Hello 2019

January 1st 2019

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

This morning after a little sleep in we sat on the patio and had a breakfast of bacon and eggs...always tastes so much nicer when cooked for you and when served with LOVE!

We then took our first family selfie of the year...albeit looking in the wrong direction LOL!

The rest of the day was spent playing in the vineyard dam - kayaking, paddle boarding, rowing and swimming.

I think Jazz spent more time in the water than on anything LOL.

So good to see Ace push past fears and give things a go!

Cutest moment!  Also ultra hilarious watching them row a boat together for the very first time...once they stopped going in circles they even explored the reeds.

Papa Bear was never far away and even went in for a splash himself!

We enjoyed a picnic lunch on the banks and then had more play time.

Eventually we got the motivation to head back to the house, where the kids got to have a ride on the back of the 4WD ute and I got a tour of the vineyard while Mark hooned home in his little snow flake (he soooo needs a 4WD)!

We had a a bbq tea and then headed off on the journey home...well, after a detour through Marks old stomping grounds anyway!

Gotta say, it was an absolutely PERFECT way to celebrate the first day of the new year!  A huge thank you to this bloke to inviting us over.  Also gotta say that I loved the way the kids all got along so well.

It was so hard to leave and come home (we could very easily live up that way), but at the same time home is always nice to come home to.

Besides we have a 15th birthday celebration tomorrow...stay tuned for the next blog all about that!

Hope you all had a wonderful start to 2019 also xo

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I released 2018...

During yesterdays roadtrip I used the time to 'Release 2018' by answering a few questions posed by the lovely Sonja of Sonja Ljavroska - Balanced Health and Wellness.

The best things that happened in my life in 2018 include:

*Marrying my sweet man (seriously so blessed, how did I get to be so bloody lucky)!

*Bonding with my Sister (& nephew)
*Successfully completing my 2nd year of university (whoo hoo only 1 year of 'this' degree to go)!

*Watching my son breeze through his first year of high school despite his challenges (we also found out he will have an aide all throughout highschool - bonus)!

The toughest things that happened in my life in 2018 include:

*My Sister being diagnosed with breast cancer and not being able to help as much as I would of liked. 

*Waiting on the diagnostic results of my own lumpy bits. 

*Pneumonia and Nose Operation 

*Our fridge breaking down and not having it fixed for several weeks (bar fridge was a saviour but doesn't fit much LOL)!

*Water leak drama.

The lessons I learnt about myself and life this year include:

*My body heals much quicker now that my tonsils are removed, although I need to allow it time to rest and recover.

*Loving yourself is way better than torturing yourself. 

*I worry way too much about not letting other people down. 

*When it comes to the big C, my optimism is tarnished.
*I miss photography (although not the associated stress of major shoots)!

This year I discovered I really want:

*My boys to stay in high school for as long as possible. 

*Balance (work, study, family, friends)

*To start training again

What I need to let go of to live the way I REALLY want include:

*My addiction to cigarettes 

*Putting my own desires on hold to please others. 

*My need for everything to be OCD ordered 

*Overthinking and analysing

The experience, transformation, or accomplishment I am most proud of in 2018 is:
*Organising a wedding in 8 weeks without any bridezilla moments!

My favourite memories from 2018 include:

*Family camping trip off the grid in the Aussie bush for 2 weeks. 

*Our wedding day

*Family holiday to Tasmania 

*Line dancing with my hubby 

*Snuggle time with my boys 

*Catch ups with friends (movies, water dancing, pub, visits)

Note:  I actually found some of these quite challenging to answer.  I'm sure that if I were to ponder them for longer I would come up with more...but there I go with the over analysing and over thinking.

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Last day of 2018

After work today we packed the car and headed off (not before yet another little ocd anxiety moment on my part...keeping it real) on a two hour road trip to spend the night with Marks best mate (Anthony aka Packer) and his family.

As it turns out Packer lives on a 100 acre vineyard in the middle of the Yarra Valley and OMG WOW...picturesque is an understatement.

After a BBQ dinner and a 'pew! pew! pew!' show, where Ace got to hold a rifle for the very first time (he opted out of firing it), we sat on the back patio sipping Bailey's (I find it ironic that we didn't drink wine considering we were in a vineyard) beneath the canopy of stars.  Jazz was stoked that he got to view them through the telegraph (note to self:  figure out how to use ours).  

 

Just before midnight we all piled into the 4WD and took off up the bumpy hill to see the fireworks in Melbourne.  Then it was home again for a nightcap while watching Ch94 (where yet again I missed what bloody house they picked...good thing it reruns so many times LOL) before settling down for a peaceful slumber.

An absolutely beautifully relaxing way to spend the the final hours of 2018.

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Farewell 2018...

And just like that the end of year is upon us, and what a year it has been. One that has certainly been filled with raw and unscripted moments consisting of “the ups, the downs, and everything in between”!

The highlight of 2018 by far was the day that I married my sweet man. Saturday April 21st 2018, what an amazingly magical day that was, one that I will cherish forever.

Sadly, as the saying goes with every up there is a down, and that down was my baby sisters breast cancer diagnosis. The battle she has fought this year has been one that I wish I had the ability to erase, but she has done it with courage and grace and in my eyes she takes the stand next to my Mum as the two strongest woman I have the honour of calling my family.

The in-betweens that float amongst the ups and downs are plentiful. I cherish the wonderful memories that were created, and embrace the lessons learnt from those moments that were more challenging.

As I say farewell to 2018 and welcome 2019, I am enough of a realist to know that past mistakes, hurts, hurdles, and trials will not miraculously disappear at the striking of the clock at midnight. However, I am also enough of an optimist to believe that what lies ahead is far greater than anything we leave behind, and with a positive mind and an open heart anything is possible.

With that said, I am wishing you all a 2019 full of everything that life has to offer. May the ups see your smiles shine so brightly that the shadows surrounding the downs dissipate as quickly as they arrive. As for the in-betweens, may they be bountiful and joyful so that you can look back upon the memories knowing that you truly lived every moment.

So, from me to you on this second last day of 2018, I hope 2019 is filled with an abundance of love, light, and peace!

LOVE that is unconditional and unlimited!

LIGHT that makes the shadows disappear and guides your way!

PEACE of mind that brings a stillness to the soul!

I feel truly blessed that I get to see the end of another year and welcome in the new one!

x

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