New Year's thoughts

I read this quote around New Year's on a friends blog and it spoke to me.  I think that so many times I don't try new things because of fear of failure, I don't talk to that person for fear of not knowing what to say or seeming weird, I keep the same ol life/routines going because that is easy and simple and known.  Here is to a year of breaking out of that, breaking out of my comfort zone, breaking out of fear and being the person God has designed me to be.  This will include making mistakes, this will include failures and change, but I am called for nothing less.

 

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.
So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.” 
~Neil Gaiman

Beach goers

In keeping with what some of our goals for the year are:

I have declared this "the summer of the Beach" in the Legg household.  All of the little people are big enough to enjoy the ocean to some extent or another and since we only live 20 minutes away from a breathtaking coast, this year we are going to make the most of it.

This goal, however, is no small task with little children.  I feel like every time we prepare to head down to the beach we look like we are moving house; shade tent, blanket, towels, beach toys, goggles, snorkels, sunscreen, hats, changes of clothes, snacks, water bottles, it's amazing how little children add so much 'stuff' you have to bring anytime you go anywhere.  We are going to attempt to not let that stop us. . . .we are going to forge ahead, cram it all in the van and venture forth.  I always find once we are there it's totally worth it.

We planned one such outing yesterday and woke not to the typical 30+ sunny weather we have been having here in good ol Perth, but to a cloudy cool day.  Go figure!  We were not deterred, we had made a commitment and the kiddos were excited so off we went.

It was windy and too cool for me to get in the water, I admit it, I'm a wuss, but so is Nate so that was my excuse ;).  Tilz and Daddy had a great time trying out her new snorkel and me and the other two had fun visiting with dear friends and playing in the sand.  

It was such a great way to spend a cloudy morning.  

Nate loves throwing sand, so had to distance himself from the group.

I think someone was wanting a nap.  

We even went out again that evening to watch the sun set over the water (forgot my camera for that one--out of practice), something we haven't done in quite a while.  It was a great start to our beach going summer, we'll see if we can keep it up!!

Are you a beach goer?  What are you favourite things to do at the beach, or tips on getting there more easily with kids?  

Staying Cool

Our little family was plagued with gastro over Christmas.  After 3 days of self imposed quarantine the natives were beginning to get a bit restless and tired of the movie marathon we had been doing.  We were all feeling good enough to be stir crazy but not good enough to expend too much energy.  I didn't want to run the risk of spreading the plague that we had only just gotten over, but it was really too hot to play outside for very long.  

It's in these moments of desperation that creativity takes over.  We made our own water play area with buckets, bowls, cups, and even a small wagon.  I mean who needs a pool when you have a bucket to crawl into?   

Our little Legg splash zone kept the kiddos entertained for a couple hours while keeping them cool and requiring little energy on my part to prepare.  

Everyone had their own bucket to sit in and play with.  It was so great to be able to sit back and hear their imaginations take over as they went from African animals at a water hole, to super heroes with ice power.  

Sometimes it just takes a thinking outside the box for a little bit of fun.  

Do you have fun things you and the kiddos do to while away the hours during the heat of summer? Please share!!

Bring on 2015

I can't believe here I stand at another years beginning.  Where has the time gone?  How has another year passed by so quickly?

While I am not a big one for resolutions, or if I am really being honest I am but can never seem to keep them for say longer than March or April and that's doing good.   Yet, I do always find myself at this time of year doing a little self evaluation and goal setting.  I mean who doesn't want to be better in the future, to achieve more, to worry less, to trust more?

Through this self evaluation I've once again come back around to the blogging world.  Do I want to keep my blog?  Do I have anything worth while to say that anyone out there cares about hearing (in reality the answer is probably no) so it has to be more for me.  This year this blog is going to be more of a journey through our little crazy world.  There will be some stories, some recipes, some real life parenting, some prayers, hopefully usually documented with some photos.

While I'm not commiting myself to one of those 365 projects, I know myself better than to commit to something that bold, I am going to try and document a bit more of our lives the ups downs, pretty moments and craziness.  Our little people are growing and changing so quickly that I don't want to forget these years, these precious moments with these precious people.

And so we begin again on this crazy world of blogging. . . .

Nate and I giving our tough faces as we watch daddy fish down in Busselton.