Gold Coast Power of Moms retreat

It was such a great weekend with so many uplifting things said.  And so nice to associate with other wonderful woman, united in the cause of deliberate mothering.  I love what Saren said about JOY.  That Joy is found in little moments.  Small in time but heavy in weight.


April told us not to read our notes for at least a week - with a warning of post-retreat syndrome.  


I hope no one goes home depressed 'cause their husband's  never asked them "What do you need to thrive?"!  Just incase you're wondering if your husband is the only one that has NEVER asked that, mine hasn't either.  And that's OK.  


Instead of overwhelming ourselves and our families we need to watch and just listen to our thoughts for a while . . . 
What ideas or thoughts are coming into your mind?


These are some of mine

• Let your children see your eyes sparkle.  Look at them for 10 secs longer when they are showing you something and match their excitement

• What do the individuals in my family need to thrive? (Me, my husband, and individual children)

• Wake up excited

• Go to bed content

• house cleaning:  WORK IS A PRIVILEGE.  Say it 20 times with a convincing smile in the mirror before announcing that to your family.  And play fun MUSIC to spice it up

• Eat dinner on the trampoline more often 

• Go outside to watch sunsets 

          

**** I think i am now officially in love with the word THRIVE.  It's just such a great word!  It makes me feel excited and reminds me that there is a purpose to all this LIVING that we are doing :)  

POWER OF MOM ATTENDEES:  You may copy any photos from this post that you want.   If you have any photos you would like to share from the weekend please leave a comment with a link to your blog/facebook :)

Jayden turns 10

WOW - it's hard to believe I've only know this kid for 10 years!
(well in this life time anyway)

Somewhere along the way it has become a tradition that Jayden's birthdays involve WATER.  In past years we have been to the lagoon, beach, local swimming pool and now this year he choose a friend to go to Wet 'n Wild with him.   

He loves to be IN water and actually since he was a baby it's been hard to keep him dry. Here are some examples of Jay as a fast moving toddler and his love of water.

• One day we were at the temple for a wedding and he kept hopping into the fountain (fully clothed)
• Another day he stripped himself naked to swim in a puddle in his cousins backyard (breaststroke position)
• Aunty felicity always worried about him drowning in the bath tub at her place because he was obsessed with how long he could leave his head under water
• I have a few memories of our family going for a walk/picnic at the beach.  Parents have stated something to this effect....."this is JUST a walk today.  no swimming" - but he wrangles himself free and plunges himself into the surf

It really was a good thing that Nana insisted on him learning to swim from when he was a baby.   And I think satisfying for Jayden now too because he won some ribbons at his first carnival a few months back.

ANYWAY Since it was school holidays we thought we'd try our hand at making a piñata for the occasion.  Really don't ever attempt one unless you seriously have nothing else to do.  

We had some trouble with the holes where we poked in the string.   They ripped Out. I blame that on the tutorial I watched .... The next photo is dad performing a rescue operation ....

  I painted it black and Jayden hand drew his features.....we had some friends and family come over to help us smash it up. (photos not organised yet - so you just get to see the happy birthday boy)

 And we were pretty happy with how these babies came out.  We fussed heaps about what lollies to use for what and we were pleased in the end and thought you could totally tell they were suppose to be angry birds.  right?

Jayden (a very serious designer) also created the 'tribal angry bird'.

Splash'n around

I gave my husband this underwater camera for christmas.  He was thrilled as it was the one he has had his eye on for a couple of years.......He is very understanding you know 'cause zara the boys and I got to have the first turn with it while he was at work!  (the fact that he was understanding may or may not be true :))

Beach outing | new years day

Being near the water has a calming effect on us.  We just love our time together at the beach.

Our favourite time to go is early when it's not crowded, the sun is still lowish and not too glary, and we don't have to bother with sunscreen.   (for those of you who worry about us not using sunscreen, I'm talking arrival approx. 7am - gone by 8.30 / 9am).

Reuben spends a whole lot of time on the sand digging, looking for shells and sticks, and finding bottle caps for his bother's collection. 

Jayden loves to be in the water with dad.

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New Years day Public Holiday 2/Jan