Sunday, February 12, 2012
yesterday
...we wandered up to the local school where, miraculously, Che transformed into a sweet little skeleton and Daniel stole the bike. Poet watched happily from her little red caboose and I noticed autumn creeping in on the trees.
We got home just before the storm broke and just in time for Che to get his boardies on and dance in the sky water.
Labels:
day-to-day
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family
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street
Thursday, October 27, 2011
we've got kids
A phone conversation with my mum when Poet was about 6 weeks old:
Mum: "How are you?"
Me: "Good thanks Mum."
Mum: How are the kids?"
Me: "What kids?"
Mum: "Your kids."
I remember holding the phone away from my ear and saying to Daniel: "Shit! We've got kids!" This concept, or reality, was probably harder to get used to than when we first became parents. While saying out loud that we were parents to children was difficult, the transition, from the 3 of us to the 4 of us, has been really smooth. I think that has a lot to do with our babymoon and the fact that we don't try and squeeze too much into each day - sometimes getting a load of washing on is good enough (we aim high here!).
So, now that we've got the picture perfect pigeon pair, most people presume that we're done.
"Oh no," we say. "We want four."
Yep, Daniel and I would love to have four kids. Our only concern is whether we can afford four kids. I know money doesn't make the world go 'round but there's no denying that it plays a pretty significant role in our lives. For instance, 2 litres of organic milk (currently $5.29) is not going to go far with four little ones, is it? My solution? We'll buy a cow.
So, while pondering the realities of four children today (an interesting thought process to have while at the hairdresser and spending the first hour ever away from Poet - and subsequently realising that four kids probably wouldn't allow me the pleasure of having my hair done at the rather expensive salon I go to) I stumbled across an article about families. And the gist of the article went something like this:
Is it environmentally-friendly to have more than two children in this day and age?
One interviewee said: "No! The world is full enough. We have no more room for the little tuckers."
And the family advocate, unsurprisingly, said..."Yes! A family of four who grow their own food and raise their children with an awareness of healthy, eco-friendly living is far more essential than the family with one child, a slew of technology and the desire to consume, consume, consume."
So while there were a lot of generalisations and only two perspectives, the article got me thinking and still has me wondering.
I'd love to hear what you think...
bottom photo: "Poet in her cocoon (with new Ikea spotty quilt)"
Labels:
che
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family
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poet
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tim coulson
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we've got kids
Monday, October 17, 2011
reptilian times
If you drive up to the Central Coast from Sydney, you'll notice a big dinosaur near the Gosford exit. It's an icon and it's been around for as long as I can remember. Its name is Ploddy.
Yesterday we took Che to the Australian Reptile Park for the first time. We didn't tell him that we were going, just turned up with a picnic lunch and a bunch of surprises in store. Regarded as one of the country's best zoos, it's well-known for it's hands-on approach. But the whole experience is made all the more wonderful if you're good friends with the Head Keeper. And so, we got taken behind-the-scenes to see the baby Tazzie Devils, itsy-bitsy alligators, furry wombats and curly snakes. Che had an absolute ball; always rearing to get to the next animal, the next spider, the next snake. Daniel even got to go behind the enclosures where cobras got a little annoyed by the lens.
The park is home to a range of furry and scaly creatures and the keepers are dedicated to educating the public about them. Conservation is a priority too and, at present, all their efforts are geared towards
Devil Ark - the largest Tasmanian Devil conservation breeding programme on mainland Australia. Sadly, a
genetic tumour disease is wiping out Tasmanian Devils in the wild. To ensure the national icon doesn't end up on the extinction list, the Australian Reptile Park is trying to raise $7 million to establish a successful breeding programme. They also need 6.5km of fencing...read more
here about how you can help.
On the drive home yesterday Che fell asleep in the car and last night, while I was tucking him into bed, he declared the entire day one of his most favourite times ever.
Thanks so much Billy for making it extra special.
Labels:
adventures
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che
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exploring
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family
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friends
Sunday, September 18, 2011
corners of our home
We are self-confessed homebodies. We love being at home, pottering about, moseying from one thing to the next. Daniel and I both work from home too and we count ourselves incredibly lucky that we can earn money and spend our days with our children. While our house is not nearly as design savvy as some, we love it for it's comfort, practicality and quaint-appeal. Our style is stamped on every wall.
Over time, with Che growing up and Poet arriving, we've had to change a few things. I've been really inspired by the Montessori philosophy that a child's independence should be encouraged and nurtured. You'll see in that first photo up there that Che's raincoat, hat, beanie, bag and umbrella are hanging on little timber hooks at his height. A simple addition to his room but absolute genius! Why? Because when we're about to leave the house (always a rather time-consuming procedure with a little one in tow) I ask him to go get his hat etc. and he knows exactly where it is and can reach it on his own. There's a vintage bookshelf near our front door and the bottom shelf is his designated "shoe shelf" - when we arrive home from an outing the first thing he does is take his shoes off and put them on the shelf, followed closely by the hat/bag/umbrella going back on the hooks.
The Montessori classroom has everything at a child's height and since being introduced to this idea I've made sure that all of the things that Che needs in his day are easily accessible to him. The bottom row of our expedit bookshelf features four baskets with luggage tags on each: "cars and trucks," "puzzles," "blocks" and "music and puppets." He just helps himself throughout the day. His lego is stored in clear containers behind the couch along with a basket of toys and his teepee. His art and craft supplies are on his vintage desk and his play oven is close to the kitchen. Our house is child-friendly, decorated with family photos (more to come), Che's artwork and quirky prints.
When Daniel and I first moved out together (four months after meeting each other) we didn't even own a toaster. Since then we have collected bits and pieces that we love. We haven't spent much money and we've kept it all quite simple. Delightfully so.
Everything has been chosen for its wonderful blend of practicality and aesthetic appeal, remebering always that beauty is found in simplicity - a collection of shells on a windowsill, a single flower in a glass bottle, a child's colourful painting.
Labels:
corners of my home
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family
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montessori
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simplicity
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tim coulson
Monday, September 12, 2011
behind the scenes
Meet Tim - the man behind the lens. This is how he works; effortlessly juggling cameras while kids play at his feet. He's unperturbed by the fact that he's being filmed because his priority is catching the moment. Capturing it in the beautifully composed frame that he's known for.
I've had so many emails from people near and far wanting to have Tim photograph their families. I figure I'd introduce him and let you in on what a shoot is like. As you can tell it's pretty damn enjoyable. It's like inviting an old friend over, sharing food and stories and remaining quite oblivious to the fact that he's got a camera (or two) slung around his neck. Tim has the unique ability to make you forget all together that he's taking photos. That's the mark of a natural photojournalist.
Through a series of photos he tells the story of a family. A day in the life of. Don't you want that story on your wall?
Labels:
danielgrey.com
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family
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film
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tim coulson
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we live near the beach
Friday, September 09, 2011
portrait: the sequel, by tim coulson
Tim emailed me last night with a link to the slideshow he had made. Daniel and I watched it - silent. And then I phoned Tim and burst into tears. Truly, I sobbed on the phone to him. Because what he captured is a moment in time, the four of us together, in all our normalcy. And yet it's beautiful. So very beautiful.
Daniel and I got an opportunity to look at our life through the eyes of another. The eyes of an artist. We're blessed.
And now, we just have to choose which few captures will hang on our walls. Which few we will look at, every day, for years to come and be reminded of what we have. Grateful for the little people we made and the happiness that follows them everywhere.
Labels:
corners of my home
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family
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tim coulson
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we live near the beach
A phone conversation with my mum when Poet was about 6 weeks old:
If you drive up to the Central Coast from Sydney, you'll notice a big dinosaur near the Gosford exit. It's an icon and it's been around for as long as I can remember. Its name is Ploddy. 
