Redundancy.

Redundancy.  A word that has been hanging over our head for a year or so, Han has watched many desks empty out, their spaces a void that has been felt, tinged with relief that it wasn't our turn this time.  The earth turns again, we are safe.

Wednesday, it was our turn.  As my phone rang I laughingly joked with a friend that the only time Han rings me during the day is to give me another task or bad news.  As he stuttered out the words the smile was quickly wiped from my face.  The earth turns, we are no longer safe.

We are the lucky ones.  I, as a registered nurse am able to be flexible with work and have been able to secure more work in the near future.  It will be a joy to have Han home and spend time as a family that many people only dream of.  We had a nice nest egg saved for the renovation of our home that will provide a cushion if it is needed.  Our family are healthy, our two expat stints have taught us that we can rely on each other and a resilience has been forged within us, I have complete faith that we will be ok.

If this is the worst to come our way, I will be grateful.

21/52

Otto:  At his brothers birthday party.
Hugo:  One year old.

This weekend we celebrated Hugo's first full journey around the sun.  It was an amazing day, celebrating this wonderful boy with our friends and family.  He is a true delight to all of us, even within his new phase of screeching and screaming when he sees something he wants.

Details of the party and a special post of Hugo's story are both in the works and will hopefully be finished this week.

As always, linking up with Jodi

20/52

Otto:  Feeding the lorikeets at our local Koala Sanctuary, a sure way to make any day fun.

Hugo:  The days are becomming cooler so it is time to pull out the warmer hats.  In big news this week, he has started to walk.  A whole week before his brother.  This time next week he will be one.

As always, linking up with Jodi

Mothers day and little happenings.

Mothers day this year started earlier than planned and exerting a lot more energy than in years past.  My mum and I ran the 8km mothers day classic.  It was great to run this together, my mum is certainly a fitness role model for me, less than a year ago she had an operation for an ACL reconstruction which has left her with nerve damage and significant pain, yet she trained for and completed this run with me.  My mum has always been a great fitness role model for me and I hope that I can continue with that for my children.  Although I would like to note how unfair it is that I somehow inherited the gene that makes me look like a tomato after running and mum looks as fresh as a daisy!

I was pretty stoked to finish in the top 20% for my age group and another personal best for running.  Next up is the color run in June, and then the big one, 10km in the Brisbane marathon, that training will involve me getting up very early on these cold winter mornings as the kids are not so happy to sit for long periods in the cycling chariot while I train.

After beccoming drenched and heading home for nice hot showers, mum and I were treated to some lovely champagne and breakfast from my sister and her boyfriend. I was also given my first ever child made mothers day present and it is certainly my most treasured so far.

Our lovely family on Sunday, certainly a reminder of all that I love, and that I should probably also book myself in to have my eyebrows attended.

Instagram happenings:

1. Slide fun at the park waiting for Daddy, suddenly Hugo seems to be doing more and more.

2. Day old chicks.

3. I died from the cute almost on the spot.

4. Brown paper packages are amazing, but sadly too big so off they go again.

19/52

Otto: At kindy show and tell this week Otto took this piece of steel wool, except in his world this wasn't just steel wool, it was a dog.  I absolutely adore his imagination.

Hugo:  He may not walk yet, but that will not stop him from riding!  Hugo amazes me with his ability to do things, he managed to put his leg over and steer that bike all over the backyard.

A big happy mother's day to everyone out there celebrating, we are starting the day with an 8km run for the mothers day classic before heading home for a family BBQ.

Dining room.

So these are the before photos of our dining room.  It is a beauty, the wood in this room for some reason does not match the wood throughout the rest of the house.  The lino is in pretty good shape and will be staying until we lift all the flooring up to polish the floorboards (which can't happen soon enough!)

I have some lovely plans for in here, but I am still hunting for the perfect wallpaper to cover up all that brown.

This picture is looking in from the lounge room   The kitchen is on the left (ahem, that would be the right), and you can see the back door.  The whole room is small, dark and has no natural light except for a skylight positioned above the table.

Looking from the kitchen.  The light fixtures will stay for the moment, I find them a bit quirky and retro and will match the overall look for the dining room, at least temporarily until we change a few things around in the house.  The wall where the high chair is was actually an exterior wall until the original owners put an extension on the back of the house.  Thankfully we have those original plans to aid us with further work in that area.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks as I try to transform it from, lets face it, a pretty ugly boring dining room into something a little more updated.

18/52

Otto:  "Mummy I am all ready now!"
Hugo:  Attached to my hip or quickly crawling towards me all week.

We have had a lovely week here, tiring for sure as another little tooth peeks its way through, but lots of fun.

Linking up with Jodi at che and fidel

Around the garden.

A wonderful gift that came with this house was an amazing established garden.  Sadly due to the elderly age of the couple it is very low on grass, something that should be rectified by summer.  I am dreaming of chickens, a veggie patch and an amazing cubby house for the boys.

For now however, as the days become cooler and the nights longer we are enjoying watching the changes being made.  There are plenty of plants just starting to create buds and flowering, Otto and I are thoroughly enjoying watching and learning about the different plants in our garden.