Taronga & Gunners

A visit to the zoo has been on our list for a while but we haven't been able to go the last few weeks because of various other things we had on - finally we got a clear day so we were off.

The zoo has some of the best views of Sydney and is generally a nice place to walk around and being ten minutes from our house it is a real winer with Kelly and I. The highlights this time were two baby elephants who were playing a game of trying to push each other into the water and a very large tiger who was walking back and forward across it's enclosure literally a couple of inches from us (separated by glass).

After the zoo we headed to our favourite picnic spot and the food Kelly made was so good that this crazy Kookaburra dive bombed Luca trying to get his sandwich. It was definitely hungry, when we finally threw it some bread it nearly ripped the leg off a crow who got a bit too close. All this and home in time for Scout's nap - a great Saturday morning.

Easter Eggs and Local Views

Action packed weekend just gone, as well as bowling, we took in a lookout a few minutes up the road from us (scouting out a future bushwalking path to take Luca on) and spent a beautiful Sunday picnicing and hunting for Easter eggs with families from Luca's school.

A priceless moment when, while trying unsuccessfully to calm Scout, who was chucking a wobbly for not getting a pink basket to collect eggs in, the Easter bunny showed up and she instantly went from scrunched up mad/sad face to wide eyed amazement.

Bowling

Saturday afternoon we took the kids bowling for the first time. Luca loved it, after his first go he said to me "this is sooooo fun mom". For the kids there were bumpers and ramps not to mention the shoes which accounted for a lot of dancing by both. I've never seen the ramps in the US, but they were fantastic and really made the game fun for the kids. Scout was winning for the first half of the game, she didn't love bowling as much as Luca but I am attributing that to some lingering tonsillitis she's been battling all week. Luca's been asking to go back again, so we'll see how Scout fairs in round two. Here are some pics from our adventure. Oh, and I lost, yes a 2 year old beat me at bowling! -kel

7 Mile Beach

A couple of nights away down on the NSW mid-south coast (about 2 hours south of where we live) at a place called 7 Mile Beach - which is located on a seven mile beach strangely enough. We went with eight other families from the "mother's group" that Kelly joined when Luca was born. So lots of adults and even more kids. Kelly's first experience of caravan park holidays Australian style - although we stayed in beach side cabins rather than trailers.

The weather was lousy so we didn't get to spend much time at the beach, more time spent keeping an eye on the kids who were running around everywhere having a great time. We had communal dinners for almost all meals and sat around chewing the fat and enjoying a few drinks ... for the most part pretty cruisy.

The cabins had a double bed and bunks, the bunks didn't work too well for Luca and Scout so they shared the double bed while Kel and I bunked it. Kelly being on the bottom was up and down all night trying to stop Luca and Scout sleeping on each other and ended up sharing her bottom bunk with the both of them. I snored away on the top bunk and didn't sleep too badly.

There was a Ferguson family side trip in Berry where we had a nice lunch and discovered the source of all that is good at the "Treat Factory". I enjoyed getting away with Kelly and the kids even if it was for a couple of nights. Kelly will sleep well tonight!

Rainy Autumn Day

Scout's First Movie

It's been a rainy and blustery weekend in Sydney. Saturday morning we headed straight to the movies to see Gnomeo and Juliet. It was Scout's first trip to the movies. Both her and Luca had a blast, she watched the entire movie. The two of them are already talking about what movies we are going to see next...it's a long list at the moment. Looks like I know where we'll be spending some of the upcoming winter weekends. Here she is before the movie started complete with a HUGE lemonade and smile. -kel

Princess, Ballerina, Fairy

Scout wearing all of her princess, ballerina and fairy gear at once! -kel

We love our mommy!

There is nothing better than seeing the kids after a day at work ... except when they are even more excited to see us.

Loungin' with mommy!

Last morning in Penang

Heading home this afternoon. I can't wait to see the kids and Mark! This is a pic of the sunrise from my hotel room this morning. -kel

Dinner and the Market

Last night after a long day in the office we headed out for dinner at a Hawkers Market. This was in a fairly touristy area but full of locals having their dinner. The food on offer was pretty varied and mostly Chinese as Penang is a mostly Chinese area of Malaysia. After dinner we headed to Batu Ferringhi market, it was pretty lame, stall after stall of knock off purses, watches and nick knacks. Not my thing at all, interesting, but no purchases for me. Tonight is another shopping adventure after work...-kel

Penang Malysia

This week I am in Penang Malysia for work. Tonight we had dinner in an open air cafe with a tin roof. This "resturant" was pretty much street food with a roof. It was pretty crazy, especially when asked to go "choose" my dinner from the seafood tanks! The lighting wasn't that great so it was difficult to get pictures inside, but here is a pic of me and my dinner to be...it was soooo good! Tomorrow after work we are heading to the night markets at Batu Ferringhi should be another fun adventure. Missing the kids and Mark heaps, but hoping I can find them each a cool present at the markets tomorrow.-kel

Ice Cream You Scream we all Scream for Ice Cream

Mark was at a work function tonight, so as soon as I got home we headed down to Manly for a special treat, ice creams and some good old fashioned sea gull chasing! We had a blast, the ice cream was super messy, Luca had chocolate and managed to get it in his arm pit in about 5 seconds. After ice cream we took a stroll down towards Shelly Beach, the kids ran after the sea gulls on the walk the entire way there and back. Poor sea gulls were just trying to get some dinner snacks from some of the many people enjoying early evening picnics and fish and chips, only to be harassed by my two! We pulled into the driveway at home at 7:45, kids were washed up and in bed by 8, sound asleep by about 8:01! So simple yet so fun. -kel

Happy Fathers Day

Yes, this is the second holiday I have moved to a more convenient date in the last six months. To be honest, it's a total pain, but at the same time completely necessary. Australia celebrates Fathers day in September, normally cool not an issue, however last year we were in the States on holiday and amongst the fun times I totally forgot. The day passed, we didn't even call Mark's amazing dad, to wish him a happy Father's Day. Sooo....after being reminded once by Mark that I basically skipped the one holiday totally dedicated to him I decided to make good ASAP (certainly before Mother's day).

Marks Mom and I planned a surprise day at the beach complete with picnic and presents on Saturday...then Luca got an ear infection (no swimming for a week), ok picnic at the park, play on the toys lots of yummy food....then Saturday morning we woke up to rain, lots of rain (yes, just like halloween)...so we had a surprise Fathers Day picnic in Mark's parents living room.

Mark and his dad were very surprised. It was a totally fun afternoon, not at all what we had planned but fun none the less. Not to worry, this won't happen again, we'll never ever miss fathers day again.

None of this really sounds like high drama, but in reality, it was. Planning a surprise for them was really hard, trying to keep the kids quiet, quickly changing our plans every few days, and even at the last min when Mark's dad showed up at our house about an hour before I was supposed to get the whole family in the car under false pretenses and drive to his house to surprise him!

Every min of drama was totally worth it, when I look back a the last year and the amazing dad Mark has been as well as grandpa and father Mark's dad has been there are no two more deserving dad's out there. From fixing our leaking taps and endless hours of babysitting, building pirate ships and reading princess bedtime stories these two are the absolute best.

Happy Fathers Day Mark and Graham. -kel

Cottage

Today was Luca's first day of Cottage at his new school. Cottage is the pre-school (3 days per week) program at the school where he will attend Kindergarden through year 12. Luca was pretty relaxed, happy that he was wearing a school uniform (all "big" kids wear uniforms to school in Australia), happy with his new big boy backpack and that he got a special breakfast of cinnamon rolls. Scout on the other hand was not so happy, she was insisting on going to big boy school too and having her own special breakfast. She even refused to say goodbye to Luca, to think we have another two years before she starts!

Luca and his best friend Sean both started "big boy" school today.

As we walked into the big school, I was a little misty, he is growing up so fast. With his hair cut and his total confidence I couldn't help but think how fast the last four years have gone. He is growing up into such a fantastic little man, we couldn't be more proud of him. -kel

Australia Day

A 30+ degree day so it was the pool, followed by the pool, followed by a BBQ at our fiends Dieter & Katie's house where we spent time in the pool and then a quick dip in the pool when we got home.

Great to have a day off in the middle of the week and no better way to spend it than with close friends and family.

Luca & Scout eating sausage sambo's with their friends on Australia Day

Scout at 2

She loves tomatos and 'ollies' (candy), Finding Nemo, climbing on ropes at the playground, turkey, her big brother, Tinkerbell, playing "What's the time Mr. Wolf" and doing "motorboat, motorboat" in the pool. She is beautiful and we love her like no other (except Luca of course).

Definitely more of a handful than Luca was at the same age, our little girl turns 2.

Arrrrrrrrggggg Matey

Pirates invaded yesterday for Luca and Scout's birthday party. Figuring this maybe the only year I could ever swing a combined party we went all out with a great 4th and 2nd pirate themed birthday party. The kids had a blast.

Cupcakes, balloon swords, a treasure hunt, swimming in the Lagoon (our pool), lolly bags, tug of war and best of all a huge pirate ship in the backyard the kids and their 35 little guests + parents had a great time. Here are a few pics

from the big event.

A huge thank you to Mark's dad, once again he has surpassed all expectations with his craftiness this year. He made this pirate ship for the kids to play in, it was made entirely of cardboard, he even painted the floors to look like wood grain! The ship is still in the garden today, held up amazingly considering the "sailing" it did yesterday. Needless to say, the pirate ship was a huge hit! -kel

Emus vs. Lion-Tigers

We are lucky to have Mark on holidays for the last two weeks. Our days have been filled with trips to the beach, park and the pool. Lots of small jobs around the house have been done, friends have been visited, wine has been drunk for lunch.

Today, with no real plans, we decided to go to one of our favorite parks (amazing views of the harbor, great kids toys, huge open fields) for a game of soccer and a play on the toys. The pre-game discussions were priceless, with Luca, Scout and I taking on Mark.

Here are a few comments:

Kelly: Sniff, Sniff, is that the smell of defeat in the air?

Luca: Daddy, Sniff, Sniff, I smell your feet.

Kelly: Tell daddy his hopes of winning are pipe dreams.

Luca: Daddy you dream of pipes.

Luca: GOAL!!!!!!!

I can't remember any of the other comments exactly, but I will say that I almost didn't want to play, because the comments from Luca were so much fun!

Oh and for the record the Lion-Tigers (Luca's team) won 7-1, Mark's team the Emus are calling for a rematch asap! -kel

Bubble-O

A bubble machine for Xmas and some great weather

- boxing day in Curl Curl.

Christmas 2010

Christmas Eve swim in the pool.

The build up this year has been big, barely a day has gone by in December without Scout singing "jinga bells" or Luca asking how many more days until Christmas. The photo with Santa this year did not have to include Kelly or I, Luca asked for a scooter and Scout wanted "ollies" (lollies, candy) and there has been some extraordinary toy putting-away at bed time knowing that Santa is watching.

The big day arrives...

Luca and Scout just before they see the tree and presents.

Luca with the tree.

After seven "get-ups" between us during the night to get Scouty back to sleep, (this is a problem unrelated to Christmas), Kelly and I were dreading Luca's anticipation driven early wake up - but it came at something past 5 in the morning. Somehow Kelly convinced him to wait another 20 minutes in which time he fell back to sleep and we were able to delay the start of festivities until 7:15am.

Scout unwrapping "Snow White" her first "girl" movie.

There was zombie like wide eyes for a few seconds looking at the tree with all the presents, we somehow delayed Luca enough to read Santa's thank you note for the beer, cake and apples we left. The kids loved the present opening, as you would expect, and Luca took great pride when Scout and I opened the presents he had actually chosen for us.

Luca's present for Mark "Tiger Beer"

It was just us this year and it was nice as a change. We took our time opening the presents knowing we were on no schedule to get anywhere else, lunch was mostly leftovers from the delicious Christmas eve turkey dinner that Kelly had made and the afternoon was spent enjoying some nice Sydney, December weather in the pool.

Scout making lunch in the new kitchen Santa brought to her and Luca.

It was as chilled out a Christmas as I've ever had and I have a trail of chilled out Christmas's behind me. We did spend a fare bit of time on the phone to family in Perth and the U.S. and next year we will definitely be spending Christmas with family and we will enjoy it just the same if not more.

Scout and her new baby having a post unwrapping drink.

Our Christmas best wishes to all of our family and friends. Joy to the world.