Just a quickie.

OK I have to admit I am feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment with everything going on. Life just seems to be getting so busy that I am really struggling to fit it all in. I thought that with Declan at school I would have a little more time to get things done but oh no, it seems to be worse. The garden is starting to look like a jungle, the housework never seems to be done properly just “a little bit here and there” and the washing is just out of control!.   Ahhh well now thats of my chest here is a quick update.

Tilly if full of a cold again/still (not sure it ever goes away).  She is sleeping OK though we are trying to drop the late morning bottle so she is a bit of a grump around this time. She finally starting crawling “properly” and is pulling herself up on everything. She is a real chatterbox most days and has said a few words such as Mummy, Dad, Declan and Riley. She is also starting to repeat words as we say them.

Declan and Riley are both well though Riley did have a fall today so has a lovely graze from  his forehead to his chin. Its not too bad, just looks like his face is dirty (which it usually is!).  Declan is settled in at school now and starting to hate Wednesdays as he doesnt get to go!. We have a School working bee on Sunday which will be fun. I attended the school assembly on Tuesday .  Its run completely by the students and is very well done (complete with powerpoint presentation!!).  Its hard to keep Riley and Tilly quiet but Declan enjoyed having us there. Will try and make 1 a month.

Steve is working all weekend but has Friday off so finally he has a chance to get out on his new toy.  He is busting to ride this bike and is out there as I type fixing this and adjusting that (and yes its nearly 11pm and yes his alarm goes at 5 in the morning!).

Here is the final pic for the evening. This is the result when a little sister steals some blocks off her big brother.  He was not too impressed as you can tell.  (Am I a bad mum for laughing and taking pictures of this????)

Poor Riley is so tired at the moment. I think he is starting to struggle with Kinder and Swimming and Playgroup and the fact that he stays awake until 9 even though he is in bed by 7:30.  Glad its a short term and soon we will have a couple of weeks to recharge.

Take care

Helen xxxxx

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This is how our week ended. Will stick to point form to keep it short.

Riley had another fantastic day at Kinder. I left him for 2 hours and he didnt mind at all (this is not what I was expecting from him, they are full of surprises).  The teacher said he is very talkative (???) and plays very well with others and joins in with not trouble at all.

He had another swimming lesson today and there were no tantrums. He was not jumping for joy about going but atleast this time he got changed and into the water with no fuss.  Didnt listen to well to the teacher today but you cant have it all.

Riley has also decided to eat vegetables. Not sure what has changed but he has gone from eating nothing ”green” to eating most vegetables.  We dont have to ask him to try them he just eats them by choice now. Hope it lasts.

Declan had his first lunch order at school today.  He was very excited and had a hot dog and a chocolate milk.  We will let him have one a month.  He was also the lunch order monitor so that just topped it off for him. 

He did well again on his test today (they have one every friday). When I go to pick him up at the end of the day I always have a little peek through the window and without fail Declan is tidying up. Whilst most of the children sit on the floor waiting for the bell, Declan is making sure the chairs are all pushed in, giving out the left over bags and hats that children have left behind etc.  This is just something he has decided to do. The teacher must love her little helper. 

Matilda is standing up really well now and even trying to do it without holding on.  She is without a doubt the daughter of a scrapper as she now says “cheese” and grins when the camera is pointed at her!. She can be a real little chatter box at times and is starting to copy words and actions that we all do.

We are getting into more of a routine and as long as she can have one decent sleep during the day she seems happy enough.  She just tops up with little naps here and there.

As you can see she loves her food. Like the rest of the family she is into pasta and bog!. Its the one meal that I know everyone will eat.

and as promised here are a couple of layouts.  Not loving them but they preserve the memory and that is why I scrap.  They cant all be masterpieces can they?.

Hope you all have a great weekend. Tomorrow we have a birthday party whilst Steve is driving his car for a friends wedding and Sunday Steve is working 12 hours and the children and I are off to tackle Southland!.

Helen xxxxx

The last week….

has been a good reminder how busy this year is going to be. Poor Matilda does not get a chance to have a  sleep. Since Declan started school I have not had 1 day where I have dropped him off, come home and STAYED there until 3pm when I have to go back and pick him up. There is always something on, somewhere to go, shopping to be done etc etc.

Anyway here is an update on the last week

Declan is still loving school. He enjoys every second he is there and has made a many new friends.  He is really enjoying the reading at the moment and has just learnt his first 2 sentences and passed his first test. Yay for Declan .

Riley did really well at Kinder but not so good at swimming. I left him at Kinder for 1.5 hours and he was fine.  He didnt seem to worry that I had gone and he listenend to the teacher and followed their routine easily.   Swimming was a disaster until he actually got in the water???. He wouldnt get dressed , or get in the car, or get out the car, or get his bathers on. A teacher had to come and help me get him through the gate and into the pool… and then he was fine ?? .  mmmmm I often said he was a little strange ( and I  mean that in the most loving way of course).

Matilda is pulling herself up on everything including her cot.  This is how we are greeted after every sleep now.

Last night she even walked along the length of the toy box (holding on).  She is getting into everything and her favourite toys at the moment are paper to eat (any type), dogs water bowl, tiny pieces of lego and the toilet brush.  She still wakes every night (grrrr) but other than that she is a sweet baby to have around

Steve is flat out at work, sold his motorbike, purchased another motorbike and we booked our holiday for September.  Unfortunately/fortunately we are going to Mackay in Queensland, lets hope they have dried out by then!.

Valentines day was soooo romantic………………for lots of people I am sure. For us it was pretty much the usual, chaotic day. I have always said I would prefer Steve buy me flowers any other day of the year but the day he feels he has to (which means I rarely get flowers!).

On Saturday night I went to a Crop at Paper2 in Mornington. Had a fab night, did lots of shopping and chatting and a little scrapping.  Cant wait to go back.  I have a couple of LO’s to share, will post another time.  Looking forward to Crop 4 Kids in March. 

A few weeks ago I entered a very amature photo competition at my mums church and my picture of Matilda came runner up in its section!.   I was pretty shocked to hear I did so well but when you have such a cutie as the subject what else can you expect.

Well that was pretty much our week, just add a birthday party, doctors visit and all the usual chores.  We are slowly getting into a routine and that hopefully means it will be easier to fit everything in.

Here are a couple more pictures of my super family just because

Here are the boys enjoying their dessert outside last night

and here is Miss Matilda. Check out the long hair. Still not sure whether to cut a fringe into it or not. Let me know what you think

Helen xxxxx 

One a day challenge

Like many bloggers out there I am taking part in the One a Day Challenge. The challenge is that I take one photo a day for a whole year!. So far so good, have not missed a day yet. Rather than post each photo I take I will post a month at a time.

Here are my photos for January. They are in date order. I will actually date each picture when I have more time (Its way to late to tackle Photoshop!!!).

I will confess now that the lovely wedding picture of Stephen and Nofi was not actually taken by myself but by Stephens sister Jo. It was definately the most important event for that day so it had to be included!.

My plan is to use each months collage to make a calendar for next year. Still a long way to go but I am really happy that I have completed one month!.

Helen xxxxx

Isabella turns 3!!!

Happy Birthday for tomorrow Bella!!!!. We celebrated with a party at Duffys Lookout.

There was plenty of room for all the kids to run around. Here are some of us heading up the hill to fly a kite.

The birthday girl had to compete with the wind to blow out the candles on her cake. She won in the end!.

There was plenty of wildlife around ,despite the noise of the children.

This huge kangaroo came hopping right past the playground and put on a good show. Of course all the boys wanted to chase him!.

And there were a few Kookaburras around looking for a free feed. One of them got it or should that be took it. My poor dad was halfway through a delicious roll when one of the cheeky buggers flew down and took it right out of his hand!. The funny thing was that Steve had only told him minutes earlier about the time the same thing happened to his grandpa. And to make matters worse, dad got such a fright he knocked over his beer!!

It was a great day and Isabella really enjoyed herself. 

Helen xxxxx

Matilda Update

Sorry for the lack of posts. Its a combination of lack of spare time and my blog not letting me post when I did get the time, ????? I will do a couple of updates to catch up.

Here is what Miss Matilda has been up to.

 She had her first swimming experience in pool at the Woodsies for Mitchells birthday. She loved it and her little legs kicked the whole time.

She has a new trick!. She is starting to pull herself up on things.

and she has a new love…… Cantelope (sp??). One of her favourite snacks at the moment.

She managed to sleep through for about 1 week but it has ended now   This child is just not going to be a good sleeper like Riley was.  

I have also update the Kiddies Kreations blog so pop over and check out what the boys have been up to.

Helen xxxx

On a roll.

More scrapping, YAY.  Tilly has settled down into more of a routine and is usually in bed by 8 so I am making the most of it and getting some pages done.

This one was painful to do!!. I went in with no plan (as is standard) and I just could not get it together. Eventually finished it around 11pm. Some pages just seem to flow but this was not one of them!. (thanks Jo for the photo!!)

 Helen xxxxx

Here is my Kinder boy…..

It has been such a busy and crazy week!. So many new adventures starting.  Thursday was Riley’s first day at 3YO Kinder. He had a wonderful time and was very proud to be at “his” Kinder .  Last year was hard for him because everything seemed to focus on Declan with Kinder, Swimming, Speech Therapy and getting ready for School. This year will be Riley’s year to shine!!!!!.

He can be a little shy but was fine on Thursday due to the fact that Declan was with us as school finished early that day.  Next week will be a big test for him on his own. 

He tried most of the activities on offer. He has the same teacher Declan had and she was so excited to see Riley. She remembers him as a toddler throwing a tanty every week because he couldnt stay and play!

Thursday was also Declans first real day at school, without mum.  As I thought, it was no issue.  We did have a few tears from him…….. but only because I would not let him walk to school on his own!.  He thinks because he knows where his classroom is and is nearly 6 that he can do it all!.  He really enjoyed his day, ate all his lunch and came home with his first reader.  He was very happy when I told him he was going again the next day.

He even told me he could not make Mitchells party on Saturday as he was going to be at school. WTH, he was willing to give up a pool party with lots of yummy food for school?. I can only hope it lasts!!!  He now understands that he gets weekends “off” and seems happy with that but just cant wait to get back there on Monday.

Friday Steve had the day off so we all took Declan to school and then headed off for Rileys first swimming lesson. He has a slight fear of pools, not water, but pools???  As soon as we got there and he found out there were no steps in the water for him to sit on (like there are at Grannies house) that was it, he didnt want any part of it. The teacher was wonderful and just took him in.  He hung off her neck and screamed for the first 10 minutes but she was amazing and just kept on going.  Eventually she got him to float in the water and whilst he was never relaxed he did give us a few smiles. 

The teacher did comment to Steve on the strength of our little man!. I dont know how she did it!!!!.  Lets hope next week he is a little calmer.

Well that was the last 2 days of the week for us!. I cant wait to everything starts properly and we can get into some routine. The housework has just been forgotten this week and it shows and poor Miss Matilda has spent the whole week in a pusher watching it all unfold.

Time to relax

Helen xxxxx