Twas the Night Before Christmas ...

Twas the Night Before Christmas ....

The 3 B's were dressed in their finest for dinner at Grandma's House ...



Miss Reindeer made a special appearance ...
Applique Design courtesy of Noodles & Milk tutorial



The Christmas Candles were alive and glowing ...



Junior Santa was preparing for a night of giving ...



Merry Christmas to all, and to all Good Night xox

Wordless Weekend - My 3 B's xox

"Families are like fudge... mostly sweet with a few nuts. "

Wordless Weekend - Fun Times with Poppy!

All Aboard for Wordless Weekend ...

Wordless Weekend

Photos Courtesy of "Mam-Ma" Day Care

How I Love A Holiday ...

We recently spent a week at the Merimbula Beach Big 4 Holiday Park with our new Wander 12 on-road Camper Trailer from Red Rock Campers. We spent a considerable amount of time last year researching the right camper for our family of "5" and Red Rock shone brightly from the crowd for its' spacious tent size (many camper trailers only have a small tent not catering for vivacious, energetic children), its' fully enclosed annexe (to give you privacy, extra room and scenic views), large water tank under the trailer, swing out kitchen (plumbed to gas and water) and many other extras that were all inclusive under its' one cost (not hidden as we found in so many other brands.) Did I mention queen bed and pull out under bed storage too? lol .. The B family is looking forward to many touring adventures across our vast landscape for years to come! Aside from the aesthetics, Red Rock offer a "real" service, these are a couple that understand what families are about, and their kindness and genuine interest are of great credit to them!


I have a great affinity for Merimbula, no doubt because of its' prime beach location, its' just one of those relaxing and soothing sea-side landscapes that brings me great peace and harmony. We have been to many beach locations around the place, but Merimbula is one that resonates with my heart and soul! It is a long journey across, but captivated with an eerie silence across the great Kosciuosko National Park (you could almost feel slightly Blair Witch from this surrounds.) I have great pride in the way the 3 B's handled the long journey (11hrs over and especially the 12 1/2hrs it took to get home!)


As in Big 4 Tradition, the Merimbula Beach Holiday Park stands a true testament to being a holiday haven for children and a relaxing atmosphere for the mums and dads! We were fortunate enough to find great kindred company from two other families of whom our children bonded with like they were the kids next door! Made for great play-mates and extra hands and eyes while down enjoying the ocean landscape!

Merimbula Holiday Snap-Shot

In addition to the "holiday enjoyment," I managed to read the first 6 novels in the House of Night Series! Envisage children in the pool, mum on the pool lounge reading away to her hearts' content (supervising of course too!) Children playing in the park while tea is cooking, mum sitting on the bench book in hand; mum feet up outside the camper while children play with neighbours ... Aaahhh .. this is the true life holidaying ... And with great long car journey's, you will always find my head stuck eloquently of course in some good read!

The only downside to thoroughly enjoying a series so much, is the realisation when you come to the end of the 6th Novel, that the story hasn't concluded (I had been starting to think that the pages were thinning down for a captivating finale') and now I must ever so patiently await the release here in Australia of "Burned" and then a following of another 5 novels after it to "hopefully" complete thsi series of 12! If you haven't become enchanted with being a young "marked" fledgling with great affinities, then I do recommend that you sneak some time to read these!

I'm now ready to start Fallen by Lauren Kate ...

Wordless Weekend

Sewing on a Sunday

Following on from "t-shirt pants, is there anything more simple?", today I used the paper pattern I had created from Jaxon's pants to see how they would go on the remaining rescue engines material. Nice would be the word to sum up today's results. Now these are good fitting pants on Jaxon.

Engine Rescue Vehicle Pants (actually size 1)

T-shirt Pants, is there anything more simple?

I was just googling random pant tutorials to try and find a different styled pant for Jaxon when I came across How to Make Baby Pants from a T-shirt on U-tube.

Now this looked simple, I was going to have to give it a whirl, just to satisfy my own curiosity! And YES, it was so EASY! You will have to excuse the material, its' from Daddy B's work shirt pile (as this was just a test to see if I could do it), I didn't dare raid his newer t-shirts (well not just yet anyway (lol)) and from Jaxon's drawers, his favourite pair of cord pants. Prior to making them, I traced the pant pattern onto some paper, so it looks like we have a new pattern to try on some more material (a trip out of town to spotlight perhaps??)

Practicing my sewing - making t-shirt pants

Sunday "Chilling" - Jaxon in his t-shirt pants

Ankle Biter Pants

All my sewing of late has revolved around sweet little girl clothes for Jaida, so I decided to turn my hand to trying something new for young Jaxon Levi.


I found this pattern ~ Ankle Biter Sewing Pattern PDF off Etsy and decided to give it a go using 1. some fire rescue material and then 2. some tractor material.

I first made the pants to a size 3 ... miles too big for Jaxon, but fondly referred to as "clown pants" for their ballooning affect on him. So it was back to the drawing board with the size 2. I wasn't overly fond of the pant style, perhaps I'm very used to Jaxon in more a slim fitting pant, but they were "both" very good over his itti dlish cloth nappies, so yes plenty of room there and they will get lots of use over his gorgeous big fluffy beehind!

Ankle Biter Pants

size 3 rescue engines



size 2 tractors

Over a large itti d'lish AIO

Tales of Mischief

Jaxon Levi is now officially 21 months!

WOW, my little boy is growing up very fast and is a constant joy in our lives. His vocabulary has really taken off in the last few weeks, but he still enjoys a hard tap to get your attention, then animatedly points something out, ending with a cheeky grin and a laugh, followed by a kiss and a cuddle. He constantly amazes me every day with learning something new and just seems to love everything around him, whether it be pushing his tractors around the house with large farm machinery noises, or running to the door and tapping earnestly saying "boots" "boots" He is a great lover of the outdoors and is happy pottering around the garden, or sitting in the sandpit, or gazing out to the wonders that lay beyond the fence from the cubby house verandah. He loves helping carry wood and going for rides in the wheelbarrow, to riding the quad bike with Daddy holding onto him tight.

Be wary of that sweet face though, for mishchief lurks within. Nicknamed "Cyclone Jaxon" he can roar through the house leaving a path of utter destruction in his wake. One fine example of this was .... Friday night while I was busy getting ready for tea, he had snuck into the fridge, snared the bottle of chocolate topping and was having a wonderful party in the loungeroom. It was only a tip off by Big Brother Caleb, that I looked over in surprise to see chocolate topping everywhere, all over the carpet, all over the couch, and the culprit himself smiling away and tapping the bottle, covered head to toe in chocolate! I could only laugh, there was nothing else to do!

Everynight now Jaxon lays down in his cot with his hey diddle diddle book, humpty dumpty and we sing and point to the pictures, do the actions to twinkle twinkle little star, have "mummy kisses" (which are divine.) and then wave bye bye until I see his chirpy face the next morning.

My little Jaxon, my sweet little wonder, Mummy loves you EVER SO MUCH!!

The most beautiful Doll of all ...

Dolls, dolls, they’re everywhere,
They’re on the counter,
They’re in the chair.

They’re in the closet
Up high on the shelf,
There’s even one I think is an elf.

There are dolls in the bedroom
And dolls in the hall
And pictures of dolls that hang on the wall

There are tall dolls
And small dolls
And all sizes in between.

There are blonde dolls
And brunette dolls
And some with ankles green.

There are girl dolls
And boy dolls
And some that you just can’t tell.

But based on the way
That these dolls are dressed
I’m sure that it’s just as well.

There are delicate dolls
And sturdy dolls
And some dolls with falling hair.

There are nude dolls
And lewd dolls
(But those are very rare).

There are ugly dolls
And pretty dolls
And one with a sock on its head.

The way that they turn up
All over the place
I’m afraid to just lie down in bed.

There are formal dolls
And casual dolls
And one that’s dressed as a prince.

There’s one with new duds
All covered with suds
That’s surely in need of a rinse.

There are dolls partly dressed
Who seem to be stressed
And one doll that’s just wearing socks.

And just when you think
She’s got all there is
Another one arrives in a box.

There are Sasha dolls
And Ginny dolls
And I’m sure there are several Mary’s.

But just when I’ve grown
Used to it all,
My God! She’s now buying faeries!

But with dolls everywhere
In the home that we share
Each day is more than alright.

Since the best doll all the while
Is the one with the smile
That I get to sleep next to each night.
Harry Miller

Jaxon Levi, pretending he is a doll ...

And Holidays are made of days like this ...

And Holidays are made of days like this ...

Victorian School holidays Started Monday April 6th.

Our Challenge for the holidays has been to go on a wandering adventure each day.

Day 1 ~ Monday 6th April, 2009

A beautiful morning, crisp, clear, blue sunny skies, a gentle breeze. The dew not yet lifted from the grass and we go off to explore the great wonder lands surrounding Village Court. Today's expedition down yonder to the race course for a play and morning tea break, and a treasure hunt back along an old (yet sometimes still used) railway line.

Caleb off on his bike, Jaida and Jax snuggled under a crocheted' blanket in the double pram, we meander off on our merry way. Diaster strikes with our first destination in sight. It seems that Caleb's bike has a flat tyre (no doubt a bindi eye puncture, possibly from our bike adventure the night before when the entire Bourke Family went touring on their bikes (jaxon and jaida in the seats and Caleb on his own pedal power.) Thankfully, a wide brim on the double pram accommodates carrying a boys' bike (adding to the weight load and pushing resistance for Mummy, a grand work out this day was pushing that load.)

We stopped at the park, the children's eyes grew wide with excitement, this was their first visit to this wondrous place. A giant ship lay before them, ready to be explored, and played upon. Even young Jaxon enjoying fast slippery slides and ensuring he was only just cast in the shadows of his older siblings.

Jaxon enjoys following his sister through the maze of giant equipment

Behold, three B's stop for a happy snap!

A healthy snack of bananas and rice crackers fuelled growling bellies, a drop of water resfreshed young, inquisitive minds ... and we were on our way once more, to the railway line. Nestled amongst paddocks, this line goes on for miles, its' a beautiful spot to just stop and look, listening to the gentle sounds of nature and life around you. The children seem to be of great joy to some nearby cows following along their fencelines, and to horses galloping around in excitement.

Taking in the sense of calm and contentment of a bright, sunny day in the country.

Two little figures "choo" "choo" their way along the line.

Caleb and Jaida, however, were focused on finding treasures, their young, bright eyes darting this way and that way, searching, for the right, something takes their attention, and there lays some giant, rusty, weathered railway pins, no doubt used many eons ago to hold down giant sleepers as heavy iron wheels rolled by. This became quite a game to Caleb and Jaida, seeing who could locate such intricate items first and call TREASURE, I'VE FOUND THE TREASURE!

Homeward bound we pushed, legs starting to lag in the end, home ... home ... for a well earned rest (that' includes Mummy too!)

Total Journey Time: 2 hours.

Day 2 ~ Tuesday 7th April 2009

After our incredible journey yesterday, we decided that this morning was a chance for a quiet morning of pottering around, taking the chance to write and draw of our adventures and dressing up for wondrous imaginative play and games. The morning yet drawing us still outside to enjoy what the world had to offer.

Day 3 ~ Wednesday 8th April 2009

Somehow, we found ourselves organised this morning and swimming at our local pool by 8am! The water, warm and tantalising, drawing you in (mummy and jaxon included) incredible space as it seemed apart from those churning up the laps of their morning exercise indulgance, we were (for a while) were the only ones taking the opportunity to swim, enjoy and indulge ourselves in one of our many favourite passtimes. Caleb enjoying leaping and diving off the grand blocks in the deep end of the pool, Jaxon taking on the water spouts and splashing merrily around in the shallows, and Jaida happily kicking and floating around with her kickboard.

Caleb and Jaida immensely enjoyed their last term of swimming and look forward to a new one starting in a few weeks with their private instructor. Jaxon for the first time too, formally, will be joining his brother and sister in aquatic play.

17 months of love, laughter and a smile you cant resist!

Jaxon Levi, 17 months old

I sit here shaking my head in wonder at where that time has gone. Often sinking into moments of deep reflection and reminiscing of the feelings of holding that last babe in your arms, no doubt exacerbated by having so many pregnant friends around (cluck cluck cluck), and knowing that this little toddler, no baby left there, is my baby, the last of the little B's ...

Luckily he's so cuddly and gets lots of big smoochy woochy kisses from his Mummy!

Jaxon Levi, wisps of blonde hair, blue eyes, the calm temprament of a saint (even yesterday we took a stroll through a display village, for 3 hours this little boy sat calmy in his stroller gazing around at incredible and interesting decor featured in so many homes.) ...

I love the way you snuggle into my shoulder, the way you stare into my soul and your new found love of having to take your cot blankie around the house with you to roll up in and roll around in, or have a game of peek - a - boo "I see YOU!"

Cheeky and delightful, gaze into these eyes and behold a sense of warm love, but a smile that you can't resist grinning wildly back at either.

Jaxon Levi, trike extremist, climber of all sorts and a little too intelligent at times for Mummy's likings!! He learns fast and is always one step behind Caleb and Jaida!

A delight in our lives :)

Happy 17 months little man ....

Confessions of a Younger Brother

You always know mischief is abrewing when a certain calm and stillness falls over your home. Listening intently for any little sound to signify where the little one may be. Creeping down the hallway, you start to hear small, but quiet exclamations of delight. Peeping around the corner to the room that Caleb and Jaxon share, you catch a glimpse of him (jaxon) out of the corner of your eye. His favourite place to be, his brothers' Thomas the train bed (to which he will inherit upon his departure from his golden cot.)

This is Jaxon's favourite place to play.