Getting Back to Basics

Honesty - it's a commendable virtue in all of us, but certainly one of high esteem when it comes to motherhood. I bet a lot of you will be nodding your head when you read Aimee's post today. I know I did and love her for being so, well, honest...thank you

I have been feeling a real sense of 'post-christmas flatness' and if I'm really honest - boredom of late. The hum drum of all things domestic is over whelming after a lovely Christmas and New Year break. I think the kids feel it too. With so much excitement, presents and ice cream over the holidays the return to having fruit for dessert , mummy and daddy back to work, Oscar back at pre school and of course all those never ending loads of laundry...

I feel, as we all must at times a bit of a crappy mummy, far too shouty and lacking in patience, far too involved in chasing and worrying about work rather than playing with my little monkeys. So after a little time to myself, mooching about (thanks to an obliging daddy/husband dearest) I became determined to 'buck up' as they say and have fun with my children again. 

Thankfully today the rain didn't arrive as predicted and we have had a fabulous sticky 30c Sydney day. I feel like giving myself a gold star but I'm no super mum  - all I realised was I needed to go back to basics - not to even try to replicate holiday excitement, just 'play' with the kids. Oddly I have realised it takes effort for me to do this, I never thought that pre-kids, just 'playing' would take effort, but I think life can be such a juggle, such a test of multi-tasking and patience that I guiltily remind myself to do these things and not just fill our days with trips to the library, playground, zoo, museum or playdates with friends.

So today, essentialy we went to the beach, hunted for shells, splashed in the water, went home, did some painting and played with the hose  to wash all the paint off... lots of screaming and giggling and not a Christmas toy or ice cream in sight ... I wonder do other mummys too share my need to have to remind myself to get back to basics and just play?

Real Bedrooms - All for the Boys

All for the Boys really is a blog you need to know about, of you don't already. We were kindly invited by the lovely Allison to partake in a photo share this week and I jumped at the chance because of it's REALness. If that's a word. The brief was to shoot your kids room as they are - no perfect magazine layout, no last minute styling dash - a moment in real time that shows our imperfections (and my I have many!), but also shares our ability to let go and let kids rooms be just that - for the kids, messy and played in. For now. Tomorrow I'll get back on that tidying chore bandwagon.

So I'll admit I made their beds...

The chocolate box is full of lego, I promise!

Caught red handed - the phantom bedroom wrecker discovered at last!

Celebrating Australia

Today it's a national holiday and although it can be contentious, for me the basis of Australia Day is to help my kids understand and appreciate the country we have chosen to live in. Neither my husband nor I were born here, but our boys have and so I believe it's our responsibility to share our appreciation of this land with them, the next generation.

So what did we do?

Dad unfortunately had to work, but without our full team we still managed to tick a few traditional Aussie-isms off our list - 

Ate a mango

Ate some vegemite

Ate a lamington

Went to the beach

Chatted with mates

Got an Aussie flag tattoo (it's ok it's only a small temporary one)

So to all of you as enjoy your BBQ's and hanging out with family and friends - remember those spirits that once walked the land and enjoy it with a whole heart and happy smile.

The Cycle of Life

Yesterday we had a lovely afternoon with pals at a local dam. We had 5 kids between us along with bikes, helmets and all the usual paraphernelia. My two are still very much at the learning stage of cycling, while our three friends are collectively slightly older and therefore are quite gung ho when it comes to turning the wheels.
As a surprise the boys were offered a long loan of one of their old bikes - and although it was offered to our eldest, of course his sport billy younger brother pleaded for a turn and went off on it like Evil Knievel. Is there anything this boy can't do when he's offered anything related to sport?!
Anyway, it was such a thrill to watch the boys gain confidence and whoopeee themselves along the path, realising their achievements and loving it all the way.
When I closed the boot of the car at the end of the day I felt really touched to have been part of this day. Their day. Their success. Their future.

Dig your own hole

If you're currently experiencing torrential rain, drifting snow or summery sand then I've got the tool for you. Or should that be toy... Yep whatever the weather, this is something that would make you the best parent EVER... am I right?!

Action Pack!

Ok, I'm hyperventilating with the discovery of this SUPERRRRR magazine. Where have I been? Why have I only seen this now! Spotted on the blog of my gorgeous friends at Polli, Action Pack - the mini mag for kids IS COMPLETELY awesome! Ok you sensing my excitement yet.
So all I need is to wait patiently until my boys grow up enough to master all these great ideas....waiting...waiting patiently...

MoMa Minors NEW market magic!

Ever since MONA opened two years ago, there has been a great electricity buzzing through town. We are often there, running around behind the scenes, visiting Daddy on his break from the kitchen and so have got to know the place and the people pretty intimately.
This Saturday there'll be a new addition to the MONA events calendar and guess what, we're going to be involved! A new market  - MoMa - will begin on Saturday's, and this isn't going to be any ordinary 'craftaporium'. Oh no, there'll be a barber, a tool seller, fancy foodie types and creative locals banding together to create an afternoon of eclectic richness that I can't wait to sample. But hey, I'm going to be a bit busy because at the very end of the market snake  - you'll know what I mean when you see it - you'll find me helping out my friend Jo - super foodie gal - and giving kids the chance to taste, smell, touch, hear and learn about the precious food we're so lucky to enjoy.
There'll be treats along the way and lots of chances to chat and discuss how and why food is made. Come along if you're local this Saturday to MoMa Minors, there'll be sessions at 2pm and 4pm. And the best bit? The all important 'Brothers' will be helping me spread some fun.
I'm excited!

Oh don't despair if you can't make it, I'l be taking snaps and reporting in next week.

One thing leads to another

What was to be a major plan to get the boys to do their chores morphed into a much more artistic endeavour that I really can't deny them! We went to our local office supply shop and picked up some small white boards, magnets and coloured pens. My idea was to create their own personalised chore charts and use images drawn on the magnets to represent their jobs.
Well that has all gone out the window...FOR NOW... as they haven't stopped drawing, erasing and drawing again whether it's in the car or at the art museum visiting Daddy.

Take the Stairs

My Mum just sent me this video and because I just love the premise and outcome so much I thought I'd share it with you. I know the boys would adore to run up those stairs...

Mini & Maximus: SALE!

Some people are just super inspiring. (Cue the folks of Mini & Maximus centre stage) I especially love their Art tees for kids by kids. Right now, there's 30% off  the 'imperfectly perfect' collection at Mini & Maximus which includes this amazing skeleton shirt drawn by artist Donovan, six years old and five year-old Emerik's flying cat.

I really like these folks.  Did I mention they're inspiring?

Click HERE to see the Storytellers event/exhibition they put on in December with and for kids.  I only wish we could have gone!  (Two of our boys entered the new t-shirt contest and didn't win which was sad, but they're totally inspired to make their own shirts which I think is fantastic... and I'm sure Mini & Maximus would agree)

Imperfectly yours,

Andrea of flannery o'kafka.

A great reason to write

If you're in the UK, here's the best excuse to get pen to paper! Six of Roald Dahl's most celebrated stories are being issued by the Royal Mail. Stamps go on sale tomorrow, so be quick and send someone a letter. I know some boys in Hobart who'd love to add a stamp to their scrap book!

New Chapters

We're hitting a major new chapter in the lives of The Brothers Trimm. In fact it's kind of a double chapter, as next month our first born will start kindy and for the first time be separated from his brother for longer than an hour. Pretty monumental in the life of a little one. Thankfully their experience in the Early Learning Daycare Centre they attend will hold them in good stead, but I worry how our youngest will manage without the comfort of big brother ...

While I ponder all this I'll share a lovely moment yesterday, another major event down here - the very first bike trip on the new wheels. Both received supercool bikes for Christmas and birthdays respectively and while Evil Knievel hopped on his pedal-less machine and whizzed off without even a second breath, his cautious sibling was not so brave. To me his bike looks enormous and I'd probably feel the same way, but with the help of Daddy, he actually managed to get going unaided. He even said - 'Oh Dad I'm so proud of myself!', bless him. I think I captured that moment in the photo below. Now to help him figure out how to stop without wiping out...

Ace Apparel Test Drive: Ringing in the New Year with Toto Knits

Who isn't a fan of the ugly ironic Christmas sweater?  A friend picked up this dashing number for one pound in a strange Eastern-Europe-in-the-80s knitwear close-out shop in Glasgow.  My grandmother had knitted the strange colour combination hat for Otto when he was small.  And although I thoroughly enjoy this look, it's kind of the way I like Neil Diamond, with my tongue loosely in my cheek.

If however, you've had enough irony in 2011, let me introduce you to this lovely happy-medium sweater from Toto Knits. It has all the handmade feel of the ugly sort and the understated style of really good design.  Also, there's none of the scratchiness involved with the acrylic version...this sweater is all organic cotton made in Africa!  We designed our own sweater on the Toto Knits site and came up with a grey and black striped pullover.  It's long and thin...a fantastic fit with skinny jeans and a winter hat--we honestly just love it.

At $35 (USD) it's a fantastic price for a fairtrade and organic product.  Toto Knits have all been designed  by  Erin Brennan Allan  and knit on machines and by hand by single mums in Africa overseen by Mary Wambui.  Each mum is paid a fairtrade wage per piece of knitting contributing to the community in a fantastic way.  This provides flexible work...something all mums need!  When ordering from Toto Knits, allow 3 weeks for your sweater to arrive--one week for knitting and two weeks for shipping from Africa.

In Scotland, it's always sweater (jumper) weather, so Hugo will be wearing his Toto Knits all Winter, Spring, and into next Autumn at least!  When he grows out of it, I'll save it for his wee sister.  After all, a sweater is for life...not just for Christmas.

Happy New Year to you and yours,

Andrea

www.flanneryokafka.blogspot.com

What lies ahead...

Well it's taken me long enough, but here I am. Back in the saddle after a purposeful break from the little screen. Sometimes it's nice to move the focus away from all things online and smell the roses in the real world! I'm still deliberating over what this year will bring, how to juggle, rattle and roll through the next 12 months, but one thing I know for sure, I'll be putting my energy into my two beautiful boys as they grow up in high gear. Tomorrow our baby turns 3 and next month our eldest starts kindergarten. If that isn't a wake up call to focus on the now, I don't know what is...