Rain!

The other night it rained properly for the first time we've been here! (apart from a few drops one day)  It was great!  As soon as we heard it we sent the kids outside to run around in it, and they gladly obliged, deciding to jump on the trampoline.  It was a lovely few minutes of slippery fun.

You can't really see the rain in this picture, but it was there, quite a lot of it!

Kids in a candy store

Today we went on a day trip with some friends to Beechworth, a town in Victoria about 40 minutes away.  It's a cute little place with plenty of shops to explore and some lovely outdoor areas.  The drive there was so pretty, through rolling hills, tree lined streets and the picturesque town of Yackandandah.  We spent some time at the lake first.  The kids particularly loved chasing the ducks (I don't really get kids general love of chasing birds!).  Then we headed into the bakery where we valiantly attempted to have a peaceful coffee with 8 children (running wild with sugar highs from the meringues) and 2 babies needing to be fed.  Hmm, maybe in 10 years time it will be a bit more peaceful.

For me the highlight of the day came next, when we walked down the road to the lolly shop.  We told the kids they were allowed to choose one thing each, and oh my, the excitement!  They were like kids in a candy store... hang on a minute!  It was so lovely to watch them and feel their excitement.  Very precious.

The crazy running around before going in.

Attempting to stand in a straight line and smile as per adults' request.

To finish up we had a look around the honey store, which was really well done with lots of info and heaps of different types of honey.  (Dad, we'll have to take you there next time you come!)

We headed home after this with tired but happy kids.  A really lovely morning.

Country life

It's been 4 weeks now since we packed up and moved to Albury.  I feel like we've been here for ages, but it also seems like we could move back to our old home tomorrow and just slot right back into our old lives.  We do feel like we've been blessed in many ways in our move here.  Our house is great, our new church has been welcoming and overwhelmingly helpful, the kids new preschool is lovely.  They've come home happy and bubbly each day they've gone.  For that I am very thankful!  (One of the hardest things so far as a parent is sending your child into the care of someone else for the day, and it's such a relief when they greet you at the end of the day with a precious grin on their face.)

So all these things have been wonderful.  But I think one of the best things for me so far has been spending more time with the kids.  I guess it's because we don't know so many people, and we don't have many things on, the kids and I have spent many happy days at home.  Previously the prospect of this was something which, if I'm being honest, made me feel a little anxious.  But what a joy it has been to relax a bit and discover that I actually love days at home with the kids... eating iceblocks together on the front steps, baking, reading books at times other than just before bed, jumping on the trampoline, watching them interact with Claudia.

I have a feeling that in the busy-ness of the last few years, I've missed out somewhat on the simple joy of just being with my kids.  It's nice to rediscover that joy again now.