Unique Flora and Fauna

Every second Wednesday, I have a day to spend with my little man, Buster without any organized activities. As this is his last year before school I have decided to make the most of this time by taking him out to places around Canberra for some special time together.

I have written about his really great start in preschool this year. At preschool his class is named the ‘Banksias’ He has seen pictures of this unique flower at school but he really wanted to see one for real….so off we went for a lovely day at the Australian National Botanic Gardens

The day was made even more special because GrumpyDaddy met us at the café ….But, buster was simply astonished at another surprise guest who joined us for lunch!!

Our surprise lunch guest, sharing Busters chips!!

Not so impressed with the tomato though

This weekend I'm sharing these Australian Native Banksia Flowers at Tina's Weekend Flowers and Ewa's Flowers on Saturday.

Black Mountain Tower

Black Mountain Tower (or Telstra Tower) is much loved by my family.

When we return home from often long and ‘torturous’ road trips (think 3 kids squeezed in the back seat saying “…are we there yet?...” for 12 hours straight), Black Mountain tower is the first Canberra landmark they see. It is greeted with much anticipation and jubilation! The site of the tower signals that we are back home!

The tower is visible in many parts of Canberra and the children know that their dad’s work is located at the base of Black Mountain. Just about wherever they are in Canberra, they can look at he tower and know that their daddy is working right there!

For me, Black Mountain tower is a symbol of freedom, adventure and growing up. I moved to Canberra, far away from my Country NSW home to start at the Australian National University. It was here, under the shadow of the tower, that I began to discover who I was. I had the chance to experience that heady feeling of first-time freedom and independence. Of being surrounded by others who loved to learn and study, of finally finding my tribe.

Now my kids just love to climb up there and run around it…and they really think that they can see our house!  It's a good thing they have a fence up there!!

For Friday Fences, I'm linking with Life according to Jan and Jer. Click over and see some really interesting and creative photos from all over the world... though a fence!

Thankful for Summer Holidays

Now that School has commenced  for 2012, I’ve had some time to reflect on the summer School Holidays.

I am so thankful that we have the summer holidays to spend together as a family! I love that the girls don’t need to have their hair tie tight back…it can just be wild and free!

I am thankful for a break in the school uniform, lunch box packing, hair pulling, teeth brushing morning routine. Instead, the regimented daily routine gets replaced by staying in pajamas until lunch, watching movies, drawing, crafting and playing games. A Rushed cold breakfast gets replaced with a nice slow brunch!

I am thankful for that my oldest daughter has decided to let me show her how to cook…the time we have spent together this summer in the kitchen is so special to me, I will never forget it!

I love how my children just get to be kids, messing around in the back yard, with no schedule or time table. It has been amazing to watch their sibling bonds strengthen as they sit on the trampoline and dream together about the cubby house they wish they had, high in the tree tops!

I love the sparkle in their eyes as they run full pelt along the shore line where the ocean meets the sand. They got to go fishing, boogie board, build sandcastles and play beach cricket.

I am thankful the kids got to ride their bikes, pogo sticks scooters, rollerblades and rip sticks up and down our cul de sac to their little hearts content. They could ride in the cool of the day-light savings evenings which is normally past their bed times (and with only a few minor grazes!).

I’m thankful for the time we have had to spend with our extended family of Grandmas, Cousins Uncles and Aunts. I love that we had the opportunity to see so many all the fantastic and beautiful places.

Finally I am thankful for all the memories that his summer has given me and hopefully my children.

Oh, and to be completely honest….I’m also a little thankful that school has started! For the first time I have two whole glorious days a week to be me!!!!

I found this wonderful site called Mosaic Maker from Veronica at Mixed Gems. I have had bit of a play around with some of my favourite summer memories to create my own summer memories mosaic…..

(Just click on the mosaic to see it in more detail!)

I am linking up over a  Kate Says stuff for Thankful Thursday. Pop over and see what some other inspirational bloggers are thankful for!

Wordless Wednesday: Black Rock Beach

.......A picture tells a thousand words!!!

For wordless Wednesday I'm linking with My Little Drummer Boys, Sakura Haruka and Tina's Wordless Wednesday

A Ranty Pants Red Head Post!

I am a proud red head. In fact, if I was to nominate my favorite feature, it would be my long red hair! I was delighted when two of my children were born with a great shock of the stuff…my eldest daughter was born with a bright red Mohawk!. I feel happy, proud and honored when a passersby on my blog, or in real life tells me how lovely their hair is…

…but it wasn’t always this way. During my childhood and early teenage years, I would have given anything NOT to have red hair. I was teased mercilessly because of it. I was called a red-headed chook and an orange carrot top. I was convinced nobody wanted to be my friend because I had red hair.

Fast forward to my adult years and I wouldn’t have it any other way…. I still don’t like the word ‘orange’ J…..But I have learnt to appreciate my hair colour! My hair has been the subject of some often hilarious pick-up lines (….yes…red ones do go faster, by the way….and yes I am a REAL red-head!) and I leant that sometimes what makes you different also makes you stand out in a crowd and remembered. Now,  I would never change my hair color!

Me and my hair at a a soccer game

However, there are two things yet that I have not reconciled with being a red head. The first is the term 

‘Ranger’.

Ranger is derived from the orangutan, a large, orange tree dwelling ape. Honestly, would you like to be called a name after a hairy primate? I have to admit that I just don’t like the term. Maybe it is the sound of the word. ‘Ranger’ can be almost thrown, or spat out of a persons mouth if it is used in a derogatory way.

I dislike this word when used to describe me or my children. I also don’t like it used to describe the current Prime Minister of Australia. Regardless of ones political beliefs or persuasions, I think it is a low act to simply bring a person down based on their appearance. I can’t believe that it is socially acceptable to do this!

My friends teenage niece is intelligent and beautiful, and she also has red hair. This girl has taken a different approach and  taken ownership of the word ‘Ranger’. She makes a joke of it and describes herself as ‘everyone’s favorite ranger’. She uses the term ranger to sign off on her emails and facebook posts. Although I am proud and a little envious of the way she has taken ownership or the word, I worry that such a beautiful an intelligent girls defines herself simply by her red hair….because surly this is not how other people see us…just our red hair??? …or is it??

This brings me to the second part of being a red-head that bothers me. That is the propensity of non-redheads to think that all people with red hair look alike. You would be amazed at how many people have said

  “…..There is someone from my home town/school/ mothers group with red hair and she looks just like you! Do you have a sister there???...”

If there is a red-haired child on a TV commercial my children even get asked if they have been on TV!

I do realise that I, and the other people mentioned share red hair and a similar pale complexion. I also realise that most of us are probably not lacking in the freckles department! However red heads, like other people, have different facial features and different personalities. We are not all related. We are individuals.

 Red-heads should not be defined, grouped and stereotyped  simply by the color of their hair but, just like everybody else, what is on the inside…our personalities.

I would love to hear what you think of the term ‘Ranger’? If you are a red head, or have children with red hair, do you like being referred to a ranger….or do you ever get told you look just like somebody’s mothers cousin, who also has red hair?? 

OK rant over now….I feel so much better!!

I am joining in with Jess from Diary of a SAHM who has also written a great post about hair (!!) (great minds obviously think alike!) for  the wonderful Tuesday link-up  #IBOT (I blog on Tuesday) Come and read what others have blogged today!

Youth Sports Weekend: SportyMummy Organisation

One of my aims for this little SportyMummy blog, is to develop a Youth Sports community where parents can support, encourage and motivate each other to support their children’s participation in youth sports. If your children have participated in a youth sport or an active pursuit this week-end, you can link up your post with the linky, found at the end of this post,  and share the fun!

Today I thought that I’d talk a little about the organisation that goes on behind the scenes, as a parent of over-committed active kids!

In our family, like many others, we have a hectic schedule of school, sporting activities, birthday parties and play dates. Sometimes I find it quite a challenge to keep up and on time with it!

Once, when I was trying desperately to register my daughter for a swimming competition a day late, I joked that  “….My children need their own manager…..” To which the club secretary dryly replied, “….That’s your job…”

These are some of the systems I use in attempt to keep in control of all the kids activities.

Command Central

On this white board I write all the necessary information for the upcoming week. Each Sunday night, I help the girls to write on the board what days they need to pack their books for each subject,  library bags, school readers and the like. This systems gives them a little (guided) independence and responsibility for their own equipment at school.

I also write on the board when their after school activities are and weather it will be me or GrumpyDaddy picking them up. On occasion, being parents can sometimes feel a little like two ships passing in the night…..and the white board helps keep us on the same course at least!….

On the right side of the white board, I keep a list of all upcoming activities such as competitions and birthday parties. I also have a box to tick when registrations and RSVP’s are due…I confess that I can be just hopeless with RSVPing on time. This system seems to help make sure I am on time for registering for sporting events and RSVPing in time for parties.

School Shelves

I store all the kids school and lunch supplies in these shelves. The girls can check the board and pack the appropriate items. Having their school items in the shelves means that the bags can be packed without searching under their beds for that missing lid…and finding a 3 day old sandwich….

Laundry and sports bags

I hang all the sports bags on hooks on the laundry. When the clothes have been washed and dried, it is easy to place them back into the corresponding bag. I keep the bags pre-packed and  ready to be grabbed in the inevitable rush on the way out! Because the bags are hung in the laundry, I find it is much easier for the girls to take out their wet towels and dirty and sweaty sports clothes from the bags, place them straight in the hamper and hang their bags on the hooks….this has become a returning home routine in our house!

The reward chart

This year I have been using reward charts to inform, communicate  and monitor their daily tasks. So far, this has been working really well and I can already see good habits starting to form.

That was a snap-shot into the ways I have been trying to bring order to the apparent chaos that usually involves me running around from one sporting activity to the next.....

....Now I just have to work out a way to organise  these!! :)

Do you have any tricks to help with organizing and coordinating a busy family schedule? I would be really interested to hear your ideas in the comments!

As I have decided to make family organisation matter this week, I am linking up with A Parenting Life for me and YOU Making IT Matter. What are YOU going to make matter this week??

You can also add your link below, to share your involvement with youth sports. You never know, perhaps your post will inspire a family to take up a youth sport and get on track to a more active and healthier lifestyle!

Almost Healthy Chocolate Brownies

Today, I’m sharing with you one of my families favorite treats….delicious chocolate brownies. This recipe has been adapted from the Australian Institute of Sport recipe book, Survival For The Fittest.

Image and recipe credit

I usually use vaalia french vanilla yoghurt, which is quite sweet, so I have reduced the amount of sugar in the origional recipie. I have also found that I ofen need to add upto 1/2 cup more yoghurt to reach a stirrable consistency

I make this for the kids as an after school treat. Coupled with some fruit, I know it will give them the energy to complete their afternoon training. The kids think that they are getting a delicious treat, but I know that it is almost healthy and limited in saturated fat.

I also like to bake these brownies when our swimming club is in charge of the catering  and they  always go down a treat!

The recipe is so easy to make, and my kids love to ‘help’ me make the brownies. Of course, they especially like to lick out the bowl!

Ingredients

¾ cup plain flour.
¾ cup self-raising flour.
2/3 cup Cocoa.
1 cup caster (superfine) sugar.
200 g carton low-fat vanilla yoghurt (I usually use Vaalia French vanilla).
60 ml (¼ cup) olive oil (light flavor is best).
4 egg whites.
2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
icing sugar, to dust (optional).

Optional ingredients

1/3 cup (40 g) roughly chopped walnuts. Or

½ cup white chocolate bits

Preheat oven to moderate (180°C or 350°C).  Line a 30 x 20 cm shallow baking pan with aluminum foil.  Sift flours and cocoa into a large bowl and make a well in the centre.  Whisk yoghurt, oil, egg whites and vanilla essence together in a small bowl.  Pour onto dry ingredients, and mix lightly and quickly until just combined. Stir through optional ingredients if required. Spread into prepared pan and smooth the surface.  Bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the tray comes out clean.  Leave in the tin for about 15 minutes, then lift out and peel the foil away.  Cut into squares.  Dust lightly with icing sugar before serving (optional).