A blessing in disguise

Under most circumstances

there can be two ways of looking at a situation.

My situation:

 I'm due to start a new job,

 my husband is away,

and my children are going to be contagious

over the next week ...

*sigh*

Do I wail and despair

or do I chortle and hoot

at the impossibility of it all?

Well, perhaps I did both ...

and then decided to call in the cavalry!

Thankfully, tomorrow morning my Mother flies in from Perth

to look after the girls whilst I go to work.

*whew*

So, although we've had a tumultuous week of
fevers, 

itchy feet,

spots 

and uncertainty,

our next week will provide a rare opportunity to spend time with Nana.

Thus, sometimes a difficult situation turns out
to be a blessing in disguise! :)

P.S. Thank you Mum

for your willingness to give up a week of your own life

and come to save us from our circumstances.

Hugs

Hugs.

Hugs are precious.

Hugs are priceless.

Hugs are made for every occasion!

Hugs can make you feel ...

supported,

comforted,

acknowledged,

loved,

secure,

and special.

I love hugs.

I love to give hugs.

I love to receive hugs.

And, amazingly, you can't fake a hug!

Hugs are for family.

Hugs are for friends.

Hugs are for babies, the elderly and everyone in between.

Hugs are for everybody!

There are all sorts of hugs:

bear hugs,

A-frame hugs,

cheek hugs,

sandwich hugs,

grabber-squeezer hugs,

group hugs,

side-to-side hugs,

back-to-front hugs,

heart-centred hugs,

and custom-tailored hugs.

A hug is a simple gesture that can say more than words.

So ... make sure you hug each and every day.

Hug yourself, your partner, your children, your friends, your neighbour, or your hairdresser.

Hug your extended family and make sure your hugs are sincere and full of love and grace.

"The Litte Book of Hugs" by Kathleen Keating is my source for different sorts of hugs.

Magic Flowers

We, as a family, have just finished a wonderful little experiment

called Magic Flowers!

You're welcome to try this at home ...

Step 1: Draw cheery little flowers, colour them in with crayons

(as felt pens will run) and then cut them out neatly.

Step 2: Fold the petals over one by one so the coloured side is hidden.

Put water into a saucer and float the flower on top.

Step 3: Watch as the petals start to open!

In about 30 seconds, your flower will have bloomed.

Vary the size, shape and folding order of the petals ...

Words like magnificent,    amazing and   spectacular   were heard during our experiment. :D

Our 'magic flowers' :)

If, like me, you are a scientist and need to know how this works ... then read my comment below!

If you like the magic side of things ... then read no further! (lol)

Wishing you all a happy day!

The love of reading

An early 'hands-on' reading experience with Daddy

Its been a few years coming ... but we are still amazed it has come so quickly!

Our girls, who are nearly 7, are now reading to us all those picture books we've read to them since they were four months old. :)

Their love of books may equal, if not exceed, our own! If the house is quiet in the morning, then you are almost certain to find them in the 'toy room' with a pile of books ...

Rachel is right into her magic book at the moment, keeping it under her pillow along with a torch (for a quick read under the sheets before sleep). Natasha is rapidly devouring the 'My Little Pony' book set ... making sure we know which pony she likes the best.

The biggest thrill for us was when both girls had the confidence to read to their Nana and Poppy during these last holidays. It was wonderful to see, considering how many hours my Mum and Dad have spent reading to them over the years.

Reading 'Clifford the Big Red Dog' to Nana

However, I had to sit through Seal's Silly Sandwich the other night! I could hardly stop giggling ... Natasha's front tooth has just fallen out and when she says her 'Ssssss' she puts her tongue through the gap and ... ohhhh, it is so funny! The book had so many S words that we were both cracking up by the end of it! :O

Here's to the ❤❤❤ of reading ... may it last a lifetime!