Pottering and the park

Today was a lovely, lazy Saturday - a perfect way to wind down after a very busy week.  I've been crazy busy this week, fitting in appointments all over town and trying to study for these damn exams I have coming up.  I'd decided to take today off school work, which was much needed.  Duane worked this morning, so unfortunately no sleep-ins for me, unless you consider the 6am wake-up that my little cherubs decided was wake time!

We spent the morning pottering around the house in our Pj's, something I relish now that our weekday mornings are so rushed and hurried.  I scrubbed out the oven with some Norwex cloths that I bought at a party-play thingy - I'm so in love with this product, they actually make cleaning fun!  The kids amused them self washing dolls in a plastic tub of water and then making playdough farm animals.

Then this afternoon we met up with the usual gang at the beautiful botanical gardens.  Trude wanted some photos of Jasper, so we spent quite a lot of time chasing the poor kid around poking a camera in his face!  He was the perfect little baby model though, although played very hard to get sometimes - such a quick little boy!
We got some very cute photos (not hard with such a cutie though!)

 

 ~~Cute Miss Lucie~~

Family Dramas

After watching very minimal TV over the last few years, I was out of the loop on all the drama's.  Trude suggested that I'd probably like Brothers & Sisters, so I figured with my few months off I'd watch the series from start to finish.  3 1/2 weeks ago I started series 1, and yesterday I finished the last episode of series 4.   There are 24 episodes per season, and I've watched all 4 - do the math.  That's a lot of hours.  I've gobbled up every episode decadently, and greedily wanted more.  I'm actually quite happy it's all over now though, you know you've become a little too addicted when you start dreaming about the characters.

I've spent many a night, curled up on the couch once the kids are in bed watching back-to back episodes about the Walker family - and loved it!  There is something very satisfying about watching an episode and knowing that the next one is right there waiting for you.  I have had some very late nights, forcing myself to go to bed around midnight, knowing that the kids (read: Xav!) will be up raring to go at 5.30am.  Duane's happy I've finished, as finally he can watch something else of a night.

I love the family dynamics of the show, and although I come from a family of 5 siblings and now it's not all like the "Walker's", I would still love a big, close family to banter with over the dinner table.  I want to be Nora and have all my grown up children around (including the husband, but minus his mistress!), guzzling wine and sharing secrets.  I know it's not real life, but how cool would it be!

So that's what I've been spending my spare time doing lately.  Now that's over, I've got a stack of books that I'm going to delve into and get back into some craft projects.

Anyway, tomorrow is the day I've been holding out for the "big talk."  After approaching the idea of throwing number 3 in the mix back here, Duane told me to just wait till the end of the year and we'd work it out then.  So, I've waited patiently and not mentioned it since, biding my time for the end of the year - and it's here tomorrow!  I've got it all worked out in my head, with reasons and comebacks for any of his questions.  I highly doubt he has changed his mind though, still happy and content with just the 2, but I'm ready to put my proposal forward and hope he says yes.  Wish me luck........

A weekend of food!

It's been a long weekend here, and I've spent it in denial that I'm a student who needs to study. I've thoroughly enjoyed not thinking about school though, but I know it's going to come back and haunt me. Probably when I'm sitting in my sociology exam next Saturday and wishing that I'd been concentrating more on my lecture notes than the kitchen!

Actually, I might just get brownie points from that lecturer. We have her lecture on Friday afternoon from 4pm-6pm. It'd be an easy one to miss, and many people do. I've never skipped it though and a few times have felt a little lonely in the vast lecture theatre, with there sometimes only being 6-10 students of the 300 that should be there. I love the lecturer though, she's a midwife and often lets it slip that she is a big water birth and home birth fan. Anyway, last Friday was a guest speaker, we didn't find out until the last minute who it was or what they were talking about. Turns out it was a nutritionist who was doing a 2 hour lecture on the merits of a preservative and organic diet. We already have minimal preservatives in the house, and limit what the kids consume in the way of numbers. I've dabbled with organic, but always get shunted back to regular because of the cost. I do try to buy as much organic fruit and veg from the market, but even then I'm tempted by the cheaper alternatives.

I loved the lecture and after hearing all the scientific reasons that organically grown food is better, I vowed that I'd try even harder to buy it. I was all motivated after the lecture, and ready to spend this weeks grocery money on as much certified organically grown produce as I could. Duane was spending the weekend playing golf, so the kids and I ventured out on Sunday to the organic market in Miami. It's only a small market, but we managed to fill a few green bags with what we wanted. The kids picked out some organic and preservative free apricots to consume in the car. They weren't even phased that they were a black colour, not the preserved orange colour they normally are.

Next we headed to the organic supermarket that our lecturer had talked up. The kids have been enjoying chia seeds on their breakfasts for a few months, so I was pleased to see a big bag of that on sale. I also got some cheap Miessence deodorant and lots of yummy organic fruit and veg. Just as I was filling up a brown paper bag with Tassie sebago potatoes, I looked up and realised my lecturer was walking in the door! She recognised me and was so excited that I had obviously taken enough interest in the lecture and was buying some organic products. We chatted for a bit and she talked to the kids, commenting on how well behaved they were.

After our purchases, the kids and I headed out to the mall playground. Grace and Xav had a blast running around, whilst I sat huddled in the corner eating a piece of yoghurt covered almond slice that I had smuggled into the shopping!

Next we headed over for a turn on the merry go round, which both kids were very excited about.

Monday was also spent revolved around food. Both kids and I have spent the majority of the day in the kitchen. First we made chicken stock from a left over roast chicken, which we later turned into vegie and noodle soup for dinner. We also made soy and linseed bread to go with it, which was just delicious freshly out of the oven in time for dinner. We also made a wholemeal date loaf for the Autumn festival up at Grace's pre-school tomorrow afternoon and a big batch of Anzac biscuits to last the week. I used a new recipe for the Anzac's, one that substituted the butter for olive oil and they are just beautiful! There were so many, so I've put some away in the freezer for lunch boxes when the others run out. I nearly almost forgot we also made a batch of mini choc chip muffins, which were yummy! Little mouth fulls of chocolate goodness, with a gooey centre!

We also had a go at making paper, which surprisingly is not that hard! Grace made some pink love heart paper and Xav made some white squares, all out of rough copies of my communication essay!

I also wanted to put some photos of my gorgeous daughter. She has been hassling me for some sticker earrings, so Thursday night I took her shopping and after 3 solid hours we finally found some she was happy with. She LOVES them and is constantly feeling and checking that they are still there. She wanted me to take some photos of her with them in, and of course I obliged. She is such a little poser and most of the time loves the camera.

Over this weekend, I'm sure she's matured again. I was told that the year from 4-5 was time for huge growth - both physically and emotionally. I just never thought I'd see it happen right before my eyes.

Now, I really should get back to study. I've got another essay to start, an exam next Saturday to study for, group presentation to finish and I really need to go back over all the notes for muscles. Gosh, I though bones were tough - Nothing on muscles!

Weekend wrap

It's been a wet and drizzly weekend, the weather has been nice and cool - perfect for some crafts and snuggly family time before my busy upcoming week.

Saturday Wendy and I went up to Silkwood to do a craft workshop. We weren't going to, but after seeing the finished demo piece at our weekly Monday craft - I was inspired! I've wanted to learn how to wet-felt for a while now, so this opportunity was too good to pass.

The workshop is to make a fully handmade sewing case, big enough to hold all of our sewing tools. I rummaged through my sewing bags, and dragged out everything that I like handy when I'm getting crafty. I've worked out that I can fit way more than I thought in, so it's going to be exciting having a customised place for everything. I'm cramming in my dressmaking scissors, embroidery scissors, paper scissors, felting needle and spares, little note-pad, pencil roll, eraser, quick unpick, needle book, chopsticks (for stuffing things) and a few random pockets for extras. It's HUGE, but so awesome.

First up we cut out all the patterns of things we wanted to fit in, and working out what size felt we would have to make. Next was on to the felting. WOW, this is so much fun, but so much work. I've really developed an appreciation for pieces I have seen at craft markets now, realising just how much effort goes into each piece. You start with a blank piece of white batting, and then delicately layer it up with wispy bits of coloured fleece. I didn't realise the work involved, so of course jumped right in the deep end and envisaging mine to end up as a garden scene. Most of the others where smart, sticking to simple colours and random patterns. You keep layering up the fleece, which by now is getting quite high and I was starting to wonder how the heck it was going to squash down and look like felt. After the 2 layers of fleece, it was time to work on the detail. I made mine into a meadow scene, with a tree in the centre and a rainbow off to the side. I was a little rushed in the end, and would of preferred to put more detail into the flowers etc, but had to get on to the next step. Wetting down the fleece and rolling it all out. I really thought this step wouldn't take too long. WRONG. We were there for the next 3 hours, pain stakingly rolling and rubbing, trying desperately to get the fleece to felt onto itself. After, what felt like forever, it finally started to come together. To finish off the process we were told to throw it in the washing machine when we got home. Now, that was stressful. Lucky I had Wendy's piece as a practice piece and after that coming out fine, put mine in. It was exhausting and hard work, but I'm so pleased with how it's worked out.

I've heard that making felt involves breaking down mental and physical barriers, which I believe now. This might sound bizarre, but the process seems to take on a life of it's own. As each piece opens up, it evolves, develops and transforms. What I started with, was completely different to the end piece. Apparently that's the journey of felt. Amazing.

The workshop is on again next Saturday, where we will start sewing on the pockets for all the tools.

Saturday night I headed by myself to a screening of a birth movie at the Uni. It was a documentary on a woman that was wanting to deliver her baby vaginally, even though he was presenting breech. It showed her journey with trying to find her peace with the decision to vaginally birth, rather than opting for a c/s & her fight for this to happen. It was interesting to watch and then to see the birth of a baby coming feet first was awesome. Although the movie was great, it was the panel and all the other women speakers that inspired me the most. All the local and Brisbane women that are active in the birthing community were there. Fabulous midwives, those working politically for birth choices and many, many women that are passionate about preserving birth. It was inspiring and wonderful to be in a room full of so many like minded women (and a few men!) who all trust birth and have so much faith in our bodies to do what we were made to do. The wonderful Sarah J Buckley, was supposed to attend, but had to cancel. Instead she pre-recorded a talk for us all, telling us all about her breech birth and explaining why Breech vaginal birth is mostly un-heard of any more. She herself had an undiagnosed breech birth, at home!

Apart from breech birth talk, there was also a discussion on the ramifications of traumatic births, and the devastating effects that a dis-empowering birth can have. How the ripples of that flow further out and through society than we could ever imagine. And to realise that an empowering birth doesn't necessarily mean a text-book perfect vaginal birth, that also has the ability to be dis-empowering if there is a power in balance. It's mostly about giving women clear information and then supporting them in making an informed decision, and of course the long standing need for good midwife-led continuity care programs -not just for those deemed "low risk", but those that really require the extra care ie, vbacs.

There were a bunch of very passionate and motivated woman who are doing their absolute best to keep making people are that birth matters and there needs to be change in the system, and I'm hopeful that these changes can happen, soon.

Anzac weekend

What a fantastic long weekend we have had. Even though today wasn't officially a public holiday, Duane's work offered all the employees the option of taking Friday or Monday off. He wasn't going to choose the Monday as that's the day that Grace goes to Pre-school, but as luck would have it, her school day has changed to a Tuesday. I always wanted her to go of a Tuesday (Mondays = a gazillion public holidays), so it worked out perfectly in the end.

Saturday morning we had a lovely breakfast outside of pancakes and cereal. We then headed to one of the local schools as they were having a car boot sale. I picked up a few bargains - a set of Tupperware icy-pole makers and also a set of walkie talkie for the kids. The kids have had so much fun with them already, although coordinating pressing the buttons and talking at the same time may take a while to master!

We then headed over to the Anzac day March and service in Nerang. I was hoping to get to a Dawn service this year, but the thought of waking the kids so early and then having them cranky all day was enough to squash that idea, so a 10am service was the compromise. Maybe next year we'll aim for the service on the beach at Currumbin.

The kids released some energy at the playground as we waited for the march to begin. Once we realised it was about to start we headed up the road to get a good vantage point. I found the most perfect spot. It was elevated, shaded and plenty of room for the kids to run around without annoying anyone. For a while it was just us, until EVERYONE else realised what prime position we had found. We watched as everyone marched, the kids clapping and waving their Australia flags high and proud. I wiped away a few tears as I thought about what a lot of them had been through and also thought about all the stories my dear old Pop had told me.

I don't believe in war at all, but I still want my children to understand about our history and how so many people were sacrificed doing what they thought was best for our country. Its a part of the worlds history, and unfortunately in some parts of the world its still going on. I hope one day that there will be no diggers left to march, but I highly doubt it. War will always go on and we will keep loosing precious husbands, wives, children and friends.

After the march we headed down to the RSL for the service. The kids were fantastic for most of it, only starting to get ratty towards the end. Xav did yell out "Oh, Uh" very loudly during the last post, but apart from that they were perfect. We headed off towards the end of the service, hoping to avoid the stampede back to the cars.

We headed home for a rest and then spent the afternoon pottering around the garden. We had bought some eco-wood on Friday for our veggie gardens. I had searched everywhere for treated timber sleepers that weren't treated with the nasty arsenic. Finally I found some available at the treatment plant, and the best bit was they were only $10 each! Perfect, so we bought 6! Duane nailed them all together and then levelled out the ground to put them on. So now I have 3 nice raised garden beds ready for my veggie crops to go in.

Sunday was a lazy morning. We finished off the veggie gardens and tidied up the front yard. In the afternoon we headed up to Duane's work so the kids could see all the animals that come out of an afternoon. It was nice and peaceful up there, so we took 2 golf carts out on the course and went looking fro wildlife. We found lots of kangaroos, ducks, wallabies and rabbits. The kids love sitting on our knees pretending to drive the carts, and having races with each other.

Stuck at home

Well we are onto day 4 of being stuck at home and surprisingly it's not going too badly.

I really thought that we would all be driving each other batty within the first hour. Somehow we are managing to be busy and lazy at the same time. Busy - because I seem to be constantly trying to find ways to amuse them and lazy because I feel like we are just slothing around the house (probably due to the fact that our Pj's are slowing becoming "dayware"!)

The kids have had a ball doing lots of different activities. Their favourite has been drawing outside on the concrete with chalk and then painting over it with water. Our whole front area is just a mass of randomly drawn scrawls. I've introduced Grace to the joys of hopscotch, she has been excitedly jumping all over it. I tried to actually teach her what to do, but apparently just throwing a rock at the ground then jumping around madly screaming "Yeah....I did it, I did it" is a better option. So I've left her alone to enjoy the thrill of hopscotch, only having a turn myself when she is off busy with something else.

We have also amused our self with running races, handstands, cartwheels, hide and seek, pretending to be animals in the jungle, pretend shops, lots of books, re-runs of videos of the kids (Grace's favourite is her naming day, which she refers to as her "Princess Day"!)chasing the dogs, pouring water, weeding the garden, making collages, drawing, stickers, painting and much, much more. Who-ever knew hanging out at home could be so much fun?

On the down side my house is constantly trashed and I feel like I need to clean all the time. I guess it's because we are at home more, so my house is bearing the brunt of their destruction instead of someone else's place. Doesn't help that Duane is working very hard all this week, leaving the house at 5.30am and not getting home until after 6pm. He also has Indy on Sunday, but he did say that if I needed a rest from the kids, he wouldn't go. As nice as it would be to say yes to that, I'll be nice and politely decline his offer.

Grace was supposed to go to daycare today but to save me from any future guilt of passing on diseases I have kept her at home. As tempting as it was to be toddler free for the day, I have done the right thing. Stupid, stupid me! She's not showing any signs of being sick and if she was going to get it I was hoping that it would be now, not as Xav's was ending.

Xav has another Dr's appointment today, just to check how he is going and to get a referral to get his grommets in the public system. Figure I'll get him on the "list" then see how he goes between now and the call up.

Ponies and parks

We have just finished a fantastic family weekend.

Saturday morning we went to the preview of the Gold Coast show. It was just a taste tester for the show, but the bonus was everything was free.

Grace heard a rumour that there was to be ponies, so she was eager to get there and have a ride. Lucky the first thing we saw as we walked in were 3 gentle ponies being led around the oval so we shoved the kids into the line before it got too long. We weren't sure if Xav would go on or not but he did us proud. He hoped on the pony (with a little help of course!) and held on the whole way round, didn't say a peep just sat very still. Grace lapped it all up, sitting nice and tall on her pony with a wide grin on her face. She loves pony rides, its her absolute favourite thing to do.

After the pony ride we headed over to the baby animals. Xav wandered through them, stealing a pat of the lambs and goats as they passed him. He was fascinated with the goats tails, he would poke it then stand back and chuckle as the tail flipped side to side. Grace, being Grace, wanted to PICK up all the animals. She was carrying them around, taking them up to other little kids to pat. Some of them got the shock of there life, having a baby goat or chicken dumped in their lap. It was like she was hosting the damn thing, wanting everyone to enjoy them selves and get lots of pats!

After terrorising the animals we sent Duane to line up for the balloon man to get Grace a lovely arrangement of flowers, I took the kids over to have their face painted. Grace is a seasoned pro at this so after picking out what she wanted her and Xav to have (a spider!) she sat there and got made up. Xav had never had his painted before, so I wasn't sure how he would go. He surprised us all and just sat there, he didn't move a muscle, even looked like he was falling asleep at one stage.

Duane was desperate for a Dagwood dog, but me being the tight bum had packed lunch for me and the kids. He did sneak off and get his "heart attack on a stick", whilst the kids and I munched on sandwiches and fruit.

We then all headed home for a nice relaxing snooze.

Saturday afternoon was spent doing stuff around the garden. The kids are both at such a great age that we can all go in the backyard and get stuff done with out worrying about what the kids are getting into. Grace mainly wanders between helping us, the trampoline and the swing. Xav just toddles around, trying desperately to find mischief to get into. Usually means the dog water bowl (if we haven't preempted and moved it!) or running up the drive to the top gate to play with rocks. Apart from that they have a great time outside, everything is safe for them so leaves us to get on with the hard jobs.

Duane pottered around the garden ripping out dead palm fronds and finished off the chook fence. I did the laundry and then folded it on the table, all spread out like a mini city. We have a dryer but I refuse to use it for 2 reasons, 1 being environmental and the other is my obsession with the clothes line. I absolutely love putting clothes on the line and then going back to find them all nice and dry with the smell of sunshine and fresh air sprinkled through them. I am a pathetic housewife, but my laundry is always done. I am not as crazy as my Mum though, she has colour coded pegs for certain clothes, heaven forbid if I try to help her and stuff up the routine!

We then went to Bunnings to price up our plans for the chook palace. Seems we are aiming a little fancy for the humble chook, it came it at just under $300. Bit too much to just spend on them I think! So I'm going to look at the salvage yards on Monday to see if we can get cheaper materials.

Sunday I got a sleep in! Pathetic isn't it that I now think a sleep in is 7am. I then got up and made a yummy pancake breakfast with kiwi fruit and maple syrup.

The dogs were looking a bit sorry for themselves so we packed everyone in the car and went to the dog park. It's better now that Xav is walking, we can fit the 2 dogs in the back of the rav. It was a bit hard before when we had to worry about prams etc.

The kids and dogs both had a great time running around and burning off some energy. Every time another dog or person came up, Daisy would circle the kids, making sure no-one got too close. Grace insisted on putting Daisy on a lead and walking her around, even though Daisy kept running off and dragging Grace behind her. Was it wrong off me to laugh at the toddler trying to keep up with a

Duane took the kids up to the park for a play and the dogs and I went for a serious walk, none of this meandering crap. Poor puppies were buggered before it and reluctantly came with me. I want to take them out more, they do love it and it guarantees they crash for the rest of the day.

The rest of the day was spent pottering around the garden, sorting our chicken areas and vegie areas.

A nice relaxing, family weekend. Simple.

What's this Mummy?

What's this Mummy?

That is what I have been hearing all day for the last week. Grace has been asking me what everything is and I admit it is starting to wear a little thin. It is very cute and all but there is only so many times that I can be asked "Whats this Mummy" by a toddler doing her best school teacher impersonation. Especially when the thing she is asking about is something so ridiculously obvious, like Xavier. Oh well I am sure it is only going to get worse as all the who, where & why questions start.

We have had a lovely week, its been a nice mix of being busy and relaxing. Yesterday morning I took the kidlets for a big walk around one of the parks. I sent Grace on a scavenger hunt; collecting rocks, sticks leaves and anything else that I could think of. She loved searching and bringing all the little treasures back to me as we wandered along. Xavier just hung out in the pram, watching all the trees, birds and the dogs being walked.

After our walk we played for a bit in the park. Xavier thought that the bark was tasty, so we moved him to the dizzy whizzy! He loved it! Spinning around and giggling his head off! It's so nice to have him back to his happy and giggly self.

Once Grace was worn out of swinging (or Mummy was sick of pushing), we went and had a little fruit & cracker picnic. It was so lovely just hanging out on the grass with my kidlets, munching on bananas, apples and rice cakes.

Then today we had a visit to the library to pick up some books I had on hold. I am still fascinated with reading all about birth and have nearly exhausted the library catalogue on the subject. I just love reading about it and learning, hopefully all this will help me if I do decide to pursue my dream.

After the library we walked over to the park. As much as I tried to persuade Grace to go on the other equipment, she insisted on staying on the swing. She loves the darn thing and is happy to stay on it for ages. She's so not impressed by all the fancy parks I take her too, just as long as they have a swing!

Well just as we were leaving the park, it started raining. So we had to run back to the car which was still parked at the library. It wasn't too cold, so it was kinda fun getting all wet!

The kids went to bed when we got home & I settled myself on the couch with a book (Men at birth...good so far). Then when Duane got home and the kids had woken we headed over to visit the Pengs.

Tim gave Grace such a beautiful present, a Pandora bracelet. He has already put 3 charms on it for her; a pram (for when she was a baby), an angel (that's what she reminds him of) and a heart (becuase he loves her). Isn't that just the sweetest? He wants to buy her new ones to add to the bracelet every year. I am jealous....I have been wanting one of these bracelets for years. Yes, I will admit I did think about putting Grace's in "trust" on my wrist, but the damn thing is too small! Oh well I have put my order in for Mothers Day.

Tim absolutely adores Grace. She has always been comfortable with him. Even when she was a baby and wouldn't settle for anyone else, she would always go to sleep on Tim. She always greets him with a cuddle and a smile. He is such a great friend to our family, we all love spending time together. Althought their lifestyle is alot fancier than ours (1 of his cars is equal to our mortgage...Yeeek!!), they are so down-to-earth and such lovely people.

~~Grace & Tim at her Naming Day~~

~~Grace & Tim at Tim's brothers wedding~~

Lazy Weekend

We have had a lovely, lazy weekend!

Yesterday we spent the morning at home, getting a few little things done. After the kidlets had their sleep we all headed off to the camping show.

Ever since our weekend away Duane and I have been dreaming about coastal weekends away in a camper trailer. I had found one that I thought would be perfect as it would go straight onto our exisiting trailer, so I wanted to check it out. Well it would have been perfect for just us two, so we either leave the kids at home & go away alone (as if!!) or we think of an alternative!!

We both fell in love with a fully kitted out camper trailer, it has everything!! But it also costs huge $$, so that has went to Duane's "drawer of dreams" Maybe I should explain that, my dear husband has a top drawer full of brochures of things that he has wanted over the last 10 years. He loves prize homes and I am sure that he has every house pamphlet, and even multiples of his absolute favourites! I even think that he has his all time favourite laminated, well one of the 3 copies of it is!!

So with the camper trailer dumped it looks like we are going to settle with a fancy tent! Yes, there is such thing as a fancy tent. Its a coleman with 3 rooms, double ventilated (so if the kids did sleep in we could because it would be cool enough), easy to put up, blah blah blah.....I didn't listen to the rest! It does look nice and we can get the comfy self inflating beds, with the cute little bunks for the kids. So we are going to wait until it comes on sale then start out camping adventures!!

I'm not sure if I have distorted memories or not, but I used to love camping as a child. One year my brave mother took 5 kids on a trip around Tas in the Christmas break. We all had a blast, going to the beach, fishing & spending time together. I want to create those memories for my kids. It's also a cheap thing to do and we live so close to so many beautiful places it would be a waste not to explore them!

So I am hoping by this time next year our camping supplies are fully stocked and we have been on a few little trips already! Time will tell hey!!

~~~~~~~

I just want to note how much fun it is having the 2 kids! They are really starting to enjoy each other now and I love watching them play together. I am finding it so comfortably & easy with them now, not sure if I am just getting better at this Mummy "gig" or my kids are at a great age! Whatever it is, I love it! I dont think that I can put in words the love that I have for my precious children, I am so blessed to have them in my life. It sure makes it alot of fun!

9th March 2007

Another wet and overcast day today!

Gracie hates being cooped up inside but the backyard is so wet and muddy at the moment! I bought her a play stove the other day with all the cute little utensils and play food! She absolutely loves it! This morning I played with her and we did “pretend cooking” and then pretended to eat it! I am not sure if she understands what I am doing but she always copies! She loves me playing with her and I really need to make more of an effort to do it!

She also loves dancing so today whenever we heard music I got her to dance with me! She is so cute when she does it! I adore her to bits! When Duane got home from work we went to Rosser park to feed the ducks! She loves watching the animals and does the cutest little quack noise! But I don’t think that she realizes that the real life ducks are ducks! I think that she thinks that ducks are bright yellow, just like her one in the bath!!