It was Katie's birthday yesterday, but we had her birthday dinner tonight...I rushed over with my camera but we seemed to be the only ones that weren't camera shy. I'll have to be a bit more sneaky (or forcefull) about my snapping!



In this cold weather, you have to make the most of every bit of sunshine!



When he's not trying to kill her, Angus really loves his baby sister Erin.









Last night we had an activity at church about your body being a temple and taking care of it physically and spiritually....and I got to have a make-over. Jaclyn did my make-up and Alison did my hair, it was good fun. So I came back and took some pictures....and then Angus woke up. He's had a bit of a cold and I thought he'd just settle down again so I lay down on his bed with him, but he was wide awake. Anyway, before I knew it, it was 1am and Angus and I were still up. He was having a lovely time playing with his blocks and reading books and I was half asleep on the coach grunting every now and then to let him know I was still with him. Then Erin woke up and woke Seth...who stormed out the bedroom wanting to know what was going on. He soon had Angus in bed...who yelled for about 10 minutes and went to sleep. Angus was restless again tonight....so for now my 2 cents is I'm grateful for my husband!!!

Keeping Warm

What else is there to do on a cold wintery day but snuggle down in bed with a good book. Angus loves to drag all his bedding out into the lounge and then getting under it. He's a funny boy, our house is a bit of a work in progress, and so Seth just hung a door on Angus' room the other day...well the last few nights I've put him to bed, after a few minutes snuggling and a little song, he tells me to go and shut the door on the way out, he has no night light...its pitch dark in there....its just not what i expected from a little kid not even 2!

Snowfall

On Thursday morning, mom and I decided we'd grab the kids and head up the road till we got to some snow...it didn't take long and was worth the trip. Angus was quite intrigued, but got really excited when he realized he could eat it too. I told him he could taste the snow fallen on the plants so as to distract him so i could take some pictures....by the end his hands were so cold that I carried him back down to the car with his hands shoved inside my jumper to try and warm them.

In the old days

A few mornings ago I looked out the window to see heavy frost on the ground and a light snow fall. Apparently according to the older locals it used to snow quite abit down here, but we don't get much these days. The kids have been pretty good being cooped up inside. It helps to have mom and dads place only a few metres away from ours...so when we really need a change of scenery I go over and let the troops loose on them. And we generally get out to feed the chickens and go for abit of a walk or outing somewhere. The other day we went up to visit Peter and Dawn Woolley, they grew up around here during the depression and the World Wars. We got to hear all about what life was like for him as a young boy....life was SO different. There were nine kids in the family, and he told us they had double beds and used to sleep about 3 boys to a bed. He added that if they had visitors, they'd top and tail with 5 in the bed. They had a tiny house situated between two rivers and said he distinctly remembers 3 places the roof leaked when it rained and how his mom would rush around with buckets collecting the drips. From the age of 5, it was his job to bring in all the chopped wood, but by 7 had to do all the chopping too. It was a really interesting visit.
He also showed us how they used to make torches with a tin can and candle, so today Angus and I made one while Erin was sleeping. Angus loved all the hammering and nailing going on...he's such a boy!!!

Homeschool

http://lds-nha.org/benson.pdf

Here's a link to the interesting phD by Reed Benson who was President Ezra Taft Bensons son. Its really long but is worth sifting through. If you want to look at it you'll need to copy the link and paste it in the address bar of a new internet page.

Coco

The dog has a name: Coco. She found a dummy Angus must have dotted somewhere and came bounding out with it in her mouth. It was so cute we decided she could keep it although Angus was prepared to fight her for it!!!

I realized i didn't have any pictures of dad and Erin yet, so we had a fun little photoshoot. Dad is doing amazingly well and outlived the doctors prognosis and also survived a bout of pnemonia. Its so great to still have him around. He jokes and says its getting embarressing as he's given his farewell talk at church twice now. We've had lots of family members coming over to see him too, from Western Australia and South Africa. Thats been a wonderful blessing, seeing them all. I think its sad when someones death precipitates a family reunion, its nice to be able to get together while everyone is still present.

Every morning when Angus wakes up, we get Horatio the guinea pig out of his cage for a carrot and this morning... for a read too apparently! Horatio has been a great beginners pet, he just sits there quite placidly and Angus has learnt how to hold him correctly and feed him and clean his cage.

Friday night was Seth and my date night and we got to spend it in the steam room that mom finally finished building. Dad started it but it has been unfinished for so long because he has not been well. It was so fun and relaxing!!!
As we decided not to have a TV in our home we are aware of the need to create fun, exciting and relaxing alternatives for ourselves and our children. There are many options, but i think they all just take abit more effort then turning on the TV. It seems to really be teaching Angus to become a peaceful content child and be able to entertain himself creatively. Often I have to take care of Erin and he has become wonderful at seeing I'm busy and just finding something to do. At first i felt bad for him but i think kids get a bit too much stimulation in our modern world, so now i'm just happy watching his mind open and develop. Oh, and he hasn't even fallen out of his bed yet!!!

Holidays

Seths had a few days off plus a long weekend, which has been so much fun. Seth also built a bed for Angus, he did a great job in a day or so and Angus is having his first nap in his new big bed right now....I'm waiting to hear a thud!!!

I've also been able to catch up with a few special friends from the past which has been really exciting and meant the world to me!!! And...I cleaned out our heat pump filters which we haven't done since we moved in. We've been complaining for so long how cold it is and how useless the heater was...but, problem solved, the house is now toasty warm and cosy and the heaters working like a charm! Winter should be much more bearable now.

The new addition to the family...a 6 week beagle as yet to be named...he's just gorgeous

Everyday Adventures

The first time Angus actually smiled when i told him to for a photo!!!

We have an attic with awefully steep stairs that we keep vigilantly gated shut, as Angus loves stairs and climbing them every and any opportunity he gets. In the attic is a little door that goes into the roof, and i was totally surprised when he went in to hide and shut the door. He was dead quiet for ages in the pitch dark, until he finally lept out with a triumphant 'Boo'

What can i say, two of my treasures!!!

Angus loves going to the beach, he's a fearless little boy who runs straight into the FREEZING water and loves it. The other day we went on a family trip to the beach and Seth became quite perturbed at the possibility of frostbite with visions of gangrenous little feet, but we couldn't get him away from the water even after he tumbled in head and all and had to be rescued and stripped of his wet clothes!!!

My beautiful little girl 4 months old! I just love being a mum, its the most precious thing in the world. She is always so full of smiles and giggles and just loves being spoken to...her eyes just light up!!!!

Play Date

While Tyson was in hospital, Olivia spent two days with us. We had so much fun, we cooked, we danced and sang, loved the playdough and played chasies all round the house. The kids got on so well which i was surprised about since they're both under 2. Olivia, soon worked out that Angus loves to eat, and quite happily spent most the time asking for food and then feeding it to Angus. He seemed to think it a grand idea because he got food twice as fast as he fed himself and Olivia fed him. I was so grateful that Donna let us have Olivia for that time, it was wonderful not only having her around but it was especially great that i could help out a good friend. Donna is always so happy, warm and cheery no matter how things are going. its always nice to be around people like her.