Two E's & me: October 2013

October kicked off with a Long Weekend… as all months should!  It set the tone for a fun filled month.

Long Weekend

Day 1: Superheros Unite!

We had a birthday party to attend!  MissE was Batgirl (having grown out of her Superwoman costume already!)  I pulled her costume together in 1 shopping trip to the craft store and 1 night.  I love how the costume turned out and she rocked it.

Fireworks

After the birthday, MissE and I checked out the Fleet Week Fireworks Spectacular while Mr H nursed a sick Eden.  Note to self: 4 year olds enjoy fireworks for 2 minutes then spend the next 20 minutes asking when we can go home.  *Sigh* I tried.

Sydney showing off!

Day 2: Balmoral and Grand Final BBQ

We enjoyed a beautiful Spring day at Balmoral Beach (along with the rest of Sydney).  Afterwards, we BBQ’ed with friends while watching the Grand Final (rugby league).

Day 3: Day Trip!

Despite the change in weather to wind and lots of it, we had a fun day out.  We drove 2 hours or so to Fingal Bay, stopping in Nelson Bay for lunch then again for ice cream on our way home.

Fingal Bay

Eden doing a nudie run at Fingal Bay

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream (at Nelson's Bay)

Work Minions

We are always saying how much we need an extra few hands on our team and one day we got them.  The Two E’s hard at work with me.

Ari's Birthday Party
Mr E attended a birthday party mid-week for his swimming bestie, Ari.  Like Eden, most of his friends are his big sister's friends.  

Happy 2nd birthday Ari!

RAAF Family Day

Yay to Uncle Ed!  We had a great day at the RAAF Family Day.  There was face-painting, a jumping castle, petting zoo, a static plane (for Eden) and a flight (for Eloise).

Eden, the pilot

Land this plane?  No problem!

While Eden stayed on ground, Eloise and I went up for a flight.  It was both our first time in a C-130J Hercules. 

Flight School

Ready to fly!

Birds-eye view

Ramp open: view of Sydney CBD

*Note: I was surprised I didn’t need the sick bag!  I usually do for smaller planes and helicopters.  And part of me wish I could of just had a small vomit compared to the raging headache I had for the rest of the day and well into the night!

Just Keep Swimming

Big sister moved up to Level 3 last month and now Eden has moved to Beginners!  He is now swimming without a parent.  Another little fish!

He even smiles underwater

Make like a starfish (back float)

High 5's all around!

Starting Big School

MissE finally started her big school orientation this month (it has been running since July but we thought that was a bit much... read: we really didn't to answer the constant "when am I really going to big school?")

Halloween

Halloween usually gets its own post but since I wasn’t in Australia, it was just another day but in costume!  They did many arts & crafts at pre-school/ day-care but missed trick-o-treating this year.

SPOOKY!  Apple jack-o-lantern carvings

Eloise was the fairest in all the land as Snow White.

Eden was a bit more difficult, refusing costumes other than his Batman tee with a cape.  But I think most 2 year old boys are like that???  If I can get him in what I wanted him to dress as then I'll share... it could be tomorrow or next week or next month!

In a Halloween edition of Miss E Says the Darnedest Things:

MissE: If I’m Snow White, who will be the 7 dwarves?

Me: I’m not sure. 

MissE: It’s okay.  Let’s just pretend they all DIED!

Miss E and Mr E Say the Darnedest Things

Too much David Attenborough

Mr E: What’s on my shirt today?

Me: A monkey!  What do monkeys eat?

Mr E: Chicken

Me: Who told you that?

Mr E: Daddy.  On TV.

Daddy: Oh.  We were watching David Attenborough Life of Mammals and the chimps were eating a monkey.  I told him it was chicken.

Who you calling ‘Chicken’?

Miss E: Can I have my door open at night, please?

Me: How come? When did you become a chicken? (asked jokingly)

Mr E: Bock bock bock… doodle doo! (Laughing)

MissE: STOP IT EDEN!

Sleep Talkers

They get it from Mr H, both E’s are chatterboxes even in their sleep.  Poor Miss E has had it bad lately.  One night she spent nearly 3 hours talking and talking and sometimes screaming.  We eventually woke her up to try to get her out of the sleep-cycle but all that got us was a stern “WHY did you wake me up?  I was sleeping!”  What do they talk about?  I’m not sure!  We hear “Get off!” and “I said no!”  Sometimes she remembers her dreams and sometimes she doesn’t.

Me

I had a big month.  I was busy crafting, planning, running and packing.  My work trip combined with 3 days annual leave (or as we call it a "work-holiday") will be on a separate post.

Neon Run

This 5k fun run was so much… FUN!  It was one big dance party!  I hope to do this one again.  This run took place after dark so most people were decked-out in neon and glow-in-the-dark (I forgot mine!  Oops!)  Each “zone” was a different music genera (disco, pop, rock, techno) so we ran a little then had a dance.  Plus the views were pretty good too.

Until next time!

The Mysterious Case of Disappearing February

Where did the month go?  I know it's the shortest but seriously.  I blinked.  It's March.  So what have we been up this month?  Well, there has been a lot of movie dates, a Chinese New Year parade, and big news in between.

African Drumming

I've said it before and I'll say it again, "I am so happy with our daycare/ pre-school!"  They are very multi-cultural, celebrating everything from Pancake Day to Nirvana Day.  And this month, they had an African Drumming incursion.  SuperDad took them for a few hours to learn drumming with Mohammed.

Eloise drumming

Click red to watch Eden's turn!  (Featuring dancing by Eloise)

Disney Princess Film Festival

For the past few weekends, MissE and I have had a date at the movie theatre.  We have seen Aladdin, Mulan and Pocahontas.  I enjoyed Mulan and Pocahontas the most.  Mulan because it's such a good movie anyway, and fun to see it on the big screen.  And Pocahontas because it's only the 3rd time I've seen it!  MissE has really enjoyed these mornings.  For Aladdin, she decided it was a sing-a-long and was singing her little heart out to "A Whole New World".  Thank goodness the movie theatre is dark!  And she provided a giggle during Pocahontas when she proclaimed "JOHN SMITH IS SO HANDSOME!" during a quiet scene.  Each movie features crafts and a costume contest.  We had a good chance to win Pocahontas but we missed it, standing in the very long popcorn line.  I had horrible mommy-guilt but Eloise didn't care!  We have a final film to see, Cinderella, in March.  (They had a special, see 3 films and see Cinderella free).

Rapunzel at Aladdin

Merida at Mulan

Pocahontas at Pocahontas (costume made by me!)

Chinese New Year
We celebrated Chinese New Year with the City of Sydney.  We headed into Chinatown for dinner at one of our favourite Chinese restaurants, East Ocean, then checked out the Twilight Parade.  When I first moved to Sydney, Conor and I went.  It was in the afternoon and fairly small-scale.  Boy have times changed!  There was fireworks just to start, lions that lit up the night, moving screens showing PopAsia TV, cowboys dancing to Gangam Style, and projections on buildings.  Eloise and Eden both loved it!  And it was a fun way to celebrate The Year of the Snake.

Light projections on buildings

Gung Hei Fat Choy!

Roast Duck at East Ocean

Year of the Snake float made from lycée (Lucky Envelopes)

One of the many Dragon Dancing troupes

Level 2 for Miss Eloise!
4 has been good for MissE... and us too!  The highlight of this month, on a non-working Wednesday for me, I got to take Eloise to swimming.  To both my and Eloise's surprise, she swam past her classmates to Level 2.  She's a fish off the ol' block!

Eloise with her Level 1 Certificate: YAY!

We've had very few behavioural issues with MissE since she has turned 4.  Yay!  She is very set on being a big girl, recently giving up her night-light to sleep in the pitch-black.  She even asked to "try" sleeping without Wowo and Monkey, but we talked about why and she thought that one day we would say she had to sleep on her own.  I told her she could sleep with Wowo and Monkey until she is 21 and she breathed a sigh of relief, hugging Wowo and Monkey a bit tighter.

Mr.E is 19 months
We are on the fast track to 2!  Eden is getting more head-strong (ahem, stubborn) that some tasks are a bit difficult if we don't have his cooperation... like pants.  He is a boy, after all.

He is so loving, it melts our hearts.  He loves to give cuddles... and asks for them too.  And he showers us in kisses.  He loves his Jie-jie very much, especially since she has finally passed down Elmo (Elmo came from Cousin M to L to MissE and now to Mr.E!).

Eden and his new friend, Elmo

He is learning body parts and likes to it point out on you! And shout them in bed at 6am. MOUTH! EYES!  NOSE! He continues to learn more words and his new phrase is "What doing?"  He is a little bookworm and most nights, tries to put all of his books in bed with him.  Ouch!  He loves shape puzzles.  Check him out! (Don't mind is multi-tasking, puzzle and TV).

Eden v. Shape Sorter

GDO: High Tea at The Langham
The end of the month ended on a very good note, a girl's day out with my gorgeous girls.  We met 4 years ago at Mother's Group and made it through many firsts (and seconds) together.  It's wonderful that we are still close and even more wonderful when we get to see each other sans children.  We all love High Tea so we checked out one of the best in Sydney.

Petite sandwiches, freshly baked scones, cakes and delicacies on three-tiered stands

How did it rate?  Pretty good, but The Tea Room at Gunner's Barracks is still holding #1.

Meanwhile...
Mr.H took the E's to a Princess Birthday Party!

Me: Some News...
After 37 cover letters and resumes, a handful of interviews... I'M HIRED!  Actually, I got not 1 but 2 job offers!  Go, me!  It's been 4 years since I've worked full time but I am looking forward to this new challenge. I am thrilled and nervous at the same time.  I know that Eloise and Eden are being well looked after at their pre-school/ daycare.  Plus Eloise needs to get used to going to school more than 3 days.  Eden has a crush on The Explorers teacher, Miss Shelia.  Every morning I ask him which teacher he wants to see and he says no to everyone but Miss She-ya.  He also has a girlfriend (already!) at school, Hayley.  His carers tell me, he is always hugging her and follows her around.  He even says "Hay-ey".  I know I will hit the ground running, and also looking forward to this role as it just focuses on Events.  Due to circumstances at work, most events will be in Sydney for the next few months so I know that I won't need to travel... yet.  But when I do, I have no doubt that SuperDad will be just fine.

Until next time... Easter!

Overseas Edition Part 3

Eden is 14 months!  He is growing so quick.  He is now a master at walking, and I predict will run to Daddy when he sees him next week!  He loves to walk outside.  After breakfast, on days we aren't rushing out of the house to an activity, he gets his shoes, stands at the door and bangs his shoes against it!  It's so fun to watch him toddling around.

Expanding Vocabulary
Mr.E's vocabulary is growing! He can say: mama, dada, no, more, up, hi, bird, duck, owl (clearly he is a fan of the feathered!), wo-wo (Chinese term for dog), ball, bubbles, Elmo, num (for food) and water.  In the morning, he stands up in his cot and says "Mama. Up. Elmo" because he knows our routine of lying in bed, cuddling and watching Sesame Street until Eloise comes in. If you say "breakfast", he says "num!" and if he sees something he would like to eat (like while grocery shopping) he says "num".  He also calls Pau-Pau "Num-num" because she often feeds him (it's been so nice eating hot food!)  He babbles a lot! I was getting worried he was just going to let his sister do all the talking! Or should I be worried that both will constantly talk over each other?  He likes to sing too! He sings in the car and duets with his sister.

A Pig says Oink!
He's been learning his animal noises although there is not much different between a dinosaur, bear and lion.  They all roar!  His favorite animals are dogs, ducks and pigs.  He is probably the only person in the neighborhood that loves to listen to the dogs (4!) on the corner bark!  Any bird is a duck, and he loves to oink like a pig.

I Love You but You are Driving Me Crazy!
I've said it before and I'll say it again.  3 is hard.  This age is... trying.  We haven't seen it for a while but the throttling 3's have returned with a vengeance.  One day everything is fine and the next my head is in my hands, rubbing my temples, with utter defeat.  Most who have met MissE think "How could that sweet girl reduce me to pulling my hair out?"  It's true though.  She just does not listen, she's defiant (every answer is "NO!") and talks back (after I told her she was being very rude, she turned around and told me I was rude for telling her she was rude!).  Then there was this gem:
Me: Please stop screaming.  I am not yelling.  I have asked you nicely twice now.   If I have to ask you one more time, you will sit in time out.
MissE: Smiling.  I think I will do it one more time.
Seriously.  I'm going to countdown to 4.  It will make me feel better.  I haven't heard anything about 4...
*Note: I complain about 3 but at the same time, it's such a fun age.  So yes, I'll give her few days of naughty behavior because her good days (which is more than the bad days) offset it.

Entomophobia
Don't know what that is? It's a phobia of insects and what I am currently dealing with Eloise over! I am not sure where it came from but it's suddenly become full-blown. She has sat down on a bench at a park, refusing to play because the tiniest fly flew by her when she tried to go down the slide. Sigh. It's only a tiny bit annoying! (I am being sarcastic here) It used to be just spiders and cockroaches (totally understandable! We live in Australia where the spiders are bigger than the palm of my hand) but now it's any black spot.  She shies away and will not go near until I make sure it's only dirt.  She loves farms but after a visit to Deer Hollow Farm and she tried to climb on top of Mrs.M because of the flies, I guess it is now a no-go!  It is going to be a long Summer! Any suggestions on how to tackle this one?

MissE Says the Darndest Things...
So many questions, so little time!
MissE is full of questions. Almost everything is followed with 'Why?' but lately her questions center around her and her brother. Where did she come from? Where did her brother come from? And while "the hospital" was once a sufficient answer, the questions have now become "How did I get out of Mama's tummy?" and "How did I actually get in Mama's tummy?" Umm, she's 3. Do I seriously have to tell her? Isn't "the stork brought you" good enough? And for the record, I've got nothing for the second question though.
While she is no longer asking "Why?" thanks to an enforced Why Limit (she could ask me 10 times then I stop answering.  You say 10 is a lot?  Try living with a 3 year old and you will see that 10 "Why's" are reached by 9am!) She now asks "What if?" questions.  For example:
Me: Oh good, there is parking here today.
MissE: What if there is no parking?
Me: Then we park on the street.
MissE: What if there is parking?
Me: Then we park where we are parked.
See how annoying this can get?  I know it's their little heads rationalizing the situation but I answer this about everything.  I am tempted to tell her "Why" is okay!

Boys have...
MissE and MrE bathe together.  They like playing together, it cuts water consumption and it's easier for us!  However, I'm not sure how much longer we will be able to do this.
MissE: What are you doing?
Me: I'm making sure there is no more soap on Eden.
MissE: Giggling.  Make sure his twirly whirly is clean!  More giggles.



Winding Down
Both are finishing up their activities. Eloise finished swimming this week. She passed to the Intermediate Level (hope that transfers!) and is working on backstroke. She's a master at elementary backstroke (which reminds me of my swim instructor Y days!) Eden is really enjoying The Little Gym and I am so sad to leave this class! Eloise is also sad to leave Wonderkids/ Funny Bugs, she is so good at somersaults now! And finally Eloise is testing for a Mighty Monkee promotion. Fingers-crossed she remembers her Sunrise form!

Eloise dove for all of these rings!

On the balance beam

GNO
I got to enjoy a Girl's Night Out with friends last week. I so needed this. We had grand plans for fondue but who knew fondue was so popular on a Thursday night? Nevermind, Copa was yummy too but the company was even better!

*Side note, this was our infamous Vegas group! Nothing will top that trip... I would go into details but you know, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Mountain View Arts & Wine Festival

Fireman Eloise

Future astronaut?

Dragged onto the Frog Hopper

5-0! 5-0!

Deer Hollow Farm
A free farm located within Rancho San Antonio.  It was a short mile walk to the farm.

Eden sees a "duck"!  (I know it's a chicken)

Peek-a-boo!  I see you sheep!

A few more days!
We are looking forward to seeing Daddy!  It's been 5 weeks, but they have gone so quickly for us... maybe not as quickly for Daddy?  While both have done well seeing Daddy on the computer twice a week, they are looking forward to giving him big hugs and wet kisses!  And I'm looking forward to sleeping in... okay maybe not because Mr.H will have jetlag, but soon?!  Please?!

We'll have one week to hit our final tourist spots, eat our last tastes of America, enjoy a date night (or 2?) and say our goodbyes for 2012.  Hopefully it won't be another 2 years until we meet again!

Until next time... from Down Under!