Yesterday we started a 3 blessing tradition at bedtime each of the monkeys told me 3 great things about their day  this was a fantastic suggestion by Dr Michael Carr Gregg who we were lucky enough to get to go and see present here in sunny old Newman.

 

 Tillies were winning the prize in art this week, being nominated in library and finishing her work - Freyas revolved around the treat from the bakery, fruit juice and a fruit salad Daddy had bought her that day - Holden's were doing 2 laps of the oval, the cookies his mates mum made him, and sitting on my lap - the funniest thing with him is a) the first was supposed to be a punishment from his teacher for messing about in sport ;) and that he also insisted in telling me the 3 bad things about the day - which he also then said were pretty good too!

I can see just listening to these 3 blessings from my 3 each night is going to make me go to bed smiling xxx

This photo was taken a few weeks ago at Book Week when they dressed up as Wonderland characters and is the most recent of all 3 I have :)

Ooops so its been like months...and well alot of ups and downs, and a whole lot of changes!

 Where to start...
Well in the last 2 years since I posted
I ran a 4km city to surf,10km Bridges 2 x 12km runs one flat and one up hills, was part of a relay marathon with these 4 goons :) and took part in several Park runs...I lost a total of 35kg from Jan 2012 - July 2013 through sheer determination and happiness in finding myself and great support from friends. I know happiness isnt defined by a number but being able to achieve these goals, overcome fears and low self esteem, wear whatever I wanted for the first time in a long long while, have friends who really saw me and loved me despite my crazy idiosyncrasies made me SMILE alot!

We miss these muppets - more than they will ever know...summers and spontaneous catch ups over 7 years and well it better not be too long till we take another photo like these 2! 

About a year ago we decided to move to the desert to be as one as a family...this is us telling the children at Alfreds Kitchen in Guildford...8 years of daddy flying away over...and a new beginning on the horizon!

Christmas was a hard one this year as exciting as it was to be packing up our house and planning parties, it was devastating to be leaving behind some absolutely AWESOME friends and those who we had chosen to be our family in Perth <3  Our last years New Years Eve was spent with some batty bats! and lovers and worms! 

 The hardest farewell on our last night in Perth, when we said goodbye to Lacey and Cruz, its been now 9 months since the kids saw them and 6 since their father has...the longest since we moved back to Australia to ensure they were being  supported and cared for properly in 2005.

At the Qantas Club, the day we left Perth...for well who knows how long heading to the red dirt and mining desert town of Newman, WA with a resident population of about 6,000 one supermarket, 2 primary schools, alot of ovals! and 1000's of galahs!

AND SO...WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE?

The 9 months since this photo was taken have been even more of a rollercoaster than we ever could have imagined...some amazing UPS and some very hard DOWNS but as I was reminded of the ultimate purpose of this move by a friend on the weekend..."Georgie you are together" 

More photos and tales of  our past 9 months in Newman to follow, where miss Tillie has found herself and a voice (its loud!), her confidence has soared, alot of attitude has arrived, a whole gang of friends and so much more. Where Holden has despite a few huge obstacles, blossomed and is surrounded by a great group of friends and is enjoying being able to be wild and free and has discovered a love for long jump and music and his reading is still well astounding! Freya has jumped into her school career with gusto! She is kind and compassionate, but just as fiery as ever at home, she revels in dirt and will no longer wear anything pretty! and Spot well he is most definitely a red dog now :) 

For him and me to be truthful its been a bit of a rocky road...8 years apart and its been quite simply impossible learning to live together again...but we are working hard  trying to be friends again and I think mostly its getting better! 

We have discovered geocaching (gps treasure hunting in random spots), a great group of like minded locals who are possibly even more crazy than we, sports and activities rule our social calendar when wine and revellry with friends dont. I have a  part time job 5 days a week...yes well I know I have always had one being a mummy, and my community work but I have a 'real' office job working in community services and am also doing a traineeship Dual Award Cert IV in Career Development and Employment services, something I would never have imagined a year ago...and actually mostly ;) I love it! though some days balancing it and the kids, and everything can be totally overwhelming. My fitness has fallen by the way side as we have struggled to come to terms with work, no gym with an afternoon creche, alot of HEAT and  the numerous socials and good food have seen me rather fall off the wagon (10kg or so off) 

Andrew too! 

But every morning is a new start, being here is a blessing, the countryside is breathtaking, the opportunities the children and we have here are countless and despite being 1400km or so from Perth and never travelling much more than 30km from town...we are learning to love and discover our surroundings  :) 

I have no idea how long we will be here, and imagine there will be more ups and downs before things start to 'normalise' but I do know that seeing the children so happy does make it easier when life can be a little trying ;) 

Next plan is to lose that 10kg, explore more of this corner of Australia and of course to get through the school holidays in 1 piece :) 

Some Changes

Since I last blogged here...there have been a few changes for us as a family and for me personally...

I have lost about 20kg since December 2011

Matilda has turned 6 :) and had the most wonderful school report...she can read and spell amazingly

 Him and I have had a rocky year...but underneath the immediate dramas and tears I know we love each other very much

 We have taken more time to try and build our little family together by taking some important time out

These two monkeys are learning to become friends :) Holden now goes to Kindy and on the days he is at home alone with Freya their relationship is blossoming and is beautiful to watch...

More to come...

Bangers and Bikes

teaching Tillie to ride her bike sans stabilisers...still very wobbly but some success :) beautiful family hour or so with a little sausage sizzle, rugby played and bikes ridden this afternoon <3

First Love and Playschool

Freya Marguerite turns 2

Miss Fraisey turned 2 yesterday and we had a fun day full of laughter, friends and fish! oh and pussycats and CHOCOLATE ;) and unlikely combination but it made one little girl very very happy! :)

So my little whoopsie is now a big girl and I am sure is going to continue to fill each day with delight for many more a year <3

Smile

Holden loves baking...he loves eating too (you wouldnt guess to look at him) mainly things he shouldnt or that he has pinched and is wolfing hidden away somewhere ;) This was his twist on scones...they just have to be Dinosaurs Mummy the other ones are just boring ;)

Freya Loves Swings

Tillie proud as punch...firstly in her Sea Dragon outfit out for Lunch in Leederville 

and then today I shed a tear as my baby girl brought home her first reader...and read it...including the word 'drinking'...yes I know I am a sook but its a new era and she is growing up so quickly :) She was very proud of herself too :)

and okay sometimes it is okay to be a grumpy cat and nobody does it better than Freya the Furious <3