Pizza night

  Friday night at our house is pizza night. Matt is generally in charge of making the pizzas. By Friday I am done cooking. The kids like to help out too. Of course, we all have our favorite crust and toppings. This week pizza orders were 1 sausage & cheese, 1 cheese no sauce, and 1  1/2 sausage no cheese 1/2 cheese no sauce. Yum!


 The rest of the weekend was pleasant and pretty uneventful. We haven't been able to go to the beach for a while. They are pretty torn up from all the storms we have had and a lot of the sand has been washed away. It was sunny and hot so we swam a little. Played at the park during soccer. And did a little shopping.

Footy

  AFL this week they played a proper footy game. DB scored twice for his team. He was having a great time. All the kids got a chance to try offense and defense. I think I have learned a lot about the game sitting at practice each week. The fun was put on hold when they switched to another activity and DB took a footy off his face. Compliments of one of the coaches. Of course I had just left to take EL to the toilet. Luckily our friend Plantain was there and took care of him until I got back.

 While DB plays, the girls entertain themselves

 DB is trying to show his friend how to catch the ball.

Reminders of the USA

  It always catches me off guard when I see American city names on clothes here.

  Currently McDonalds is running a promo for Tastes of America. Always find it interesting to see what other countries associate with America. They have a New York and Texas burger and California chicken sandwich. And a couple sweet treats too!

She just had to try it out.

Errand day

  Every once in a while I have to run a bunch of errands in one day. And this time it fell on a day that I was helping DB's swimming at school and EL's gymnastic. So our morning went like this. Walked to school, DB's swimming, walk home, gymnastics, Woolies, Coles, home to drop off groceries. EL was so good. She had been asking to go to McDonalds and go inside and eat. It was after 1pm, well past lunch and nap time by the time we got to McDonalds. She was so excited. She picked a table outside to sit at and she ate every last bit of her burger and fries! I had a great time with her. At age 2 there aren't many days that don't involve some sort of meltdown or fussing about something. It was a rare day. After lunch it was time to pick up the big kids from school and head off to MA's hip hop class.

Aussie Songs

  At mini scramblers EL & I have learned some new songs. Some we know from the States but the words or beat is slightly different. The Itsy Bitsy Spider is the Eentsy Weentsy Spider here. Monkeys jumping on the bed ends with the doctor jumping on the bed instead of the mom. The Hokey Pokey has an extra little chorus between the verses. To end the class we sing several songs. EL  and I tend to sign them throughout the week too.
-I love you. You love me. We're a happy family. With a great big hug and kiss from me to you. Won't you say you love me too.

Cuddle Song (video in link)
It's so nice to have a cuddle with a person that you love
Feels so good to have a snuggle with a person that you love
When you're happy or in trouble run fast right on the double
Just to sit and have a cuddle with a person that you love.

-Goodbye children, goodbye grownups. Goodbye everyone. It's time to say goodbye.

At the end of class the kids all get stamps on their hands, feet, and belly!


I wonder how many American song lyric meanings get lost in translation.
Example:
I threw a wish in the well,Don't ask me, I'll never tell
I looked to you as it fell,And now you're in my way
I'd trade my soul for a wish,Pennies and dimes for a kiss
I wasn't looking for this,But now you're in my way
They don't have pennies and dimes here. There are 5 and 10 cent pieces, no 1 cent pieces at all. Wonder if people know what they are or just sing the song?

Bits and Pieces

Australian talker: MA now says H as heche. Z is zed. Markers are called texters. Necklace is neck-lace (like shoelace). Homework sentences got corrected. We spelled favorite wrong- should have put favourite.

"Here Mommy. You can have my keys!" as she hands me her toy keys. "I am not going anywhere." EL 2.5 as I was tucking her into bed.

"Life was so much more enjoyable before the other 2 came along." MA age 7. She as 20 months when DB was born. I am sure she remembers life before him.

"Today we sang this really old song from the 80s!" Thanks MA.

EL is reading the instructions for our new Popsicle maker.

 MA decorated Matt's side of the bathroom. I think it is interesting to see what she thought would make it special to him. A little handwritten note. A picture she made, a photo of him and his mom. And the cereal box has some chocolates in it.

 We got a special package from a friend back in the States. EL couldn't wait to try the outfit on and the new doll goes every where. She's the perfect size!! Thanks Melamoose!

Movie Time

  While Matt was at class last Saturday, I ventured to the movies with the 3 kids. We met our friends there (mom & 2 kids) and watched Princess and The Frog. My kids love it. We own the DVD. Our friends had never seen it before. The big kids sat in one row, Lisa, EL, & myself sat in the row behind them. They had these giant cushions for the kids so they could see over the chairs in front of them. EL had never been to watch a movie in a theater before. She loved it! She kept asking if we were on an airplane. EL also saw a giant Iron Man 3 display on our way into the theater. She was mesmerized.
  There are 2 main differences with USA and Aussie theaters. First, the theater we went to had assigned seats. It was actually nice. We didn't have to worry about getting enough seats together for the kids and adults. Second, you can bring your own food in. Everyone does! I saw people with grocery bags full of snacks. Lisa brought her coffee from Gloria Jeans in too. So much nicer that sneaking in with snack in your purse. And the movie wasn't any more expensive than in the States.

Focus

I sat down this morning to get the blog caught up. It is now after 3 in the afternoon. I have done a lot between now and then. This kind of sums up a mums life some days.

- Blog posts I wrote during the week
- Pen to figure out which photos I want to add
- Ipad so I can work on other stuff while photos upload
- Wallet to recharge my cell phone plan
- Kids reader that needed to be updated and new books added with a memory card
- Fabric to make a birthday gift this weekend
- Fabric I am thinking about for a quilt
- The last bit of my drink from lunch

Mall madness

We had to run to the mall today to get a birthday gift and a few other things. Just enough stuff to make me actually go to the mall. It's a pretty big mall and normally fairly busy. But on a Saturday, while it is pouring down rain, with 3 kids & a husband, it was madness. Parking garages were jammed. People walking every direction. There is a little pet shop by the entrance we always use. Those darn kittens and puppies are so cute! While I was in a kids store shopping, I noticed a face painter. Score! EL wanted to get hers painted so we did that quickly then headed out of there.

Daddy Duty

  Last weekend I finally cashed in my anniversary gift from Matt. A spa package. I have never been to a spa, never had more than a manicure of pedicure at a local nail salon. I was going to spend 3 hours being pampered. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Just what this mum needed. I really hope I don't have to wait 30 years for for my next trip to a spa.

  While I was relaxing for a few hours, Matt took the kids out to lunch at one of their special places. A restaurant right on the water. I think everyone had a great day.

Things That Made Me Smile This Week

- Always nice when someone knows exactly how to order your cheeseburger
- Or how you like your homemade pizza: just crust, little oil, garlic, & cheese
- Having IGA here always reminds me of Metamora

- Little girl pigtails

- Catching up with friends back in the States
-Finding a new recipe everyone loves

-Cleaning out my purse and finding a bunch of coins. $2 coins add up fast!
-Pretty sunsets

-Sleeping children