Tahlia starts at the ELC

This week Tahlia started at the ELC (Early Learning Centre) for the first time. She is in the room Nathan was in last year. Nathan has started the 3 year old program and has moved up into the next room.

They both had been excited all week about going and every morning Nathan would wake up and say "Tahlia and l are off the "school" today"? " and l get to wear undies there". Renee had to keep explaining that no today was ... and there was ... till he goes back to the ELC.

Nate and Tahlia all ready to go.



Renee was a bit concerned about Nathan and toilet training at his first day back. But Renee was prepared and packed a few sets of clean clothes and undies in case he neeeded them. But he was dry ALL day. What a champ. We were both so proud of him. A big boy now!

All excited

Nige came with us as we dropped both kids off at the ELC, and as soon as we got in the door they were gone. Tahlia headed outside to her favourite place where the cubby sits and Nathan ran off to his teachers from 2008 for a cuddle. No tears today when mummy and daddy left. I think Nige and Renee may have had some tears that our babies are no longer babies.

So off to work Nige went and Renee went to enjoy some shopping without the kids tagging along. The little things you miss when you have children. Mind you it was the kids we were shopping for.

They both came home that night tired but excited about their day and asking when they were heading back.

On the weekend we caught up with Nige's folks and had a BBQ tea up at Emerald Lake. A lovely place and popular with tourists as this is where you will find the famous train Puffing Billy (we did not get to see him though).

Watch out for trains.

After dinner we went for a walk and found a mother duck swimming with her little ducklings. So we stopped to watch them, they were so cute.

Little duckling.


The beautiful scenery.



One cheeky boy.

One cheeky girl.

The crazy parents.

Make sure you tune in for next week as we will have our report on our 4x4 trip. Plenty of pics and stories to tell we are sure.

Nige has not lost his romantic side....

What a busy week it has been. Nige went back to work on Tuesday after having the Christmas/New Year period off. He went hiking with Renee's dad and Uncle for 4 days of hiking up near Mt Feathertop up in the high country. They came back tired but had some great memories and photos to remember their trip.

Renee has been trying to get into photography more, and has joined an online challenge where she has to take a photo a day and post it onto this website. Has been a challenge and up against some great photographers who have had a lot more experience and talent. So Renee is just a newbie.

A St Andrews spider in our garden.

Renee, the kids and Mim took the kids down to Sorrento Beach on the weekend. Nige's folks Jean and Dave came along as well. Seeing the weather was good we wanted to take the kids to the beach while the weather was actually warm. As it has been an odd summer with one hot day and then back to cold and wet the next. So we make the most of it.

Tahlia eating her HUGE strawberries.



Mim.


Tahlia


Nate & Grandad

Nate, Grandad & Grandma


Tahlia building sand castles.

We went to the park up in Montrose for a morning. They have painted a lot more little shops (even a little library) for the kids to play in. They are little mini buildings of the shops in the town.

Tahlia playing

Tahlia on an evening walk.

ige spoilt Renee with a night to Gold Class cinemas to see Seven Pounds, was nice to sit down to a meal and watch a movie without having to worry about the kids or to keep a track of the time. But then night did not end their, we had a lovely walk down the beach. Such a lovely evening for it and then Nige surprise Renee with a night at a hotel. In a spa suite. Renee was very surprised, more to the fact that she was not able to guess (she usually does and spoils the surprise). Thanks to nanny and poppy for staying over and minding the kids.

Sun setting under the pier.

Nige was quite cheeky and went down to the hotel in the afternoon and dropped off our clothing and toiletries and even had a bunch of flowers in the room.

The lovely bunch of flowers.

The spa and champers.

Cheers!!!!

Hello all,

Wondering who knows where summer has gone. It has been up and down here. One day will be a nice 30C and then the next is back down to 19C. Its hard to keep up.

Makes it harder too when we plan to Toilet Train (TT) Nate and the day we start it is cool and the poor boy is running around in his undies. We have been slowly getting there and he is doing well till the afternoon when he has had a few accidents. Believe me they never told me it would be this hard. It's both emotionally and phyiscally draining on both Nathan and Renee. Nige gets his go over the weekend.

Other then TT Renee has joined a photography challenge on a parent's forum. For this month she has to take a photo a day and put it up in this forum. It has been a challenge let me tell you. First to try and find something different to take each day and when she wants the kids to be a part of it trying to get them to co-operate. Renee even tried to take photos of the cat the other evening but did not work too well. Well didn't they say do not work with animals and kids.

You can find the photos on facebook if you want to look or let us know and Renee will give you the link to the forum.

Well back to the TT and finding some new ideas for photos... Till next time.

Happy New Year 2009

Wow to think 2009 is here already. I am sure the years are flying by a lot more quicker. Or is it just because we are getting older and never finding enough time in the day/year to achieve everything we want or need to.

We hope you all had a great 2008 and l have been spending some time trying to remember what happened in 2008. I know New Years Day in 2008 was 42C in Melbourne. What a complete change to this year. It is cool, overcast and has rained on and off and about 20C. We have only had a handful of warm days this summer. I am hoping we see plenty more so we are able to take the kids to the beach and pool.

Looking back at the blog pics of Jan 2008 it shows little Tahlia has grown so much in 12 months. I guess you do not notice it as much when we are with her so often. But looking back at photos you can certainly tell she has grown so much. Not a little baby anymore.

Well it is a quiet New Years Day here. Nige has gone off hiking for a few days with Dad H and Uncle Neil. They have gone up to Mt Feathertop. Certainly will be cold overnight there. About -2C so they say. So it is just the kids and myself at home. I am sure we can find some things to do. If the weather improves l plan to take them to the beach.

We had a quiet night last night and had a BBQ at Renee's parents house. Seeing we were not able to catch up with them on Christmas Day (due to illness) we caught up with them last night. Was a good night.

Tahlia all ready to go with her new backpack.

Tahlia all dressed up ( l can't believe how much her hair has grown).

Nate.

Great nana and Tahlia



What more presents to open.

Nige, Nathan and great popa.

We all hope 2009 is a great year for you and that you can continue to read (and enjoy) our family adventures in our blog.