Plant Kingdom

Phoebe was really excited this morning when she came downstairs to see the birthday gnome on the table. She said to me, "it really feels like my birthday is coming now mum.I love it when we see the gnome arrive"
As she went to bed tonight the conversation was about what the gnome may bring in the morning... Hmmmmm I wonder??

He is bringing a gift from the plant kingdom. A lei of beautiful frangipani's... here are a few pictures...

'plants that reach up to the sun,and in the breezes dance'

The Birthday Gnome Is Here

As of tomorrow it's 4days until Phoebe's birthday.
We have a tradition of the Birthday Gnome arriving at the breakfast table with a little gift from nature, for us it is like have a birthday festival over a few days rather then just the one day.
Over the four days the gnome brings a gift from every kingdom. The first day being the mineral kingdom. So this year the first day for Miss Phoebe is a river stone and shell.
I can't wait to hear the chitter chatter at the table in the morning, the gnome always brings a sense of magic surrounding the birthday.
For the days leading up to their birthdays we look at photos and tell stories about what it was like when they were in my tummy. What food I liked, how we chose their name etc etc

'Stone that lives in seashells,crystals and bones'



Hooray for the first day of Phoebe's 5th Birthday celebrations!

A Lover, Not A Fighter

We purchased a Fighting Fish a few months ago. It was one of those days when I went out without thinking and was taking a fish home before I knew it. We had been having rain for over a week we were all over being housebound,next thing I knew we were at the pet shop and leaving with a new family member. Its an indigo coloured fighting fish so Phoebe named her Indy for short, and before we even made it home her full name was given: Indy Bindy Findy! Cute huh?? We have a little song to the tune of Incy Wincy Spider... with words like Indy Bindy Findy is a little fish.She gives her pretty tail, a lovely little swish.... and so on and so forth.
We love the fish, we are always there singing to her (him) and watching what she is up to.
Last weekend someone said if you hold a mirror up to the glass the fish will puff out ready for a fight. They said it was really pretty,so off I go mirror in hand and show it to Indy. She swam backwards away from the mirror but not taking her eye off it.It was hilarious! After a while I got bored waiting, I was just about to pack it in when Phoebe said, "you better stop now mum,I think she's just a lover!"

New Do!

I had a day of pampering today. And what does a mother do with a little freedom,chop off her locks.
My sisters are both here at the moment so we booked out the salon and we all got our haircut together. Cath the hairdresser had chilled champagne and snacks waiting for us, it was soooooo nice to be child free, for a chat-a-thon with my sisters.
I decided to bite the bullet and have a bit of a change,what they hey,it's only hair it will grow back...
When I picked up the girls they couldn't stop looking at me. Coco said "mummy put your hair back on" While Phoebe said "Oooooo Mummy I LOVE it!" And the other classic line came from Coco again "look at your hair mama, it's all grown up"
I like it, it feels fresh, and light...
What do you think???

Little Amelia Jane...

Natalie and Amelia


Very proud Aunty Mel




Awwww She is SOOOOOOO Beautiful!!!


As you know we have just returned from a somewhat hectic time in Tamworth, it was great to see everyone but one of the best moments of the trip was meeting my new niece Amelia.
Pretty much as soon as we were settled at mum and dad's I went over to see her.
Let me say she is BEAUTIFUL.... I know, I know, I am her clucky Aunty, but I fell in love with her the instant I saw her... It's so strange the bond of family love. Phoebe only said to me before we went to Tamworth. "I love Amelia mum. How can I love her and I don't even know her??"
It is something that Natalie and I have talked about often, the bond that our children have when they see each other, they just click,its incredible and very heart warming!

Haires,Thomsons And Neumanns Oh My!!

We went to Tamworth for a family get together, with Mum and Dad, 6 children, 3 In-Laws and 9 Grandchildren all in one room for the first time in over 7 years great fun was had by all!!!
Here are the photos it was near impossible to get all looking at the camera at once let alone looking and smiling,these were the best I could get....
Di and Dennis
Katie her husband Owen and children Saxon,Hamish and Ebony(from Solomon Islands)
Aaron and his daughter Taylah (from Western Australia)
Simon and his wife Natalie and children Dominic,Oliver and Baby Amelia (from Tamworth)
Melanie (moi) With Phoebe and Coco (from Byron Bay)
Felicity with her partner Haakon (From Oslo Norway)
Toby From Sydney
After the lunch together we then had the extended family over which included aunts,uncles cousins and friend totalling near 50!!! It was an ace night, its so nice to have everyone in one room and the way we are all spread across the globe I am assuming it could be a long time before it happens again... Enjoy the pics!!!






Back left....Owen,Aaron,Haakon,Felicity and Me
Middle Left.....Dad,Mum,Taylah,Simon,Dominic
Sitting Front.....Oliver,Coco,Natalie,Amelia,Saxon,Phoebe,Hamish,Katie,Ebony and Toby