What we love about Summer at ours.

Lots of Long, Late evening Bubble Baths while its still warm outside.
We fill the Tub with these Delicious bubbles from Method.

Nothing says Summer to me more than filling the Car with tunes of "The John Butler Trio" on the way to our FAVOURITE weekend Beach getaway. Lancelin. Miles of white Beaches stretching as far as the eye can see, safe for the kiddo's & we can take along the "girls".

Its great for a "Day trip".

The Hubster doesn't drink, so his weekend drink of choice is SPRITE with loads of Ice.

Strawberry's. That's it, just Strawberry's. (the "Baby" eats them by the punnet load.)

A staple Summer Meal at ours.

Must use Paul Newmans Caesar Salad Dressing.

Nothing else compares.

My weekend drink of choice, usually on the front verandah with my beautiful neighbour "Aarn.

Or Jules.

Eagerly await these for our beach getaways.

I read it from cover to cover, even the advertisements.

Lots of BBQ's in the backyard. Yes with Seafood, the Hubster loves Seafood.

Watermelon & lots of it.

This juice is the BEST juice I have ever tasted & it has become an early morning staple to get everyone energised & moving.

And as any Mother will tell you, after a Winter of washing continuously around the clock, I bow at the feet of who ever invented Quick dry surflex, our Summer wardrobe. They take about 30 mins to dry & can be worn days on end as they breeeeeathe. Bliss.

And Lemons. I use Lemons everyday. I would go as far as to say that they are one of my FAVOURITE things in the whole world.

I love the taste, the smell & just the plain look of them.

In Summer we have them in juice, squeezed on Salads & Fish.

Served in Wedges with most Salady meals.

In Winter we have them in hot honey & lemon drinks, squeezed over Curries & Chicken Soup, seriously try it. Delicious.

One of my favourite childhood memories is Mum's Curry-which I loathed because she put big, fat, soggy Sultana's in-Gross-Sorry Mum, but she always served it with slices of Lemon. After the meal I would take the little dish of Lemons & sit out the front & eat them all.

Dunno why, but just one of those random childhood memories, with no effort put into it at all & one of my fav's.
Niki

So this is.......

..........my baby I've been telling you all about.

Seriously I know I am biased, but does it get any cuter than this little guy?

It seems he went from a baby to a chunky little man in a flash.

He has the best sense of humour, a little dry, but very funny.

We spent the day together today wandering around the shops, having a milkshake & a browse. In between little jobs here & there.

He is just the best company.

I wonder if all of a sudden I am enjoying his company so much more because I know in February he is off to Kinder 2 days a week. Seriously what will I do.

He looks so much like his brother at the same age in these photos, that the Hubster thought it was indeed the "older" brother's photos pulled up from 7 years ago.

Niki x

Today

It seems I have a lot to be thankful for & I am taking a leaf from my dear sister-in-laws book,

My snapshot in time right now for what I am thankful for.

1.That we have a Beautiful Summer Holiday to look forward to & enjoy each others company for a whole 7 days without any other interruptions.

Bliss.

And that my BIG Boys will LAUGH until they cry trying to teach me to once again-BOOGIE BOARD.

Seriously it seems to always be a trip highlight, can't imagine why.

2. Fresh Summer Fruit Salad.

3. Sunshine

4. This FABULOUS colour that makes my hair all shining & new for a hot $14 odd bucks.

The little conditioner that comes with it, is a treat for my wildly thick hair.

Better than dropping a quick $100 at the salon. That I am thankful for.

5. That I get to be a Stay @ home Mama to this little guy, all to myself for another while yet.

6. Update- the lastest issue of House & Garden, now ya talking.

Great days,

Niki x

Can someone please tell me....

.........When my "Baby Boys" became "Big Boys".

Quite simply put "Not Coping" at all!

Random Stuff

This past week has seen so many different random things it is hard to get my head around it.

I have watched over the last 2 weeks, someone I love dearly struggle desperately with illness.

I have watched my exhausted Mother & Grandparents nurse this person around the clock patiently & lovingly.

The Hubster's birthday has come & gone.

We have booked our yearly Beach side holiday in the Beach side town of Busselton with our dearest friends.

We plan to eat ice cream, visit the wineries, chocolate factory & cheese factory.

Boogie Board, BBQ & Swim.

I CAN NOT WAIT.

I have spent lots of quality time with my 4th born & realized that, A-he really is a cool little dude & B-he makes me laugh out loud daily.

I have struggled with the 5 pets that we sooooo desperately had to have.

My little disabled cat, Ray has caused me ALOT of grief,

put it this way, boy cat pee + crickets bags=bad combo.

Border Collies, no matter how much you love them, are not good for your newly made over back garden.

That no matter how hard you work on making the kids rooms look like something out of a magazine, they actually have to live in them & will trash them mostly anyways.

GRRRRR.

So in Summary, who cares what size your jeans are, how much money you have or haven't, how tired & annoyed you are at the 4 legged family variety.

As long as you have your HEALTH & your FAMILY, great FRIENDS & big wet nosed kisses from your beautiful furry babies & something on the horizon to look forward to

=NOTHING else really matters.

Oh and a "NOICE" chilled glass of Chardy!!!

Everything feels better whilst holding an icecold Chardy.

Random FAV photos this week.

Wednesdays

Messy fun days.

Jeddy the Wonder Dog(really, really old Wonderdog, 15 years old to be exact)

Lulu.

Touches of Red

Absolutely loving touches of Red & Fuschia at the moment.

Love, Love, Love.

Apples, Poppies & Boys.

Meredith over @ Count it all Joy posted a wonderful piece the other day.

That I wholeheartedly agree with.

I have FOUR boys.

Four beautiful, funny, feisty & loyal boys.

They range in ages from 13 to 3.

Did I imagine that I would have 4 kids. No.

I always, as a teenager & young adult, quite fancied myself the mother of 3 cute boys with sticky up hair & gumboots.

As I got a little older & began my family, I soon decided that 2 boys close together, a bit of a gap, then a little girl was my ideal.

I don't know why but I did always imagine myself with boys.

When my 1st two were boys born 2 years & 10months apart, I thought myself so very clever.

I REALLY wanted a boy the second time so as my delightful, chubby, curly haired, firstborn son would have a brother. A best friend for life. Close enough in age to be REALLY good friends.

I got my wish. Finlay was an amazing baby & I enjoyed every second of my life with my 2 little boys.

After 3 or so years I started to wonder about that little girl.

You know, the one that would come after the boys were at preschool so as I could enjoy every minute of having a little girl.

Well at the 20 week scan they told us we were having a BOY.

I was shocked.

I truly believed I would get what I wanted. Not what I needed.

The realization struck us & we giggled like little kids.

Can you imagine ANOTHER boy.

My Italian butcher informs me I am a legend & that he is one of 4 boys & one little sister.

I tell him how lucky he is to have so many siblings.

Well Kai came along & he was an adorable baby.

Beautiful looking & all we could ask for.

He was in fact a CHALLENGING baby to say the least.

But we all adored him & spoilt him rotten.

"So", I said to my husband one day. "Lets go again".

"What, no way, 3 is enough. We always said 3", he replies.

But the urge for another baby never really went away & when Kai was 2,

I said "Please" & what do you know he said "OK".

I nearly fell through the floor. I thought he was adamant.

He said "you know it'll be a boy".

"Cool", I said, "I'm kinda getting to like them, plus I 'm a really good BOY Mum."

But then all the people this side of the BLACK stump started,

"OOOH you poor thing, you must want a girl" or

"trying for that girl eh" or

"will you be disappointed if its another boy."

or the WORST ever-

"Well, I am not going again as I am happy with the ones I have".

Implying that I was not happy with my 3 strapping lads.

I wanted to strangle that person, it came back to me through my girlfriend & didn't we have fun sledging that comment. Petty I know, but what A stupid thing to say.

It drove me BANANAS.

I actually am pretty confident in my abilities as a mother. I am quietly confident that I am doing a pretty good job. Is that to forward to admit?

Its the one true thing I have done in my life that I feel I really have succeeded in.

I feel like I am a Natural. I love being around my kids, really I do.

I would rather be with my kids 24/7 than anywhere else on earth.

I don't palm them off ever, in fact I feel a little lost when one is not here.

I just like being with them.

Even the hubster doesn't mind them either.

So why would anyone think I was that shallow that I would keep on having kids till I got a girl. My boys are ENOUGH.

I mean, have you seen them, who wouldn't be beaming proud, in fact the more I have the more I want.

They are just really good kids.

Why stop then, when your onto something so good.

In fact even though*disclaimer-smitten Mum boasting here* my eldest is intelligent & a natural sportsman.

That my second is FAIR of heart & extremely thoughtful.

That my 3rd is GIFTED at anything physical & my youngest is as funny as a play.

What I am most proud of is their loyalty to each other.

They are fiercely protective with each other.

2 & 4 are a tight unit & 1 & 3 are unstoppable.

If you take on one of my boys, you take on 4, before Mama even has time to react my kids are there for each other.

That's what delights me everyday, not whether they are boys or girls.

That's not to say a little girl given to this family would not be met with immense happiness & joy. But NO more so than my boys.

In fact in a Perfect world I would be pregnant right now with twins, boys/girls/just healthy, I don't mind. In fact seriously, HOW cool would I be with 6 boys, exhausted but seriously COOL. Ha.

6 kids. Now that is my dream.

But am I pushing the boundaries.

I'd love to here from Mothers of same sex children & older mothers .

Love to all Niki.

The Weekends Here.

Happy Birthday my Brother Jamie, Jule's & Nanna Rose.

Seriously, this row of 3 beds is my DREAM boys Bedroom. Bliss.

Well. the weekend is here again & this one's is all about Birthdays.

Off to my oldest dearest friend,

Julie's BIRTHDAY Party today &

My dearest Nanna Rose's tomorrow.

Two of my favourite girls, EVER.

Oh and about the boys.

I have six boys here I have to go make Pancakes for.

Doncha JUST Love a sleepover.

The gorgeous Hubster is laying Tasmanian Oak floorboards in the kiddo's rooms this week.

So I'm still all about the KIDS rooms & organization too.

Have a great Weekend.

This week....

My little brother has welcomed a beautiful new little girl into his family.
Little Alice Rose, little sister for my beloved Lulu.
I am so proud of them & my brother's wife is amazing.
A natural.
They now have their little family with two little girls born 14 months apart.
I can't wait to watch them grow.

Well watermelon season is here. We LOVE Watermelon, 'cept we call it "Wongie" melon.

Don't ask. It comes from my BFF Donna. That's their childhood name for it. Still don't have a clue where it comes from. But that's what we call it here too.

Even the Hubster.

So after our day at the beach was called off due to unforeseen sports commitments, I bought a huge Watermelon & we all sat out the front & ate the whole melon.

I have been going hard this week getting boys rooms all cleaned, decluttered & restyled.

Gee kids gather a lot of crap. I have 3 large bags already for goodwill & have effectively halved their stuff. Since I have been doing this the last couple of years, what strikes me is how quickly stuff accumulates. Especially with kids. I don't like clutter. I like a homely home though, not sparse & clinical, but clutter plays with my head.

Simple, easy & effective.

Ikea has curtain wire exactly like this, that I plan to use to hang the kids artworks & Christmas cards from their friends down the hall.

Oh just because it is SUNNY & Fresh. And my favourites Lemon & Lime.
Cool idea for the teenagers wall.

Love this idea.

My boys bedrooms are coloured by child.

The Teenager has a cool green called "Kelly's Flower", which used to be our boys Kelly's nursery. Cool eh.

Fin has the "Red Box" & K&K have "Blue Oar" all by Dulux.

Their towels & linen are co-ordinated to their rooms color, as are their toothbrushes, minky blankets, shaggy floor rugs(on layby) & their lunchboxes & drink bottles.

It makes my life easier. I know who's doing what & when. Ha. Quite a lot of my friends with large families got me onto this & it really is a GREAT thing.

I wistfully wonder sometime if PINK will ever be "the" color for one of my children.

Times a marching on though. Oh the decisions. :)

Now this is COOL. I LOVE it.

I have been on a quest for storage containers & found some great ones in Kmart for $8.

They seem to be working a treat & I will slowly gather more.

I have also bought cheap white wire baskets from Bunnings that are sturdy & have doubled the space in their wardrobes & I have sorted through all their toys, well half way there.

So I am on track for the big Christmas reveal. Ha.

Later Dudes off to hang with the fam.

Niki x

All image except for my own-Wongie Melon, from Pottery Barn Kids.

Sisters Painting & Kitchen from Google Images