how to -

- undo the benefit of a babysitter for the morning: lose your credit card. - get your child to have a longer sleep: change the time on the clock to say 2.00 when it's really 2.30 because he always gets up 'when the clock says 3' - get him back in bed when he says that daddy's clock says 3: hmmm. ummm, just look at my clock daniel, okay?!! - unpack quickly: still figuring that one out

120 months

It's been 10 years since I married the bearded Australian that I met in Hawaii. He's lost the beard (most of the time), and I've lost most of the blonde - such is life!! Happy 10 years my favourite man! The first picture of the two of us 3 and a bit years later Feel free to look at recent posts for more current versions of our former selves... :)

Brotherhood

The first is Daniel at 2 months, then Nicholas at 3 months. Can't really deny the brotherhood can you?!!

3 months old

Doesn't seem much different to the 2 month picture, but he's now developing a laugh, loves to watch his brother and sister jump and play around him, and cries to get attention!!

Mini Me

Just for the record, I don't do matching. Honestly, I don't.

Goodbye Gold Coast, Hello Tassie Summer :(

Actually, the weather isn't bad in Tassie, but I heard there was snow on the mountain here over Christmas (which, for those of you in the northern hemisphere, is SUMMER!), so that just made us all the more glad to be on the Gold Coast watching amazing summer thunderstorms at night: Anyway, we had a night swim with the kids on the last night. They loved it and are still talking about it! Heading back to Tas. Looks like #3 is learning to travel! :) On a brief 3-hour layover in Melbourne, we caught up with Daniel and Kathryn and I hopped on Dan's motorbike for a quick half hour joyride! Woo Hoo!!

2008

I've been trying to find photos to sum up the year. But it really can't be done. The year held too much. We've felt hopeful and broken, there's been extreme hardship and extreme joy. These pictures don't show all that, they just remind me of the good: that I love Andrew more now than I did a year ago, and that these kids, with all the work they bring, are a source of incredible joy, and joy is always welcome. Here's how we started, and then finished, the year! I have managed to actually have at least one shot of me with each kid this year! These 2 have become great friends this year... ...then this little one joined them... ...and they decided it was okay for him to be around. Hey Nick, can you do this? good friends... The three kids tonight, on New Year's Eve I love this man.

Tagged

Apparently when you have been tagged in the blogging world, you must comply. So my cousin Shelby tagged me. Here goes:
I Am: looking out over the ocean from the 28th floor.
I Want: to sit here all day long.
I Have: peeling shoulders from a sunburn, dumb.
I Miss: my father-in-law.
I Fear: more loss.
I Hear: the ocean.
I Search: my photos for good summary pictures of 2008.
I Wonder: what we will have for dinner.
I Regret: not reminding Laura to go to the bathroom earlier... !!
I Love: cups of tea in bed.
I Forgive: Laura for weeing on the carpet.
I Ache: for the day when i can start and finish a book in one day.
I Always: let my tea go cold.
I Try: to remember to put my keys in the same spot when I come in the door.
I Am Not: routine oriented.
I Seem: to always be taking care of kids.
I Know: that's my job.
I Feel: thankful to Andrew for providing for us.
I Dance: whenever no adults are watching!
I Dream: of playing the guitar and singing with the kids.
I Give: because I have received (i know, i changed it, maybe that's not allowed, but oh well).
I Listen: to music really loud when no one's in the house.
I Sing: to help me relax.
I Laugh: too loud!
I Can't: imagine life without the kids.
I Write: to process my thoughts.
I Cry: because I feel deeply.
I Sleep: whenever I can.
I Am not always: presentable.
I See: the ocean and it seems so peaceful.
I Need: more time.
I Should: finish this and read my book before kids get up and my tea goes cold!
 * Jill, you're tagged!

Christmas

Christmas Day family shot. A fun family day without any real agenda - we had a great day, but really felt the absence of the one person missing now. We miss you so much Rudie.

Hemispheres

Just to show you the difference in Christmases between the hemispheres... --- Mom and Dad's house in Oregon: Our Christmas time here on the Gold Coast in Australia: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!