somber note alert... aaron's dad just phoned to say that pa (aaron's mum's dad) is very near death. thankfully we visited only recently (2wks ago) and he was in happy & playful spirits... very much perked up by the presence of max, actually.
pa is being transferred from the hospital, back to the nursing home tonight, to the palliative care unit.
he has had a wonderful long life: may he go peacefully.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
bite
ooh, this is weird... i had one of those really yucky dreams the other night, in which i was fighting off an attacker... i managed to bite him... and then heard cleo cry - yikes, i had bitten her finger...! she was so upset, poor darling... as was i, at the thought i could've so easily bitten OFF her finger!
Friday, October 23, 2009
a whole stack of photos (sept - oct 2009)
cleo getting gravel rash from kim (aaron's dad, aka 'pa' to the kids)...
yup, he definitely needs a shave! and hey, do you like the birdcage hanging in the background? i found three awesome cages, and they look brilliant hanging off our pergola!
yup, he definitely needs a shave! and hey, do you like the birdcage hanging in the background? i found three awesome cages, and they look brilliant hanging off our pergola!
max with his beloved lego...
cleo posing in the vintage doll's bonnet i mentioned a few weeks back...
...and here's another from the vintage fashion shoot :)
cleo's bedroom... although i must confess that i am a habitual room-changer... and her room no longer looks like this! no massive changes, just little furniture moves and the like.
cleo in her activity centre... forever indebted to melissa for suggesting i buy one of these for cleo / what a great buy! even better, i found the activity centre at a baby & kids market for $40. these things retail for $150-200! best of all, cleo loves it... and the activity centre keeps her safe from her over-zealous big bro'...
this is where i am sitting right now! as in RIGHT NOW! this room was the 'formal dining room' which we NEVER used... and now... well, let's just say i use this room 'frequently' :)...
okay... so my obsessive compulsive room-changing habit extended to the 'front room' too... although nothing too grand... just shoved the sofa to the wall... a small move which has made a big impact on the space, actually. we are using this room more and more, and i love that this is happening. it's a great room.
my favourite recent swap-meet find - my lovely rocking horse! the mirror above was my nana's.
mum w/cleo... at carine open space.
at perth zoo... max and two of his cousins were treated to a 'behind the scenes' look at several reptiles, courtesy of a friend of aaron's...
...if you're happy and you know it...
max looks soooooooo tall in this shot... i can't believe he's nearly five!
cleo's mango face... or is it orange?
max & cleo were good sports recently, accompanying me on a mission to find 'the perfect spot' for a wedding ceremony. no luck yet... but did get some lovely snaps from our morning.
pumpkin face...
max made this very cool teepee at forest place in perth city, during the school holidays. the program was run by the freo arts centre, and was SO cool... part of the activities centred on making felt for the 'walls' of a yurt, for goodness' sake!
my sleeping beauty...
at the royal show!
cleo posing in the vintage doll's bonnet i mentioned a few weeks back...
...and here's another from the vintage fashion shoot :)
cleo's bedroom... although i must confess that i am a habitual room-changer... and her room no longer looks like this! no massive changes, just little furniture moves and the like.
cleo in her activity centre... forever indebted to melissa for suggesting i buy one of these for cleo / what a great buy! even better, i found the activity centre at a baby & kids market for $40. these things retail for $150-200! best of all, cleo loves it... and the activity centre keeps her safe from her over-zealous big bro'...
this is where i am sitting right now! as in RIGHT NOW! this room was the 'formal dining room' which we NEVER used... and now... well, let's just say i use this room 'frequently' :)...
okay... so my obsessive compulsive room-changing habit extended to the 'front room' too... although nothing too grand... just shoved the sofa to the wall... a small move which has made a big impact on the space, actually. we are using this room more and more, and i love that this is happening. it's a great room.
my favourite recent swap-meet find - my lovely rocking horse! the mirror above was my nana's.
mum w/cleo... at carine open space.
at perth zoo... max and two of his cousins were treated to a 'behind the scenes' look at several reptiles, courtesy of a friend of aaron's...
...if you're happy and you know it...
max looks soooooooo tall in this shot... i can't believe he's nearly five!
cleo's mango face... or is it orange?
max & cleo were good sports recently, accompanying me on a mission to find 'the perfect spot' for a wedding ceremony. no luck yet... but did get some lovely snaps from our morning.
pumpkin face...
max made this very cool teepee at forest place in perth city, during the school holidays. the program was run by the freo arts centre, and was SO cool... part of the activities centred on making felt for the 'walls' of a yurt, for goodness' sake!
ps, this photo promted my return to weight watchers... don't you just HATE 'those' photos? however, too sweet of max and cleo 'nearly kissing' to not show this one to the world...
my sleeping beauty...
profile of an 8.5 monther
cleo @ 8.5 months...
...lots of random chatter / no mum-mum, dad-dad, nan-nan <- to the CHN's mild horror ;)
...only falls asleep in her cot if i am holding her hand
...loves mango & cruskits / not at all keen on rice cereal (that's only for babies)
...likes to drink water from a cup, but has not yet mastered the straw or sipper cup
...holds a current passport, and has traveled overseas
...number one thing or person guaranteed to make cleo smile? her big brother :)
...very much a 'fiorentino', including her dark colouring and 'squat' body shape ;)
...breast-feeds (with gusto) 6+ times daily, with absolutely no signs of weaning any time soon - and i am thrilled with our success!
...wakes minimum of once overnight, but mostly twice... and on the really BAD nights, three or four wakes / feeds...
...rolls both ways, can sit unassisted for short stretches & on the verge of commando crawling... she currently pushes forward, but doesn't actually cover much distance yet (phew)
...weighs around 8kg
...cannot (yet) wave nor clap
...smiles a LOT
...breaks hearts daily
...is nicknamed 'squeaky' by aaron & max
...eats three meals per day, and sometimes snacks, too
...often requires a bath after a meal-time *sigh* another messy eater in this house!
...LOVES bath time! very good at kicking and splashing!
...looks equally gorgeous in soft pastels and bright colours
...is apparently the spitting image of max, not that i really see this?
...love love love her.
...lots of random chatter / no mum-mum, dad-dad, nan-nan <- to the CHN's mild horror ;)
...only falls asleep in her cot if i am holding her hand
...loves mango & cruskits / not at all keen on rice cereal (that's only for babies)
...likes to drink water from a cup, but has not yet mastered the straw or sipper cup
...holds a current passport, and has traveled overseas
...number one thing or person guaranteed to make cleo smile? her big brother :)
...very much a 'fiorentino', including her dark colouring and 'squat' body shape ;)
...breast-feeds (with gusto) 6+ times daily, with absolutely no signs of weaning any time soon - and i am thrilled with our success!
...wakes minimum of once overnight, but mostly twice... and on the really BAD nights, three or four wakes / feeds...
...rolls both ways, can sit unassisted for short stretches & on the verge of commando crawling... she currently pushes forward, but doesn't actually cover much distance yet (phew)
...weighs around 8kg
...cannot (yet) wave nor clap
...smiles a LOT
...breaks hearts daily
...is nicknamed 'squeaky' by aaron & max
...eats three meals per day, and sometimes snacks, too
...often requires a bath after a meal-time *sigh* another messy eater in this house!
...LOVES bath time! very good at kicking and splashing!
...looks equally gorgeous in soft pastels and bright colours
...is apparently the spitting image of max, not that i really see this?
...love love love her.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
cigaretting
busy busy today! today's rush is due to: max's kindy day, timber blinds being installed in the kids bedrooms and playroom this morning, and driving aaron to hospital by 1130am, to have surgery to remove a VERY LARGE splinter from his hand.. it has been there for months, yikes!
aaron's quit campaign is going so well, very very very proud of him! he is onto day six, and is really thinking this through... stocking up on mints, deep breathing exercises, calculated how many cigarettes he's estimated to have smoked during his life ( :o ) which is all - i am guessing - part of the advice given during his course. anyhoo, i am pleased as punch, and god help him if he decides to start up with the 'cigaretting' (max's term) again!
aaron's quit campaign is going so well, very very very proud of him! he is onto day six, and is really thinking this through... stocking up on mints, deep breathing exercises, calculated how many cigarettes he's estimated to have smoked during his life ( :o ) which is all - i am guessing - part of the advice given during his course. anyhoo, i am pleased as punch, and god help him if he decides to start up with the 'cigaretting' (max's term) again!
Friday, October 16, 2009
i can smell summer, can you?
mmmm, mango season... max & i have keenly watched mangoes drop in price, and this week, i felt inclined to 'splurge' on two of the lovelies, @ $3.49 each. they were worth every cent, i must say! i offered the pip to cleo, and she gnawed happily... even cried when i took it away! oh no, what have we done? another mango lover in the family makes four of us... no mango will be safe in this house!
max had his first session of after-school soccer yesterday. his initial enthusiasm led to lots of talk about trophies (!) and kicking goals (!)... the reality was somewhat different. his little face was RED within three seconds of running around the indoor field... note to me: dress the boy in a tank top next thursday! the first half of the session was skill-based, and the second was a scratch match... <- and yes, i use the term loosely. more on that in a bit. max was competent at 'sitting on the ball' and a stand-sit-stand exercise... but when the kids had to kick the ball about, but keep it close, it got a little chaotic. max wasn't too bad, actually, but he wanted to be brilliant, and... well... he wasn't brilliant. that didn't surprise me. it did surprise him, however...
the second part of the session, the 'scratch match', led to TEARS of frustration... on max's part, not mine!
(will finish this in a bit, cleo wants a feed...)
max had his first session of after-school soccer yesterday. his initial enthusiasm led to lots of talk about trophies (!) and kicking goals (!)... the reality was somewhat different. his little face was RED within three seconds of running around the indoor field... note to me: dress the boy in a tank top next thursday! the first half of the session was skill-based, and the second was a scratch match... <- and yes, i use the term loosely. more on that in a bit. max was competent at 'sitting on the ball' and a stand-sit-stand exercise... but when the kids had to kick the ball about, but keep it close, it got a little chaotic. max wasn't too bad, actually, but he wanted to be brilliant, and... well... he wasn't brilliant. that didn't surprise me. it did surprise him, however...
the second part of the session, the 'scratch match', led to TEARS of frustration... on max's part, not mine!
(will finish this in a bit, cleo wants a feed...)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
carnivore like her dad
i gave cleo half a sausage (chevups brand, skinless) after her dinner, and she LOVED it... even if she did choke on the bits of meat that came off. she cried when the sausage dropped on the floor, lol... loves meat like her dad, he he!
cool day today: max, cleo & i headed into the city, with the idea of going to the museum... changed plan when we happened across a VERY cool freebie school holidays program being run by the freo arts centre. the main activity was creating the fabric for a yurt! the kids were dying the felt, drying it (with bicycle power!), wringing it, etc. also had (decorated) milk bottle buildings, and another activity where kids could make a teepee from bamboo sticks and fabric which they painted themselves. the hub of the activity was a huge marquee set up like a moroccan tent, with low couches, lots of cushions, great music and a beautiful big lantern hanging in the middle - so gorgeous, and soooo perfect for me to park up, feed cleo and watch max at work :)
we had a blast, and hung there for a couple of hours! it was both unstructured, yet structured, which was very appealing... the kids could chop and change their activity without any issue.
after our lunch, we met up with some girlfriends who were lunching on the other side of town, at a trendy bar at which we stood out like sore thumbs! max managed to topple the pram! we didn't stay there for too long... well, long enough for me to enjoy a sparkling wine!
back on the weight watchers program... weighed in on wed morning... and am enjoying tracking again, helps me stay 'on track'. champers = 1.5 points :)
cool day today: max, cleo & i headed into the city, with the idea of going to the museum... changed plan when we happened across a VERY cool freebie school holidays program being run by the freo arts centre. the main activity was creating the fabric for a yurt! the kids were dying the felt, drying it (with bicycle power!), wringing it, etc. also had (decorated) milk bottle buildings, and another activity where kids could make a teepee from bamboo sticks and fabric which they painted themselves. the hub of the activity was a huge marquee set up like a moroccan tent, with low couches, lots of cushions, great music and a beautiful big lantern hanging in the middle - so gorgeous, and soooo perfect for me to park up, feed cleo and watch max at work :)
we had a blast, and hung there for a couple of hours! it was both unstructured, yet structured, which was very appealing... the kids could chop and change their activity without any issue.
after our lunch, we met up with some girlfriends who were lunching on the other side of town, at a trendy bar at which we stood out like sore thumbs! max managed to topple the pram! we didn't stay there for too long... well, long enough for me to enjoy a sparkling wine!
back on the weight watchers program... weighed in on wed morning... and am enjoying tracking again, helps me stay 'on track'. champers = 1.5 points :)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
sit nicely on the sofa
my interesting afternoon, a short story by me.
max playing silly buggers on the sofa = crash! = afternoon spent in ED.
conclusion? mild concussion...
who would've thunk that saying 'sit nicely on the sofa!' multiple times EVERY day for the last few years might've sunk in? naaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
max playing silly buggers on the sofa = crash! = afternoon spent in ED.
conclusion? mild concussion...
who would've thunk that saying 'sit nicely on the sofa!' multiple times EVERY day for the last few years might've sunk in? naaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
2nd
cleo ate VERY well today!
breakfast - baby cereal mixed with rafferty's brand (really delicious, btw!) blueberry / banana / apple. she is VERY fussy when it comes to baby cereal, and won't eat it unless its well disguised lol.
mid-morning - tub of vaalia yoghurt & a rusk
early dinner - 2 ice cubes of potato and parsnip mix, one ice cube of pumpkin and carrot mix, and 2 cruskits! first time for the cruskits - she was in heaven!
i did another batch of cooking for cleo today, getting inspiration from a coles baby club magazine... poached some chicken tenderloins in chicken stock, and added potato and apple. pureed the lot. the first batch, with pear instead of apple, burnt. badly. as in, the smoke alarms went off (blush) and i've had to throw away the pot (another blush) (i hope cleo appreciates my efforts at home-cooking...)
now that the kids are asleep and i've finished my SHHHHHHHHH second bowl of dessert (a healthy yoghurt with frozen raspberries but still!) - guess i'd better tidy the kitchen... ho hum!
breakfast - baby cereal mixed with rafferty's brand (really delicious, btw!) blueberry / banana / apple. she is VERY fussy when it comes to baby cereal, and won't eat it unless its well disguised lol.
mid-morning - tub of vaalia yoghurt & a rusk
early dinner - 2 ice cubes of potato and parsnip mix, one ice cube of pumpkin and carrot mix, and 2 cruskits! first time for the cruskits - she was in heaven!
i did another batch of cooking for cleo today, getting inspiration from a coles baby club magazine... poached some chicken tenderloins in chicken stock, and added potato and apple. pureed the lot. the first batch, with pear instead of apple, burnt. badly. as in, the smoke alarms went off (blush) and i've had to throw away the pot (another blush) (i hope cleo appreciates my efforts at home-cooking...)
now that the kids are asleep and i've finished my SHHHHHHHHH second bowl of dessert (a healthy yoghurt with frozen raspberries but still!) - guess i'd better tidy the kitchen... ho hum!
20 years!
waiting on the arrival of three girlfriends and their (combined) seven children: batten down the hatches, lol! (lucky for me, it's a sunny day - plan on throwing them all outside!)
wedding talk:
i suggested march 2010 to aaron, but he's pushing for later that year (more time to save)... i said NO! as i don't want to STRESS and deliberate over that longer time frame... even though i don't want formal, and i really don't want OTT, i know myself, and know that anxiety is what i do well...!
postie is here! hoping for something fun in the mail, and not more bills dammit. carly & connor arrive in a few weeks, for their engagement party - yay! school reunion (...20 years...) in a few weeks! wanting to get back into WW, as a few kilos have snuck on and i'm NOT happy about it!
wedding talk:
i suggested march 2010 to aaron, but he's pushing for later that year (more time to save)... i said NO! as i don't want to STRESS and deliberate over that longer time frame... even though i don't want formal, and i really don't want OTT, i know myself, and know that anxiety is what i do well...!
postie is here! hoping for something fun in the mail, and not more bills dammit. carly & connor arrive in a few weeks, for their engagement party - yay! school reunion (...20 years...) in a few weeks! wanting to get back into WW, as a few kilos have snuck on and i'm NOT happy about it!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
rustic and charming?
wedding plans have taken a turn for 'the local'!
thoughts have turned from bali; too much choice was doing my head IN! not to mention the fact that i am too much of a control freak to hand over big decisions like 'which villa?' to a wedding planner in indonesia! fine if i could fly over & check out venues first-hand but budget does not extend to a scouting trip!
next thought was yanchep inn for a brunch perhaps, with a garden party vibe. i had it all worked out in my head (as you do) but the reality was less 'rustic and charming' and more along the lines of 'very much run down'. peeling paint, dingy carpet, bogan local drinkers and patchy lawns aside, the events 'coordinator' could not have been less helpful... i would not feel confident with her at the helm of my party, and not at all inclined to give the venue the business, quite frankly!
aaron was quite taken with yanchep's cave venue, which we came across when visiting the national park over two years ago... but wow, gets very expensive when the minimum package is close to $140!
so... now thinking outside the square, and hunting for a venue that's non-weddingy (is that a word? it should be!) and informal and funky and serves delicious food or allows us to bring caterers in, and doesn't charge a bomb for its drinks package... but wondering if such a place exists??!
thoughts have turned from bali; too much choice was doing my head IN! not to mention the fact that i am too much of a control freak to hand over big decisions like 'which villa?' to a wedding planner in indonesia! fine if i could fly over & check out venues first-hand but budget does not extend to a scouting trip!
next thought was yanchep inn for a brunch perhaps, with a garden party vibe. i had it all worked out in my head (as you do) but the reality was less 'rustic and charming' and more along the lines of 'very much run down'. peeling paint, dingy carpet, bogan local drinkers and patchy lawns aside, the events 'coordinator' could not have been less helpful... i would not feel confident with her at the helm of my party, and not at all inclined to give the venue the business, quite frankly!
aaron was quite taken with yanchep's cave venue, which we came across when visiting the national park over two years ago... but wow, gets very expensive when the minimum package is
so... now thinking outside the square, and hunting for a venue that's non-weddingy (is that a word? it should be!) and informal and funky and serves delicious food or allows us to bring caterers in, and doesn't charge a bomb for its drinks package... but wondering if such a place exists??!
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