long wet windy weekend

he

A slight case of cabin fever, stuck inside in the dry (but electricity-less) house was easily treated with a pancake party downstairs and by helping Dad fix some new freecycled furniture. He really wanted to help, and, of course every job is much easier with his assistance. 

me

 Tropical cyclones can't keep me from Lifeline Bookfest's sale day! I spent a couple of hours (JUST ME!) cruising the trestle tables, with far more success than my previous visit! An announcement informed the shoppers that they'd made record sales this year, 1.1 million dollars. How wonderful. It's just all good.

we

We spent a couple of nights at the coast, whoops! It was pretty stormy but we enjoyed playing, reading, and snacking on the balcony.

bending bodies

he

We have a great old pal staying with us this week. She does an hour of yoga each morning and he is convinced that the reason she's crawling around on the carpet is to play with him! He thinks it is just great, and joins in for ages, rolling, laughing, copying her, lying in silly positions, giggling some more, squishing up close on her yoga mat. He thinks it's just such a hoot that she commits that much time to playing funny games on the carpet with him. What a great friend to have around!

me

Saw Cirque du Soleil with my sis - Christmas presents for each other! Inspiring and magical. Of course. 

lifeline bookfest

he

His inaugural Lifeline Bookfest experience!!! 

On our walk there, he didn't appear to be quite excited as I was, even with all of the pre-excursion briefing and anecdotes. Needless to say, however, on arrival he was thoroughly impressed with the breadth of selection and the ease of browsing. He did his 'woah, totally blown away' face. Of course, before he could get stuck into book reading/browsing, he had to conduct a series of safety inspections on the tables.

me

It's one of my very favourite times of year! We spent an even $10 and I was thankful to have the pram for carrying.

weekend

he

He's just started to show us that he understands when we ask him where someone's belly is. It's a killer!

me

I'm back to running every 2nd morning, but today was the very first time I've had to wear a hat, due to the super sweltering Saturday sunshine.

we

We've been having Friday night picnics at South Bank, B meets us there after work, we've usually spent the afternoon there playing, swimming, librarying or museuming.

this evening

he

went for a ride with dad, 

me

while I made tortilla lasagne!

anniversary

he

Today was a great day! He found a giant sandpit at Anzac Park.

me

I picked up 2 boxes of fabric from a freecycler near Anzac Park. And I've been setting up my new sewing corner. And it feels good.

 we

We 3 headed out to dinner on Oxford Street for 13th anniversary! We're teenaged marrieds now. This is my dress (forgot to take a picture at dinner). I continue to be astounded by just how tasty gnocchi can be. Mmm mmm. And that thing that happens when you combine rocket, pear, walnuts and blue cheese. It's like magic. It might actually be magic. 

sweater

he

It has been swelteringly hot hot hot! Our poor little sweaty one-year-old has been feeling it. A teeny bit cranky, and drinking much more than he's been eating, but generally just getting on with the business at hand (reading books, destroying anything made of cardboard, playing drums and uke, conducting safety inspections on chairs and prams, making his way from room to room...).

me

My mid-90's impressionable (yet discerning) teenaged self loved the early days of Weezer's "Undone (The Sweater Song)" and "Say it Ain't So", memorised the Blue Album, loved their film clips and had a long-time crush on Rivers. They finally came to Brisneyland to play me some tunes! I had sooo much fun. They took us in a time machine backwards through their greatest hits, then played the entire Blue Album. I was grinning the whole time. They were supported by Ball Park Music and Cloud Control who both have amazing sounds and fun songs. We also recently saw Jen from Ball Park Music supporting Darren Hanlon, solo and terribly cute and talented. She's so supportive. 

one!

he

One! Utterley unbelievable. So was the incredible fruit pizza birthday cake.

me

Yes, it's true - most of the guests were closer to my age than his age, but they all do love him. And it was, of course, a nice reminder of the lovely friends I share my life with.

cousin!

he

He and his dad collected the eggs on the day that new cousin was born, and took them as a gift!

me

I organised a couple of activities for our sista's baby shower:

- Play mat: People added fun things to grab and touch, I put it all together.
- Beads: Everyone chose a glass/wooden bead, had their photo taken with it, then threaded it onto the string as a gift for nearly-mum, along with a little book with all of the photos. 

we

We all headed up there yesterday for first meeting and cuddles. My goodness. So special.

goodbye 2012, hello 2013

he

He partied on in our back yard, such a lovely evening. He had 3 of his best friends there of nearly matching ages. Such fun! He particularly loved Jamie's songs. 

me

My favourite part of NYE each year is the awesome new year's resolution game. Everyone writes resolutions and puts them into a hat. Then we take turns to pull one out and read it aloud. The twist that we added this year was that you are allowed to add one extra word to each resolution. For example, my pal changed "Delete my facebook page" to "Delete my sister's facebook page". I'll see how I do with mine. Check back in a year.

Christmas x 2

he

Met Aunty at the airport, then to the coast for S-Family Christmas - festivities, feasting, stockings, not-so-secret-santa, cuddles and play, loveliest company and no sleep ALL DAY! 

And the family only broke 3 wine glasses. He only broke one of them.

me

Back to the airport 24 hours later, but this time, not as a greeter but a passenger, flying to MY home town for Z-Family Christmas week. Got to watch & hear my sis belt out some carols - one of my very favourite things each Christmas. Lots of fun with stockings, gifts, a windy beach play on Christmas arvo, achingly special catch ups with dear old friends and breathtaking meetings with teeny tiny new ones, literal bucket-loads of fresh apricots, and a week of vegetarian feasting (thanks to J and whatever magazine she found it all in).

new/old toys

he

Found these old day-care toys at the op-shop, new for him!

me

My new toy, not from the op-shop! However it does look old. 160 years old, in fact.

live-in babysitters

he

me

fans

he

He meets his friends at SLQ to have way too much fun with Hickory Dickory Rock (Tim Jackman) on Thursdays. They are among the littlest rockers at these gigs, and for quite a while he preferred to play it cool (hanging with his mates at the back and only rarely acknowledging Tim's tunes or succumbing to the party atmosphere by becoming a screaming fan). Lately, however, his sense of fandom is increasing and he's keen to make his own way to the mosh pit, stare in inspired awe at Tim, and get to know fellow punters.

me

Darren Hanlon Christmas gig! I stare in inspired awe, too. So clever and fun.

we

We all went to the Dazza gig. We took turns sitting with our big friends playing with him (and his teeny friends) at the back, which was also pretty fun. There was even a huge labrador to pat - oh the perfect gig! 

Early on, he made his way forward and plonked down in the aisle, next to the front row fans, to watch from this prime position. The song finished and he crawled even further forward, to the stage stairs, looking pretty excited. Dazza was clearly intimidated by the air of natural stardom surround the little stair-climber, so called, "Security!" but also asked him for a request. He requested hiccups. Awesome gig.