Sorry I didn't get a picture of everyone, it was hard work cause the kids kept running away from me whenever I was about to take the picture! I wonder whose mum it was taking the photos!!??
What a great day to go to Kidz Bizz! We didn't quite have the centre to ourselves but it was good enough! No screaming and yelling and getting knocked over like usual. Jac said, and I quote "It's actually quite relaxing!" So I think the grown-ups were quite happy to stay for the 2 hours (+ a little extra) instead of the usual 'I just can't wait to get out of here my head is killing me'. Although there was a little bit of 'unfair' play going on, it wasn't from any of our kids so we were all happy! Once we all got over the shock of paying the new adult charge of $2.00 a head we had a great old natter! Lisa spent most of her time on the equipment - just getting her moneys worth I think, while Halle slept like an angel. I spent most of my time taking these pictures with my dodgy camera so that I could put them on here and have something to write about! The kids all had a wonderful day and I'm glad we all went, and not just so that I could put it on my blog - but it saved me from doing the housework!
This is where the branch from our tree ended up
This is where our wheelie bin ended up
Well, I don't know how you slept but we didn't get much sleep at all. What a windy and rainy night. It felt like a jumbo jet was flying around our house. Leilani woke at some stage crying out that the wind was scaring her - she doesn't like the wind on a normal day so I did feel sorry for her. She ended up sleeping in with us, well, she slept while I laid there wondering if our roof was going to blow off! So when we got up this morning at 7.00 it felt like I hadn't even been to bed! We found our wheelie bin in the garden along with a few other foreign objects and a branch from our front tree hanging over the footpath. All in all it wasn't too bad and I was very thankful that Mick was home to go out and clean all the mess up. But I hate those mornings where you wonder how you are going to get through the day because your eyes are burning and just won't stay open. It hasn't turned out too bad though - a trip to Kidz Bizz fixes anything!
I was impressed to find that when we got home from Kidz Bizz the council had been around to cut up our tree branch. Mick says with a smile 'well, that's what you pay your rates for!' They will be back with a chipper later apparently. So we thought we might go add a few more things to the pile!!!!
A warm sunny day in November - Mum or Dad took these photos of their grand kids playing in the garden. No story to tell - I guess the photos speak for themselves, I just couldn't resist putting them on here. Priceless photos I think!
My last Easter post for 2008 - I promise! I just had to put little Emily on here eating her bunny! We only left her for a second and this is what she had done!! She is so beautiful, and she makes me laugh every day. While I was taking these pictures I kept saying her name so that she would look up - but no, she had an agenda and there was no time for distractions! She probably knew it was going to get taken away any minute! I still can't believe she is 1! My little baby is growing up. I love her so much.
On Easter Monday we gathered at Mum and Dad's for dinner and more egg hunting! It was a nice evening for us because not only did I not have to cook dinner, but we finally got to see Daddy! He got the short straw and had to work night shift over Easter so it was nice to have him HOME & AWAKE! Leilani was so excited to see her cousins Jenna & Locke and even more excited to be hunting for Bunnies with them. The main event of the night for the grown ups was watching one of our favourite T.V shows - 'Deal or No Deal' I think we were all winners that night!!! The evening ended with a bit of good old fashioned whip cracking! (see Elle's blog for more details)
Easter Bunny didn't actually leave the eggs outside, I think he wanted to but thought it was a bit cold and wet and was a little scared to go out there alone as someone was on night shift!
So this was a fun Sunday morning activity - I went out and threw the eggs around for Lani and Emily to go and pick up again - they loved it! This was all before Lani got a high temperature and became quite unwell for the next 3 days. At least it kept her away from all the chocolate I guess. Blanche said Charlotte had the same sort of thing; A bit unfair being sick on Easter huh!
So you have to watch Emily near the chocolate she rips into it in about 10seconds - gets the wrapper off and all!
Just a HUGE thank you to my good friend Nikki for helping me get the 'tunes' on my blog she walked me through each step! You're awesome Nik! xx
Also, just a word about today/tonight... So Emily went and had her immunisations today - she was so brave, although I think it helps when you get a good nurse, she was really quick and had all 3 over with in about 30seconds - I was very impressed. Anyway so all went well at the doctors and Emily has been 'happy as Larry' all afternoon. However, she didn't really seem all that tired at bedtime, which is 7.00pm so it took a little while for her to go to sleep. Anyway so she finally went to sleep at about 7.30 - 7.45pm. But now we are sitting hear listening to her singing and talking and playing in her cot (its 9.45pm) - she keeps pulling the musical mobile thing in there and it's really strange! She never does this - well not for a long time, she usually goes to bed and straight to sleep and we don't here a thing until morning - so I'm thinking either there was something dodgy in those needles or she has just gone cuckoo! It has just gone quiet again so lets cross our fingers!!
On Sunday after Stake Conference, Mick took the girls for a walk along Kingston Beach to give me a much needed break. I was so grateful because even though I really wanted to go with them, a few hours alone was just what I needed. Leilani & Emily had a wonderful time and Mick brought back a really nice photo of them (the top one) I thought this was gorgeous - 2 little heads down digging away! I don't take them to the beach very much because I'm not really a very big fan myself (it has to be a hot day with lots of shade for me to enjoy the beach) but they love playing in the sand so I think I will have to try and take them once in a while. (What a shame its nearly winter!) And speaking of winter, how cold is it at the moment? I can't believe it! It's kinda nice though, I think I'm actually starting to look forward to it a little, except for getting up in the morning - I hate a cold bathroom!
So I can't help but to think of me and Elle, when I watch Leilani and Emily playing together and think about the things we used to get up to as kids. Especially when I hear Lani calling out to Emily "Come on Emily, lets go", she leads Emily all around the house just as I'm sure I used to with Elle! I found these two pictures on the computer and couldn't believe how much it looked like Lani and Emily together. Here, in the first photo it looks like I'm just about to jump off the couch (as Lani is ALWAYS doing) and Elle is up there trying to copy (just like little Emily)! And then in the second photo is little Elle (sweet and innocent just like Emily) looking over with those beautiful big eyes taking it all in thinking that her big sister is just wonderful! (I'm sure Elle still does that!)
We have 2 little copy cats living with us at the moment! They are so cute. It doesn't matter what it is - running, laughing, singing - it keeps them entertained for ages! Our biggest COPY CAT is little EMILY, she makes me laugh so much. She watches everything Leilani does and then COPIES! They clap hands, play peek-a-boo and make funny noises.
Lani loves it and they laugh and laugh and laugh! It's so fun to see.
Tonight Leilani was packing up and getting ready for FHE when she looked at me, with that 'screwed up puzzled face look' she gets, realising that Daddy wasn't home yet and said "Mummy, Daddy, Lani and Emily tonight? or just Mummy, Lani and Emily?' I told her "Just us tonight" and she said "Oh". Anyway we had Family Home Evening and seeing that it was nearly easter the treat was a little egg hidden for each of us which Leilani had to find. Because Daddy was working late tonight and missed out I asked Lani if she would like to draw him a picture and leave him a note so he would find his special treat. This was the result! Daddy was so impressed he had to get out the camera when he arrived home!
Leilani and Charlotte make me work hard! I first thought that I was going to have an easy day and 'get some things done' while they played, but I quickly learnt otherwise! They have a wonderful time together and I think it's good for them to learn to share and take turns. They are alike in lots of ways, and I enjoy watching them play because I feel that I learn more about Leilani when I see her with another 3 year old. I realise what is common '3 year old' activity, and what is her special personality.
On this particular day, they just about did everything I could think of from playdoh to drawing to riding the bikes outside, but their best hour was spent in the sand pit. They are so cute together! I think I see myself in Lani in this picture though - I don't know what do you think?
Because everyday is different and we can't remember them all, I thought I had better start writing them down. Welcome to life in the Challis home - where everyday is different!
