Beary happy

 If you look very closely you can see a bear in that tree. Riley's raking up the leaves and has no idea he's in danger!!

(Lucas has a very warm and fluffy jumper that he thinks makes him into a bear)

It's ok because Riley can fend for himself

Captured and skinned, here's our bear looking very proud of the little pumpkins we grew in the garden

A kiddy pool overflowing with Lemons from the tree.. Some could have done with another week or two but the tree stripping frenzy couldn't be stopped! Kay and Steve did a great job and now we have the task of juicing, zesting, making and baking.

Air Ambulance

Boulder bay and Stockton

I wanted to ride the camels with Lucas but I knew he'd be scared after two minutes.. or bored.

Fingal Bay

They slept well that night.

Winter Family Holiday

We popped up to Port Stephens for a week and had an exhausting, wonderful, fun and relaxing time. Well needed!

We had visitors every morning as we ate breakfast... we probably weren't allowed to bring them all onto the balcony! This is what Steve looked like most of the time.

 Sleepy head Riley probably thought he was still dreaming. He'd only just woken up.

 Lucas got close to them the first day but then was a bit freaked out with their scratchy claws. He spent each time indoors hiding on the couch with a spatula.

Spiderman Lucas

We went to the pre-school up the road for their market day the other week. Lucas had his face painted for the first time ever - he chose spiderman.


When he looked in the mirror for the first time you could almost hear his thoughts, "I really AM Spiderman!!"


We enjoyed having Spidey around for the day - Lucas later told us that it was actually HIM! 

My boys.. ok our boys

LOVE 'EM!!

Riley potato head

Yoghu-brow

We Are Family

Yesterday we had the absolute pleasure of seeing Uncle Steve and Auntie Margaret (Dad's brother as you can tell right!?)
My kids must have sensed the connection as they took to them straight away, Lucas even ran out of the front door to give Uncle Steve a hug -ahh!

Margaret knew just the right responses to Lucas' "look at dis! (crunching down a chip/crisp enthusiastically)", "come dis way".. and all the other demands. Uncle Steve knew exactly the right games to play and had them grinning the whole time.

These two are destined to be Grandparents! (You listening Steve and Nat?) haha.

I felt absolutely sick that we only saw them for such a short time. They need to move over permanently and bring all the clan with them! Miss you already!!!

15 is the magic number

FINALLY (just when I was imagining having to get him dentures to start school. I found an old picture of me as a young toddler , totally gummy and toothless so I stopped worrying so much.)

Riley cuts his first teeth at 15 months old.
The first through was his right front tooth, then is bottom left, then bottom right and top left at the same time.
Now he's cutting the front side teeth and they're giving him (and us!) a bit of trouble.

We're also making an effort to call him by his name more often instead of "the baby". It was slightly embarrassing when I was calling to him in the park the other day and all he would answer to was "boo baa" :o) haha

Daddy at work - F3 Night MVA

Accident last night on the F3 - despite the carnage nothing too serious.
It was a big turn out of Emergency Services
3 Fire Trucks - 2 Fire Rescue Trucks - 4 Police Cars - 2 Ambulance Trucks - 1 Ambulance Supervisor and 1 Ambulance Commander.

Photos taken with camera phone at night which is why photos poor quality.

Fire Trucks at Play Group

Last Week while at Play Group two local Fire Engines and a Rescue Truck stopped outside.

We all had to say hello and the Firemen were nice enough to let the boys see the trucks.

Easter = not about bunnies

He Lives

Easter Crying Parade

There was I, the only Mum that hadn't pre-made their kid an Easter Bonet for the parade. I had no idea there was going to be a parade until that morning when I dropped him off. I was in two minds as to whether I should come as I knew Lucas would cry and want to come home with me.

So I skipped the last pilates class of the term and went to Lucas' pre-school Easter Parade.

I'm so glad I did go, I would have been the only mum not there (apart from one other kid). He was desperately scanning the crowd of parents to see if I was there - aaahh!

This is before he noticed me.


























The first pic after he saw me...

and the second...

not happy about being made to walk in the parade so I could get a pic.

 Riley having a great time finding "me" sized play equipment (he had a blast).

Yes, I did leave him there. He caught me leaving and was in torrents of tears. So ofcourse I had "mother guilt" and went to pick him up earlier than usual. Ofcourse he was perfectly fine without me.

I stayed with them for afternoon tea (after I'd watched him for a while - hiding behind a doll's house) and found he has lots of friends, he's nice and polite to everyone and he is sweet and delightful. Also more confident than I thought he was. :oD

We Are Family

On Thursday night we had the Creegan's over (Steve's side of the clan) and with them a special visitor from England - Great Granny Monica.

Great food, great company - couldn't ask for better :o) The house felt very empty when you'd all gone.
xx

I know, I know.. it's yellow.. but it's the nicest pic. Lucas stayed where he was for quite a while (waiting for more tickle dust to appear)