One hour in and two stops later...

...  the kids are asleep in the backseat.  One hour down, four to go.

Blogging today from the comfort of the passenger seat of the Territory. Different!

We are heading our up the river (Murray River) for the Easter break and I could not be more excited.

We worked out that this would be our 12th year heading to the same spot. Each year it is all our immediate family with a few different add on's each year... We journey up and camp on the banks of the river. It makes me warm and fuzzy. I love tradition and love that my kids are now starting to experience and enjoy our tradition.

We cook, we eat, we waterski, we relax, we drink, we cook and eat some more, we fish, we do happy hour, we enjoy.

So in a few more hours we will be busy putting our tent up and setting up our home for the next 5 days, and not to mention making it welcoming for the fuzzy bunny on Sunday...

Hopefully will have some fab happy snaps to share on our return.

Have a safe and happy Easter everyone!

The update on my little big boy...

Ace is officially our big little boy now.

Transition from cot to toddler bed seems to have gone off without a hitch. It's still very early days, but I'm going to celebrate our wins as the come. I really did think I would be in for a battle with this one. Apparently not.

First night. No problems, was asleep straight away with no attempts to get out. In the morning he was up at 6.45am, went into Boo's room next door, woke her up and then she brought him upstairs to me. All pretty civil.

Tonight. Settled with his normal routine, then decided to get up 20 minutes later. Dad'n took him straight back to bed, told him it was nigh nigh time and then we didn't hear from him again. Out to it. 

I'm sure there will be some rougher nights ahead but that's okay. The initial transition for him... and me is over and now we can  just roll with it. Wasn't that bad after all...

Now I'm just left wondering where my newbie went... I'm sure I just had him?

Nigh nigh Acey boy.

 

A forced transition starting now.

As the title states, a forced transition is occurring in the Bower Birds Nest, effective immediately.

Upstairs, making my self a cup of tea, yes our kitchen is upstairs, and heard a huge thump.

The thump was followed by some serious tears. As I ran downstairs to investigate, my fears turned into reality. Ace had just climbed out of his cot and fallen onto the ground. He met me at the bedroom door hysterical. Okay, but hysterical.

I know, kids do it all the time. I've just heard some horror stories lately of little babes getting seriously hurt from this :( It's so high.  My inner Mummy panic was pushed to full throttle.

Operation remove cot sides today and transition into toddler bed starting now.

Raising Ace really has been so different and such a new experience. He makes he feel like a first time Mum over and over. What's the go? Boo would have quiet happily stayed in her cot until she was 5 and now this little feisty monkey at 20 months says game over, I'm out!

I keep saying it's a boy thing... actually, I'm saying it a lot! It just seems SO appropriate in our case... such a bruiser boy.

So anyway, I'm sure this transition will be completely different to what we experienced with Boo. If my vibe is anything to go by, there shall be some interesting posts coming up about our night and bed time antics with a certain little boy.

Has anyone got any fab tips that helped ease the transition? I think this Mumma will need all the help she can get.

To be continued....

Exactly one year ago...

We packed up our life and did the whole "sea change" thing.

One year... I can't believe it. Well I can, but one year is a long time!

In some ways it seems that this has been our life forever. Then I look at photo's of our old home it feels as we were just there. Weird.

Was it the right decision? Absolutely.

Moving was the best decision that we could have made for our family. It has opened up so many lifestyle opportunities for us and brought us all closer than ever. I think my favourite one would be seeing what a close relationship our children are building with their grandparents. The bonus of living two minutes away from them.

Our journey one year on is really just beginning though. Within the next 4 or so weeks, we will be starting to see our family home being built before our eyes. A very exciting time for us. We have planned and designed this home to be everything we want and need. We are SO excited to see the plan come to life. I cant wait to share it all with you.

This year hasnt all been rosy though. I did have many doubts and down moments with feeling like I didn't belong. I came to the conclusion that it was all just a part of our new beginning, a part of moving forward and leaving what you know behind.

I think a big part of it was not having a "home". Yes, we were able to find a beautiful rental that anyone would be happy to live in, but it wasn't ours... it wasn't home.

The path to finding our "home" has been a draining one for me. Offers being put in on houses, sales falling through, things I am not made for. I fall with my heart and my head often doesn't think. Lucky somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that the universe would deliver what was meant to be, and that it did. Everything that fell through, fell through for a reason.

So bring on our second year, it will be a wonderful and exciting one awaiting the completion of our new nest. Hopefully it comes around quickly... or I might have to have serious words with the building supervisor. Lucky I am married to him, I might have some pull ;)

Leaving you with some happy snaps of our first year down the coast.

 

Some chocolatey hot cross bun goodness.

 

 

 

Oh my. First attempt at hot cross buns and I must say... bit dangerous having 11 more of the little buggers sitting there while I am home alone with the kids.

Just used the Thermomix EDC recipe except did chocolate chips instead of sultanas. "Apparently" the recipe also had an egg in it. Meh, couldn't tell it was missing.

Off to make a cup of tea to have with the other half of my bun. Nap and quiet time in the house won't last all afternoon.

Countdown for the fluffy bunny's visit!

The Easter countdown is in full swing in The Bower Birds Nest!

We have been busy making decorations and crafts to get us all in the mood.

Boo is as crafty as they come. She would quite happily paint, cut, decorate and glue her way through the day. Ace seems to be a different story. Is it a boy thing? Having a girl first who is quite the girly girl, we have always done and enjoyed craft. I just presumed that children loved to do this sort of thing. It's just what kids do. Apparently not. Maybe he hasn't hit his craft potential yet? Maybe it's just not his thing.

Ace has decided that craft time goes something a little like this.

1. Sneak away from the craft area. Mummy is right into this, she won't even notice im gone.
2. Yep, she is still busy, so I will try get into my first priority. The pantry.
3. Bugger, she's caught me.
4. Back at the craft table, I'll try to annoy my sister as much as possible.
5. Plan failed. Mummy has separated us.
6. I'm bored. What's this glue taste like?
7. Last attempt, destroy and destruct. Surely they will want me to leave the craft table then.
8. Success. We now play and mummy and Boo do craft  later when I am asleep!

Anyway, we have still been making some pretty pieces. Maybe not as "pintrest" looking as when I discovered the idea's on there, but they are made with love from tiny hands and I think they look truly perfect.

Tomorrow's agenda, letter writing. We have to let Easter Bunny know that we won't be home over Easter as we are going CAMPING! Boo's first theory was that we just needed to take a sleeping bag for him and he could just stay in our tent. She has finally come around on just the letter idea, thank god. Bit easier on Mummy & Dad'n to explain ;)

Any festivities happening in your household yet?

Still a bit early, I know. We just like the get value for money on these occasions ;)

Travelling with babes in tow continued...

As mentioned in my Travelling with babes in tow post, I said I would share some of the things we do / organise / buy / pack before a trip. Things that just get everyone excited and prepared for the adventures ahead.

So here goes.

• Starting with something very important. A countdown. Obviously if they are old enough, kids LOVE a good countdown, and so do I. Nothing better than crossing off days, or checking our countdown app's to see how many sleeps are left.

• We did lots of lead up preparation with Boo (3 1/2 y.o) before our trip to Bali in February. This included lots of google images. The plane, the cabin of the plane, air hostesses, airports, seat belts, noises planes make. Anything I could think of to help her get familiar with what was going to happen, make it less confronting and most of all, make it fun! Some say OTT, pfft to them ;)

• Lists, lists and then a list for my lists! Nothing makes you feel more prepared than to be organised. Less chance of forgetting something!

•  A big stock up at the chemist. Yes, you can buy most things where ever you are going, but when you do need something a) do you really want to be traipsing around trying to find it and b) you will usually need it at some silly hour of the morning. We always travel with a good supply of medications and a first aid kit... Just incase! Listed below are just some of the things I like to have on hand.

* Panadol (adult and child)
* Hydra lite - Dehydration (gastro, food poisoning, bali belly ect...)
* Buscopan - Stomach cramps
* Maxalon - Nausea (prescription)
* Immodium - Diarrhoea
* Kwells - Travel / motion sickness
* Claratyne - Antihistamine (allergic reactions)
* Betadine
* Miltons sterilizing tablets - All you need is some clean water, a container and these tablets to sterilize bottles, dummies, sippy cups (all very important when travelling in foreign countries little babes)
* Sick bags (have you seen how small those paper bags or on airplanes? Would struggle trying to catch a child's vomit in one of them! TMI but true ;)
* First aid essentials (band aids ect...)

(Just my opinion. Obviously majority are for adults. Consult with your GP prior to your holiday for advice on what you should take.)

• Photocopies of passports and travel documents to be packed in check-in luggage. If you have the misfortune of of losing your travel wallet, it's much easier to get things replaced if you have copies.

• A quick email to confirm transfers, portacot hire, and anything else you may be thinking twice about.

•  Register your families travel details on the travel advisory page (http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/)

Hope there is something helpful somewhere in there.

Have you got a tip that helps you prepare for a holiday? Would love to hear it!

Travelling with the babes in tow.

Yesterday, I had a play date with a Mum I hadn't caught up with for some time.

We had lots to talk about, including family holidays that we had both been on since our last catch up.

We shared our stories of the good, the bad and the really bad LOL.

It got me thinking...

What's your take on family holiday's with young children? Do you love it? Are you obsessed by it? Or maybe you would rather listen to nails down a black board than to sit on a plane with young children?

I think some people are afraid of travelling with young children. Afraid of the unknown. Afraid it will end in rocking back and forth down the back of a plane with a screaming child. Hey, it might... but who cares. Your on holidays. In another one, two, six hours you would have forgotten all about it and would be enjoying your family on a fab holiday!

I personally think travelling with babes in tow is the bee's knee's. I tell anyone who will listen. We have been on a few holidays with our babes now and there is always a countdown in progress until the next.

I thought I might share over the next few weeks, some holiday / travel tips that we have picked up along the way that help make our holidays smooth sailing.

So watch this space if you have a holiday with babes on the horizon!