Wow, where have the last two years gone?

Well, I can't believe my baby has turned two! Happy birthday for yesterday my precious boy. He's having a play at the park with a couple of wee mates and a Rocket cake tomorrow. (Thats tonights job - will post photos later) He's just a true delight. Thinks he might toilet train himself thank you very much. Speaks in sentences and repeats everything. He is very determined and does not back down easily. This will be a fantastic attribute if nurtured in the right way - right now it can be trying! He is snuggly and loving, full of kisses and easily says sorry. He's in a big boy bed. Just ask him - "my big boy bed, Daddy made it, I'm a lucky, lucky ducky!" Dad assembled it, didn't actually make it but hey Daddy's are made to be heroes.

He spent all yesterday singing Happy birthday to himself and lots of "hip hip horrays". Too cute. Great he is starting to get it all.

This is Jakey on his first birthday when he was still a "baby". Boy has he grown, quite the wee boy now.
And first "clean" cuddle in labor ward two years ago. So sweet. Love you so much my special special boy xoxoxo

Anyway, lots to do today as we are off to Perth straight after the party tomorrow. Phil's son has his footy finals on Sun. Looking forward to catching up with the kids.

Hope you can enjoy your weekend.

Love Mel xo

Beauty is everywhere

We have had a great season of rain here in WA. The best by far of my almost 9 years here. So we thought we had better go and see the wildflowers. So we hopped in the car and drove a bit over an hour to a place called Coalseam National Park. Can't say I even knew it existed but what an amazing place. Full of gorgeous flowers. Unfortunately the boys aren't aware of the laws and raced straight to bring me a flower each!!! Hard to tell them the thought is wonderful but they really aren't allowed to pick them! So we walked amongst the beauty (and Ant hills) and enjoyed the view over the gorge. Amazing that a place so desolate, brown and dusty usually can be transformed into such a place of beauty for the next little while at least.

Totally engrossed in his stick! But oh so cute. My little man turns two this week!!

Mr H has to be one of the easiest kids to photograph. Always smiling and laughing.

Hard to believe this is normally just dry and dusty. Today a sea of Yellows, Pinks and White.

Sadly, not much arty stuff to post today, but I have started two more canvases. Kelly Rae Roberts book Taking Flight arrived this week. So I am all inspired to try something new.

Hope your weekend is fantastic wherever you are.

Love Mel xo

Painting without paintbrushes!

I have had so much fun creating. Now that I am realising art/painting is not all about neat, photo like pictures, I just may be able to do this!!! I LOVE colours and just having an absolute blast coming up with some great combos. My new fav - yummy texture paste and finger painting. Highlights of gold.

Sorry the pic is dreadful but I adhered the canvases to my wall before I photographed them in natural light. Ooops. Colours really are vibrant and yummy - pic doesn't exactly do them justice.

For someone who can honestly say I have never painted since mandatory art at school, I don't think this is too bad for a first attempt. Hmmm, what to do next?



The gorgeous Geraldton winters came back last weekend and we enjoyed a great morning hanging at the park. Heres Hubby and Mr H. Do you think these two just adore each other?
Mr J, just couldn't wait for the lunch I was preparing. Plum tuckered out!
Well, part of life has improved this week - the house is SOLD. Settlement date Oct 26. No more trying to keep the house immaculate for home opens. Yeehaa. I am totally stoked I kept putting this date out there as our "ideal date" and we got it!! So we can pack our gear, send it on the ship to NZ, enjoy a month long roadtrip through the US and return to NZ, find somewhere to live and hopefully all in perfect time to have our gear delivered! There had to be an upside to 6-8weeks of transit time!

Anyway, hope life is going well for you.

Love Mel xo

Sneek Peeks

I've been going to do some canvases for above my bed for a while now, but I have a side of me I hate! The one that says it will never look as I imagined and really I'm not going to be good at it so I should just stop before I stuff it up.

But I am challenging myself and learning to "enjoy the process". So I have started, and in fact almost finished a series of 3 canvases. My first ever! And I have to say I have enjoyed it and I might even get something I'm kind of happy with. Then I just had to buy this fantastic book with lots of techniques written by Kelly Rae Roberts a US artist, called "Taking Flight". Can't wait till it gets here.

So, here is a work in progress sneek peek. Will post when I have finished.



Hope you are having a fantastic week wherever you are.

Love Mel xo

Climbing trees, mud, sand and all things filthy

Jake just makes me laugh. This is his "BIG SMILE" he does this every time the camera comes out!

Just hanging out in the fantastic "climbing tree". We took a trip to Northampton with good friends today for a picnic especially to see their favourite tree! It is just great. Lots of places to climb and all not too far off the ground if they fall. Unfortunately the two younger kids spent the whole time in the stagnant creek, playing in the mud and climbing on the sand pile. Truely gross but there were too many smiles and chuckles to stop them. Lucky we have great washing machines these days. Then my camera battery went dead. Bugger, I could have had so many more great shots.


A few months ago we went to Mandurah on the train from Perth. Then we went through the canals on a boat. Boy did the boys think they were special. They love transport!! Had a great day with some friends a long overdue catch up.

Had to scrap this pic. How cute is he? This one was a challenge. Check out the metal flower. My friend and I both had one in our stash for a couple of years never quite knowing what to do with it. So we had to use it. I don't mind it actually. Love the Crate Paper papers.

The house has an offer on it!!! SO all may work out for going straight to NZ after America. Subject to the sale of a unit but with options. SO I'm putting the date 26th October out there every opportunity and hoping it will be our settlement date. Perfect!!

I can never complain life is dull. Always busy, lots happening and the sun has come back. Always lifts the mood. Aaaah Geraldton winters I will miss you!

Hope all is well in your slice of paradise.

Love Mel xo