Daniel Jesus

Yesterday Daniel and Laura were playing in the laundry basket, using it like a boat. Daniel fell out and I said, "uh oh, Laura, get Daniel, he's falling into the water!" ...to which Daniel replies, "don't worry mom, I'm Jesus, I can walk on water!" And he promptly stands up and 'walks' back into the boat. Love it.

Rudie

How can I continue blogging now, without at least mentioning what our last two weeks have been about? How does one just keep doing the normal stuff when someone so close has died? I don't know, but somehow it just slowly starts happening, so here I go...

We rushed back to Australia 2 weeks ago because Andrew's dad took a rapid turn for the worse in his health. Sadly, we did not make it back before he died, and we have spent the last two weeks missing him badly. I'm sorry to those of you who I haven't written to let you know, we have been in a bit of a bubble, naturally I guess.

So here's to my wonderful father-in-law, whom I loved. He treated me well, (I always knew his 'ring-in' comments were purely affectionate!!), and loved his grandkids sweetly. I will deeply miss him and the way he always greeted me - "Hiya girl!" I am so grateful that he did not suffer in hospital for weeks and weeks, but so sad that we will never have him back.

Rhyming

Daniel is really obsessed with rhyming thanks to the tv show 'Super Why'. This is his latest try at rhyming words tonight - 'Chicken Dicken'. What do you think - has he got it or what?!!

The city

We spent a night in the city last weekend. Got two adjoining hotel rooms with another family, put the kids to sleep in one room and ordered room service desserts in the other room! What fun. The weather was typical [read: rainy], but we sucked it up and went out in it! Anyway, the kids didn't seem to mind as much as the adults...

We will miss this place. We've just decided that it's time to go back to Australia, earlier than planned, because Andrew's dad is not well enough for us to feel comfortable being this far away anymore. It wasn't that hard to make the decision - because we know it's right - but it is still hard to leave.

"I like that hot sun!"

While my sisters have been posting about snow days in Oregon and Washington, we are lapping up some vitamin D. After weeks of dreary wet weather, we enjoyed the sun with a lunch on the patio. It's only a small triangle of sun, but clearly it was enough to impress Daniel with its warmth. Yay!

Family picture

Why do the best pictures often turn out blurry? It's a law of amateur photography I think, although my sister would just say 'enough of the perfectionist!' - but really, I love this blurry photo anyway!

Sleep

To watch a child sleep is to let go of everything exhausting that has just preceded their sleep....You need two dolls...

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and a feather... what a great piece of entertainment. It's a sling, a sword (most often), and apparently a great companion because it stayed in his hand through an entire night's sleep.

"Big Dan"

Just said goodbye to our friend Daniel from Australia - little Daniel's godparent. Both kids were taken with him, it was a blast. We missed the rest of his family though... He and Andrew ducked out to Vegas for 24 hours, too, so everyone was happy. :) We went to the city on Monday - what a yucky yucky day (although 'big' Daniel kept saying there was a certain atmosphere to that kind of weather). You judge for yourself from the photos... Actually it was quite fun - for the memory at the very least!

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boys in Vegas after very little sleep...

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wet, wet, wet

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look who braved the weather...

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and who didn't!

Apparently it's mushroom day!!

He just makes me laugh, this 3-year old. I feel like I'm writing down a few things every day!
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D: "I put stuff in this bag"
M: "What was it?"
D: "When we get married I can tell you"






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"When I grow up I want to be the stopper guy!"







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D: "Mom, lean down, I have to tell you a secret... It's mushroom day!"
[smile/choke/laugh at the randomness of this] M: "What made you say that it was mushroom day?"
D: "Because I just thought of saying it and I thought it would make you laugh!"

**He wanted to make me laugh. Love it.**

10 minus 1

Well I surely didn't have these wrinkles 9 years ago, but whatever! Life is full, and I am thankful for what we are learning together - about each other, about God, about parenting... about life.
Bring on the annual anniversary questionnaire! :)
Happy 108 months Andrew!