Day 120 - Friends Dancing

While the boys went out for a night down the club, the girls and I went over to Mel's house for dinner. Besides the wonderful conversation and tea, I love going and watching the three of them interact. Tonight they watched a little bit of Thomas after dinner and the three of them had a little boogie to the music.

I did have some other photos from tonight, but I might post them on my other blog. Poor Patrick was attacked by Ava... again! I am sure he loved it though.

Day 119 - My other Baby

This is my other baby, the Canberra and Region Multiple Birth Association's bi-monthly newsetter, Two Up, which I have become the Editor of. It has been a good job so far, with committee meetings once a month I have met some lovely, wonderful new friends.

I had finished my newest edition of Two Up earlier in the week I had it proofed and sent it to the printer. I picked the printing up yesterday and realised it had a huge mistake on it! Instead of having May/June and the current theme, it said January February and an old theme! Oops, my bad!

Luckily the lovely lady Sue at Flash Photobition, where we get it printed, was still at work and I quickly called her and told her what happened. We both had a good laugh about it. She printed it again  (the correct version) today for me. Even better, she is doing the printing at half price. Bless!
Can't believe we all missed such a big error! Oops, hope I don't make that mistake again!

Day 118 - New Prospects

I have fallen into a small block of work at a school literally just around the corner. Tuesday's and Thursday's on a Year 4 class for a few weeks. I was called yesterday to see if I wanted to take it and if I could do the first 2 days of term. The first day being today. Thank goodness for Jenny having a day off tomorrow so she can look after the girls for me.

As a casual teacher, it is great to be able to walk in and walk out with minimal planning at home so it will be interesting to see how I go getting partially back in to the swing of the extra work. The extra work being planning and marking etc, I used to really enjoy well the planning more than the marking. I am sure I will again, it is like riding a horse isn't it?

I am loving the 3 minute stroll up the alley to get to and from work. Funnily enough, I am glad tomorrow is Friday!

Day 117 - Sleepless nights

I am not sure who to blame for my sleepless nights... Monique, because she introduced me to the Kindle or to Shane for buying it for me. Whoever I decide to blame, it can't be myself! I stayed up until 1am last night because I was just so into the book that every time I told myself 'one more chapter' I would get to the end of that chapter and say the same thing again! That was until Shane looked at me and asked what time it was and I felt so silly for still being awake that I decided to turn it off and close my eyes!

It was certainly a very hard get up this morning. I've set myself the rule of No Kindle after 10.30pm. I just hope now that I can follow that rule!

Day 116 - Pyjama Day

It is the last day of a 5 day long weekend. It has been a busy one with Easter and ANZAC day all rolling into one weekend.

It was rather chilly and certainly very dodgy weather. So the girls decided to have a PJ day. They ran around the house all day long laughing and giggling at each other which is one of the most gorgeous sounds anyone could ever want to hear.

Day 115 - Lest We Forget

Today is ANZAC Day.

We took the girls down to watch the local march after Shane finished volunteering at the War Memorial Dawn Service. The girls clapped as we watched the service men and women as well as veterans and the local school children march past us.

It was a very unusually warm ANZAC day it is usually the first day heaters are turned on here. Maybe with all these public holidays over Easter and ANZAC day the weather might be a little confused, I bet it comes in the next couple of days.

I'm ready, the heater has been on for the last month... for the girls, I have to keep them warm don't I?

Day 114 - Hoppy Easter!

Today was Easter Sunday. We hadn't really talked it up with the girls too much, so it was a nice surprise when they got up to find baskets filled with chocolate egg and an even bigger surprise to find handbags filled with eggs for them! They had a couple of eggs for breakfast - eggs of the chocolate kind of course. It was very hard to say no to them. Before we got the day underway with an Easter egg hunt at Jenny's house and then dinner with the Kenningham's at Morgana's house.

They seemed to have a great day. They were certainly very tired by the time we came home after all our celebrating with family. Now to work through the mountains of chocolate we appear to have.

Any volunteers to come and help?

Day 113 - Too Cute

We met our gorgeous friends Mel, Simon and Patrick for dinner at the Queanbeyan Leagues club tonight. It was very busy there tonight, obviously we weren't the only ones who didn't want to cook dinner tonight. We got there early to make sure that we got 3 high chairs and a table, luckily!

The staff gave the 3 kids a goodie bag which had crayons, stickers, word searches, colouring in and a cardboard picture. It was fantastic, they were kept occupied for a little while, even if it was by eating the crayons. Mel (the scout mum - always prepared) brought along some grapes and trucks that the three of them shared and played with while we waited for dinner.

Cutest moment of the night was Ava and Patrick sharing a friendly kiss. This was the second one, I wasn't quite quick enough to get the first one which was smack bang on the lips.

Too cute.

Day 112 - Seafood Fiesta!

It is Good Friday today.

For us it is a day of getting together with our families and spending quality time together. The bonus (well for some of us) is the seafood extravaganza that occurs all day! We first went to Myrrha's house and ate like Kings and Queens. We had prawns, fish, calamari, mussels and salad. It was delicious.

We then returned to our house later in the afternoon to feast on some more prawns, fish and salad. I am pretty sure I will roll into bed tonight.

Day 111 - Gardening

We have a little vegetable patch in our backyard. The girls love it! They dig and dig and dig. They seem to enjoy it. I found them some little tools for their birthday to use in the garden. I am hoping that this will teach them to keep the dirt and plants in the garden as opposed to on the path!

Day 110 - Happy Birthday Andrew

It is always a good night when I don't have to cook dinner!

Today is Andrew's birthday, so we went over to Jenny's house for family dinner and cake. Andrew is such a crazy critter. He is full of energy and always seems to have a comment for everything. He received lots of lego for his birthday amongst lots of other things.

Happy 7th Birthday Andrew!

Day 109 - Bubbles

We sat outside on the deck this afternoon and had bubbles, it is such a fun time for the girls. Bubbles are a time for squealing, laughing, giggling and chasing. Once the bubbles stop it just isn't as much fun! Usually brings on tears for 'more bubbles pease mummy!' (and yes it is meant to be pease, because that is how they say please!)

If only it didn't make the floor so slippery afterwards, bubbles would be the best!

Day 108 - Cuggles

Originally this morning it looked like it was 'stacks on' Ava. Olivia lined her up and crawled her way up. I then caught them in this gorgeous cuddle. It only takes me to say 'cuddles' to the girls for Ava to tighten her squeeze around her sister's neck. Luckily Olivia is a little roughie and doesn't mind being strangled, well most of the time!

I love when the girls are so cuddly... so cute.

Day 107 - A wonderful birthday present

It is my birthday today!

What more could I ask for than a visit from my bestie Nerida and her delicious husband Andy. We decided to take the girls to Lollipops for a bit of a play and then had lunch at the very empty Brand Depot. We came home in time to put the girls to bed and exchanged many a gift (I am sure I heard someone mention something about Christmas in April!) and discussed some very exciting house plans (theirs not mine!) before they had to depart.

A short but sweet visit. It has been too long between drinks gorgeous people! Looking forward to a 2 hour trip real soon.

By the way Andy, this is my favourite photo of my gorgeous couple... followed closely by a really funny eyeball incident!

Day 106 - Death by Chocolate

To treat ourselves for our birthdays, Mel and I went out to Dendy's Premium Cinema and decided to attempt the death by chocolate, sharing of course!

Well after a Chocolate Sundae with delicious chocolate bits and a chocolate cookie we had thoroughly died! We didn't even get to try the mudcake nor the delicious looking chocolates. I was eternally grateful that I had ordered a pot of tea with it. I am going to have to stay off chocolate for a little while... at least until Easter!

We saw The Lincoln Lawyer with Matthew McConnaughey. It was a great movie.

Thanks Mel for a wonderful day.

Day 105 - Pillows

I purchased the girls pillows today. I have been very much a cautious mum and never put anything in the girls bed that could potentially cause harm.

However when Olivia has been sick we usually tilt her mattress with pillows. The last few times, we simply put a pillow under her head and she went out like a light. So I assumed that it was probably a good time to introduce the pillow. I am also hoping that the pillow teaches them to sleep at one end of the bed rather than me discovering them in many random positions in the mornings.

Day 104 - Some might say I don't need anymore...

... but I beg to differ on occasions.

After a lovely lunch date with one of my lovely besties, Mel, I had a little time up my sleeve while the girls were at daycare. So I thought I'd have a little look around the hyperdome. To my delight i found this lovely bag. I even did the good trick of looking at it once and leaving the store to look elsewhere just incase I found something more appealing. Obviously I didn't. So I have made room in my cupboard for my new bag.

Day 103 - Hello Autumn

Autumn is such a beautiful time in Canberra. The colours of the leaves on trees are just amazing. It is definitely one of the benefits of living in the Canberra region is to have and enjoy the 4 different seasons. It is such a pity this year that the only real sign of Autumn is the colour changing of the leaves. I wonder if that means we are going to have a longer and colder Winter, gee I hope not.

I know I blogged about this not long ago, but everytime I drive around I think about how great a photo would be of these beautiful tree lined streets. I may just include another one in a few weeks of the beautiful maples and the further changes to the trees.

Day 102 - New Glasses

I have to say I do enjoy getting new glasses. I love trying them on and often laughing at myself and whoever it is that comes along with me when we make each other try on the oddest looking glasses.

I went to Specsavers and had a look at their range and found this lovely purple pair of Alex Perry frames. The best news from the optometrist was that I didn't have to change my prescription in my lens so I could have single lens frames instead of multifocal frames. (Sad that this makes me so excited I know!)

I even got a new pair of prescription sunglasses as well!

Day 101 - Help or Hinder?

Monday's are generally cleaning days in our house. Today I wasn't sure whether the girls were a hinderance or help! Olivia made an attempt at dusting things, although she wasn't looking too impressed with the dusting or the duster, she gave it a solid attempt.

I hope this "help" continues for a long time to come!

Day 100 - Ladies Winery Tour

What a day to welcome day 100!

Brunch at Pod and a Winery Tour for Victoria's 30th. It was a rainy kind of day but that certainly didn't dampen the spirits of the 17 women who boarded the mini bus to traipse around the country side sampling fine wines, and some of us even trying a few new ones.

We went to Lerida Estate along Lake George, where I discovered an unwooded Chardonnay and it was devine! It was also here that my photo of the day was taken. We also learnt about the Weather and Fungus causing troubles with harvests (see here). The host there was so organised, we had 7 different samples of wine to taste and he told us about each one. It was a pity we had to move on.

We then went out to Shepherds Run Wines in Womboin. It was lovely and toasty in here and I think the wine that was the biggest hit with the ladies was the Sparkling Shiraz. Not my favourite, but I understand why others enjoyed it.

The last place we went to was Lambert Vineyards where again I tried many wines I wouldn't normally drink. I think again the Reds were the clear favourite here.

Thanks to Victoria for organising such a fabulous day.  The best part of the day was discovering I went to school with her sister and never even realised it oh and meeting some lovely ladies.

Next time I drive to and from Sydney, I will definitely be stopping for lunch at one of these lovely places.

Day 99 - Garage Cleaning

Today was marked on the calendar as the 'Garage Clean Out Day'

It was time for an Autumn clean, you know like the one that usually happens in Spring, but instead I did it in Autumn. My ulterior motive was that I wanted to park my car in the garage, so the quicker we sorted it all out, the quicker Maxie Magna got to go into the garage.

We organised my things for storing and unpacking into one corner, threw out some things that were broken or we decided were really not needed anymore and created a little room for a car... finally. I am so glad come Winter I am not going to need to do any ice scraping with my Drivers License.

Day 98 - Such delight

It is fun to watch the girls discover new toys and things for them to play with.

Today we purchased the girls a climbing frame for them to play with in the backyard. They loved it. Climbing the stairs, crawling through the holes, stopping for a cheeky smile at Poppy every now and then. I hope we have plenty more sunny days for them to enjoy it.

Day 97 - Maple Trees

One thing I love about Canberra and it's region in Autumn is the beautiful colours of the changing leaves.

We have some beautiful maple trees out the front of our place which are adored by many a cockatoo in the afternoon sun, The leaves have just begun to change, and boy doesn't it make for a pretty drive or walk along our street.

Unfortunately it leaves for nuts and leaves all over the ground, but it still looks pretty!

Day 96 - A second choice photo

Tonight I went out with my some of my lovely Sisters in Law for dinner tonight. We went to the usual stomping ground, Caph's in Manuka. It was quiet a nice dinner topped off with a few laughs.

While out and about I realised I hadn't taken my photo of the day, and did hope to get a nice picture of them/us (well really them) but the photos weren't all that flattering nor were some in focus, so I guess this attempt at artistic photo will have to do.

Might have to pack my "better" camera next time, or maybe some of them might not want to pull funny faces!

Day 95 - All it took

Such a peaceful state Olivia is in right now.

It only took 2 hours for her to scream the house down, cry, take her pants off, scream some more and cry a little more before we got to this peaceful state.

Boy was I glad she finally gave in. Pity she woke her sister after only 40 minutes sleep. I hope Ava learns to sleep through such noise again soon.

Day 94 - Just need a little more growing

We purchased these bikes for the girl's first birthday. They have gotten a fair bit of use, but of late they haven't had much at all. Now we have a bit of a backyard, they can ride around til their hearts content, pity they can't quite reach the pedals yet! So they can't yet ride them around.... they demand us to push them around.

I can't wait for those couple of inches more!

Day 93 - Out with the old and in with the New

So we have handed our keys in to the real estate for our old house and now we are starting a fresh in our new place.

Well it isn't really as new. It is one of those beautiful old houses that most people love. (I certainly am one of those people) It has some mod cons with ducted heating etc. The best part of it is the nice backyard for the girls to run around in. I would prefer them to play on the grass but instead they are fascinated with the pebbles.

To make it perfect, all it needs is a bay window for me to curl up in and read a good book in the sun. Oh and maybe a little paint job to the green lounge room and the pink bedroom we currently sleep in.

Day 92 - The next great Barry Hall

Today my nephew Austin had his first game of AFL for the Queanbeyan Tigers. He looked very nervous in what was only going to be a trial game with his team. He had a great time running around, took a mark and kicked a goal. Like all great footballers, he spent time chasing his mates around the oval while the ball was at the other end.

The girls and I went along to watch Austin play, however, I am not sure who was more worn out Austin or myself after chasing the girls around the oval.

We look forward to watching him play again. Might have to make sure the girls are safely strapped into the pram to save me from running around after them.

Day 91 - April Fools Day

I would have preferred this were an April Fools Day joke, but alas it wasn't. Another week goes by and we have yet another multiple visit to the Doctor's. Poor Olivia has been so sickly that we had to take her to the Doctor's twice this week. Her croup hasn't exactly gotten better but with extra doses of redipred and antibiotics,  I am hoping she is on the mend and that this is not a sign of the things to come in Winter.

Please someone bring us some healthy germs (I am sure there is such a thing isn't there....)