Little Soul Seeks

The pursuit of big adventures, open hearts, sandy feet and happy souls.

[littlesoulseeks]

Toys, boys and the glorious joys of Christmas.

We’ll it’s been and gone: the madness that was a sunny summer Christmas here in Australia. As I sit here desperately trying not to help myself to the left over Lindt balls at 10am in the morning, I am reflecting that this is the first time H2Go really ‘got’ Christmas.

We’re not a religious family and by no means do we hype the day more than is required for our daughter, but we do leave santa cookies, and a note and we do have a (real, gorgeous smelling) tree.

Where she got it from I will never know (Daycare? Family? Friends?) but this year H2Go has been discussing the uniquities of reindeer, santa, presents and christmas trees for what seems like an eternity…And yes, as ever on repeat. With so much excitement in the lead up to the day, I am wondering was it everything she expected it would be? And what now?

In short, H2Go was overwhelmed on the 25th of December - a lot of excitement, not enough sleep and waaaaay too much sugar. Somewhat reflective of the everyday with a toddler?

I digress…..

In the past week she has done nothing but play with her new toys and desperately try and pull her new fish out of their tank. However now, apparently she’s bored with them all!?!?

“What’s next” she keeps asking.

Easter, I suppose.

Christmas and the joy of it is so fleeting, so short lived and yet so much fun for kids. It’s impossible to question its value but I do question the hype. Perhaps it might be enjoyed more if children were not so exposed to the commercial side of it all everywhere they go? It’s amplified on TV, at the shops, at daycare, in the cafe’s….it literally permeates every child’s daily environment.

Or perhaps I am being too philosophical?

In any case, now that the excitement of the new toys has wained, we are back to pleading - ney, begging - to see “Pepé” who is the name of the new - very attractive - four year old boy who lives next door.

A resounding YES is usually my answer as it just so happen he has lovely parents too.

And so, upon reflectionI say go for it H2Go:  Have your toys and you boys and your cake and eat it too!

What else is there to do at three?

Xxx

Chloe

[littlesoulseeks]

Our Christmas Gift Tips

This year we started a tradition of cleaning out the toy boxes before Christmas to donate old toys to charity. H++ gets involved and helps me select which toys she wants to keep and which ones she'll give away. We filled two large garbage bags this year, which has made one whole, waist-high toy box obsolete! If H++ can really spare two whole garbage bags of toys, does she really need to receive so many materialistic gifts each year? So this year I’m searching for the perfect experiential and educational gifts.

With that I mind, here's some ideas for gifts we love for a very merry Christmas:

1.     Lost my name book

Personalised story books are nothing new but this one is the latest and the cutest we have seen. Little readers search for their name letter by letter, meeting magical creatures and growing their imaginations page by page. 

2.     Gifts to explore the word around them 

There are loads of gifts you can give that encourage little ones to engage with and learn about the world around them. A simple globe or world map could do the trick, or a book like My Big World, but at LSS our favourite around the world gift is from Little Passports. Each month your child receives a world themed kit full of learning activities. Subscriptions are available for children aged 3+ and a great way to introduce geography to your child.

3.     Kiwi Crate

Keeping with the subscription theme, we have just discovered Kiwi Crate, a monthly craft kit that is sent direct to your home. Children receive a new craft project and all the required materials each month “to inspire kids to see themselves as scientists, artists, creators, and makers.”

4.     Get out and live it

I’m a big fan of giving experiences. Whether it’s an annual zoo pass, a ticket to a theatre show or a voucher to go canoeing, I think creating a special outing around the celebration is a creative approach to gift giving. This year H++ and I are going to Storytime Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty by the Australia Ballet just after Christmas Day.

5.     Give someone wings to fly

Nothing sparks the imagination like a good dress up, and we’ve found the most gorgeous bird wings that you won't be able to go passed. Little Miss & Moo in Shellharbour stocks Jekyll is Hyde bird wings (pictured), handmade using pre-loved jeans and recycled fabrics. Each set is individually designed and thus completely unique. How could you resist?

6.     Clothes

Now we know clothes are not the most exciting gift for any child, but frankly they should just get used to it and we shouldn’t feel guilty for giving them. While also practical, it’s a good excuse to get some nicer than normal clothing, even if it’s only for 5 minutes into wearing them before they’re filthy!

x Katy

[littlesoulseeks]

We must never stop dreaming. Dreaming provides nourishment for the soul

Paulo Coelho

[littlesoulseeks]

Tis the Season To Be Folly

Ahhh Christmas! We can all breathe a sigh of relief as it is NEARLY HERE....Finally.

For some Christmas means long lazy lunches with family, days at the beach building sandcastles and the excitement of gift giving. For H2Go, my husband and I however, it often means a string of missed commitments, rushing from one social engagement to the next and a general anxiety around simply how we are going to achieve the unachievable which is keeping everyone happy.

For the past three years we have juggled festive family expectations, attempting to have some semblance of an adult #SocialLyfe, seasonal work commitments and multiple birthday parties - it just so happens that H2Go, H++ and all their friends from mothers group are also born in and around the month of December.

So how to keep sane amongst all the Folly?

As of a week ago, our family has adopted a points system where a specific engagement is given a rating out of 5 as to how significant our attendance is. For example Christmas day and birthdays are always a 5 but the Christmas drinks with your sisters colleagues is likely a 1.5. Generally, if a commitment rates below a 2.5 on the significance-scale, we will politely decline.

We have also abandoned our Apple calendars (which NEVER seem to sync in our family) and are now relying on an old school hard-copy cute kitten calendar that is hanging on the door in  the kitchen. The pen doesn't lie and we haven't had one syncing issue since taking to the kittens.

Finally, we talk. About four times day via email, phone, text and Facebook messenger (I know!) most days to try and make sense of the absurdity that is our life around this time of the year. It doesn't always work but it certainly helps.

Outside of all this lunacy, we also try and give some thought to those less fortunate and for whom this season does not bring the excitement of time with friends and family. We buy gifts for the Smith family which identify age and gender and are given to families who are perhaps unable to buy gifts for their children and we also volunteer our time to the Childrens hospital where we can.

Tis the Season To be Jolly amongst the Folly and give back where we can.

Xx

Chloe

Image credit: The Tribe Magazine.com

[littlesoulseeks]

Get your scoot on!

For a long time, like most bubs when they transition to toddlers, H++ has been insistent on walking everywhere. For someone who likes to walk fast to get to point B promptly, the detouring and constant stalling, quite frankly, drove me nuts. But it's great they're being independent right? It just takes you half an hour longer to get 5 mins down the street.

So when H++ started to use her scooter more confidently we braved a trip to the shops. After some practice, it has become the preferred mode of transport. Instead of me dragging her around, I'm watching her little left leg push her along the pathway while she giggles and cheers. She's doing things that "big kids" do. And I'm walking so fast behind her that it's hard to keep up!

Scooting has become a regular weekend activity in our household. It's no evolution - almost every family is doing it, but all for good reason. It's fun, active and you get places quickly!

Our favourite places on the north side to get our scoot on are:

1. Brightmore Reserve, Cremorne 2. Manly to Shelly Beach 3. North head, Sydney Harbour National Park Where do you get yours on? x Katy Photograph: Katy Green Loughrey

[littlesoulseeks]

Missing Mini Me

On a recent holiday adventure - planned very last minute - with my husband to Hawaii, it was decided by our families that H2Go would stay behind here in Sydney with her grandparents.

This - I can only assume - was their subtle way of encouraging the baby making process 2.0.

(Not going to happen, at least not this year)

Despite our initial hesitation - as we haven't been away from H2Go for more than two nights prior to this - we warmed to the idea pretty quickly; Nine blissful days and nights without Big Phone! Without Lello Fwowers! And mainly, without H2Go!

We were pumped. 

We arrived in Waikiki and headed straight to the nearest beach bar, and to the next one, and the next. By beach-bar number six, I couldn't look at another Lava Flow cocktail if they’d paid me. 

So I rang home and everything was “FINE!”. To my horror, H2Go was more excited about Mummy and Daddy being on a plane than concerned as to our whereabouts.

“But doesn't she miss us?” I slurred to my husband.

“Who?” he replied. Clearly he had adjusted very well.

Day five rolled around and we were well into the swing of a truly adult holiday: Snorkelling in the morning, poolside cocktails from 11am, boozy lunches with friends (it was destination wedding/group vacation), late nights and hazy memories.

It was like we had rewound our lives by almost five years.

...And according to Mari, Poppa and Nanny, H2Go didn't miss us one bit.

It occurred to me while we were over there how resilient kids can be and how much they really do enjoy - and need - time away from their parents as much as time with them.

We returned home to a different child, in many positive and wonderful ways. Her independence was through the roof, she'd learnt more new songs than I could count and most significantly she was eating peas! We are always thankful for small miracles. We missed her like crazy but we were also reminded how much value grandparents are able to add to a childs life.

It’ll be a long while till we’re able to have another holiday like this one and we realised we are blessed to have the support of wonderful grandparents. However - in the same way - I can also say that the holiday made us appreciate how important time together is for us, without children and we will ensure we value it more in 2016.

As for those Lava Flows, well let’s just say I’m now a PRO, at both drinking and making them!

Cheers,

Chloe xx

[littlesoulseeks]

The Devil Is…

 ..always in the detail for H2Go.

A few weeks ago after spending a gorgeous morning with Katy and H++ at our favourite Mosman café Albion Lane, H2Go and I headed off for an afternoon at the beach.

While I swam and chatted aimlessly to girlfriends on my new fangled Iphone 6, H2Go was surprisingly (and delightfully) quiet. Sitting in front of me with her back turned, it appeared she conducting some sort of religious ritual with sand and, accordingly I obeyed the unspoken rule of ‘not interrupting when they’re being quiet and you know their still alive’ for about a 30 minutes.

When I did eventually come over to her I found the strangest collection of ‘curios’ that she had collected, all piled up, with absolute precision into a little sandy tower.

She called it “The City”, (or “Va Thitty” in H2Go speak).

There were tiny little pieces of seaweed, the most minute of colourful shells and a handful of interestingly formed rocks all painstakingly positioned on a flatbed of sand.

And she was, unfortunately for me, very attached to this pile. In her mind, this was a work of art and she had individually inspected and approved every piece.

And she didn’t want to leave it, she wanted to show me every one and explain – in her very limited vocabulary – why she had chosen them.

Typically, unless I showed absolute enthusiasm in every detail, the H2Go devil comes out to play.

And so we sat, and we looked and I feigned fervent interest.

Yes, perhaps I should enjoy that her attention to detail. I’m not 100% sure who she has inherited from – I’m more of a big picture thinker – and it might simply be a toddler thing, however it can feel counter-intuitive when on a Monday morning, we simply need to get in the car – swiftly - to drop H2Go at care so I get to work on time and ALL she is interested in, is marvelling – for many minutes - over the new daisy that has sprung up over night in the garden. And the she’ll pick it, and smell it, and tell me all about it, when I’ve just watched her do it.

“Fascinating!”, I customarily respond.

For many, this sense of wonderment is refreshing and should be nurtured in young children and most of the time, I agree however sometimes (usually Monday to Friday) for someone like me who is ALWAYS in a rush it can prove frustrating.

And I know I’m not the only one – go on, own up :)

“…Now, H2Go show me that gorgeous little, strangely shaped pebble you picked up – I simply can’t wait to inspect it!”

Xx Chloe

[littlesoulseeks]

WONDERMENT

Driving along one day H++ spotted a rainbow and was totally amazed. We both enjoyed a few long but glorious minutes gazing at the rainbow, appreciating all its magical wonder. I couldn't tell you the last time I spent looking at a rainbow for that long. This got me thinking - how H++ has inspired a new perspective and appreciation of life's simple things. It starts with a complete innocence in seeing something for the first time, to a deep exploration with this new fascination that she embraces with pure liberty and joy. It's infectious and as much as I know there's an inner child in me, H++ brings it out in full force. Like a lot of young children, H++ loves to pick flowers and bring them home for mummy and daddy (and Grandma or Oma if they're also visiting). She delights in their smell, colour and prettiness. We've had more flowers in the house these days than ever before and I must say, it's pretty nice. I'm going to have to start taking her to the flower market so our neighbours can maintain their gardens! Colour is another everyday wonder that is easily overlooked, but H++ is obsessed with it. She loves to know what your favourite colour is and defines things mostly by their colour. When we might say a boat is blue, because 80% of its colour is blue, H++ would say it's blue and red and black. She notes every colour and detail. How often would we normally look at something for its colour? I mean, deeply look at its colour. This is beyond the blue sky, the green trees, the grey building... We have more conversations about colours than food in our household. It's a big deal and it's inspiring me to consider the magnitude of colour in the world that surrounds us. And then there's those hidden pleasures that we can be excused doing because we have children, like jump in puddles, be noisy, dance wildly in public, pull silly faces, you know what I mean. And I take full advantage of this! Why not? Bush walks are also a big thing, because there's sticks and leaves and ants and rocks to climb... Every detail is a wonder. A walk outside no longer becomes just that. There's so much to explore. The biggest discovery, at the moment at least, is how "The Why Question" can really expand your thinking. Although it's painful at times, we really try to answer it without generalisation or shrugging it off (even knowing at least three more "why's" will succeed). It's important to us to explain our answers thoughtfully and with as much knowledge as possible (we assume this has it’s benefits later on). And when the "Why?" comes after an idea that is normality to your life, what you're accustomed to, it begs you to pause a moment and actually reflect that very simple question. We now ask ourselves the "Why?" more often. On some level, we are challenged on the way we live our lives, we reflect our choices and look for alternative ways - as there's always another way or reason. We also learn how to articulate these big ideas for little 3 year old minds so they can understand. No doubt the "Why" stage is a difficult stage but it can also be enlightening on so many levels. All of these things and more I am thankful for. And this is just the beginning... x Katy Photo: Katy Green Loughrey Photography

[littlesoulseeks]

What can’t baby wipes do?

Whoever invented baby wipes is a genius! They are constantly used in our household, even now H++ is well and truly out of nappies. It’s no secret baby wipes are a great last-minute make up remover but they’re also handy for so many other things. Like for mopping the bathroom floor (yes, I actually do this!) or a quick dust of the shelves. They polish your leather shoes and amazingly get out the stains in your clothes, carpet, and upholstery. They are good for EVERYTHING when camping. I’ve also used a solid handful to clean up the vomit chunks that poured into the nooks and crannies of the car seat when in a rush to get to work - twice!! Who said motherhood wasn’t glamorous? And if all becomes too desperate, they’re an acceptable substitute for bath time. I don’t however, recommend them as toilet paper, as is quite common in the United States. We had a recent plumbing issue where baby wipes clogged up our pipes and sent our drains into overflow. #woops So baby wipes - Perhaps not the most sustainable option, but for a busy mum with a toddler always on the go, they’re gold. Where would we be without them? x Katy Image source unknown

[littlesoulseeks]

The thoughts of a LITTLE SOUL, imagined

My very good friend - who knows H2Go incredibly well - has kindly contributed this delightfully humorous article about what it must be like to be two imagining what her third year might hold...Enjoy!

I love being nearly three. Two's okay, but it gets a bad rap. Terrible Twos, you're behaving like a 2-year old. Not fair. Three's the big number. Bring it on. Triangles, tricycles, hat-tricks, Three Little Pigs, Three French Hens and one-two-three! At three, theres no past following me around like the grown-ups have. All I can remember is a dreamy journey of waking, eating, playing, adventures and feeling loved. If that’s the past, more please! At three, there's a future so big, so far away, bursting with promise, like a beautiful horizon. That’ll be waiting for me when I’m ready for it. Not now - not yet. I’m too busy being nearly three. I'm busy alright. Do you think I have time on my little hands? You have *no* idea how much I have to fit into my days. With no past or future to worry about, the present, THE NOW, is full-on. Living for now, laughing, crying, laughing again, falling over, being picked up and hugged, games, swims, walks, songs, more hugs, playing with pebbles, chasing ducks, picking flowers, patting cats, rides in the car, Sunday family dinner, twee-wee, Play-Doh, Big Phone...whatever the now brings. It's exhausting. I need a nap. Were mum and dad once three? Must have been. Hard to imagine tall people being three, but they seem to know something about it. There's this way they have, of knowing what I’m about to do, or where I’m going. They’re always there for me, thinking for me, thinking about me and loving me. Can I stay three forever?

Xx 

Chloe and my great friend, Grant

Image: Katy Green Loughrey

[littlesoulseeks]

Screams Vs Screens

It’s the age old conundrum: Does my child have too much screen time? In my household, the answer is most certainly a resounding “YES”.

Here in Australia, the official guidelines recommend that children should not be exposed to more than two hours ‘screen time’ each day.

I personally envy the parent who is able to achieve this. Unfortunately for our household, the “Big Phone” (ipad) is H2Go’s favourite toy at present. This wasn’t the case a few months ago when she didn’t know it existed however we introduced it on a recent European holiday when we had a 36 hour series of flights and trains to contend with.

Since then, the Big Phone now travels almost everywhere with us. And if perchance it didn’t, we hear, over and over and over again is “Biiiig Phone Pease”, “Biiiiiigggg Phooooone Peeeeaasssee”, “BIIIIIIGGGG PPPHHOOOOOONNNNEEEE PEEEEAAAASE” until we either alight the vehicle or arrive at our destination.

My husband and I try to avoid screen time at all costs however the sheer pain H2Go has the capability of putting us through in the car means that most trips are made with the Big Phone at hand.

Ironically, Twee Weee (TV) doesn’t seem to exist anymore….It’s all about the Big Phone. We manage to avoid its use in the house however it does help avoid all manner of usual discussions when we’re at a restaurant: “No you cant get out of your high chair”, “No they don’t sell pizza here”, “No you don’t want to drink my cocktail” because as long as Eltha (Frozen) or Spissy (Nemo) are on the Big Phone, we can have up to 90 minutes of peace and adult conversation – and she manages to eat, drink and watch, all at the same time.

There was one day when H2Go walked up to the Twee Wee and started to swipe the screen to change the channel, needless to say we hid the Big Phone that weekend and spent most of our time outdoors.

I’ve had to learn not to berate myself for allowing screen time as frankly, its keeps us all sane.

For, when it comes to Screams Vs Screens, the Big Phone often wins.

xx Chloe

[littlesoulseeks]

Fathers Day Your Way

As Fathers Day fast approaches, we have recently been exploring what this day looks like for our various friends and family members.

Since H2Go came into our lives, Fathers Day - and Mothers Day for that matter - have become less about gifts and breakfast in bed (did someone say dirty sheets?) and more about allowing said father or mother a day of respite and alone where possible.

I spent Mothers Day this year shopping for clothes and shoes, alone,  then I had lunch (accompanied by a glass of lovely dry Clare Valley Riesling), alone and then went for a walk, alone - it was pure bliss. H2Go’s father intends to spend tomorrow, alone for most of it also and perhaps play a round of golf with his father in the last afternoon from which he’ll then leave, alone and maybe go for a drive to check the surf.

The reason we don’t insist on our little family being together on these days is that we spend 90% of our waking lives as a family and sometimes, it’s nice to be by yourself, in silence, with your own thoughts, doing things you used to do before becoming a family. Such things just don’t exist for us with a hyperactive toddler in our lives and so we agreed almost three years ago now that Fathers Day and Mothers day could be exactly as the other wanted it to be.

On the flip-side, most of our friends and family do celebrate Fathers Day with carefully thought out gifts, beautiful spring breakfasts planned with extended family members and picnics at Centennial Park - which sounds lovely, too.

Such friends have shared some unique sites from which they have procured such strategically thought out gifts and whilst they may not benefit H2Go and I, these things are always worth sharing - so here goes:

HARD TO FIND

- A fabulous Australian brand doing amazing things online - shipping is quick, the product is always of quality and you’re supporting an Aussie business! UNCOMMON GOODS

Great gifts - I always look here for inspiration before leaving to house to purchase a gift however note that this is a US site so shipping can take a week or more to Australia.

GOOD SPENDER

For the do-gooder in all of us, this site sells products made by Australian social enterprises which means that everything on the site is in some way generating community benefit. OK, group hug.

So whatever you do - or don’t do in our case - this Fathers Day, enjoy that man in your life just a little bit more and may the world be a better place because of him!

Happy Fathers Day!

Xx

Chloe

Photo: Merci Mamam man bracelet, Hard to Find

[littlesoulseeks]

"Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures."

Lovelle Drachman

[littlesoulseeks]

Water Glorious Water!

The joy of water play is something H2Go discovered at a very early age. From hysterics in the bath to knocking mums water cup over at dinner, it is something she - and most other children her age - delights in.

While recently in France, she discovered Grumpy’s (Grandpa’s) water fountain which only flowed at aperitif hour, or 5pm. All day she would question, “fountain time yet?” over and over until finally - when Grumpy was pouring our first (sometimes our second) gin of the day - the fountain would spring to life and H2Go would race from wherever she was (often pulling poor pussy’s tail) and indulge in a couple of hours of water play.

Which got me thinking, where in Sydney can one play in or around water and not necessarily be at the beach? Below are a few destinations I have recently discovered answer just this question:

The Playground at Darling Quarter in Darling Harbour has a fabulous set of water play fountains and is surrounded by excellent restaurants.

Pirrama Park in Pyrmont is often not as crowded as some of Sydney’s busier water play parks, is a short walk from Pyrmont shops and one of the best IGA’s in Sydney. 

Putney Park in Putney offer plenty of parking has has lovely glimpses of the water from the park itself. Pack a picnic as its miles from the nearest cafe.

I hear from those more experienced in water play parks than I that Blaxland Riverside Park at Homebush is also a wonderful place to spend the day with those younger and more active than yours truly.

And when all else fails, Sydney has well over 100 beaches from Palmy all the way down to Bundeena, we certainly are spoilt for choice!

Xx Chloe

[littlesoulseeks]

Art with energy

The MCA has always been a popular destination in our household. More recently, it has been a particular intention of mine to get there regularly with H++. Each time we visit, I realise we don’t do it often enough.

Our latest visit was for the Aleks Danko exhibition but we were also nicely surprised with Energies: Haines and Hinterding on the first floor. Both exhibitions are equally profound and charismatic but they are very different and conveniently satisfied mine and H++’s great range in taste.

On introduction to Energies we were struck by a real-time 3D installation called Geology. Viewers stand in front of a wall-sized screen, on a designated piece of black carpet, and are easily impressed with a vast and rugged landscape that is starving of any greenery or sign of society. It’s bright and it’s beautiful. The viewer can navigate their way through the lifelike landscape by using their arm like a joystick. Speed and direction are in your control as you get the sense that you're hovering above – watch out for the vertigo. Needless to say, H++ was impressed! She experienced a mix of joy and wonder as she moved her arms around to amazingly move the breathtaking pictures before her. After she took her turn, she took another and then another. We even returned to play Geology again before we left the gallery.

The exhibition continued to fascinate us. The level of interactivity and sensory engagement was perfect for toddlers right through to adults. Of particular interest to H++ were the installations that played sound waves through headphones. These were associated with drawings or stencils that when you touched them your hand’s pressure would affect the sound you heard. Like an instrument, H++ played the drawings and became absorbed in the cause and effect of her actions.

We moved from headset to headset, and once we had endured each one, sometimes twice, we moved up to Aleks Danko’s exhibition. With less tactility and interactivity, this exhibition wasn’t as big a hit with H++. But it was with me.

The exhibition has made clever use of every nook and cranny on level 3. While it is much less tactile it makes up in personality with its cartoon-like faces, "art stuffing" sacks and many other repeated motifs throughout. It's the beauty in the detail, which all unite into a comprehensive display of nearly five decades of Danko’s work. One particular installation caught our attention – we lay on our bellies and watched the simulated sunrise and sunset that took place over a systematic grid of miniature silver box houses. We delighted in the silhouettes behind the houses that gave the impression of growing and disappearing sunrays. It was a nice and quiet moment.

So, true to form, we left the MCA with the same promise – to return again very soon. There’s one thing I can trust in the MCA – you walk in with expectations that when you walk out have been amplified by the many more surprising experiences. There’s always more to it.

It’s just one of those places.

ENERGIES: HAINES & HINTERDING - until 6 September.

ALEKS DANKO: MY FELLOW AUS-TRA-ALIENS - until 18 October.

x Katy Photo: Katy Green Loughrey

[littlesoulseeks]

H++ finds her melody

Beaming with excitement for the chance to meet “Tubby the Tuba” – despite knowing nothing about the show or orchestral music – H++ raced right ahead of us, without looking back, right into the Opera House. We went to our first Baby Proms over the weekend. H++ knew her place as soon as we walked into the venue – right up the front of the sitting area. Mum and dad casually took seats off to the side. I think she may have turned around once during the performance and that was to make sure we were seeing the same thing as she was. Tubby the Tuba is a great little show that is thoughtfully arranged and skilfully, yet gently educational. While a lot of detail would have gone over H++’s head, there was plenty of wonderful moments for her relish in and learn from. The performance begins with an introduction that showcases each of the 9 instruments and gradually constructs the idea of an orchestra. I even learnt a thing or two! Enters Tubby. A short and cheerful story of how Tubby wants a melody of his own is delivered with animation by a narrator. Accompanied by the orchestra, a very sweet story unfolds that evokes the imaginations in the room and brings Tubby to achieve his dreams. It's all very cute. And the use of the instruments all ties in with the information received in the introduction. The story is interjected with short stints of simple audience participation, which H++ partly embraced but mostly just gawked at presumably thinking "what the hell is going on?"

The performance ends with an up close experience with the musicians – if you hustle hard enough – where the kids can touch, play, listen to each instrument first hand. The musicians are suffocated with eager kids and their parents but they are generous and enthusiastic about it. It's a great ending. We knew it was a winner when H++ refused to leave. I personally knew it wasn't a failure when the husband says "well, it wasn't a struggle." Baby Proms is a regular kids program at Sydney Opera House. See Kids at the House.

And if you're looking for a great little bite to eat that completes your day out, we went to Opera Kitchen beforehand. It's a simple but creative menu for which we were able to feed all three of us on $50. And honestly, how can you beat soaking up the rays on a Sunday morning with that view?

x Katy

[littlesoulseeks]

It’s Amore

We recently made our way to Europe with H2Go to see her grandfather who lives in France. For the last week of the journey, we travelled with extended (French) family to Italy.

To say the Italians and the French don’t get along is a mild understatement, especially when the French family you are with, are tourists in Portofino. After finally learning what “probabilmente sono Francese!” meant (they are probably French! Usually said under a local’s breath), we quickly started referring to ourselves as “Australiano” whenever possible.

I digress.

The reason I chose to wrote about our experience in Italy was simply because we were utterly astounded at how easy it was to go anywhere and do anything with a toddler.

Even in a town like Portofino, one of the most perfectly coiffured (and expensive!) coastal villages on the Ligurian coast, we had no issues with finding an abundance of restaurants with high chairs who were more than welcoming of H2Go and our extended family.

While children’s menus are largely non-existent, every maître d’ we encountered was more than accommodating of H2Go’s eating peculiarities. We experienced everything from bespoke children’s spaghetti alla bolognese, to perfectly sized ‘mini’ pizzas made from scratch. The waitstaff and chefs could not have been more helpful if they tried.

All I can assume is this accommodating family culture must be steeped in the traditions of extended family enjoying mealtime together and a national ritual of eating out, and eating late. Ironically in France – and I say this from a number of years experience dining out in various parts of the country – whilst they adore feasting with their pet pooches, the sight of a small child in a restaurant is largely frowned upon and wait-staff are in general, inattentive to children.

We had an incredibly positive experience in Italy and would recommend it as a destination for adults and children of all ages.

Buon Appetito!

Xx

Chloe