The stockings were hung

We spent Christmas Eve at the McReynolds, a British family in our ward, who now lives here permanently. The Patchs, another American family were also there. We ate BBQ'd hot dogs and hamburgers, and traditional Aussie Pavlova for dessert (ice blocks-aka popsicles- for the kids). It wasn't especially warm on Christmas eve, so the kids decided not to go swimming. They had a great time jumping on the tramp, playing the Wii, and just hanging out. After dinner, Sheryl whipped up some terrific costumes for the kids to perform the Nativity.

back l-r: James McR. (11), Bryson (8), Ravi (6), Taylor (1), Aubrye (10)

front l-r: Zach (5), Yared (2), Bronte (4)

**You must see Bryson's grip on that bottle of cologne. We were all coughing and sneezing from all that Polo franken-SCENTS!**

I don't know what I'm thinking... I tend to make excuses for every video I post! It's so bad! I give it to you anyway, for your viewing pleasure :)

Back home, and ready for bed in their new pj's. We checked out the Santa tracker on google earth, and saw that he wasn't far... somewhere over Papua New Guinea! Off to bed you go!

Story of the Tree: We had totally prepped the kids for a barren Christmas (no decor, very few gifts...). I didn't want to go buy all new stuff to decorate with. A few months ago Matt was able to bring back our advent calendar and stockings on one of his trips to Utah. We weren't going to buy a tree here, but then Matt found one in a storage closet at NuSkin. I agreed to buy some lights and balls, and the kids made the rest! (cinnamon ornaments & paper chain). I broke down and bought a wreath for the door. So, although we were missing our nutcrackers and the singing reindeer that Lindsey gave me several years ago, I think we were able to make our home relatively festive.

Taylor's First Brithday

I secretly wished this day would never come. We have all loved having a little baby around this past year. Especially a baby like Taylor. He is amazing: our biggest fan, just as we are his biggest fans.

He has developed some definite opinions and new skills recently:

1. There is never enough in his bottle, because when he chugs it down and starts getting only air, he has a fit and chucks it at the floor.

2. He would really appreciate riding in his car seat and/or stroller standing up and facing backwards.

3. Strangers are no longer on his list of "people who can hold me".

4. The "dropping" routine never gets old. (food off the highchair is fun, but a can of corn or a block of mozzarella out of the shopping cart is better)

5. Shadowing me by standing, hanging onto the back of my legs is the ultimate control tactic and sure to get him where he wants to go. (which is wherever I am)

6. Going up the stairs is a really long climb, and resting (teetering) halfway up will guarantee a panicked sibling/parent will come running to his rescue, giving him a lift the rest of the way.

7. Elmo.is.awesome.

8. Read lots of books. Only, don't waste too much time reading the words. Just keep those pages TURNING!

For Taylor's birthday, we spent the morning shopping in Manly (not his first choice), and then rewarded him with an allyoucaneat sand feast at the beach. Unfortunately, he was so tired from all the shopping, he hardly even enjoyed the sand before taking a nap in his nifty tent.

Getting "fireworks" in their feet. This wall doesn't appear as high as it really was :)

Naptime. Carrying all this stuff down from the car really wipes you out.

**note to the Bairds - we settled just in front of your old apartment. Sadly, my dreams of buying it are crushed, as it has recently sold. **

Back home and freshly bathed. Time for prezzies!

Saying goodbye to Grandma & Grandpa Hall. We loved having you! We are so glad you came, and that you could stay for Taylor's first birthday!

What a week {part 2}

I liked going downtown and seeing the Christmas decorations. There were Aussie themed Christmas trees most everywhere we went.

I'm not sure of the significance of this chair tree in The Rocks.
This tree in Darling Harbour has silver kangaroos all over it.

The 'official' city tree was at Martin's Place. The lights are solar powered.

The banners on the light posts had possums. I still hate possums.

We did a fair bit of shopping while Larry and Linda were here. It was mostly window shopping, but it did help me with the whole "it doesn't feel like Christmas" problem I've been having.

We loved the Queen Victoria Building. The tree went right up the middle, 3 stories high!

Blasting past Valentino and Dolce & Gabana

How did Tay enjoy all this shopping? Well, at least he was more tolerant than Bryson was...

End of Year Awards

One day while Matt took his parents site seeing, I dropped in on the Truscott Street school awards assembly.

Bryson came away with the Excellence in Public Speaking award. I was so proud. Bryson, not so much. It may have just as well been the 'nothing' award, cuz it was just a piece of paper, not a trophy, like...
...his sister. Aubrye was given the award with the longest name, also known as the "2008 Ben George Memorial School Sportsmanship Award." She had her name placed on this plaque (yes, her name is Madison Hall. If you haven't heard about this, she decided to go by Madison or Madi when we moved here... She'll be Aubrye again when we move back.) And, she also got a trophy to keep.
Aubrye was also voted House Captain for Year 6 (beginning in January). The students at Truscott St. are all assigned to be in one of 4 "houses" or teams. Each house accumulates points in various ways, including school sporting & academic events throughout the year. Her brothers are in her house, and she is now their captain.

Not so different from life at home...

Ward Christmas Party

I was in charge of the kids' activities. Here is Bryson's cupcake. Way to maximize the use of sprinkles! He also made that candy cane reindeer and...
some very nice Christmas cards, again, fitting as many stickers as possible onto the card. I'm surprised his reindeer didn't end up with 4 noses and 18 eyes...

Our Santa is the nicest man. He's a little skinny for the part of Santa, and he didn't really get into character, but he did do a good job of giving the pink bags to the girls and the blue bags to the boys. He also kept getting his mustache stuck in his mouth which was cracking me up. After a few kids went through the line I think Santa (Bro Osmotherly) was really regretting agreeing to this.

Santa gave the kids lollie bags that had sidewalk chalk inside. While the grown ups were enjoying dinner (it was totally my fault the kids weren't hungry for dinner after eating their delish cupcakes--sorry), the kids were out in the courtyard... shall we say, decorating?

Courtyard before...

Courtyard after...

Bishop was a really good sport. The art was still there on Sunday, and the kids were thrilled to see their art again. The next few days it rained, washing it all away.

When Bro Osmotherly got up in church the next day, Zach goes, "That's Santa."

What a week! {part 1}

As soon as Grandma & Grandpa Hall arrived in North Ryde, Matt & the boys brought them to Aubrye's dance concert (where I was waiting and saving seats). Larry may have thought he'd seen (endured) his last dance recital when Lindsey finished high school, but NOPE! He was actually a really good sport, as were the little boys, Linda, and Matt (kind of).

We loved having our visitors come to church with us on Sunday. We came home and ate, (or played Uno while waiting to eat) and then took everyone on the ferry ride. This is by far my favorite way to see Sydney .

Here we are, ready to go. Ernie Smith, Tay are I are not pictured. The drunk guy behind Matt is not part of our group, although he thought he was! We like to start at Manly Wharf, come through the gap, and into the city at Circular Quay. It was a gorgeous, cool day. It did get breezy on the ride ...

(ok, more like Gael force winds) but, they were good sports!
hiding from the wind
nice day for a Sail!

approaching the city

Zach so thoughtfully shares Taylor's stroller with him. Doesn't Tay look comfortable?!

We walked to the Opera House, and a little bit in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Matt and the kids were taking a break on the grass. As they were getting up, I whipped out the camera and got this... It is my new favorite!

If you look closely, you can see the climbers up on the bridge. The kids can never resist counting the stairs in front of the Opera House, and then running and jumping down down down and then doing it all again!

We rode the ferry back to Manly as the sun set on the city. Gorgeous! I just love the city. Taylor and Matt entertained us on the way back. Lately, Tay can't laugh without crinkling up his nose and forcing the laughs out as grunts. A comedian, just like his dad.

Look! No hands!

Aubrye got to go with Grandma & Grandpa to climb over the Harbour Bridge this evening! She said it was the best Christmas present ever!

We all met up at Pancakes on the Rocks for an early dinner, and then headed to the Bridge Climb office to drop off the climbers. She wasn't nervous at all!
Aubrye and Grandma did say that the gear they had to wear was very heavy. I'm just glad she didn't trip over her jumpsuit sleeves! They loved seeing the sun set over the city.

Bryson and Zach hope they will get their turn someday...

Bedtime Chatter

I realize we may not have this privilege for much longer, but so far, we have made it a habit to get together as a family before bedtime. It can be my favorite part of the day. (I didn't say "it's always...") On the more ideal evenings we take turns saying family prayers and reading from the scriptures. We talk about the coming day's activities, or perhaps "how many days until______" (ex. "how many days until daddy's home?" "how many days until my birthday?") The kids seem open and honest at this time, and often, inquisitive.

A few nights ago, we were discussing how Matt earns money. Why does one person earn more than another? How does going to meetings and click-click-clicking at the computer make money? Why would someone lose their job? Who can take away a person's house?

Matt was away, so I was left to try to answer these questions on my own. (I often wonder what Matt does, exactly, so I'm not really qualified here.) I struggle to explain things in words the kids will understand.

Apparently I said something about "people who are having a hard time keeping food on the table."

Our conversation went in a variety of directions for a few minutes, and then I sent the kids off to bed. Bryson paused and then asked, "Who would have a hard time keeping their food on the table?"

HELLO teaching moment! I responded slowly, "Well, YOU, for one! Have you ever seen under your chair after dinner???" So now, when we pray for the people struggling to keep food on the table, Bryson can feel that he's not alone in his slobbiness!

Update on Taylor

Taylor and I went to see the pediatric specialist this week. She confirmed that, Yes, he has quite a bit larger head than normal, but No, we shouldn't continue to lose sleep over it. Taylor's head scans continue to come back with nothing of note. The doctor feels that the size of his head is not a concern unless he develops other symptoms. We were advised, once again, to watch for vomiting and seizures. Is there a parent that ignores vomiting and seizures?

Because Taylor's fontanel is still open, his brain has "wiggle room". As it closes, Taylor could possibly develop those other symptoms. Or not. So we will wait and see.

Meanwhile, Taylor continues to...

shuffle on his bum

pour over books (especially ones with Elmo or pictures of babies)

tell long, loud stories (in his very own language)

suck his left thumb

crack up over his bro's and sissy's crazy antics

become more opinionated

obsess over the drains in our tiled floors

love food
turn into a stink bug (bum in the air, head on the floor)

unload the dishwasher, including the rack that holds the dishes

use his head to bulldoze anything in his way

sleep best on his tummy

destroy magazines/paper in general

&

BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION!