Chloe, then and now:)

February 2010

Laura 2010 February

Declan 2010 February

"Hurry up,
Mummy, I don't want to be late!"

Back from the brink of computer trouble

I just found this email excerpt from the beginning of the Christmas holidays and thought I'd put it here for safe-keeping:

It is nice having Gary home again – another pair of arms, ears, etc. I have actually had two short trips out of the house without my sweet baby girl this week; nothing fancy just some odd jobs in town but hey, I was refreshed when I returned just the sameJ

Chloe and Declan are settling into holidays of the hot sort – dvd in the hottest part of the day; outside play or an outing with Gary in the late afternoon while I prepare (and eat my) dinner; abc kids from 8am if they remember till 10am (although, they’ve worked out that they can both choose a dvd for the middle of the day if they forego this privelageJ); frozen strawberries; frozen rockmelon sticks; frozen yogurts; ice-cold watermelon; extended storytime at bedtime; getting grubby and/ or wet downstairs; playtime with Gary; helping in the garden; Chloe having lots of cuddles and conversations with Laura; Boggle (Chloe and me); lots of making stuff; sorting and purging from toy boxes; making and flying paper gliders and kites; riding bikes under the house…

I think Laura is enjoying watching the kids and spending some time with Gary (usually in the hammock on the verandah). She and I seem to have hit a bit of a snag feeding wise. With the other two, I had an over abundance of milk and expressed from the very beginning so I had backup in the freezer. This time, however, I was so befuddled with post birth foggy brain, I couldn’t even work out how to fit expressing into the day or night. Now, I’m facing days and sometimes just feeds (on and off) when Laura seems to beg me for the breast, then promptly screams when I  put her on and flat out refuses; hmm. ...

3 months later:

Laura's 1/2 a year old and going through a feeding frenzy - about 10-12 feeds; right now as I type, too. Wow. Also some supported sitting and starting to balance with her hands on the floor; banging toys; offering her dummy to Daddy; giggling when tickled, especially by Chloe and Daddy; fascinated by Declan, noses, necklaces and mouths and her doll, and a real delight!!

ABC of Holidays by Chloe and Declan - what we've done so far

A - apple bobbing
   - aeroplane construction
B - backyard camping - this Sunday, weather permitting!
    - beach
C - Christmas carols
    - Christmas craft
D - Daddy Park (Ululah)
    - decorate Christmas tree
E - egg and spoon race
   - experiments
F - feed ducks
G - gingerbread house
   - games
   - glitter art
H - hand prints
    - Hervey Bay water park
    - Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre
I - ice-block making
  - ice-cream sundaes
  - ice biscuits
J - jump on the trampoline
K - kite-flying
L - looking at toy shops
M - marbles
N - Nanna fun
    - nature reserve
    - nailpolish
O - organise school supplies
P - painting
   - printing
   - puzzles
   - puddle play
Q - quiet play while Mummy, Daddy and Laura sleep - this idea submitted by Mummy!
R - robot-making
   - ride bikes
S - stained glass windows
   - secret message writing with lemon juice
   - swimming
   - spotlight game
   - scooters in Queen's Park
T - toast marshmallows
U - umbrella walk (with Mummy)
V - visit friends
W -  what's missing? game
X - xray making
Y - yoghurt (frozen)
Z - Zzzzz (sleepover)

Laura meeting Unky Cam, Christmas

 

Gold medallion recipient

Chloe has been a star student for 6 out of 6 months

so she was one of about 24 students in Prep to Year 5

to receive this special wreathe, medallion and confetti shower last night at Junior Awards Night 2009.
We're very proud of her!!!!

Chloe at school

DEAR - Drop Everything And Read

Chloe's teacher (Daddy) presenting her with this month's star award. No favouritsm - about a dozen recipients in her class. Chloe is always genuinely amazed that she gets one - "But I don't do anything different, Mummy"; "I don't try"... :)

Laura's toys

Reminder to self - no Laura didn't have toys in the cot to sleep; this is only for supervised, interactive play!

Family Bible Verses

I've been delaying this memorisation for a while, purely because I didn't know where to start. Then I found "Our Together - Time Bible" by Gwen Ellis which has 52 Bible devotions, with verses, activities, discussion and a short prayer for each. So we've started at the beginning:

After we learnt this one, we went to explore the animals and birds at a local nursery -but most had left:( Still, we enjoyed the time together!

To celebrate learning this verse, I taught Chloe and Declan how to do handpainted chocolates. I use to do these as gifts when I was in upper primary and highschool and still have a lot of moulds; 'though some have become quite brittle with age. We only used white chocolate and gel colours which Mum gifted me with recently (thanks again, Mum). (I can easily leave white chocolate;)!)
The verses are proving to be a bit long for Declan, so I use the devotion and discussion that goes with them for him, while Chloe and I keep each other accountable for learning the verse and reference. Gary's a bit snowed under at present, but I'm sure he'll join in as soon as he can - it was a joint decision to hide God's Word in our family's hearts.

This was a helpful verse for our third week, especially with Christmas around the corner. We have a certain 5 year old who is quite preoccupied with gifts this year - the receiving of predominantly. He has now come up with an idea of a gift to GIVE his older sister. Also, the kids are being encouraged at kids' time to share their pocket money to raise $15 for a pair of crtches for an overseas child who can't walk - they're nearly there:) Chloe is really excited at this - perhaps we could persue this with "Gifts of Compassion" or something similar.
We're going to celebrate by doing some more chocolates; the kids can eat 2 and give the rest away.

Ah, bliss.

Sucking on fingers and a dummy,
ear on Mummy's chest,
held snuggly in the sling;
sound asleep.

Happiness is...

talking to friends in the swing - ladybeetle, monkey, giraffe...

lots of things to watch...

bubbles to blow and let drip down your chin...

feeling fresh air on your skin after a big spill of Mummy milk:)

Giggles

Froggy friends from Ferns' dam - Declan

After play fun - yes, more fun at the Ferns'

I had to ask, "Why are you still there if you're that cold?" The answer came in her next action: oh, of course, as an act of service:)

I'm proud of you wet one / cold Chloe!! Always looking out for the little and the vulnerable!

Pirate buddies contributing dinner

Jacob, Declan, Elijah