Fire Station Visit

Our homeschooling playgroup went to a fire station yesterday. It was fantastic! Very interesting and we even got to see a real call-out! About 5 minutes into our tour the alarm went off - just a digital beeping noise, not a huge clanging bell! So we all had to move out of the way and off they went, sirens blaring. We thought the tour was over then and started making plans. We'd just decided to head to a local park, when the fire truck pulled back in to the station. It was a false alarm so we got to check out the truck a bit more and everyone got to get in too. The kids were crawling all through the cabin and sitting up on the drivers seat playing with the steering wheel. I even jumped in with Ewan - it was great - very comfortable!

Afterwards we all went to the park for lunch and the boys (we have about 6 boys aged between 2 and 4 that come!) were all excited and going crazy! They had a great time though once they settled down!

Liam The Creator

Liam is always busy creating things. Give him a roll of sticky tape, some toilet rolls, old boxes, any bits of rubbish really - and he's in heaven! He wakes at around 4:30/5am every morning and gets straight into it. He's been making some interesting things lately.

Here's his space helmet:



And his oxygen tank:

Afternoon Entertainment: Cardboard Boxes and A Hill

This is the boys' favourite afternoon entertainment! It's just out the front of our house - we have an extremely steep front yard - perfect for sliding down! Certainly puts all our packing boxes to good use!

Ewan's Vehicle of Choice:




Crash!




Liam Rolling Down:

Visit to Pop's House

We went up to see Pop and Heather's new house. It's not finished yet but they have certainly come a long way - it's looking great and we all loved it!

Heather's grandchildren, Candice and Memphis, were visiting too so the kids had a great time playing and exploring together. They also got to help decorate the Christmas Tree!

Sleeping Buddies

Ben was out last night so I put the boys to sleep in my bed. I lay in between them until they went to sleep. Later when we went to go to bed the boys were all snuggled up together.

Chef Liam

We had lunch at Nonna Lucy's house today. Chef Liam decided to create his own recipe. He was very proud of it and we all had to have a taste. He told Nonna Lucy that now she knew how to make it, she could cook it for dinner!

Here's the recipe -

Bread Pasta

Ingredients:
Cooked Pasta
Bread Rolls


Method:

1. Pull bread roll apart making lots of bread crumbs.

2. Mix bread crumbs through pasta.

3. Enjoy!

My Big Boy is Growing Up

This is Liam's 2nd night away from us. He went home with Nonna and Dida on Wednesday afternoon to stay with them for a few days on the farm. He was very excited and couldn't wait to go. I was nervous and didn't want to let go.

On Tuesday night, we had a bit of a talk - had some making up to do after a few angry episodes from both of us.

I said to Liam - "I'm going to miss you so much when you go to Nonna's." (I started crying)

Liam, very matter of fact - "I'll call you mum. You'll get to talk to me on the phone you know."

Me - Sobbing and laughing at the same time

He just sounded so grown up. Something you think of a teenager saying - not your 4 year old!

So Wednesday came and we spent most of the day together. It was really nice. Ewan conveniently went to sleep early, so Liam and I had some special time together doing craft and having morning tea. I made sure I talked to him and really listened to him. My heart was so full of love. Sometimes you forget how much you love them when they get older and so much more assertive. You have to look harder for the warm wonderful side when there have been days of being grumpy and both of us wanting different things. Liam and I are very much alike - both stubborn and like things a particular way - certainly makes life interesting! But he is also wonderfully warm and caring. Creative and funny. Clever and innovative - the things he can make out of a toilet roll and a cereal box amaze me!!

Saying goodbye was hard. I tried to hold back the tears but I couldn't. I told him how much I loved him and said goodbye. He said "I love you mummy" in his sweet, sincere little voice.

The house is so quiet without Liam. I knew that he talks a lot but it's only now without his constant questions that I realise just how much! Ewan asks about Liam a lot and has been saying things like "Here's a balloon for Lee (that's how he says Liam!)" forgetting that he's not here. He is enjoying it though and is getting in as much talk as he can while he has the chance! Ewan's been running around and loving the freedom to do what he wants instead of what Liam wants.

We've talked to Liam and he is having a great time too. Keeping busy with all the action of the farm work - lots of tractors and driving in trucks - all things he loves. I'm sure we'll be hearing about it for weeks afterwards!

We are going to pick him up tomorrow night. I can't wait to see him!

Melbourne Cup Luncheon!

We have our Homeschool Playgroup every fortnight and today was a playgroup day. So to celebrate the Melbourne Cup we had our own luncheon complete with hat making and our very own stick horse race!

It was a great day and everyone had a ball.

How 'Bout Nonna!

How 'bout Nonna - has become a common phrase around here thanks to Ewan.

Goes something like this........

Me: Who's bed do you want to sleep in?

Ewan: Nonna's bed. Me like sleeping with Nonna.

Me: What about Mummy?

Ewan: How 'bout Nonna.


or


Me: Guess who loves you? (meaning me!)

Ewan: Nonna!

Me: What about Mummy?

Ewan: How 'bout Nonna.


He knows how funny I think it is now so he says it all the time. Cheeky monkey!

Don't Lose Weight Mum!

Liam was up before 5am again this morning. I played with him for a little bit while Ben slept. Just after 5:30 though I decided to go for a walk.

I woke up Ben and asked him to get up so I could go. He was a bit eager with his yes and I jokingly said "Oh so you think I need to lose weight!".

Liam heard this and said "Don't lose weight mum! You'll be too short if you lose weight".

A New House

Well here we are in our new house and with life back to normal.

We found a house in a nearby suburb - not exactly where we wanted to be - but we didn't have much choice! We only found this place a week or so before we needed to move out of the old place!

It is working out great though and must have been meant to be! It's a great place with 4 bedrooms, seperate lounge and dining, all on one level, and with a nice size yard. We've already started our garden and have lots of herbs and a few tomato plants in - with more to come! The boys are loving it and it really feels like home.

The move went well though with being sick in the weeks leading up - first with gastro and then head colds - it was pretty full on. We got there though as always and have been here for almost a month now! Time flies - especially at this time of year! Can't believe it's getting close to Christmas already!!

5th Wedding Anniversay

Tomorrow is mine and Ben's 5th Wedding Anniversary! Can't believe how quickly 5 years have flown by and how much our lives have changed since that day - the arrival of two little boys certainly helped with that!!

We were telling Liam about it today. I asked him what we should do to celebrate (we don't have anything planned!). Liam said that we should have chocolate cake with cream and strawberries. He thinks the cake should be in the shape of a rocket - just like the one he had for his 3rd birthday - but without a number 3.

We didn't get the house we applied for - the owner has decided not to rent it out anymore. So I told Liam that we could have cake tomorrow but will have to go look at some houses as well. The look on his face was priceless - so dissappointed and sad - as he said "Oh no not tomorrow, I don't want to do that tomorrow - not on our anniversary!".

Unwanted Guest

We had an unwanted guest stay with us last week. He goes by the name of Gastro. He over stayed his welcome - a full week - and we are still getting back into the swing of things now. Left us all feeling washed out and tired. Don't know who invited him here because I sure didn't!!


Our search for a new house to live in continues. We found the perfect place yesterday and put in an application. Trying not to get my hopes up too much just in case we don't get it. At the same time I'm hoping madly that we do get it - I really want to have a date set for our move and an end in sight. It feels like our whole life is on hold at the moment waiting to move and wondering when it will be. So keep your fingers crossed for us! Hopefully I will have some good news soon!

A Night Out!

Last night I had my 10 year school reunion - in Toowoomba. So I was very brave and left Ewan for the first night ever!

We all survived and thrived! It was great! 24 hours alone! I did have a bit of a cry saying goodbye and driving there (big sook!) but after that had a great night.

Ben looked after the boys and they had a great time. Ewan got a bit upset during the night but only for about 10 mins and then resettled.

I came home this afternoon after brunch and browsing garden shops with Aunty Margaret and a friend of hers. The boys were happy to see me when I got home but not too concerned that I had actually been away. I asked them if they had a good time and they both said they had and then Liam said I could go away again! Hmmm the next reunion is 10 years away so I had better find another excuse while the offer is there! It was soooooo nice to have a break!

What was Ben's secret to success?? Movies to watch, popcorn, juice, biscuits, Star Wars games, and cubby house building - kept busy with special treats and full bellies!

Moving House Again!

I have been putting off writing this post as I've been a bit pissed off about it all.

We got a letter from our Real Estate agent last week informing us that our lease ends on October 15. The owners are selling the house and we need to move by the end of the lease. We knew from the start that they wanted to sell the house but I had hoped we could stay while they were selling the house - and back in January, October seemed soooo far away!

I am so not ready to leave yet! I really like this house and have been wallowing in a bit of self pity! Am pulling myself together though and we have a few rentals to look at this week so will keep my fingers crossed!

Liam and Ewan are taking it ok. We were telling them about it last week and Ewan said "Me move Nonna house"! Meanwhile Liam suggested that we get Nonna to buy us a house! Liam keeps asking me why other people don't have to move - like when we were at my grandparents house he asked if they were moving house and why not! Guess it must seem a bit strange for him that we move all the time when everyone else stays put!

A Busy Weekend!

We have had a huge weekend!

We went on trip to the coast to visit Pop and Heather on Saturday. Uncle Damien and Hazel were up from Tasmania too so we got to spend some time with them as well. Liam and Ewan loved seeing them all again! They tend to get VERY excited when Uncle Damien is around so there was lots of screaming, laughter, and running around! Heather has just had surgery to replace discs in her back so she was still very fragile. Liam was fascinated by the details of her op but also very sweet - he kept stopping to go over and give her cuddles - so lovely! They were staying in a hotel across from the beach while Heather recovered before her 1 week checkup. We went over for a walk to the beach and it was great! The boys had a ball building castle in the sand and I always love to walk along the beach - so relaxing! We'll have to do it more often! To top it off the boys both fell asleep in the car on the way home - at around 4:30pm and didn't wake till 6:30am the next morning!!! Ben and I were shocked! Was lovely having a peaceful night after such a big day though.

Today is Father's Day! Liam has been hanging out for today - we got Ben a clone trooper and a Yoda toy (from Star Wars) so Liam has been itching to play with them! Ben also had a special breakfast complete with eggs, bacon, sausages and baked beans this morning - was great for a change! The boys had a great time with the new Star Wars toys but sadly Yoda has dissappeared! We have no idea where he is and have searched the whole house for him. Ewan was the last to have him so God only knows where he is! Probably with the piglet and white tiger toys he got for his birthday!!

We also went to a 4th birthday party for one of Liam's friends today. It was at a miniture train track so we all had plenty of rides on the little steam trains - it was great. After the party we made our way home for a rest before Uncle Damien arrived. The boys were in heaven with Uncle Damien and Hazel here - they had the best time and everyone was worn out by the end of it!! Damien and Hazel shouted dinner for Ben and I while they babysat. We arrived home just after the boys had fallen asleep and Damien was flaked on the couch saying to us that he didn't know how we did it!

A very busy weekend but a great one too - so good to catch up with family and to have time together. I always love it when the boys are with their Uncles/Aunts - they always enjoy it so much - we are very lucky to have such a great family!

Happy Birthday Alastair - 4 Today!!!

Hope you have a fantastic birthday Alastair! Have lots of fun, laughter, and hope you enjoy being 4!

Happy Birthday Uncle Damien!

Have a great day Uncle Damien! Hope you have fun and we will have to have some cake with you when you visit! See you soon!

Ewan and His "Boo-ees"

Seems Ewan has an addiction. He's always been very attatched to my breastmilk but lately it's become quite serious. He has his hand down my top for a good part of the day - pretty much the whole time we're together. Drives me insane but he goes even more insane if he's refused access. I'm starting to wonder if there are breast patches you can get for weaning - to help him out with the cravings - kind of like nicotine patches but a much sweeter variety?????

This evening, Ewan was laying on my chest, one thumb in his mouth, the other hand on my breast. I wanted to have a shower but he wouldn't budge. Two year olds are pretty sure about what they want and when they want it - ie NOW. The only way I could get away was by telling him that I needed to wash my boo-ees (as he calls them!) so that he could have nice clean ones. He had a little think and decided that it was a good idea, "Mumma wash boo-ees", he told me as he got up to play until I was done. Yes Master, Ruler of the Boo-ees............

Not sure how much longer we will last but I am a little scared of the fight that will be put up if I try to gradually retire the boo-ees. Gosh - you've got to wonder how a two year old can weild so much power! Got to love him!

Lunching with The Ladies

Ewan was lucky enough to accompany me and my friend, Annie, to lunch on Saturday.

He loved the extra attention and lapped it up. He was treated like royalty at the cafe - lounging on the couch, being entertained, and adored by his fans (all two of us!).