IMATS 2015

Having 5 children, each with different interests exposes me to a vast variety of experiences,some which I have no knowledge about. One of AT's requests for her birthday back in July was tickets for IMATS. Not knowing exactly what it was about I bought tickets for her and last weekend we traveled to Sydney for the long day.

          Even though we had pre-purchased our tickets the line to get in still took us about half an hour!

Inside there was lots of exhibitors, most which I had never heard of, offering bargain prices on their products and sometimes even freebies!

There were demonstrations throughout the day of special effects work that was amazing, this is the place where the professionals get to show off their talents.

The girls from "Sugar pill" were so lovely and their unique character made them stand out from the other vendors. AT was so excited to get a photo with both Shrinkle and Porcelain  (apparently big on social media and the world of makeup) and when Shrinkle said"I saw you in the line,I love your hair" AT was star struck!

Seeing lots characters from the movies added to the atmosphere.

The "Battle of the brushes" competition ran for most of the day with the winners being announced on stage. The work of these artists was amazing and the winner was well deserved.

After a big day AT came home enthused and full of inspiration.I really enjoyed watching the passion these artists have for their trade and their determination for success. One thing stood out for me was some words of advise. The last speaker for the day was a guy from L.A who has worked on some big movies (no idea what his name was!) and his advise on getting into this industry was 

"Show up and stick around" These words explain the journey that AT is taking. Most of the time she is doing work for free, travelling alot but getting her face out there and her talents seen. I have no doubt that she will make it big one day and we will see her name in the credits of a blockbuster movie but till then it will be a hard slog.

Mumma Bear 

xxx

{this moment}

{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

To see more from others check out Soulemama

After 13 years.

Thirteen years has flown by. I remember dropping you off to kindergarten, full of confidence and determination. Your unique character soon had everyone in the school knowing who you were. I will never forget how you jumped up and yelled "Yes!" when your name was called out for the annual citizenship award. You always loved getting up in front of the school to public speak, often making the kids laugh and the day you auditioned for your new high school I almost cried when you said "That was soooo much fun, if I don't get in I going to audition next year". I knew then, that was the school for you. You have so many like minded friends, most who are as crazy as you and some I know you will have in your life forever. What ever the future holds know that you will always have the support of your family who love you very very much. 

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

Your'e off to Great places!

Your'e off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself 

any direction you choose.

Dr Seuss

Lots and Lots of love

Mumma Bear

What I like.

In the car the other day JT was asking the younger children to list 3 things "That mum likes". It was so funny to hear some of the responses while others are right on the mark!. I'm thinking that this will become an annual blog that I will do on mothers day.

Here is what they said:

JB:

1. Carrots (!?!)

2. Fires 

3. Nature

IB:

1. Cooking......dinner

2. Looking at trees

3. Driving the car

Mumma Bear.

        xxx

Saying goodbye to the girls.

When we moved recently we had to say goodbye to two of our chickens. We had both Glen and Coco (named by AT after a scene in "Mean Girls") since they were 2 week old chicks.

Coco

Glen

These girls had such an impact on IB that she stopped eating chicken and became known among family members as the chicken whisperer. Saying goodbye for her was a little hard but keeping her favorite chicken, Dollar (named because she is the only animal we have paid for!) softened the blow.

They went to a local families place to live with their six chickens, and have settled so well that Glen has become top chook of the flock.

See ya!

Mumma Bear

{this moment}

{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

To see more from others check out Soulemama

Along the way

Along the way to school, we.....

 Stopped to look for birds because "I heard wings flapping"

Found a bag so we could "pick up all the dog poo" (!?!)

Jumped in the clover like its a trampoline

Wondered where the train was going and wished we could go too.

 Slid down the pole like a fireman

Tried to make friends with a chook

Collected water in the bag because we couldn't find any poo.

 (thank goodness!)

Dragged our hands along the fences

 Admired the view

Climbed an embankment "like Spiderman"

Life is a crazy journey!

Till next time

Mumma Bear

Dressing up

Book week. Its the time of the year that the school has literacy based activities planned for the day and encourages the kids to dress up as their favorite book character. I don't remember the older girls doing book week although JT swears that they did it once, and she went as Santa Clause. I once  dressed up as James and the giant peach and Dad came to pump up a huge beach ball that was covered in a peach coloured fabric with all the animals pinned to it, I thought I was so cool!

This year it was JB's turn. Not wanting any drama or stress to early, I marked it on the calender so I didn't forget. He was oblivious to it until the afternoon before when, on pick up he declared "Its book week tomorrow! We need to go buy something for me to wear!!!!" to which AT replied "What! Are you part of this family? We can make something!" (side note: AT is very creative and always makes her costumes for dress up parties generally adding some kind special effects or body paint)
At this point I left them to it.

After lots of consultation and negotiation between the two, JB came up with the character Zac Power (from his favorite chapter book series) It was pretty easy in the end, just requiring same tags depicting his spy card and spy pad which AT drew. Of course IB didn't want to be left out so she dressed up as a fairy!

Unfortunately the weather was terrible so the "Parade" was inside with the principle giving each of the children as chance to say who they were and what book they appeared in. Proudly I listened as JB spoke confidently into the microphone,This is a skill he has been working hard on and to achieve this small milestone was amazing!!! 

See ya soon

Mumma Bear.