Feeding the ducks and one warm neck...







Feeding the ducks in Centennial Park was beautiful...and the navy scarf my grandmother knitted kept one little boy very snug and warm.

Brown paper packages, tied up with string



What did we do with Maxi-Taxi throughout the winter school holidays? Neither LOML or I could get time off work, so we prepared for lots of Holiday Care and WMG. Not so. We hadn't factored in the generosity of the Kinder Mum Brigade. Maxi-Taxi spent only 2 days out of 10 at Holiday Care, 2 with me, 1 with LOML and the rest in a variety of homes, all linked by kindness.

We made extra-special choc chip cookies (they have 3 types of choc bit plus mini-M&Ms) and took them along as a little thank you for having me.


It's amazing the difference in the way people live. One Thursday we drove up through the 'lawns' and parked in front of the 'staff quarters'. A horse wandered by. It was like walking onto the set of one of the house-porn shoots. To make matters worse, they're a really lovely family. I liked them so much before I saw their house.

The next home had a note on the front door 'I'm in my pjs, let yourselves in!' Place was a wreck. A child ate breakfast sitting on top of the table. Another child was in underpants only and promptly hid in the pantry never to be seen again. A motley dog wandered by.

No prizes for guessing which home I was more comfortable in.

Regardless of how or where or even what you live, we love you Kinder Mum Brigade. Thank you.


PS - This post is part of ♥Much Love♥'s [made it myself] week...

lOVE it

How gorgeous are these?! I think they would make a great gift for someone special : or something just for you : they ship to Australia too!!


The String-Ring™ is a cue to remind yourself, and those who notice it, to be kind to one another. To do a kind act, or even think something kind. Designed to be threaded with the provided colored string, String-Ring reminds you of the particular act of kindness you wish to remember. Each String-Ring™ is crafted from the best quality silver and comes with 20 replaceable colored strings, a jute bag, polishing cloth, stickers, and a list of color meanings.

silver : wisdom & understanding

Remember to Forgive

This is a gift you give to all. Even yourself.



green : nature

Remember to be Respectful of the Environment

All things have value and should always be respected.







white : peace, life & simplicity

Remember to be Kind to Yourself

Slow down, take a deep breath, and relax tense muscles. Take time for yourself everyday to just be in silence.

Point + Shoot : 23



Saturday 17th July 8pm


Its a teary week over here at our house, you see my baby brother is jetting off very soon to travel the world all by himself.  
The United States, Mexico then all around Europe - I'm so excited for him. I remember so well that feeling of being young and about to explore the shores of other countries. 
But I am also so sad for us staying home - I will miss him so much, not to mention how much hubby and Lou will too. 
There will be Birthdays and Christmas that we won't spend together and there is no return date so we cant even count sleeps.
Saturday night he had a going away party - Everyone had so much fun together and Lou loved being around so many people who love her so much. She wandered around the pub like everyone was there for her. I don't where all that confidence comes from -  certainly not her parents. I finally managed to convince her to go home with her Grandma - so that the hubby and I could have a night out with everyone.


So this post is dedicated to my youngest brother... Michael
I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME 
~COME BACK TO US SAFELY~
WE LOVE YOU!



Don't forget the other Point and Shooters are over here :) 

Pulling Teeth is NOTHING compared with growing them...

My little baby girl is teething. And it's breaking my heart. Because she isn't getting one tooth, or even two. My little girl is getting no less than 6 teeth all at once. And it's breaking her heart, too.

The situation is ironic. Two weeks ago, I was at the point of seeking medical advice because Fern hadn't grown any teeth for a good 6 months. I knew she should be developing more teeth, and I was worried there was something wrong. Be careful what you wish for.

Almost overnight, everything changed. My sunny, vivacious little girl because miserable. She wouldn't sleep. She wouldn't eat. She started drooling. Her face broke out in an evil rash. She got two ulcers on her tongue. And she was clearly in terrible pain.

I tried kids Panadol. I tried kids Nurofen. I tried Bonjela. I gave extra hugs. I offered warm milk when she wouldn't eat. I got up 5 times in the night to help settle her back to sleep. I gave her a teething ring. A washer. A gel teether.

But none of it was of any use. At all.

She's exhausted and miserable. I'm exhausted and miserable. Her dad is exhausted and miserable. And we feel powerless and unable to help her!! We want our little girl back!

Bloggy friends, if you have been through this and have any advice you can lend to us, we'd be so grateful. Is there anything I could do that I havn't already? How LONG will Fern (and us!) endure this?

x
busy little hands...







I love this quick, easy and healthy way of getting the little one's involved in dinner preparations. Also a fun way to introduce counting and colour recognition with them in a way that is fun and to top it off healthy! I will be trying this one at home miss d.x

Maxabellaland: population 101


I know it's so totally not cool it's burning, but I was so excited to reach 100 followers I just had to do a little happy dance. I don't know what the blogosphere etiquette is for being joyful that interest in your blog is growing, but I'm pretty sure that public happy dancing doesn't come into it. But, I'm dancing anyway!

My blogging journey has been an interesting one. Maybe you've been there, maybe you haven't. It goes a little like this:

Maxabella's two sisters start blogging, Maxabella scoffs. Doesn't get it.

Gets hooked on sisters' blogs.

Makes first online comment on sister C's blog.

Starts looking at other blogs. Becomes Queen of the Comments due to opinionated, talkative nature.

Starts own 'journal' (a 'record just for me', you know).

Shares 'journal' web address with sisters.

Sister A shares web address with everyone she knows.

Journal swiftly becomes 'blog'.

Gets first comment from non-family member (thanks Annie!)... It's like that first cigarette.

Adds 'Followers' button. Hides it on bottom of page. Feels like a weirdo trying to start a cult.

Discusses tragedy of only having 7 followers with Sister A and they agree that she is far too needy to be a blogger.

Moves 'Followers' button to top of page.

Joins Flog Yo Blog Friday (thanks Brenda!)

Enjoys the wonderful bloggy world and makes friends all over etherspace.

Reaches 100 followers and does an embarrassingly public happy dance...

My blog has become my sometime creative outlet, unique community and my trusty little friend.  I feel like I'm on a long and satisfying journey, but funnily enough, one of the very first posts I wrote is still my favourite.

I hope you enjoy my blog as much as I enjoy creating it. Oh, and thanks for following!

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