living, loving, laughing...

Grandad's Burnt Toffee Almonds

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 02:14:00 +0000

My husband's grandfather's famous burnt toffee almonds recipe. We make this for family and friends every year. They are so more-ish!! :)

Excuse the extremely lazy blogpost, I have been meaning to record this here for ages. Mostly just using Instagram pics, but this is the gist!

Recipe -

2 cups almond,

1 cup sugar,

half cup of water.

Make to whatever ratio fits in your frypan - I can usually triple this in one large frypan.

Mix, mix, mix!

Mix, stir, melt, stir, spread it out carefully, break up and package. Easy, a good arm work out, delicious!

Enjoy :)

best christian podcasts for kids, teens and mothers

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 11:14:00 +0000

My kids have always been into podcasts and lately I have been trying to get into them too, specifically the encouragement of podcasts on Christian parenting or just encouragement for Christian mums in general.

I have been gathering and researching recommendations and thought I would share a list on the blog that I have sadly abandoned for quite a long time now (oops, sorry!).

To be honest, this list is partly for me to be able to check back on in future and keep adding to, but perhaps if you are also on the hunt, you can enjoy too! And please, if you have any recommendations for any of the lists, please let me know!! Hopefully we can build it up to a really good resource.

(Tip - search for any of the below podcast titles on Apple podcasts, Spotify, etc. I will add notes on them as I get to know them all better!)

Best Christian Podcasts for Kids

- God's Big Story (goes through stories of the Bible in a really lovely way, kind of like a Bible class)

- The Daily Scoop (daily news updates, with a Christian perspective)

- Seedpod for Kids (and also Seedpod for Beginners for very young kids)

- We Wonder

- Miss Rory's Story Emporium

Best Christian Podcasts for Tweens/Teens

- Teen Christian View (two teenagers talk about life from their point of view. They give advice on how to live life as a Christian teenager and deal with the struggles that come with being one_.

- Life of a Christian teenager

- Uncommon Teen

- A bunch more listed here.

Best Christian Podcasts for Mothers / on Parenting

- Risen Motherhood

- Connected Families (this one is my absolute fave, gets right to the heart of things and some episodes are so deep and powerful and eye opening I have to replay them over and over... so convicting and so mind-set changing. Cannot recommend enough!!!!)

- Mama Bear Apologetics

- We Wonder

I haven't listened to all these yet so will try to add notes when I do. But also please let me know any recommendations I can add :)

Happy listening! God bless xx

week twenty three // escape to the beach

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 11:59:00 +0000

The most relaxing little coastal escape together for a long weekend - our first time travelling since March.

The coast is slowly reopening after going through so much over the past few months (from fires to corona) and it felt like glimmers of normalcy were returning, with being able to travel and eat out and explore again! We have gained new appreciation for these simple pleasures and it was lovely to see so many other families enjoying the same.

Grateful for more family time, in a new location! Vitamin Sea does wonders for the soul

#project52 #coronadiaries #beachlife

week twenty two // lily's last week at home

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 11:42:00 +0000

my last week of homeschool, with my firstborn.

we had the sweetest week together, where Lily relished some solo brother-less time at home and some well-earned time off before the big return to school.

she has done an incredible job at home - her teachers have labelled her a shining star who is ready to totally smash highschool! she is soooo ready, having been able to work so independently and diligently the whole time. honestly, I don't even know what she has been doing because she has managed her work and schedule all on her own! she has thrived on creating her own routine, working so hard, finishing work early and being so organised. what a champ!

couldn't be prouder of this little munchkin!! we topped off the week with a girl's day, including our first shopping trip in months so lovely.

blessed to have this wonderful daughter of mine!

#project52 #learningathome #coronadiaries

week twentyone // eli @ home

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Sun, 24 May 2020 11:41:00 +0000

week twentyone // eli @ home

This was Eli's last week of homeschooling before he returns to school and Miles first week back.

It's been a wonderful to have Eli learning at home for a while, he has impressed and amazed me at how he has done. Hard working, diligent, responsible, organised, eager to understand and eager to do his best. Also a big fan of all the online platforms, he is such a 'tech guru' lol!

Us parents are super-duper proud of his focus and his good attitude. It's been a real blessing to engage deeper in his learning and see what a good little student he is

It was also nice to have a bit of special time together this week while little bro was getting back into the school groove!

#coronadiaries #homeschool #project52

week twenty // last week learning @ home with miles

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Thu, 21 May 2020 13:02:00 +0000

(eighth week staying at home)

We have spent 8 full weeks in a bubble - over 56 days working and schooling from home. Tomorrow the bubble bursts when Miles goes back to school. And then Eli the week after, and Lily the week after that.

I know we will never forget this two months at home. A surreal and very different time. It had its challenges of course but also many blessings like slowing down, and enjoying abundant family time. Ok, so we never made sourdough, learnt a new language, did a family TikTok dance or even finished the endless home projects (think the kids would need to be quarantined elsewhere for that to happen!!!). But we never got bored but we did have a lot of extra special times together.

When I told the kids they were headed back to school, the boys said ‘Nooooo!!’ 🤣 they have loved homeschooling and wanted to continue. Miles said ‘I like having mum there to help me with everything’ 😭 They have been so happy and content at home, but I know they will love being back at school too.

This week I wanted to capture this little dude home learning before he returns to school. Being the youngest he was my most stressful to try and homeschool while also working, because he needed more supervision and support. But when I wasn’t working, we had such a good time! Once I cut back on both work and school pressures, we found such a good groove. Of course as soon as we did, they announced school was going back 🤪!!

I won’t forget these days. Our short stint as homeschoolers. Getting to engage in their learning in a much deeper way, getting to know their challenges and strengths. Gaining so much respect for their teachers too! Growing in patience and helping him develop a 'hard working attitude'.

It’s been a blessing and a growing experience for all of us. Not sure if we will ever get to experience this again (time will tell!), so this season is worth appreciating for what it is. Challenging at times but suddenly it’s over and now it feels quite bittersweet!!

#backtoschool #coronadiaries #project52

week eighteen // the work and school @ home juggle

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Sun, 03 May 2020 10:40:00 +0000

(our sixth week staying @ home)

After 3 weeks of casual homeschool and 2 weeks of school holidays, this was the first more formal 'learning at home' week - while still working!

Let's just say on Wednesday I hit a low point! Honestly, the kids are doing amazing. So amazing. But.... so much juggling. So many computer links and log ins 🤯. Twenty-five online sessions to schedule each week. I was running laps around the house helping everyone, dropping the ball on my own work (and for my team), feeling like I was letting everyone down, and ended up sobbing at my desk, lol 😭.

But you know what? For every disaster day there is an opportunity to stop, to reassess, to recalibrate. Make decisions on better ways to move forward, even if those decisions are hard. Choosing peace and family and prioritising our values. Accepting hard things and embracing imperfection. Trusting in grace.

Later in the week, I spoke to the kid's wonderful teachers who reassured me that the work is on offer but there is NO pressure or expectation to do it all or be online for every session. The permission I needed, lol. And I've talked to work too, and will adjust things there and take an extra day or so when I need to (thankfully I am only 3 days a week anyway, and Mark has also been taking a day off a week w the kids).

So, after a good breather and recalibration, we are ready to face the new week ahead with more realistic expectations and approaches. Onward and upwards!!

PS Shout out to the kids who are loving homeschooling and working so hard, I am super proud of them! The learn @ home work is great, and I love supporting them in it, it's just hard when you can't focus on it bc you have work commitments too! But also... grateful to even have a job in this current climate!!

#project52 #coronadiaries

week sixteen // one month in

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 11:46:00 +0000

A month of home isolation. And counting.

Family time getting more and more creative. Cutting loose with fun and crazy ideas, because why not!? Staying home except for the occasional trip to the supermarket (always eerie) and daily 'essential exercise'. So thankful for Canberra's wide open spaces at this strange time.

After diving into learning from home for three weeks, school holidays is upon us and we can relax a bit more and let the kids unwind while we keep finding our way with working from home and juggling all the associated guilt and intricacies of doing several big jobs at once, in whole new ways.

I think I am discovering what an introvert and homebody I really am as the staying home/not seeing anyone hasn't really bothered me at all, in fact it's been kinda lovely. But still, my heart and prayers go out to those more deeply affected and the fact is that we are all dealing with change and different challenges and rollercoaster emotions. Who can compare?

But there is light and love and joy to be found in every day (even the hard ones) and the silver lining is the slowing down and the grounding in good, quiet, simple things. God is good and I am thankful for an abundance of family time and getting to know each other in different ways, in strange times. But some things are still faithful and true!

#project52 #coronadiaries #thewaywewere

week fifteen // easter at home

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 11:00:00 +0000

It was a very different Easter but a lovely one nonetheless.

We enjoyed a staycation, with plenty of time for backyard campouts, hikes, lots of movies and chocolates and roasting potatoes and marshmallows over the fire. The kids loooved it.

A fun weekend for our family, making the best of this 'coronacation'. I am grateful for the memories made and the chance to chill!

#project52 #coronadiaries #easterathome

week fourteen // ... and the people stayed home.

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 09:33:00 +0000

We settled into our new normal.

Working from home and homeschooling. Lots of nature walks, lots of play, lots of learnings and a good dose of screens when the parents just really had to get some work done!

It is a juggle but one we are grateful to have in this current climate.

There are many silver-linings to this all-enveloping thunderstorm. One is the slowing down, the gift of time. The easing of outside pressures, more presence for the kids. They are having so much fun and I am so thankful for their resilience and carefree spirits.

For all it's challenges, there are many good lessons and gifts of this season that I know we won't forget.

#project52

week thirteen // suddenly homeschoolers

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 10:08:00 +0000

This was the week that the rumours suddenly became reality.

On a Sunday night (March 22), the message came out that schools were closing. Then they were and then they weren't and then they were kinda-sorta. Monday was the day of reckoning and then suddenly we were picking the kids up Monday from school and not knowing when they would return. So surreal, it was hard to believe it was happening, and so quickly. Everything was closing down, from gyms to pools to restaurants.

Although we weren't quite sure how we were going to handle the work situation, we knew we would have to trust God, wait and figure it out and just put our family first no matter what, even if we didn't know what that our new normal looked like yet. But with people losing jobs all around us, we felt grateful to have jobs to juggle, even if all the sudden change was overwhelming at times.

Suddenly we were homeschooling! Whoa. I expected the kids to be worried or upset about the sudden change, I planned to just ease into it slowly... but instead on the very first day they were begging to begin. And so we did... finding our way and breaking our day up into chunks to keep it manageable with a mix of academics and activities, rest and fun and as much outside time as we could. I certainly wasn't going to stress about schooling, with so much else going on to process! The school provided wonderful support as best they could while also finding their way. It was a totally unprecedented world for all of us. We all needed a little grace to find our way.

Meanwhile the kids? They were so happy and content, excited for the change, keen to try new things, just so utterly resilient, flexible and good hearted, I was just honestly in awe.

Something was beginning to tell me that though the world was tipping upside down, with heartbreak and loss and challenges, it was also going to be a grounding and precious time for our family. As I wrestled with my own emotions, I could only be grateful for the good that was emerging.

#project52 #catchingup #coronadiaries

week twelve // when corona was coming

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 10:39:00 +0000

week twelve // corona is coming

After we got back from our Kiama trip, things really started to escalate. Even in the few days we were away, the world was changing, cases were climbing, everything changed so much to suddenly something that was now impacting daily life. 

New terms like social distancing, self isolation and so on became part of our lexicon and all our family adventures became to quiet locations in wide open spaces. 

And things were only getting started. The kids were still at school but chatter was starting about the schools closing (incomprehensible!?), we were still at work but more and more other people were starting to work from home. My dad was visiting from Queensland then suddenly states were closing borders and he had to skedaddle home. 

It was unprecedented and strange and surreal and all those words. It didn't really seem real until suddenly it was. I think the reality of this historic time is still sinking in! 

#project52 #coronadiaries #catchingup 

PS I have been doing Project 52 this year but thought in the current climate I should start recording it on my blog too. I really want to keep a record for posterity and for the kids to read one day. It is a tough time but a historic one too!

LaQ - made for creative kids, made for making!

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 09:21:00 +0000

Have you heard of LaQ? We loooooove it!

We have been long term LaQ fans since discovering it by chance at a Japanese toy 'pop up shop' in a shopping centre, about six years ago! Lily sat down and was instantly entranced, connecting up all kinds of shapes with her teeny little fingers. I loved the fine motor aspect and how engaged she was, so we ended up buying a small kit. It's been a well loved open-ended toy in our home ever since!

Recently, a lovely little small business called Smarty Pants Toys reached out to me - I guess they heard that we were big LaQ fans :) They kindly offered to send us some new LaQ - what a treat! The more you have the more you can create, so we were very grateful. I am thrilled to partner with them as I think it is a top quality construction toy that I really think serves as a worthwhile ‘investment buy’ for families.

So what is LaQ exactly? It's a series of seven small plastic shapes (triangles, squares and joiner pieces) in 12 bright colours, that click together horizontally to create pretty much whatever you like, whether 2D or 3D or even spherical! The pieces join together in the most satisfying little 'click' and then are easily separated by bending till they 'snap' and come apart. I think this is part of the pleasure of building with LaQ - the sensory satisfaction! They are really fun to build and create with... and just engage children in a really beautiful way, unleashing all sorts of creativity with infinite design possibilities! My kids just love squirreling themselves away to make their LaQ creations as I have recorded many times on this little blog, such as here – this one was five years ago, and look how tiny the kids are!!

LaQ are sort of like Lego. Like Lego, you can build kits or just free build. With Lego you generally only build 3D tower/vertical shapes, but with LaQ you can get really creative by connecting the pieces horizontally to make 2D (flat) images or fully 3D curved and angular shapes - it's flat and flexible. LaQ are so fun to snap and click together and apart - unlike the agony of prising apart two Lego blocks with your fingernails, haha ;) We love and play with both, but I have to say that LaQ has that Japanese quirkiness and ingenuity that I just love!

LaQ has so many benefits apart from just the pure fun!

As mentioned, LaQ has fantastic sensory input - the click and snap is sooooo satisfying and really helps even the youngest users understand when the pieces are securely attached. It makes it an enjoyable breeze to build and rebuild and I think the added sensory input really engages kids. For kids who struggle to focus (as mine do at times!), LaQ is a great way to settle them down and draw them in with a focused fine motor task.

Educationally, LaQ are excellent for developing planning skills when following the easy-to-use instruction guides, and encouraging creativity when free-building. I also love seeing the kids use their maths skills (unaware!), through counting and sorting the pieces and calculating what is required to build whatever they choose. Learning through play is so beneficial and with LaQ you really see that in action! It is like seeing mini-engineers at work - the perfect STEM toy 😊 The wheels and axels means the kids can play with what they build, not just make display pieces too! LaQ develops spatial ability, concentration, fine motor skills and more, all while engaging both left and right brain. It really is a clever but simple toy – seven parts and endless possibilities!

Other educational benefits come in when building flat (2D) shapes. My son had the idea to start creating numerals from one to ten, which is a great way to work on numeracy and literacy in a hands-on way (which we all know helps information sink in deeper!). My kids also like making patterns and mosaics out of the colours which is another rich learning activity.

I am very selective about the products I endorse on this little blog of mine, because I know you guys trust me to only recommend things I genuinely like. Well, we have had LaQ in our home for over 6 years and I still think it is a winner!

If you are looking for a toy with a difference for an upcoming gift, why not invest in something that is open-ended and allows for endless learning and creativity. I don't think you can go wrong with LaQ! It takes construction to a whole new level of fun! Find out more here.

Ok, now here is a truck load of photos, taken over the last few weeks as my kids have returned to our new LaQ set again and again to make a range of creations 😊

One box that can create all of this!!!

Reading the easy-to-follow instructions before starting to create!

Love seeing little hands reaching into a massive pile of LaQ!

Miles busy creating a little truck, all out of his own imagination!

Counting and sorting... when maths looks like (and feels like).. play!

Is there anything more precious than these moments? Father and son, building together!

On a mission to make a huge robot!

This creative girl doesn't need a plan. She loves to build according to her own vision! Love to see her create.

Love the 'to scale' diagrams that make it so easy to follow!

Grubby fingernails and creative kids! Made his own little truck and was very pleased with himself :)

A salad sandwich!

He was very pleased with his bicycle!

This amazing robot!!! It took a lot of combined effort from the boys of the family but how cool is he? Worth it :) The arms and legs move and the head swivels! Such a cute little guy, we are in love and never want to dismantle him.

I feel like this is the kind of toy that would come to life in Toy Storey 4, huh???

Our Princess made a (quirky) tiara!

This post was kindly sponsored by Smarty Pants Toys. All opinions are very much my own!

Sixty Days of Summer / Photography Challenge / Part One

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 04:31:00 +0000

I used my DSLR so little last year (2018, that is!) that I didn't even download the images between July and December - six whole months! (gasp). And I had only taken a few dozen in that time (barely anything compared to what I used to). So I decided to pick up my (BULKY!!) DSLR again for a self-imposed 'Sixty Days of Summer' Challenge - a photo a day through December and January. It is such a wonderful time of year (with plenty of light and plenty of activity and memory making) I knew it was a season worth capturing well.

And so I have! And the photos have often been dodgy and grainy but I continued anyway (I think my camera and lens are pretty old and need a service or upgrade. Well, I am half blaming my equipment when I am sure it is mostly my rusty skills!!!). I love using my iPhone these days and have faced the fact it is always going to be my primary mode of photography from here on in because let's face it - soooooo convenient! And I am too lazy to haul my big camera around anymore. But I just don't 'see' my children and take photographs in the same way with a phone as I do with my DSLR. Hence, my challenge to myself. Because this childhood is fleeting and precious and I have realised lately how much this documentation is for them as well as me - the kids look through our annual photo books almost every day! And now they say to me 'Can you take a photo for the phooto book!' haha. I realised belately I would have hardly any images to include this year.

So, here is a daily photo (or two..or three)... starting in early December. I will post in batches as I get them edited. I knew that daily editing/posting at this time of year would just be an extra level of pressure I didn't need. So I committed to myself to take the photos, even if I wouldn't be editing until later!

It starts with Christmas Tree decorating...(I think this was actually late November but let's be flexible!)

Christmas carols....

Trampoline evenings...

(to be continued)....

Teach kids to say more than just 'Sorry' // Five steps to a more meaningful apology

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 12:18:00 +0000

I don't know about your household, but around here, we are messing up on the regular. Hurt feelings, hurt toes, lost tempers and lost drink bottles. We try hard (sometimes more than others!?) but we also mess up...a lot. Grace and forgiveness is essential - and needed in abundance some days!

And you know what, that's ok! Tiring, but okay. Because home is the learning ground for life. It's where my children (and...ahem, the parents) fall and learn to get back up again. It's where the consequences are relatively small but the life lessons can be huge. Hopefully, it's a soft place to land before being jettisoned into that big, wide, sometimes scary, world.

And so. Where there are mistakes, there should also (hopefully) be apologies. Where there are intentional hurts, there should be apologies even more so! Because in our family, we believe in making things right. And we have found that there is so much more to apologising than just blurting out a blunt, perfunctory 'sorry'. Really apologising means saying sorry in a meaningful way. It means making things right (to the best of your ability) and restoring that precious relationship. It might mean talking things through or waiting some time before both parties are ready to make amends. But it's worth the wait and the work - because relationships matter. And in this family, we deal with problems, not just ignore them or sweep them under the rug.

When we make mistakes, the aim is to teach our kids how to really say sorry, how to really make amends with the other person, how to learn from the experience and restore the relationship. It may not happen all the time, because there is often a lot going on in family life, but generally we try to take this approach. And let's be honest, often multiple parties are in the wrong, so everyone needs to make amends!

Now, I feel like I have to stop here to insert something here. I know it's a movement in some parenting circles these days to never encourage a child to apologise. That just by modelling or osmosis, the child will naturally learn to apologise if they want to, and if they don't, then that's fine too and they can just carry on. Now, by all means, every parent can parent however they choose! I get the intention behind this philosophy (no forced and meaningless apologies). And I definitely agree in not using the totally 'old school' approach of forcing an obviously unapologetic child to resentfully blurt out the word 'sorry' (wringing it out like blood from a stone!!) with obviously no authenticity or remorse. That does nothing for anyone involved!

However, I personally feel like there is a middle ground.

When there is a wrong done, and particularly when there is a broken relationship, I think kids need to know - and learn - how to own that, and how to try to make things right. It might take some time, some talk, some reflection or cooling off time in a separate quiet space. But I think when kids understand what happened, and why it was wrong, they can be encouraged to make amends when they are ready to own it. And when a child is ready to apologise, as a parent you can help them make that apology more meaningful - both for them and for the other (wronged) party. So often, conflict ends with one child tossing out 'Sorry' and that's the end of it. There isn't time or process for reflection, thinking through or considering what went wrong, why it went wrong and what a better approach would be for next time. If we are going to fail (and we will!), why not at least try to learn something from it?!

I first learned about a detailed apology process in a parenting course my husband and I did many moons ago through Growing Families International. I was also drew from this fantastic article on 'A better way to say Sorry' a few years later that has similar steps too!

Over time, we have developed our own take on it with a five step process, a reminder of how to say sorry in a meaningful way. So many friends have seen my scrappy list blue-tacked on the kitchen cabinet and copied it down, so after many requests I am fiiiiinally putting it into a blog post!! And am even stretching myself to work out how to create a printable so you can put it up in your own homes if you like! :)

Now, this five step process doesn't need to followed literally every single time there is wrong done! Use your discretion. But it's a helpful way to slow down everyone involved in a conflict, and to consider what happened in a more meaningful way. And once it is ingrained, the intention can be there behind every apology, even if each literal five steps aren't followed.

My kids have now pretty much memorised these steps and often naturally go through them when they apologise - when I first put up my scrappy hand written poster, my youngest would lead me to the poster after an 'incident' and wait expectantly, haha! I guess they kinda like it ;) And just a couple nights ago, I had spoken to one of the kids about the disrespectful way they had said something to me. Then at bedtime, they peered up at me and said 'Mum, I'm sorry for being rude and I have just one question - do you forgive me?'. Totally unprompted!!! Melted my heart, I gotta admit!

And... needless to say.... these steps are useful for adults too! How many adults do we know who don't know how to say sorry in a meaningful way? And how many relationships are harmed as a result of a lack of humility and the ability to truly own a fault, apologise, restore and move forward? It's hard work but it is worth it. A lifetime's worth of worth it.

And so - here are the 5 steps to a more meaningful apology.

Download the FREE Printable here (my first time making a printable, so I hope this works!)

And here are the 5 steps again, broken down a little more and with a practical example. Often with younger kids, I will prompt them with the lead in phrase for each step, and let them finish the sentence.

How to really say 'Sorry'

Step 1: I am sorry for.... hitting you because you had a toy I wanted.

Prompts them to own what they did that was wrong.

Step 2: That was wrong because.... you got hurt and you cried. It's wrong to hit people because it hurts them.

Encourages them to think through WHY it was wrong. Often this will highlight they have no idea!!! 'I don't know why'. A chance to talk things through. This step is really about empathy building. They have to look at it from the other person's perspective. Honestly, it's fascinating to see kids work through this step, it is a huge learning process! Also a reminder that we need to be teaching our kids, not just expecting them to already know why right is right and wrong is wrong (we often assume they just know the 'why'!).

Step 3: Next time I will....ask nicely for a turn of the toy and wait.

Use positive language. Not what you won't do - what WILL you do? Often the initial response will be something like 'Next time I won't hit'. Um, ok, that's the easy answer. But the challenge is to think through what you will do instead next time - that's more meaningful and more likely to lead to change. You can really see blank stares and brains ticking over with this one, haha! It's a great process to go through - to think about what change they can own and plan for. Eg next time I will use my words and not my hands. Next time I will wait my turn patiently.

Step 4: Will you forgive me?

This is a key step. Asking for forgiveness puts the power where it belongs - back with the victim, to bestow that forgiveness (or not!). Just saying 'sorry' keeps the power with the wrongdoer. They say 'sorry' but nothing is required from them (except for the wronged to say 'That's ok'?? Hmmm, think about that messaging!). To ask for forgiveness is definitely a lot more humbling than just saying 'Sorry' (trust me... or try it sometime, lol). But that's the whole point, right? When we do wrong against someone, it is so much more powerful to acknowledge that and give them the opportunity to grant forgiveness, rather than just tossing out a 'sorry' and moving on. The vulnerability of asking for forgiveness is often the key to restoration and reconciliation, it shows true remorse.

Step 5: What can I do to make things right or better? (Sibling asks for a hug)

Restitution is so important. It may not always be a necessary step for every situation. And the wronged party might not always want or be able to think of something, or there may not be an easy fix. If so, perhaps the wrong-doer can make a suggestion of what they can do to restore the relationship - but again, the wronged party gets to choose if that is what they want! Eg want a hug? I can draw you a picture, get you a drink, help you build the tower again, get your toy back. etc. This step doesn't always need to be included but it goes a long way towards restoring broken relationships. And if things have been broken or messed up etc, again, the responsibility is back on that child to make a real effort to put things back on track. When we make mistakes, we make an effort to make things right. This is a hugely important lesson for me to teach my kids!

Here is another example, this time from child to parent.

I am sorry for... lying to you about who ripped the book
That was wrong because.... telling lies is wrong and hurts people and means you can't trust me.
Next time I will... tell the truth, no matter what.
Will you forgive me? (yes!)
What can I do to make things right? (You can help fix the book with sticky tape).

I could go on but hopefully it makes sense! I hope this post is helpful and I have explained things somewhat clearly!?

I honestly feel like the skill (yes, it is a skill!) of being able to own your wrongs, and apologise in a meaningful, genuine way is of life long benefit. A gift I hope to give to my kids.

And let's be real. In our family we make a lot of mistakes. Life is messy and raw but if we can do our best to make things right when we mess up... that grace goes a long way.

Relationships matter. Let's do what we can to stay connected xx

Father's Day Giveaway!!!

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 11:55:00 +0000

Hey guys!!

Just wanted to let you know I have a couple of awesome giveaways running in the lead up to Father's Day thanks to Bright Star Kids!

To win these super cute matching 'Copy & Paste' t-shirts for an awesome Dad and his Mini-Me on my Instagram here....

And to win this handy torch and pocket knife kit (with a personalised message on the tin of your choosing) click over to my Facebook page.

Some cool gifts for a great Dad in your life.... be quick cos Father's Day is not too far away!

All the best! xx

Are SAHM's all Brain Dead?

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 04:05:00 +0000

Now I don't get riled up or offended by much in the motherhood discussion, but one comment that has always rubbed me wrong is the idea that SAHMs don't use their brain. 

I couldn't believe, when I went back to part time work after 8 years at home, the number of people who said to me 'Isn't it great to be using your brain again??'. 

Sorry, what now?

As if I had actually been brain-dead for the 8 years that I poured my heart, soul and (yes!) mind into the very worthy work of being at home with my three kids. To me it felt like my brain worked harder during that season than it ever had!! Trust me, I had never cared so much about a project outcomes! ;)

In this excellent article the author talks about working being an 'intellectual change of pace' (refreshing!) after being at home, rather than needing to call it 'intellectual stimulation'. I like that!! It's not about using your brain or not in either scenario, it's just about using it in a different way. That's certainly how I felt when I returned to work. I was using my brain differently (and being paid for it!) but that didn't mean I hadn't been using my brain before.

Now, I am just speaking for myself. If you are a mum who felt brain-dead at home and that was your reason for returning to work, that's legit and fine of course. We all feel differently about our own experiences! But I don't think we should presume to paint every SAHM with the same brush. 

To the SAHM's out there, using their amazing brains, work and life experience, and education towards raising their kids and running their homes.... to you who are pouring heart and soul every day into the incredibly worthy investment of raising your children (yes, even in the mundane and relentless bits) - I want you to know I think what you are doing every day is BRILLIANT!! No price can be put on the time you are giving.

You are investing in the hearts of your children, and in my book that is pretty darn clever!

Hawaii dreaming from 'the Big Camera'

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 10:25:00 +0000

Hawaii, you beautiful tropical paradise! We just can't stop thinking about you!

To ease our Hawaii dreaming, I've been slowing editing all the photos I took on the 'big camera' while on our beautiful family trip.

Honestly, I am terrible at pulling this baby out these days (iPhones, why you gotta be so easy and convenient).

But I am so glad I did a few times because honestly, this gorgeous island deserved to be captured properly.

You can also check out my post on our Top Ten family friendly things to do Oahu for a list of awesome family activities around the island :)

First up - the stunning Turtle Bay Resort...... this view is forever burned into my heart!

Addicted to photos of Diamond Head...

Waiting for the waves to roll in at Waikiki.

The most incredible adventure on the Atlantis Submarine....

Playing all day on Waikiki Beach....

Super fun day at Sea Life Park...

Hawaii, we love you!!

I still feel overwhelmed with gratitude that our family got to go on this incredible adventure. It was the perfect first overseas jaunt for our kids. We made so many incredible memories together!

#takemeback

Top Ten Things to do with Kids on Oahu, Hawaii!

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 10:18:00 +0000

To be honest, I never ever imagined doing something like taking my young family to Hawaii!! Like, never ever. But some dear friends living there (thankfully!) convinced us we should come visit, and then we spotted some awesome flight deals (Jetstar!) and so visit we did.

I wasn't sure of what to really expect from Hawaii. Was it super touristy and commercial? Was visiting a postcard location really as dreamy as it looked? Well, I tell you now I could never ever have dreamt of a place so incredibly lush and beautiful! In real life it puts every postcard to shame. Simply put, our family had the best holiday of our lives. It was so relaxing, so fun, every day we were literally pinching ourselves to believe we were in this paradise. We were brimming with gratitude for this amazing opportunity to travel. We love travelling and exploring with our kids... but this was our first time taking them overseas and it was just such a great first introduction with a mix of American and Islander culture to appreciate. I honestly cannot overstate how much fun we had.... highly recommend it as a destination for anyone!

There is SO MUCH TO DO in Hawaii! We ended up spending two full weeks just on the island of Oahu so I can't really speak to recommendations on the many other beautiful islands. We originally planned to spend a few days on the Big Island to see the volcanos.... but we decided not to as we really wanted to just relax and not be messing around trying to fly to another island - and even cheap island-hopper flights add up when you are a family of five! So we decided to just stay on Oahu and I am sooooo glad we did. Honestly, we did something different every day in Oahu and still didn't get to see or do everything we wanted to! There is so much to explore, even on just one 'small' island.

Now, we are certainly not Hawaii experts (with just one trip under our belts) but we had a secret weapon! We were going to Hawaii thanks to the strong encouragement and hospitality of some friends of ours who had been living there for two years now. They also have kids the same age as our kids. So not only was it beyond beautiful to spend a good chunk of time with them, and share real life together, but my dear friend hooked us up with all her best tried-and-tested things to do in Hawaii.

So many of the list below we did with her or thanks to her suggestions. So you know this list is back up by a local, which makes it extra legit, right?!

So, here is our (definitely not comprehensive!) list of our favourite family friendly things to do on Oahu, Hawaii!

1. Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

I will be honest, I wasn't sure if I would be 'into' Waikiki Beach and all the built up commercial craziness. But... it was amazing. It is what it is (a very built up area, think the Gold Coast if you are from Australia) but being Hawaii it still has stunning views, great vibes and of course the beach is just beautiful - the ocean is super flat and calm thanks to the reef being a hundred metres or so from shore. This makes it just fantastic for kids.

Plus there is SO much fun stuff to do on Waikiki Beach for not too much money.... you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas (we did that for the first time and it made all the difference having a shady spot for the afternoon... plus, I felt super fancy!). You can rent snorkels, paddleboards, boogie boards, floating mats, all kinds of things to boost your beach play right on the beach. Or.... chances are, you will have other tourists come up to you on the beach and offload their floats and buckets and spades to you as they are flying back the next day. The circle of life, it's awesome!

Surfing on Waikiki Beach is an incredible opportunity - so proud of hubby for getting out
there and getting up!

You gotta have a Shave Ice when you are in Hawaii of course!

This is the life!

There are lovely little reefs right by the shore, which make a perfect gentle introduction to snorkelling for kids... and adults
if you are like me and have never really snorkelled before! So many beautiful fish, it was truly magical!

2. Hilton Hawaiian Village (Waikiki Beach) Lagoon

When you need a change from Waikiki beach (but without driving anywhere) wander over to the lagoon in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. How to get there...if you are facing the ocean while standing on Waikiki beach, just walk to your left! It sits between Waikiki and the boat harbour. It's open access to the public, has shade from the palm trees and is so pretty and even more calm and shallow than the beach as it is a man-made lagoon. The kids just love it for this reason... plus it's filled with fish!

Hot tips: Enjoy a lazy afternoon and then as the sun sets, get a takeaway pizza from Round Table Pizza at the Hawaiian Village (their pizza is divine) then if the kids are still holding it together, treat the family to a scoop of delicious ice cream from Lappert's!

3. Atlantis Submarine Ride

A submarine ride... a REAL submarine!? Yes, really! I didn't even know such an experience existed before I started researching Hawaii activities. Honestly, it was such a magical experience. We were lucky enough to be gifted some tickets (thanks, Atlantis!) and we were all super excited for the ride. You meet a boat at the Hilton Dock and you go out on a short boat ride to meet the sub.... yes, it rises out of the ocean out of nowhere! It is crazy awesome and so surreal. Everyone boards and then the sub slowly submerges to 100 feet deep (30 metres). It is so amazing being under the sea, truly beautiful and magical. We travelled through the ocean for about an hour, seeing submerged planes and boats which have become coral reefs. The fish are teeming, and we saw several beautiful turtles and even a shark! We were all gobsmacked the whole time. Awestruck, really. For an experience like nothing else, this is definitely a special activity to try! It really is a once in a lifetime thing. I mean c'mon... we went on a SUBMARINE!!

Hot Tip: Book your ride as early in your stay as possible. Sometimes if the tides go a certain way the water can get murky and the ride is cancelled. This happened to us but thankfully we were able to just go the next day.... so give yourself some room. I think this rarely happens but it's good to be aware of. Many Hawaii activities are weather dependent so it's good to be a bit flexible with your schedule!

(Thank you Atlantis... we had a magical experience and your customer service was just wonderful too.)

Just casually standing on a submarine, ready to go down.

My underwater photos aren't crystal clear but the view was in real life... those are all fish teeming around this old air plane which has turned into a new reef for the fish!

4. Catamaran Ride

We had seen Hawaii from under the water but I really wanted to experience Hawaii on the ocean too. There are a bunch of different catamarans launching from Waikiki Beach, and I was excited to take the kids out for an exciting ocean experience! After googling around we chose the MaiTai. Some catamarans also stop for snorkelling over reefs but with little kids, we just wanted the boat ride. It was so incredible to be racing over the waves, looking back at Waikiki, seeing Diamond Head and all the other stunning views and iconic landmarks. There is something about being on a catamaran, you bob on the waves and race along so fast and feel so connected to the ocean (very different to sailing steady on a big boat).

You never know of course what ocean life you might get to see when out in nature. We gleefully spotted a turtle on our sail and then.... a truly amazing moment happened! All of a sudden we had a pod of over 30 dolphins come racing towards our boat! They were diving and looping under the boat and zooming everywhere, it was hectic and incredible!!!! The kids and I were shrieking with joy! Watching them joyfully leap and dive... what a memory we won't forget!

Hot tip: Book a morning catamaran ride to avoid the 'party crowd' that tend to go in the later afternoon.

Also, another heads up - while I had lifelong dreams of lounging on the catamaran 'cargo nets' over the water, it turns out you can't do that anymore as a few too many people have been bounced out of them - eek! So, that didn't happen but it was still a fantastic time. It always looked so glamourous on Instagram but oh well, safety first! ;)

5. Sea Life Park

When I asked my friend's two kiddos what they were most excited to show us on Hawaii they both declared... Sea Life Park!!! They have lived in Hawaii for two years and this is hands down their fave place. How cute is that! So of course we had to go! Sea Life Park is a beautiful little marine life park with some of the most ridiculously stunning views around - backed by sheer cliff tops on one side and stunning ocean views on the other. It really has to be seen to be believed.

It's a small park which is great as it can easily be done in a half day. There is plenty of shade as you walk around too which makes it even more pleasant on a hot day. The shows are fantastic and everything is really interactive, the kids absolutely looooooved it. The dolphin show is epic, honestly I was screaming as much as the kids, haha. The dolphin show has the most amazing view, with the ocean back drop. The dolphins are just so beautiful and charming, watching them leap and play, we were all enchanted basically.

The kids did not want to leave the bird exhibit everrrrr. It was one of those areas that as an adult you think is just fun but to the kids, they are just blown away that birds are landing on them and feeding from the cute little bird seed paddlepop sticks! They wanted to go back to this area again and again - be warned haha! The seals, the sharks, the turtles... we loved it all.

If you have kiddos, they will love their day at Sea Life Park and I bet you will too!

PS Thank you so much, Sea Life Park for gifting our family tickets. We had the best time, it was a definite highlight!

Amazing dolphin show with stunning backdrop... I mean, how amazing huh!

6. Makupuu Tidepools

These beautiful little tidepools are great for kids to explore. They are right across the road from Sea Life Park so (thanks to advice from our host!) we did Sea Life Park in the morning and then explored the tide pools in the afternoon.

The tide pools are not a big tourist haunt, so you can enjoy exploring a beach that is a bit off the beaten track! Beautiful, fascinating and with stunning views of little islands on the horizon.... I mean, honestly, everywhere you turn in Hawaii is so gorgeous.

7. The North Shore / Haleiwa

The North Shore is just a cool area. Serioussssssly cool. Too cool for us really but we tried our best to blend in, haha. Full of food vans, surfers, big waves and little ramshackle shops, it's just gorgeous! Definitely check our the Banzai Pipeline to watch the surfers on the huge waves. Haleiwa is a little town along the North Shore that is full of places to eat and places to buy trinkets. Although kids may not last long at the shops, the yummy food will help them power through a few at least!

Hot Tip: My friend Heidi recommended these places and of course we had to check them all out. Having a little cheat sheet of places to try sure cut down on the decision-fatigue that often comes with travelling.

Ted's Pie Shop for (sweet American) pies. OH THE PIES. Get the chocolate macadamia pie and you WILL NOT REGRET IT.
Visit Wow Wow Lemonade for yummy fresh lemonade (the lilikoi lemonade was delish....lilikoi is passionfruit).
North Shore Goodies is right next door and has the yummiest nut butters - try the Macadamia Nut Coconut Peanut Butter - YUM.
Dat Cajun Guy for amazing gumbo and other New Orleans cuisine.
Lastly, definitely visit HE>i 'He is Greater than I' for really cool Christian apparel.

Me living my best life... having the best Acai bowl ever from a local food truck, while watching the surfers on the Banzai Pipeline!

8. Kailua Beach

Kailua Beach is a beautiful and very family friendly as it has public bathrooms, easy parking in a big car park and close to shops and a cafe . Plus it has a shallow canal which to be honest looks pretty brown and not really postcard-friendly but it's shallow and to be honest, the little kids absolutely love playing in it!

Hot Tip: Pop by the Kalapawai Market before or after your beach visit for the yummiest treats in the cutest and quirkiest little cafe and market! We totally fell in love with this place. Great coffee, yummy chilli dogs and DO NOT EVEN GET ME STARTED on the Ice Cream Sandwiches... SO good!

Kailua Beach

Kalapawai Market

9. Lanikai Beach

Lanikai Beach is literally right next to Kailua Beach. Lanikai is probably a bit more famous and has two iconic landmarks - two little islands out on the horizon. It is not quite as family friendly as it has no bathrooms and no parking (you have to find a little spot on the crowded residential streets). Ideally you can check out both places!

Lanikai really is stunning, it's fun strolling down the beach, looking at the houses (dreaming about living there of course) and all the outriggers just scattered along the beach. Kayaking out here is really popular too!

Lanikai Beach

10. Turtle Bay Resort (with or without the kids!)

Turtle Bay Resort is nestled up the top of Oahu in the middle of the North Shore. It is a stunning luxury resort that looks right out of the movies... probably because many movies (such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall) have been filmed there. Now you CAN take the kids here but we managed to have an amazing kid-free night here thanks to the generosity of our dear friends who had our kids for one night! It was, needless to say, AMAZING. It is such a beautiful resort and yes, it is definitely a splurge but worth it for a night or two! The pools are awesome, the sunset is magical and the gorgeous beaches are just so lovely. While we were there, my hubby secretly booked us a HORSE RIDE and yes, horse riding by the beach in Hawaii was pretty much the most surreal, amazing moments of my life!!!

This view!!! Engraved on my heart forever!

So, that is my list of Top Ten Things to do with Kids in Oahu!

There is soooo much more to do of course (we would love to go back). If you have been to Hawaii and have recommendations, please add them in the comments below... give me something else to wanna go back and see!! Plus you can help others planning their trip.

Ah Hawaii, you were too good to us!
We can't stop dreaming about you and will forever feel grateful we got to experience your magic!

Just casually riding horses by the beach.... living my best life, haha! This was truly a dream!

Sydney Adventures with Kids! {Part Two: SeaLife Aquarium and Taronga Zoo!}

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 09:10:00 +0000

Here we are, finishing up our Sydney city adventure with some extra exciting outings! We were having too much fun to be tired, like Energiser bunnies we just wanted to keep going and going, haha.

(You can read all about the wonderful first part of our adventure here).

Because we were in Sydney near the older two kid's birthdays, we went on a special couple adventures for their 'birthday experiences'. We went to the Sea Life Aquarium along with some dear friends, and then Taronga Zoo for the very first time. Taronga Zoo turned into an extra epic, quintessentially Aussie day... but more on that later!

Let's dive into the photos, shall we?

Again, sorry these are phone pics, I forgot to take the 'big camera'!

We just loved exploring this beautiful city that is right in our backyard.

But first - coffeeeeee!

We had a great time checking out the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium. It is so centrally located right by the big bridge in Darling Harbour and though it looks small from the outside, I couldn't believe how much sealife was inside. It was a fantastic experience, and the kids just loved it. Okay, okay, I did too!

This tunnel was definitely my highlight! I have always wanted to walk through a tunnel like this with the water overhead... but to do it with sharks swimming right over was extra incredible!!

This was a super cute bit - they have a new exhibit where you take a little boat ride along a channel to see the penguins! It's a short ride but a lovely way to enter the penguin's world without getting too in their space!

This interactive jellyfish wall is always a hit! The kids can colour in a fish or jellyfish then it is projected up on to the wall and 'swims' around. It's a good chill-out activity half way through the aquarium.

Three tuckered out little travellers! Haha! Ok, they are faking it here but they really did wear themselves out from miles of walking every day. But it was the good kind of exhausted, where the brain is full of new sights and experiences, and the feet are worn out from lots of activity. They slept hard every night and then were ready to explore again! They really are the best little travellers, very resilient and patient especially with waiting, delays and frequent changes in plan.

Our next adventure was a very special one. It was Lily's 9th birthday while we were in Sydney so to celebrate we went on a family trip to Taronga Zoo along with one of her besties who met us there! It was our first time visiting and it really was something special. Surely it is the zoo with the most spectacular backdrop in the world?!

It was a wonderful day, that's for sure. Especially because, like the best adventures, we ended up extending it with a spontaneous extra something! Now, I am definitely not the most spontaneous person in the world (understatement) but sometimes everything just lines up and works so much better than you could have ever planned or hoped. This was one of those magical days!

Hello, giraffe. Do you really appreciate your million dollar views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House?!

She wore her shirt to match the giraffes! Love it!

We had no idea there was a new baby elephant just born! What a treat to see this tiny (still huge!) little guy!

The cable car ride was just amazing. Incredible views of both the Harbour and the Zoo from overhead... things like this just made the day so magical and really not like your standard zoo! It's free and a great way to get from the bottom of the hill all the way back up! (It's quite a hike otherwise!).

Isn't this a wonderful way to see the fairy penguins zipping around - from underneath!

We had a truly epic day at Taronga Zoo. We were there when it opened and walked for miles in the sunshine. We should have been utterly exhausted but instead we were so energised from our awesome day, by mid afternoon we just wanted to keep going! Even though we drove to the zoo, I had heard there was a ferry that went from the bottom of the Zoo over to Circular Quay (where the Opera House is!). So we decided to seize the day, and the opportunity to take the kids on a ferry for the first time and see the Opera House for the first time.

Well, it was amazzzzzzzing and I am so glad we did it. It turned out so much better than it could have if we had tried to time and plan it all perfectly. The kids were amazing little troopers and we just had the most magical time. Check out the photos to see the perfectly timed spectacular lighting on our ferry ride home (even though getting on the ferry was a super hectic frantic race to make the ferry in time, lol. I have to say that Sydney does not make it easy for tourists to quickly pay for and access a ferry ride!). Oh well, still totally worth it.

First up, the most beautiful ferry ride in the sunshine, enjoying that iconic skyline. Eli was the only one brave enough to come outside with me!

The kids were so enthralled with this amazing didgeridoo playing! A great performance.

Tree climbing in the gardens just behind the Opera House. I am not sure of the name of the park but it has the most amazing view!

Chilling in the sunshine! We had some takeaway for dinner, while enjoying this beautiful view. It was a moment of perfection!

The Opera House at dusk is just magical!

We couldn't have timed it better and I never would have thought to try. As we caught the ferry back to the Zoo, the sun was setting and the view just blew my mind! Sooooo beautiful and I was totally kicking myself to not have my big camera to try and capture the moment. Instead, had to rely on my heart and my iPhone! haha ;) But seriously, standing with my family as the ferry buzzed along the water and the colours filled the sky was truly one of those heart-filling, magical moments. The water, the sky, the bridge, my people. It was truly awe-inspiring. Just so beautiful!

Sydney, you were too good to us! Thank you for an amazing adventure!!!

The city is well worth the visit, whether you live in the suburbs, interstate or overseas! I hope this little glimpse into our stay gives you some idea of the fun adventures to be had! xx

Sydney Adventures with Kids! {Part One: Exploring Darling Harbour and Beyond}

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 08:18:00 +0000

It's funny. We live so close to Sydney and go there fairly often to see friends and family and for various events. But, perhaps because we live so close and sort of just take it for granted, we have never taken the kids into the city to see the sights or do all the fun, touristy things around there. And I haven't been in central Sydney for years myself. So when Mark had a conference in Sydney city last July (yes, I am posting this a bit late, sorry!), we decided to all tag along and make the most of an opportunity to stay right in Darling Harbour!

We will just take any chance to travel and explore as a family and it was time to show the kids what is essentially in our own backyard! One of the world's most beautiful cities, what a treat!

So along we went. And I am afraid to tell you, we went *full tourist*, haha! In just five days we did our utmost to see *all* the sights, and yes, I even bought a backpack from Paddy's Markets, lol...... #noshame. All the better for toting around a day's worth of snacks and water, right??

It was beautiful weather (sooooo much warmer than Canberra!) and staying right in Darling Harbour made such a difference. We found an amazing Air B&B right by Darling Harbour. It was such a game changer to be staying right in the centre of things, for much less than a hotel cost (and with full kitchen, washing machine etc too). I just love Air B&B! Being so central meant that we were able to start slowly in the mornings (well, me and the kids... Mark had to go off to his conference!). But it was so great being able to just roll out of our apartment to stroll five minutes right into the heart of Darling Harbour. It made it so easy to spend the day having fun, then make it back home to rest in the late afternoon (without having to catch a train for an hour or whatever) before whatever the evening's adventures were. What a treat!

Here are some images from our adventures... there were so many in just our five day stay, I had to split this post into two! These ones are mainly from the CBD, Sydney Harbour Bridge and around Darling Harbour. The next post will be mostly Taronga Zoo and the Sydney SeaLife Aquarium (both awesome too!).

Sydney, you put on some awesome family fun!! Thanks a bunch, you beautiful thing!

(Sorry for the iPhone pics, I totally forgot to take my 'big camera'... which to be honest kinda made doing the tourist thing all over Sydney a lot easier!)

Eli taking his buddies on the car trip to Sydney

Our gorgeous little Air B&B!

Straight into the Lego, wherever they go!

Cutest brothers xx

Blue skies, Sydney, off to explore!

Seriously, what a view! Love this city.

The Sirious building. A site of much controversy. This building right by the bridge is a great example of brutalism. Developers want to knock it down but there are lots of protests. Hope they can keep it - she is a beauty (in her own way!).

Sydney's historic area 'The Rocks'. So gorgeous!

Checking out the views from the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We walked all the way from our
Darling Harbour apartment to the bridge. Huge hike but best way to see the city!

Honestly, they could have played in this fountain thing all day. They LOVED it. So much fun, such a great interactive place.

The new Darling Harbour playground is amazing. Pretty much all the kids wanted to do each day was play here, haha. It is epic, has water play areas and is just a wonderful space.... with a cafe too. Seriously a great playground!!

The kids LOVED spending their pocket money at Paddy's Markets. A million stalls, it's kinda
overwhelming but awesome.

The perfect start to every day! Coffee and sunshine strolls with the kids.

He was super proud of these sunnies he bought from Paddy's Market!

More fun in the water play area at Darling Harbour playground.

Our first time ever visiting the Powerhouse Museum. WOW. This place is amazing!!!! It's
huge and has soooo much going on. Well worth a visit. Kids under 16 are freeeee!

This wedding dress exhibition was amazing!!!

Yum Cha in China Town is a MUST!!

Off on yet another adventure..... Sydney city has so much to see and do!

The kids were amazing little troopers, always ready to hike around to see and do more.

I will post Part Two soon - there is still so much more to come!!

Finding Balance in Healthy Eating // Dessert Night

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 08:34:00 +0000

Something tells me this teddy-bear jar is going to feature heavily in my kid's childhood memories, haha!

Friday night around here is 'dessert night'.

It kinda speaks for itself, I guess, and needless to say, is a pretty popular night on my kids' weekly calendar!

A couple of years ago we instituted the tradition of 'Friday Night Dessert Night'. We try to eat pretty healthfully around here - I try to avoid refined sugar and processed food in my family's daily diet. However, as the kids (currently 5, 7 and 9) were getting older and more aware of all the food out there that their peers enjoy, bringing home lolly bags from parties and all of that, they started clamouring for treats and desserts! What to do, what to do!? While I make a lot of healthy food treats (just ask my kids' school friends, apparently I am very well known for my healthy brownies and muffins, lollllll) the kids soon became familiar with the more sugary and processed alternatives. Whose idea was it to let them out of the house?! ;)

While we certainly talk a lot about good food and healthy eating habits and all of that (see this post on our general family food approach and tips for creating healthy eaters) I felt like total restrictions and putting a blanket ban on all junk food wasn't ultimately going to help with building a lifelong healthy relationship with food. Extreme restrictions might be more likely to lead to the kids going overboard on junk food either as teens or just whenever given opportunity out of my sight! Plus, I just didn't want to be so uptight ALL the time, it's not fun being the food police!! Even though I do what I gotta do for my kid's health, sometimes it's just fun to have a treat without over thinking it and while I want them to be conscious eaters, I also don't want them to get paranoid, know what I mean? Ha! It's a fine balance, huh? It's been really wonderful to see them learning to self-regulate and often stop eating a slice of sugary cake half way through, announcing 'My tummy says that's enough'. I wish my own tummy had always been so self-aware!!!

So, I try to follow a general 80/20 rule for our family. 80% whole and nourishing foods, 20% just eat whatever you want, no stress or guilt. Because life and food are also just for enjoying and celebrating and being in community too, you know? I don't want to be too uptight. Sometimes I feel we swing too far one way or the other but that's life, huh?! When we do, I just try to steer the family back on course without beating myself (or them, lol) up.

Anyway, back to Dessert Night!!

It works well for us because the kids know not to ask for junk food at any other time, but they also know they have a treat outlet once a week! It's a healthy (ha!) boundary for our family. So I am not a total killjoy who always says 'no' haha (last week when I served up ice-cream I did declare - 'see, I can be fun!!'). But also so that the treats don't become too pervasive in daily life. Yes, we still do party food, treats with friends at social events, ice creams etc when we are out occasionally too. But 'dessert night' helps us keep in a healthy routine at home and with our daily eating.

The kids know they aren't totally 'missing out' but they also appreciate and generally want to eat healthfully too. I hope it's the kind of pragmatic balanced approach and habit they might choose to keep up throughout their lives. I love that they are getting to know their own bodies and often times won't even eat all of their dessert before recognising they are full!

As for what we have? Sometimes I make something more elaborate, a proper dessert or even ice cream with sprinkles (or a healthy version of a 'treat' too which they usually love just as much!), but more often than not, the kids just want to select two items from the fabled 'lolly jar' where all the random sweets and chocolates from party bags etc get dumped. I sometimes try to do it Friday afternoon rather than after dinner, gives the sugar more time to burn off ;)

So, that's 'our family way'. Certainly not the only or 'right' way to handle healthy eating in the home, but just sharing it as a strategy that is working well for us! It gives us balance. Not total restriction but not a free-for-all either!!! It sure does save a lot of negotiations too, the kids know not to debate it, if they want a treat they know when they can have it!

These family 'policies' work differently for every family or even in different seasons but this seems to be the 'sweet spot' (pun intended!) for us in finding a balanced approach to our family's healthy eating.

Now, I better go check the 'lolly jar' stocks!!! ;)

{January} Sunshine Summer Travels

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 08:55:00 +0000

Summer travels.

Six stops in two and a half weeks, three states and a whole lotta people, fun, memories, swimming, friends, scenery and car time!

After our annual week at our much loved Christian family camp between Christmas and New Years, we hit the road for an epic road trip - driving up to Queensland, convoying with some dear friends who were visiting from Hawaii. It was so special to be travelling together. We joked that there were not many other families we would want to spend *quite* so much time with, but with these guys, it was just easy breezy and such a delight. Kinda awesome when two families can click so well, even when travelling. That's how you know they are next level friends!!! Love them so much and can't wait to hang out in Hawaii later this year (still can't believe that is happening!).

After an overnight stay, we ended up staying at a quirky Air B&B, and going to Australia Zoo (fantastic, as always!), then on to visit our darling friend Georgia and her crew on the Sunshine Coast. Hanging out with their clan is always so lovely, our kids are twinning and each duo gets along so well. They are just all so dear to us. It's always a delightful time.... Georgia is teaching us how to be more chill, haha!

Like a very bad blogger, this was the only time I actually pulled out my big camera on the trip!!!! #oops - I was just a little tooooo relaxed, clearly! All my daily holiday snaps are over on my Instagram, if you wanna scroll :) But while enjoying the beach life with dear George and our combined six kiddos, I did manage to take a few 'proper' photos!

After that delightful stay, it was a few days with my Dad on his new property, out in the middle of nowhere. So relaxing, and a taste of the country life! Including waking one morning to the sound of gunshots. #nothanks

On the way home, we spontaneously decided to add one more night's adventure visiting another Christian family camp in the stunning Gold Coast Hinterland.

Did I forget anything!? Perhaps. It was one of those delightfully exhausting holidays. So many people, so many different locations, so much driving, fun, adventures, conversations, food, memories, a few melt downs (!! let's be honest!) and all the rest.

We came home to (amazingly) another whole three weeks of school holidays as they were super long this year. And we really needed that time to wind back down after all that travel!

Here's to summers with the kids. There are not so many left together, really.

What a blessing it is to make these memories, in these golden days, with our perfectly imperfect family.

Thanks Georgia for snapping this pic! The big leap xx

These images summarise time at my Dad's place. Hammock time and enjoying the serenity....

Back home again, time to relax and enjoy some quiet, lazy, home days. Travel is wonderful but there is a certain loveliness in summer holidays spent tinkering around the home.

Nothing I love more than seeing the tops of that trio's heads. All burrowed together, makes me melt every time!

Our summer, our January.

52.52 Our Busy Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 08:46:00 +0000

Christmas 2017.

There isn't much evidence in these photos, I realise, because it was such a busy day, I mostly just snapped random moments on the trusty phone (argh, so easy, I am getting so slack with my big camera!).

Our day was action packed and really lovely. I felt so grateful for this Christmas, ever more aware of the magic that is these early years, we just want to soak up the season so much! It feels like such a privilege to witness our kids and their excitement over Christmas :)

We started the day with the hazy glow of early morning stocking-opening. Is there anything more magical than seeing the kids diving into the stocking and squealing as they pull out all those tiny treasures!? Who knew a toothbrush could bring such delight, haha!

(Randnom sidenote: I got them all cheapie electric toothbrushes this year.... soooooo good and effective!)

We try to include some element during Christmas Day of giving back to others (on a day we often are blessed so much) so after our early start, we dropped off some little chocolates with thank you notes to those who serve our community on Christmas Day - the police, paramedics, and hospital emergency room staff.

Then it was Christmas brunch with my in-laws and mum - delicious and lovely family time! So lovely to see the grandparents enjoying the morning with the kids, with family gift opening and even some good old daggy Xmas games this year!

Then our tribe went into the city to help serve at a community lunch. We first went a couple of years ago and it was such a rewarding and special experience, the kids still asked about going back, so this year we did! It is really such a special place. A room filled with hundreds, so much community spirit soaking the air, Christmas carols and smiles everywhere. Seeing the kids taking and delivering drink orders, clearing plates, making new friends. I was fit to bursting with pride and gratitude.

We then rolled on to our fourth stop of the day, popping by to see the extended family to spend time with them and share dessert! We ate way too much of course, and it was good to wind down with them all.

We made our way home in the late afternoon, happily exhausted and thankful for the many connections we had made that day and ready for a quiet and relaxed night together. And the kids were needless to say, excited to just play, play, play with their day's bounty of gifts.

It was a Christmas to be thankful for, that's for sure.

Eli got a cheapie version of a Go-Pro as he is sooooo into photos and videos. He was SO intensely into it, it was awesome!

Project 52: A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2017.

So here ends the 52 project.

And now we are in 2018 and for the first time in.... years... I am without a photography project for the year. I am kinda sad about it but also lacking inspiration!? Maybe this year I will try to do more actual blog posts (gasp!) instead of just photo posts. But I am also sad that I am falling so behind in my photo taking. Hmmmm.... well, let's see what unfolds this year, huh!

51.52 Decorating Christmas Cookies and Memories

noreply@blogger.com (kate @ livinglovinglaughing) — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:02:00 +0000

'Twas the week before Christmas, the kids were done with school (hooray!) and we had a whole week to get into the Christmas spirit before the day itself.... it was so lovely to have the chance to wind down and gear up together!

We don't usually do cookie decorating, partly because the cookie making stage often seems too much prep, to be honest! But then a friend gave us a plate of plain shortbread cookies and since the hard part was done, we decided to just have FUN! I pulled out a bunch of sprinkles that sit in the cupboard and rarely get used, made some simple icing and let the kids go wild. There was icing everywhere, sprinkles everywhere and the cutest, messiest, not-very-Christmassey cookies. And let's be honest, a whole lot of finger licking and sprinkle-sampling went on too. It was really cute and actually relaxed and enjoyable!!

Cooking with kids is admittedly not my fave thing to do (looks so sweet, usually mayhem, haha!) but this really was so fun. I think because it was easy and simple and it was neither a lot of work to prepare or pressure riding on the outcome (either of those seems to guarantee that the stress overcomes the joy of the process!!!!). The kids had a blast just decorating like crazy, haha. They were verrry generous with the sprinkles, needless to say!

With a quiet day just before Christmas, we made cookies and memories and mess and it was truly as sweet as the sprinkles.

Project 52: A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2017.