616 + 512 Weeks

We've had a nice week!  Jeff and Arley went camping with Clint on Saturday afternoon through Sunday before lunch.  Just a short trip only an hour away, but it was successful, and that's what we needed.  On the Sunday Arley was a bit out of sorts and out of his element, and wanted to come home, but he stuck it out and ended up having a good time.  It gives me hope that camping might actually be in our future!  While they were camping, Carmie and I had a girls' night.  We went shopping at the mall and bought Carmie new sneakers on the recommendation of her podiatrist.  She is the same shoe size as me now!!  Afterwards we went to a sushi restaurant, and then on to buy some gelato for dessert.  Then we went to the movies to see Avatar in 3D.  It was awesome.  I loved it, but Carmie thought it was too long and a little boring.  We were out until 10pm, which is a novelty for Carmie.  We had such a nice time together, we will have to do it more often.

It was ANZAC day on Tuesday, so there were no activities scheduled.  We invited Lolo and Dida over for a family sports day at the park across the road.  The kids were excited, and we were all set.  I had checked the forecast and things looked good.  We took a bunch of sports equipment to the park, as well as our kite.  What do you know?  Within 15 minutes it started sprinkling on us, and then it was bucketing down.  We all huddled under the shelter except for Carmie who dropped everything and ran home in the rain.  Sports day ruined!  We waited until the rain eased, then went home, and within 10 minutes the sun was shining again.  Of course!

The kids have been bickering quite a lot for the last few weeks, and it's been a little stressful.  I have come up with a plan though.  Every time they are nice to each other, they get to put a marble in the jar and when it is full, we will take them to Aussie World.  We only started this morning, but so far, so good!

Both kids have started seeing a chiropractor.  Arley has to do it in conjunction with his dental plan, and when the chiro was explaining to me what she does, I realised she could probably help Carmie too.  Arley is now going twice a week, and Carmie once a week.  The first session was a whole body work up, and I saw such changes in the kids' bodies just during these first sessions alone.  It is all very interesting, and a new learning curve for me.

Zach came over on Tuesday night again, as he does every Tuesday now.  We are watching an ongoing movie with him every Tuesday.  I also had my hair cut this week.  Just a trim to try to contain it, but I pretty much look the same.  My regular hair dresser is on maternity leave, so I went to a new place.  This guy didn't know that I have been growing out my hair for 9 months, and I sat in the chair and he looked at my hair and said, "Wow, your hair is amazing!"  I think he was in disbelief that I walked in with such a bird's nest on my head!  Haha.

Carmie and I just got home from Taekwon Do.  We are grading next month, but we are ready.  You should see Carmie's kicks now - her legs are so long, which makes her kicks really high.  Champion!

Me and Boo at the mall

Bear on his camping trip

Family sports day before the rain

And then the rain came!

615 + 511 Weeks

It's Thursday again already!  All of our activities were on this week, so we got back into our schedule.  I was very overwhelmed until Carmie's psychologist told me on Monday that I am expecting too much from myself and to create their schedule over the course of a fortnight, and spread the activities we do out.  It made me relax a little more and not worry so much about school work and filling their days, because their days are really really full!

We had horse riding and Taekwon Do, and Clint, and OT and Wolfpack this week.  Arley also went to the dentist on Monday and got more exercises to do as part of his program.  Today I had to take him to a chiropractor, as part of his dental plan.  As his teeth and jaws move, she will be releasing the pressure in his cranium, and basically making his dental program work better.  I had never been to a chiropractor before, and I had lots of questions for her.  Before Arley's session, I warned her that he might come across as rude, that he has no understanding of hierarchy.  She said she would just ignore it.  I was not wrong!  The first thing she said was, "Hey dude, jump up on the bed here."  He looked at her totally deadpan and said, "Don't call me Dude."  Haha.  She was amazing though.  He had all kinds of things off with his body, including one arm presenting as too short, and his pelvis is all out of alignment, something called Category II.  She did all kinds of pretzel moves on him and it was pretty cool to see his body change in one session.  At the end, she said to me, "Oh my God, he was so rude!  I love him!"  Haha, it looks like I found the right chiropractor.  Which is a good thing, because Arley has to see her twice a week for the next six weeks, and then weekly after that.  I have Carmie booked in to see her next week, as I think the chiropractor might have some good insight into Carmie's posture issues and clumsiness.  Fingers crossed.

Jeff and Arley are going camping overnight with Clint this weekend, and Carmie and I are having a girls night.  I am so looking forward to it!

Deja vu!

Arley learning how to give Tigerlilly a massage :)

614 + 510 Weeks

Phew!  We unpacked our last box three days ago, and two days ago we hung all of our artwork, which means, we are done!  We have officially moved house and settled in.  As I said last week, this house is so much better.  The neighbours are lovely, the neighbourhood is great, it is closer to shops and better for Jeff's work.  We are in love with the kitchen, and everyone has their own space, which is great.  We are right next to a nature reserve that is actually private property, and I have already seen a green tree snake in our backyard.  Scary!  Apparently there is a 3 meter python that comes to visit too.  Even scarier!  On a good note, we also have possums and a blue tongue lizard, but we are yet to see them.

Sunday was Easter, and we had a pretty chill day.  We woke up not terribly early, and set out an egg hunt for the kids.  They got loads of eggs, and are thoroughly enjoying them.  Lolo and Dida came over for morning tea, which was nice except that Lolo forgot to bring the cake she made for the kids!  We had hot crossed buns and then they helped me organise all of my plants.  Mum is a natural gardener and I am the opposite, but trying to learn!  Anyway, Easter was relaxing, just like it's supposed to be.

Because it's school holidays, a lot of the kids' activities haven't been on.  Yesterday the kids went to Chambers Island again, and then today the kids and I went back for a family games session with Clint.  It was fun and got us all moving.  Arley was a bit under the weather this week, and now I feel like I have it, although it might very well just be exhaustion. I'm trying to catch up on emails and bills and work, so that next week, starting on Monday, we can get back on track.  Wish me luck!

Easter egg hunt

Arley discovering he likes chocolate cake :)

Today at Chambers

Some pics of our new house

612 + 508 + 613 + 509 Weeks

We have survived the move - barely!  Moving is just the worst, and this one has been up and down.  We moved on Friday of last week.  The movers tried and succeeded in scamming us out of more money half way through our move.  Scoundrels!  Jeff and I spent most of Saturday cleaning the old house and yard, and then I went back on Sunday for more cleaning.  I had to call in the Lolo and Dida reinforcement crew, and they spent 4 hours with me cleaning.  Since Monday we have been trying to unpack, but life keeps getting in the way!

Since I wrote last, Jeff has had a birthday.  Sadly it was his birthday on moving day, so we celebrated the day before.  He turned 52!  My mum made cupcakes and brought them over for a little celebration.

On Monday I took Arley back to the dentist.  They are only 15 minute appointments where the dentist gives Arley some exercises to do and some gadgets to chew on.  The point of them is to get Arley's tongue in a better position and his swallow reflex working properly before they fit him with the brace.  He hates it all, and keeps insisting there is nothing wrong with his teeth!  On a good note, he has had some major breakthroughs with his food this week.  He now eats buttered spaghetti, spaghetti with tomato sauce, and pancakes.  This is huge!!!

On Tuesday we went to Taekwon Do, and it felt so good to be doing it again after a couple of weeks off.  Then we went up to Lolo and Dida's for lunch and to hang out until horse riding.  After that, Zach came over for dinner. On Wednesday the kids went to see Clint at Chambers Island, and today, Clint took Arley fishing for two hours.  The kids' OT took each of them out to a cafe to get them to order and pay for  themselves.  Arley had a really hard time with it :(  Carmie rocked it!

So, Carmie loves our new house.  Arley, not so much.  He pretty much hates any kind of change.  Jeff and I love it.  This house is better in so many ways.  The location is so much better for Jeff's business.  The house is all renovated except for the bathrooms.  The kitchen is unreal.  We have more space, and I even have somewhere to paint, which I will be able to do if I ever get these boxes unpacked!  All in all, it's been a good move :)

But I have to say, we are thoroughly exhausted!

Carmie doing carrot stretches with Chilly

Our new house

Waiting at the dentist

Two different spaghettis!!