Luna

This is what you might be wearing if you were a little dude in 1960s England off to church on a Sunday morning. You would need to team it with a buttoned up shirt off course and some very long socks to stay warm. Possibly even a smart cap. More clearing out of Grandma's house has unearthed this little suit that belonged to my partner when he was the same age. Do you think I can coax him into wearing it for Grandma's 90th birthday party???

With my mother in law down scaling her possessions to move into a smaller place I was recently the lucky recipient of some vintage children's books. This one of the Pied Piper (1961 I think) particularly appealed. As a child I would have spent hours poring over these illustrations, the black and white more graphic ones appealling the most. Knowing my youngest had never heard this story before I  grabbed him aside so we could enjoy the book together. I few moments in I remembered the upsetting ending (warning: themes of child abduction and disabled children  being labelled with politically incorrect terms coming up). But we soldiered on and when it came to the Pied Piper luring the town's children away to ensconse them inside a mountain - and then a "lame" boy being left behind - he didn't bat an eyelid. I personally remember finding it  more than just a little unsettling.But which message to leave him with? Always pay the piper (and keep your ...

So here's Archie all dressed and ready for his first day at Big School. He was really excited all weekend and had fun labelling all his stuff. Up early on the actual day, all eager. As soon as his name was read out in the school hall to join the teacher he jumped up to go and was off - forgetting his bag and that his mum, Dad and Ruby were going to be accompanying him. A pretty big moment. Parents were allowed into the classroom for five or so minutes to say goodbye and watch as the teacher introduced herself to the little ones as they sat on the floor. I took this other picture as he listened, wondering what was going through his head. I guess there's no comprehending what's to come. It's the end of 11 years for me at home with my babies. A reminder just how fast the time can go.

I love this photo from our week in Pambula. It's so beachy and full of sibling love. We did a fair bit of the beach while there and Archie is grown up enough now to let me sleep in. That way I was able to manage much more 'surfing' than would otherwise have been possible. He was especially good the morning of our trip to Magic Mountain in Merrimbula. I know he was absolutely itching to get there but patiently allowed me a good amount of rest to make the most of the day. And so make the most of it we did - water slides, roller coasters (6 goes for Col and Ruby, zero for Archie and I!), mini golf, tobogganing and Grand Prix racing cars. The day went so fast and we were there till closing time. Other highlights from the holiday were a visit from Aunty Lynette, watching 'Meet The Fockers' with the kids and a visit to the 'Lolly Shop' in Merrimbula on the day it rained. Ruby still can't believe Archie chose to spend his money on a rubber ball that came out ...

Woke up to find: Archie enjoying Ice Age 3 for the One hundred and fifty fourth time since Christmas (bless him). Ruby working on an internet recipe for Advanced Stem Cell research which apparently uses your very own self raising flour and table salt.

A short new year visit up Sydney way to visit Uncle Gareth and Aunty Karen was cancelled due to illness in our household. And not just me - the kids too. I tried to cheer things up a bit by stitching some easy projects from the Felties book I recieved as a Christmas present from Aunty Lynette. The book suggests each project only takes two hours but I don't think that takes into account flus and chest colds. As a result I had to disappoint Archie when the Chihauhau wasn't done before he went to bed. Not to worry - it was ready for when he woke up. As for all the other projects sitting by my sewing machine I thought this might be their time of year, sadly not. Only one bag to go in the Getting To know My Sewing Machine mission and then I'm free. So many other things I'm desperate to try out...

As you all know I have a serious magazine addiction. If not for my awesome powers of self control (I know, I'm a legend) my family would be financially adrift, undernourished and threadbare (albiet in a sea of fabulous publications, not wanting at all for lush visual inspiration and on trend creative direction). I feel like we all came perilously close to such a nightmare/dream scenario earlier this week when in Borders I discovered the first edition of Free Style Magazine. After all what is there to expect when you cross that line for the first time and decide it's alright to spend $37 on a magazine? Imagine though: A magazine shaped like a circle, the cover styled in retro fifties fashions with custom collage esque machine stitching and all inside a flouro designer frisbee. Be still my heart. I had to have it.