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A Portrait of each of my kids once a week, every week in 2013


Muddy Organiser – Taking in the spectacular Warrumbungles
Muddy Pixie – Enough with the shoes already – I’ll carry them
Muddy Puzzler – Captured in a moment that cheeky smile
Muddy Boy – I want to do what my sisters are doing

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A Portrait of each of my kids, once a week, every week in 2013


Muddy Organiser – Intent on taking photos
Muddy Pixie – So confident as she strides through the chickpeas
Muddy Puzzler – Taking the Tonka Hardhat everywhere
Muddy Boy – Desperate to keep up with his sisters from under his big hat

Rambling

I am into rambling this week, rambling thoughts, rambling words, just seemingly rambling through my weekly routine. The Muddy Kids and I have been pottering around the farm, all rugged up in the mornings and stripping down to T-Shirts in the middle of the day. The washing pile grows exponentially at this time of year as the kids get the bottoms of their pants wet playing outside in the mornings on the wet grass and letting the chooks out. Then out of habit when they strip off their jumpers and long sleeve tops they put them straight in the washing basket rather than wearing them again the next day.
 
Then in the evening the chill comes in and we go through the afternoon routine of homework and bath before rugging up for bed. It’s a rambling farm life here this week. What’s your week like?
 

Sounds of Laughter

I have had the rare delight of 5 straight days at home with my Muddy Kids, just getting jobs done, and spending time together. It has been so lovely. I am still running round like a mad person trying to get through my to do lists, but every so often I stop and just enjoy being at home, soaking it up before I go back to work.
 
The best bit about it – the sounds of laughter as we play, that wicked giggle when they are being cheeky and know it, the hysterical, uncontrollable laughter as they have so much fun with each other. There is nothing in the world like that sound of laughter.
 

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A Portrait of each of my Muddy Kids, Once a week, Every Week in 2013


Muddy Organiser – At the moment there is no silence, you are constantly chattering away, asking questions, sharing information, your mouth just never stops.
Muddy Pixie – At the moment you have good days and bad days, the good days you let me do your hair, the bad days – you don’t
Muddy Puzzler – This week you turned 4, it’s hard for me to believe and you are LOVING being 4
Muddy Boy – Caught in motion, as Muddy Hubby throws you in the air

Linking up over at Che and Fidel for 52 – A Portrait a Week

Shiny and New

Over the weekend Muddy Hubby and I had to be on the coast, so we had two Muddy Kids with us and took some time out to take them to the beach. For me, growing up on the coast it’s not so much of a ‘wow’ thing, for Muddy Hubby and the kids though it is awesome, every, single, time! It’s like each time is the first time seeing it, stopping, just watching the sun, the sand, the waves, and the shells, my goodness the shells! It is all shiny and new.

Each time we go to the beach the Muddy Kids collect shells, hundreds of them, we go through a culling process, then a washing process, and then a mummy culling process and then we have a small collection to take back home to remember our time at the beach.

Although the beach doesn’t have the same ‘wow’ factor for me, I get such enjoyment from Muddy Hubby’s and the Muddy Kids excitement that I can’t help but get caught up in the excitement, looking at the beach through fresh eyes as if it was shiny and new.

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A Portrait of each of my kids, once a week, every week in 2013
 
Muddy Organiser – The awe that is the beach
Muddy Pixie – New glasses for the next 4 months
Muddy Puzzler – Clutching her shell collection
Muddy Boy – Look Mum, an egg
 
Linking up over at Che and Fidel for 52 – A Portrait a Week
 
 

The Coming Together of Family

 
This week we lost a very dear family member, a fabulous lady who I have countless fond memories of. It was a very sad farewell, lots of tears were shed as old stories were shared. The thing I am most grateful for, through the immense sadness, is the coming together of family. My Dad and his cousins all together in the one place for the first time in years, a lovely dinner with us all and the feeling of great comfort with just being together, all of us, sharing the burden of grief together.

The coming together of family is always so special, the shared memories, funny stories unearthed, the companionship that can only be had with family. Then the time afterwards to relish in my own little family and hope that they also have the same bond with their cousins and extended family as they grow.

I am joining in with 52 Weeks of Grateful which can be found here over at Octavia and Vicky.

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A portrait of each of my kids, once a week, every week in 2013


Muddy Organiser – Now on gate duty, jumping out so quickly to get the gate
Muddy Pixie – Stacking up her own fire and packing it down, just like Dad
Muddy Boy – Dirt, Dust and Old Machinery = Happy Boy
Muddy Puzzler – Glamorous in her party dress while holding a sheep skull – and showing off her new haircut.

Joining in the lovely link up over at Che and Fidel for 52 – A Portrait a Week.

Toasted Marshmallows


My Muddy Pixie and I have had a whirlwind trip to Sydney and back this week, I’ve squeezed in a day of work a little bit of washing, some trips up the paddock and taken the Muddy Puzzler to a birthday party, it’s been go, go, go and it’s nice to know tomorrow is Sunday. In all the busyness I have made sure to stop and reflect on what I’m grateful for this week.

Toasted marshmallows with the Muddy Kids up the paddock.

Family Drives around the farm.

A flexible work place.

Specialist Doctors who keep you calm and know what they’re talking about.

Good Friends who can answer techy questions about which I have no idea.

New ugg boots that keep my feet toasty warm.

My Muddy Hubby who has stepped up when I am sick and in bed by 8:30.

Lots of things to be grateful for on the Muddy Farm this week. Check out the other lovely grateful posts over at Octavia and Vicky where Kylie hosts 52 Weeks of Grateful.