Busy morning in the garden

Our courtyard has been a disaster area for ages. We hate the little stones that hurt your feet to walk on, and we are keen to pave it. When we have a spare $10,000 we will get right on it!
In the mean time, we have gotten rid of our broken spa and done a bit of a clean up.

Earlier this morning. Tracie begins work removing the slab that the spa sat on.



And now



And where does the path lead you ask??
Check back next weekend and you will see ;)

We also did a clean up of our rather green and disgusting pond.
The pond was so over grown and never used that the boys were very surprised and enchanted when we got the waterfall working. They didn't know we even had a waterfall!! Hahaha
(pump off in this picture)


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Tea anyone?

For many months (since the boys were about 18months old) they have loved "coffee". We order or make them a 'baby chino' (warm frothy milk with chocolate powder on top) when we have a coffee ourself. We have never been tea drinkers.

About 2 weeks ago a friend of Sal's introduced her to fruit tea, and now we love it. Ben is especially taken by having a cup of tea. He knows about tea because his grandma and nana drink tea, but he's never had it before.
This tea is called 'blue bayou' and contains: blueberries, apple, elderberries, blackcurrant leaves, strawberry leaves, hibiscus flowers and rosehip. There isn't any actual tea leaves in this blend. It looks like this



And smells like blackcurrant cordial. It makes a wonderful red tea when brewed.

Both boys enjoy this tea and it is nice to have found a drink that (as far as I can tell) is very low is calories, sugar free, artificial additive free, caffeine free and actually tastes good!

I have yet to try it cold, but will do soon

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Brotherly love

My tired boys, relaxing on the couch before bed.


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Scallywaggs kinder-gym

This morning we took the boys to scallywaggs kinder-gym for the first time. And they had a WONDERFUL time!!!!!!
It is a parents participation class for 3yr olds (the manager said as they are almost 3 it would be better than the 2yr class). Due to the parent participation, we did not get any photos.
The class started with some free play in their big gym, then some group time in the circle. There was about 10 kids and their parents in the class. We sang songs and moved our body to the music. Did some jumping and stretching and crawling. The boys were a little shy for about 5 mins, then joined in a had a go of everything.
After circle time, they went out to the main part of the gym and did an obstacle course. Climbing, walking, crawling, sliding, jumping and running. They did really well for their first day, an you can see where there is a lot of room for them to get better as they develop.
The class finished up with some circle time again and a few games.
The boys came home exhausted and Ben took him self straight to bed and fell asleep. Brilliant I say!!! Hahah

You can see the gym on their website here

And one of the instructors writes a blog about the different activities and the benefits to their fine and gross motor development here. She also has some great photos and video on her site

This first lesson was just to try it out, but we loved it so much we will continue to go on a weekly basis. I think it will be a great addition to their weekly schedule, and be great for their fine and gross motor skills as well as social interactions..... Not to mention energy expenditure!

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I am a toddler

Found this today..... if you have (or know) a toddler, you will LOVE this!

If it is on, I must turn it off.
If it is off, I must turn it on.
If it is folded, I must unfold it.
If it is a liquid, it must be shaken, then spilled.
If it a solid, it must be crumbled, chewed or smeared.
If it is high, it must be reached.
If it is shelved, it must be unshelved.
If it is pointed, it must be run with at top speed.
If it has leaves, they must be picked.
If it is plugged, it must be unplugged.
If it is not trash, it must be thrown away.
If it is in the trash, it must be removed, inspected, and thrown on the floor.
If it is closed, it must be opened.
If it does not open, it must be screamed at.
If it has drawers, they must be rifled.
If it is a pencil, it must write on the refrigerator, monitor, or table.
If it is full, it will be more interesting emptied.
If it is empty, it will be more interesting full.
If it is a pile of dirt, it must be laid upon.
If it is stroller, it must under no circumstances be ridden in without protest.
It must be pushed by me instead.
If it has a flat surface, it must be banged upon.
If Mommy’s hands are full, I must be carried.
If Mommy is in a hurry and wants to carry me, I must walk alone.
If it is paper, it must be torn.
If it has buttons, they must be pressed.
If the volume is low, it must go high.
If it is toilet paper, it must be unrolled on the floor.
If it is a drawer, it must be pulled upon.
If it is a toothbrush, it must be inserted into my mouth.
If it has a faucet, it must be turned on at full force.
If it is a phone, I must talk to it.
If it is a bug, it must be swallowed.
If it doesn’t stay on my spoon, it must be dropped on the floor.
If it is not food, it must be tasted.
If it IS food, it must not be tasted.
If it is dry, it must be made wet with drool, milk, or toilet water.
If it is a carseat, it must be protested with arched back.
If it is Mommy, it must be hugged.
I am toddler!
– author unknown

Feeding the ducks with Nana.

Last sunday was a beautiful morning and Nana came to visit.
We went to the park and fed the ducks, boys rode their bikes and everyone had a great time.





















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Jumping castle

For those that don't remember, we bought the boys a jumping castle for their 2nd birthday.
We talked about hiring one for the party, but decided it was only twice the price to buy one that we could use time and time again. We have used it about 6 times in the last year, and the boys love it. They have finally gotten tall enough, with enough upper body strength to climb the wall up to the slide.

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Swimming lessons again!

I still really love swimming lessons. We are still seeing great progress every week. Today they swam further than ever before, Ethan back floated his best ever and their teacher is really focusing on getting them to turn around to the wall when they fall in. They made great progress again today.

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Exploring a new park

We found and explored a new park today.

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Busy builders

Ben and Ethan making a block tower.
I really enjoy them playing and working together now they are getting older.

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Not an animal

This morning Ben kept playing with his breakfast and not eating it properly. After two threats that I will take it away he still wasn't actually eating it (I don't think he really wanted it) so I took it away.
He threw a tantrum, like I knew he would. Bens latest tantrum style is to jump forward, from a standing position and intentionally land on his bottom. He tries to do this with enough force to make as loud of a thump as possible. He also cries as loud as he can at the same time.

During Ben's tantrum Ethan asked me what we were going to do this morning. I jokingly said "put Ben in a cage?!?"
Ethan took a moment to consider this option, looked at me closely and said "no, Benny's not an animal!" and laughed.





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So tired

We (especially the boys) have had a busy few days lately.
Starting last week...
Wednesday- playgroup and the news paper was there to take photos
Thursday - day care enrollment interview and then madly shopping for last minute school items
Friday - first day of school
Saturday - grandma here and multiple birth club fun day at the trains
Sunday - grandma here (runs the boys ragged playing with them)
Monday - shopping and swimming lessons
Tuesday - quieter day at home, but we did go grocery shopping
Wednesday- chipmunks (indoor play centre) all morning

Makes for a tired little boy who fell asleep in the car on the way home






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Height and weight updated

I was chatting to my friend Monica today about car seats, and realized I didn't know recent heights on Ben and Ethan. So I weighed and measured them for the record.
They will be 3yrs old in about 5weeks.

Ethan 95cm tall (37.4inches)
Ethan 14.8kg (32.6lbs)

Ben 93cm tall (36.6 inches)
Ben 13kg (28.6lbs)

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Multiple birth club family fun day.

Today was our family fun day at the model steam trains.
Unfortunately it rained in the morning, and again after lunch, but despite the rain, we got a good turn out and had heaps of fun!

Grandma, Ben, Mumma and Ethan enjoy a train ride.












Ben and Ethan had a GREAT time wearing their rain coats and boots and stomping in the rain and mud puddles





I didn't take our good camera due to the rain, but a couple of other people from our committee were snapping shots all day. Hopefully they will get something good and I will upload some more if I can :)


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School (day care)

Well, after much decision making, and enthusiasm, especially from
Ben, we have found and enrolled the boys in a day care centre. They call it "school" (pronounced gool in toddler speak.)
They will attend school one day a week, with the possibility of increasing to two or more if they enjoy it.
Today was their first day. Ben was so excited he was awake at 5am!
They were super excited getting ready in the morning, and were ready to leave around 8:30.






They ran into the room this morning, and we left after a short time. We picked them up around 2pm, and the teachers tell us they had a great day, and were very happy, good boys all day.
They are exhausted this afternoon!
Some art work from today


They are already talking about going back next week.

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