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.

Merry Christmas

Soccer

Luca has been taking a soccer skills class for the last few months. Today was the last class before the holiday break, not only did Mark make it to the class to watch him score 3 goals (top scorer on his team (to be fair, some of the girls were sitting in the goal on the other side of the field)), he also was told he gets to move up a level next term. He loves his soccer and I couldn't be more proud of the little man!

Of course, he is all decked out in his Chelsea gear, this makes him a big favorite with the coaches! -kel

Summer afternoon

Scout in our garden this afternoon. She is growing up fast and she is cheekier than ever! -kb

School Concert

Mark and I attended Luca's "End of the Year School Concert", Luca didn't sing a note, didn't even open his lips once! We aren't so sure if it was stage fright or distraction, he was totally not in to it. Mark and I had a few good laughs and the kids were really cute. He is growing up quickly, sitting in the seats with all of the parents it made me feel so grown up. Luca had a great year at school, Mark and I could not be more proud, seems like just yesterday we were taking him to his first day. The party afterward was great fun, and Luca had no hesitation participating in the cake eating! Here he is with his good friend Millie after the concert. -kel

The Big Guy hits four

Present opening in bed, cinnamon scrolls for breakfast, a day at "his" beach, more presents in the afternoon and finally fish and chips with Grandma an Grandpa for dinner - a birthday any four year old would be happy with. To celebrate his dual nationality it didn't end there with phone calls and web cam's to family in the U.S. on his "American" birthday the next day.

He is getting bigger and more independent but still Luca is really very little trouble, he is a good, happy, fun kid ... happy birthday mate, we love you.

33

These days it's pretty much impossible to get a family photo with all three of us smiling. For my birthday, Mark and more importantly Luca and Scout indulged me in a few picture taking attempts. Here is the one and only that we are all smiling in. I had a wonderful birthday, enjoyed the beach the fantastic weather, some great pressies and a night out in the city with Mark. This summer birthday stuff is the best, so beats the rainy November nights of the past!

33 sounds old when I say it out loud, but as you all know, Mark makes me feel much younger every time I say his age out loud! -kel

Summer pt I

Ballerina

Scout started Ballet lessons a few weeks ago. While certainly not the most talented ballerina...yet....she loves it, absolutely loves it. I love it too, it's pretty much the funniest thing I've ever seen, she is all thumpy and loud and her attempts at "gracefulness" turn out pretty much exactly the opposite. All of that being said, she has such a great time, is one of the most attentive students and keeps all of the mom's well and truly entertained. -kel

Agapanthus

Some Aussies consider Agapanthus weeds, I however love the flowers. Carefully cultivated in our front garden, they are about to start blooming. -kel

Halloween...A day late

Trick or Treating on November 1st, yup! No it's not some Aussie thing. Luca was so excited for Halloween, all day yesterday talking about trick or treating, planning his route and singing Halloween songs (he made them up). About 3 PM, the flu hit big time, all over the bathroom and all over daddy. Luca had a fever and was not going anywhere. He was seriously bummed as all of the kids were knocking on our door (that he had decorated with jack-o-lanterns and bats).

So....I made a few arrangements with the neighbors, good friends and grandma and grandpa to do a little Trick or Treating today....everyone knows you can Trick or Treat on two days right??? Little did I know it was going to be pouring, and I mean pouring down rain all afternoon today. Would this hold my little Halloweeners back...no way! We went out, in wellies, rain coats, umbrella and we trick or treated. (close your eyes imagine seeing us on the street, a very very funny site, it was raining so hard it was like standing in front of a fire hose) Thank you to all of our lovely friends who made today so special for Luca. As we were walking home, Luca was gripping my hand for dear life as we crossed a raging river that formed on our street, he looked at me and said "this was the best mom, my treats are going to be so yummy." Soaked and all, we had a great time, it will certainly be a story I tell for at least the next 20 years...-kel

Since I don't have an underwater camera...this was the best pic I could get when we were finally home!

The Three Weeds - been down this road before

The food and atmosphere are great and the kids can't cause too much havoc - we love the Three Weeds. The forecast was for rain, it was sunny but we went anyway and had a great time. A good reward for a Saturday of hard work for Kelly and I getting our raised garden beds to the brink of planting.

Rocket Launching is Serious Business

Mad Scientist

Luca and I spent a day at the Powerhouse Museum with a few of his friends. The exhibits were fantastic, best of all Luca got to make slime. -kel

Da da da da da da da da Batman

Things have been feeling pretty safe around here lately with frequent visits from a couple of super heroes.

After a month of hard work Luca filled up his reward chart and the "real" Batman called him to congratulate him and spent the night in our cabana where he left Luca his new Batman suit and few empty beer bottles he took from daddy's beer fridge. Holy Borracho Batman!