Summer holidays really are the best time of the year. We’ve had Christmas at the farm with all my family, followed by a week up the coast with them again. Now we are home and enjoying some downtime. I’ve had some breathing space which has got my brain ticking over with lots of different ideas and projects and new things to try.
Christmas day went by in a happy blur of church and present unwrapping. Lego construction (lots of that), bike riding, kayaking on the dam, game playing, reading, and eating. Lots of eating. A house full of family at Christmas time is a blessing indeed.
Following on from Christmas we spent a week near Forster on the NSW mid-north coast. More games, eating, reading, and lots of swimming were on the agenda. We hired a boat one day and toured the lake, and went for a walk to the lighthouse at Sugarloaf point on another. One afternoon we visited a proper surf beach, built a ginormous sand dragon, and saw some dolphins. The kids ran around with their cousins and got up to all sorts of adventures. Hannah embraced being a teenager by staying up later with the adults and playing board games once the kids were in bed.
We are back home now, and I’m knee deep in projects I actually want to do (instead of all the things I have to do!), and am loving it. Next week, I’m taking the kids to the mountains for a week of swimming lessons and more time with my family, and then we have another week of around the house before we step back into the grind. I’m ignoring that problem for the moment!
I’ve been writing this list since the beginning of January, so I thought I should just finish it off and get this post out. One of my goals this year is to get back into the blog a little more. We shall see how we go.
In the meantime, here’s what’s been in my head lately:
Making: my crochet rug. I need to block a million hexagons before I can do anything else. In the meantime, I’m doing a beanie, just because I can.
Cooking: Pancakes for the kids’ breakfast. It’s a holiday tradition. Also, plum jam, sour cherry preserve, peach chutney and lots of other preserves. We need to stock up at the moment.
Drinking: Pepsi Max (I really need to stop that one!)
Reading: The Last Tudor and The Hundred Year Old Man Who Jumped Out The Window And Disappeared – both were Christmas presents. Also, I’ve tackled a couple of the kids’ books so I have some idea when they talk about them.
Next read: I have a pile to get through!
Wanting: to get more reading done this year.
Looking: at all our photos from the last 12 months as I put together our annual photo book.
Playing: with my new 35mm lens for the camera. I’ve had my eye on it for over a year now. Good things come to those who wait.
Deciding: whether or not to keep the wooden train set and a few other toys we have outgrown in recent years. Lego is definitely the favourite toy inside so I want to make more room for it to be played with. First reader books have also gone – thank goodness.
Wishing: that holidays lasted a lot longer!
Enjoying: some downtime.
Waiting: patiently.
Liking: the warm weather and swimming.
Wondering: what to do about our internet. We currently only get 50GB a month, and we are often running out these days. I’m thinking I’ll have to go to satellite.
Loving: watching the kids play with the kayaks we bought them for Christmas. They are definitely a hit!
Pondering: curtain options for the bedrooms. With summer well and truly upon us, we really need curtains ASAP, but I can’t decide what I want…
Considering: a trip to Ikea to get some more shelves for Toby’s cupboard. He has a large hanging space that is totally wasted, and his clothes are jammed into the three drawers at the bottom.
Buying: new sheets for the kids’ beds and towels for the whole family.
Watching: Seasons 1 & 2 of Call The Midwife which I picked up for $1 each at the op shop!
Next watch: I’ve got Season 1 of Outlander on DVD to watch.
Hoping: to get a whole lot of little projects crossed off my list in the next few weeks.
Marvelling: at Summer storms.
Cringing: at Trump. Also lots of eye rolling!
Needing: to have a sort through of Toby’s room – when Toby is not around. He is a hoarder of junk!!
Questioning: why there are 2 rocks, a lead pencil, a piece of lego and at least two nerf bullets in every single container or drawer that Toby owns.
Smelling: rain on the hot ground. Hooray for summer storms which fill our tanks!
Wearing: sandals, shorts, and summer dresses.
Following: a few new podcasts. My longer commute to work is going to need a few more to keep me occupied!
Noticing: The grass is still quite green around here. Usually, it is yellow and brown by now.
Thinking: about all the Summer holiday projects I want to tackle… and the lack of time to do them all.
Sorting: Lesson structures and sequences for my classes this year. Plus lots of other bits and pieces ahead of me starting my new job at the end of January. A teachers job never stops (even on holidays), and it’s never too early to start.
Getting: organised.
Bookmarking: This article by Pip Lincolne which really resonated with me.
Disliking: all the insects that manage to get into the house at night when the weather is warm.
Opening: parcels from poster candy, containing a poster full of photos of us and the kids, ready to be framed and hung in the hallway.
Feeling: relatively cool despite the heat outside, thanks to the air conditioner we got installed a few months back. Very glad we did that!
Snacking: on fruit from the orchard… and Christmas leftovers.
Hearing: Toby making “blastoff” noises and machinery noises as he plays with his Lego… constantly
If you make it to Ikea, they have great affordable curtains! I got some lovely linen ones for our living room a couple of months ago. Plus they sell backing curtains that clip on to make them block out and keep the heat in/out.
Will definitely check them out! Thanks 🙂