Hair

Laura is forcing me to learn to cut hair. It was awhile ago that she found the scissors and did this, but I forgot about it. It's the reason she now has bangs (or fringe if you're australian)

Nick's had a couple haircuts too... gone with the baby fly-away hair, and hello toddlerhood! Look at those huge eyes, I'm in love.

Smile!

Really, what is there to say to 3 cheesy smiles?

And a good morning to you too!

Daniel had a big sleep and woke up last of everyone and I said, "Wow, it's not normally that way is it Daniel?"
His response? "No, it's normally you that wakes up last!"
I suppose now is the appropriate time to thank Andrew for all the sleepins he gives me... :)

Song of the day

Laura happily singing to herself: "I can do lots of things, lots of things... I can do lots of things...."

Only knowing Laura makes this song so, ummm... so LAURA.

Diving!

Normal swimming lesson today. At the end of the lesson they take turns jumping in the deep end to the teacher. She asks Daniel if he wants to dive or jump in. He says dive, but I'm thinking, "he doesn't even know what that is..." She says that it's when your head and hands go in first, etc, etc. He says okay, then DIVES! The teacher even let out a yelp (in harmony with mine!) and looked over at me with a smile! Clearly she didn't really expect it either! So so so fun. Very proud boy. I love being a mum.

Australian Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas Southern Hemisphere style!

Courtesy of the Bruny Island Beach Artists (andrew, daniel and ella!)

Today

Accomplishment of the day: 5 loads of laundry, all ironed and put away. Exciting, no. Still an accomplishment.

"What the?" of the day: Calling Daniel a 'bossy boots'. Did I really say that out loud? Yep. Sure did.

Grandma Lowen

Today is Dec 1st, my Grandma Lowen's 90th birthday. Her and Grandpa JUST moved into a duplex in a retirement village a few months ago. They moved out of the only house I'd ever known them to be in, but they are still living independently and seem happy - not weighed down by the demands of a bigger house, so that's a huge plus. Happy Birthday Grandma, I wish I could have been at your party yesterday, we love you so much!

Oh, and forgot to mention that she and grandpa have 4 kids, 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandkids!!!

Thanksgiving

Well I am American after all, aren't I? Today is thanksgiving in the States, and I am thankful...

* for time and healing

* for close family relationships

* for the ability to travel (even though I'm sick of packing!!)

* for Andrew and everything we share

* for these 3 little kids who rely on me to love them

* for a little bit of time and space to myself, starting tonight for 2 nights! 

Character-building or bribery?

Laura and Daniel and I went to meet Aunty Sharon to help with a video for a church event. Kids were excited about it. But Laura changed her mind when it all started - didn't want to smile or be helpful at all. Hmmm. Took her aside, did the whole "do you want to choose to be helpful to Aunty Sharon and have good manners or do you want to choose to be difficult?" Yep, straight in the eye, she says to me, "I want to be difficult." Okay, what now? "Well Laura, if you choose to be difficult, then when we go for a hot chocolate (which before that moment wasn't planned) with Noah and Veia later (who were also helping out), your choice to be difficult means that you won't be having a hot chocolate, but you'll be sitting by yourself." Magic. It was bribery, I know, I was desperate! No lectures please... :)