Clancy turns 1!

We also went to Clancy's first birthday party on the weekend. The boys ate lots of chocolate and had great fun playing with their cousins. Clancy also had fun eating chocolate and wiping it all over his mummy's shoulder! I think Clancy had the most fun though once most people had gone home! He is a fairly gentle soul...

Visiting

Friends of ours have moved to Australia from the UK. Aaron went to Uni with Stephen, and Annette is his German wife who he has now brought to live in Australia for a bit! They have a boy called Ben who is 3 months younger than Thomas and she is 18 weeks prenant with their second child. It was great to spend a night with them and let the boys get to know each other. We had a lovely relaxing time and were well fed! The boys 'helped' Aaron put together his new lawn mower which they thought was just great!

Peek a boo!

So Tired

This was Mark after his first full day of Kindy. He did not sleep at Kindy during his 'rest time' but came home and crashed. He didn't even finish his gingerbread man - still half eaten and clutched in his hand! This is one of the paintings he has brought home from Kindy. He still loves it. I think the teachers are starting to get to know Mark better. Mrs Annie has been saying things like - he is a very clever, conscientious boy isn't he? She says that Mark has been horrified by some of the mess the other children make. Also she asked the children to try to make up their own rest beds the other day. Most kids gave some attempt but then waited for help, she said that Mark came to her in tears because he had not been able to complete the job perfectly himself. She said we will need to work on that! He is always willing to volunteer for things and is very helpful. They also say he is a very good eater. I never thought I would get an eating compliment about MArk because we have had so much difficulty with him and food even since he was a baby! We are very happy he is having such a good time.

First Day at Kindy

It was Mark's first day at Kindy today and he was very excited. Here he is with all his things all ready to go. The whole family went with him, but were only there a few minutes as he was more than happy for us to go!!

He started the day with some gluing. When I picked him up 2 hours later (it was a short introduction day today) - he has painted 3 paintings, 2 glued collages and 2 nail board things. I left most of the craft there - I can't take that much stuff home every day!! He is looking forward to going for the afternoon tomorrow. He commented that they had to wash their hands all the time! I never make the kids wash their hands at home so he is not used to it! We are all glad that it seems to be going so well. I think it will be hard not to send him to the attached primary school next year, but we are not planning to at this stage. He is at the Martin Luther Campus (www.concordia.qld.edu.au)

Week at Maroochydore

We took advantage of the fact that my arents are overseas and stayed in their unit at the coast for a week. We had a lovely time - lots of trips to the beach and swims in the pool. Mark is loving the water at the moment. These photos were taken at Noosa. Mark starts Kindy tomorrow - will have to take some pics and let you know how he goes...

My 32nd Birthday!

It was my birthday yesterday and I had a lovely day. In the morning the boys were so excited for me that I couldn't help but smile (even at 5.30am!)! We unwrapped presents - Stephen bought me a new watch which I am very happy about. Stephen then made us all crepes with chocolate sauce or lemon and sugar (recreating Paris for me). We had a stroll around the markets, then back home to pack a picnic (including the cake Stephen and the boys made for me!). We went to the park and had a picnic and listenned to some african drumming that they had on for 2 hours. We ran into people we knew so it was a nice social relaxing morning. Then home for some lunch and all of us had a sleep! We then had friends baby sit for us (Thanks Kim and Mark!) so that we could go out for dinner together alone. Then back home to play games together. I was very spoilt for the day and had a lovely time!! Thanks to everyone who sent me a Happy Birthday message!

Other Christmas antics

Stephen decided he needed to make fresh pasta - Thomas helped by turning the handle to roll almost all of it! Fresh pizza dough was also made. We made a huge train track with some extra bits of track and what the boys already had - they are loving to play with it. We have also been finishing up some painting jobs around the house the last few days and have done a bit of shopping. Always busy! Thomas seems a bit sick today with a fever, and not eating and a bit irritable. Might need to take it a bit easier the next few days.

Look at that belly!

A pregnant mum is not a very good goalie! My side step and kicking is terrible at the moment as I have strained a groin muscle, so Marl scored lots of goals! I am now 23 and a half weeks pregnant.

What Style!

Mark got a soccer goal for Christmas. He thinks it is great, and both the boys have a pretty good kicking action!

Biscuits

We spent Christmas at home alone together as a family this year. I felt the need to bake some Christmassy biscuits when I got home.

Story time with Oma

Christmas with the Dedekinds

After our 3 nights away with the Sims family we moved onto the Dedekinds for 3 nights. We were all only together for the first night though. Had a pretend Christmas Eve together on the Saturday night. It was nice and more relaxed than usual. It is one of the first Christmases that we have not had a small baby type person to chase around! It was lovely.

3 in a row

Thomas, Ethan and Mark aged 2, 3 and 4 all in a row at Australia Zoo. It was a nice day out but was extremely hot and we only lasted half a day and I almost died from being so hot!!

Fun in the water

We bought Mark a pool noodle before our holidays as he had used one in swimming lessons. He was so happy to be able to get around the whole pool independently while holding onto it and kicking! Thomas was not so keen to hop in, but his cheeky side came out squirting everyone in the pool while sitting on the safety of the step with his new water squirter!!

Christmas with the Sims Family

We went away to a holiday house on the beach at Currimundi for 3 nights with Stephen's family the week before Christmas. It was nice to let the boys have lots of time in the pool and playing in small pools of water at Currimundi lake.