TODAY IS THE DAY!

TODAY is the day that Riley took his first steps! 12.5 months old.

He played with Uncle Andrew on the rocking chair and then wanted to come over to me on the floor.. pitter patter! What a gorgeous chunky monkey he is! He's very pleased with himself.

He's been able to climb up a couple of the bunk bed wrungs, climb onto the rocking chair, over the furniture onto Daddy's lap, climb up onto Lucas' bed... with the odd fall off and last second catch. He's so active he hasn't needed to walk. But he's finally there.

Lucas is also very excited and loves calling him over and watching him walk. Here's Lucas doing his "Burn Notice" impression. You can't see but under those sunnies he's trying to wink by closing both eyes.

Fanks Farmor and Gramps

Here's the requested pics. We took video but I can't seem to find it... I'll keep looking.

And ofcourse.. the box :o)

Happy Christmas Eve..

Here's Lucas having the BEST time ever with our friend from Church - Kevin. What a cool bloke for taking Lucas for his first buzz around the street!

 

Our little Christmas tree. The big one had to stay in the garage this year. Neither Steve or I could face pick up and re-decorating a pulled over tree... Which those of you with little toddler/baby boys know is inevitable!

At least this one they could play with and re-decorate as often as they liked. It has knitted angels and santas on that mum made YEARS ago when we first came to Australia. Perfect for little fingers :o)

Yes, Christmas Eve was happy as it was the first time in almost a month that Dad was well enough to have visitors or go out of the house. It was WONDERFUL to see them. Shame I was grumpy all day from lack of sleep trying to catch up on Christmas prep.

December delights

Lucas on his $5 bike (what a bargain!!) tearing up the neighbours driveway. He's so good, got it really quickly.

Cicadas.. urgh! Lucas and Steve poked them for ages to make them rattle and chirp like a fuzzy car alarm - so flippin' loud! They had fun. Black Prince and Brown Baker (actual names)

Happy Birthday Riley! 1 year old on the 11th December and super strong, a climbing expert, and an ever ready bunny.
Here's Lucas thinking the dog is his, Riley with a dastardly plan to claim it back when Lucas is asleep.

Mewwy Chwisthgnuss!

Great timing..

What is it with money!? Just when you think you're on track thinking you'll be able to splurge a bit on holiday, christmas, whatever.. the fridge breaks, the car needs a service and something fixing, who knows where the money goes.. there's just more urgent things that must be paid!

So in this grand style, the camera is busted and we can't take any festive pictures... sorry!

So you'll have to imagine the glittery dove that Lucas made at Pre-school, the hand painted gift paper on the present he brought home for us to open on Christmas day, the great progress Riley is making with his little walker trolley (finally interested!), his ability to climb onto the rocking chair, over onto the armchair and onto Daddy's lap unassisted. His other climbing adventures just make me shake my head (what am I in for!?!).
The gingerbread houses we're making, the special gingerbread gifts Lucas gave to his best buddies (Jack and Addy), the morning, afternoon and after dinner family gathering on the trampolene, swimming etc etc etc


We'll try and borrow one!

Early Christmas treat

Here's Lucas feeling rather satisfied at his portion of fish and chips (Daddy's) and started carving away at it instantly. Terrial beach.

Sweet Cheeks

Here's one set..
..and the other set of sweet cheeks :o) He's stepping his leg up and down trying to get into the bath. Don't you just want to pinch that huge juicy butt?!

Ah! The joys of a private blog :o)

Hot hot hot

It's been flippin' HOT!
So we popped off to the beach while Andy, Amanda and Willem were visiting.
This one is Amanda showing Lucas some seaweed.
Lucas and Willem discussing who's board it is
Oooh! What a little cutie! Riley's crazy about the beach (or any place with "dirt" and water)

Uncle Andyroo

Plus Lucas managed to break the fridge door clean off the hinges! Too much raw spinach for that kid :o) He pulled some fruit out of the bottom draw and couldn't close it. He remember the "push the door hard" instruction and unfortunately it resulted in a broken door that's been jammed shut ever since!

Off to find a new one with a warranty. Urgh! There goes holiday money... oh well :o)


HAD to stick this picture on here. They're the Sister Missionaries (not really sisters) from our ward (local church meeting house). They called us reminding that we had a them down for a dinner appointment, Steve asked them what they eat and they said "oh anything" so we gave them baby food complete with bottles and bibs. Ok not really but it was a good photo opp. :o)

Trunk or Treat

This afternoon we went to the annual Trunk or Treat event at church. I think this year there was a record number of fairies.

I didn't get to take many pictures but here's what I got. Lucas was NOT happy about wearing the robot costume that he'd asked me to make. A grand 2 mins of wearing it!

Is he picking his nose or giving me the birdie?!


I kept getting asked which one he was.. Brett or Jermaine :o)
Jack the Pirate and Lucas. I think he's trying to tune in to the radio

I felt it needed a bit more exposure before being disposed of.

I loved Cooper's Nutella costume!

The Walker Family - little Toby is missing his mustache and head gear (we was a really good Asterix)

Wee Wiggie Wiggie

Lucas suprised me tonight by reciting We Willy Winky, here it is:

Happy Birthday Gra-gra

Happy Birthday "Gragra" (Grandad).

These were taken a couple of days after Dad's 66th. We had lunch, cake and sand. :o) LOVE YOU GRANDAD!

Can't wait to spoil you more next year. xxx

Welcome

Welcome to our newly private blog.
Since Steve became the victim of identity fraud we've been a bit more careful with security.
The general rule with blogs is not to use real names, dates of birth, mention place names that are local to you or friends names etc.
So we decided to just make it private instead.

Here's what we've been up to since Lucas' birthday:

Mulberry picking (like a long, milder tasting blackberry.. sort of). Soooo many pies! Got a few in the freezer ready for any get togethers :o)



Eating Watermelon in the sink and eating dirt - very proud moment. He seems to love the garden as much as Lucas :o)


Rock pooling with sandy bottoms (and Soozie Jeffrey and her kids)


Finding our resident Blue Tongue lizard. Lucas loves this fella. He wouldn't put him back until he'd had a long hold, told us where the lizard did his poos from and tried to get mummy to have a hold. I stuck with the camera.


No chandeliers about so here's the next best thing.

It's Private!

Hi there,
This blog will soon be going private. So all those who wish to have access please email us or leave a comment.

thanks
SSLR

Happy Birthday Lucas and Natasha

We'd planned to go to Collaroy Beach and have lots of fun activities in the sand.. but it rained. So we had lots of fun and games at home.. The birthday girl is here but where's Lucas?


Pass the parcel and below is our "pinch the nose on steve" game, being short of a donkey and a tail.


It was harder than it sounds

Then it stopped raining for a bit, and thanks to Lisha and Don we had a gorgeous cake (Nanny's carrot cake recipe o'course)


The birthday boy (and the birthday girls belly :o)




No this was not his piece of cake.. sorry Emily.



Catherine the Home wrecker (there was a gutter where Don's hand is). It was only a matter of time, the thing had been held up by string for 5 years.


Natasha acing the limbo

Cake decorator extraordinaire (Don)


Er.. woops

This is the only party game pic with Lucas and Jack in. They nicked off the whole time and played (only one rudie nudie run, which for them, is quite reserved behaviour)