Stacks On Daddy!

"They" do say that it's the guy who rough houses with the kids...

A princess party

We tried to keep the invitation list down to one friend per year of age...but it was too difficult so HRH ended up inviting 4 friends (and their entourages). On a cold and snowy weekend, we had a dress-up princess party in the Community Center where we live and even had a special princess cake! Thanks to Donita for taking these photos - I think I must have been too busy to even think about taking photos myself!

And now for the guests:
HRHs Alex, Sarah, Anna, Kylie and Emaline


















First royal hats were made:







Then the royal dress-ups commenced:









Finally the food was ready:







Including cake!







What was that? Let them eat cake?







Even the entourages got some down time for some sustenance.







Here are Sebastien (5 1/2 months) and Olivia (7 months) checking the mat out for comfort.









And after food, came drawing (E, S and K)







HRH Alex had so much fun she's still talking about it almost a month later.

Everybody,I'm free!

Alex had what what might be called an extended birthday - her actual day one weekend and a party the following one - plus miscellaneous parcels arriving from Australia in between. Because HRH is struggling with "th" sounds, she's "free" - after being "two and three quarters" for quite some time! We started the morning with - waffles for breakfast with maple syrup - yum yum!


Here are some shots of her actual birthday: opening presents.





Daddy and Sebastien looking on.








Her dressing combination - skirt from Aunty Chelle, princess shirt and headband from Daddy and Mummy - such unique style.










And finally here she is for her three year Council of Friends photo - yes she's finally off the quilt and can't fit on with her accumulated friends!

Second Child Syndrome

I'm not sure exactly,but by this age (5 months), Alex had been photographed many thousands of times...whereas Sebastien is lucky if his photos number in the hundreds. So to assuage some of that mummy guilt, here's a "just Sebastien" shot - looking pretty happy for having been just dumped on the ground...

Weightlifting

A bit uneven but a total of about 50 pounds(22+ kg)...

Bedtime reading

Hoping she can give me the brief synopsis...am yet to read it.

Sebastien at SIX months - wow!

Council of Friends










First solids (mmm, rice cereal)












Sitting at the "playstation"














Look into my eyes...













In case you didn't realise, Sebastien is on the left and Alex on the right (in all photos)...

Visit the Children's Museum

Well, it was a trip that had been anticipated for ages! It seemed that every time our group organized a date, someone either was unlicenced - me that first time :( - or sick. Finally we got to head to the Decatur Children's Museum - though in the middle of a snow storm. The kids had a ball and it was a pity that we left early (the museum management had sent someone to tell us that the radio was reporting difficult/dangerous driving conditions for the return to C-U) and Alex informed me that we had to go back again. So I guess we'll make another trip there in the late spring. It was hard to take photos but here are some:

In the "Doctor's Office" complete with white coats, stethoscopes, humidicrib, xray light with xrays, babies and a sink to "wash" hands.








Next we moved onto the "Ambulance". Alex and Em drove whilst Dr Jen looked after patient Anna with Olivia.








Here's the back of the ambulance.








There was also a plane, a shadow room, a general store and bank, electricity plant etc - it was an incredible museum.

What I miss

Given that I'm preparing myself (mentally at first - hey, don't rush me!) to shed the pregnancy (and sleep deprivation weight) I've been looking for places to swim. I really miss my 50 metre pool in Canberra that I frequented!! Most around here average 25 yards (around 20 metres) - many, many tumble turns required!

Things that make me smile

Just in time (it seems) a friend sent out a link to an article that made me smile. Phew - it's not just me...

Thanks Jen!

My life in six words or fewer...

"Not what I thought it'd be"

Ok, so I cheated and used a contraction (my Year 12 English teacher would be horrified) but not bad...

Leave yours in my comments section (and your blog if you have one).

**Tagged by Shannon and inspired by:
Not quite what I was planning: six-word memoirs by writers famous and obscure eds Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith. in SMITH Magazine

Date Night with Mummy

There comes a time when parents realise that they need to spend more time with one of their children - and that point came recently. Alex had been acting a little passive-aggressive (ok, more aggressive than passive) with Sebastien recently and so the idea of a "date night" with Mummy was born. Alex got to choose what she wore, what her Mummy wore and where we went for dinner - plus a dvd at home. So with snow on the ground we ventured out to the Hometown Buffet Family night where we met another Australian lady who managed the restaurant, Alex received a balloon animal and she had "fries" for dinner followed by a banana split. Then home for a Winnie the Pooh dvd. It must have been successful as she's still talking about it a month later!

The Titanic Murder Mystery

Had a ball at a Titanic themed murder mystery dinner held by one of the groups I am a member of - at the Country Club so I got to get a peek at that too! One of my friends came too so we even dressed in theme!

Do my hair

I have vivid memories of my mum "doing" my sisters and my hair before school each day - and wanted Brett to be able to "do" Alex's hair in case I couldn't...welcome to "the uptight" aka "the derry-werry" aka "the totem pole" complete with a bow each side.

Free Rice...

Reading Joanna's blog, I came across this website that donates 20 grains of rice for each correct vocabulary answer - my first effort got me to level 44 of 55 so I still have some room for improvement...leave me a comment to let me know how you go!

Old MacDonalds

It was the middle of a snow storm and we didn't want to go home - so after a quick stop at the public library, we decided to head for lunch at MacDonalds - or as Alex calls it "Old MacDonalds".
Of course, the attraction was the play equipment which Alex and Anna loved getting into.







Alex made sure I knew where she was.








Anna got concerned at one point as Alex had left her "somewhere" in the tubing...which meant that Jen had to go to the rescue! She also retrieved another "lost soul" while in there to the grandma's relief.





But it all ended in smiles - here are Anna and Alex posing nicely before we did the "we have to leave now" routine. And back out into the snow storm! But we'd had fun!

Mid-west winter

The snow has come, gone, come again and has gone...hopefully for good. Bring on spring! Here are a few photos I took earlier:

Die-hard runners take to the road because the sidewalks aren't cleared.




Alex takes Sebastien for his first sled ride down Hackberry Hill at Orchard Downs.







The obligatory family shot at the top of Hackberry Hill. Sebastien and I headed off to deliver a meal to a friend whilst Alex and Brett spent a couple of hours sledding with friends and just watching all the action.





Alex really wanted to ride her tricycle - but we convinced her to wait until the snow melts first!

A new appreciation

I've been catching up on some tv during the times when Sebastien is up - grabbing some dvd's from the library (and from friends). I decided to revisit ER which I haven't seen for a long, long time. And actually, having visited Chicago and lived in the mid-west for a while I have developed a new appreciation for the setting of ER. Plus, it was always my favorite medical drama - which is still the case even all these years later.

5 month comparison

So it is Sebastien's 5 month photo opportunity with his very own "Council of Friends".
He was not happy at all - very much how he feels most of the time when he's put down to let mummy or daddy do something.








And now one of Alex at 5 months - a much happier child and notice how many friends are with her - none of which were purchased by her parents?








Sebastien's sister is always keen to get in on the act - and managed to squeeze in next to him. He was still very unhappy and only calmed down once picked up at the end. The quilt of Noah's Ark and animals that they are lying on is one made by Great Nanna Mavis who died in August 2006. It usually lies over the back of mummy's armchair which causes Alex to call it "Mummy's Animal Chair".

PS - I'm not sure why the spaces are whacked out again - it all looks beautiful in edit mode - sorry!

School Reunion

Why is it that you are torn about attending such events? Between morbid curiosity about how everyone else is, to debate about where you are...

My grade 6 class is organising a reunion in November 2008 - in only 8 months. And I'll likely be in Australia then as my brother James is marrying Clare in early November.

It will be interesting! From then-12 year olds to now-thirtyfive year olds...

The case of the missing "G"

For about two weeks now, Alex has started to say "What is that person doin'?" "Where are we goin'?" etc. Hmm, where is that missing "G"? So we're trying to curb that by saying that "doin'/goin' etc" is not a word and she needs to ask again. Plus we're trying to clean up our own language skills - not such an easy thing!

What a way to learn consequences...

Today has been a big day for us. First off to playgroup at our friends' house, followed by running errands. Onto an International Scholars event on campus and then afterwards an evening playgroup. When we had finished lunch and were about to set out to the campus event and the playgroup, I asked Alex whether she'd put her socks back on, having taken them off before lunch. She told me yes.

We arrived at the MacDonalds Playpalace for playgroup and bought dinner: "I'd like a small fries, some hamburger and a serviette please mummy."

Of course I am "that" kind of mum who makes their child eat their dinner first then place afterwards so we reach the stage of the evening when Alex is 1/4 hamburger away from playing on the play equipment - and she takes off her boots - to bare feet. Now we are seated right next to the sign that says it is an Illinois Health Dept requirement that socks are worn on the equipment - and a smaller sign that says "SOCKS MUST BE WORN ON PLAYPALACE". So I tell Alex that I'm sorry, but she isn't wearing socks and that she therefore cannot play on the equipment. Her bottom lip quivers, tears well and she asks "Why?" (currently her favorite question - but that's another story). I point out the sign and explain what it says and what it means. A flood of tears and hearty crying ensues - repeated questions about why bare feet aren't allowed.
I ask her "When we left home and I asked you whether you'd put your socks on, what did you say?"
Alex: "Yes"
Me: "Are you wearing socks now?"
A: "No" (sniffle)
Me: "So why did you say that you were wearing socks?"
A: "I don't know"
Me: "Because if you told me the truth I would have brought a spare pair and you would be able to play on the equipment - but now you can't because we have no socks."
A: "My socks are at home...on the floor...but I WANT to play"
Me: "That's what happens when you don't tell mummy the truth.
Cue meltdown.

Hell of a way to learn consequences.

But Why?

Alex's vocabulary is expanding in leaps and bounds. Which means that she is at that stage where the questions are flowing..."What is he/she/it doing?" has morphed into "Why?"

So to try to maintain some sort of sanity, I've decided to make her work for her answers: "Why? by itself is not a question mummy will answer. You need to use all of your words: Why is that man doing that? etc"

So far, it is having the desired effect and is slowing down the questions - somewhat!

Now we await the "Because."