10th January

This has been the colour of our skies for the last month or so.  We are the lucky ones though, rain that's drained away fine is nothing compared to what's happening to 75% of the state - with more to come.

The photos above are taken from our back yard, looking back to Mt Tamborine.  It is normally blocked by an extra tall money tree and palm fronds, however my husband decided to hack it all down on the weekend.  I quite enjoyed the shade the foliage brought, he apparently likes the view.  I suggested that the view, although nice, was predominately house roof tops.  He replied with "You just don't get it"  I still don't.

I'm guessing it was just to back up his argument, but my darling husband apparently enjoys watching the view whilst sitting out under the patio enjoying an afternoon beer shandy. 

He loves quiche too.

9th January

Today was a lazy day at home, mostly pottering around the garden.  Duane used the fairly clear weather to mow the long lawn, something that we haven't been able to do for a while with all the rain.  We then did some weeding and cleared out all the dead palms in the front yard.  In the front garden, nestled under some lomandra plants the kids and I came across these unusually shaped mushrooms.  Xavier thought they looked like little flowers and Grace was just excited that there might be a fairy family living underneath.

The kids decided to have a "frond" fight, using the dead palm fronds that were piled up on the lawn.

First, you shake hands with your opponent.

Then you pretty much just whack each other. 

Which, apparently is a lot of fun, according to my 2.

After lunch and a midday nap for Duane and Xavier, the rest of the day was spent playing games and trains inside, as the rain (once again) came down outside.

The heavy downpour meant the sandpit was like a make-shift pool, perfect for an afternoon splash!



8th January

A very busy day today, with barely a rest in between exciting adventures!

The morning started off with adding our new worms to the worm farm.  A lot of our worms died off last summer in the heat, so this year we have put them in more shade and will keep an extra eye on them.  The kids love playing in the worm farm, naming them all and working out who is the "Mum" worm and then finding babies for her.

Next up, was our first family walk/ride leaving from our house.  The kids have been nagging to take their bikes for a ride from our house ever since they got them.  Now, considering we live on a hill, it's not the easiest of things to be doing.  We decided to give it a go, and take the dogs, cause we like the challenge!  The kids walked their bikes up the hill, and we had a few wobbly incidences when they got speed up going  down the hill, but for the most part they were perfect and loved it.  We went for about an hour, and we all came home covered in sweat.

We came home, had a shower and then headed of the the next activity.  I met up with some of my friends and their kids, and we took them all to see Tangled, the Rapunzel movie.  The 5 kids were lined up in their seats, my kids enjoying their home-cooked popcorn (to avoid both the crap in movie popcorn and the $$).  They were all wonderful and barely took their eyes of the screen for a second.  Xav was getting a bit tired towards the end and asked a few times when it would be over.  It was a really good movie though, plenty of excitement for the kids, yet still entertaining for the parents.

Then tonight, the kids were exhausted and in bed at 6pm, so Duane and I decided to call up our babysitter (the wonderful Mil) and see if she'd come watch them.  Lucky us then got to double date (and crash their anniversary date!) with The Dews.  We headed to Anand Sagar first, which is our absolute favourite Indian restaurant, then we had a little hiccup before heading to see the new Fockers movie.  The hiccup was that we had Duane's parents car (Wendy didn't want to leave it out the front of our house, so said we should take it), and when we parked for Indian, Duane decided to put the steering lock on.  So, then when we tried to leave, we couldn't get it off.  Anyway, after a very funny and frustrating half hour it was finally worked out that we were using the wrong key and then it came off.  All the non-drivers had enjoyed a few beverages over dinner and so some smart alec comments were being made, which combined with the a frustrated "driver" made him mention some "F" words, something that very rarely comes out of my husbands mouth.  This just made us laugh and giggle even more.

All was good though, we made it to the movie with plenty of time to spare.  Could have quite easily missed it though, it certainly wasn't anything to rave about.  I think all the laughs had been used up in the first movie.  It was still a good night out with great friends though!

I just want to end on this photo I took of Xav today.  I was trying very hard to get his profile in focus, but being the non-cooperative child that he his, wouldn't stand still. I really love it though, not because of anything technically "correct", just because it captures his sweet little profile.  Ski-jump nose, lovely lashes and he has yet to loose his toddler cheeks.  But, the thing I love the most is his little half-smile/smirk - it's just so him.

7th January

Today was another stay at home day.  The weather has been terrible, and normally my kids go crazy being cooped up for so long, but they are having so much fun!  I'm on an organising bender, so I'm happy to potter about.  The kids are just happy to play with all their new Christmas stuff and are being ridiculously well behaved with each other - I'm hoping that keeps up!  They've always played well together, but nothing like now.  Sometimes, I barely interact with them for hours.  Ok, I know that kinda sounds neglectful, but what I mean is they are so engrossed with each other and their games - I'm left out.  I'm just the one they come to with that wonderfully whiny voice saying "I'm hungry, what can we eat"  But after loading them up with picnic plates for their latest camping/birthday party/sleepover game, I'm redundant again.  Suits me though, means I'm getting lots of organising done and catching up on whatever I want. 

It's kind of sad now though, knowing that this incredible little twosome is about to be split 5 days a week. 

This afternoon the kids and Duane had a hair appointment, mainly to de-shag Xav and Duane and just to give Grace a "heading to school" trim up.  Man, I can't believe how much the boys have to get their hair cut, they  easily spend more money/time getting their locks tidied than Grace and I.  Xav's hair seems to grow in time with the grass, and with all the rain we've had lately both are growing rapidly!

It's a fight between the kids who gets to go first.  Xav absolutely loves someone playing with his hair, it sends him into a trance and he nearly falls asleep.  I usually place myself within catching distance, as there have been a few time's he's nodded off and slipped.   Back when he had his first hair cut, I was all for keeping "length" and his curls, but now I just tell her to go short as she can without looking prison-like. 

Gracie on the other hand, has only had 3 haircuts in her life.  It's something she's a but bummed about, being the girly-girl that she is, getting your "hair done" is a necessity.  She just had a little trim, getting rid of the fine, wispy ends.  Grace has the most gorgeous coloured hair, it's the exact colour I'd love my hair if I could be bothered keeping up with the maintenance of dyeing.

 

Our hairdressers cat had kittens 5 weeks ago, which could quite possible be some of the cutest things I've ever seen.  Xav took a real liking to one little kitten, and judging by the way he sat with Xav the whole time, the feeling was mutual! I don't think the kids have patted or played with little kittens before, so there was lots of begging and pleading to take 1 home.  Duane's not a cat person at all, so that is never going to happen.  We do have chickens and dogs, so I guess he has a point.

Speaking of chickens.  Ours have been very sporadic with their laying over the last week or so.  Last Monday I spent the morning pacing up and down out side the laying boxes, waiting for another 2  eggs to add to the pavlova I was making.  Not one came through with the goods.  Then today, we saw a random egg up the side of the chook-house.  After closer inspection, we stumbled across a muddy pile of stashed eggs - 19 all up!   Damn chooks had found a preferable place to lay.   On the upside, I've got a ton of eggs to make yummy omeletes and maybe even a big pavlova!

And, just another cute photo to end on.  Xav has become a big lover of mango sorbet.  I bought a tub the other day, but he couldn't eat any as it stung his mouth.  So now he is catching up on all the sorbet he missed out on!  Lucky the tubs only small and won't be replaced for a while.

6th January

Thursday's are fun days!  It's the day that Duane gets to come home from work still in the morning time - 11am!  It's probably not that fun a day for him, considering he's left the house at 4am and probably would prefer to come home and rest.  Sometimes we do this, or we make the most of family time and head out.  Today, with Xav still suspiciously contagious after his mouth ulcer incident, we stayed home!

Thursday's are also fantastic as it's the day we pick up our wonderful fruit and vegetable box from Food connect.  The kids and I always have a fabulous time unpacking this weeks produce, of course taste testing a bit on the way is mandatory!  We chat about what each fruit/vegie is and how we use it.  There's always something unusual in the box that requires a little extra researching, but it's great for the kids to be introduced to such variety.  They were a bit upset that this week there were no apples, but that took us on to the topic of "seasonal" produce and how some things don't grow in certain weather.  We always get a newsletter in our box, all about the different farms that the produce come from and any problems they've had this week.  This week the farmers were all badly affected by the torrential rain and flooding we have had around this area.  A lot of crops were damaged, with produce not fairing very well at all.  Some of ours stuff had a bit of water damage, but nothing bad - plus, it's nice to know that the farmers are still getting paid for their crops.  Unlike the hoops the farmers have to jump through for the major supermarkets to take slightly blemished stock. 

Anyway, as were were unpacking the corn a little caterpillar crawled out from inside.  Grace and Xav were over the moon and immediately set up a plastic container house for their new pet, which they had lovingly named "Marco."  I've got absolutely no idea where that came from.

So Marco spent a few hours being traumatised cared for, by 2 eager little pre-schoolers.  He was fed blades of grass and they got some leaves to make a toilet and kitchen in his house.  Xav told us all about caterpillars turning into cock-oons (that sounded slightly hilarious!), then turning into butterfly's, and he was eager to get the show on the road.  So, Marco was set free in the fairy garden, where he crawled off into the basil bush, under watchful little eyes who were expecting something more exciting to happen.  After barely saying his goodbyes, Xav started screaming that "He didn't turn into a cock-oon, why didn't he Mum"  The child was mightily annoyed that he didn't get to witness the dramatic transformation immediately!  Lots of discussions later and he settled, and was happy that it would happen eventually - just not whilst we were watching!

 

It was a rainy old day, the only kind we have here at the moment, so perfect for a movie and rest.  Both kids fell asleep on the lounge room floor, cuddled up under Grace's blanket.  Gosh, my kids are so adorable xx

*I just want to point out that yes my kids do have clothes!  It's just we have had a few "home" days over the last week, mainly because Xav may have been contagious, but also because we haven't been able to have "Pj" days for ages - so I'm getting out quota in! 

**Also, how cute is Xav's singlet!  It's one he tye-dyed himself at pre-school!  Yay for Hippy schooling!

4th January

~~Summery, water fun!~~

Today was a lazy day at home, except with an extra little person joining us.  Jasper was hanging out with us for the day, however he wasn't his usual cruisy self.  Trude said when she dropped him off that he had a bit of nappy rash, I then checked his hands and feet (as I had my suspicions about a rash on Ruby the night before) and was 99% sure that he had hand, foot and mouth.  His little hands and feet were beginning to develop the tell tale blisters.  I figured my kids had already been exposed over the last week (it's mostly contagious before the blisters appear) so didn't mind looking after him still.  Trude had insisted that I call her if he was too upset and she'd take the day off, but I remembered from Xav's first day of having the spots that he'd slept a fair bit so was hoping Jasper would do the same.  He did end up sleeping for a good while, but the times he was up were a little "challenging".  He constantly wanted to be on my hip, and if he wasn't he was very grizzly.  He also struggled to eat anything, which is understandable considering he would of had a mouth full of ulcers, but enjoyed some ice and banana smoothies that we made. 

My kids were fantastic and helped out so much with Jasper.  They spent the whole day playing together and not getting up to too much mischief.  There was a fair bit of body painting happening though when they were left unsupervised with the paints whilst I was attending to a sad little baby.  After the main heat of the day had left, I set up their outdoor sink and lots of water fun was had.  There was also sprinkler play as well as a hose/dish washing liquid set-up on the slide, which proved to be a hit although it did turn the grass at the bottom into a giant mud puddle!

3rd January

Long, hot summer afternoons and water fun in the backyard with friends  - could it get any better for the kids?

Apparently yes.  Slurping on delicious rainbow Paddle Pops, makes the day practically perfect.

Today we had a pot luck patio party at the Dews, first just for the sake of it and secondly to celebrate and ohh and ahh over their newly built patio.  The kids had so much fun frolicking in the backyard, taking turns being squirted and the squirtee with a squeezey bottle.  They played tag (tiggy?), kicked balls, dressed up and did parades (Malia & Grace) and then all took turns in the bath.  I got a bit of time to take some gorgeous pics of the youngest member of the clan, Miss Ruby. This little sweetheart has the most stunning blue, sapphire eyes that are such a pleasure to photograph.  They look so amazing from any angle, very photogenic little girl.  It was a little hard getting a smile out of her though, which the reason became obvious the following day when she came down with Hand, foot and Mouth disease - poor little thing.  Jasper also came down with it, and Xav got ulcers in his mouth which I don't doubt is related.  Now just the wait to see if any of the other kids succumb.

I also managed to snap a nice shot of this cheeky little boy - Noah.  He's a very hard little person to take a photo of as he barely stops still for more than a second.  This is such a "typical" Noey look, so I'm rather pleased I managed to capture it.