June July Hols and life is sweet!

Sunday afternoon and thinking of a Nana nap. Juan is happily spending time with Lola (our only child at the moment) as her sisters are enjoying being thoroughly spoilt in Melbourne with there Papa and Grum to celebrate Ash turning 5 at the end of June. A promise now fulfilled that was made to her when Mia went on her 5th Birthday. Holidays are officially over for the girls tomorrow but they don't return until Wednesday afternoon. I do miss them and the house is eerily quiet without them. Yes even loud little Lola hasn't yelled once since they have been away, which is a welcome change!

The holidays have been full and fabulous with lots of family and friends that have helped create many memorable occasions. Apart from Ash turning five we also had mum and dad's 40th anniversary to celebrate. I don't think Mum and Dad have been happier then they are today, and it is highly commendable that they are still together (even though at times they seemed better apart) having stuck by each other through thick and thin.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to take life slowly and ease into the day with no school rush or even kindy drop off. The girls on the whole have been having a great time together and are tightening their bonds to each other as their relationships develop and grow. We haven't seen as much of Juan as we would have liked but as you can imagine weekends have been a welcome change with another pair of hands on deck.

My outstanding memorable moments during the hols have been many. I had a wonderful day I spent with my girls at South Bank, as well as a great day out at the beach with mum and Mia's little mate Maria. Catching up with Chook, who came to stay for a couple of nights was fantastic, as well as seeing Fi with her boys here during Chooks stay. Chook and I were shouted a decadent night out at a Turkish restaurant (thanks Fi) which was a lovely catch up as we could blab for as long as we liked, uninterrupted by any needs or wants from our little darlings. To finish off the hols Juan and I went and spent the night down the coast with Ant and Lauren, which was really lovely. I do however now feel I need to spend the next couple of weeks on detox.... get back to feeling healthy again.

I now anticipate Mia and Asha's arrival back home on Wednesday afternoon. Can imagine there will be a little unspoiling to achieve before we get back to our peaceful existence. Life is good and here's hoping it stays that way for some time to come, if not forever (if only!). Big hugs and kisses to all my closest in life xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Chookies, Crazy Kids on Holiday and Chocolate!

Easter Hols 2010

Well before you know it Easter weekend is behind us and we are now heading into the week of school holidays. We have had a very full Easter thus so far. Thursday, the last day of school was an exciting fun day with a craft day for the year 2's which Ash joined in on, due to her having been sick all week, Easter bonnet parade and a sausage sizzle. At kindy there was an Easter egg hunt and afternoon tea for Lola at 3pm...which they all enjoyed. Check out the hats on the kids... and Mia's class.

Ash crashing the party.

Mia's best mate Maria

2T...

That afternoon I had the pleasure of heading out to the Carol King/James Taylor concert (of which I have NO photos, camera was flat)... which was SOOOO much better then I had anticipated. Am now an even bigger fan! Great night back at Cins after the concert as the boys looked after the kids back at mine. Carly, Cin and I stayed up until 5am gas bagging... insane.... I guess that's what happens when drinks continually get topped up and you begin the night at midnight (time that we got back). It was like two nights in one really.

On Saturday the kids, Juan and I packed up the car and headed down south to Chooks place. We all had an awesome time at Chook and Shane's lovely home, which is so lush and green at the moment and just is looking fantastic with all the work they have been doing to it. We had bonfires, bbq's, martini's (what a great combination) amidst old friends as well being able to meet some new people. Chook, Shane and kids are really more like family to us - perhaps that is what inspired the 'Clarparths' (that would be the name Summer, Mia and Asha gave to themselves). The Clarparths hung out being very creative and enjoying each others company. Asha is starting to fit in a little better with the older two but still has a little way to go until she can really join in with everything they do... well done though Ashee, you're getting there. Next I am sure it will be Lola's turn to become the tag along, but something tells me she is going to be more a 'little miss indipendant' as well as probably prefer the company of Finn...the little Tomboy that she is!

The lucky couple...

Roasting the mellows...

Easter Morning...

Yes the car does feature in the last 3 pics...what do you reckon Marnz?

Loooove this pic...

Ash wasn't too impressed with the bunny ears.....

It was actually our first trip in the Tarago, whom we still haven't figured out a name for yet.....I am sure something will stick soon! She got us there and back in great comfort with the confidence that only a Toyota can provide (no this is not advertising!), my faith from childhood that dad installed in us still lingers. It seems Lola was a little under the weather during our stay, and now poor Juan isn't feeling so crash...hopefully that doesn't last for long. At first he thought it may have been a tick, as there were a few around, and he has a sore spot on his head which he got the last time we visited Chooks place (quite bizarre!)...still sounds like he is more battling a cold or something... details details, who wants to know!

As you can imagine the girls were thoroughly spoilt with WAY too much chocolate, even before Easter Sunday. The huge package from Papa and Grum had arrived and as you can see the girls were pretty happy with it all.

We of course had the egg hunt on Sunday morning at Chooks place...which the kids enjoyed and now I think we have enough chocolate to last us until Christmas... kid you not it isn't eaten too often in this household so you can bet there will still be some left over in the fridge door.

The Clarparths....

What Papa and Grum sent the girls..see what I mean!

I hope you enjoyed our company as much as we enjoyed yours Chookie... I can't wait for you to be able to join us one day Ma....and mum and dad hope you had a very Singaporian Easter... is there such a thing? Love to all... until the next blog x

My first post....

Well am unsure what I'm going to do with this Blog but we shall see... am sure it will take on a life of its own. Another way to keep in touch with my Marnz and perhaps Chookie..... as we all have blogs now.... so..... had a pretty good day today. Some members in our family have been unwell lately....but am happy to report all nearly back to full health. Lola was the main little chicken to go down for nearly a week and due to not wanting to take her antibiotics had to fight the ailment on her own and did a pretty good job of it really, although cough hasn't quite dissappeared yet!

We all headed out to the girls school disco tonight. It was Asha's first one with friends there. Oddly enough most of the kids spend their entire two hours wondering around looking for friends and when they do finally find them they decide they need to find someone else now....so you can say they look quite confused for most of the night and occassionally stop to have a boogie, for about 30 seconds.

The 7 year olds already act like they are way to cool for Bob the Builder (the song) and of course go crazy when someone like Pink comes on, anyone would think she just hit the stage... really quite entertaining to watch I can tell you. Tonight ended with me having quite a heart to heart with my oldest.... had a sudden attack of hay fever, brought on by Jimmy the cat, so ended up lying on my bed chatting for a while. I thought I would ask her what she liked best about being Mia and she actually said 'I'm glad I'm not a boy'. Not exactly the answer I would expect, but hey, am really not sure what to expect anymore. It's good to know Mia enjoys being a girl...what she least likes about herself is her hairnyness which lead onto when is she allowed to shave, which I couldn't even believe I was already having this conversation. I said grade 8 and I am sticking to it!!!! (Yeh we'll see!). Life for our kids is sooooo different to what we experienced and I am sure it is both in good and bad ways. Our kids can't just wonder down the street to the park like we used to and I think are growing up in a somewhat 'paranoid' society, which I guess isn't without reason. This in turn makes our children a bigger more present part of our lives, which I am happy for as I think it does help to nuture a closer relationship then what perhaps we experienced as children (well I guess I should just speak for myself!), what I experienced as a child. I guess I am content with where life is for me at the moment as I was really ready to be a mum when I became one and did all those things I wanted to do before I had kids...which helps. Still I can't help but think how life for a mum would be easier if we lived in more of a community where we can share each other's burdens and keep each other company (as woman) on a daily basis... perhaps in another life!!!! Well that's enough babble for now.... will post again soon....