(wave, wave)

Yes, we’re here!

(wave, wave)

And quite excited to be back!

Now we just can’t wait to catch up on everyone’s news…

…we will be by soon to say hello!

After a short bout of illness (nothing serious), we’re all feeling fit and healthy - but quite caught up in sorting out life.

Sometimes life throws things at you - probably just to make you stop and think, and take stock of where you’re going and what you’re doing… and we’re at that point here at the moment.

There are a couple of really fun memes that I have on my list of things to do (thank you to those lovely blogging friends who have inspired me with some fun ideas) and also quite a large awards party to hold (everyone will be invited for sure!!).

So please hang around… it might be a little while before we’re back up and running properly, but we will get there.  It’s just time for a bit of a sabatical… time to ‘find some peace’.

PS - Please leave a message if you need us… we’re not completely out of the picture!

Oh my goodness… oh my goodness!!!

We’re holding our breath…..

Someone please pick the significance of this moment!!!

May you bask in the sunshine of your uniqueness.

May you shine in the beauty of you.

May you always know of the blessings you bring to our lives.

We love you to the moon and stars and back… forever,

 Mum, Dad & Annie. xx

Today we celebrate Autism Awareness Day.

Today we embrace what autism means to us.

Today we look with hope to a future of understanding and acceptance.

Today we look forward with love.

So the posting has been entrusted to me!!

Over the Easter weekend, Elissa and I were given the opportunity to enjoy a night out for a few hours, and decided to take in a movie. We had both seen the previews for a local Aussie movie called The Black Balloon, and decided that it would be great to go and see it.

Wow! - A great film with typical Aussie humour, but the best bit is that it is centred around the sibling of an autistic teenager.  The movie deals with the sibling’s struggle to come to terms with his brothers autism, and how it relates to his and his family’s life.

You can view the trailer, and some other information about the film here.

We really enjoyed it! (Could have just been the fact that we were also out alone and acting like adults for the first time in a long time!!) It was confronting at stages, and it was interesting to hear the audiences reaction to some of the more confronting parts.  I would certainly recommend it, and hopefully it will be released widely for everyone to see.

Steve

Last night we made the switch - that is, we turned off all the lights and appliances in our home for an hour - Earth Hour.

The kids were really caught up in the moment.  By candlelight, we had some great discussions on the importance of keeping our planet / earth healthy.  The kids wanted to know what would happen if the earth got too sick, and we talked about the fact that it would impact on all of us - the plants, the animals, our natural environment, and of course people.

We finished our Earth Hour with the kids finally falling asleep on the living room floor.  (And I have to admit, it was really lovely to have the time together without any distractions from technology.)

These kind of events, and daily consciousness of ‘keeping the earth healthy’ are important for us all to bring into our lives.  Let’s keep our earth safe… let’s keep it healthy for our children and the generations of children to come!

It’s Friday, and being nearly the end of the week, we’re kind of a little frazzled!  Not that you would think we could be after a long weekend away… but it just kinda happens!

We had a really nice Easter weekend, catching up with family and friends… we stayed away a little longer than we had originally planned, but thought we needed to treat ourselves to a couple of extra days break!

So we made it home a few days ago, and then proceeded to spend copious hours seeing to some ’stuff’ that had been needing our attention for quite a while… and here we are… the end of the week again…

We have lots to catch up on - posts to write, and blogs to visit.

Ahh… busy, busy, busy!!!  Memories of a relaxing weekend disappear very quickly!

Elissa xx

And a sneak preview of some news with Jack - more success to report on some of the ‘aggression issues’!

Coming soon!!

I had a lovely birthday, and was thoroughly spoilt by my beautiful family.

With the Easter weekend fast approaching, we will be taking some time away from blogging. We’re spending the weekend with family and friends, and will return to blogging early next week some time.

So have a great weekend, and wishing everyone a happy and safe Easter!

Elissa, Steve, Jack & Annie

I won’t tell you how old she is……. She would kill me….!

(But you could have your own guess ??!!)

Steve

We love you Mum!! xx

Dunstan (or Dun, as he is called) has been in the extended family for over 10 years, and is a beautiful natured dog who just senses the mood and needs of others around him. Jack has a very special bond with Dun, and is always excited when he comes to stay.

Saturday was the day, and Jack was pacing the floor waiting for his special friend to arrive.  By early morning he had already placed 2 bowls of food, 3 water containers and a pile of sticks neatly out on the grass in readiness for play.

From the moment Dun arrived, he was so excited!! He began jumping all over the place, chasing birds, and rolling in the dirt! (Dun did some of those things too!)

From the photo you can see how happy both Dun and Jack looked together, and considering they spent the best part of 5 hours on Saturday afternoon playing together, they both slept like babies that night! Sometimes we underestimate the effect that family pets can have on our kids, and considering I grew up with family pets it was nice to have some of the memories come flooding back.

Now, if only I can convince Elissa to let Jack and I have a puppy…….!

Steve