Wednesday, May 25, 2016

grandparent visit

he
He is very comfortable with his Grandies, spent much of the past 10 days (and a couple of evenings, while his parents were out and child-free) reading, drawing and playing games with them. These Volkswagen salt & pepper shakers at the Gabba Antique Centre cafe reminded Granny of her first car, which had to be big enough to fit her Mom's (my Grandma Jo's) wheelchair in. 

she
Don't be alarmed! Baby Rosie is made of plastic and Grandpa was being very gentle. This macabre little project was all in the name of making the hole in baby's mouth large enough for the dummy that Little She desperately wanted to fit. We dragged Granny and Grandpa from playgroup to playground to cafe to market to fete to op-shop to swap-shop and collected various doll clothes, doll high-chair and a doll dummy along the way (Little She has recently adopted her brother's Baby Rosie and a baby, as we know, needs lots of stuff...).

me
 My parents drove here from Adelaide, via all sorts of back-roads and via Rock Hampton. Not a bad effort for a couple in their mid-70s. They're on their way home now, via the Blue Mountains. Also not a bad effort was their stellar effort in keeping up with the munchkins for a week and a half. Mainly the wild and wonderful little She-child! And, because they were driving their fancy new 4WD, there was room in the boot for the two prettiest chairs in the world which once belonged to my Grandparents in the Barossa, but now belong here with me.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

super heroes

he

 For his very good pal's 4th 'Super Hero' birthday party he invented 'Super Dragon' (which breathes fire, air, water and cupcakes). He also dressed his Daddy as 'Interesting Man' (purple wig and cape) whose super power is 'being interested in everything'. At the party he found a good book and curled up on the couch, unaware of the twenty 4-year-old Spidermen (Spidermans?) swarming past in red and black waves of energy. Dress-ups, cake, books - pretty much his ultimate party.

she
She saw the design on her costume and explained that she was 'Incy Wincy Spider". 
Their Auntie commented: "Super Dragon & Incy-Wincy??? Surely you two are a formidable fire-breathing, waterspout-climbing force!

me
We're rostered on to water the community garden this week. I was up there just after sunrise this morning, listening to podcasts (the Party Room, Chat 10 Looks 3), pulling weeds, chatting to neighbours passing by and moving the hose around. A delicious way for my soul to start the day! My favourite part, however, was drinking tea from B's Superman thermos from his childhood.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

new fridge

he
Fridges come in big boxes.

she
She has developed blatant double-standards when it comes to leaving the freezer/fridge door open. If she's the one who has opened it (usually to get some ice for an 'oweee' or milk to drink) she loves to stand and bask in it's glorious coldness, refusing to move or close the door. If I need to grab something while preparing a meal she pushes with all her tiny (but surprisingly forceful) might to slam it shut!

me
 After a string of second-hand fridges (of varying quality of cold-making) throughout the past 16 years, it only took a power surge and seventy (yes, seriously) phone calls to the fridge guy for us to end up with this one, shiny and new.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

bathroom redecorating

he
 I never actually see him do it, but, after we turn over the bathroom calendar page to each new month, throughout the following 4 weeks, the page gradually becomes more and more beautiful and unique! He gives us extra days or events and often includes speech bubbles or other additions to the existing artwork. It's hilarious and I love noticing it evolve. I really hope this lasts for many, many more calendars. Until he learns to forge my handwriting and actually succeeds at altering our plans.
He's already made a good start on May.

she
Oh, it flows off the roll so beautifully, with just one little tug - how can this not be toilet paper's intended purpose?

me
 I've been on the lookout for an unsmashable - but still pretty - soap dish (after two ceramic casualties this year), and finally found this little teapot (currently known around here as a "pea-tot") this week, which seems to do the job - though I have to cut our soaps in half to fit!

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

favourite new food combos

he
peanut butter + vegemite

she
 sushi soy sauce + vita brits
cheesy herb puff + babyccino

me
IQS muesli bar packet mix + whatever is on hand (egg, flour, chickpeas...) that will make it a good cookie dough consistency, then baked into cookies instead of bars.