City of Churches

Well we are back and we had such a great time in Adelaide. Oskar was showered with attention and presents and was so well behaved throughout the week. Now we are back though he asks for another present everyday. ...Got to nip that in the bud quickly. 

We did so much in a week and it really felt like 2 . I think this was because we were in so many locations along the way. 

A little recap and diary entry of our time in the City of Churches. The funny thing was every time we passed a church in the car Oskar exclaimed..."Castle mummy...princess tower!" ...It's a 'Shrek' thing and we just don't make them on the Gold Coast like they do down there. 

We spent the first 2 days with Em, Justin, Eden and Polly and on Sunday went to check out the Garden of Unearthly Delights at the Adelaide Fringe site.

                                               The kids got a little ride on a vintage carousel.

                                           ... it was hot, so then they enjoyed a little Gelati...

 ....and there was an awful amount of this going on back at home and they loved it! Guess what Oskar is getting for his 3rd birthday!? Lucky Oskar can't read yet.

We then spent the next couple of days in Goolwa at the family beach house and after getting through a tough night of food poisoning I was well enough to join the family on the boat.. it was a spectacular day! Dad however started to feel my same symptoms that morning but refused to cancel the day. What a man! I don't know how he did it.

 We had perfect weather and the fish were plentiful. We even got tired of re-baiting our hooks and Kayhla started dropping the line in bait free and to our amazement we were still pulling up 2 fish at a time moments after dropping it in! It was so much fun. Most we had to throw back as they were undersized, but it actually felt better releasing them than throwing them into a bucket. Oskar wanted more more more!

                                               We set up a picnic rug on a grassy beach 

and relaxed after our fishing......

            

Chillin....

                                   

                                             ........   and then slid down some sand dunes!

 ....collected some shells.....

   ....and then laughed at the state of our hair by the end of it all!

We finished the week back at home with a celebration dinner for Elena's 21st. It was a  beautiful banquet with a very impressive snapper as the centrepiece. Dad made a stand especially for it. Good work father.

      What a trip. 

What a great way to spend a week!

Friends, Family and great food.

(except for that dodgy stuff that gave me food poisoning)

Up in the air we fly....

Zoom zoom zoomy zoom zoom!

We are off to visit Grandmas and Grandpa and friends in Adelaide for the week. Oskar is so excited...... perhaps it has something to do with a present that he has been promised on the plane. 

He has been talking about going on the boat with Grandpa and Kayhla all week. We are really looking forward to a nice break and catching up with everyone. Fingers crossed Oskar is an angel on the plane. I am excited for the adventure he is about to have.  

What's cooking?....

My new project that's what! Our new kitchen.

Now it may not happen this year , but if I don't start compiling all our favourite kitchens then nothing will ever happen. So I had to ask myself...what do we want in a kitchen and how do we want it to look and function? I think function is the most important question to address. A kitchen can look great, but if it doesn't feel comfortable to work in or isn't planned well for the end user correctly then I guess it would be a disaster and not a pleasant place to spend everyday......and what sometime feels like all day everyday...when will the dishes end?... never Erika so get used to it. Luckily, I have a trusted and skilled friend who used to be a kitchen designer to help in that area! Yes, that means I will be calling on you C!

I have got my online corkboard ready to fill. Thanks Pintrest..what a clever idea!

Concentrating on looks first...we can plan later. We love Jamie's kitchen from his new series 30 minute meals and I have found another couple of kitchen that also have elements that i love...They all have a bit of a modern eclectic, industrial, rustic charm ...but most of all feel very welcoming and homely. I just don't know how it is possible to live in homes with 'clean lines', minimalist design etc.....especially with kids. If it is then whoever is living there is a better house wife than I.

   RUBRIK Ikea Kitchen 

A constant in my collection seems to be brick, however and without a brick wall in our house I don't know if I can create the same atmosphere......would it be wrong to line a perfectly good gyprock wall with raw brick? and how would it fit in. I am also not sure how you would deal with the grease and dirt that would settle on brick in a kitchen. Perhaps a certain tile or paint colour could set a similar tone.

Recipease in Clapham Junction- Jamie's foodies paradise.

A must......Timber bench top mixed with Stone bench tops, Huge window facing the garden, Island bench for easy circulation around the kitchen, pendant and task lighting, Display shelves for favourite pieces, greenery, tall tap in the sink, low drawers rather than cupboards............This is my Diary remember so don't read this boring stuff. It is really just so I can look back on this and compare it to what we actually end up with.

There's a lion in my bed...

So Oskar's new animal of the month is a small lion. It is made by Schleich...why mention this? you may ask.Well this German company make the best animal figurines out in the world of toys..in my opinion. So if you have kids or expecting kids (as many of my friends are) this is the brand to get. The detail on them is extraordinary (and if you  have met Emet you would have seen) and most importantly they are as tough as nails. The paint cant be eaten or chewed away and I just love them. Even when Oskar grows out of them I want to keep them for myself.

Lion, or 'Yion' as Oskar calls him, goes everywhere with us. The car , the bath, sits with us at dinner and of course..... to bed.

We lost him the other day and looked everywhere for him.....later I hopped in to bed and smiled as I pulled back the covers to find a lone lion sleeping in my bed. It was quickly returned to it rightful owner and the crisis was diverted.

Thank you 'Yiddle Yion'  for giving Oskar so much enjoyment. Raaaarrr!

I don't remember playing with plastic animals when i was a kid, but perhaps mum and dad could remind me. My most vivid memory from childhood of any animals is of a serving dish my Auntie had. ...it had a clear perspex square top and tiny little screws drilled down into each corner into the back of 4 small plastic tigers. It was very quirky and I always think of it when I see animal figurines today.  

Little Man and his Little Friends

Oskar is certainly learning to play a lot more now by himself and his miniature friends. He has begun watching animated movies..... hey it gives me some time to clean the house and make some dinner when he does, so no judging please. He seems to recreate the action in the movies while adding his own twists in the storyline, usually involving someone falling off a table and the other animal helping them. He then mimics what we do if he hurts himself...."Oh no...Are you Ok?...I'll kiss it better"

When he plays like this I always find myself watching in awe (as any mum would) at his innocent play and imagination. It honestly doesn't feel so long ago when I was doing the same with my toys. Barbie and Lego occupied me for hours....not both at the same time. This is such a precious time and it is so much fun when I join in and play with my little man and his little friends in his make believe world.

Herbert the Hippo

We had one of those mornings today where Oskar just did not want to cooperate. The desire to scramble under the covers of our bed and hide from lions and dinosaurs overpowered my desire for him to get dressed and ready for day care. After a long and unsuccessful attempt to try to settle him down and cooperate...Cam stepped in and offered to tell him a story....Oskar's eyes lit up and he stopped and said 'hippo story!' (Oskars new favourite animal of the week)

.....and  this is the story Cam made up to give me time enough to change a nappy, and get him dressed. I don't think Oskar  found it as amusing as I did, but it sure did keep him settled as he listened.........

Herbert the Hippo.

There once was a young hippo named Herbert,

who lived in the dam down the lane,

He had 4 brothers and 4 sisters.

Some were older and some were younger.

Herbert was right in the middle.

Herbert had a special talent.

He could twirl 7 hula hoops all at once!

Until one day... Herbert slipped a disc and had to go see a chiropractor...

...even though he preferred Physios and Osteopaths. 

Water Water Everywhere....

So it has been raining now for....6..plus 3...then there was that weekend...carry the 1........I don't know how many days! Let's just say it has been raining a lot, and today I thought perhaps things might start to dry out a little as the sun returned today and we were finally able to mow our lawn again! Nothing like a freshly mown lawn....but just when I thought the dark clouds had past.... it rained again.... edit..bucketed down. So, it appears I am still adjusting to Qld summers.

I actually like the rain and this tropical warm climate...but I must say I am over the damp. Everything in our house seems to be growing mould. Everything! The couches, our timber furniture, place mats, cushions, even paper!! and anything that is outside doesn't stand a chance.

I know I should just be very thankful that we aren't flooded and I certainly am,  as these rains continue to reek havoc to some western and southern regions...... I just wish I new how to combat this mould.

I am also running out of ideas to entertain a toddler indoors without my head exploding. It seems we will have to wait it out just a little longer.

On a positive note: it is doing wonders for the garden!