Primary Program Day

We were all dressed up for the primary program so we attempted to get some pictures. It was hard, but we managed to get a few good ones. We could not get a decent family picture -- the ones outside the kids were squinting. The ones inside were terrible. Oh well, here they are.

Erica helped curl Bronte's hair -- she looked great!

Bronte then, Bronte now

This photo of Bronte was taken in Marseille, France, two years ago. It's one of my favorites.

These were taken just the other day. Same beautiful girl but what time has passed!

Savoring the Moment:

Anna Quindlen: The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. … I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.

Today I took a moment to remember, to notice, to listen, to appreciate these beautiful children that are mine.

Christmas beetles

This is a Christmas beetle, called so because they come out in abundance around Christmas-time. That means now. As I write, one is circling my head and will land soon, somewhere. They come out at night and if I were to walk outside the sidewalk would appear to be moving. I found one at my feet a few minutes ago and got a paper to kill it. Bronte, who had mysteriously woken up and was now at my side, started shouting not to kill it. She told me that if she whispers what she wants for Christmas to the beetle and then lets him go somewhere special, he will whisper in Santa's ear and it will come true. We scooped him/her up, she whispered, and now it's somewhere special outside.

Should I tell her about the one that has now landed on the stair, just a few feet from where she sleeps? Maybe I'll do a little whispering of my own before I let it go...

Waffles

Waffles are an American staple. In our house the waffle tradition has somehow morphed into Friday night waffles. The kids love it. So I was curious when the school fair across the street boasted waffles for sale. The emails inviting everyone to this event hyped up these waffles like they were the newest thing in town. Sausage sizzle -- we get those a lot. But waffles? Not so much at these sorts of things. I'm in, I thought. I paid my $2.50 and got my waffle with a touch of powdered sugar and chocolate -- it was good but really just a regular old waffle. Nothing special. But everyone around me was dying over these waffles! I finally asked one of the other mums about it and she said they don't really eat a lot of waffles here. Sometimes at a cafe but that's about it. So, come on over! I'm going to stand out on my driveway on Friday nights and offer to-die-for waffles -- you know, with melted butter and real maple syrup and bananas and such. Wish me luck.

Saturday market - a perfect day

I brake for markets! I love them dearly. I never pass up the chance to catch a good market, so I threw the kids in the car Saturday morning for the North Sydney produce market. I was so proud of myself for parallel parking on a busy street with a long line of cars waiting behind me -- I even looked like I knew what I was doing and made sure the kids knew how wonderful their mother was. We strolled through the stalls, delighted by the random treasures. Ravi loved the samples of fresh meat and fruit, especially the cherries. They all liked the cupcake decorating booth. One booth had only gourmet potatoes of every variety. One had only olives. Another only honey or jams or soap or bush gifts. Many had cheese and wine and flowers and produce picked fresh. A head of lettuce dripping with dirt here. A red capsicum there. A bunch of coriander. A single avocado. I love the sense of community at these types of markets. We ended with a play at the playground and a read at the library -- a truly perfect morning.

The display at the library from Luna Park. This face haunts me at night and is why I don't like clowns.

In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines, lived 12 little girls in 2 straight lines

Bondi Sculptures by the Sea

It just doesn't get any better than this when it comes to beauty and art. Check out my photos of this amazing event. Chris had work off for Veterans Day and we kept the kids home from school so they could go with us. We all had a great time, even though it was hot, crowded, and too sunny for the kids. They were great sports and we'll remember this a long time.

Time Flies

I can see the passage of time just by looking at the kids -- they grow too fast, change too much. I love them more every day and don't want to miss a single moment of their amazing lives.

Addie 2 months

Addie 6 months

Bigger every day

Dear Yared,

Thanks for joining our family 20 months ago and for being patient with us while we learn who you are and what you need. There is never a dull (or quiet!) moment with you around and we love it. You bring such joy to us and have added much flavor to our family. We love you!

LOVES Sunday -- asks every morning if it's Sunday and if he gets to wear his Sunday clothes

IKEA hats

Painting

He absolutely adores his little sister

Wearing a crown that Bronte made for him as King -- taped to his head. He's always so willing to go along with her games and creativity and is such a good sport

Save the bird

While outside the other day, Bronte watched a rainbow lorikeet crash into our window and land in the bushes, wounded. It seemed fine except that it could no longer fly and kept hopping around while its partner looked on from a nearby tree. If it had been a mean crow I probably would have let it suffer, but these lorikeets are just so beautiful and they come to visit often. What to do with 4 children looking on? I crawled through the spider infested bushes with Halloween pumpkin bucket in one hand and sand castle bucket in the other, trying to get him/her inside without losing a digit. I succeeded, loaded the 4 kids in the car, drove to the community vet down the way, found a parking spot, found a safe place to cross the busy road, pushing the pram while shepherding kids while holding terrified bird in between buckets. After waiting for the kind woman in front of me to finish getting detailed advice and buying two boxes of dog food that cost $159, it was our turn. I filled out a wildlife rescue form, stating what happened and where the bird was found. They gently moved the bird into a safe place and it will go to a wildlife rescue center, where they will nurse it back to health and release it again in the wild. I love Australia!

In the Sky, Part Two

Just a few days after our "Marry Me in the Sky" observation, we were all sitting outside in the backyard when Bronte noticed a big 'J' right above us. We couldn't believe it! We thought for sure it was supposed to say "Yes" and imagined a rather creative answer to the question posed before. But no. We were a bit disappointed to discover it read instead: Jesus All About Life...

Halloween 2009

Halloween isn't on my list of favorite holidays, but with children I've had to kind of get over it. We celebrated over a few days in small but fun ways:

Partying with some American friends (Thanks, Carrie!)

Trick or treating at the Mall (do you like the Christmas decorations?)

Training with real live circus performers

Yared one first prize at the Toys R Us party for his raincoat costume

The kids ended up with heaps of lollies, which I successfully bought from them after letting them keep 3 of their favorites. It works every year:)

Addie was my favorite this Halloween. She's one of 3 little babies in our ward born around the same time so we dressed them alike. The photos turned out too cute!

Marry Me in the Sky

It's almost cliche, really. Life being made up of millions of moments, day after day, one after another. Sometimes as parents it's easy to try to do to much, to "schedule" fun in the form of vacation, presents, outings. But tonight I was reminded, as I so often am, that it doesn't take much to make our children happy. Simple moments come and if we're not careful, we almost miss them.

We were all walking Ravi to scouts when Bronte looked up and noticed an 'M' in the sky. We watched as the airplane turned on it's exhaust to form an 'A' then an 'R'. We guessed immediately what he would say and stood there mesmerized, delighted, and laughing out loud. By the time we ran home to get the camera it had nearly faded but he continued to spell 'Marry Me' and completed his feat with a 'T' inside of a large love-heart. Half of the fun was watching passers-by completely miss what was happening and being glad we hadn't.

Thanks, 'T', wherever you are. You weren't the only one who enjoyed the show. Thanks, Bronte, for sharing such a treasured memory with me. Thanks, world, for making me stop -- in the middle of dinner, dishes, baths, bedtimes, feed times, Halloween prep, laundry folding, and homework enforcing -- to pause and savor yet another priceless moment with my children.

Trip to Coff's Harbour

The kids had a 2-week break while Chris was gone for several days...so I was looking for ways to keep everyone happy. My good friend Justine saved the day. She's from Coff's Harbour and suggested we all go up and stay at her family's house. We loaded 2 newborns and 3 kids into the car and braved the 6.5-hour drive -- and actually had a great time. It's such a beautiful drive through solid greenery with great signs pointing to "Christmas Street," "The Forest of Tranquility," "Lemon Tree Passage," "Coolongolook," "Hat Head National Park," "Never Never," and my favorite: "Promised Land." Justine's Mum and stepdad were so kind and went above and beyond to make sure the kids had a nice time. We played in the sand at the beach, saw the sites, did some walking and exploring, swam, and Ravi's favorite: table tennis and game nights. Addie mysteriously broke out with chicken pox, however, and my camera died mid-trip, so no pictures of our fabulous banana split at the big banana (serious banana country up there, where banana toast is a favorite).

Ravi is happy as can be

Playing in the garden

Pull-ups at the beach

Sand castles

Ravi dug till he hit water

These clouds are pretty enough to be digital

Chillin by the pool

Chicken pox -- from where?!

We hiked up this beautiful island, though it was very windy and cool

Straight up

Aren't they such good sports?

But boy, the view was worth it!

Okay, here's a belated photo of the Big Banana