Australia Day....

An idea, 'how about a day trip to the beach?', sounded like a good idea...
So we went, let's just say it was one of those trips where the tension was high, thankfully the beach was the cool-off point and the sun not too hot....

And all three slept soundly on the way home.... Well worth doing on the end!

Creative fun....

Another holiday activity when the time is right for quiet, focused creativity... A tea set to paint for our newly turned Miss 5.... Now I'm looking forward to our first tea party.....

Holiday Distractions...

Science works....

little things...

These flowers were picked by my 4 year old last school holidays, she had earlier picked a flower for me and like most 4 year olds handed it over with no stem. So we grabbed a bucket and walked around the garden and selected flowers and picked them with a stem, so she understood how they can be arranged in a vase or jar and will keep longer. A lovely exercise and such a simple way to bring joy ....

Tinged with sadness..

My son and his friend holding hands @ RCH in Dec 2011.

I was going to write I am feeling 'meh', however feeling 'tinged with sadness'... is more apt - not for any other self indulgent reason other then the news that has rocked a small group of friends world. You see last week a friend received the news no parent ever wants to hear.. "...your child's results show she has stage 4 Neuroblastoma..." **an update she has been diagnosed officially with Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia M7, this means a definite treatment plan can commence. It doesn't mean a better prognosis.

My friends daughter is only 20 months old.

She has been in and out of hospital from the age of 18 months old.

At first she was diagnosed with Osteomyelitis and all her results fitted within that diagnosis, however with her diminishing recovery and blood cell counts that weren't improving, numerous tests were done. I am generalising as to the ordeal this little girl has been through, the amount of surgery already. The many CAT scans and MRI scans. To have a final diagnosis of this magnitude is just horrendous. They are still researching as to the location of her cancer development and then she'll start her rounds of chemotherapy, most likely this week.

She is 20 months old.

It seems extremely unfair.

I am finding it hard even in my own sadness to comprehend the reality of this diagnosis and what it means for my friend, her partner and their daughter.

I remembered a post a friend of mine wrote on her blog about a similar topic,  I read Nicole's words and nodded along and now I am processing a similar situation, so I have linked to her post - A small drop of Ink: Making a deal with cancer. (Thank you, Nicole)

So please forgive me if I don't feel so enthusiastic to be in a happy shiny place... for the moment I just want to hold my beautiful children, partner and friends to hug a little longer...

Promise me you'll hug yours a little longer today too...xox

"Hello 2012"...

Photo taken on Christmas Day Eve after the Thunderstorms...

A new Year has commenced... 'thankfully'...

At the tail end of several months of many commitments  in 2011, I had to really dig deep to get through that last week of school and Christmas commitments. Regardless the end of year festivities were an amazing ride with a couple of tough decisions made to not accept all invitations due to self preservation.

Unusually our end of year seemed to start in October with several birthday celebrations, most importantly my partner's 40th, which really was a week long celebration of dinner, drinks including an overnight stay in the city. Since then we have had more fortieths, not so typical every year! We also had the start of the school commitments, with prep orientation for my daughter, school fete, end of year concerts, parties for school, Kindergarten and childcare. In between, friends birthday parties, annual friends Christmas party, annual picnics. The list was varied and long and you can see why you wouldn't try to attend everything, I'm am tired just thinking of it!!!

However, we managed to get through most of these commitments and finished of the year with me almost a physical wreck, more on that sound topic later!

So having waved "goodbye" to 2011 and in a very mellow fashion said "Hello"' to 2012, the annual major life changing decisions made (Ahh ha ha), My chosen word for the year made (will write about this next post) and maybe a couple of realistic goals for 2011, I feel I may have some attainable lists to tick off.

Otherwise we are spending the Christmas/School Holidays in Melbourne, apparently this is know as a 'Staycation', with no expectations of going away, we will look forward to revisiting some favourite places and rediscovering new ones!
 
So Happy New Year for 2012, it is certainly proving it will be a roller coaster ride on many levels and on that note and inspired by the following scene from the movie Parenthood, I leave you with the words of wisdom from Grandma...

Grandma: You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster.
Gil: Oh?
Grandma: Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride!
Gil: What a great story.
Grandma: I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it.

Handmade Christmas decorating

I love the whole effect of this tree with the beautifully created decorations by my daughters Kindergarten class. Note the presents underneath... Simplicity at its best.