Fun Run

I expected to walk the 2.7 km fun run/walk with Daniel this morning, pushing L and N in the pram, talking with a friend, and casually meeting Andrew at the end after he and our friends from Sydney finished their 11 km run... We'd talked about a 'no whinging' policy and I was trying to decide a reward if he finished the entire thing without complaining. Instead, though, Daniel decided to run most of the way, so I had to as well! I really should expect the best [of the kids] more often than I do... it was good fun and if he is ever a runner, I'm putting my money on endurance over sprinting.

Colour

I love all the colours of autumn, and this Japanese maple is beautiful. Reminds me of being a kid cause there was one in our yard growing up. It's still there actually. It's probably my favourite tree.

The other trees that I look at a lot are these two below - they are very similar to each other, except that one is weeks ahead of the other with its leaves changing. This is the view from the sunroom off our bedroom. It's probably my favourite room. :)

Win Win

I needed time in the house by myself - to get some long-awaited projects done. Leftover stuff from moving in, stuff I haven't gotten around to, and which was hanging over my head, making me feel guilty for relaxing. So Andrew was taking the kids to Bruny overnight. Turned into 2 nights, returning on Mother's Day afternoon. The result of which meant I would be getting my own Mother's Day breakfast. (ooh, tough break).

But separate to that (sort of), apparently Andrew had a bet going with his office manager, Annette (I knew nothing of it). They must have gotten to chatting about what the weekend held, and she wondered whether I would be a bit lonely, waking up on Mother's Day by myself. Maybe just a trace of sadness/emptiness/loneliness??? For her to win the bet, she would have to ask me how it was, and I would have to mention one of the above 3 words. So she lost, and Andrew is being taken out to lunch tomorrow.  ;)

Oh my kids, what would I do without them?? I would be lost. Don't be mistaken, I would sleep in, make meals when only I felt hungry, have a house that stayed tidy, and shower every day. But it would be empty without them and I would be lonely. Just not as quickly as 48 hours. :)

The kids didn't miss me. Why would they when they were busy doing this with Dad?!

They thought it was pretty funny to have mother's day breakfast without me anyway!

No, this won't be a Mother's Day tradition for me. But it was fabulous.

Wonder

It really is the little things in life that give cause for wonder. This morning's job of raking leaves came to a grinding halt when this little green guy was found among them. He now has a home with us. Thank you Google for your search results on 'feeding caterpillar'. May those results grant him at least a few days of life with us.

Filo Pastry

What in the world was I doing buying Filo Pastry? I have no idea how to use that!!! Must have been a creative outburst. Oh well, after looking at it in the fridge for nearly a week, I felt like making a dessert one night. Something different. Might have a look on the back of the box... VOILA!... we have Rum and Raisin pouches with Raspberry Sauce (they called it Raspberry 'Coulis', but whatEVER!). Can I just say YUMMM. Andrew gave a one-bite tick of approval. I thought of my sister and a friend who often take pictures of their delish creations, so I got out the camera, and here you have them. :)

You go girl!

Fishing

Results of a boy's day of ocean fishing - 3 big tuna in all!
(mom and dad, this is Peter who was at our wedding!)

Dad, he even cleaned it like you used to make us clean ours!

Stomp your feet

Apparently "If you're happy and you know it" has a flawed verse...

L: That's not really good, you don't stomp your feet if you're happy!

Humour them Laura, humour them.

Breakfast chats

The topic of manners has been of big 'interest' since the other day I took away a donut D & L had when they chowed into it without a word of thanks. Told them they could have it back after dinner that night. Gave it to them after dinner - and not a word of thanks. So the donuts went in the bin. 

Manners have since improved!!

Mum: Thanks for your manners this morning Laura.

L: Yeah, but Nick can't have manners.

M: We're all learning different things, like he's learning how to talk, and you guys are learning manners...

L: And what are you learning?

M: ummm... how to be parents.

L: (big laugh...)

Good fun.

The sights...

Sunrise over the Ganges River

Bit of sightseeing over the city of Hyderabad with Mike and Nicole who we've been travelling with

Visiting a group of loan clients, this lovely lady for some reason couldn't quite let go of us, she was so excitable...

Beside the road

The blue tarps in the middle ground are houses, shanty towns that the government has yet to build proper housing for. When exactly that will be done is anyone's guess...

Typical sight, smaller than a typical load though...

Only 3 people on this bike!

In a fort on the hill overlooking Hyderabad

Love the English...

This is where the kings lived and looked out over their kingdom...

Back to Australia tonight!