Window Painting

We had such a beautiful sunny winter's morning here in Brisbane the other day that there was no way were were going to waste it indoors, even though the girlies are both a little unwell. So, outside we went with our hats and sunscreen on, ready to discover some play fun.

Now that Miss H is a little bit taller, I thought it was time to get some paints out and have a great time painting our downstairs windows, which have always been a little too high. The girls had just finished drawing on the besser bricks with chalk nearby so they were ready to give this activity a go.

I squirted some shaving cream into our paint pots and added a bit of powder paint colour (you could use food colouring too). Miss M and Miss H helped to mix the colours, which turned out to be a good activity in itself. We used shaving cream today but we could have chosen to use acrylic or Cel mix paint instead.

Even though I thought Miss H was taller, she wasn't quite tall enough so out came the outdoor chairs and the girls got started on making the windows look colourful and bright.

The girlies discovered that the paint felt great so they did away with the brushes and started finger painting, also a wonderful experience. To end our painting activity, we made sure to take some pics and then washed the paint away with the hose. The windows were clean again.

Miss M got some inspiration from the hose and ran upstairs. When she came back down again she was dressed in her swimmers hoping for a splash from the hose. Instead, I sent her back upstairs and the two girls (in their swimmers) had a swim in the bath. A great finish, and an easy way to clean off all that paint.

Digging Patch

The girlies and I are playing along with everyone for We Play over at Childhood 101.

This house of ours is a work in progress. It's missing some of the comforts or special features houses can have but we love it and we'll continue to work on it (probably over many, many years). Until it's finished some of its not so lovely features become our best play areas, like the muddy car tyre tracks where a driveway should be. After the rain it's a great place to dig, float boats and make mud pies. Anyone feeling hungry?

Miss M mixed the mud with sand to make her pie

Glow-worm Adventure

The Natural Bridge, Springbrook

I cannot go without telling you about our trip to The Natural Bridge in Springbrook, Queensland. To get to Springbrook takes about 2hrs from Brisbane and some of the trip is spent enjoying winding roads and beautiful views. Springbrook is a magnificent place but a most spectacular sight is found when you visit The Natural Bridge in the Springbrook National Park.

Last weekend we packed up the family and headed out of Brisbane for a day trip to the Natural Bridge. It's amazing as it is - a waterfall flowing through a huge hole, made in the top of a basalt cave but what we planned to see was the glow-worms which have made the cave their home. Having two little girls in tow, we didn't leave our trip till too late in the afternoon but just late enough so we would be able to see some of the glow-worms lit up. They are incredible - lots of little lights on the cave walls which almost look like fairy lights. The girls were amazed and even though I'd seen them before, I was amazed all over again.

Venturing out a little later allows you to to enjoy seeing the glow-worms along the paths too but we'll leave that for when the girls are a bit bigger. As we left the cave area Miss M asked me when we could see the glow-worms again. How could we not go down and take another look before leaving!

It's a great journey and a manageable sized walk for littlies - Miss H (2.5) happily walked the whole track. If you would like to see the glow-worms I would suggest arriving at dusk and be sure to take your torches to see the path ahead (the glow-worms don't appreciate torch light). Pack a picnic afternoon tea or early dinner to enjoy in the forest surroundings as there are picnic tables nestled in the forest, beyond the carpark. There are toilets too (not my favourite kind) but they are there.

We'd definitely give this family outing a glowing report!

PS I would have loved to show you a picture of the glow-worms but they seem to be quite camera shy.

Just Add Water

Find a small bucket.

Fill with water.

Get a paintbrush.

Paint the house!

A Little Bit of Cute

Look what delightful play items we found at the treasure shop today - a lovely kid's washing line and an old fashioned washing trolley. ($4 for the line. $5 for the trolley.)

Wet washing hanging on the line.

Drying very quickly when the weather's fine.

Along comes the wind and blows it all about.

Flip, flap, flip, flap, floating in and out.

Composer: Liz Olsen

Publisher: ABC Music

Playing Along - Swing Ball - It's a Hit!

The girls and I are playing along with everyone over at Childhood 101 We Play today.

A big racquet for a little girl

I really don't know what the real name of this game is. I always wanted one of those swinging tennis games when I was a kid - the ones tied to a long string on a pole. We always knew other kids who owned them so we had a great time using theirs when we were over for play dates.

An easy idea that is quite similar is to put a tennis ball inside a stocking, with a knot at the top of the ball and hang the stocking from the clothes line or a support beam. Ours hangs from our very old Hills Hoyst clothes line which is a perfect spot for it. Just find a racquet (in our case it's Daddy's old squash racquet) and have a go at hitting the ball as it swings around.

I'm still keen to own one of the real swinging ball sets and they are well within budget coming in at under $20 for all that crazy fun. For now though, we will enjoy our swinging stocking ball which still provides my girls with the opportunity to practise using a raquet and aiming for a ball. It's a great hand/ eye co-ordination activity.

You know I think I might keep giving it a hit too. As the story goes, my brother and I used to take tennis lessons on a Saturday morning when we were quite young. Mum and Dad came to watch us one particular morning and were so embarrassed by our efforts that they took us out of lessons. This always gives me a good giggle. Now art or craft classes I may have been able to handle! ; ) And my brother, well, he is a keen basket ball player.

"Come and play at the Childhood 101 We Play Link Up"

Are You Listening?

This activity is a great listening skills activity disguised in fun! Today while we were at one of our favourite parks (George Scarlett Park) I asked Miss M if she would like to do an obstacle course. I got the answer I was ready to hear. Miss M is a huge fan of doing any gross motor activities such as climbing, riding her scooter, running and hopping so of course it was a big YES!

This park has super new playground equipment so I had lots to work with. It was simple. All I did was show Miss M what activities I wanted her to do, one after the other. eg. Climb up the ladder. Go down the slide. Run around the pole. Hop to the flying fox. She had to remember the sequence in her mind and once given the go ahead was off and racing to see how fast she could do the obstacles. I counted while she worked her way through them all.

Miss M did it once but that wasn't enough, she had to do another one. Then came the really fun part when she made up one for me. This mummy isn't so great with gross motor fun but I tried my best! He he!!

Doing an obstacle course proved to be a great activity for practising good listening and following through instructions. It can be made as simple or as difficult as you like to keep up with both the listening and gross motor skills of your kids. Think we'll be revisiting this fun activity. Miss M had so much fun.

"Your turn mummy!"

We Play - Round and Round

You may think that we haven't been around this past week due to the lack of blog posts (sorry) but we have, it's just been a tricky week juggling one sick little girl. It's a crazy thing when they are sick but still happy enough to play. You just get caught at home so the sick germs aren't escaping to others. We were still able to squeeze some fun into the week and if you don't mind, I'm also going to squeeze into the last two days of Childhood 101's We Play for this week. The girls and I are playing along....with a few coughs and sniffles.

Friday was a beautiful day to be outdoors so armed with a box of tissues we headed downstairs for some gentle fun (at least for Miss M who was the sick one). I set up a stack of different things for the girls to enjoy. We hung the parachute from the clothesline, something I have been meaning to do for a long time and turned the underneath area into a little house with a tea party set up. We also had chalk drawing on the besser bricks, bike play, sand play, ball play and easel painting. Miss H and I had the most fun though playing our very own family game in the trampoline.

I can't claim this one as a game I made up. Daddy is pretty great when it comes to making up little songs, stories or games. I can still remember his best song, the one he made as we drove to Turtle Sands in "The Dub", our blue Kombi Van, on our honeymoon - so funny! Just for the sake of this post I will call this particular game of daddy's "Round and Round".

In our family, the trampoline is definitely not just for the kids so when daddy or I climb in, it's game time. Round and Round in the trampoline has a little song that is sung along with it and it goes like this....

Round and round mummy (or daddy).

(music - gg e a g e)

Round and round you go.

(music - gg e a g)

When will mummy catch you?

(music - gg e a g e)

No one really knows.

(music - gg e a g)

The idea is that mummy or daddy sit in the middle of the trampoline and the kids go round and around them until they get caught. You just keep singing until you feel like catching the kids. If they do get caught it's an opportunity for a cuddle or kisses or tickles. This game is a lot of fun and can be played over and over and not just in the trampoline. In fact it didn't start in our trampoline. Daddy started Round and Round when Miss M was little and he used have her run round and round him in our old house - such beautiful memories.

I couldn't tell you how many times we've played this game but every time we do it always ends in smiles and giggles and that's the kind of family fun I like to see.

Come and play at the Childhood 101 We Play ink up.

Bubbly Fun With a Fly Swat

Take a bucket

Fill it with water

Add a good amount of good quality dish washing detergent

Take a fly swat

Dip the fly swat in the detergent water

Move the fly swat back and forth vigorously through the air

Watch the bubbles float and fly

Beautiful bubbles

*********

This activity requires good supervision since it involves water in a bucket. You'll be amazed how many bubbles you get - some will be like dish washing water bubbles that land nearby and some will be big round bubbles that float way up into the sky.

Always remember to get the most bubbly fun you need to put the dishwashing detergent in after you've filled the bucket with water. If you put it in before the water, all your bubbles will be in the bucket and you may as well do the dishes!

Playing Along - A Trail of Snails

The girls and I are playing along with everyone over at childhood 101 for We Play today.

What beautiful sunshine we've had here this morning for the first day of Winter. We spent the morning playing in the garden so we didn't miss a minute of it. The girls got straight into play making cakes in the sand (Jessie Teddy seems to be having a lot of birthdays this week!), watering the vegies (and me!), jumping on the trampoline together, playing with dough and swinging (we couldn't miss a swing!).

Back inside and Miss M immediately asked for drawing, so the two girls (dressed up like fairies) sat at the table and created. And what did Miss M draw?

A trail of snails.

I couldn't help but smile!

Come play at Childhood 101 We Play link up

A Dance Amongst the Roses

We've had sniffles and snuffles all week here so it's been lots of home time for us to allow sick little bodies to get better. Today we went to the park for some outdoor fun as some events of yesterday made us realise that the girls had been cooped up for too long.

Still keeping things quiet we went to the park and danced amongst the roses. Here are my beautiful little ballerinas in the gorgeous dancing skirts their Aunty Mel made them for Christmas. We've wanted photos of the girls in the skirts so why not in the beauty of the rose gardens.

You can find these rose gardens at New Farm Park which is at the river end of Brunswick St, New Farm. We drove there today but you could also arrive by City Cat which stops right at the park. Check out the translink.com site for City Cat fare prices and terminal details. New Farm Park is spacious so there's plenty of room to picnic....and dance if you want to! You can also get a coffee and snack from the snack shack.

I'm sure you'll all want details for how to make the delightful skirts too. Sorry, I can't give them away. You'll have to get yourselves a wonderful Aunty Mel like ours! He he!

The beautiful hair clip was made by my gorgeous friend Cass . Don't you just love it!

Playing Along - Double the Bubble Fun

The girls and I are playing along in We Play with everyone over at Childhood101.com.

"Blowing bubbles"

"Chasing bubbles"

"Catch them if you can"

* * * * *

"Bubbles bubbles in the air

Bubbles bubbles everywhere

Blow them here

Blow them there

Pop...pop....pop"

Come play at the Childhood101 We Play link up.

Fence Painting

With tissues in hand we headed outside for some much needed sunshine this morning. Even with sniffles and snuffles we still had fun.

Easel painting is always a favourite with my girls no matter when it is set up and now that I have two girls there are times that I like to set up the painting a little differently to allow them to enjoy the experience together, side by side. We don't own two easels or a double sided one but we do have the ugliest fence in the street (I'm sure it must be!) and so I put it to good use.

Fence Painting

You will need...

Paper - of your choice - we used white easel paper this morning
Paint - choose any (celmix, water, acrylic) but remember water based are better if you don't want your kids to permanently paint your fence
Pegs - to hold your paper up
Brushes - or whatever you'd like to paint with (rollers, toothbrushes, sticks etc)
Aprons

Hang the paper up at your child's level using pegs. If your fence doesn't allow for pegs like ours does, just tie a line of string, wool or fine rope on to your fence to hang the paper instead.

Secure your pots of paint in a low bucket, tray or pot holder.

Let the kids enjoy painting their paper and when they've finished leave the paintings to dry in the sun.

We live on a street corner so this activity can sometimes stop traffic. The pedestrians stop to ask what we are up to. One day I think it would be fun to get them involved too by hanging the paper on the other side of the fence. What do you think?

Playing Along - A Girl and Her Scooter

The girls and I are playing along with everyone else over at Childhood101 this week.

I'm gonna ride on my scooter

Toot on my tooter - race on my racer

And then I'm gonna do it again

Justine Clarke - 'Great Big World' CD

If there is one thing this girl loves to do, it's ride her scooter. She would ride it anywhere, anytime but the best play fun comes when we take to the bike track down the end of our street, where Miss M can freely let loose and scoot on her scooter. Lots of play fun!

Don't you think the smile on her face says it all?

Come play at the Childhood101 We Play link up

Train Spotting at Hives Park

Miss H enjoying time on the fort

This is the park you must go to if you have little boys. It's not that my girls don't like watching trains, they just don't love it that much. Our Mums on the GO group went for a play there yesterday and you could hardly peel the boys off the train line fence. They were absolutely taken with watching each and EVERY train go by and talking about them in detail - very cute!

If do happen to prize your children away from the fence you'll also find there are actually a few other things for them to enjoy like the boat and water skis which are great for balancing skills, a fort with a slippery slide as well as some bouncing seats and swings. There's also a track going through the park which is good for trikes, bikes and scooters.

Hives Park has heaps of trees but probably not as much shade as any parent would like over the playground. Early morning or late afternoon plays are best. You can find Hives Park by going a few different ways as paths connect from Primrose St, Thallon St or Quarry Rd in Sherwood. The playground is smallish but the park itself is big so there's plenty of room to run around and lots of trees to hide behind. This park doesn't have all the comforts like toilets, taps or bbqs, it's just a simple park where the trains go past and that makes it a great park in my books.....and I'm sure most Brissy boys would agree!

Some follow up activity ideas.....

• play with a train set at home
• watch 'Thomas the Tank Engine' dvd
• go for a ride in a train - electric or steam

An Adventure That's Just Right for Littlies

Last weekend was a long one and we were looking for some adventure that was big enough to call adventure but small enough that we could do with our littlies and one sore daddy (with a cracked rib!). We think we found the perfect thing to do.

Up Brisbane's Mt Nebo is Jolly's Lookout. We got in the car and trekked up the mountain to enjoy a picnic morning tea there, together with my parents before setting off to do a little bit of bush walking. We didn't get very far on the walk but plan to return for the full trip next time around. You just never know what to expect when you have littlies with you!

Jolly's Lookout is a top spot with a glorious view over the Samford Valley area. It is wheelchair and pram accessible which makes it great for young families and there are bbqs, plenty of seating and grassy areas to enjoy as well.

Jolly's Lookout is found by going out along Waterworks Rd, The Gap. Then keep heading up the mountain on the winding road until you reach the half way point. Jolly's Lookout has very clear signage so you can't miss it. If you're a Brissy family or just up our way for a visit do yourself a favour and make the winding trip up to this special part of the world. Don't forget to wear your walking shoes and enjoy the bushwalk nearby!

It's a great day with a littlies adventure packed in it!

Going on an Alphabet Sounds Hunt

A B C D E F

G H I J K
L M N O P
Q R S T U V

W X Y Z

Well so far we've been on an alphabet hunt, a treasure hunt and a numbers hunt while out walking. This time we went on an alphabet sounds hunt.

For this particular hunt we played the game of Eye Spy but with words that started with a particular sound. Miss M is not up to knowing what letters words begin with yet but she is interested in the sounds the letters make.

I would say to her, "Eye spy with my little eye, something that starts with the sound of eg: t" (making the sound of the letter). Miss M had to guess what it was that I could see. This hunt was the trickiest we have done but Miss M worked her way through it and we had fun playing together.

Playing Along - Baby Play

Today I'm playing along with everyone who has joined in 'We Play' over at Childhood 101. It was a home day play day for us. The girls played all day in various games, sometimes together, sometimes separate but this was one game I enjoyed being a fly on the wall for. Two mummies with their babies out for a walk to the park (our swing set). The littlest stroller is our latest treasure find - just right for a cute little mummy.

"Hello, how are you?

Do you want to come to the park with me?"

* * * * *

Come and play at the Childhood 101 We Play Link up

Our Corner of the World

I was encouraged this morning by http://www.teachmama.blogspot.com/ to do something for the Earth today. We kept our activity simple but it was lovely to care for our little corner of the World. It also felt lovely to be inspired by someone who lives in another corner, so far away from ours.



We purchased two seedlings, one an Opal Basil and the other Tarragon, to plant in our new veggie patch. I didn't even know purple basil existed and it smells the same too! We just had to put the new basil next to our happy tomoto plant. It's such a beautiful marriage when they're cooked together. Miss M, who now thinks she's experienced in all things gardening dug the holes, planted the plants and watered them all by herself....thank you very much!! (He he!!) Miss H also had to get in on the action and gave the plants a second little watering or should I say drenching.

We plan to read this book this afternoon - 'We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers', a Charlie and Lola book by Lauren Child. We do ok with our home recycling but it would be so much better to get the girls more involved in it. Today Miss M can start to help throw the recycling items into the big yellow bin.

I've been encouraged and reminded today that we can think globally and act locally. Thanks teachmama!

Are you doing anything in your corner of the world to make our Earth a happy one?

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I have a new love in my life - my veggie patch! It's like I've given birth to another child. I've never seemed to have had a green thumb before which is quite sad really when you look back at the family heritage I have. My Grandad was a farmer and in his retirement he kept one of the best veggie patches I've ever seen. He also had a gorgeous flower garden that grew the most beautiful array of coloured and perfumed flowers in Spring. On the other side of my family, my Grandma and Grandpa always had beautiful flower beds of roses, daisies, nasturtiums, hydrangeas and more. Where did my green thumb go?

I think I may have found it, at long last! I've been keen to have our very own veggie patch for a long time so the girls and I could work on it together during our outside play. Now we do because my lovely husband constructed a patch back in March for my birthday and my father who works in a landscaping supply business filled it with beautiful, rich with compost soil. We've begun the process of growing our own food to pick, cook and eat - hooray! We've started off small(ish) with our patch which we've filled with yummy herbs, fruits and veggies but if we get good at this my plan is to build another (and another) so we can plant more.

I am very excited! We have planted tomatoes of a few varieties, lemon grass, curry plant, rocket (my personal favourite), strawberries, corn, basil, chives, parsley, onion and some fancy lettuce but our most exciting plant has been our pumpkin which we grew from a seed we kept from a pumpkin we had eaten. Each day we check on it to see what is happening. This has been a wonderful project to work on from the planting to the watering to just watching day by day to see what is happening to our plants. We can't wait 'till we can pick our produce.

In the back of my mind I have a plan for our little garden. I would love to see the girls use it to give to others so we are calling it our 'Giving Garden'. Hopefully we will get some bountiful harvests so we can do just that. For now though we will just enjoy watching the plants grow.

So far this project has been great for....

• feeling the plants different textures
• smelling the plants different aromas - from the amazing curry plant to the lemon grass
• learning about how plants grow
• learning about sunshine and water working together
• learning about natural ways of deterring bugs, crawlies + night nibblers
• learning about what's good for the garden

Down the track we'd like to....

• make some jam + relishes
• use the rocket on lunch time sandwiches - yum!
• give away our extra herbs, fruits and veggies
• save our seeds for future planting
• use the leaves and veggies for art + craft - potato prints, leaf prints
• grow seedlings/ cuttings to share

I was so thrilled recently to be able to attend a free session at the local library. It was about starting an organic veggie patch with children - just what I needed! There is so much that we will continue to learn about keeping a veggie patch but this was a great start to set us up on our path to growing a garden.

Do you keep a veggie patch? What's in your garden at the moment? It's always a pleasure to hear what's going on in others gardens.