pre-school

Lulu started at pre-school last week. She was so excited, and a little bit nervous. No tears on the first day (from either of us).

Hello big 4!

My big girl turned 4 in eary January. She woke up and said "goodbye three, hello four"
As is the usual tradition in our home, we wear a special birthday crown when we blow out our candles, but Lulu kept the crown on all day

The Wiggles Concert 2008

Once again we went ot the Wiggles concert this year - they are such fantatsic entertainers and I love it just as much as the girls.

new dresses

I have stayed up into the night to get some new dresses finished for the girls for thier kindy photos (which go over 3 days). I am one of those mean mums that dress their kids in the same clothes!

On Monday they wore little reversible smocks - cherries on one side and red gingham on the reverse with little shorts. Today they wore yellow 'pillowcase' dresses made form a vinatge curtain - super cute! I didn't get pics of them yesterday morning, but did get a couple tonight. All 4 dresses are in the washer now, so we will choose in the morning which ones get re-used!! Here are some pics - checkout Mimi's teeny tiny piggy tails!

A budding photographer?

When I download pictures from my camera, there are inevitably some that have been taken by little hands! Usually lots of fingers, or the floor, or the computer or TV, but almost always, there is a little Mimi poking her head up somewhere in the picture, which tells me that Lulu must be the budding photographer. The photos always bring a smile to my face - here are a few examples!


And a self-portrait!!

Weekend Fun

Lulu was invited to a birthday party on the weekend and I made a little rice heat bag to go with the gift. (It is freezing in Canberra at the moment - it even snowed in suburbia on Sunday!) I think I might make some more of these as they are super easy and I need to do some stash reduction.

Mimi was a tag-a-long at the party but was made to feel welcome and got right into the spirit of things. Here they are on the deck before we left. The cheeky smile!

New Dollies!

Dear Sarah,

Thank you so much for giving us your beautiful dolls – as you can see we are having so much fun playing with them.

Love from Lulu and Mimi xxx

Big Girl's Bed

Mimi had been trying to climb out of the cot, so I got a todller bed for her. She was so excited that she was a big girl and was allowed to sleep in a big girl's bed. Lulu was slightly jealous and tried to hop in with her until she realised that a toddler bed is pretty little and wouldn't fit the both of them in. The girls trying to squash in together

Mimi in her big girl bed (with the safety rail up)

Cheeky Lulu in her bed

sick again!

Poor Lulu is sick again. We saw Dr Lim this afternoon and she has another chest infection, but this time, her lungs are suspect too. So I get to work from home this week while she recovers. Mimi is thankfully fine.

I have been seriously trying to work out ways that I can sneak some sewing in this week. I am feeling so inspired to get into my craft again after not doing much for so long. Mum and Kat are coming down from Sydney this weekend to look after the cherubs and I am going to the coast with some other mums from EB. I am planning to read (still haven't finished The Time Traveller's Wife that I started on the flight back from LA, nor have I read any of my book club books for ages), and take down some of my applique work.

We have had some lovely gifts arrive in the mail in the last few weeks - lovely hand-knitted jumpers with matching beanies from Kyls' mum Lyn; Texas presents from my yankee friend Kel; and a little toy each for the girls from my sister Monique and her hubby Jon. Lucky us! I'll take some photos when the girls are better.

The girls are gowing up super fast. Mimi started to run on the weekend! It was so cute watching them play chasings (and listening to the giggling that was involved). Mimi also comes out with random complicated words - this morning it was "butterfly", as she had a butterfly on her top. Lulu is a little miss. I was watching her play with dolls on the weekend and she said "Oh my goodness, look at this mess"! (Wonder if I say that a bit too much?) and then she came out with "dont you DARE". (again, while playing with her dolls. I am sure that one is not from me)

My wonderful friend from school Mark is getting married in the UK this weekend. I know that he sometimes checks in here, so a message: Mark and Victoria - may all your dreams come true. Have a wonderful first day of the rest of your lives together. We must catch up when you are next in Australia. (and please email me some photos).

How does everyone else do it?

I am at a bit of a loss as to how everyone around me copes so well. I feel as though I barely cope. I am a mum, run a house, work a full time job in part time hours and feel as though I don't do any of my roles justice. My house is an absolute disorganised shambles and I cant see my way clear. SIGH! I feel as though I take one step foward in my quest for a clean house and organised chaos and then two steps backwards. I just want to have some sense of order in my life before I start full time work again after Christmas.

On the home front my girls are great. Mali is a real giggle pot. She laughs hysterically in the car and claps her hands. Kya comes out with new things every day. Latest is "Stop Mummy" (complete with hand actions) and "no Wally (Mali), its mine". She "swims" like a fish in the bath, swishing actions and noises. Mali sits next to her in the bath oblivious and just splashing as hard as she can.

Kya refers to herself as LuLu, and responds to LuLu. If I say "Kya", she will often say "no Mummy, LuLu". Tangis always calls her LuLu or Bubbles (Princess Tiny Bubbles) and I think that I must use LuLu regularly too, for her to have picked up on it so strongly.

We are off to Mum and Dads on the weekend. I am heading to Melbourne for work (annual conference and AGM) and am leaving the girls with Nanna and Grumps for a night.

Work again tomorrow, so I'd better go and get some sleep - God knows that I will be up at least once during the night with Mali.