Another busy week here, but at least the weather has not been too bad. Plenty of sunshine and cold mornings but the kids do not complain they love nothing better then getting outside. I think to play either in the dirt or mud.

But thinking of those in NSW and Queensland who had been in the floods. Would have been nice if you had shared some of the rain with us down here... lol can't believe it when they said that Queensland got as much rain as we had in a year in 3 days.

We spent the weekend (well Nige did) cleaning out the study and clearing out the baby things such as the cot, high chair to sell. Does not seem that long ago that they were little and using all those things. But then again the time has just flown by.

We (Renee and the kids) spent some time one afternoon cooking. They made chocolate yogo and helped make dinner for that evening. They even gobbled up all their dinner, maybe the kids should help more often.

Getting ready to help cook.


Tahlia stirring the food.

Now Nate's turn.

Tahlia is funny and calls any meat bacon. Tuna, chicken is all bacon. Even when you try and correct here she shoves it in her mouth and grins and says "bacon". Oh well if she thinks it is bacon and will gobble it all up then we won't tell her otherwise. She loves her bacon, and is usually a fussy eater.

Nathan is such a character lately and not sure who he gets it from. Renee got a little excited at the dinner table when telling eveyrone something and started to talk fast. Nate then joined in with the babble and then said " I can't stop talking so fast, everything is so fast".. think he was picking on mummy there. Cheeky boy.

After the Wiggles Concert (more later on that) we took the kids to the Botanical Gardens. While Nige was paying the parking metre Renee started to walk with the kids who had run off. It was lunch time and a lot of workers out in their lunch hour jogging.

Nate then stands on the edge of the path with his arm outstretched facing the joggers, so he could recieve a HI 5 everytime one came past. If they were in the middle of the path he would move so he could get the HI 5. He thought it was great. Cheeky boy!

Then sitting at some traffic lights, we were right next to a tram stop where there were a few people waiting. Next thing they are laughing so we turn around to the back to find Nate showing them his drink bottle and pulling faces and waving. Must take after his father.

As we said earlier we took the kids to see the Wiggles in Concert. Thanks to Great-grandma who gave Nate some money towards the tickets for his birthday. Not sure who enjoyed it more Nate and Tahlia or Renee and Nige. It was great and colourful with a circus theme. Even the wiggles got up and were doing tricks and somersaults. It was a great family day out with a trip to the botanical gardens and the Shrine afterwards.

Tahlia all ready for the Wiggles.







Nate at the Shrine.

Tahlia hugging a tree

Mummy and the kids.

What do you see?

Till next week.

All dressed up.

After a busy weekend over mothers day with both Nate's birthday and Mothers day it was nice for life to slow down a bit.. only a bit though. We had a wedding to attend to this week. Was lovely to get an invite to Karina and Ben's wedding. Meant we all had to scrub up and get dressed up. Renee considered going in her eyeore pj's she got for mothers day but thought she may need to try a little harder and dress up a little more. Would have been warmer in pj's however. Was a cold and chilly 15 degrees on the day.

The kids all dressed up.

The family

Went to check on Tahlia one afternoon and could not find her in her room, till we looked under the bed... She was hiding from bears and fell asleep so she told us when she woke up.

Till next week.....

Mothers Day 2009

Mothers day 2009 came along quickly. A busy day for our household. Breakfast with Renee's family at a little nursery in Berwick. Then took the kids out to the Berwick Botanical gardens for them to have a run around and to loose some of that energy (they have too much and we are sure they steal ours). It was a lovely and sunny day so perfect for a play in the park.

What Nate & Tahlia made for mummy.

Tahlia loves the open wide spaces and loves to run off from mummy and daddy and hides in the bushes and under trees. Soon givers herself away with her giggling.


Tahlia playing in the botanical gardens in Berwick.

Our beautiful girl.

Mummy finally caught up to the little cheeky runabout as we were climbing the stairs of the look out tower. And what a view! But only a quick look as both were back down the stairs and heading down the path, with mummy and daddy running after them.

Mother & daughter.

Finally got them still enough for a family photo. Do not get many of them as Renee is usually the one behind the camera. This is actually a good photo. Very hard to get the kids to stay still or even look at the camera.

Our happy family.

And last but not least Nate finally sat down next Renee, Nige grabbed the camera and made the most of the moment. Had to be quick though.

Mother & son.

Our plan worked and the kids were soon asleep in the car. Back home for a rest and then off to the Murdens for dinner.

A good Mothers day.

Tahlia New bed

Nige has been making Tahlia's bed the past few months when he has a spare moment. He got the design off Better Home and Gardens for those who are wondering and it is a butterfly bed.

Happy birthday Nathan

Can't believe my little boy is now 4, it only seems like it was yesterday that he was a newborn. But then isn't that what every parent says on each child's birthday. Renee remembers her dad saying that, l am sure he would still say it today, even though it has been a long time since she was born. (well feels like that).

After a lovely morning out in the autumn sunshine it was time to get home, give Nate's his birthday presents and then get ready for everyone to come over for his family party.

Nate's birthday present.

Nate was so excited about everyone coming over to see him. Everytime someone knocked on the front door he rushed there and had to see who it was. He was full of beans. Tahlia got in on the act and was full of beans too.

We opened his gifts first and he got some great things. Thanks everyone. He loves his tonka truck (even though he has one) but he told us that he will let Tahlia play with the old one so that they can play together. What a sharing and caring little boy.

Playing with their new toys.


Opening Presents.

Great-Nana and Tahlia.

Nate's Cake.

Nate blowing out the candles with the help of Great-popa.

A weekend full of celebrations.

What a weekend! Full of celebrations with Nate's 4th birthday (yes he really is already 4) and Mothers DayFriday night Nige and Renee were busy with the cake. That afternoon Renee had made a chocolate mud cake (yum), and Nige was making Marshmallow Fondant icing for the first time. An experience in itself. A lovely and sticky mess, and a lot of red food dye was needed. Nige even ran out and had to get more supplies. It was a bit of a giggle applying it to the cake, felt like we were playing with play-do. But it was a success and we were happy with the result. The icing was a lot nicer (and easier to spread) then the buttercream icing.

Nate was all excited about his birthday and could not wait for the day to come. He was up early Saturday, and however he did not ask for his presents (maybe he does not understand that birthdays = presents yet) but all he wanted to do was get up to see the tv towers up in the Dandenongs.

WhileRenee had to go out and return the cake tin we had hired to make Nate's cake, Nige and the kids stayed at home. Tahlia had gone quiet for a while and Nige found her with her lip balm and applying it to her lips. She had the right area but applied a little too much. Great 21st material.

Tahlia and her lip balm.

It had been drizzling most of the morning but cleared up as we headed up the Dandenongs. It was rather pretty when we got to the top, all misty with the low cloud. Nate was amazed to how tall the tv towers were and both kids kept getting watery eyes and dizzy from looking up so high. Nate even stated "When are we going to climb to the top". Always ready for an adventure that one.

The end of the tower is somewhere, way up there.

The boys in my life.


My little bear all rugged up.



We all went for a walk around the towers, the boys up the front doing "boys things" and Nate came out with "Gee it's peaceful out here". Glad to see he is starting to have a love for the bush just like his parents. He already loves walking.

Nige is off hiking over Queens Birthday with the boys and Nate overheard them talking about it and said to Nige "Now that l am a big boy (being 4 you know is big) l can come with you hiking". To which Nige replied "it will be too cold for you to come". It will be a 3 day hike and rather cold overnight. Nate thought about it and then quite senisble of him and replied "Daddy l do have a warm jumper to keep me warm. Funny kid... Maybe on the next hike Nate.

Misty Mountains.

Hiking thru the hills.

Next was Silvan dam to find some autumn leaves to run through. The sun was now out and had warmed up a bit, not that the kids cared. They just saw an open space which meant "let's run".

Cute Tahlia

Running through the leaves

Thinking about life.

Awesome Autumn colours.

Just another busy week

Renee spent the first weekend in May on the ladies camp with church down at Phillip Island. Her friend Miriam (Mim) came for the first time and was a wonderful weekend full of fellowship and pampering. Not the pampering in the way you are thinking of but we had to no cooking, no cleaning and no kids to look after. Yeah.

The weather was kinder to us this year, cool but at least the sun was shining but we did not walk the 7kms to Cowes this year. I think walking in the rain put us off last year.

Sadly the weekend just flew by. Never long enough. Once a month would be great!

While Renee was enjoying her time away, Nige had a wise idea and thought it would be fun to tackle steam cleaning the carpets. But even better to have 2 little "helpers" to help him over the weekend. Mad or just mad.

After a few mishaps, the first vacumn broke on the Saturday morning, so back in the car with 2 kids to bunning to return it only to have no more then. So kids back in the car again to the other bunnings to get another. Which they did have. Finally the carperts were done but now slowly still put everything back away where it belongs.

Nige spoke to Renee on the phone to say that the house was a "pigsty" and he was not joking. Renee could not even walk in the front door for it was blocked with boxes and furniture. But we are getting there. Have to as we are having Nate's party on Saturday.

Renee took some pics of the kids one morning before heading to playgroup. The sun was out and the kids were happy to have their photos taken. Have to laugh at Nate's "cheesey"smile that he insists on doing in every photo.

























Both kids enjoying the autumn sunshine.


























Nate and his "cheesy" grin

























And beautiful Tahlia

It's Spiderman.

Nate's new interest is Spiderman. Funny as he has never even seen spiderman on tv or DVD. So no idea where he learnt about spiderman. He wanted some pics of him with Tahlia in his favourite jumper. The hood is spiderman's mask. Nate loves to run around with the "mask" on.

Tahlia & "Spiderman"

Tahlia

Tahlia's making of her bed and Nate's new hair cut.

The making of Tahlia's bed.

It will be a butterfly bed, here is the bedhead with a butterfly cut-out.

Nige is slowly getting there, with having time off work sick with a nasty virus/cold that we were not able to fight off and suffered for 3 long weeks. But meant Nige could spend some time on the bed. Tahlia loves her bed and keeps telling daddy to go out and paint the bed.

The bedhead

Nige had taken over the carport and it certainly looked like a small workshop after a few days or working with wood. Just as well we do not park the car in the there anymore.

Nate's new haircut.

We got sick of shaving his head and coming up to winter it is getting too cold to shave. Plus it was time for a new look. Nate loves his new look. Its "cool".