New Years Eve

As the kids are getting older we are letting them stay up a bit longer. We saw that this year there was a New Years Eve 'Early Night Show' hosted by Rove and Hoot. We were pretty keen to watch this and so were the kids. We kept them up until it started by watching a movie and hanging out then we settled on the couch to watch the show. 

 I quite liked Alexander snuggling with me and love his cuddles and how he has to hold my face when we get a photo together.

We had many laughs. The kids were stoked to see Play School characters, Bananas in Pajamas, Giggle and Hoot and many other fun characters. James and I liked Rove hosting it. The fireworks were pretty cool to watch too although I still find it hard the amount of money they put into it every year. Quite a waste and could be used in a much better way, but still. A fun night was had.

Giggles

Exciting guests

Shocking jokes

Alexander enjoyed his first fireworks and Daniel and Eliza liked the pretty colours too.

2018 was a big year for us and a lot of fun and adventures. Can't wait to see what 2019 has in store for us. Happy New Year from all of us.

Wrapping up 2018

Like always I fell behind on blogging (seems to be how I start a lot of my posts lately. Not so good). Anyway, here is a glimpse of how 2018 finished off.

The kids have enjoyed playing with playdough lately. They decided to have a picnic and make muffins for it. I do like it when they decide to play together without fighting.

Eliza was in her element at preschool loving having dress ups inside.

There was a big truck outside Nana and Poppy's place on Thursday evening so Poppy was a great Poppy and put up umbrellas and went down the driveway with the kids so they could watch it closer. Thanks Poppy! I sure wasn't going to go out in the rain.

I sure love my Alexander cuddles.

Eliza is very creative. When I asked her to put on a jumper she wanted her hood on. I told her that she needed her headband. She decided to put the headband on top of her hood so that it wouldn't fall off. Funny but clever girl.

I do enjoy chatting with Alexander as we head to school pick up and drop off. Some days he wants to be held. Some days I can convince him to walk along and sing a song to me. Some days we chat about what we can see and hear. Some days we sing songs about walking, running, jumping to encourage him to walk to school. It is fun and cute. This day he was singing Play School to me.

On Thursdays Emily has taught Eliza how to do forward rolls. She decided to show us this skill at Nana and Poppy's place.

Eliza was excited to show us her 'new actions' to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star that she learnt at preschool. After showing us the song we asked her if she was doing sign language. She said that she was. I love that her preschool gives her opportunities that we aren't able to give to her at home. She has such pride each time the song comes on.


Alexander just loves playing the same things as Eliza and Daniel. He enjoys playing with Eliza's Elsa toys. I do like seeing their imaginative play.

 Mum has been clearing out her house a bit and came across some old dress ups that Jenny and I had. One was of nurses outfits. I love seeing Eliza wearing something that was mine when I was little. And I also love that Daniel and Alexander enjoy wearing it too. Hopefully they will enjoy wearing it a lot more.

We had Oscar come and stay with us for a few nights which was fun. We kept ourselves busy with playing different things and doing some craft. I had a batch of masks which the kids were right into decorating. They also had fun decorating their faces with the stickers.

This is the only cigar he's allowed!

And his only pipe to smoke

Eliza is bowtiful

Alien boy

Who is who?

Surprise!

 Some friends - Grace and Stein - were back from Norway so we organised to catch up with them and their kids and they invited Laura and Dave too. So lovely to catch up with old friends!

At Oscar's party we were chatting about Grandpa K and looking at some old photos of him as a young man. He was a very handsome man and I miss him.

We had a lovely dinner with Malcolm and Julie and Tim and Rach. Such fun and lots of chats. They mentioned that we were invited to their wedding in Scotland in May. This was very special and very exciting. As plans turned out, Mum and Dad are able to look after the kids and we can go to Scotland for their wedding. What an amazing and exciting time it will be!

James put Alexander to bed and he saw Alexander reading in his bed like this. Funny boy!

He sure has many faces and loves doing silly faces for the camera.

He sat down to have a cup of tea and I couldn't help giggle at his pose.

Eliza made a family picture at preschool. I just love the people and she also included Chilli.

She told me that she could make our family dance.

Alexander was wanting to squirt the plants and cars outside so I gave him his sprayer. Daniel wanted to ride his bike around. I loved watching them morph the two together and the laughter that followed as Daniel rode past Alexander each time and Alexander tried to squirt him.

Alexander and Daniel were pretty cute lying in bed together with Daniel reading to him.

Daniel had his Grandparents' Day at school. Nana was able to go and they both. What a special time for them both.

I felt like being creative with the kids' fruit one day.

The kids have liked taking their microphones to church to sing along to the songs.

Baby Shark is a very popular song at our house. It brings many smiles, giggles and crazy dances.

Alexander likes reading his Shapes book. The pictures remind him of the different Play School songs and he has to stop and sing them. I love him reading books outloud.

Alexander was excited that I had finished his baby scrapbook. I do like that the kids like looking at their scrapbooks.

Yellow buddies!

Auntie Jenny had missed some Thursday night dinners. Eliza adores her auntie and wanted her to still be there so got the photo off the fridge and put it at the table. Too cute!

The kids enjoy riding their bikes and scooters around the road. Alexander had surprised me with his confidence on the scooter.

We got to see Grayma for babychinos and a park play. I do love the relationship the kids have with her, especially Alexander. He loves to hold her hand and walk to or from the coffee shop. So special!

Oscar is so good with Alexander and I love how some old tricks seem to stick. He made Alexander a camera with the blocks and showed him how to take photos with it. Something that Uncle Howie did with Oscar when he was a baby.

The kids went to Charlotte and Sienna's birthday party. They had a great time on the jumping castle, playing the games, eating and there was also sand art that they got right into. Pretty cute creations.

Alexander was a bit young but made his own fun and lucky Mummy got to follow him around.

I love Alexander and his dancing. Here's the Hokey Pokey for you.

I measured Alexander for being 2.5 years old. I was surprised to see how tall he is compared to Eliza and Daniel. He is the same height as they were when they were 3. He's going to be a tall boy!

One Thursday afternoon Oscar brought a bubble wand to play with. The kids loved chasing the bubbles and trying to catch them. Pure joy!

Mum came across Grandma's old phone and asked if preschool would like to have it. I was all ready to give it to them and then the kids started to play with it at home. Here Daniel is chatting with Nana.

We remade Eliza's fairy garden. Hopefully it will grow again. It is nice seeing her play with it though, even without grass.

Mum and Dad's next door neighbour moved out to a retirement village. We went around to say bye to Auntie Lyn. She has been a wonderful neighbour for many years. So kind, welcoming, generous in offering us her pool to swim in, etc. Bye Auntie Lyn.

Eliza has boomed in her creativity. I love seeing her making, designing, playing and just using her imagination. One day she was collecting the blue metal and making pictures with it on the ground. Learning through play.

She then did some painting and made a picture of our family. Too cute!

Alexander decided that this is suitable headwear for preschool pick up.

Some days when we have walked to school Alexander likes to play 'Catch me if you can.' He makes me giggle. "You can't catch me."

 
We celebrated Daddy's birthday at Nana and Poppy's place. This of course included cake.

The kids then enjoyed giving their presents to Daddy. It is fun going to the shops and seeing what the kids come up with for presents. Daniel wanted to get him an experiment. Alexander ended up giving it to him. It was a solar powered helicopter.

This was because Daniel and I saw a slot cars race track that I thought they would like the play together. Daniel agreed so he changed to this. Daddy loved it.

And Eliza wanted to give Daddy a book that he could read to them. She chose Pig the Fibber with a little toy.

The book was openned and the slot car track was set up and play with. Daddy had to wait his turn to play though.

I do love Eliza's belly laugh.

Daddy apparently makes a comfy chair.

Alexander and I went out for a babychino in the last week of school to enjoy some time of just him and I. We went to Monday Morning Cafe and he loved watching the trains go past. He also loved the babychino and marshmellow that he got.

Because he was so into watching the trains we then went up onto the station bridge and watched a couple of trains go under us. I remember doing this as a kid and loving it when a train went under me on the bridges so it was cool so see him getting excited about it too.