5 Questions for the Outdoor Family – The Montage Madness Paintbox Family

Feb 1

I love that Cairns is full of families that put lifestyle as their number one objective. This particular mumma loves getting out and about and runs weekly meet-ups with other locals - the main aim is to keep things simple so their kids (and their own) imaginations can roam. It's time to meet Breanna and her cool clan.....

**Breanna and Leila (when she was younger) at Paronella Park**

"I'm Breanna, a work from home mum, a wife (to be) of AJ, who also loves camping and being in nature, and I'm a mum of 3, Naite who is 9 and loves to dig and explore, he plans on being a palaeontologist when he is older, Leila who is 4 and loves anything active and gardening and lastly Amelia who is 1 and loves being in water and painting.

Naite making Sand Angels

Amelia all tuckered out from some mud play

I have a love of all things artistic and nature. I have had many "jobs" but my career is in my own business, to which the name Montage Madness Paintbox really suits! Away from work, (both my business and mumma work), I love to draw, paint, read, write, garden and spend time with my friends, family and partner."

1. What have been some of your ‘Coolest’ Adventures (Before Kids).

"Coolest adventures... There are plenty of them but my favorite's have probably been with the Cairns Adventure Group: climbing Mt Bartle Frere and camping overnight with a group of friends and the full moon walk up Walsh's Pyramid - and it turned out I actually walked with a torn Achilles tendon :/ oops..

**On top of Walsh’s Pyramid. Best views in town!!**

Another standout is doing a 3 night road trip to see all the waterfalls around the area, walking the tracks and exploring the areas and towns. Road trips would have to be some of my favorite's. Growing up in Lakes Entrance in VIC meant I spend most of my childhood outside and at the beach."

2. What have been some of your standout ‘Special’ Moments you’ve shared with your children.

"One was a road trip from Bairnsdale in Vic to Cairns where Leila and I helped my sister move her whole house with the 3 of us squished in her tiny VW golf. We took the route to see as many of the BIG things we could along the way.

**Breanna and Leila having fun camping**

Also the road trip where I took Naite and Amelia to see the crater and explore, it became more of an adventure when we couldn't get home because the range was blocked off. Taking the kids camping, to the beach or finding a new playground is always heaps of fun."

3. What TIPS can you offer to families who want to do MORE with their children.

"Seize all the oportunities and small moments you can to enjoy with your kids, find what it is that makes them so super excited and run with it, their smiles will light up your day.

Sometimes you just have to say, bugger it all, and drop whatever it is that you're doing, regardless of how important you think it might be, and make mud cakes, blow bubbles, finger paint, or whatever "Silly kid thing" they're asking you to do. The dishes, the cleaning can wait, go to the beach, the park or just a walk around the neighbourhood to see what you can see.

Enjoying some silly squishy fun

“At least I got some on the paper mum”

Kids grow up so fast and making memories is more important! We have a few times a week where we don't worry about anything but play and having fun! In our house we have limits on screen time each day, initially it was a struggle but now most days the kids are too happy playing to worry about sitting in front of a screen."

4. What things would you still LIKE to experience with your children (a bucket list)?

"As our youngest is 1, there are a few things we would like to experience again with her included. We would love to take them all out on the reef, there is an island you can camp on but can only get to by boat - that's one thing we still plan on doing.

**More time spent road-tripping and camping with the kids is on Breanna’s Wish List**

Our next biggest adventure that we are planning is taking the kids on a road trip all the way down to Vic - we'll be stopping to see family on the way and other things across Australia that we would like them to see.

Australia is big and diverse and there are so many things to explore in our own backyard before worrying about going overseas. Taking them to the snow is another one for the list as none of the kids have seen snow!"

5. Where can we find you?

"On Monday in the mornings and after school we hula hoop, explore, play and basically hang out at Sugarworld gardens where we are in the process of setting up and maintaining a kids community garden.

On Thursdays I have 'come and create' days for mums to try something new, learn about simplifying to have more fun and basically take some time out.You can also find me online at Montage Madness where I tell the story of living life as a modern day mum to 3, 1 of which has special needs, encouraging mums to take time for themselves, have fun with their families, being creative, learning along the way, ways to manage stress and basically enjoy life, parenting and being yourself. Oh, and mess! lots and lots of mess and paint!