Bill Returns

Bill is home, hence the no-show for the last few days. Tomorrow is the big halloween party so I'll have a picture or two to post, but I will probably slack off for a little while. Sorry, but with Bill being home, I'm more likely to be cuddled up on the couch than sitting in a hard-backed wooden chair swearing at my computer.

Another Birthday In The Mason House

Alex turned 4, but if you ask him he'll tell you that he's 58. The kids all spent last night at Nanna and Grandad's place, spent the day hanging out with Nanna, went to swimming lessons, and Alex got to open his presents and fight with Ella to be allowed to play with them. He asked for a circle cake with chocolate and strawberry and blue sprinkles on top. His request for dinner was macaroni and cheese. I did everything I could to pander to his every whim. Lucky kid!

Birthday Cake Number 2

We celebrated Alex's 4th birthday and Charlotte's 1st birthday with our friends at playgroup. I'm holding up my cell phone because Bill is on the other end of the line singing happy birthday too. He won't be home in time for Alex's birthday, but we've got our fingers crossed that he'll be home for the halloween party next Saturday.

I've got a funny little story to tell. Today Alex was giving me an anatomy lesson. Apparently our brains reside just below our heart, in our chest. That's where the the food and water go that we drink and our brain turns it into poo and wee. Alex also told me that if we get water from the shower in our brains then the doctor has to get it out with a big net. Alex wants to be a doctor when he grows up. Ella wants to be a train driver.

Ella & Charlotte's First Up-do

I have purposely kept the girls' hair short so that I don't have to fuss over it in the mornings or even brush it some days (most days, actually). This week Debs put Ella's hair up in a 'horsey tail', as Ella called it, so silly me bought some hair ties at the shops and today we played hair dressers. Even Alex wanted in on the action and has decided that he wants to grow his hair long so that he can tie it up. I never thought Ella or Charlotte could get any cuter. It seems piggy tails send the cute-meter through the roof!

Superhero's Day

Wednesday was Superhero's day at kindy for Alex and Ella. Alex was Superman and Ella was Princess Dora. They were the best dressed kids at kindy!

A Star Is Born

Another day - another day with Debs, Gus and Joe. Today we went to their place. Ella showed us her awsome tallent, singing and playing the guitar. We stayed for dinner, baths, and came home with all three kids asleep.

Happy Birthday To Me

She turned one today. We had a few friends come over for a little celebration and a bit of cake. We're having a big birthday party on halloween for both Charlotte and Alex, who turns 4 next Monday.

The Birthday Triangle

Have you ever tried to take a photo of a number of small children, none of whom have their listening ears on? Here are our friends who came to help celebrate Charlotte's 1st birthday.

Ice Cream Baby part 2

After a morning spent at the park we went to MacDonalds for lunch and ice creams. Charlotte wanted to feed herself but wasn't all that accurate with her aim.

Rocks Riverside Park

Pardon the pun, but this place rocks! It's a public park where they have built a little river with small pools and lots of rocks. Alex and Lachlan used Lachie's thongs (or flip flops) and let them float down the river. The kids had a ball - they always do.

Land Ahoy!

Playgroup this morning where we made binoculars and then hanging out at Debs' place - again. It's been great having Debs to look after us while Bill's been working in Melbourne.

Walkin On Sunshine

Here is a picture of Midget wandering around in our back yard. We went to kindergym this morning, then the park afterwards with our friends Debs, Gus and Joe. We came home and the kids crashed out and I baked banana bread.

There's Something About Charlotte

This kid suffers from the worst case of bed-head that I've ever seen. Even when it's 5pm. Even when she's had a bath and I've washed and brushed her hair. It has a mind of its own. So does she.

Here Comes Summer

We had a splash in the back yard today.

Proof They Can Share!

It's not all screaming and fighting when you are brother and sister. Here is a rare moment of "Can I try yours and then you can try mine." It warms my heart.

The Hammer Throw

Here is Ella practising her hammer throw with the bouncy ball and an icy pole. She managed to knock herself over but didn't lose her icy pole. We stayed home today and played in the back yard.

Dressing For Dinner

Sometimes it's just not worth the hassle to dress her before she sits down and spills half of her food over herself.

This Lion Will Sleep Tonight

Yesterday our big outing for the day was to Bunnings - a massive hardware store. I wanted to buy more veggies for my vegetable patch and the kids got to play in the playground. Charlotte thinks she is a big kid. She was climbing the steps while the bigger kids jumped over her to get up and down on the fort. Ella got her face painted. It was a challenge to get the paint off her face at bath time.

A Day At Seaworld

Yesterday we went to Seaworld for the day. This is a picture of Alex and his friend, Gus, watching the dolphin show. We saw the dolpin show, the sea lion show and the Sesame Street show, as well as went on a few rides and ate ice cream. It was a very busy day and I was too buggered to blog last night.

The Things We Do To Our Kids

At playgroup today we did bellybutton prints of all the kids. We painted their bellys then pressed a piece of paper onto it. It made some great pictures with little bellybutton holes in the middle. Very cute.

Ice Cream Baby

This is Charlotte's first attempt at eating an ice cream. She pulled some funny faces at the beginning of it and, if you watch this, also at the end. She enjoyed it, though. I ended up with the last bit which was covered in broccoli bits and bits of meatball. Yum.

Hauling A Cranky Load

Today we went to the library in the morning for story time then to our local park which has recently undergone a facelift. Check out the expression on Alex. I guess he could use a facelift too.

Yellow and Purple and Blue and Red Submarine

We spent today at home - all day. I gardened like a crazy woman! I've realised that there is a downside to being industrious. We have two big bins and I've filled them both. Plus bin day isn't until Friday. We had lots of fun building submarines, playing with playdoh, the kids and I planted sunflower seeds. It was a full-on, lazy day at home.

Jump In My Car

Without Alex and Ella, Charlotte and I did lots and lots and LOTS of chores. First we spent an hour or so in the garden - at 7am! Best time of the day for it, though. Eating all that leaf litter and dirt must have been too much for Charlotte because she went down for her morning nap far too early for my carefully planned day. So I cleaned and she slept. Then we went shopping for groceries, came home to see our old timber furniture get taken away - finally - and then Alex and Ella came home to tear up the house. We watched the football grand final while playing doctors which turned into tackling Mummy on the living room floor. After that the rest of the night gets kinda hazy....

Oh, yeh, the picture. Without Bill here I have to start his truck to make sure the battery dosn't run flat. Charlotte had fun sitting in the front seat.

Another Day In The Water

We spent the day with Nanny Barb, Angela, Dave and the kids. The water was pretty cold and my kids didn't venture off the step - which meant that I didn't have to get into the pool, so I was more than happy with their decision. Ella didn't even get into the water! My dad came over this evening and took Ella and Alex home for a sleep over. I have a list of things that I hope to achive tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Splash!

We spent the day at our friends' house - Debs (mum), Gus (3 years old) and Joe (1 year old). The kids had a tea party in the back yard. They got a bit heavy handed when pouring the 'tea' which left a great little puddle of water for Charlotte to play in.

Greg Is In The Building

This is what greeted me this morning as I drank my first coffee of the day. I heard the 'pat pat pat' of feet coming down the hallway and turned to see this walking toward me. He then wore the wig to our friends' house for the day. Coupled with a trendy yellow shirt and he is the spitting image of Greg Wiggle.

Playing Swords

Whacking your sister with a plastic golf club is not just for brothers to do. Charlotte is fair game now. She just has to learn how to run away if it all gets too violent.