turning 3 with fairies and gnomes

a little fairy turned 3 in our house a couple of weeks ago.....

the night before her birthday i told a special story about a little baby who was longing to come and live in our family (this was symbolic of gracie and of a new little waldorf doll that i had made in the weeks leading up to her birthday).

the look on her face when she met her baby doll on the morning of her birthday..... so priceless. she told me "mummy, her name is lucy".

gracie had her first birthday party this year. she asked for a fairy and gnomes party -who could resist that!

one of her favourite gifts was the bubble maker.

the plans for circle games outside in our garden and a treasure hunt were not to be. the rain came to visit and stayed all day.

so the children played contently in the sandpit. the bubble maker was a big hit too.


my heart was full with all the beautiful handmade cards and gifts grace received.

the little girls were given a pair of fairy wings. i made gnomes hats for the boys and stitched the first letter of their name on each hat.

the house was filled with handmade tissue pom poms. these pretty thing are very easy to make. there are lots of tutorials on the net!

we had lots of fun decorating and making everything look beautiful. i stamped out grace's name and punched out some patterned paper scallops. she loved her cake.

happy birthday darling girl. you were born into our hearts and home 3 years ago and we are so blessed.

nearly 3 and a fairy morning tea

It's busy around here. School holidays have arrived and boy am I thankful for that. No school runs and warmer weather equals a happy me! I have had my busy spring hat on - cleaning out cupboards and preparing for my little ones 3rd birthday. She asked if she could have a little party.... she asked! I think after attending two in the last few months she has clicked onto something - parties are fun!

The thing is that I am not really into planning children's parties. We compromised on the party and decided on a small morning tea with just a few children. For someone who isn't into children's parties I have enjoyed making her little fairy inspired invites and browsing through this lovely blog for inspirations.

I have had my crafty hat on too. My hands and heart have been busy making a waldorf baby doll for Grace. I wish I could say that craft comes easy to me. It doesn't. However, I really believe that the love and joy of making something with my hands and giving it to my little one is priceless. So I push on. I am searching for a moses basket to put her new dollie in. Fingers crossed that one will appear in the local Op shop.

to walk a different path

Step by step. Ten years. I have been walking this path. Hundreds of faces I have greeted. Carrying children. Holding children's hands. Walking beside them. This path has been my journey.With little then 2 weeks left of school for Josh - this path is over. The end of a chapter.

I look back to the beginning of my journey at Silkwood. We were the first ones. We were the pioneering group. This beautiful school was led by teachers and parents united - we all held so much optimism and enthusiasm. The parents and children took pride in something great. Teachers, parents and children all stood side by side and built this school. From the hay bale walls to each brush of paint to scattering seed which later become beautiful gardens.

We were all very aware that we were the pioneers of something great. This was a privilege granted to only a few. It was a time when everyone knew each others first and surnames. I loved that. Seasonal festivals were so intimate.

The years have past by with many amazing experiences. Memories that my children and I will forever cherish.

Today 10 years on this little school is not so little anymore. It has changed in many ways but still offers a unique education for those that choose it.

I will be forever grateful that my children had this experience for their education. The friendships that my children and I have made will last a lifetime.

At this point it is the end of my journey at Silkwood. Grace will be homeschooled for her early years and then we will see.......

celebrating two

Last week we celebrated . Our littlest one turned two and simplicity was my mantra. The table was prepared the night before with her little gifts, a birthday spiral and a few flowers.

Grace's birthday was a lovely day. Our hand made gifts were lovingly received. I have to say - it has bought me great joy watching her play with her new treasures. The many hours of doll making was well worth it and this sweet doll is now named Lulu. Her Daddy spent many many hours building this minature kitchen - Gracie has already baked a few dozens muffins and many pots of soup for us all (hehe).

I made a simple gluten free cake with butter icing and a beetroot coloured heart. Gracie knew exactly who this sugary cake was for and lovely devoured a piece in 2 seconds flat.

The birthday spiral was lit and we all sang happy birthday including Grace herself. Some more sugary goodness was consumed - homemade cookies made by her big brother.

Time has flown by, I can hardly believe it has been two years since my little girl was born - gently and peacefully in our home. I remember just after she was born, looking straight into her eyes and feeling such awe and knowing for her. She had visited me many times, even before her conception. One visit still sticks in my mind (2 years before I conceived her).*Be patient, I am still here, I am a girl and I will be called Grace*.

This little one of mine is a lively character who has a love for teddy bears like no other. She also loves making cups of tea for anyone who pops in for a visit. The sandpit it is a favorite hangout where daily sand pies and other concoctions are created.

Our days are filled with her sweet little chattering and I love hearing her speak in sentences. Day nappies have vanished and the little white potty is a constant companion. "I'm a big girl now, I wear nickers", is one of her favourites (so sweet).

The fact that she still sleeps in our bed and has her little breastfeeds a few times a night is special to me. I cherish this connection and no matter how tired I may feel in the morning - I certainly don't tire of her little face looking up at me every morning saying "I'm awake now - porridge with tarnies please".

Happy Birthday sweet girl. There are no words to express how blessed we feel to have you in our world.

the warmth of the winter festival

a heart warming winter festival was celebrated tonight. So many beautiful lanterns. The look of wonder on the little class one and two's faces. The big class seven children held their little hands and lead them down the path.The path was lined both sides with parents and lanterns. The children were lead to the spiral. There was silence as we watched the little ones journey their way to the middle of the spiral. Once in the middle, their candles were lit by Mother Earth.

A wonderful fire twirling display was performed by class seven as the african drums echoed in the background. A beautiful farewell speech was made to a beloved and long standing kindy teacher, who also happens to be my friend - Amber. Thank you Amber, you were so beautiful as Mother Earth this year!

It is sad to think that this is my middle child Josh's last winter festival. He will be moving on to high school next year with his big brother. Thankfully, we still have little Grace to journey through. So, there will be many more years for our family to experience and celebrate festivals at Silkwood.

I counted and this year was our tenth winter festival.... i look forward to the next ten!

winter surrender

i have been away from this space for a while. I always thought that I was a winter person. Rugging up in my warm winter woollies, drinking hot cups of tea while curled up with a good book. But the simple truth is that I find it hard to adjust to the cold and rain (even though I was born in New Zealand and spent my childhood there). I am a doer, I like to get things done and the cold has been slowing me down. It wasn't till I was at the winter solstice, I was reminded that winter is about slowing down. With those simple words I surrendered. I love the change that surrender brings. Maybe it is just the fact that there is no resistance. Everything just flows more easily. The winter blues are gone and I am enjoying my days again. The sun even came to visit today. Gracie and I enjoyed some giggles as she got pushed along on a friends bike that was much too big for her. I must go now and surrender to washing up the dishes! I will be back in the next few days.

sometimes it hard....

the constant day to day demands of 3 busy children, meals to be made, clothes to be washed. I sometimes find myself lost in it all. It is hard to keep the spiritual perspective of parenting in my mind when I get lost in all things that need to be done ..... so just when I needed it, I came across one of my favorite verses which I read and automatically felt better. It reminds me that my job as a mother is truly the most important and precious thing I can ever do.

Into my will
Let there pour strength,
Into my feeling
Let there flow warmth,
Into my thinking
Let there shine light,
That I may nurture this child
With enlightened purpose,
Caring with heart's love
And bringing wisdom
Into all things.

Rudolf Steiner

playgroup

our little girl has just started playgroup at the steiner school - two beautiful hours, a gentle rhythm, songs, breadmaking, inside play and outside play with lovely natural toys. Gracie seems to be loving it and so is her mummy - a little bit of time just for us.

First Birthday

We had such a wonderful day celebrating Grace’s first birthday. I prepared the birthday table the night before, I had fresh flowers on the table and placed the little crown that I had made next to the celebration spiral. The little dolls cradle that her Daddy made was wrapped and ready for her to open. Surrounded by her loving family we celebrated her first year together. Gracie watched intently as her family members offered their wish for her and placed their wooden figure in the celebration spiral.
 It is funny looking at her as a one-year-old. She pulls herself up on furniture and loves to walk around it. She is a happy little girl with a glint of cheekiness in her eyes.

I enjoyed her day, it was also an opportunity to reflect on and remember the past year and turn my thoughts back on the story of her birth - my, what a journey it has been!

Our little girl - just 2 hours old

With gratitude,

Bee x