Goodbye music class

Laura looks as though she's really upset by the fact that this was our last music class. But no, it was a day of extreme moods, she just chose this moment to display them in the middle of the circle. Well done, Laura. Daniel, on the other hand gave 'Teacher Sara' a big goodbye hug!

Amusing irritations

Daniel likes 'sticky notes' - you know, post-its. And now we can't find any in the house because he gathers them, puts a rubber band around them, with other random objects, sticks them in some container somewhere amongst his toys, and we are left stickyless. We have started asking him for stickys now, and he thinks that's so funny. Calls himself the sticky-grabber, which comes from a book we have called the shoe-grabber. Am I odd to be mildly irritated by never being able to find a post-it note, or is he odd for this sticky obsession (not that it's his only obsession, mind you)?

Strange feelings

Well, I'm feeling like boycotting blogging for awhile. I probably won't, but there's 2 things I'm thinking: 1. public blogging (and i know it was my choice not to do a private blog) can make it all seem so idealistic - our lives i mean. yes i can post about the tough stuff, but i get most excited about posting fun stuff about the kids, so that's what goes on more, because really, that's more fun to share. 2. if i keep blogging, then i feel like i'm not doing justice to the sadness i feel about losing my father-in-law. i just want that post that i wrote about him to stay at the top and not fade into the blogging distance... Even just writing that seems like now I have permission to 'move on' in blogging without appearing as if I'm forgetting...

New found independence...

Daniel's always wanted help with his bike - getting it out and onto the path. Until yesterday. He wanted to ride it a few doors down (we're in a community-like courtyard), so after his helmet was on, he was off without looking back. Surprise - that's never happened. Then today we walked to a park and he really wanted to ride his bike. He said he could do it the whole way. I was doubtful - it's almost a 15 minute walk each way. But he did it both ways without one complaint of being tired or wanting to stop. So I was wrong. Cool. Simple things make me proud.

2+ Kids

Okay, so I added a "+" sign in the blog description a few weeks ago, but just to be official about it, here's a picture of our baby #3, due mid-October (I'm only 8 weeks along, but it takes too much effort to keep it a secret). It's not much in the way of a photo, I know, but at the bottom of the picture there is the recording of the heartbeat, which we saw and heard pumping away. I didn't think that 3rd time around it would bring tears, but yeah, just little happy tears. Maybe because of everything that had come to pass in the previous weeks, I don't know. There is something lovely in anticipating a new life at a time like this...

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!