Competition Fixx

Who doesn't love a free hamper?!

Check out the blog (click on the pic above), mention you saw it here and you'll be in the running for one of two hampers.

Intermission

Part 2 of the birthday pressie box will be slightly delayed..

So for now, here's a little intermission.

Pressies

On Mondy we received a HUGE parcel in the post with pressies for Lucas' birthday.
First we'll show you Lucas sporting this season's latest style (made by Farmor) with big boys pants, potty (with new train set) and accessorized with Mummy's garden hat.

...and one with his new pal 'gog the frog'

It's raining today and a bit nippy so he has a long sleeved top and jumper underneath.

No burnt offerings today!

When I'm pregnant I have this awful tendency to burn everything I try and cook. Last time I had to throw out 4 pots after over cooking rice and scalding them so badly they weren't salvageable. That's when we finally got a rice cooker :o)

So far this week I haven't burnt anything and all recipes have gone to plan (seeing as it's only Monday that's not a great feat).


Here's Steve's favourite on road handy food: Scotch Eggs - they look gross I know, but I love them with lashings of Salad Cream. It's one of those foods that you have to have grown up with to appreciate I think :o)


When Steve and I met up in Australia after living in England (in late '97) we popped into a cafe for a bite. I was mortified when Steve pointed to caramel slice and said, "I'll have some 'Stuff' please".
Here I made "stuff" for Steve and to say thanks to the neighbour's kids for being so great and playing with Lucas lots when Steve's on night shifts and trying to sleep or leave unnoticed.

A little wheat 'Whoopsie Bear' for Lucas' bumps and injuries. It's filled with wheat so I can stick it in the freezer to use as an ice pack, or heat for a minute in the microwave as a heat pack.

Just one snag..

Ok so Lucas is a potty genius when he's rudie nudie around the house, but as soon as he wears pants or shorts without undies (to give that breezy feeling) he pees in them!
Maryanne mentioned they might feel to him like a nappy and he gets confused where to pee.

We're still at the crossroads where outings are concerned. He'll say he needs to go but then won't on a big loo or in a non-home environment. So the pull ups have had to do (special big boys pants).

So any tips welcome! Seriously.... leave a comment :o/

Proud of our potty pee-er.

Possibly too much information, but here goes:

Here's Lucas' triumph over the nappy. It's been too cold up until now to let him run around "rudie nudie" but he's certainly ready.

Monday was kickoff when Pam and Maryanne came around with Lauren and Jack. The kids did a garden nudie run/play and then we had a few communal bathroom moments where we stuck them all on a potty and played games or read books.

No nappies since! (except for bed time, but day time naps are dry). We've had to vacate the house a bit to let Steve sleep off a night shift so pull ups have had to do as he's not happy with his toddler toilet seat just yet.

He loves his potty sticker chart and it's almost full now (this was taken on the first day).



..... the adventure continues..

Busy Bee/Dog/Snake/Butterfly

They had a different lady taking the toddlers for nursery at Church on Lucas' birthday (5th) and they came out with lots of hand made treasures.

It was fantastic! They didn't need to open the toy cupboard once as they had engaging activities the whole time (2 hours is quite an achievement with 8 under 3).

The lesson topic/theme for the day was "I can be kind to animals" and I especially liked the spotty dogs ears. They all looked soooo cute!

So, the Monday after Lucas wanted to keep going.
Here he is saying "ssssss" as he rolls out snakes with the playdough they got to bring home.

His favourite activity ofcourse was washing up after painting and yelling "A" through the window at our neighbour Andrew.

Dad, Steve, I know this picture is terrible.... I know, I know.

Steve goes for a walk in the bush. What does he find?

Water Skinks, Water Dragons, Very Large Eels (ie size of pythons), Long Necked turtles, lyabirds, Azure Kingfisher, Huge fish.... about the size of a large dog...yes huge.
Well below are some photos of the walk. Enjoy.




Water dragon - the one that dot NOT bite my finger.

Yep...that's the one that chomped on my finger!!
Little monster bit it hard and then did the death roll on me to try and rip my finger off.

"Hee hee.... if Steve does that again I'll do a triple McCormack Pike Death Role"

Long Necked Turtle

Happy Birthday Lucas!

Lucas is now 2 years old (phew!). I didn't want to let it pass without doing something for him so here are some pics of his little party. Daddy was the entertainment of the day and had all the kids squealing with delight).
This is the Daddy monster in the tube tent. It was a rainy day so it was all inside.

Lucas and his cake. It's either a worm farm, or a fenced yard with worms coming out of the lawn (the "lawn" was grated Aero and the worms were the pink gummy snakes) with some butterflies.
I did my best to avoid all crappy colourings that make kids hyper - they're only little tykes after all :o)



THINKING OF YOU - Joshua Jeffree, I hope your episode at the emergency dept is well forgotten and your little glued up wound is on the mend. Hugs to Mum, thinking of you too!

Our Spring Garden (part lll)

The strawberry patch and the blue tongue lizard - see if you can spot him. Lucas is watching him wriggle off.


There's something comforting about the heady musky scent of jasmine in summer time. It's one of Steve's favourites (up in a hanging basket).
Bees are attracted to our garden at the moment by the lemon blossom and clover. It's perfect positioning for pollinating the strawberries around the tree.