vehicles

he

He insisted on riding his bike and towing his trike - which was, in turn, towing the wagon. Despite all those extra wheels on the footpath, it was a s...l...o...w trip to the markets.

she

me

This may come as a shock, but I'm not really into cars. I like to walk and I definitely prefer public transport to driving. I couldn't tell you anything about a friend's car except for its colour and I only remember the kind of car I drive because it's fun to say 'Corollacoaster'. This week I achieved an impressive trifecta of fails at an important aspect of proper grown-up driving: Underground Car Parks. Little She woke just in time to jump in the car and meet our friends at the Barracks - no time for train or walking. It is so rare that I park in an underground car park that I couldn't tell you the last time I did. Or if I ever have, actually.  We got there fine, turned into the underground parking, pulled up at the boom gate WAY too far from the ticket machine so climbed out of the car to hike over and fetch it. FAIL ONE!

Parked, gathered my stuff (bag, phone, parking ticket and my baby), headed up to meet our friends. A couple of hours later, getting ready to head back to the car park, I couldn't find the ticket. Anywhere. Searched again. Again. Went back to the car and searched in there. No luck. Locked the car and saw it balancing on the roof, by her door. FAIL TWO!

Back upstairs to have it validated by the cinema people. Back downstairs to pay for parking, take my change, then head to the car. Baby in, driving towards the exit. Realised I didn't have my ticket anymore and wouldn't get out the boom gates. Parked in a different space, got Baby out again, walked back to the ticket machines, found my ticket (thankfully) still sticking out, waiting for me. FAIL THREE!

Impressive, I know! Do I get a prize?

bees

he

His Daddy pulled him out of bed the other night to watch the Bee Man split our native bee hive. It was fascinating!

she

Her face says it all...

me

It was one of those awkward conversations (everyone has them, right?), where I'm a few steps behind but am pretending I'm not... It was night time, I had just emerged from saying 'good night' to the little people. I thought I heard someone call 'Hello?' so looked out the front. There was no one at the door but there was a car parked in front of our house, with its passenger door open and a lady was crouching down, photographing our mosaic/herb garden, no one was in the driver's seat. I heard the 'Hello' again, louder, and realised it was coming from the back door. I hurried that way and assumed it was a friend - because, who else would be at our back door at night? However I found a stranger, an older man with a well-worn sun hat and a farm-ish shirt. 

And a friendly grin: "Hi, I'm Don!" 

He said it as if I was expecting him, so I played along, furiously sifting through my memory for a clue while returning his smile and answering, "Hi Don, how are you doing?" 

"Good, thanks. Nice to meet you. Is he ready?" 

"Nice to meet you too. Ummm... he's just finishing a bed time story... I can... ummm... let him know you're here...?" 

"Yeah, thanks. I'll get ready then. Can you just show me where it is?" Ahhhhh! Where WHAT is?

"Umm..." I thought I was found out, but, just in the nick of time, I recalled a conversation from a few nights earlier. "...Yes, Don-the-Bee-Man, I CAN show you. Because I absolutely DO know who you are and why you are standing here at my back door in the dark. You'll find the native bee hive just over there, under the tree, and you can definitely start preparing to split it, as previously arranged." Phew. That was a close one.

ONE-derful!

he

He helped make her birthday cakes. He decided on merry-go-round cakes, with animals, sticks and a roof. He found the bits and we assembled them together! We shared one cake with our playgroup friends on Wednesday afternoon and one with family friends on her birthday evening.

she

 

She woke uncharacteristically early, ready to party! She and I then spent a couple of hours roaming the neighbourhood, soaking up the gorgeous dawn, pressing pedestrian crossing buttons for as long as she wanted (an excellent time-passer), finding edible plants and herbs in neighbour's gardens to taste, touching trees and fences, waving at early birds hurrying off to work, having a coffee at the Little Prince and picking up some groceries at the fruit shop, before heading home to see if the day had started for the rest of the family (it hadn't). She checked out the new playground at South Bank with her Daddy and then met me at book club where she continued to be spoiled by the sweetest of friends. The big birthday culminated in a curry dinner with old pals. Happy Birthday, Little She!

me

I can't take credit for the very witty title today - it was written in a birthday card that she received. It was a long day, but a good one! She's such great company. During our early morning adventures I had a little break at the Little Prince when she took Chris, the barista, for a walk while I sat at the back of the cafe and sipped my coffee.

her village

he

On the morning of his little sister's Welcome to the Village/Baptism celebration, I was explaining what to expect. When he heard that people were going to be reading poems/prayers for her, he decided that he would also like to do this. He composed the above, and read it confidently in front of the crowd of 80 guests! Then ran back to the picnic blanket to keep playing duplo with his friends.

she

We are just so pleased to have her in our little village. She's pretty pleased with herself, too.

me

The celebration was such a great reminder, for me, of the exceptional village - family, friends and neighbours - that we've found ourselves a part of.

toowoomba carnival of flowers

he

she

 

me

from room to room

he

He has recently become concerned about the lack of light in his room at night - there's 'something' in there. A few nights ago, he independently solved the problem by moving his 'bed' to underneath the bathroom light, which we currently leave dimmed low - but still on - at night. I found him here in the morning, fast asleep. 

He now has a solar lamp that he can charge during the day and leave on in his room at night.

she

After a couple of months of (increasingly successful) short attempts at independent walking, she has become very comfortable toddling alone from room to room at home. And she is SO PROUD of herself. She generally prefers to be carrying something special while wandering. Yesterday it was TWO of her brother's hats.

beanbag

he

me 

busy month

he

He...

- made a sign for our mailbox (his own idea).

- made chocolate brownie fudge for Fathers' Day.

- had his hair braided by one of the kindy teachers, who always has a long line of 'clients' waiting for her hairstyling services when we arrive there in the mornings.

- grabbed his doctor kit when he heard that his auntie was sick, and gave her injections to 'help'.

- enjoyed a morning at Daisy Hill with old friends.

- loved having his Grandparents visit.

she

 

She:

- is loving outside adventure time in the afternoons, climbing half way up the slide, bouncing on the little trampoline, riding the 'bikes'.

- eats!

- has begun trying to draw because her brother does it so often; she's thrilled to get her hands on any writing tool and any form of paper.

- Walked her Grandparents around and around and around and around the house.

- Played with her Auntie, lots of exploring.

me

 

I:

- went to a wedding (thanks to Nanma and Pa for babysitting)! It was our first 'drone wedding'

- enjoyed dinner with the loveliest of friends.

- am loving watching my kids play together - this is how B found them recently, stethoscope poised...

- appreciated having my parents and sister around, particularly because I've been working on a HUGE project (see next photo - so far I've done over 160 hours in 4 weeks, on top of full time parenting) and I was able to work for many extra hours while they entertained little She. Or little She entertained them.

- am STOKED about the recent progress on our community garden - the space was officially handed over to us and plans are rolling ahead!
- have my heart warmed regularly when I receive letters and pictures, just for me (and, just to clarify, this says 'To Mum', not 'Tom'!).

garden sunday

he

 

He was happy pottering around the yard for hours, playing rocket/zoo/camping/raccoon trap (the circus tent played various roles throughout the afternoon), once in a while helping with the gardening and asking great questions: "Why does this say 'caution'?"

she

She took a step! One. Twice!

And she ate a lot of dirt. She's so quick. She would even hold it up first to show whoever happened to be watching but, somehow, she still managed to slip it in before we could stop her. I was able to distract her for a while by picking basil leaves to munch on instead, but ultimately she was happiest when 'playing with' the dirt.

me/we

Our downstairs housie is doing a permaculture course this semester. Yesterday, she and her husband spent ALL DAY completely reconfiguring our garden and it is beautiful! We upstairs people spent most of the afternoon/evening helping. I also finished planting out the new front herb garden, so that project is done!

demolition

he

I got him up in the middle of his rest when I noticed the excitement happening out the front window! Our neighbour's house lost its roof (and its heart) during the storm, now it's completely gone. Dirt. The family had lived there for over 80 years. 

she

She voraciously demolishes any food within her (unexpectedly long) reach and can - sort of - ask for "more" using baby sign. Last night she polished off a mountain of noodles, one by one, and every single one looked and sounded like this. Hilarious!

me

I spent the better part of the past three weekends intentionally smashing things (and gluing the broken bits onto a wall)! What other hobby could be more satisfying?! The project has been a long time coming, and now is almost finished.

Obviously I had some help with it, intermittently.