New Zealand

We had a lovely week with 4 adults. Saw lots of the landscape, rode a ski lift to the top of a mountain for a yum hot chocolate and a gorgeous view, took a 2 hour trek to see a waterfall, and generally just enjoyed ourselves. And on one particular day I actually totally and completely forgot about having any kids!

Reality bites

Brushing my hair this morning...

Sarah: When I look in the mirror, I really do still see a bit of blonde left, but in pictures it's all brown. What is the deal?!!
Andrew: Well when I look in the mirror I still see a lot of hair...
Sarah: So what's the issue here?
Andrew: Probably something like residual self image. 
HA! *Sigh*
Actual conversation. 

School!!

Daniel started Grade 1 yesterday. He's so happy with his new classroom and new male teacher. He said to me, "I don't know why I was worried mum, I knew everyone! Next time I won't have to worry about it."

One very excited girl virtually ran from the car to her classroom, saying, "I can't wait mum, I can't wait, this is my first time!" Two full school days this year in Kinder (the preschool year in the U.S.). I swear she grew up overnight in preparation. She just looked so much bigger this morning.

I grabbed a quick shot of her when i picked her up in the afternoon. 

Just as happy at the end of the day as when I dropped her off!

Can't wait

Can I just say I am so excited to see my parents in 30 days. 

The kids, well they're not so happy that we are first meeting 

Grandma and Grandpa in NZ without them, but we're thrilled about it! :)

But I just can't wait to have them in my house, to spend time with them, to see the kids playing with them...

London Bus

School holiday fun on the double decker bus around town, otherwise known in our house as the London Bus. Fun!

No way!!

Okay, this is either unfair product representation, or raspberry yoghurt is not what I thought it was! I promise this was not in my fridge (yoghurt wouldn't last that long in mine!), but I won't embarrass the person who's fridge it was in... hehe :)

Oh yeah

Daniel: Mum, if you had your own Legos I'd totally play Legos with you.

Cute thinking, well, kind of...

L: Mum, are you close to dying?

M: No, I don't think so, why?
L: Because you are so much bigger than us, I thought you might be close to dying.
M: I don't really know how long I'll live, but I really hope I'm here lots more years.
L: Why?...oh, because you need to be here to take care of us when we're little!

Yes Laura, unfortunately the game you like to play with me: "I'm-17-living-by-myself-with-my-sister-and-taking-care-of-myself-without-my-mum-but-that's-okay-because-I'm-old-enough-to" is not yet real life...

Gotta love her spunk.

January

If January is anything to go by, it's going to be a good year.

Ringing in the New Year at Bruny, with good company, a campfire and marshmallows (and perhaps some yummy New Year's drinks...)

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A 10-day family holiday on the Gold Coast. 

Just the 5 of us.

What a novel idea.

Silly on the ferris wheel.

3 trips to Sea World was a hit, 

even for these theme-park averse parents.

Water boat at Sea World: "You will get wet. You may get soaked."

2 very soaked boys, but they got lots of people wet too, so all's fair in water play! (ps i went on it too!)

Penguins. The real ones were cooler, 

but these ones stood still for a photo!

Pelicans. One of the coolest birds.

All in one room - fun! 

(enjoy it while it lasts kids, it may not always be fun to share!) 

Girly time together: hair braids, fingernail stickers, a shared strawberry milkshake and a new dress. Happy Laura. Happy Mum.

Night-time wildlife park adventure.

Yes it's a real snake.

...and a real baby croc.

And of course, swimming. Every day. Often twice. Night swims too! 

Eating. Lots of it. 

Here's D & L practicing with chopsticks. 

Cultured kids, gotta love it.

Our resident toothless shark lost his other top tooth! 

Happy exhaustion. Beautiful.

I've really never had so much fun with the kids on holiday. 

Did not want it to end.

Christmas

A lovely family Christmas at Bruny.

The weather = average

The people = made up for it

3 kids handing out pressies

Christmas dinner

Beach photo - it is supposed to be summer after all!!

I feel very thankful this year, and every year, to be part of such a loving family. 

But no matter where we are, there's a family to be missed. 

I know how fortunate I am to get to spend alternating Christmases in the US with my family, but I can't help missing them around Christmas.