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.

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!