My handsome husband

Ender's Game the movie!!!

Of all the books I read as a teen, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card has to be my favourite for so many reasons, not least the kick-ass twist to the ending. And now it's being made into a movie starring Harrison Ford as Lieutenant Graff and Asa Butterfield as Andrew Wiggin aka saviour-of-the-world-as-they-know-it Ender.

For more on the making of Ender's Game the movie, see the official blog.

I know where I'll be on 1/11/13.
(Umm, unless that other Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ, comes back first.)

Sam Juices Up

Sam Juices Up

Samuel asked if he could make some of his own juice, so we worked together and he prepared - and enjoyed - juice from his own recipe:
1 red apple
1 green apple
1 carrot
It made just enough juice for one Sam-size cup.

(That's our juicer in the background, a Breville Juice Fountain.)

First Taste

My afternoon juice: Grape, Beetroot, Purple and Orange Carrots, Ginger, Kale & Capsicum

Anna reclines to read

Anna reclines to read

I swear she was lying just like this when I came to check up on how her Quiet Time was going!

Abigail from Tree to Trampoline

Abigail from tree to trampoline

Abigail loves to play in our back yard, especially when she can jump on the trampoline, or jump onto the trampoline as the case may be!

Preparing to make the leap

Airborne!

Gravity takes effect

Da-da!

"How'd I do, Mummy?"

This final photo is the one I chose for Grandma's perpetual birthday calendar:

Joshua the Chicken Whisperer

Joshua the Chicken Whisperer

Left to right (above) we have: Joshua, Snowy, Lily, Sharp Toes, Lizzy Blizzard and Mr Eggsplorer.

Our chicks have grown feathers and are starting to grow combs as well. They are looking like real Sussex now!

They are spoiled with beautiful Agapanthus flowers right in their chicken coop. The chicks loved hiding under the leaves when they were small, but they can't blend in there now.

I took several photos of Joshua with the chickens trying to get just the right moment to include in a photo calendar I am making for my Grandma.

Surprise

Shock

Sensible

Serious

Silly

Smile

(If you're wondering about the scratches on Joshua's face, they are war wounds from tree climbing at the local park yesterday.)

Someone's been playing with my camera

Peekaboo!

One week into the New Year

And I'm ready to reveal my New Year's Resolutions for 2013. Because so far, they're going well!

This year, in order to build momentum, I actually began working on some of my NYRs back in December. So the following list isn't one of priorities, it's the order I began implementing my 2013 New Year's Resolutions.

1. Discipline my children with no emotion and no talking, using the 1-2-3 Magic method.
Frankly, I get far too emotionally involved when my kids disobey. I need to learn not to get angry or aggro with my kids when I am disappointed or frustrated by what they do. I've read dozens of parenting books, both Christian and secular, and this is the only one that has really helped me to control myself before I seek to exert control over my children. It's really helping me to be self-disciplined as well as be my children's disciplinarian. I heartily recommend it to others. (Oh, and yes, my kids are behaving much better and responding much more quickly and meekly to our directions, since Jeff and I started using the method back at the beginning of December 2012.)

2. Fall more in love with Jesus, by reading my Bible every day and blogging about it at Following the Star.

I can read the Bible all I like, but if I want to understand what I read and apply it to my life, I need to write about what I read. For seven years, BSF helped me with my Bible study, and my faith grew exponentially. Since the middle of 2011 I have been unable to attend BSF for various reasons (most recently our move 350km from the nearest class) so I have been using a variety of Small Group Bible Study question booklets to keep me on track. I've been journalling my Bible studies in a small notebook that also contains my notes from sermons. But I have found that without the external motivation of having to share what I have learned with others (my BSF small group) I have been haphazard in my efforts and easily distracted by other studies such as my GradDipDiv which has since been limited to a GradCertDiv (and I graduate on Feb 25). So, beginning Boxing Day 2012 I have gone back to blogging at Following the Star, and announced my intentions here, on fb, and via email to my three best friends who keep me accountable in lots of things. So far, I've only missed one Sunday.

3. Make healthy eating choices today, so I can be healthy tomorrow, starting with juicing through January.

My favourite juice: Green Chinese

Jeff and I have begun juicing again. I juiced for a month in June/July 2012 and lost 10kg but after a very - shall we say "comfortable" - six months settling into our new home in the country, I had put all that weight back on and then a little bit more. Jeff has had a similar experience. Part of our problem is that if just one of us is making good choices, the other often undermines them by bringing home bad foods and drinks. So this January we're both on the same page, determined to juice through January (and perhaps beyond) reboot-style.

Our fridge full of healthy choice food

So far I've lost 2.5kg.

4. Move more today, so I can move well tomorrow, starting with Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred DVD in January.
I have a collection of Jillian's DVDs and have used several. Some I haven't yet felt brave (or fit) enough to try. 30 Day Shred is my favourite so far. There are three levels of 22 minute workouts to be done in my own home with no more equipment than a TV and DVD player, sneakers, an exercise mat, and a small set of hand weights. All of which I have. So I have no excuses! I'm hoping that after doing these workouts consistently in January, I might be able to tackle some of Jillian's longer workout DVDs that are still shrink-wrapped in my DVD cupboard.
I've also enrolled in the WA Dept of Education VacSwim program, to do my Bronze Medallion course.  It's all about water safety and preparing for the moment I hope I never have to face: when someone I love is in danger in the water. So I'm in the pool swimming each day along with my kids as they work on achieving their VacSwim levels.