came to me today when I went into the newsagent to get my favourite magazine, Frankie. As I quickly checked this months art poster, I was shocked and amazed to see “Found” by none other than the beautiful Mandy from Belle and Boo! It was just such a suprise to see something so familiar there…I actually own the Lost and Found prints, they’re my favourites – after Ava’s of course. I had to ring Mandy all the way in London just to squeal down the phone! I loved that magazine from the first edition because it included an Abbey McCulloch poster – she’s my favourite artist and we own two of her paintings but now to add in a Mandy…what can I say? Happy happy joy joy.

We often say Luca is an old soul. He just knows stuff. I think he’s been around more than once but his most recent previous life has to have had him hanging out in the mid seventies. He’s just so, well..hippy. As I’m typing this out, he’s telling me we’re not to cut down any trees when we landscape. As I paused to look at him, he casually gave me the peace sign, oblivious to the subject of my post here.

Seeing as I’m so into the whole retro vibe with my photography lately, we make a good match, when he’s up for posing that is. These images are more your panel van/chicco roll flavour (sorry to my overseas readers!) rather than a tree hugging/peace rally feel but still, I’m digging it.

Peace Out.

Ivish, first thing New Years Day, bright as a button.

..And three hours later, having a nanna nap on the lounge :)

Cousin Bass is visiting this week -I’ve barely seen the boys since he arrived. How is it you increase the numbers and the noise goes down? I’m not complaining.

Do you remember the tv show with Eva Gabor? I loved it as a child, espescially the bit where she’d throw her dirty plates out the kitchen window rather than wash them. We actually did that ourselves as kids, at my grandmothers house. If there were pots to scrub, we’d conspire, all seven of us cousins…and while one lot would distract,the others would tiptoe out into the garden and bury the evidence on the council land next door. Like it had never existed. Years later when the council actually turned up to mow, they were dumbfounded to find dozens of unwashed pans. So when I saw Eva doing just this whilst wearing a feather boa and a smile on her face, I knew it was the tv show for me.

I have thought of Eva lately now that I have my own “Green Acres” – albeit 1.5 acres about 10 mins from Westfield – but still, it’s got a shed and a stable even. It’s SO dark at night and there are endless varieties of wild-life roaming past the front door (apparently – I’ve not yet ventured out after dark!). I’m not really a rural gal. I hate camping. (Well I know I would hate it if I ever tried it). I don’t cope with creatures. I’d prefer my street brightly lit, thankyou.. But, I do love the tranquility and I love how friendly everyone is. It might just take a while before I’m out planting snow peas.

The best bit so far though is that the kids absolutely love it. They run around all day and sleep well at night. (well, unless it’s Xmas :p) They fight less and help more. The image in my head before we arrived actually matches the scene in my garden…how nice :)

At 3am today I woke to a stampede of boys in my room, shreiking “MUMMMMMM. SANTA LEFT A TRAMPOLINE IN THE GARDEN”. Yes, 3am. All of my efforts to unveil the biggest gift this Xmas at the “right” moment, with Grandparents present at a civilised time of the day, had failed. For the next two hours I had constant visits from them, asking if it was time to go and try it out yet. At 5am, crazy with sleep deprivation, I gave in. There I was, in half daylight, hissing at them to jump silently so as to not wake the neighbours. As Nanny said “You can jump as long as there’s no glee, okay.”

My boys do this to me every year..for both Easter and Xmas. It is horrendous. We dread it. I’ve found them before in the middle of the night scoffing Easter Eggs. I’ve never woken on a Xmas morning with the sun up. So it’s not even dinnertime and half the family are asleep trying to become human again.

Can I just say though, I feel a bit proud of myself for actually getting them a trampoline. 2 years ago, we had one ready to deliver for Xmas and I cancelled it the day before. I was just too terrified of all the “what if’s” and I’d googled myself into a paranoid frenzy. I am still a bit unsure but then I am a lot unsure every single day about so many things…I’m trying so hard to accept I cannot control everything and to make sure they’re still allowed to be kids. Anyway, I sold a kidney to fund the very best I could find, a Jump Safe one, so here’s hoping it’s not something I live to regret. So far, they absolutely love it.

Ivy, discovering a tree decoration featuring a picture of Mason.

And Ava, Xmas last year.

I should have some more pics a bit later, depending on how long they all nap!