The Art of Doing Nothing

School started this week, and it was a big week. It was my daughter's first full week in Prep, up until Easter holidays they had been having Wednesday's off school for rest. If that was not big enough, they also had cross country this week, a long way to run and a lot of excitement.

So this morning was spent in the celebration of the Art of Doing Nothing. It found us by 9am wrapped in warm blankets on the couch, heating on, chocolate cupcakes in our hands and a movie on..... quiet moments are sometimes much needed.

Nearly Back to School

These holidays - like all - have gone so fast. We had three full weeks off school and we seemed to have put so much into our days. What do you enjoy doing with your kids on holidays? We try to do a mix of down time and activities out of the house. We went roller skating, visited old friends in Castlemain and Marysville, had a couple of birthday celebrations, enjoyed an easter hunt, saw big dinosaurs at Docklands, went to the movies and more.

But some of the best days were spent at home. The weather in Melbourne has been wonderful, beautiful Autumn weather, the leaves outside my window as I write are golden on the big tree (and making a huge mess) and we have spent a few days outside with friends, making cubby houses, pulling out all our craft making things out and doing lots of baking together.

We also had a wonderful time at the new park in Marysville. This park was the intiative of some wonderful mums from the community and the result has been the most beautiful children's garden, with lots of quiet space but also lots of wonderful things to play on and explore.

So tomorrow it is back to routine and school...... it comes around too fast.

Waiting on a Delivery

Today I am working from home. It is raining and I am waiting for a delivery of some new products to arrive. It has been the first week with both children at school. My daughter started prep this year and has completed her first 4 days (Wednesdays are a rest day from school). I got to thinking about when they were young and the games they played and what were some of their favourite toys?

When my son was very young we gave him a set of nesting oval boxes with lids from IKEA. They were glossy and brightly coloured - beautiful and he spent hours and hours stacking them, taking the lids on and off and putting the boxes inside each other. Problem was he chewed them and ate parts of the soft cardboard.

Then someone gave him some nesting boxes with Beatrix Potter designs. Classic images and so pretty. These boxes were played with by him and then is younger sister. They stacked them, created towers and knocked them down, put them in size order and then when the kids got older, they used these nesting boxes as homes for their farm animals or as garages for their cars. The imaginative play from a series of boxes was endless...

Sundays

During the holidays we headed down to the beach for a week. Time was spent with different friends coming to stay - days at the beach and a couple of trips out and about. We love the Strawberry Fields in Red Hill. Pick your own and then to enjoy a treat at the cafe. Love their home made Strawberry Ice cream Sundays!

Lego Fun

Lego came to Melbourne in January and thousands turned out. Held at the Melbourne Town Hall by a group of volunteer adults who love lego they opened their expo to the public on Sunday. Queues were a 2 hour wait. But it was worth it once we got in. My son loved it. So inspired and we got to talk to some amazing people, including a man who was one of 12 in the world, lucky enough to be employed to set up huge lego models. We had a great day out.

Summer Holiday Fun

Things have been busy in the world of Sassypop Kids. Not only have I been juggling two children on Summer Holidays but sales have been strong and I have been involved in stocking some of the Sassypop Kids wooden toys in The Coffee Apple Shop. This wonderful shop mainly stocks beautiful hand made items from very talented mums, however the Sassypop Kids wooden toys were seen by The Coffee Apple Shop owner and we were asked to be a part of it all. Situated at 28 Railway Pde in East Ringwood, the dream is to move into a larger premises and combine a cafe with lovely products to purchase. All would be family friendly. If you live in the area pop down and have a look at the wonderful seletion of products.