wool, paper, string

…and strawberries. Party celebrations left me a little weary so I’ve been pottering these past few days; drinking tea and catching up. Strangely I’ve also decided to switch the children’s rooms around. There’s a bigger floor space in Poet’s room – and Che needs it for lego construction and grand imaginary cities. We moved the beds yesterday but there’s still the books, artwork and clothes to go. Hence I’m relishing in the quiet and calm of these photos because my house is anything but.

Che was spoilt with thoughtful gifts this week and I’m wondering where they will all live. Later today we’re going to sort through his books and take some down to the op-shop. I’ve already passed on his too-small clothes to a few sweet little boys who wear those tees and shorts oh so well. But the growing collection of toys, lego and miscellany is challenging my desire for simple and uncluttered…what to do?

Thankfully, Poet’s scenario is a little different (although she’s had significantly fewer birthdays). Gifts arrived in the post this week…the sweetest rabbbit tee from tabitha & hugo and the most glorious handknit from happy circus – in a moody charcoal with wooden buttons, it’s going to be perfect for next winter.

My Heart Wanders arrived too and was wrapped so beautifully by the gorgeous Pia that I admired it for a few hours before untying the string. Yesterday, once the kettle was boiled and I had a cup of tea in hand, I snuck into Poet’s room, closed the door, and indulged in stories of cities far away. And then I napped – for the first time in months – and I remembered the beauty of sleep.

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Showing 30 comments
  • Gaby
    Reply

    I love My Heart Wanders. And a nap doesn't hurt either x

  • ashley
    Reply

    Daytime naps are the solution to everything. We are in the midst of moving things and trying to lessen the amount of stuff we have accumulated. It is not easy to fit into a small home and with another soul on its way becoming an even tighter squeeze. If you did a solution to the age old problem of excess would love to hear it. Be well Jodi, x ashley

  • Anna...
    Reply

    Ahhhh… My Heart Wanders. A certain favourite by my bedside. Although overwhelming at the moment, I'm sure the change of rooms will feel refreshing once complete xx

  • Princesspillar
    Reply

    beautiful…sigh

  • Astred*designcherry
    Reply

    I think there is only so much of any lifestyle you can plan for your children before they forge their own. Perhaps an edge of your world is destined be cluttered with Che's belongings and 'stuff' ? He is another being in your house, who will accumulate things, sad but true. Whether it's generous gifts or his own bower-bird sensibilities.

    • Jodi
      Reply

      so true…he's my little bower-bird x

    • Jesi Langdale-Anderson
      Reply

      I agree that children have to be their own persons, but I find it absolutely refreshing for when new toys arrive to choose older ones to go to charity. I don't know about Australia but I definitely find that here in the US there is an epidemic of children (and adults!) having too much stuff! So the more things people get rid of and give to those who truly need the better. It's easy to get ourselves and our children caught up in an unhealthy amount of materialism these days. My son is only 18 months but I have definitely worked to get him into the habit of donating used items, as well as buying more used than new items. I think it's important that we teach our children these types of values.

  • Jessica
    Reply

    Truly beautiful.

  • -Kristen
    Reply

    So I bought that parcel paper to wrap gifts, but clear scotch tape looks awful! What do you use to close the present? Thanks!

    • today i
      Reply

      Hi Kristen,

      I read your comment and thought id chip in, try 'double sided' tape!

  • mel @ loved handmade
    Reply

    These pictures are so lovely! Oh beware of lego, it very gradually consumes us all! My boys are building, constructing and letting their imaginations run wild, and it's wonderful to watch. I try my best to have a lego 'system' to keep things orderly, then decided it best just to let them go as long as it's in their room and I can just close the door on the chaos, but somehow it seems to just seep into every knook and cranny of our home..you get used to it. I'm considering converting a part of our garage as a lego room!

  • A little bit Country
    Reply

    I saw a poster that said "on a scale of one to stepping on lego – how much did it hurt?". That made me laugh.

    Sometimes the wrapping can be just as lovely as the goodies hiding inside. Elaina.

  • Jesi Langdale-Anderson
    Reply

    I always wish that I could nap, but every time I do so I wake feeling horribly sick and more tired than before! I do wish my son would take a nap as well… today was another no nap day. Does Poet ever have those?

  • bron @ baby space
    Reply

    ahh, the beauty of sleep.

    love these images jodi, especially the little strawberries on the highchair. good luck with the house and the excess toys, we are constantly making vinnies runs.

  • Kate
    Reply

    I think I may have to try and sneak in a few autumn naps myself, maybe while turning through the pages of a good book like My Heart Wanders? 😉 It's the first I've heard of it and now I am quite intrigued! Glad you've found a few moments of quiet and rest.

  • MamaEm
    Reply

    Can't wait to see the rooms when they are done – you always have a nice touch with your kid's rooms. Good luck sorting through Che's books – I would be heartbroken to even contemplate the task of sorting through books and then passing them on – how on earth will you choose which friends to part with??? x

    • Jodi
      Reply

      Oh, believe me it's not going to be easy (we're just about to do it now!). But….there are a lot of books that came home from the op-shop that were worn and torn to begin with. There's some that's he's just grown out of and others that he never really fell in love with. And then there's probably about 70 that we absolutely adore and could never part with. Rest assured, we will still own a library after this clean out x

  • Ellen Arthur
    Reply

    Lovely images and words to go along. Can I ask where you get the brown paper that you wrapped his presents with?

  • Steph
    Reply

    What to do indeed! With two birthdays fast approaching our philosophy for simple toys may very well fly out the window. How do you encourage friends and family to gift your children small and simple gifts? It seems that everyone has become carried away with gift giving and it seems it's not a present unless it cost a packet or fills a gigantic box. I never want to offend or sound like we're ungrateful. Mmmm…the quandry! Wishing you a peaceful Thursday. Steph 🙂 x
    P.S. Just picked up this gorgeous book from the library this very morning.

  • Kristina
    Reply

    Gorgeous photos (as always!). I think it's great that you want to keep your home uncluttered and teach that to your children. I wish my mom had passed that on to me, then I wouldn't have spent the better part of last year sorting out and giving away the accumulated mess of 20 years…it's an important lesson to learn that yes, there can be too much stuff and we are happier and freer without it 🙂

  • Coryann
    Reply

    Ok, that package is perfectly wrapped! I totally understand why you'd spend hours debating whether to open it or not lol ; )

  • Yellow Finch Designs
    Reply

    the beauty of sleep….i forget the meaning of those words.
    and i know how you feel about the legos. i am a woman of simplicity and clutter has always bothered me. i struggle with the legos, but they make my boys oh so happy. you just have to come up with a good storage system. and now that jonas is older we display his creations on floating shelves.

    as always, lovely post. i'm curious, did you happen to get the email i sent awhile back?

  • Julie
    Reply

    Beautiful pictures, as always. I'm constantly battling The Stuff.. Well-meaning friends and family are SO GENEROUS with Gus. We just try to remind them that he has more than he needs and when their generosity gets the better of them we make sure to donate something we already have to make room for the new thing. It sort of works..!

  • Nell
    Reply

    So happy you love the cardigan and I can't wait to see Poet in it next year.

    I've just done a clear out of Josephine's books too – how does she have so many already, at just 8 months! – we were given so many when she was born that the shelf was already too packed.

    And I do love a sneaky little nap in the afternoon. I always feel ready for anything when I wake xx

  • little sleep
    Reply

    Ahhh, such beautiful pictures.
    And yep, you really can't beat a good nap : )
    Jude xx

  • look see
    Reply

    Those strawberries look lovely 🙂

  • Nicole
    Reply

    Thank you for the recommendation of My Heart Wanders. It looks quite lovely. Hope you have a restful weekend. x

  • Alicia
    Reply

    Ahh, the clutter, it overwhelms me too! That's why I had to open an Etsy shop, my girls had too many clothes for me to make them any more. They share a room, so that helps keep a cap on the amount of stuff. We have to let it go to others/op shops when it's all too much. I pretty much just give clothes as presents for other littlies, so there's not as much toy clutter in their homes too! Lovely pictures xx

  • sascedar
    Reply

    If I could gift wrap a nap, just like your last photo, I would give one to every mama I know 😉 lovely, lovely pics :)sarah

  • Qew
    Reply

    As a new Mum I was totally overwhelmed with all the gifts our nearest and dearest would bring, even friends of friends families. We decided that our little one was blessed enough and would never go without therefore we asked for no gifts at her first Birthday. In lieu we asked for a donation such as a book, clothing,toothbrushes etc to send to an orphanage I visited a few years ago. Everyone loved to be part of it and what better gift then to pass on something to someone else in need. xx

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