Sam!

So surprisingly (for some) we have a new member of the family. For about eight and a half months we thought it was going to be a Ruby Sparkles (Jack's choice of names) but we ended up with Sam instead. Luckily he's cute and doesn't cry too much, or feed as often as Jack did, so we think we'll keep him. More photos to follow.

Bunningtastic Birthday Bash!

ta-da!

We decided (where 'we' means me) that due to the imminent arrival of RubySparkles* it would be prudent to have Jack's birthday party early. I was hoping for early March but got the last Sunday in February. My choice was limited due to the fact that we were booking the party at Bunnings. Bunnings?

Whilst I haven't been the biggest fan of Bunnings in the past, though I do like the availability of sausage sangers on weekends, I have to say I was impressed by the party. We turned up and all the bits and pieces were set out ready to make toolboxes. Kids, with the help of parents and the lovely professor and Cassie from Bunnings (whose crowd control was impressive) put their toolboxes together




and then painted them.


After that it was off to the cafe and playground for Cake,


hammer shaped biscuits


and teddy racers. According to one guest it was, "the BEST party EVER!" which I was well pleased with and we didn't even have to tidy up.
The surprise hit of the party bags were these mini Groucho Marx glasses which I thought would amuse me (they did) but the kids loved them too, though they thought they were Harry Potter glasses.



And of course Jack and I got a sausage on the way out (it's for charity you know).

*RubySparkles is Jack's new brother or sister due in a week and a bit!

Ballet star

thrilled?

At the beginning of this year Jack decided he didn't want to do ballet anymore. And then halfway through the year he changed his mind. Just in time for the preparations for the end of year ballet extravaganza. No matter what, it always seems stressful with long essays being sent home about costumes and makeup and rehearsals (though Jack's makeup section was left blank).

lots of pink fairies and Jack

Somehow Jack made it to every rehearsal and S took him to his matinee performance. That night Ganma, Nonno and I attended the evening performance. That was a long night although my dad, due to his hip was given special permission to arrive at half time. The "babies ballet" as they are dubbed were not on until near the end (to stop us all leaving early methinks) and there was Jack twirling tiredly right in the middle of the row. He was thrilled with his medal that he received at the end and is keen to do Ballet again next year.

Busy, busy, busy

I will breathe a sigh of relief when December is over. Firstly because it has been a very busy month with lots of parties, concerts and get-togethers and all the cooking that entails. It also hasn't been the best year (though I guess the second half was an improvement on the first).

We also went away twice in December before Christmas which S assured me would be relaxing but just made me mindful of my lists of things to do. Yes that's right lists plural. Such a sad, sad Capricorn. It did for the most part work except for not telling one person about the work secret Santa - whoops - and presents nearly not arriving (though that was due to our mailman having a heart attack). Anyway I thought I better do a recap of recent and not so recent events.

beach

When we visited the 'gong' (aka Wollongong) we stayed at Towradgi, not far from the beach. Jack and I visited it on our first day, after a lengthy play in the playground (mostly him). I mucked around with my camera, while he had a lovely time exploring rockpools.



When S had some free time we visited some other beaches up the coast. Jack had a ball but the water was freezing!

the gong

Someone recently commented on how we'd been away a lot lately. I thought that wasn't right and then I pondered and realised maybe we had. We've visited Sydney a few times for concerts (Gurrumul and the SSO) as well as visiting family.

We also spent a few days in the Gong. S presented a seminar at the Gong Uni and Jack and I had a little holiday. We saw the sights

(which included some awesome playgrounds),

visited the beach and the Buddhist temple - which I have always wanted to do - and ate lots of food that is not readily available around here. Fish and Chips, Vietnamese, Lebanese, real wood fired Pizza and Chinese. We even had yum cha at the temple. Highly recommended.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Lizzie

hissssssssssssssssssssss!

And we're back....on Tuesday I arrived home to find my way barred by a smallish but very fierce lizard. As I didn't want to squish it with the car I tried to persuade it to move. Even though, quite obviously I was the bigger party and it should have given way to me, it puffed itself up and ran at me. As I was wearing a dress (for Cup day) I took some very hasty backward steps. I didn't fancy those sharp little claws running up my leg.
Yesterday It appeared to have moved in. Not to the driveway, thankfully but not far from there. It had dug a hole and was puffing and carrying on. Jack was not impressed, but the dog was even less so. He varied between treating it with complete disdain (walking over the top of it) to chasing it. Eventually it stalked off in disgust and Lucky Dog, a dog on a mission, covered the hole so he would not be back.