Photos & Art

Here we have Dante's pictures from today and yesterday, above his fish, below his bird.

And below is Kai's asian mountain home and para troops...

And Raven's fish... puffer/heart fish/elephant fish. He told us that and it is obvious once we were told, but I did initially think it was people.

Some photos: Kai, Raven, Monika and Andrew, 3 youngest and dad, group shot of the children outside HJs, Dante, Monika and Labyrinth...

Sometimes its hard to shift Andrew out of bed, which means having to either go without lunch or do as we did today... no not eat at HJs, we just get their free refills and grabbed a parcel of chips from across the road. They don't ever seem to mind. They got a good play too.

Also today we went and did pricing for building materials from Bunnings. I know it isn't the rock bottom cheapest place but its there to give us a good ball point figure (and hopefully save even more). We're certainly not against 2nds and 2nd hand building materials, and using what we can provide ourselves. We are bringing this to a bank too, costings and so forth, to get our little project off the ground much faster.

We also trialled so called Awesome Water for a week. It just didn't taste great and if I'm paying for it - it should! So, we will send it back... Also discovered FaceBook and spent far too long on it. Its a great thing but too addictive. Also reading Diana Wynne Jones House of Many Ways...a third installment to the Howls Moving Castle series. Now time to sit back and enjoy my cuppa chai tea and chill after a busy day (after I got Andrew motivated.)

Happy 7th Birthday Kai!

Yes, it's the season for birthdays... and everything was cut down alot in order to afford his big present, the Resistance Retribution PSP pack... (we didn't have an activity like a family trip to the movies - that doesn't happen... although he did want to go for a laser skirmish or Zone3 activity, again, this couldn't happen... and the other toys given out were quite small really)

Young Monika above with her new Baby Bratz boy (picked up for $5 at toy world)... and she loves it, I was so happy because I wasn't at all sure how she'd take it?

Dante, Raven and Kai all recieved the smallest transformers, this is intended to be both practical and ensure they'd want to play with each other.

Labyirnth got a Littlest Petshop Pet, its a badger.

Kai recieving a gift from the only grandparents he gets to see/have anything to do with as we're estranged from the others. Reasons too personal to disclose.

Birthday party and cake time, with Nan and Poppy, the cake is an army scene meant to 'replicate' the Retribution games ... army mad boy, but he loves yellow and cuddles and he's not violent or harsh, just a great child really, just his interests lie in a place I don't understand, but I accept that it's just him.

That was how we spent the day, just relaxing and slowed right down to just enjoy it. We didn't actually even have a new DVD or anything for him to play with, the only other thing that was special was we all had a steak each for tea, under $7.. Y Bone. Even so, we all had a great time, no one was stressed or rushed and we didn't have to pander to any one elses needs, and Kai went into his birthday fully aware that if he got this PSP that there would be very little else, and a very small christmas indeed. However on the upside, he's got it now and with all our future intentions it will be great during the time we don't have access to the majority of our things and the probable lack of electricity. Anyways, it has to be short today as so much is happening! Q.

Daytrip to Orford and Pizza Night!

Beautiful Orford, and the first beach Labyrinth ever sat foot on, first beach she was taken to to swim at, and the first and only time she was aftraid of the water! She was just an early walking baby at the time... today had some business attached to it though. We got a whole heap of packing boxes given to us from a fellow free cycler. Thanks goes out to that woman and it will probably take everything we plan on taking with us to Victoria . YAY.

Raven running. Could not believe how many of the little black buggers we seen as we travelled up, but only one on the way back. Omninous or just thier feeding times? Below is little Monika, of course, having a great time.

Kai getting into it!

Dante looks comfortable, don't you think???

Monika loves getting amongst it.... she's an adventerous 1 year old, or 22 month old, whatever your take. She loves sliding too... which had me surprised as she didn't want to today, it was a manipulation thing with another girl around her age, me thinkest.

Firstly the Gluten Free Pizzas... you can get a real feel for how big they are, but how tasty? That is one thing you'd have to try on for yourself. Same again, pizza bases from the LifeStyle Bakery. Hey they should start sponsering me.

They all made their own tonight... Labyrinth decided to be different and make herself a pizza parcel... She ate this and asked for more!

Dante only ate half but he wanted to make it look artsy, so the main ingredients are around the owls eyes...

Poor Kai... he ended up being sick from travelling sickness in the car so didn't eat as much as he usually does. I think he liked the fact he didn't have to do anything once he got home though, just do his own thing on the couch.

Raven eating his little creation! He's getting to be a bit cheeky lately... born stirrer.

Even Monika got her own pizza (helped by Daddy to make).

And tomorrow is Kai's 7th birthday, yeah they nearly all happen at once around here, four in 3 months! Generally a poor time. Its cute though how Monika finds it a little bewildering!

I'm off to relax now as I am tired, Q.

New Toys, savings and comprimises

Our newest acquisitions, a limited edition PSP3000 to apease Andrew, a new Sony CyberShot, which is to improoove my photograpy with this blog in mind and scrapbooking too. Andrew actually had to talk me into it and told me it was important for me to get something simple as my shots were never the best, and I am so glad he did, it is true, I don't have the best eyesight (astigmatism) and it is for my readers enjoyment as much as my own, plus I don't wish to be trying to figure out shots when they need to be taken asap (so many opportunities lost, and while we endeavour to get our new home built this will be definitive to our story! With this in mind I agreed. Also above is Little Monika's new potty. It has a shell lid too for Raven (yep he still needs to be helped onto the toilet (he's 4! but so small)... and later for Monika. Below is a few shots taken with the new camera, aren't they great? Sigh....

Also put on ACDSEE Pro so I can hasten my conversions to upload (oh, i'd forgotten that joy, done in such a tiny amount of time!)

The comprimise of getting the expensive items (Andrew had to pursuade me), was for the road and the long time between having all of our stuff accessable while we wait and while we build.) Part of the pursuading that took part was we now have $150 savings as of today (stupidly I thought we had over $600)...(OH, I know it ain't much, but by mid next month it will be around the $4000 dollar mark.) Secondly, we'll be putting at least $500 into savings from now on each fortnight, and thirdly and most importantly, Andrew has finally agreed to look into what I've been telling him (and him dreading as he didn't understand) how we can get this off the ground so much faster by ... you guessed it.... living in a tent for up to a few months then into a caravan we own. We could be putting away $1500 a fortnight plus, and seeing some beautiful places like national parks along the way and having a very relaxed wait.

Ideally we could pick up some work here and there like seasonal fruit picking too. Anyone got any other ideas? Work offers? Anything?

Tomorrow is a trip up the east coast for a picnic and to pick up all the packing boxes we need (hopefully)...Q

Reptilian Friends, Scaries, Art and Cupcakes

Above: Kai's War. Below: Dante's Scorpion Fish eating Bees.

Above: Labyrinth's Fantasy House and Garden.

Below: Raven's Chimera (see Resistance: Fall of Man)...So we're a little bit lax in screening 'violence' from our children's viewing pleasure. They do actually realise it's make believe and fun even if they are a bit young.

Above and Below: Raven's Halloween Book or some parts of. I didn't help him with any of it, I just can't believe how quickly he is picking up writing! He asked for this little book too, so no coersion, totally natural stuff going on here, his chosen genre and his rapidly advancing abilities... It might be a bit hard to see, but those are properly formed words, something on par with Kai's writing about now (he's just about to turn 7).

Cupcakes....

As part of our lessons (and finally getting the right time), we made these lovely Gluten-Free Cupcakes premixed by Basco. Wow, they are nice, and highly recommended, that icing and chocolate flakes come with... It isn't much fun for the kids though, one to break an egg, one to pour in some rice milk, one to scream "when is it MY turn???" not to mention that all five were interested in helping today...

Well, this week has been all about Life In Cold Blood , determined to finish off this learning unit, so far this week we've watched Dragons of the Dry and Sophisticated Serpents, and done quite a few lessons. Naturally since there are thousands of snakes/reptiles I kept it down to just a few to concentrate on... Frilled Neck Lizard, the Vieled Chameleon and the Anaconda so far. I'll be honing in on our Aussie Snake Friends soon. When we move to Victoria, Dante's put in the order to convert his fish tank to a reptile one and have some tiny snake, can't recall what he called it, but they eat ants apparently. I'd much rather a mountain dragon lizard or some such personally. But that's off the topic a bit, can I help it being focused on our dreams???

I haven't even mentioned I'm taking a different approach. Lately they've been a bit restless and bored, so I'm upping the ante with lessons, so they have to read aloud for 15 minutes/to themselves for 15 minutes, do 20 minutes of structured math, do set lessons (in this weeks case it's the reptiles), do some form of art work (usually drawing), and write 5 sentences. Not a huge amount, you're probably thinking. Plus they have to have their chores done before we can start (they've been quite neglectful of that - who wouldn't if given the opportunity). Other than that their time is their own, and given a day they get all that done by lunch (not yet but getting closer) they are welcome to play with computers/PS3s etc. Oh, and they are going to start learning to type so they can blog weekly.

Obviously it was timely today so we got to bake the cupcakes. There will be other bonuses and extras to be given out randomly to help them be happy little achievers.

Just one more thing... had an interesting conversation with the eldest two today. Dante was complaining bitterly that he wanted to be a "normal boy" and not have to be in trouble lots. I asked him what he thought a normal boy would do? He just shrugged his shoulders, so I reminded him. Of the extra stress of getting up early, getting ready, no time for playing games/watching TV just eat and out the door to school, to sit down and be bored and write for ages, and have 1 hour of play and eating broken up by this and that and having no real choices about what was going into his head (they have totally autonomy about WHAT they learn here, as previously mentioned)... then home to more reading homework (and this is only from what I remember from him in preschool (his school was pushing very early literacy he was doing preschool - where's the fun in that? What ever happened to a carefree childhood without homework in primary school?) With mum or dad rushing around to make tea and cut lunches for the next day, an early bedtime so it can all happen again in the same rushed/stressed manner the next day. He brought up the long bus rides and the pushing around and lack of seating (well the bus we had to get on from his school was just that... primary/high/college and uni students in the same space practically, you can imagine.... and if not that the struggle to get a parking spot in front of the school with active patrols of policemen telling you to buzz off and come back later to pick up older students (even if they were due out less than 10 minutes later). And Labyrinth perked up and told me something she'd never ever admitted to before (she used to complain about going back to school until she decided being home was much more fun and relaxed)... "Yeah, and you don't have to be told you're doing everything wrong and not to talk/do that and have the teacher yell at you all the time."

Just made me realise what a wise move it was taking them out of their childhood prisons, Q.

Changing Our Stars

As previously mentioned, we are hoping to buy a block of land and build our own home. This was a far off dream that was years away, putting our savings away for some years and fulfilling our dream.

Well, this has taken an unexpected turn for I have finally convinced Andrew that waiting may not be the best policy, considering all the bits and bobs available for the FHO right now. So, we'll be doing some radical changes, probably living in a tent to save and doing it sooner. With this in mind we have moved some of our stuff from objects to money, and buying things the children won't be requiring a powerpoint to enjoy, like hand held games etc.

I still don't understand solar power, but we'll get one or two hot water systems for hot water, buy nature loos that don't require plumbing at all and are good for composting and trying to figure out cheap building options. We've decided on getting as much recycled, reclaimed and renewable items as possible.

Now I wouldn't say we're exactly the model green family, my motivations are to go earth friendly as possible, using a grey water system, harvesting our own water and providing our own solar power needs, and relying on passive solar and thermal heating in as far as that goes. Some of my motivation relies on self-sufficiency, self-reliability (growing our own fruit, nuts and vegetables, having laying chickens/turkeys etc for eggs and meat, keeping sheep or goats or both for milk (dairy intolerance and how much space a cow takes up does heavily weigh on this decision), cheese, fetta, and a hive or two for honey (inspired by the woman from my blogroll living the good life etc) ... and some of my motivation is probably a bit selfish, I'd rather have more money in pocket that giving it away to someone else for things I can provide my family myself with a bit of ingenuity, intelligence and good old back breaking hard work.

We'd also love a husky, lots of yummy cosy cats, a reptile or two (prefer a mountain dragon to a python, I think I've finally convinced Dante that is best) and most likely not birds. Though I love them I don't think I'd like to keep them for two reasons 1. Its a bit cruel not to be free when you can fly so far and 2. They are bl**dy messy!

These things are limited by where you live and how much space you have to call your own. Ideally we want at least 2.5 acres or so, and I like the idea of a food forest, the kind of place that is self-sufficient in itself, in that it self-waters. its weed-repressing, and its self supporting by nature.

Obviously this will take time and money, but by heck it will be worth it - financially, emotionally, educationally and most importantly I guess I'm a hippy at heart and I think I belong in the country where my head might not spin quite so much. I want it to be a haven, a place the children will wish to return to after they leave the nest as they may view it as a peaceful soulful and restful santuary, that's certainly my wish.

So we're taking donations... only JOKING! I just wish I could hurry things along a bit and get a piece of land to call my own, things will fall into place after that, I'm sure (as the way we'll be doing it will be quite cost effective. More on this later.

Adieu, Q.

Young Raven turns Four!

One of my babies had a birthday today, young Raven swooped in to score his fourth year and had a happy, happy birthday! Since his favourite colour is pink, and he loves dinos, that's exactly what birthday cake he got:

As mentioned a few times before, birthdays aren't just special for the birthday child, its for every child in the family, as the birthday child gives a present to each sibling. This year Raven gave out a small bubble bottle and a beanie bear each. So, from left to right in the group shot above, Kai has a Tassie Devil, Raven has his 'dino' big beanie (really Lizzie the Lizard or some such - can't check he's cuddling right now), Labyrinth's pink angel, Dante has a shark and Monika for a rare moment has both her bears - her most loved Red Panda and her new pink dino bear. When she was given the bear she had a strange look on her face, later she threw it down on the floor "Don't want it!" and reclaimed her Red Panda and dragged it around everywhere and refused until this photo right before bed to have any more to do with it (but she is clutching her baby 'iego, as she calls her Red Panda). Labyrinth and Raven also have other Beanie Bears - Raven has T'Rex and Labyrinth has her "Ghost Rider".

Funny little story earlier today: I was getting Raven to get his siblings gifts ready, (he was stickering thier bubble bottles and writing the first letter of their names onto a sticker tag and sticking them to the Beanie Bears). He took keen interest in Monika's bear (two of his fave things as proved by above cake and smile). I tell him, that no, it's not his that he will be giving it to Monika soon, and he looks up at me excitedly and exclaims, "ohhh, Monika's bear will by my T'Rex's girlfriend! We can play!!!" He's such a sweetie. He also didn't need reminding how to shape the M letter, he just went ahead and wrote it. I've never taught him any writing ever, and when I asked the children later if thier child carer teaches them how to write they told me she never does anything like that, so that's a WOW moment for me.

So for the next part Presents! Nanny and Poppy came over (my parents), and in a lovely Diego present bag had a new pair of Victorianox army pants, a colour in book, chocolate (I've never known my mum not to bestow such treats), and two new toon DVDs. Then he gave out his presents to his siblings, then drum roll please. He got the above big Beanie, a colour etch-a-sketch, and lots of activity books/roll of thick cartridge paper - 50 sheets/more art paper/a pencil case full of arty stuff for a young man including glue/sticky tape as well as the usual drawing pencils etc, and for the encore... a DACS as pictured above. Or in other words a Digital Arts Creative Studio. Basically the preschool version of a tablet and photoshop. He already has his head around it and he LOVES it. It was the greatest thing to come along at the perfect moment at the Big W toy sale... just in time for his birthday and the not so brilliant part... we thought we'd gotten him the most amazing bonus, another disc that adds in, dinosaur. Unfortunately it already came with it and I'll have to take it back and worst of all they are all sold out of any others! A Diego would have been SOOO perfect, I'll have to hunt it down off Amazon.com no doubt.

Other than that he had a birthday party lunch, a trip to the movies with Daddy by himself to see Ice Age 3 which again is fortuitous as it included dinosaurs. All of the children with the exception of surprise, surprise, Monika (but she had just sat through another session of Coraline). Topped off with a movie with Roast Chicken and Home Made Chips, as per requested by Raven, singing a condensed version of his favourit book (Sipping Spiders Through Straws)... made him the happiest boy I've seen in a long, long time.

It's nice not to hear, "I won't/can't eat that mommy, it makes me sick/yucky/tired" and just have smiles and cuddles and laugther from him all day. That's the bit I liked the most about today, as opposed to what happened on Monday.

I hope all is well in your world. Q.