~ grateful for ... so much ~

I'm overflowing with gratefuls this week - the sun's been shining, I've had my hair done and life is good.
 
I'm grateful for summer afternoons where we can head to the beach after school and swim (even though we forgot bathers).

Grateful for the lovely school we're involved with, how welcoming they have been and how well my children are settling in (even my little klingon Jack who is so proud of himself in his school clothes and of the "work" he's doing at school).

Grateful for Lindt dark chocolate (with sea salt) that is my evening treat.

And super grateful that I won a little giveaway over on FB and this amazingly beautiful piece of stitching made its way safely from Belgium to Hobart this week.  Please check out Rhi's adorable work and think about treating yourself and your family.

{the original - Grace's self portrait from Kinder}

{a Tailorbird Designs version on linen, stitched with love, that I just adore}

Writing about being grateful never fails to leave me feeling more grateful.
Thanks Bron.  There are more gratefuls here too.

♥

~ when the National Anthem came to school ~

The tatty looking limp rag that posed as a flag at our school was replaced last week.

There was a bit of a ceremony, the politicians appeared (as they do).  {well, they did supply the flag} and it was duly raised (and now will be raised and lowered every day by our very responsible Grade 2s).

The highlight of the day for me was when the whole school (and the handful of parents) stood and sang the national anthem.  All 98 of those little 4-8 year olds sang along with enthusiasm and pride.  They had learnt the words (first verse only.  its almost un-Australian to know the second verse isn't it?) that week and hardly needed the cheat sheets taped to the walls (I'm not sure how many of them can read anyway).

It brought a lump to my throat.  And I wasn't the only one.

Now they're going to sing the anthem once a fortnight along with the school song.

I know I'll feel a little teary every time ... and I think its great.

We never did that at school here.

Maybe slightly more frequently when I was in the UK (we seemed to sing "All Things Bright and Beautiful" more often than "God Save the Queen though.)

Do your children sing the anthem at school?  Did you?

Do you know the 2nd verse?

 ♥

~ grateful for... fresh starts ~

{also grateful for my children who indulge the photographer mummy}

School started again this week.

Cue cheery excited faces, books to cover, routines to be re-established.

We've had a fabulous summer but they were ready to be back.

Me, not so much.  
School's been tough for the last 2 years - not for the girls but the fight to save our school (the Tasmanian government is trying to shut small schools to save money) and the trials and tribulations of  working with a very difficult woman who had a "reign of terror" at our school.

She's gone and suddenly everything seems brighter.

There's a freshness at school, a new vibe, new energy and it's feeling great.

Our new principal actually stood up on the first day and acknowledged he will be fighting alongside us to save our wonderful little school.

I'm so grateful that we have the opportunity for a fresh start this year.  That there's hope and something still worth fighting for.

 ♥

What are you grateful for this week?

I'm joining in with themed gratefuls at kidspot Thanks Maxabella.  
I broke the rules this week.  I'm always grateful for nature and I post wordless posts about this every week so I thought it would be ok
xx

~ when winning isn't everything ~

Infant school sports day... quite possibly my favourite day of the school year.  I love that its so totally appropriate for the littlies and the whole competitive thing is left on hold until they get to the big school. Blessed this year with perfect sunshine (hello sunburn).

One of the things I love most about our little school (and its a long list) is how inclusive it is - parents, siblings, various other family members are encouraged to come along and join in at any time.  And on sports day it's generally all in.  Grandmothers falling over in sack races,  brothers and sisters holding hands for egg and spoon racing, teachers failing miserably to manage tiny obstacle courses, mums trying too hard to recall their youthful racing days in the sprints (or that could have just been me).

Grace took Jack under her wing and let him do everything with her.  They fell over 3-legged racing, they threw noodle javelins together, she tried patiently to teach him flowerpot stilts.  

They came dead last in the siblings race with the biggest grins ever.

We embraced the concept of participation and fun over winning*.  We had fun.  In bucketloads.  Roll on next year.

♥

* It must be noted, in fairness, that my children are far better at this than me.  I was born with a competitive streak which has bypassed them completely.  
I'm a bit on the fence on this - I love that they enjoy participating for the sake of it but the joy of winning has yet to make its mark on them.  I want them to know that too.  I guess the question is when?  and how?