Raising Master Max

 

My guest this week chronicles her family life at Raising Master Max, though now Cherie has both Max and Frankie Jean to write about. Her blog is a delight to read, it is no wonder she made the top 5 for Kidspot Voices 2014. When I asked her what her five favourite things were, this is what she told me.

the husbuendo

I met this guy when I was just about to turn 18. We’ve been together for 13 years now, & there is still the same passionate love there that was there 13 years ago. Yes, sleep deprivation definitely chips away at the “passion” & these early parenting years make date nights and the like virtually impossible, … but we just have date nights on our back deck instead after the kids have gone down.

We don’t have a lot of external support in our parenting journey, & whilst that is sometimes really darn exhausting, it’s also brought me & him closer together. I know I can rely on him for everything, & that’s all I could really hope for in a life partner.

Max

I think one of the very best things about having a pigeon pair has to be that I get to tell Max that he is “my favourite little boy in the whole wide world!” & not worry about favouring one child over another, because I just go & tell Frankie that she is my “favourite little girl in the whole wide world!” directly after, ha!

But seriously? This kid? He really, truly is my favourite little boy in the whole wide world! He is smart, funny, beautiful, thoughtful, sweet, sensitive, creative, & just one of the most brilliant things I have ever created!

… but every parent says that about their kids, … right?

Frankie Jean

This kid, my God. She’s incredible. She was always meant to be in our family. In fact, I just can’t even imagine our family without her in it. She is without doubt, the strongest member in our family (already! … at just 16 months of age! Ha!), & I just know she will continue to be this family’s strongest member.

She is smart, sassy, feisty beyond comprehension, & responds to anything she doesn’t like by headbutting you, ha!

I was told three different times by three different sonographers during my pregnancy that I was having a girl, & yet … I just didn’t want to believe it, for fear that it wasn’t in fact true. I played it cool, but the truth is? I can’t even begin to describe my elation at having a daughter.

… now if she could just grow a tiny snippet of hair, ha!

my Papa Bear

This man.

He’s just returned home to Adelaide after having spent 7 nights with us, & I can safely say it was the best time I’ve had with my Dad. Ever.

He is incredible with my children, & despite admitting that yes, my children are exhausting (what pair of toddlers aren’t exhausting, ha!), he still woke up each day with the patience of a Saint, the creativity of an early childhood educator, & the motivation of a freaking life coach.

He is baby slash toddler whisperer. And I can’t describe what it does to my Mama heart when I see him loving on my children the same way he did with my sister & I when we were babes, & then seeing them quite simply adoring on him in return.

He’s the goodest of good eggs.

my home

I love where I live.

I love my house. I love the area that we live in. I love the sense of community. I love the people around us. I love the culture. I love the imperfections of the town that we live in (i.e many a crystal meth junkie), & yet … I honestly don’t notice them as much as I did when we first moved here?

I love that we took a gamble selling up where we used to live, & taking a chance on this 100 year old home because my God, … I do love this house!

 

Thank you Cherie, this list is so full of love. Your family are beautiful and the home you are raising them in is gorgeous too. More than that you are surrounding them with a loving community. This post has left me feeling all warm and fuzzy, thank you for sharing.

Please join in the weekly #myfridayfavourites and share your favourite things this week. And be sure to pop over and say hello to Cherie on her blog Raising Master Max.