Nicci Marquart

This November we had a big celebration. Uncle Leonard´s 40th birthday. Well, he is not my uncle but he is Mathéo´s so I have just gotten used to call him uncle.

Joey had really organized so well. The band, food cocktails, it was all beautiful. One of my favorites was the morning after when a lot of people came back to their house and we all had breakfast together. Sitting in pyjamas and having and omelette with new and old friends was something I haven’t done in a long time.

We made the decision long time that with Mathéo he will just tag along with us wherever. Our decision has always been to follow his routine as much as possible. And we do, maybe 85% of the time but when needed he can eat sugary things, and run around dancing way past his bedtime. Which he gladly did this night! He grew very popular very quickly it seamed like.

Think we called a taxi around 9PM and our goal was to have him asleep before the guests were arriving back to the house for a after party. It worked! Ambrose was really tired so he went to bed with Mathéo. I decided to stay up and do a little after party. Just because. I mean its not very often I do this kind of things anymore and to be honest I wan not even tired. Went to bed around 2 in the morning and felt good about that hahah

We did stay at Joey and Leonard´s new house. It is finally built. Really nice. Lets have a look at some pictures from Leonard´s birthday celebration.

I think it is important to make a conscious choice to have some kind of balance of what your everyday life should contain. At least it is for me. When I say a conscious choice it is because when you are younger that balance comes more naturally. You generally dont have as many commitments, obligations and “must do´s” so life just balance it out for you.
As you get older, you generally have a job, and a family. that all requires a certain repetitive actions. Just to function and get things done. So therefore at least I have decided to consciously make time to see my friends. Book in night where we go out having drinks, enjoy the city, new hotels, great restaurants and fun cocktail bars.

Do not get me wrong, I LOVE my everyday life. Every time I go out, I come home and feel deep appreciation for my family and my everyday life. Not because we did not have a great time – we always do. But its the balance that makes all of them so much more enjoyable.

It feels like since I could I have gone out. Out dancing, drinks, traveling and just having a good time with my friends was so common in my life that I could go a very long time without it now and still feel satisfied from all my experiences. I was never a party animal or into drinking alot. I think I just loved new experiences and being around fun people alot. Therefore now I really NEED to make a conscious choice and book something in every now and then. Otherwise I just never go out at all hahah

A couple of weeks ago we went to a country house in the South Coast with our friend Mike and Lucinda together with the kids. Big house with fireplace where we could have bbq’s and watch whales and kangaroos right from our backyard. Amazing for everyone, especially for the kids.

A glass of red, cheese and watching the whales. Very Australia if you ask me 🙂

Beach races !

Trying my best to get some family pictures at the country house. It went so so…

Cant wait to go back. Mathéo has not stopped talking about “his” country house 🙂

I get so much more done and actually accomplish things I need to whenever I write down a list the night before. Everyone should try this. For me, it has to be detailed, almost too detailed. otherwise I find myself overwhelmed with choices and end up with nothing done.

This morning we all went out for breakfast, then after daycare drop-off I went straight to the gym and lifted weights for 45 min. Followed by long stretch session which I always tend to skip normally. After I could enjoy some coffee and Reading and doing exercises from my favorite – Dr Joe Dispenza. I managed to do some job investigations as well. Rest of the day was filled with driving around, running errands. Love having a podcast instead of music lately.

Now I had a shower, lounge clothes on and waiting for the little man to come home from daycare. Missed him like always, cant wait to cuddle him hard:)

Though I put in a bunch of pictures – what has been going on lately.

We have been to a couple of birthday parties with Mathéo’s friends.
I love balloons and bubbles. Makes me happy

I finished up my position at my job.

We have spent alot of time outside. As much as I can I like to take my kids to nature. We made mummy & Mathéo footprints, swam in the very cold water at Bronte with our friends. We have had dinner at Coogee Beach, looking at the Super-moon. We also has many play-dates with our bestie Ayala.

The way they always hold hands……

We went to our friends Will and Maddie´s wedding

We met up with friends and just enjoyed. Mostly the fact that M now sits down more than 10 minutes! Well, he does AFTER we take him swimming, chasing dogs or something to burn some energy 😉

Our last mini adventure was at The Grounds of Alexandria

The have some farm animals, a playground and good food and coffee. The theme at the moment was Candy Land.

I am sick, feels like for the longest time but I think its about a week now. Ambros is sick, Mathéo as well. These daycare sickness that toddlers bring home are the worst. Its part of it I know and I also know everyone goes through them but come on!

Between all the sneezing and coughing we have manages to squeeze in a hens party, celebrate the founder of our daycare Sandra who is retiring after 43 (!) years. We have taken Mathéo to the zoo for the first time. Also been to a 4 year old birthday party AND planned Mathéo´s upcoming 3rd birthday party.

Oh, getting tired just writing about all of this haha. Not because I am a loser, because I am sick! 🙂

Have to remember how much I enjoy looking back in here and remember who I used to be, what I did, what was going on in my life. But. Most importantly, where I lived. Gypsy life…

We had a really cozy Easter ( think you only use “cozy” in Swedish but you get it) so I wanted to put down a couple of pictures, just to have when I get old and want to go back and see.

We spent Easter with Ambrose family up the coast. Stayed at Leonard (Ambrose brother) and Joeys place. They are by the way almost done with their new house. Cant wait!

We had a BBQ at the park. Usually both Ambrose and I prefer home BBQ but this place was really nice. View of the ocean, somewhat private and a playground so the kids could play. Hard otherwise as they can get bored and you spend half your time trying to entertain them and the other half keeping them safe!

The day after we went for breakfast and then to see Leonard’s horses. This was my favorite this Easter. Chocolate and all, yes. But I must say I do prefer nature . Always.

Ok enough. Now some pictures.

Ciao

xx

I have been looking into, the shall we say “art” of being able to not feeling like doing something, but doing it anyway. Building reliance. Having the discipline. Have you heard of anything sexier? Gah! Just gets me so excited. These people who are practicing this “art” are my goals. Being someone lacking this in myself I have for some time now been in awe of these wonderful kind of people. And it not even something you are born with, it is literally something you can train yourself to be.

Not feeling like doing it, but do it anyway….

The biggest part to success is continuation of the goal. A little bit at the time. Everyday. Forever.
It is something to read about it and like it. It is a whole another thing to actually execute it. Although, I believe if you get as excited as I am about one thing, that thing is (!) what you should focus on. What gets you fired up is what your life needs. Its life´s way of nudging you into where you should place your focus.

We had really fun weekend,lots of family time which we all love. We had Leonard and Anastasia´s birthday on Friday and then Adam and Anastasia’s baby shower on Saturday. SO we have been spending time up the coast.

Today it was back to routines. Dropped Mathéo off at dagis. Then I have been running errands, grocery shopping, dropping items off at the post office, tied out the new gym and now coffee and looking for my new job position.

My doing it anyway moment for today is 15 minutes of Spanish lessons. Kind of looking forward to it. And minimum carbs for the day.

Ciao