13 things about the Chapmans

1. Simon and I met in grade 10.And got married 6 years ago.

2. We never planned such a huge family, but love {mostly} every moment.

3. We have all embraced country living, after 10 years in town.

4. We currently have 2 turtles, a blue tongue lizard, a cat and a dwarf miniature Shetland pony, Frodo, who you might have seen a few posts ago. He has lots of health issues that require constant attention, but is happy living with us and all the kids.Rani is getting chickens for her birthday, and im thinking about a goose.

5. We own *gasp* 3 televisions. And a dvd player. And a wii and a ps3. I never said I was anti-tv hehe

6. We havent had a holiday for 2 years! Boooo!! Im trying to con Simon into going away next month, maybe a caravan park??

7. I have always been, and always will be, a stay at home mum.

8. We force insist the kids help with housework etc.Cara and Dakota can also cook a meal, which I love, because when I left home I couldn’t cook at all, and that was hard!

9.Public School. A little country public school, but public nonetheless.

10. We immunize. We don’t circumcise, its not really offered here anymore anyway, unless there is a medical reason.

12.We have taught the kids that no matter how much we all argue etc, we are a family and will always love each other, I think its unrealistic to think that you will never fight within the family.

13. We think our kids are awesome!! so so awesome!!!

2 weeks

Of school holidays. Beginning with my first wedding shoot, and although I was nervous about being nervous, I think it went well.

A loooooong day, a flat camera battery crisis averted by a friendly wedding guest, many many many photos, which I have almost finished editing!

Followed by a surprise party for my beloved Nana. She was surprised all right

And it was  nice to see everyone. My family is kind of the black sheep of the extended family. And we took up a whole table. Eden won everyone over with her squeaky shoes. And I loved being told how beautiful my family is.

Beautiful, even when Eden does her ‘smile’

This is me with my brother and sister, and Nana and Pa. We hardly ever get photos together.I hate getting photos taken, and I’m sure Stevie was just wanting to go back to the bar!

2 weeks has left time for many many kids to sleep over, we have had 9 or 10 kids here constantly. When we werent swimming of course

Or just getting soaked

I also finished my shots for Wild Things of Noosa. Go and have a look, you might recognize a very adorable model! I am so happy with how they turned out…

Its been a nice 2 weeks.

Don’t get me wrong though,

I am soooo looking forward to school tomorrow!!

I am hoping to take Eden and Luka out for the day, maybe a walk along the koala track, a play at the park, and an icecream eaten while looking at Wivenhoe Dam. If the weather co-operates. It was just becoming gorgeous Queensland spring, but over the last few days, it has turned cold and windy again. And of course, I spent last weekend packing the winter stuff away!

Well, the vegetable garden calls. It is begging for more soil and mulch, and then it will be ready for planting! We will also be starting our straw bale gardens again soon{last years are now mixed into the veggie patch}. Luka and Jai are going nuts inside, so im going to rug them up and make them help!

Hope your last 2 weeks was as ,um, interesting as ours.

Look mum

 

Here's the swing! Put me in the swing *kissy face*

Go on, mum, push!!

I'm waiting!

 

Wheeeeeeeeeee!

 

September 11 2001

I was 6 months pregnant with Rani, 21 years old. Sleeping in our double bed with Rani squirming inside me. Simon woke me and we watched the television in silence, horrified.

My heart breaks for all of you. It did then, and it does now.. And my thoughts are with you today xxxx

Life as we know it

Spring! Spring is here! And we are so happy that it is beginning to warm up. No more dressing gowns, no more traksuits, one very hair horse that is waiting for  a haircut…

I am starting to pack away the winter things, getting out Edens adorable summer wardrobe

and taking the kids to the park again. Washing is drying faster on the line, and Eden is squeaking quickly around the house {yep, squeaky shoes-adorable!}

The 4 bigger kids are nearly at the end of 3rd term, Dakota just built an entire tiny town for an assignment, the science fair is coming up-Rani is doing ‘Tornado in a Bottle’ and Dakota is doing ‘Fireproof Balloon’, while Cara’s school won 1st place in the Rock Eisteddfod.

I have my first wedding job next weekend, and I am terrified! I know ill be fine, and do the best job I can, but still, terrified. I also have a pregnancy shoot next week, then the baby's first pictures, which I am really looking forward to!

I am spending way too much on adorable clothes for Eden, from Etsy and Madeit.com, I just cannot help myself,and luckily she is staying in the same sizes for a while , so she gets a lot of wear out of everything. She also gets bags of clothes from friend of ours, so I think she is set for about the next 3 or 4 years! And lets not talk about the tutu collection.

We will be stocking up on new togs now,my mum and dad have moved from the farm, into a smaller place near us, with a pool!!! Oh my, I cant tell you how much we have wished for a pool, our whole lives! I know, stupid, but I am so looking forward to taking the kids swimming constantly over the summer!

Well, Car is nagging me to go shopping, Eden is whinging,Luka is trying to watch Honey I Shrunk The Kids –again, so im off,

till next time xxx

We’re Going Down!

Thankfully we didn’t. But that didn’t stop Luka yelling it as the plane landed {and lets not forget the whole ‘3,2,1 Blast off!’ for the first 20 minutes of the flight} While I fully planned on taking photos of us all on the plane, I guess I overestimated my talents, and was unable to even get my camera out of the overhead locker,while trying to deal with Luka,Eden,Jai,dolly the dolly, 3 bags and breakfast. Yoghurt was everywhere, Luka developed a fascination with the tiny plane toilet, Eden wanted to get down, and Jai didn’t want to eat prunes. Still, I felt better when the lady behind me said quietly ‘ youre a great mummy’ { I figured it was because I didn’t kill them during the flight}

Oh yeah, we went to Rockhampton, to visit my beloved best friend, who just happens to be Jai’s godfather, his sister and her fiancé.

And we had fun

Lots of  fun

Feeding ducks and turtles, playing at the park

riding in the jeep with the roof off.

I was seriously spoilt, I did not lift a finger the whole time hehe!

Eden discovered that throwing sand is fun

lots and lots of fun

and really, who am I to deny her lifes little pleasures?

besides, if you can deny this face…

youre a  lot stronger than me!

The best part though?

Feeling the love

and loving watching the bond Jai and Luka have with Jake, Jess and Dylan.Thanks guys, for the holiday, we appreciate every second!

hehehe Luka and his relations {he thinks he is a monkey, don’t ask}

Taking a step back…

It may make me a terrible blogger,an awful facebook friend

but taking time out,during their 2 week holiday,is somewhat necessary. And taking a step back  leaves plenty of time for 4 hour monopoly marathons

playing so long Eden falls asleep

 

and kite flying

Edens face was so amazed,and amazing,all at once…

 

Time to run from 5ft brown snakes….{no photos but i watched it slither into the wall cavity,so its probably still in our walls…

Time for tea parties

and posing with new haircuts

time for running round the yard in sock monkey hats and pink polka dot boots

Taking time out has become routine for me. Blogging occasionally, and having a few weeks rest from facebook  gives me time to appreciate and remember the little things

like how much she loves chocolate cake

and big huge things

like how special they all are.

I need a step back sometimes,

or maybe its a step forwards

into life with one amazing family…