If you live here with me in Australia (or New Zealand), you’ve probably been experiencing some somewhat chilly weather, with it being winter and all… But we haven’t let that stop us! Term 3 schooling started last week, but before that we had two blissful weeks of wintry holiday fun (in Aus, we call “vacations” holidays).

And it wasn’t always that cold – my girls and I made it to the beach one sunny day (see pic of Evie and Bella). They insisted on rolling up their jeans and going for a brisk paddle. Brrr! They loved it!

I made sure I spent plenty of time with them these holidays. We usually spend a lot of our holidays catching up with friends, but this time we kept socializing to the first week, and then kept it to just the three of us in the second week. My reasoning, apart from always loving being close to them? I’m actually heading away on a holiday of my own in a few weeks, and wanted to have some quality connection time with my girls before I head off.

Where am I going? Well, I am very, very fortunate – my young aunt recently won a trip, and asked me to go with her! In early August we’re heading to somewhat warmer climes, with a trip to Moscow and Helsinki, staying in five-star hotels! Woohoo! We’ve also decided that, because Europe is so far from Australia, we may as well add on a visit to another favorite city of ours – Paris! Well, why not?

We are both so excited. We’ve met up overseas before, many, many moons ago – in this pic, Lindsey (left of the picture – she’s only a few years older than me, and is more like a big sister than an aunt) is at the airport, about to go back to Melbourne after visiting Darren and I (a wide-eyed 21-year-old) just before the lad and I left for our Big, Year-long, Overseas Adventure. (Not sure who decided it would be a good idea to have that car in the background of the photo – maybe it was to match our lipsticks.)

As it happened, Lindsey visited England when we were there (we all traveled around with my newly retired grandparents, visiting family), and when she and a friend went to Europe, we met up with them in Innsbruck. She and her friend were on a young ’uns bus tour, and Darren and I were camping – well, this time, Lindsey and I will both be staying (mostly) five star!

We’ve always been very close, despite living in different states of Australia for most of our lives. Here’s a pic of us just after we moved out from England – check out Lindsey’s grimace as she braces herself against the cold…I’m obviously not too worried, being rugged up snugly in the pram. Heh heh.

We have all of our fingers and toes crossed, hoping that our Russian visa applications go through without a hitch, and we’ve been madly scouting stores for some new summery outfits and shoes to take with us. It’s so hard to think of dressing for summer – especially for our stopover destinations in Asia. I tell ya, though, I am so looking forward to feeling the sun on my arms!

There is, however, something that makes me feel a little anxious, and sad. It’s the thought of leaving my babies, and Darren. I haven’t been away for the girls for this long before – the odd weekend away has been about it. Darren has been building it up into a big, exciting time for them, saying how they’re going to have parties, jump on the beds etc while I’m away (he’s taking holidays to look after them, although they’ll be at school most days). So, hopefully, they won’t miss me too much.

I’ve told them how I will miss them, and we’ve come up with an idea. They are each going to cut out pieces of card, smother them with kisses, and fold them in half. Then, whenever I am missing them, I can take out the cards, unfold them, and press them against my cheek, knowing that they are giving me kisses. I’ll make “kiss cards” for them, too.

I’ve also told them that our hearts are connected by heartstrings, and that we will always be connected, even when I’m all the way around the other side of the world. I haven’t told them this yet, but I’m going to record me reading some stories, singing our bedtime lullabies, and reciting little personalized love letters to each of them.

I’d better get used to leaving them, because I’m going overseas again in September, to be matron of honor at my sister’s wedding in England! Honestly, it never rains but it pours. I haven’t been overseas for years, and now, here are two trips in one year, within a month of each other! My brother in England is getting married in 2011, so we are planning on taking the whole family over for a big holiday then.

Not long after returning from my trip to Moscow, we should be just about ready to unveil our latest baby. Remember the raw children’s recipe book that we’ve been telling you about? Well, Monkey Mike’s Raw Food Kitchen: An Un-Cookbook for Kids is in its final stages of production, and is waiting excitedly in the wings, patiently bobbing up and down while we pat the last bits of make-up onto its cute little face. Hope ya like it!

Is anyone else finding that 2009 has been, and continues to be, a HUGE year?

Hugs to you, until next week!

Love Jo