality and the concrete communication of ideas and learning seem to make such sense. I try to add as much of the philosophy to our home-lives as I can. 

I worked as a designer before I became a Mama (magazines, websites, cards, gifts, short-films) and I enjoy all things arty and creative and I love involving my boys in such endeavours so I hope to infuse some creative fun into this blog too! 

So, I'm getting a little bored thinking about me now ;) Maybe you can post a comment and say hi and let me know who you are!

P.S  In order to turn this private blog public I have gone back through my earlier posts and edited them a little so please excuse if some of it doesn't make sense ;)

Things I've accomplished today!

I know it's funny when you have to write yourself this kind of list - but, really, as a Mama it's easy to lose track of all the things that you actually got done or were happy with. So, I'm challenging myself to pop back to the computer each time I think of something today :)

Friday June 27, 2008

My card for Bella

Hug's Pirate

Lovely's Bat-person

+ I made a birthday card for a little friend who's party we will be going to tomorrow

+ I gathered the bits and pieces needed to make some i-spy ice blocks for the boys to play with in the bath (I've been *thinking* about this one for ages so it's great to have actually done it!

+ I did a craft activity with Hug before he went to preschool. I had printed out this activity from Kiddley and we really enjoyed dressing these little people, though we used patterned paper instead of fabric.

+ I made a yummy pre-school lunch for Hug

+ I got out some paints for L (instead of worrying about any potential *mess*!) and was so impressed by his beautiful results. I must give him more access to the art supplies.

+ I read a pile of books to Lovely before and after his nap (Right now I can hear him in the other room reading this book to himself and saying "No!" ever so loudly. Too cute :)

+ I got the washing moving again

+ I did the food shopping with Little-L

+ I picked up Huggy from preschool 

+ I cooked vegetarian hotdogs for dinner and we ate at the coffee table for fun :) Hug did a *great* job of setting the table

+ I had the very first shower with our new shower-screen fitted!

+ I watched a movie with T - Into The Wild

+ I took L out to look at he stars when he woke up in the night, upset, and couldn't get back to sleep. And then we snuggled him into bed with us while we continued the movie. It was a really sweet moment in time :)

The ice-blocks

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Here is a lovely idea, The Simple Woman's daybook. Please follow the link if you would like to create your own.

FOR TODAY : Thursday June 26, 2008

Outside My Window... Is lots of beautiful warm sunshine and grass that needs cutting.

I am thinking... About how to get the house organised and get the boys off to the library and whether we'll have time to look at lighting stores for the bathroom.

I am thankful for... Having the opportunity to capture this moment in words. I have been meaning to do this for ages. 

From the kitchen... I see clear benches and a shiny sink - it's been cleaned!

I am wearing... grey knitted leggings, a black skirt, black top and grey cardigan + 1 pink and 1 green sock :)

I am creating... Not enough. I must move past my fear of failure and delve into some new creative projects. Having said that, I just finished T's website this week. Yippee!

I am going... To Byron Bay - land of golden beaches and rainbow hippies and Champagne tastes...and 1 totally-too-small library.

I am reading... "Basic Black" by Cathie Black. I have been reading it for 6 months - eeek! I am far too easily distracted.

I am hoping... Many things... that the boys and I have a happy day today... that my fingers will get warmer... that I am on the brink of becoming a wonderfully accomplished woman ;)

I am hearing... "I am hungry mama" (answer = bananas and rice cakes with jam. It's shopping day tomorrow)

Around the house... The bathroom is almost finished. Only a dash more painting and all the accessories can go up and the shower screen may arrive today!

One of my favorite things... Snuggling in bed with all 3 of my favourite boys :) Which I was blessed with the chance to do this morning.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: We must use our flying trapeze vouchers before the end of the week. 5 days!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

What have I been doing for the past 41 days?

Wow. How time flies! I have been having a bit of voluntary computer-free time plus we've been away a few times plus H was sick for a little while, too... But I can't believe so much time went by without any blogging!

Today is Wednesday & I *finally* had a chance to look at all of my favourite creative + Montessori blogs - there has been a lot of activity out there while I've been out of the loop! L and I tried a little bit of homeschooling this morning but I don't think the energy was right so we grabbed the pram and went for a gorgeous walk in the sunshine. Ahhhh, nothing like sunshine to make you smile :)

Anyways, here is a catch up...

Flying to Sydney for j+j's wedding and getting to play with cousins

L's "big bed" finally arrived in a big truck that was met by the boys with much fanfare! We made a number of batches of Spelt Anzac biscuits and home-made muesli with all our delicious, organic stash from Santos and I spent time looking at lots of fun old photos like this one from the halcyon Byron Bay days. 

We went to Mooloolaba with T for a writers fest and enjoyed a lot of rain and some rainy-day fun. T and I celebrated our anniversary with Moroccan takeaway in the hotel room and I made a slideshow of all our old loved-up pix together .

There were artistic pursuits like egg dying and nature walk photography.

Time for lots of learning work for H+L and a 28 day detox for T and I.

And our bathroom / dining room makeover of 2008 - the boys were so involved and absolutely *loved* doing their own busy building work... and for the final pix - enjoying the winter sunshine on the beach at lennox.