Lisa Kate Colour Me Happy

A Christmas like no other

This year our Christmas was very very different.  It involved just the five of us, in our own home - the WHOLE day!!!  It was amazing, a true gift to us.... it was just what we needed.

The decision to have our own Christmas was one that was very difficult to make, we had some external issues that meant we needed to make some changes so that our kids and us would have a wonderful day free of stress, anxiety and hurt. 

I am so thankful that my parents wholeheartedly encouraged our need to do things our way this year, I am so appreciative that they were willing to not spend the day with their Grandchildren on Christmas for the first time ever, so that as a family of five we could start to build our own traditions.  I can't even begin to express how thankful I am to have the most amazing, encouraging, supportive parents like I do.... they are so selfless in their love for me.  I hope to be a parent just like them.

In the spirit of really being present with each other during the day, I didn't have my camera in everyones faces.  I did take a very few quick snaps after all the presents had been unwrapped.... but that was it.  It felt good to let go of the "scrapbooker and memory writer" and just be a Mum enjoying the day.

The photo's we did get are far from perfect, but neither are we.... and they are who we are, not always in focus, sometimes a little wonky or off colour.  But that's ok with me.

I hope that your Christmas Day was full of love and laughter, and you took time to think on the reason we celebrate this precious day, the birth of Jesus.

Lisa x

my vintage home - camera love

 

Old camera's.... such good things to find and display.  I love that they are usually battered and bruised from use.  I love that they are still sturdy enough for my girls to play with.  I really would love to know the story behind them though!!!

Again, I don't have a big collection at all.... THREE camera's only.  But what would the fun be if you collected something that was easy to find???

 

It's all about the search, the hunt.... and the eventual thrill when you find one.  Yes I know I can simply go to ebay and buy, but really I love searching for them myself.  It means every one has a story how I found it.

I love that.

Lisa Kate

 

reminding myself I am strong

Every so often I find myself in a hard place.  Usually it involves around my pain levels and a nice flare up (ok it isn't really nice) of my RA - be warned the link is a little bit depressing, but it is a pretty good read if you want to know about RA.

Yesterday a mega flare started.  Arrghhhhhhh.  I have the medications to take, the pain relief etc.  But you still feel pretty yukky.

I pride myself of always just getting on with life, having a smile on my face.  But sometimes it is just darn hard, and it takes more effort to make that smile. 

So I wanted to make something to remind me how strong I am, how I always ALWAYS climb above it all.  Just incase, you know, I was having a tough day........

 
 

I'm going to print it out, and pop it right by my work space.... you know, just incase I need reminding ;)

Please feel free to do the same.  You should be able to right click on the image and save it.  If you use if on your blog (which is so totally fine with me) just give a little linky love back here ! easy.

Lisa Kate

x 

thinking about friendships

 

Livinia and her bestest friend Leilani

and soaking up all the good parts, that true friends add to my life and the life of my children. The amazing love, support and LAUGHTER of a true friend is so precious.  I feel so blessed to have a couple of these kinds of friendships in my life and I really hope that my children find them too.

Choosing to let go of the negative, hurtful ones.  It's just the way it is isn't it??  Probably doesn't help that I am a girl (ten points there for nasty!) and also have worked in a creative industry for years (yep that gives you another ten points!).  Negotiating friendships in a competitive industry is interesting to say the least. 

Before you all assume something drastic has happened (which it hasn't) I am really just thinking about it all.... and working through why some people are nasty and some are lovely.  There is no answer of course, but just to become a better at friendships myself.

Remember that birthday, phone first for a change, answer that email NOW, send a card, make sure they know they are appreciated.... my friends know me so well, and they expect me to be bad at this stuff :) and they love me anyway. 

If you could give your child one little advice on friendships (or yourself1) what would it be??

Lisa Kate

the sweetest thing....

My sweet valentine baby turns 11 today ... and her valentine birthday suits her so very much.  She is the most amazing young girl.  Sweet and lovable - our little valentine, best present ever.

 

Some say the "tween years" are awkward and hard.  there are hormones and pimples, and body's maturing ..... but Miss Lilli is a very mature girl, who seems to take it all in her stride - well except for the fact that her hair is turning very very curly!!  she doesn't like that so much.  Funnygirl asked if she could take a straightener to camp - because "she couldn't deal with her hair otherwise".  Your Aunt Sea would be proud Lilli xx

 

Lilli loves art, we took her to the Australian art gallery in the Christmas break, she whispered the whole way around the Sidney Nolan Galleries what the paintings were about how he did them and why he did .... my mumma's heart was bursting with pride.  This is her thing, her love and she totally owns it.  Not always easy to be the middle child when both older and younger siblings are seriously crazy smart.  She does it well by by finding her own beat, being her own person, slowly she is becoming less anxious and more confident and I can't wait to see what she brings to our lives as she matures.

 

 

No doubt that Lilliana is a beautiful girl, since she was 6 months old people would stop me alllll the time to talk to her, and tell me how gorgeous she was (like I didn't know) we have had plenty of suggestions that she would be great as a child model .... but that is soooo not her.  She is so very shy, and quiet and so very very unaware of how gorgeous she is- we love that :)

If I could have anything for Valentines day, it would be her, all over again.

Love you darling girl, may you always feel loved and honoured and blessed.

Mumma and dadda

xx

and now for the number 14 .....

dear oh dear.... I remember so many mumma's before me warning me how quick the time would go with my children small.  I nodded my head, and smiled sweetly and my sleep deprived brain just wanted the day to come when I wouldn't be wearing baby puke on my dress, when I would have the chance to go to the toilet on my own, or be able to eat my dinner without having to give a bubba a feed at the same time ... and I LOVED having little babies.   In fact I love the baby stage so very very much, but I was still impatient for my little bubba to grow just a little bigger.

I had quite some fun rumaging through the old photo box (pre- digital) marvelling at how cute and gorgeous my first born was (and still is).

 

 

Well I got my wish !!! here he is all teenager and now 14! and yep, I learned to take a decent picture too.

 

I am so very proud of him.  It's not easy being the youngest in your year, with some kids a full 12 months older - would I do it differently? send him later YES I WOULD!!!  But, when you are a young mumma and everyone tells you to send him, including his preschool teachers, well you listen.  So he went.

Jere is smart beyond his years, intelligent, funny and sometimes obsessive.  He loves music and his guitar.  His fave playstation game is "black ops", he plays soccer and does Karate.  He has a photographic memory and can recall dates and names like a history professor. He reads 3 or 4 novels at a time.  He is the SWEETEST big brother I know.  He is brave and strong, and can pass a kidney stone with only panadol (I kid you not).  He loves cheese. He is trusting, and loving, and sensitive. We love him so very very much.....

oh and one other thing you should know.... don't give him fanta or too much sugar - you will thank me for that little bit of info :)

Happy Birthday Jere

xxxx love Mumma

pretty photo's make me happy

 

and I know I'm not the only one.  I had the absolute pleasure of photographing a dear friend and her daughter this week.  They hadn't had professional photo's done together since her daughter (now 7) was 6 months old!!!  such a long time and so many changes to capture.

So we packed up my car and headed to a location I had spotted the week before.  The only problem (well it was a huge problem) was that the beautiful cloud cover we had when we left home  had GONE and in it's place bright, glaring, harsh sunlight.  Oh dear oh dear, so we snapped a few in the location I had my heart set on, but it was just toooo uncomfortable and hot and horrible and no-one wants photo's of that!

So in the car we piled till we found a pretty shaded area, and we all immediately felt more comfortable.  I had a ball playing and chatting all the while snapping away.  My girls came along, so I took a few of them too.  Oh and I am so happy I did.  I can share them here..... the others I will share a sneak of once I get permission :)

 

 
Miss Lilli is looking way to grown up for my liking :( sad mumma heart here!

 
a very rare serious shot from Liv - i really love this one!

 
and keeping the kids busy and entertained while I worked were my vintage camera's - so much fun.  Liv had her own mini photo shoot going on while I was working!

I feel so inspired right now, new photo's, one hundred swirling ideas and just lots of fun to be had.

Why don't you find the time today to take some photo's of your kids?? I would LOVE to see some of them!

Lisa Kate

Doing December Day FOUR

Saturday DAY FOUR!!!

Woke up to early to the puppy, I really could have stayed in bed for another hour.  Made a big breaky of bacon, eggs, muffins, baked bean and hash browns for everyone. Short black for me and latte for Justin, orange juice for kids. decided the girls clothes needed sorting, ended up with a garbage bag for ruby and a garbage bag to pack away for winter.  Took girls to Art.  Marvelled at how wonderful the girls mosaics have turned out.  Laughed at my still life drawings with the girls - they said they were awesome, I know they were dodgy!!! unexpected call from mum, wanted kids to play with -Ruby for the arvo - AWESOME.  Nanna Nap, tidy and organisation in home continues.  champers plus strawberries = perfect.  Mince and beans (Jere's fave) for dinner.  Movies, and a total chill out in the evening.  Love my family xxxx

The girs with their finished mosaics ( and liv with a lolly in her mouth!!)

 

What did this day bring to you?? I hope it was great.

Lisa Kate

Doing December Day THREE

 Day Three.

Not enough sleep last night, silly RA.  Liv went to Kids HQ for her infants Christmas party. I decided black coffee is the best when you can't have dairy, soy and rice just don't really cut it. Lilli had her class Christmas party, she took hedgehog slice and a glee Christmas CD. Helped Kate paint the backdrop for the Preschool Christmas concert at work - that was my fave part of work! Jere had his head buzzed, I can see his ears for the first time in three years.  Lilli bought home beautiful art from school.  The boys watched the third dvd in the Bourne series. I baked gluten/dairy free mud cakes for dessert they were awesome. Jere went ice skating with his youth group. Liv cried because she was so so tired. I edited photo's.  Drank Champagne. Emailed Helen. Good Day. 

Day three image - my boys and their haircut (note Justin keeping an eye on the cricket!)

Lisa Kate

Doing December day two

 

 

 Welcome to day TWO.

Today was big.  Work for Parents.  School for the girls.  Meeting with the Dean of Boys for Jere. Gluten free toast for breaky - me.  Muffins with peanut butter for the kids.  Muesli and Cereal for Justin.  Lattes. At work I was the music controller for the preschool concert and only stuffed up a few times.  I threaded lots of Christmas decorations for the preschoolers, and got covered with glitter. Justin picked up the kids from school.  I went from work to do some Christmas shopping.  Jere graded up in Karate. I am eating popcorn now and drinking a glass of wine. Livinia couldn't wait to show us her present she made us for Christmas, and insisted we open it, she then ate it! I chatted to Helen while we were both shopping, her in Cairns and me in Tuggerah.  I bought her a cool pressie :)  Yep today was big

Today's photo is of Liv and her presents.... and inside yummy truffles she made in class.  She gets my share because they have gluten and dairy - she kinda likes that.

Have a wonderful night.

Lisa Kate