rebecca:vavic

Happy Month Anniversary....

Miss Mikaela... 101 months old today:

My gorgeous girl... what have you been up to this month??

• You became a big sister again... you are wonderful with Benjamin and very thoughtful of Joshua too...
• Days before Benjamin arrived you wrote Joshua the most awesome letter... the bit that touched my heart the most was where you wrote "You were the one that made me a sister in this family" you also wrote that when he gets to school, if he ever needs you... you'll "come running to you like a rocket"... 
• You and Joshua have the most amazing soul connection... it is beautiful to witness... 
• You went on a plane all-by-yourself as a junior flyer to see your Aunts in Sydney...
• You had a wonderful time in Sydney with your Aunts, 10 pin bowling, rock climbing, movie going, shopping, cafe going, getting manicures and pedicures, getting your hair done in corn rows... all sorts of great things...  
• Sadly your Dad's Mum (your Grandmother) died in the Congo... you wrote your Dad the most beautiful card.  
• You continue to be a huge help to me... tho you do at time get the sulks and slam your bedroom door! :)

We love you beautiful girl... we are blessed by your tender heart and love for your family, particularly your brothers.

Love and Hugs

Mumma xo

100 months today...

Is our little lady!!!

Dear Mikaela...

You are such a great child... a wonderful daughter and I love you very much. At times I feel I really don't show you near enough how much I value you... and in fact I get it all wrong and make you feel awful. I am sorry for those times. I wish I could always behave in a manner that I could be proud of, without frustration and without childishness. Unfortunately I have my faults, but they are not yours sweet girl. You are teaching me so much to be a better person and I strive to be the best kinda Mum that you deserve.

I hope you will agree that is not to say I am an awful Mum, or a bad one... I just think I can do better :) There are so many little things that seem irrelevant, when you take a look at... turn out to be quite significant. It is a matter of taking notice of all these little things and striving to do my best as much as humanly possible.

You are a constant reminder to me of what a beautiful world we live in... you are far more patient than I am... you are empathetic and helpful... you love with all your heart and soul - fiercely and passionately and for that I am grateful.

You are spontaneous and excited about so many things in life that it is contagious... 

You are fair and honest... you talk back a bit, but not without reason most times. 

Nath and I have been doing a parenting course, and mostly we are enjoying it ... we are feeling "consciously unskilled at present"... in that we are aware of the mistakes we are making, we have some tools to use... but we are not yet skilled in using them as effectively as we'd like. This gives us some guilt... but we are trying to be better parents and each day is another opportunity to treat you and our family as we desire... with love, respect, acceptance and encouragement. Most days we do well. Mostly we have hope that we are able to be the best parents we can be... with conscious parenting we will.

I am so please for you with so many things you are doing and accomplishing... at times Nath says to me "I forget she is only 8 years old"... and we do, because you are very capable in many areas, basketball, swimming and running continue to be your main strengths. 

Lately you've also been reading up a storm and your Auntie Katie has given you a whole lot of Enid Blyton books to read {about 15} and you are in heaven... you have set up a special little "reading corner" in your room and you will read at any spare moment you can snatch.

As my pregnancy draws to an end... you are being very helpful, picking things up and helping me about the house. Helping with Joshua.

Each morning you get off to school with Nathan now... you go into the office with him and then he walks you to the school crossing... about 3-5 mins. It is your time together and gives you a little more independence.

Nath arranged internet connection in your room on one of the old laptops and you use it for your homework.

You are growing so quickly Mikaela... too quickly for my liking at times, but it is such a joy to watch you develop into the confident and self assured girl you are becoming daily.

We love you Big GIrl.

Always.

Mum xo

Exciting...

Mikaela came 4th in her Zone {South Canberra} Cross Country Run yesterday.

They had it here at the Robert De Castella Cross Country Running Track. It is the first time I had been out to the track, and I must say... it's very kewl!

Mikaela did SO well, she was coming 5th, but sprinted the last 50mtrs or so and came it at 4th. Well done little one! We are all so very proud of you Mikky Moo :)

1st June she will compete in the ACT {all of Canberra} Championships and she is most excited about this!

For me, it is just a thrill to be there to watch... to support and encourage her no matter what her placing is. For me "being there" is the greatest gift of motherhood.

Mum xo

Mikaela is 99 months today...

WOWsers!! 99 months old, that sounds impressive to me :) hahaha!

So my little girl, my first born is growing so quickly right before my very eyes, here are a few highlights of this past month:

• You went in a TRYathlon.
• You won your school cross country race and go in the zone on Monday. 
• You moved up levels in both swimming and horse-riding 
• You have been cleaning your room and making your bed every day without me even asking!
• You have been giving my rollerblades a work out & would take off on them every afternoon if I let you 
• You love "Jon and Kate Plus 8" I think it is your favourite show 
• You also love Mortified and H2O 
• You have just finished BFG and Matilda by Roald Dahl, next on your list is Twits 
• You received your phone call from a boy on Mother's Day, you spoke for an hour 
• You still enjoy Girls Brigade 
• Saturday mornings you have basketball, your special activity with just you and Nath 
• You usually spend Saturday nights at your Dads and talk to him a few times during the week 
• You have made friends with another part African girl, you two have decided you are "God Sisters" 
• You continue to dote on your brother 
• You are keen to do your homework and assignments which is a nice development  
• You are beginning to demonstrate some "pre-teen" behaviour, answering back etc... sometimes I need to work quite hard not to laugh because you are so serious!
• You have discovered the song "Hey Micky" and sing it all the time. 
• Just the other day I told you a new name Nath and I have thought of for a baby girl, you responded "oh Mum, I DON"T like that name!!" then "Mum we all have to like the name, not just you and Nath you know!"  You are the cutest!
• Vanessa has been giving you some body talk sessions on Monday nights when Nath and I go do our PET {Parenting Effectiveness Training}... we've noticed a vast improvement with everyone lately :)  
• Just lately you've decided you would really rather a baby sister, still conceding you don't mind what we have *smile* {lucky for us!} 
• You have made it clear that you'd like to be there at the birth, but I am not so sure 
• You continue to remain an affectionate soul, giving lots of cuddles and kisses, even tho my belly makes it hard some days... you persist :) 
• Incidentally... when I took this photograph of you, I said "Mikaela, just look natural", you replied "MUM...this IS my natural smile!!!" chuckle! 

Oh and inspired by the latest copy of this gorgeous magazine:

I interviewed Mikaela and created this digi layout... I love her "is scrapbooking important" response to most important thing I have taught her... weeeeeellll...

I love you sweet pea!

Mum xo

A digi layout or two...

Here's a little layout I did using a template from Ali's Songbird kit and added some paper from Lynn Grieveson's "Beth" paper pack:

I also did this one yesterday to document a BIG milestone in the life of Mikaela... not sure I am ready for her to be getting phone calls from a boy, but it is happening none-the-less... and it is a huge event for her. Especially since she has had a crush on this boy for a while now {deary me}. The excitement is a little contagious and so very sweet. Her passion and determination, sheez... well I know where she gets it... so I sit and pray and hope she is not hurt. Already it begins! Crazy!

Again, I used a template from Ali's Songbird kit and added some paper from Lynn Grieveson's "Capri" paper pack this time:

I have also done some paper scrappin' lately with the ReVa May kit...

Actually I've done quite a bit using this kit, for MUCH more eye candy by myself and my super talented Design Teamer and lovely friend, Di Turner you can take a look over here.

Bxo

Only She...

Can make him laugh so hysterically:

 

It is infectious to watch, hilarious to hear... its crazy!

Crazy LOVE... and I love them both with such a passion, I never knew until these two!

Happy Friday... I hope your weekend is full of love and much laughter.

Hugs

Bxo

Hey Sport...

That would be the perfect nickname for our Mikaela... "Sport".

Last week she came first in her school cross-country race of 1000mtrs.

Funny that the photo is almost identical to that of last year!!! Only difference is that THIS year she IS old enough to attend the Zone Carnival, and will do so on the 18th of this month. She is super excited!

Other big news for "sporty" is that she has moved up a level in her swimming lessons at the AIS. She now swims for an hour each lesson. Last week was her first lesson at this level and as soon as they got in, were told to do 6 laps of the 25mtr pool in freestyle. Whoooa, pretty good for an 8 year old I thought {not sure I could do it now LOL}. The hour lesson didnt phase her at all, she just loves it.

Also in horse riding she has moved up a level this term too... now she has a 1.5 hour lesson on Tuesday afternoons, which incorporates a half hour theory lesson.

Saturday mornings she has basketball, that's her "Nath and Mikaela" thing to do.

It is no wonder that her ambition at this stage in her life is to be an Olympian. When I was 8 I wanted to be a vet :)

Trying to document the "Everyday" a lot more with my children. Usually I do a post on the day they were born each month, but last month we were away and I missed them... will just have to double up this month.

Happy Wednesday peeps.

Bxo

Creations to Cherish...

Is my scrapbooking course I teach at our local tafe on Tuesday nights each term.

Here are a couple of layouts and a mini-album I did last term by way of "in-class demonstrations" for my students:

 

This mini album is a keepsake for Mikaela... about her first TRYathlon she did a few months back:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in attending the class (or know someone who is)... go register online now.

Classes begin next week... and won't be offered again for 2009 as I'll be on maternity leave :)

You get a STACK of goodies and we have so much fun.

EDITED 29th April: After much consideration, I have decided NOT to run this course this term, it will be on offer again for Term 1 of 2010. Sorry for the inconvenience. I am just way too crazy busy at this moment.

Create Joy

Bxo

Mikaela's Room...

So my nesting has extended to Mikaela's sacred space also {I wish it would extend to my studio too, but there seems little chance of that!!}...

Firstly let me say that I love the earthy tones of our (rented) home, but coming into our 4th year here... I would like to update the colour scheme a little. Especially in the kids rooms, I think I'd go for a light Aqua. Anyways that wont be happening until we build and that is a way off yet.

Here is a tour of Mikaela's bedroom as is right now {rarely this tidy LOL!}... looking in:

Above her bed head, the butterflies are ones I punched from the left overs of her Owl Vinyl (see below).

The framed art above her bed (Ribba ones 30cm x 40cm) Mikaela selected herself from my "store"... I was surprised that she chose these ones, happily surprised.

 

I particularly like the one in the middle "magic" as it has this Roald Dahl Quote:

"Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”

Mikaela is totally obsessed by Roald Dahl right now. I love that!

These pieces above and many more {like the nursery ones for Joshua and Bubba} are on sale on my Etsy store right now.

Here is the view of the side of Mikaela's bedroom, I made her those paper mache balloons when she was a toddler, they need new baskets:

Close up of the latest addition, the OWL vinyl art I put up this week:

 

Some more art, the one above is "flutter" smaller sized prints (8" x 8") are on sale on my Etsy store. The other "foil framed" piece is one Mikaela and I did together during a weekend in Adelaide last year.

We are lucky to have really big sized windows all through our home, there is nothing better than letting in the sunlight and fresh air.

Mikaela is most happy with the latest updates and refreshment of her room... and the fact that we've put her "lecky blanky" on to prepare for winter :)

Mikaela's bed, bedside table and chest of drawers are the Lila range from here... and the shelf unit on the drawers is this one.

Bxo

TRY she did indeed...

Mikaela did so well this morning, we are so proud of her.

It was an early one, I think Nath was up earliest at around 530am, I was not far behind... Mikaela was up and dressed in a flash. Joshua was asleep until we put him in the car and drove to the AIS in the dark. It was light by the time we arrived some 12 mins later or so.

We were all so excited for Mikaela - we got her bike out and went through registration quick smart as she was the first person for her naming group L-McC... we got her bike looked over. Then she had her numbers written onto her arm and leg before she and Nath went to set her bike, shoes, top, drink, towel etc etc in the transition area.

Then we had about 1.5 hours to wait for the first leg... the swim. I thought it would be tough with a 18mnth old stuck in a pram, but he was caught up in the atmosphere and was happy just being wheeled about and taking in the sights.

Mikaela caught up with a few friends from school and hung out with them until they entered the pool area and were divided into age groups.

It was jam packed... I decided to wait a while outside until the older competitors parents had left and cleared some space for our age group. Which was good, because we then got seats in the bleachers, followed shortly after by an SMS from Papy that he could see us and big waves all around.

Joshua fell asleep before Mikaela even started the race... he didn't want to... he'd seen her in a swimming race earlier this week... I wasnt sure he knew what was going on, until I said "She's in Josh, Mikaela's racing" and he started yelling "Go..GO!" and waving his arms madly. VERY cute. This morning he was really fighting going to sleep and he sort of cried to me "go, go" and assured him that Mikaela knew he was here and it was okay to go to sleep... he was out to it about 3 minutes later, and I got him all comfy behind my legs on the bench seat.

 

He is still in his PJs.

Shortly afterwards the 8 year old girls are ready to race... Papy had found a spot beside us by this time... and we were all madly waving to a slightly nervous Mikaela...

Pool shots are hard to get {especially with a macro lens}... just as she was about to get out of the pool we took off, I ran around (with Papy's concerned comments, and trying to get Nath to stop me LOL)...to get a few phoots while she is in transition:

Then she was into her bike leg...

Back into transition before taking off on her run leg (maybe her strongest? not sure about that, but probably her favourite)...

 She was sprinting into the finish zone, I almost missed her...

 

Mikaela has already told me she definitely wants to do it all again next year. I think we've started something, or rather she has, as this was all her initiation after some pro competitors came to see them at school. Very kewl.

She got a great medal and certificate.

Afterwards we went to Zeffs for pizza and pasta before heading home where the entire family caught an afternoon nap :)

I hope your Sunday was a good one too.

Hugs

Bxo