Weekends in a Winter Wonderland

We have had a very mild winter on the Gold Coast this year, and we are very lucky to have enjoyed some beautiful warm, sunny weekends together.

 
When we are not in the garden, we head to the beach. There is sometimes a battle to get everyone in the car calmly, and even a tantrum here and there, but in between all that....there is this.....and it is'this' that makes it all worth while.

In between the sun......we had some rain. Oskar is learning some card games now and although I would love to play some board games with him....he is not quite there yet. 'Guess Who' became 'Look who I've got!! Hmmmm didn't quite grasp it!...However he is the master of 'Go Fish'!

Then the sun came out again.................so Oskar hit the water while we looked on.

1947.....a good year.

 This July, mum also turned 66, and we were very happy to be able to celebrate together.

We had a pre-birthday morning tea on the deck.

I painted this.... and couldn't wait to give it to her. I owe mum some handcrafted gifts after all the wonderful things she has made me over the years. 

On the day we went out for lunch at Burleigh.......unfortunately the rain came too.

  ...and during their stay, they did this......as well as helping me through my long list of chores, however I wont bore you with photos of mum hanging washing, mending and dad washing our windows and sanding furniture!!!

 Thank you for a wonderful visit Grandma and Grandpa!

...and Happy Birthday to a very special lady in our lives. We love you. x

We Hunted Taipans in China Today.........

Oskar and I flew to China (the front yard) to look for Taipans (dead palm fronds)..... we have hunted lions in Africa and pretended to be tigers in Asia............This weekend we had to escape from baddie pirates who were trying to capture us with their pew pews. (guns)

I can't wait to see where your imagination takes you next my darling.

Eight Months & Milestones.

Well it has been a whole month since my last update, and before I get into what we've been up to ....let me just update you on what our new little bird has been up to and what she has accomplished....Get ready for a love fest!!!!!!

Firstly...as a mum I just need to say (because it is my right!), that she has been getting cuter and cuter every day!

Ivy now has 2 teeth!, and with them, she is eating lumpy solids and feeding herself small pieces of food. Strawberries are the favourite!

She plays and laughs along with games and songs and wears perhaps too many stripes at once!

Ivy is getting closer and closer to crawling, although still prefers to stand.

She has moved on to the bottle after many failed attempts and now still wakes at 2am...still working on that. After the first 5 months of sleeping all night long....... I know she has it in her!

Life has been pretty cruisy with little Ivy, and although I'm always busy, with not enough hours in the day to get through things, I am certainly feeling like I am far more relaxed emotionally. Things are much easier the second time round. Maybe it's me...maybe it's her...maybe it's because we are reacting to each other.

Something I've come to realise from friends who said that having 2 is so much harder than having 1 is this..................it's not harder because of the new baby....oh no ...........the challenges come from the first born....yes that's you Oskar! There was definitely some adjusting our little 4 year year old had to do, and sometimes struggled with the shared attention. I am glad to say now that things have settled down and a '10 sticker and prize reward board' has seen a huge improvement in behaviour.

I also know this...Oskar loves Ivy very very much.

Challenges, tiredness, discipline, sleepless nights, no social life, messy house...did i mention tiredness?......................laughter, hugs, kisses, surprises, amazement, innocence, LOVE..............we wouldn't have it any other way.

xx

Park life

We discovered a fantastic new park tucked away in Mudgeeraba. It is amazing how relaxing it is to sit on a picnic rug and enjoy the outdoors with your family in a park that is not filled with people. No nearby traffic to worry about or fights over the swings.....only the sounds of birds and distant cows in the paddock. It is a very different experience to the parks at the beach, which are usually very busy and you have to always be on guard while watching he doesn't get lost in the crowd. 

Our new local........

  

 

Eleventeenth Anniversary!

Cam and I  celebrated our 11 year anniversary this month.............after reminding him on the day.

 Arnside, 2002- Really?...has it been that long?!

Perhaps it is confusing having both a wedding anniversary and a 'day we became a couple' anniversary, but I can't ignore the 10 years before our wedding day. I also believe the time we fell in love is more important than the day we chose to celebrate our 'love' with our family and friends.(sorry Cam, but you are going to have to remember 2 dates)

Happy Eleventeenth (as Oskar would say) Anniversary Cam!

Still trying to teach Oskar that Eleventeen is not actually a number and also working on his camera skills! 

1947

Two amazing women we know were born in 1947. The first to celebrate their birthday this year was this wonderful woman.

We shared a lovely wintery day on the deck indulging in old wine, cheese and amazing olives, and a warming Osso Bucco made with love by Cameron...and it was goooooooood. So good, it was devoured before I got a chance to take a photo. (Note to self : leave Cameron alone in the kitchen more often)

The rain finally made us shelter inside, however we quickly lit the fire and were cosy and warm just in time for Ivy  to wake up and be showered with cuddles. 

We hope you had a lovely Birthday Mary, and we hope your celebrations continue on your holiday. Bon Voyage!

6 months topped with raspberries!

As we were celebrating Oskar turning 4 recently....Ivy turned 6 months old in the very same week!

A little 6 month update for the family.

Ivy is eating solids, playing peekaboo, wanting to stand and see every little thing going on around her. She is commando crawling across the floor to get to her toys and laughing a lot (especially at Oskar)......

                                     

She was making lots of sounds and talking in her own language for a while there, however lately that has been replaced with this.......

(Note- need to turn head 90 degrees to watch! whoopsy! I'll figure out how to fix this eventually!)

Raspberries are her favourite thing at 6 months old.

xo

....and then they were four!

Oskar and his best buddy Asha turned four last week! Yes Four!.......Some people ask if it has gone quickly, and I can honestly say it has not. It feels like Oskar has been a part of our lives for much more than four years. We have done oh so much together, grown as parents and a family,  that it is hard to think about the time before Oskar{BO}... However, I do recall it being somewhat more relaxing, however certainly not as rewarding.

Thank you to our family and friends for the cards and presents that you sent, they certainly made his day! x

To celebrate this year, Elisha and I decided to throw a little joint birthday party for their friends at Kindy who they have grown with over the last 4 years, and may be saying goodbye to soon before starting school. 

It went a little bit like this..........  

  Animal Safari Cake made with love .....Check!

After an anxious night of howling winds and rain, we thankfully woke to sunny skies and the day was glorious! 

 Food for the kids.....check! (which seemed to be a waste of time as all they wanted to eat were lollipops!)

 Food for the parents....check!

Jumping Castle....check!

Lots of fun had on Jumping Castle!......Check Check Check!

13 friends to celebrate with .....check!

..and then there was the pinata that would not burst!.....in the end Terry (a dad) had to bash it and tear it open with his hands! 

There were some crazy dance moves!

A crazy lady who thought it would be a good idea to make balloon animals and flowers!...what was she thinking?!

Birthday Wishes!

...and 2 happy families and even happier 4 year olds!.....check!

Even though it was a huge success ...we do know that a party like this this will not be happening again for a long time....although if I want a way to entertain Oskar for 7 hours straight, then I may just hire one of these again. 

Goodbye Super Amazing Jumping Castle!

 Happy Birthday Oskar and Asha! 

...and thanks to Elisha, Jay and Cam for your help.. what a team!

  I hope you like your new bike Oskar!

Happy Birthday

We look forward to the ride ahead!

xo