Easter readiness.

Didn't Joe do a fabulous job of his Easter bonnet. He did all the planning and carefully placed each item in position. Very sweet :)

We also felt in the mood for some baking so we stuck with the theme.

EasterBiscuits.jpg

/Go here to see the recipe

Inspiration.

On my evening walk this week I listened to a podcast that hit a nerve for me. There were so many bits that I wished I could memorise while I was walking. I didn't have the time to write it all down when I got home (I didn't really have the time for the walk, but I did it anyway).
Have you ever had the feeling that you had all of your dreams in your hands but them have to watch them slip through your fingers? No matter how much you tried to snatch it all up, it all slipped away anyway. Despite all of the hard work you put into that dream, all of the adversity you had to face, it just slipped away. But you discover, in the end, that it wasn't that important after all.

Here's the link if you want to listen too...
www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/11/...

and here is a clip with Richard Fidler, it's the short version with all the most important bits:
James Doty M.D 'A fortunate life' at Mind & Its Potential 2012 ...

It is a good story.

Here's the blurb from the ABC site:

James R Doty is professor of Neurosurgery at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

When all his investments paid off some years ago, James was seriously rich; he owned a multi-million dollar apartment, a Tuscan villa and even his very own island in New Zealand.

When his investments crashed, James was left with just one parcel of shares, still worth millions. But as a philanthropist he'd promised to give those shares away, and he did.

James has now set up a centre at Stanford University for research into compassion, working with scientists to examine the neural bases for altruism and compassion.

He is chairman of the Dalai Lama Foundation.

I am picturing the scenery as I walked and trying to jog my memory for the bits that were most important.

My favourite bits:

How do you get over the negative dialogue and realise that you can do anything that you want to do?
You can grow up and be angry for what you didn't have, or you can be grateful for what you do have.
Embrace the unknown and care for others.

I could give you more of my reflections but I will leave it to you to decide what you liked the best.

This is just a photo of a gift of some pretty washi tape for Campbell's pretty teacher. Just because she is lovely and she deserves it. I added it just because I am grateful for those who give to my children what that very special lady did for James. 

Did you listen?

What did you think?

Pretty Patonga.

We were only an hour from home but it felt like we were on holidays today. Best possible way to reduce stress levels and enjoy this super sunshiny Autumn weather. It was warmer today that it was the whole time we were on Kangaroo Island in Summer!!
Picture perfect :)
We had lots & lots of nibbles on our bait in Patonga Creek but all we caught were two greedy toad fish- on one hook!! If we left the bait dangling in the shallows for even a few seconds it would be gobbled up.
We were quite happy to compromise & buy our seafood lunch today- yummy old fashioned chips too.
Cams wasn't thrilled about the fishing bit. He still says (at the top of his voice I might add) that we can't force him to do the 'f word'! Luckily the others boys don't seem to get how completely mortifying this is when stated in public. Of course he is referring to fishing- which does indeed start with F- but who would assume that?!?! He was happy about sitting in the car with the Salvation Army books he snatched up in Woy Woy on route. Crisis averted...
The best bit is that it feels like Sunday today- hurray to feeling like we get a bonus day to the weekend.

There he is with those blessed books! He did come in for a swim eventually :)

My lovely rod with my Poppy's reel- I love it.

Isn't my husband cute. He bought me this bait basket to go with my rod. It was very handy today with the bait taken within moments of it hitting to water.

And it did :)

Joe the explorer found a teeny, tiny crab.

My legs, my legs, I can't feel my legs....

Facing our fears.

Today we were invited to the ultimate birthday party- a Tree Tops climb. Just what every boy dreams of- a day of climbing trees. After Joe's koala experience last night I thought he'd be up those trees in seconds flat. Drew is really nervous about heights. He pushes himself to do roller coasters & was terrified when we did the Valley of the Giants walk in WA. I thought he might find the day a bit challenging.
Well that's what I get for making assumptions. Drew was awesome & loved every second of climbing with his best mate. I deliberately let him set off without Joe so that he could just enjoy the experience with his friend, without worrying about his little brother. Joe, on the other hand, crumbled. He is not scared of heights, he loves climbing trees and is frequently reminded to 'get down before you break your neck'. But he would not set a foot on the first rung of the ladder & kept dissolving into tears.

Today it was all about tough love! Joe had to push through the barrier. I was convinced that it had to be a social anxiety. It was about feeling overwhelmed around so many people & unsure about how to manage his anxiety- there were also a lot of kids he didn't know. After letting him watch for a while I told him to try climbing to the first platform and then climbing back down. The first two times he got half way up before retreating in tears. Unfortunately every time he was offered help by one of the guides- he retreated further. He watched all of his school friends have a great time, he saw several other kids cry but finish the course in the end. And then he finally agreed to climb to the platform again. He did it 3 times- his smile widened each time. Then, thankfully Kobi and Drew encouraged him to climb with them. They promised that one would go ahead & one behind him to help him if he needed it. He didn't need any help. My little monkey did what he does best- he climbed and jumped with gusto. With the little time remaining before we had to leave he was able to squeeze in several courses. I kept my distance & watched from afar after the first course. He didn't need me to hold his hand. He needed to be with friends. His mates called out encouragement & cheered his name but he didn't get a chance to hang out with them. He stayed close to Andrew & Kobi and therefore didn't really face the true fear today. Little steps- onwards and UPWARDS.

No fear!!! Threw himself off the platform with a huge grin.

Kobi and Andrew were so great with Joe today. He relished their attention and he felt like he could fit in. He needed the security of familiar and safe today.

The Castle Hill Show

Eric is on the Show Committee again this year, which means free passes for us all and a long day of work for Eric. Cams was off at Karingal with his school friends this weekend so we decided it was a good chance to treat Campbell with a show bag without putting him through the misery of the noisy, 'boring' show. We picked out a bag for him & explored every little thing the show had to offer. Games, rides, gozleme, churros and of course the animals! I even got to look at the craft!! Can you believe it?
A fun & relaxed Friday fun night for us all- Campbell would be watching pay TV with his mates so he'd be in his element too.

The funny bit is that while Eric was weighing cattle, and all that other show type stuff, Campbell turned up at the show with his mates!!!! Eric had to do some ducking & scurrying to avoid being eye- balled by Campbell. If he had been seen Cams would have completely freaked! He cannot cope at all with the crossing over of people and places. Poor Eric was in the midst of the busy part of the day and would not have been able to comfort Campbell for the full blown melt down that would have eventuated. The show itself would have been terribly stressful for Campbell & I am sure it wasn't what he had in mind for the day.

Just as I walked in the door after a party with Drew & Joe the phone was ringing. It was Campbell. To complain. About the stupid, boring show. He wanted to know when I could come to take him to the bookshop!! Ha -my ever predictable big boy. He was glad to be back in front of the TV & enjoying the chocolates from his show bag (yep- the exact same one we picked out for him). He also wanted to know what I thought of his 'new look'. Hmmm it was hard to make a judgement over the phone. It seems he bought himself a new wig! I can't wait to see the 'new look' in person ;)

Ohhh everyone LOVED the craft!!

In his element!!!

Trying to resemble a koala. He should be asleep not pop- eyed!!

Happy boy with a parent on either side.

Faking the baking.

So Eric is on the social committee this year, and he had to host morning tea this morning for 80 people.... so I had to bake up a storm. Not because he wasn't prepared to do it himself but because I simply could not have coped watching him make cakes that were not pretty, or even attractive probably. After all, he would say, they'll only be eaten.
He tells me that he didn't fake it & owned up straight away. As if anyone would have believed that he would EVER pipe icing onto 80 cupcakes.