Coming out of hibernation

Winter doesn't usually bother me like that, I can put on layers and waterproofs and head out and get on with life.  But this winter was different, for some reason I just felt like hibernating, doing lots of homey stuff and not embracing the cold, wet weather outside.  It didn't even really get that cold here until much later, but it has really rained A LOT.  So when I half heartedly suggested to the boys we go for a bike ride or a walk and they replied No, its yukky outside, I really wasn't bothered.

Rowan has been asking everyday for a while now, is it spring yet?  and this week we were greeted with warmth and sunshine, the primroses are flowering, the daffodils and tulips are budding and life is appearing everywhere.

So this week we have been out in the garden (not straying to far from the safety of our little den!) enjoying the sunshine, weeding, cleaning, clearing, planning and playing and oh boy that sun felt so good on our skin.

Here are some photos of February....

Half Term at Eden Project.  It was great fun, they did a chocolate trail (this was great for rowan as he is a full on chocoholic!), as you entered you were given some cocoa beans and you had to trade them along the way with various traders, until you reached the fairtrade chocolate farm and traded for some chocolate.  Also amazing face painting, but the camera battery ran out!

The Friday home ed group had a planned trip to the local fire station, but it was cancelled due to the firemen having to do their job!  So we had a day in the park.  It was so nice for it to be warm enough to just hang out in the park all day.

Rowan has finished his first lapbook.  It is on dinosaurs.  He has really enjoyed doing this, he has chosen a topic each week and loved using the internet and books to find the information and drawing, writing, cutting and sticking.  He has already decided that he wants to do his next one on plants as its springtime.

First load of washing on the line this year (sad, but it makes me happy!)  Also notice the bird house, Tristan got so fed up with looking at dark colours in our dark, damp garden that he painted the bird house

Over the last couple of years Tristan has been planning a tree house for the boys, but working so much never got the time to do it, but over Christmas he had enough of thinking about it and set to.  It is now finished and the boys LOVE IT.  It has a slide, zip wire, table and chairs and balcony, all made from wood that Tris has processed himself from work.  They are always out there. 

Rowan just wants an attic then he will be totally in love with the tree house!

Chitting time. 

January Joy

As I have mentioned before, last year was a rotter for us.  But not wanting all the rubbishy things that happened in that year to stay in our thoughts and therefore making everything go that way, we made a list each on New Years Eve of all the things that had made the year so hard and then put them on the fire, watched them go up in flames and then lit a candle.
Then it turned to 2012 and I have been brimming with Joy and Happiness ever since (well, sometimes I slump a little, but so far everything is going our way!)
We have BIG news too.......

We have made the decision to move to Australia!  It has been a long decision making process, but our life looks a lot better over there than here.  Many reasons, to name a few, Tristans job prospects are greater out there, I can study to be a midwife, and the weather, of course!  Obviously we will miss our families like mad, and it was very hard telling them, but hopefully they will visit lots (I would love it if my mum and dad retired out there, but thats another adventure, I need to concentrate on this one first!)

Tristan is Aussie and so are the boys, so it is just me that has to go through the huge amounts of paperwork, but the end of my list is near and we should be submitting the application very soon, then its just fingers crossed for 6 months!

Other news...
Reuben has moved from Zelda School to a mainstream preschool, much closer to home and he LOVES it!  At Zeldas he would just plod along and play on his own a lot, which is not Reuben.  At his new school he is the centre of attention and loves playing with everyone there.  It is so lovely to see him beaming and fully enjoying himself when I come to pick him up.

Rowan asked to go to school, so we went and had a look at a small local school, which he loved because they had a lego table, but when he heard he would have to go every day he decided he will wait till Australia to go to school!  Rowans best freind has just started flexi schooling after being home edded for a year, so Rowan though no one went to school on a Friday!

Rowans home ed journey has progressed a lot, as we now have two days with Reu at preschool, Rowan can do academic things that he likes.  He enjoys science projects and workbooks and stuff, as well as much lego building, computer games and superhero battles!

I am also on a mission to loose that baby weight, Rowan is 5 and Reu is almost 4, its time it went now! So I have been on a diet rehaul, getting rid of those less healthy choices and making sure our food is as free from crap as possible.  I am not brave enough to put up my actual weight, but I am happy with the amount that is coming off!

So overall January was a month of big decisions being announced and feeling the joy and positivity in everything and its still there!  Looking forward to another month of this!

I will leave you with some photos of our New Years Day Walk....

Both boys got metal detctors for Christmas, no luck on this beach though other than a beer can!

Rowan showing off his rock climbing skills, and scaring Mummy!

He would not stop till he got to the top!

And very proud of himself he was too!

Another cliff to be conquered!

Anything my big brother can do, I can too!

A very proud Reuben!

Sunset from our garden

Christmas puzzles, of course Australia had to go in first!

2011 in pictures

What a year, to be honest I can't wait for the new year to start, so full of dreams. goals and positivity, this year was very hard,  but when I look back over the photos their were good times too.....

Busy times

The house is filled with christmas music, excited shreiks of children, singing of carols, crafting and much festive cheer.  I am feeling on top of things one minute, then the next I am overwhelmed by all those things I haven't put on my list!
We are having all the family round here for christmas day, I am doing lunch for all.  We are not a very big family, so the total is only 8, including the children.

Decorating day, helped by Reuben in his wetsuit and a ninja turtle!

Dressing the tree, all done this year by the boys, I refrained from re-organising it!

Two sleeping tigers after the home ed xmas party

My delivery of oils and such for making presents

Card writing

Fudge making

Superhero capes all finished and ready for their stockings

Our very efficent wrapping station!

So I just have the veg prep tomorrow and all of the kids wrapping to do tonight, then I'm sorted!

Merry Christmas everyone xx