Paper Chain Production Line Pandemonium

Here are the Pics. Stamping the red and green paper with Christmas stamps. Letting them dry and then making the chain and then hanging it. Kids loved it. Proud to show daddy when he got home. Christmas is getting closer! Yipeee.

Crawling and Teeth, all come so quickly!

16th December 2008

So here is my little man. Cam is up and away. I didnt really see it coming and it all has happened so quick and he is 5 months today. This video is just the beginning of getting up on hands and knees. In the last 3 days since this video was done he has come so far and is crawling and wiggling all over the place. I thought it would take at least a week for him to advance to a couple of hand to knee movements, but he continues to surprise me and here we a couple of days later and he is doing it already. This baby is growing too quickly!



He now has 2 teeth struggling their way through, and needless to say he is a grumpy little guy. Heck, wouldn't you be too, with sharp little things grinding at your soft tender gums?? He wants me to hold him all day and rock him to sleep, I try and keep to the usual routine, but its hard. I don't want to be done with the teething thing, only to have a clingy baby who cant be on his own or go down to sleep by himself anymore. Ahhh well wish me luck :D

My type of house!

14th December 2008

So after wanting to start Gingerbread houses as our family tradition, finding a great recipe last week, and practicing it once I thought I would suck it in and give it a go. I was inspired by Bobbies tallents and got some awesome tips from her (like freezing the dough and cutting the shape of the house while it was hard). So here are my houses complete with life saver stained glass window and christmas tree (prior to decorating)



The kids decorated them themselves and we chose two families to give them too. The third house was decorated by my niece Jaime and she took hers home. It was so nice to have the Christams carols going, the smells of fresh baked food in the house, the kids decorating and our thoughts only on giving them away! Our neighbours got one, and friends got the other. I would have loved to have given one to everyone I know but it was a lot of work and only my first try. Maybe next year! I loved the precious time with my kids and the feeling of beginning this great new tradition. What a special time of year.




Ready to go:



Yum!

My little Comedian (and Drama Queen in one)

4th December 2008

So here is my girl doing her thing. The best playgroup in the world was at our local shops in a vacant shop and put on by the centre. Helium Balloons, songs and stories, and morning tea are all part of the 45min time that has now sadly ended. It was on every fortnight for 2 months. The last one ended with Christmas carols and a visit from Santa. Brea thought she would be the life of the party (or at least the little video I was doing). The black eye she is sporting was from the wrestle on the bed with her brother and she cracked into the bed head, 2 days before. Lucky thing.




She also started Kindy once a week on a Wednesday with Trent and loves it. Picture of her first day below.



Happy Days!

Totally Busy

So I have been having problems with my 'wonderful camera' (huge sarcasm there!) . So this has lead me to not posting at all. My posts are mundane enough let alone not having any photos to add. So i will endeavor to catch up a little. Happy Reading!

The waiting is over!

Well after buying tickets to go and see Kate Miller-Heidke like 6 weeks ago, the waiting was over and Holly and I headed over to the Tivoli last night.(above: us at the venue before it started ) But as most of you know, there was a storm last night as well. Hail just bucketed down when we were around the Royal Brisbane Hospital, and we couldnt see infront of us while driving, and pulled off the main road to try and get some cover for her poor car that - well sounded like it was getting really damaged. A nice old guy who seemed to maybe be cleaning some office buildings let us in the undercover parking until the hail had passed thank goodness. Here is a pic with us (below: us hiding out in the undercover parking, holly is holding some hail it had melted a bit).

Anyway, all in all it was an awesome night, Kate was great...and you know, she isnt an artist that is in my USUAL genre of music that I listen too, but she is just so quirky, her songs actually mean something (compared to other rubbish that is out these days) and the stuff she can do with that voice of hers is just unreal. She was classically trained at the Conservatory of Music here in Brisbane (oh how I wished I had gone there!!! I wanted too but realised how NO GOOD I was compared to everyone else out there, people that go there usually know a minimum of 1-2 instruments as well :S) and i just love supporting this BRISSSIE girl.

darn it, i recorded at the end of the song :(

HEY TOM!!! (my brother in law, Kylie read this too him...) Kate did a cover last night of John Farhnam - You're the voice - is that what its called?, well who knows - but it was wack!! lol It was like John on drugs lol The band was going mental (rock) while she was singing it in her opera voice... I was laughing my head off and recorded some to show you. She is just so funny - she just loves paying people out I think. hehe

Anyway enough of my ramblings, it was actually just nice to get out and go to something I am interested in with out kids, and it made me feel like ME. I really believe when you become a parent (a mum) that you gotta keep doing little things that youre interested in and that make you happy. I really does leave you feeling refreshed and ready to handle the kids the next day with a little more patience than when you left the house ;)

ps: thank you to my darling husband that makes it ok for me to be able to do things like this for myself. Arnt I lucky!

Christmas is here EARLY? - i wish!

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way....

Oh boy I just feel so Christmassie!!! I just want to start cooking, and buying and have it here already. But there is still a month to go (approx) so I just have to wait till it gets a little closer to let the REAL Christmas gremlin out (me). The kids kept going on about the tree, so that's up already. (for 2 weeks now lol) Oh I just love my snowmen I have hanging on the tree too - there are 4 of them. Karen, a friend from Canada, gave them to us. Makes me think of her each Christmas :) I only wish i had more so I could cover the whole tree with them!

The stockings are up, and we even put little iron on patches on the bears hats so we could tell whos is whos. Basketball for trent and butterfly for Brea.

And I am just hounding my relief society presidency for the christmas scriptures to put in the Advent Callander we made. We stamped cards with christmas designs, folded them into triangle boxes, put 1-25 on them to open from start of December until Christmas, punched holes in them and put ribbon through. We can also add a little treat inside each one. Though, i didnt want to hang mine on the tree so I put them in a big fish bowl on the table, with baubles in it for decoration. I think they look awesome, but I cant get the flash off my camera for some reason to give you all a closer look - sorry they look much better real. :( . So that is one Tradition I am starting with the homemade Advent callander ---

I also want to start making small (and perhaps bigger and better as i get better at it) gingerbread houses, and getting the kids to help decorate them. I then want them to pick someone to give it away too as we are going to start doing a few surprise drops to people in our ward. I will stick up my attempt at this closer to Christmas.

So they are the new family tradtions so far.
Wish us luck, I cant wait!!!
Have you guys figured out your family traditions yet?

This first was earlier than I expected...

So last Friday while shopping I thought that I might just buy some rice cereal (pear and banana, for 4 month+) because Cam had just turned 4 months. I just wanted to have some in the cupboard just incase. Brea didnt eat food until almost 6 months for the fact that she just didnt seem to want or need extra other than milk. Trent ate at 4 months cause he was so darn hungry all the time even with the bottle, which is a heavier milk. Anyway, this week Cam has been swiping at our food and crying when he cant have what we are having. I have let him try to suck some bread for a split second and he stopped his wimpering, until i took it away and he would start to winge again. He wants to eat...so out came the rice cereal. This is the first mouthful on tape, he didnt even pull a funny face. It was even funnier as the feed went on, he was shaking when the food came closer to his mouth, he wanted it so much lol It gave us a giggle, and so I have decided to just give him a little at dinner time while we are eating. It should help him overnight with something heavier in his tummy. I really thought I would put off giving him food till 6 months like Brea, but my little boy is hungry a lot and putting on weight quickly! We have even turned the seat around in the car. They grow so fast!

7 days straight.... am I insane yet?

Well tomorrow is the 7th day so being on my own with the kids for all that time still could push me too the limit. lol But seriously, the first week on the job, with Jason working 7 days straight hasn't been as bad as what I thought it would be, and at the end of the day there are always good stories to listen too about the nut bags he has had run-ins with. So going all good here. Didnt do too much this week after our busy couple of weeks on holidays and graduation etc. Cleaning, washing and just chilling out. Went on a play date to Leana's on Wednesday with was great fun and the kids played really well and we all didnt want to go home. Sorry Leana, we all know we stayed way too long. The other girls did some bollywood dancing in the loungeroom for their excercise and it was a crack up. If there was more room to join in I may have ;)

Here is a pic of Jasons first day before he left.

His shifts was 8am-4pm so it was so strange having him there when I woke up - he is usually gone every morning when he was travelling to the Academy at Oxley.

Today (Saturday) I took the kids for a swim at Nans and Pops to keep them sane in the muggy weather, and the water was beautiful! After their naps Jason came home and we went up to the North Pine Dam for Family Day. There was a great breeze and the kids were tearing around and then we could see the rain coming over the dam -

And then on us! The kids played in the rain and were having a ball jumping in puddles and getting wet. And photo after the rain.

It was still overcast so it looks dark...
the kids wet through and washing their feet off.

Tomorrow is the Primary Presentation so we will see how that goes. Trent has one line to say and is the first kid up on the stand

'My name is Trent, and I'm a child of God'

He is looking forward too it. But I will be on my own tomorrow as Jasons working again. Lucky Nanna is coming up and can help me out....she is Stake Primary President so its not JUST to see Trent and hear his one liner....but mostly lol

What we've been waiting for....

So its been the first family holiday in while. We went up to Coolum for 3 nights and had a great time swimming and hanging out at the beach. The kids just loved the water and it was a struggle getting them out. Jason did a good job keeping up with the kids in the water while I was with Cameron most of the time.

The Resort pool and slide

Resort Mini Golf

Sandcastles on Coolum beach

What really goes on once the kids go to sleep -
Thai dinner, pumpkin/cheese/chive bread from
the markets with Tasmanian Cheeses, Ice cream and cool drinks.

After watching his brother and sister run around all day Cameron thought he would give it a go

It was great to get away after the long days at the Academy for Jason and long days with the kids for me. What was funny is that next door in room 9 was one of the Sargents from the Academy - we couldnt believe it - of all the places either of us could have stayed, right next door?

Saturday after our morning beach swim we went up to the Eumundi (uhhh i dont think thats how it is spelt) markets, it was a little hot but lots of great food, smells, music, stalls, and crafts to see. We just had a great time together.

Cam had lots to say about our holiday....

Graduation Day arrives!

So the day finally came. We couldn't believe that it had and it now seems like such a long road for us, but yet it is over already. Hard to believe really. Jason's grandparents were over from NZ and we were all there of course. It was a good day besides the heat (the basketball court took a long time to cool down and by that time it was time to go.) and we were all so proud!!! When they all finish marching to their spots, Jason is in the first group on the left - last row, 4th from the end. Can you spot him...its a little like that book - wheres Wally. hehe

The kids loved watching the marching and the dogs, and were quite good considering the heat and the hour and a half sitting time. Trent walked in the stadium and said 'wow this is a nice house' - hehe. Here are some more photos of the ceremony.

We took some great family shots after and then went to dinner.

Dinner that night

Grandpa with a sticker on his nose & Jaime

Nanny, Brea and Con. Jowett :)


It was a great day and overall, the end of one era and the start of the next for us.
First day at the station starts next Monday.

For our favourite New Zealand Nanny

This post is dedicated to our Nanny. She is so sweet :)
and its her Birthday

Here is a message to her from the kids (and us too)




We love you Nanny - see you tomorrow (he he he)
he does mean next week.

MMMMwwwaaaahhhh!!!! (big kiss)

Are chores fun? My kids think so...(for now)

So the kids did their jobs last week and so yesterday (Sunday) Trent was saying to me - do a new chart mum - I cant believe how good this thing has been for them. Trent will get up in the morning, get dressed, put his clothes away and make his own bed (the best he can) and he is excited to get his 2 starts for that. That's not to mention he will initiate the other chores through out the day. I barely have to ask him to do anything and Brea, well she isn't as keen but if she sees him doing it she will have a go sometimes, and other times she will offer to help vacuum (when i am) or take out the rubbish (when I am doing it myself) so its nice not to ask them - they just offer :) AND ITS ALL THANKS TO THE STAR CHART. So today I put another one up on the panrty door and took photos for you all to see. WE also do a number of the week, and put that up there too. We have puzzles that make numbers so we put the next one together and count out how every many apples it is and pop that up too. Then we practise numbers. They were very engaged in it all this morning. I only get them to do it if they want too. After all, that's when they learn the best right?

Old Chore Charts 20 starts = TREAT



New ones ready to go




Writing our Numbers

At about 10am we had my friend Jane and her kids come over and give us a doll house that her kids dont really play with anymore. My two just LOVE it. They played with it from 10 till about 12.30pm when i tore them away for a nap - with the promise to play again when they wake up. Amazing what a new (even if its a friends pre loved) toy can do for YOUR sanity lol Its been a great day so far. Busy kids are happy kids.

What a Splash!

Went to Southbank today. Its a great place and after the renovations, its even better. There is a great wading/play area for the kids to run around and get wet in the water that spouts out of the concrete - on and dont forget its FREE, besides the parking :( After a while it got a little cold and so we just went for a walk around in the sun before heading over to the 'Lollie Shop' that has every kind of treat you could think of. The kids had reached their 20 star targets for helping out so they got to choose some pretty cool stuff to eat, and then we walked around the saturday morning markets. Oh boy, I am glad we didnt plan to spend any money or I would have spent a whole heap. There were some beautiful girls swimmers and shoes I wanted for Brea. Maybe next time. We then headed over to a YSA activity (Jason is in YSA as a leader so he needed to be there anyway) and had a BBQ for lunch. It was a great day and the kids were tuckered out. Trent keeps reminding me that we can go 'tomorrow, you know'

It was a really nice day. I just love Spring!

So what now?

We dont have much going on this week. So what do I post about??? Monday we went to Bribie Island after work for a spontaneous visit, a short swim and fish and chips on the beach as the sun set. I asked Jase were the camera was and we FORGOT it. It was a pretty sunset too :(

In upcoming weeks, Jason's Gratuating, we are going on a 4 Day holiday to Coolum and I am lucky enough to be going to a concert with a friend in early November (Kate Miller-Heidke) so excited.

So posting in a few weeks will be great reading, but what do I do until then...... maybe we should take pics of us just pulling funny faces...


(ohhh thats shocking)

or post random stuff about the kids....yawn....


here is my beautiful girl Brea

maybe pop back for an update in 2 weeks when the exciting stuff is happening.

Little Chefs

Sunday we spend the afternoon at Nanna Candy's, where the kids made pizzas for lunch. They love wearing their chefs aprons and hats, but daddy took a photo of them on Nanna's camera and we don't have the pics yet. Here is a photo of them in the aprons and hats on a different day. We picked them up from a Westfield cupcake making station during the last school holidays for free. Arnt they adorable (the oufits I mean, oh and the kids too lol) Little Miss 2 is busy eating in the second shot while she strikes a pose....