Taking Stock: The way things are: April

I've come to enjoy this tradition which oddly seems to coincide with school holidays.  I can't remember the last time I enjoyed school holidays quite so much.  With all of us home we really have made the most of it.  There have been lots of sleep ins, reading in bed and cooked breakfasts.  There has been lots of crafting time and unfortunately (or fortunately depending who you are) lots of t.v. and screen time for the rest of the family.  We spent Easter at Aldinga. We have had lovely shared time with friends and spent a glorious day at Bushland Park wandering the track we use for Bush Kindy.

Easter Selfies with my girls!

A great walk along the beach at Willunga

Easter morning - never too old for Easter Bunny 

All in all a most satisfying holiday.

Big brother teaching Little Sister to skim stones at Bushland Park - how to make mummy's heart melt!

Making : progress on the WIPS - finishing the second sleeve on my blue jumper and finished Maddie's school cardigan this week too
Cooking : malteser cheesecake for James' birthday
Drinking : coffee, and probably a little too much red wine but it is holidays so care factor?
Reading: Drums of Autumn (ALL holidays - I was hooked!)
Trawling: Pinterest looking for skirt patterns
Wanting: To make myself some simple, flattering, quick skirts from the stash fabric
Looking: For suitable high waisted work pants (not easy to find)
Deciding: I really need to lose weight
Wishing: It was that easy!!!
Enjoying: The sound of children alternatively chortling, shrieking with delight, and grumping at one another - the sounds of siblings
Waiting: for James to put the fire on
Liking: the slow but sure success that is coming with my 100 day goal
Wondering: If this house will ever really be clutter free
Loving: Cheese and onion bread toasted
Pondering: How to keep the rabbit out of mischief in the loungeroom
Listening: to the sound of footsteps upstairs
Considering: Best way to market beginner scrapbook classes
Watching: Call the midwife (episode after episode)
Hoping: For a more relaxed term at kindy (bring on Bush kindy!)
Marvelling: At how well my pot plants are growing - normally I kill anything in a pot!
Cringing: At the inevitable chaos and mess that happens when we are all at home
Needing: Fresh air and some serious Spring Cleaning (even though it is Autumn!)
Questioning: How I can keep the same relaxed feeling of holidays during term time
Smelling: my lovely Strawberries and Champagne Serenity Wicks candle - I am not really a candle fan but I do love Serena's fragrances.
Wearing: My comfy black leggings and burgundy tshirt dress and my almost dead black boots
Noticing: The sauce bottle without its lid and a big trail of crumbs on the table...definitely school holidays LOL
Knowing: That this is not a catastrophe and I will miss them when they are all grown
Thinking: About page layouts for SOM blog hop and National Scrapbooking Day
Admiring: Green Gate Porcelain on pinterest (how I wish we could get it somewhere in Australia!)
Getting: slightly chilled - definitely fire time
Bookmarking: slice recipes in Fete Magazine
Opening: Brand new paper packs to play with
Closing: Kitchen cupboards and drawers (I swear we have a ghost - they are ALWAYS open!)
Feeling: Blessed and grateful and slightly cold!
Celebrating: James' birthday tomorrow
Pretending: He is not getting older!
Embracing: My life, my family, and simple happiness

I hope that the holidays have been good to you, and that you are embracing the chill of Autumn in the air, and the many, simple joys in your life.
Happy weekend!