Well our original Australia day plans did not go as planned. Initially we had intended to stay home, have a BBQ and listen to some good Aussie rock. But we decided instead, to go and spend some time at Port Arthur.

This choice was quite a fitting and enjoyable one. We had a lot of fun at Port Arthur and enjoyed the fine weather. The children also had fun following the journey of their convict as they roamed around the site and read lots of information.

Well today is Australia Day.

As Australians, we celebrate this day every year on the 26th of January. Australia day is a public holiday in every state and territory of Australia and commemorates the establishment of the first settlement at Port Jackson in 1788 – which is now part of Sydney in N.S.W. 

Australia day, is a day when all Australians celebrate what being Australian means to them. It is a day to focus on our country, our culture our food, family and friendships. Every Australian celebrates this occasion in their own unique way. On Australia day right around the country you will find a mixture of huge get-togethers and Australia Day events, as well as many backyard gatherings with a more intimate feel , celebrating with just family and friends.

January 26th is all about connections and community.

So were ever you are, may you enjoy your day as much as we will enjoy ours – here at home. The day is young still, but we intend to share it with family and hopefully a few friends along with our BBQ, some ‘Aussie Rock’ and a lot of laughter.

Happy Australia Day to you!

Note: Extra Info!

Want to join in an event close to home? then check this out for whats on in your area – Australia Day Events

Interested in learning more about the history of Australia Day? then why not check this out - Celebrating Australia: A History of Australia Day

Looking for something for your children to enjoy related to Australia day? Then check these out – Australia Day Activity Sheets for Kids and more Activities plus these drawings to colour in!

Need something educational? – TRUE BLUE? ON BEING AUSTRALIAN Teaching and learning activities

Well today is the day that we have to go to the airport and pick up DJ. For he is coming to our house for a few weeks holiday. It has been a while since we seen him. Last October in fact, so it is great to have him come and visit with us again.

While he is here we intend to go to Port Arthur and hopefully have some fun filled days together. Learning is always an everyday part of our lives and as DJ is also home educated, it is part of his too.

I hope that DJ is looking forward to visiting as much as we are looking forward to having him come here….

I know I have spoken a few times about how much we all love to read books. I fact my ultimate goal in life is to have enough books – and my own dedicated room -  to have my own library… Ambitious I know, but hey, I love books!

I however find it very distressing to know that according to love2read.org.au

Nearly half the population struggles without the literacy skills to meet the most basic demands of everyday life and work. There are 46% of Australians who can’t read newspapers; follow a recipe; make sense of timetables, or understand the instructions on a medicine bottle.

This statistic makes me so sad for all those people who can not read or stuggle with words. Yet it also makes me extremely happy that I have a family of readers, who can not only follow a recipe, make sense of timetables and read a newspaper, but choose to read for the sheer pleasure a book brings to their lives.

For us, the opportunity to read a book is an opportunity to be carried away to a far off time or place. It allows us the privilege of being able to view life through another persons perceptive. It brings far of lands closer to home and the opportunity to step back in time or travel to the future. Every word in every book, brings with it a new experience, an increased level of fulfillment and also contributes to the overall well being of us all.

So if you love books, why not share this love in 2012, by involving yourself in one of the following activities (these are just examples, the possibilities are endless!):

• Read to your children for a minimum of 30 minutes a day or
• Incorporate a minimum of one hour of reading into your learning week
• Share a good book with a friend or family member
• Buy a book as a gift for the birthday party you or your child/ren have been invited too.
• Blog about your favourite book,
• Spend family time around a book, rather than in front of the TV
• Curl up in bed or on the couch with a good book

What ever you decide to to enjoy yourselves!

Happy Birthday Nan!

Well today is Nan’s Birthday, it is a day of celebration and joy. Unfortunately we do not live in the same state as Nan so we will be giving her a call a little later to wish her every happiness on this special occasion and best wishes for the next year.

Today we will also focus on learning something new that is in some way connected to Nan’s past. We might learn about where she was born, what it was like for her to go to school as a child, explore old photographs of her when she was younger… ah all these wonderful ideas and how much fun we can have!

Happy Birthday Nan! Enjoy your day!

Note — If you are interested to learn about the connections we made today related to Nan and her life, then please visit us again in a day or two to find out what we got up too!

Phinee’s Present for Nan

Nik’s Present for Nan

We wish you a happy New Year,

We wish you a happy New Year,

We wish you a happy New Year…….

full of laughter and fun!

May 2012 be brighter than 2011, May all your dreams come true and may health and happiness surround you.

Blessings, Love and Light!

Here is a GLIMPSE of our life in 2011 in Pictures… Enjoy!

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Merry Christmas to you all. May this festive day be full of fun, family and friendships. Let’s hope that you were all good throughout the year and that Santa brought you something you wished for.

Brightest Blessing!

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On the 24th day of December….. We had some fun cooking. The children decided to make Chocolate brownie cakes in Christmas Shapes as well as Rum Balls.

We also had to chase an escaped rabbit as Sooty managed to find a way out of the enclosure we had set up for him and Fluffy. The little bugger squeezes through the holes in the trellis to get out, so we are back to the drawing board to find a way to keep him in.

Our afternoon, involved torrential rain. It was so hard and fast that the down pipe on the house over flowed and we had to move the Christmas tree away from its usual spot underneath the pergola out side.

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