Easy Christmas Gifts...

I think Christmas gifts are getting easier and easier, or maybe its just me (I used to make lavendar bath bombs for my girl pals, now not so much :() just dont have the time.

So this year Mikaela made** some noodle boxes filled with lollies for her class mates and friends. We had a great time putting the gifts together. ** we didnt actually MAKE the noodle boxes, they were premade. Cheap as chips too, like $4 for 5 of them or something like that. Basically with the boxes and the lollies the gifts worked out to be less than $1 each. JOY :)


Mikaela also made cards. We acually made the cards back on the 2nd, Mikaela was really good at stamping and writing the message on about 20 cards. The whole production line set up went pretty well. There were a number of steps, 1. stamp top front, 2. stamp Merry Christmas 3 times, 3. ink the edge of front, 4. write message inside of card, and 5. stamp 5 times inside of card. We got out of sync a few times, but all in all it was smooth sailing and Mikaela was really happy and excited to be making gifts for others.


Happy ME. Happy Mikaela... and I am pretty sure today there will be lots of happy kidlets too.

Nath is seriously counting down the days, TWO more days and he is home with us full time for about 2 weeks JOY JOY JOY.

Oh and we just got her teachers a bottle of red. Lazy but useful, no? LOL

Happy Days...
Bx

Completely Random...

Totally enjoying...
Ruby Rabbit taking a ride in the cup holder of my car... a little Mikaela "isim"
Feeling our babe move a LOT now.
Nath has felt it a couple of times in the last few nights. Katie too. Mikaela is not patient enough (mmm Mummy trait there!)
Babe is quite a kicker now.
Very exciting indeed.
We dont know the gender of the babe... we want a surprise.
Heaps of people keep telling me they think I am having a girl.
I have no idea.
I like that.

I am SO enjoying having Katie {my youngest sister} stay with us... she is such a sweetheart.

I WAS going to be teaching 3 mini-workshops on scrapbooking techniques this weekend, it got cancelled. Kind of disappointed, but relieves some pressure, so its okay. I have decided to have an Artists Date instead... a few friends over on Sunday afternoon for a couple of hours.

Mikaela got her Girls Brigade uniform Tuesday night... so cute how excited she is about it all.
She *loves* it.

A beautiful soul must have said a prayer for me... because I AM having my massage this morning after all. The whole package. I promise to share. So special, I have been waiting since Valentines Day when Nath gave me the gift.

Oh... and I have been tagged by Michelle (and Sarah) to divuldge seven random facts about myself, so here they are:

1. When I make the bed... I have to shake the doona, quilt, bedspread 12 times... no more, no less ~it must be 12 times!~

2. I am the eldest of five… two sisters, a brother and a baby (now 24yrs) sister.

3. I am close with all my sisters… we are all best of friends. I suppose its kinda daggy to say that they actually ARE my best friends, but its true. They are definately one of my main life blessings.

4. I love driving long distances alone.

5. I am a night owl, I’d rather stay up till 1am, than get up at 5.30am, and I am grumpy when forced to!

6. I like clean lines, I hate clutter and mess (I create a lot of it, but hate it still)… our home is reasonably clutter free and clean (it could be more so). I don’t like ornaments and knick knacks, photoframes etc all over the house. I like photo walls and clean surfaces. The thought of clutter actually made me shudder just then! I blame my mother, she hoards everything. I cleanse and donate probably every other month. I DO have ornaments and things... I just find that after a while the energy is stale and no longer applicable to my life, so I pass them on for someone else to gain joy for a while. Super special items I hold onto, even if I put them away.

7. I *heart* lip gloss.. my favouritre right now is Napolean, but I also love Natio and good old Blistik... I usually have about 3 in my bag at once.

I am supposed to pass this on to 7 others... but I choose not to, it will get around all by itself without my assistance *smile*

EDIT: Okay.. "its" got the better of me I MUST TAG... so I tag the following seven beautiful women: Di, Moo, Mel, Wanda, Leonie, Jen and Michelle.

Oh and DO check out Leonies post here... BIG exciting news for Goddess Leones (tonnes of me hugs and love for you sweets)!!

Peace and Love out...
Bx

First Day Riding to School....

Oh... I did get a little choked up... she is SO BIG. I can NOT believe she is THIS big.

How excited was she?? Well - very!
I ran a bit of the way beside her, but she took off a few times. I had to ask her to wait for me! Fun stuff indeed.
There were only a couple of "incidents"... of course they were the fault of the bike... and Mikaela let the bike know all about it!!

Mikaela's school is about 3kms from our home... so not far, took us about 20mins across some pretty major roads etc. We visited Nath quickly as his office is the street besides Kaela's school.

I have promised she can ride her bike every Thursday and Friday morning (which is when she is with us on school days)... it will be good for her (and me and baby).

I had imagined her riding her bike to school NEXT year {I would push our babe in the pram or take him/her in a carry sling}...

However... she is ready NOW... so we do it now!

My little girl is not so little anymore *grin* and a bit of a sad sigh...

Bx

Mikaela's Mini Pocket Album...

I found this advert in one of my favourite magazines... RIOT.

I thought it to be the perfect "Mini Album" concept. I just love it!

So I interviewed Miss Mikaela on New Years Day, while we were at the beach... and created this album for her.










The cutest thing is that still now... she will follow me around and randomly ask me things like "Mum, how do you want to live?"... totally cracks me up.

Next time I will do the pages the other way around, ie. the five quotes on the left and photo on the right.

Create on !!
Bx

Where does the time go...

Mikaela is so BIG right now!!
She lost her first tooth while we were out shopping on Saturday... I of course got all teary and started to cry, Nath was like "its not a crying moment Bek".... I said "YES IT IS, you are not a mother"... all the women in line were nodding in agreement grinning with tears in their eyes and most the men were just smiling and pretending to roll their eyes!!

So that was the first MAJOR sign that my baby is infact becoming quite the little Miss.

I bought her a goregeous book "The Tooth Fairy" by Peter Collington, I TOTALLY recommend to all parents. It is a picture book, no words ~ you make it up~ the illustrations are amazing. He has another about Christmas... and that one just gets me every time!!! Fabulous stuff.

THEN... the next very big thing for my little girl... she is riding her bike all by herself! Her little one AND her big one, tho with her big one it is only for about 10mtrs at a time. Still practice makes perfect and I am so totally proud of her. Cute as! The sweetest thing is to watch her face light up.

Nath took her around the block yesterday and then we were at it up and down the street... and again this morning. IT IS GREAT! Seriously cool!

BAD mummy!.... I just realised not only did she have no shoes on this morning... but no helmet either! Geez I dont know ... how has my dear girl survived almost 6 years in my care? Bahahahaha. I can NOT believe she will be SIX (6) in just a few weeks... unbelievable!!

We were going to go down to the coast today... but I have touch footy tonight, so decided on the cotter instead (a river near home).

Oiw... and I have a few art projects to share soon, fun stuff indeed...

Love and Peace
Bx

Introducing *Mikaela's Dad*...

Her biological father.
She has two Dad's.
One who is her biological Dad... and one who is not, but is a Dad in every defining term of the word, aside from blood.

This is Papy.
Mikaela's Dad.
We met in Italy in 2000.
Today he is an Australian citizen.
He lives about 10mins from us.
And we get along as well as separated parents do.
Most days.

For many, many reasons our union was a difficult one... we faced a lot of prejudice. Mainly in Europe.
I remember when Papy arrived in Australia... we would stroll down the road holding hands.
He was so delighted and surprised.... he turned to me and said "Bek... people are smiling at us... they are actually happy for us"!!
I grinned and said "Of course Papy... this is Australia"

THIS IS AUSTRALIA.....
Many of our political and international policies - I do not agree with or support. Nor am I proud of.
But I am very proud of our muliticultural society.

It was difficult too because of our cultural differences.
Things that you think (or hope) wont matter.
Do.

Sometimes it is the very thing that attracts you to a person that tears you apart.
As was the case with us.

Papy walked into the room.
The instant our eyes locked I knew he was the father of my child.
I knew we would have a child together.
I knew.

He was attracted to my independance...
This "Aussie Chick"... she can do anything.. go anywhere.
He found it refreshing and liberating.

We were attracted to the differences in each other...

I had been warned.
People had told me that African culture was very different to mine.
Women are not regarded or treated the same as in our society.
I didnt pay much attention.

I also didnt know much about politics in Africa at the time.
And especially not the situation in DRC.
I really had no idea of what I was getting into.
I was living in Italy. I was an ignorant Aussie. Who met a gorgeous African man.
What more was there to know???

Papy was born of the Minister for Arts for the Mobutu government.
He had a very priviledged upbringing.
When Mobutu was ousted... well his live changed considerably.
And no doubt he as a lot of trama for his experiences.
Of which I can never comprehend.
Ever.

Looking from the outside things are so crystal clear.
So very obvious.
When you are in it.... well, not so clear.

So we tried desperately to keep our little union strong.
To maintain the tiny family we had created.
We couldnt.
We didnt.

I tell Mikaela all the time... I love your Dad because without him, there would be no *you*
I will always love Papy..... he is my brother.
I admire Papy.
I respect him.
And I will always hold him in my heart and wish the very best for him.
He is a good guy.

There are many things we dont discuss often ... the situation of the people or politics in Africa.
We try sometimes... it always ends with us both in tears.

Nath and he get along well.
We all maintain a healthy respect for each other ... and the roles we have in Mikaela's life.
And I can ask for no more.
It is all that matters... Mikaela.

Live your life... with love towards your sisters and brothers.
Bx