I tried to take a Christmas morning photo of all of the kids, but Eli doesn’t do photos and Lilly doesn’t do standing still.

We didn’t start opening gifts this year until quite late as Lani and Eli didn’t wake up. We had gone to our church’s family service the night before, then had a big discussion on the way home because Lani was cross because she felt some of the adults were trying to get her to believe in Santa when she has never wanted to do that and feels its a lie. Eli also was cranky because he is constantly paranoid that people are making fun of him or trying to deceive him so Christmas is tough. I decided to read the story of St Nicolas to them and discuss the history of how the jolly fat man came about.

We ended with prayer thanking God for the generosity of people who help the poor and asked him to use the joy and excitement we would feel in the morning to remind us of the greater joy and excitement we will feel when Jesus comes again.  

Much excitement over the Doctor Who board game that they got as a family present.

I had ago at Amigurumi this year and made each kid a little animal, Lani’s was a white Chihuahua as she is very keen to have a real one but Glenn still says no. 

We gave each of them a board game as well which caused a great deal more excitement than I expected. 

Sabi really got into the present opening this year, even if she did find it a bit hard at times.

We also got each of the children an Oncology Children’s Foundation bear which they loved because each of them is addicted to soft toys but also because they knew that they were helping kids with cancer.

Lani was confused by one of her labels

So was I when I reread what I had written, I must have been tired. I’m pretty sure I was going for a new world for you to get lost in as the present was a book.

Lillian with her fairy OCF bear

Sabi off on a treasure hunt

Sabrina got a doctor bear, she calls him Doctor Who Bear, because she loves doctors a little too much at times.

The Spider I crocheted for Eli, he really likes it I know because he told me and he doesn’t lie about things like that, he’s very blunt. He does look a little sad in the photo though as the pressure of not knowing if he was going to like what he was unwrapping was getting to him.

I made Lilly a little green frog because her favourite colour is green and she is just so frog like.

Sabrina got a turtle whose shell can come off, he plays very nicely with her.

Glenn got a pillow case which he loved…

Because all the kids had painted it for him. I has characters from Doctor Who, Mine Craft and the Tiffany Terry Pratchett books.

He also got a Pratchett book which Lani as thrilled to give him because they now share favourite authors.

Me in my daggy flannel PJ’s (This has been a very cold summer for Australia) reading my beautiful hand made Christmas cards from the kids.

We then went to church then to Mum and Dads for a family lunch.

Sabi was so funny with her new Hula Hoop, she thought she needed to spin to get tit to work

Then she kept trying to lick it (She is always licking things) but she hadn’t let go off the sides so every time she stepped forward the hoop moved further out of her reach.

Lani thought she was hilarious.

Mum and Dad’s backyard is a wonderland of nooks and crannies of hidden corners and jungle like growth. Adventure beckons blossoming imaginations in the rubble of old building projects, the fractured remnants of structures long ago moved, altered or torn down.  Even in the ordinary plod along days the kids adore going there but Easter is something special. Oh the thrill to be had scanning the gardens for that moment of adrenalin when a sparkle of coloured foil reviles itself.

We don’t make it easy for them either, can you spot the egg?

Lani brightened up on Panodol and the thrill of the moment.

Grandma teaching Sabrina to fetch eggs for her and bring them back to her basket.

I always feel it’s slightly disturbing that they like to play with the bunnies, introducing them to each other, even naming them before they bite their heads off.

This is where we found Eli Easter morning I guess he was keen to start the lounge room egg hunt.

We have never encouraged our children to believe in the Easter bunny or Santa for that matter, I feel it’s lying and as a Christian I can’t justify it in my mind.  The bible clearly states that deceit is wrong and I can’t bare the thought of my children loosing confidence in my honesty. I want them to grow up knowing that their parents will always be approachable and that all questions no matter how big or small will be answered in truth.

That being said we still have an egg hunt every year, it’s a game just like a treasure hunt at a party and just like they know that the pirate who hide the treasure chest in the backyard was Mummy and Daddy they also know that the chocolate eggs were hidden by us as well. I have to say to anyone out there who feels a spark of conscience over misleading their children that the excitement of Easter egg hunts even when you know that there is no such thing as the Easter bunny is still extreme.  I sometimes think even more so because they don’t have to doubt and wonder about the oversized bunny business they just have to enjoy the thrill of finding chocolate and we will never have that moment where they learn the truth and feel robbed.

Except Sabi didn’t really get it this year she thought we were finding toys….

…till her brother helped her out then she never looked back.

Fuzzy morning hair and their chocolate stash.

I kind of stuffed up though, I left Glenn’s egg in the car so his Easter treat was a melted blob of chocolate goo.

After all the eggs were found we piled into the car to head off to church only Lani started to feel sick so we got out of the car and pilled back into the house and did the Church bit at home.

I printed off colouring in sheets and we made a salt and four based finger paint.

I read from the bible to them about Jesus’ burial, resurrection and ascension. Then we discussed what we had read and prayed together.

So apart from Lani vomiting it was a very sweet family Easter.

Glenn and I also looked at a few Easter clips on Utube the first one we watched in Church on Good Friday and the second is just cool. hope you all had a Vomit free Easter.

Thursday was our 10th Wedding anniversary. It’s funny really, we fell in love as penniless uni students and for a brief second entertained the idea of waiting, saving, establishing ourselves before tying the knot. You know, as society would put it “The sensible thing to do” then we said stuff it, I love you, you love me what more do we need lets just get married. So we pooled our resources bought a ring and pretty much started married life with zero in the bank account. At that time 10 years seemed to float so far away in the future that we would give each other promises. We’ll have a real reception for our 10th, we’ll postpone the proper honeymoon till our 10th, for our 10th we should get a real photographer to do proper photo shoot, I’ll buy you the big diamonds for our 10th…….and here it is, here we are at our 10th…..and…we didn’t do a thing on that list. You see what Sarah and Glenn of 10 years past didn’t understand was this, yes we would have higher paying jobs than nightshift at Big W and weekend helpdesk at Planet Netcom but we would use that money to bring four gorgeous little beings into the world. That we would save it not for a flash second honeymoon but to buy them a roof to keep above their heads. That we would spend our time and energy not on spoiling ourselves but on educating ourselves so that we would better understand our God’s plan for us, our children’s needs, quirks and insecurities and our own love for each other.

I had thought that it would be nice to try and gather our wedding party together again for a sort of reunion, maybe a fancy formal picnic, I’ve always loved the idea of a picnic in ball gowns. But Our 10^th also happened to be the day before Good Friday, I have never been very good at organising my time. Maybe we could do it later in the year I mean it is our 10^th year of being married for a whole year right?

By the time Thursday came I had totally convinced myself it was a hopeless case and just to let the day slide by but Glenn had sneaky little secret plans. He organised to have the day off and my wonderful parents took the children over night. So we had a rare day to ourselves. And what did we do with that precious day? Well we bought preservative free dried apricots, gluten free bread, dairy free cheese and a book on Asperger’s (that’s what normal people do on their anniversary isn’t it?) We spent they day at Leura and Katoomba two of our favourite places, wandering in and out of quaint little art, craft, book, antique shops like we used to do before pram accessibility dominated out browsing capabilities. It was just as it should have been, just us wandering and talking and sharing ideas, just being in each others company. It was beautiful.

We also (I’m smiling as I write this) had dinner at Lillianfels. We have stood many times like a child staring through a toy store window, wanting to go in. I firmly believe if Jane Austen had come upon this place in her travels she would have declared it most happily situated.

Lillianfels is more than a nice place to get a meal, it is an experience. As you wander through their manicured gardens towards the dining room you are transported back to a time of elegance and genteel manners. Inside was so delicately formal that after sir’s coat had been taken for him and madam had been helped into her chair I completely lost the ability to talk for a moment. However they were never cold or sterile I soon relaxed under the staff’s sincere desire that I should enjoy my dining experience and came to feel welcome as if I was visiting an incredibly wealthy relative.  I sometimes feel out of place in fancy restaurants but I could happily linger in their atmosphere all night . And the food could only be described as an artwork on a plate.

Oh and I have to show you the little gifts we got each other. 10th is supposed to be tin if you are into traditions but tin is tricky so we just stuck to metal. He got me pretty and I got him deadly.

Happy Anniversary my darling, you are now and will remain forever my best friend, my fellow traveller, the face I long to see and the smile that makes my heart skip a beat. You are my Love.

Oh the excitement! Sabrina loves the little bonnet that Tabitha at Small Things made for her.

I am in love with this little hat, it is soo sweet and it’s the first hat that I can actually keep on her head. I think the softness of the fabric doesn’t irritate her as much as other hats we’ve tried and also she can’t undo the knot so that helps. It doesn’t even fall off when she runs which she always does.

I love that it covers her neck and ears and protects them from the sun.

Also It makes me think I have a little Elizabeth Bennet running around my backyard see those bonnet wearing Austen folk new a thing or to about practical fashion.

If you would like to hear in Glenn’s own words why he wanted to do the World’s Greatest Shave click here to read the article

The Peapillybean family’s Worlds Greatest Shave got off to a tearful start with Lillian jumping on her Daddy and sobbing “NO don’t do it don’t cut your curls off….waaahhh….”  Which is why we chose to do it at the end of her birthday party and not before.

She got over it though when we said she could have the first cut, however when one sugar filled excitement charged birthday party kiddie gets to play with scissors….

….they all want too.

Glenn’s internal voice at this point in time was screaming “NOOOO this is not what I signed up for!!!” actually I’m pretty sure, if I remember rightly, his very loud and pleading external voice said the same thing.

Is that fear I see behind that smile. Don’t think badly of him, he has a sensitive scalp, poor dear.

Also I think the scissors were blunt.

We found a place that takes hair donations to make wigs for cancer patients so we put all the cut hair in a box. Lillian fiercely guarded the box of her Daddy’s hair and wouldn’t let anyone else hold it.

Birdies, Zebras and little Black Kitty cats all became expert Hairdressers.

But one sooky Lion was still very apprehensive about the whole thing. I was really surprised by the kids reactions, Lani and Lilly were so sad to see their Daddy shaved and Eli wouldn’t have a bare of it, wouldn’t even watch. Sabi on the other hand couldn’t care less everyone kept asking her where her daddy’s hair was and she just pointed to his head with a look that said “On his head duh,”

It was too much for Lilly when Glenn’s ears were permanently uncovered from their blanket of curls.

It was too much for Glenn when we let the iddy biddy kiddies at the scissors.

I think all the other party animals coming back for seconds put Lani to shame…

…and she finally had a go….

…and Glenn immediately wished she hadn’t. He’s not a woose I tell you, it was the scissors, they were blunt. At least that’s what we’re claiming anyway.

We didn’t let the kids use the clippers, I know we’re spoil sports, it’s just that I do like his ears and I wanted him to keep them.

Near the end of the shaving the kids decided he needed the clipped hair shoved up his nostrils. No idea why but it was funny from my side of the camera.

Lillian mourning the loss of Daddy’s curls.

And it all ended with the required head rub.

Now every afternoon I get to jump out of my skin every time the terrifying bald stranger walks in the back door. I guess it’ll take some getting used to.

If you would like to see Glenn’s fundraising page or if you were holding out to donate till you saw the evidence go here.

Every year for five days I have three consecutive numbers. This year for the short bit of time between Lillian and Alanah’s birthday I have a Six year old a Seven year old and an Eight year old. We always take a photo of them which they love looking back on but is always a mammoth task because of the boy in the middle. Funny thing is he loves looking at the photo’s later just has stage fright during the taking of them I guess. Anyhooo theses are the best two we got after about an hour of trying and 108 photos. Don’t worry I wasn’t making them sit still and pose thorough all of that in their memories the hour when a bit like this:

Mummy got the camera out and tried to take a picture, Eli freaked so we just played a game of Hide and Go Pop your Head Out and Squeal then we ran around the house laughing then we all jumped on Mummy’s bed. Oh yeah and Mummy took photos.

Happy Consecutive Number Day Kiddies!!!!

I am forever being dragged into the backyard to admire a collection of house hold odds and bods stacked on top of each other, tied or unfortunately sometimes nailed together because "Artist people sometimes make sculptures out of found objects you know"

His lunch has also come under the influence of his artistic enthusiasm and I’m quite often being called up to the table by the words "Look I made a Henri Matisse painting with my sandwich" He is a big fan of Matisse, and at this age preferring the paper collages to any naked ladies.  

His favourite is Icarus and I just have to share a critique of the artwork that I recently over heard between Eli and Lilly

Eli: "I like this one, in this one he is falling"

Lilly: "No he’s not, he’s dying"

Eli: "NO falling!"

Lilly: "Dying!!!"

Eli: "No falling! because he would only be dying when he hits the ground"

Isn’t art appreciation wonderful.

I thought I’d leave you with a sample of his latest photography works because like Eli says "You have to look because these are artworks too."

Skeleton Hand – By Elijah age 7

Mummy’s coffee smoking– By Elijah age 7

Falling into the earth– By Elijah age 7

We’re falling into the fan– By Elijah age 7

Sabrina Elf– By Elijah age 7

Sabrina Elf putting her hands behind her back. – By Elijah age 7

We seem to be living at the doctors at the moment.

I’ve decided I’m going to have to stop thinking about things like, I wonder where we should go for a holiday this year or did I lock the car or what should I make for dinner. There is just no room in my head for thoughts like these at the moment. We will still go on holiday, It’ll just be a surprise, I’m sure we’ll pick a place before we leave, maybe…. and no one would want our car anyway…. and I’m sure if we look in the fridge we’ll find something to eat. I’m just not devoting any memory space to it.

Inside my head at the moment are loads of unanswered questions.

Inside my head are worries.

I worry about Eli, whose method, philosophy, program should we follow.

I worry about Sabrina and the little red, possibly displaying Autism Spectrum Disorder, flags that she keeps waving around in doctors’ faces.

I worry about me because I obviously look a total train wreck I must be frightening everyone I come in contact with with my haggeredness because my doctor decided that something was not right and has ordered every possible test under the sun to find out what it is. I personally think it might have something to do with the fact that I have averaged 5 hours a night sleeping for the last three years. Her tests however show that I am anaemic and have high blood glucose levels. So fun and games and just because I love the place so much I am back in the doctors waiting room tomorrow for a two hour blood glucose test to determined if I have diabetics which she said is a distinct possibility. oh yay.

Totally unflattering photos of her haggard mother are by Lillian who insists on documenting every moment of our lives and from every angle. Oh and I have no idea what’s going on with Glenn but whatever it was it obviously didn’t surprise me.

Prayers for good test results and for clarity and good decisions would be greatly appreciated.