220 + 116 Weeks

I am writing this post early because Jeffrey and I are heading off to Kiama tomorrow, until Saturday. Two nights away from the kids for my birthday!  As much as I will miss them, I can't wait for the break.  Carmie was sad, until she realised that her Lolo would give her all the chocolate she asks for.  The only real downer is that the weather is terrible, but that is just par for the course as far as our little vacations go.  It always rains.  And now it is windy as well, and bitterly cold.  But still, two nights away!

It was the kids' Dida's birthday this past week too, so we went up to the farm for a morning tea party. Carmie was very excited, because there is no food that she loves more in the world than cake.  The kids got to spend some time with their cousins, before heading home to a playdate.  Carmie's long-time (relatively speaking!) friend Cassie came over, and the girls had a lovely time playing together in Carmie's new bedroom, and on the clothesline swing, and they even had a painting session.  Carmie will be starting gymnastics with Cassie in a couple of weeks, and Cassie is going to be starting at Carmie's school soon, so they couldn't be happier.

Arley has had a good week.  He still only plays with trains (when he is not being pushed around on the swings).  He is talking so well, I can't believe how quickly his language has come on.  He hasn't had any really naughty episodes, he just likes to throw his head back and wail for a few seconds to show his anger, but then he gets over it.  I can see how life can get a little easier when his terrible twos are fully out of his system (knock on wood!).

We took the kids to the park at Dolphin Point this weekend, but it was overrun with about a 1000 rowdy kids because it's school holidays.  So we walked around the lake and fed the ducks, and then continued around to the inlet.  The next thing we knew, the kids were wading through the water, soaking wet but having a blast.  Their clothes ended up coming off in the end, and they didn't want to leave.  We can't wait for summer!

Dida's birthday

 Painting with Cassie

 At Dolphin Point

 Look what slithered out to greet us at the beach!

219 + 115

The weeks seem to be flying by these days, I guess because we are so busy.  Uncle Sting came down for a visit this weekend, so we spent Saturday at the farm.  Arley adores his Uncle, he was very taken by him.  (I failed to take any photos though, sorry Sting).  The kids are adapting to their home, and are spending a good deal of time out in the back yard.  I had a brilliant idea (if I don't say so myself) of attaching swings to our giant hills hoist clothes line, and now we can swing the kids round in circles, and they LOVE it.  In fact, Carmie threw a full blown tantrum tonight when she couldn't go outside to go on her swing.  She was in quite a mood today, not her usual cheery self.  She is getting very into her writing, and I am finding little notes around the house, saying, "cat" or "bat" or "hat" - she has the 'at' words down!  Arley is his same self, one minute giggling and happy, and the next, the grumpy little boy refusing to eat dinner.  No one ever said these kids weren't full of personality.

Our builder has started work on my studio in the back yard.  I am so excited for it to be finished, and not just so that we don't have workmen and tradesmen around the house any more.  I can't wait to get in there!!  It is my birthday next week, and Jeffrey and I are spending two nights away in Kiama (not far, but far enough!).  I am hoping that when we get back, my studio will be almost done.

Really cute video of the kids on our clothesline swing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa0i2mLSzdU&feature=youtu.be

Breakfast with Dad

 Backyard fun

 Before & after photos:

Master bedroom now

 Then

Lounge room now

Then

Kitchen now

Then

 Family room now

 Then

Carmie's room now

 Then

 Arley's room now

 Then

 Patio now

 Then

218 + 114

It feels so nice to be settled.  Right now I am sitting here in our living room, lights dimmed, artwork hung, everything is peaceful, which is such stark contrast to the past few months.  As I am the organising queen, I have had our builder make coat hook rails, a shoe rack, a massive wall unit, extra shelving all over the place, and as much storage as I could fit into our house.  I'll post before and after photos next week.  And much to my surprise and pleasure, council has finally approved my studio, and our builder is starting work on it early next week.  I can't wait to have a place to make a mess!!

This week I think we finally won the headlice battle (the last treatment tonight showed no lice, so fingers crossed), but I did learn all about eyelash lice in a most unpleasant way :(  I will spare you the gory details.  Carmie is mostly a sweetheart still.  Jeffrey has started an exercise regime (Crossfit), and according to Carmie, that is good, because "All Dad does is sit around and read the newspaper. But you get lots of exercise, Mum!"  (I don't think we have actually had a newspaper in our house since Carmie was born!).  Carmie is getting a little scared about dying and it makes her worry and cry at bed time some nights.  In the day time she is just worried about when we are going to take the iPads away for good, which is hopefully going to happen when the weather gets a bit warmer and my studio is finished so that we can lock up the back yard.  Arley is still a terror, except for today when he was an angel.  This week at school they broke out these wooden train tracks, and Arley had so much fun with them that when I went to collect him, he didn't want to leave, he just said, "Bye bye Mum", and then screamed and cried and kicked when I picked him up.  We ended up buying him the same tracks for his bedroom, as I will pretty much do anything at this point to get him off the iPad and doing something creative.  He is so happy with his new tracks, so the plan is working, so far.  He made me a little sad this week, as he was sitting on my lap looking at photos from this blog with me, and he saw a photo of himself and Carmie in the old playroom, and he said, "Home!  Go car?  Go home?  Go car?"  I think he thinks we are on some kind of surreal vacation, one in which we take every single belonging with us!

It was Father's Day this past Sunday, so we had Lolo and Dida over for lunch.  Carmie made her Dad and her Dida a card each, and wants to make one for Opa, Pop and Grandpa Clark too.  She is into drawing the people in her life now, and I am loving her drawings.  They really put a smile on my face :)

 Carmie & Dad on Father's Day

  Arley and his new tracks

  Carmie's portrait of her dad (see, no hair!)

This is a picture of Carmie in the middle, and Lolo giving her chocolate (on the right), and me being surprised.  You can always tell which is Carmie because of her cool hair.