November
felt like a short month, maybe it was because I returned to Sydney a few days
in. We had a week or two of catching up
on the everyday and then preparing for special visitors (separate post in December).
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| Little Toad Photography |
Picture Day
School
picture day is not like how it used to be, being called into the auditorium,
plonking yourself in front of a small white or blue screen, and smiling for the
camera in 3,2… snap! before the bored photographer gets to 1. Nowadays, the children are shot in a natural
setting and the photos are too cute!
Something Wild
There was a
school incursion called Something Wild.
Eloise and Eden had the chance to get up close to a small crocodile,
lizards, and a Kookaburra to name a few. They both brave (despite a few photos showing
their true emotions).
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| Eden and the croc |
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| Eloise: "Okay, I'm next. Be brave! Be. Brave." |
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| Eloise and the snake |
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| Eden: "Whatever that is, get it away from me!" |
Rain, Rain Go Away!
After
breaking heat records, we are now breaking
rain records in November.
Our winter blankets and snug pyjamas have
made a comeback.
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| Matching minion pyjamas (Hong Kong find) |
A Graduation!
Well, we are
in the home-stretch now until Eloise starts Big School. How quickly 5 years has passed! The pre-school had a lovely graduation
ceremony for their “graduates”.
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| Each graduate had kind words said about them during the certificate presentation |
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| Hats off! |
Thanksgiving
We were able to have Thanksgiving with Pau-Pau and Gung-Gung this year. I honestly can't remember the last one we had together? 9 years ago? We stuffed ourselves with turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, Trader Joe's cornbread, and a double-layer chocolate pumpkin pie.
Eloise and Eden drew turkey hands and Eloise drew what she was thankful for- Gung- Gung in Australia to make her chicken wings.
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| Eden (2 y.o) |
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| Eloise (4 y.o) |
Iron Tiger
Hear her ROAR! MissE is improving at taekwondo. She went up for grading this month.
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| In full uniform, ready for grading |
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| High punches |
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| All white belts with Master Diane (Commonwealth champion) |
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| Fighting stance with Mr Colin |
MissE Says the Darnedest Things
Growing Up First World
Upon my
return, while dropping MissE at pre-school her teachers asked about my toe.
MissE: It’s
okay Miss Natalie. Mama would go to the hospital
and check emails.
You Live Where?
Me: Eloise,
do you remember what street you live on?
MissE:
Yes, Marijuana Street!
Mean Girls
At any
behavioural admonishment, we get a lot of attitude from Eloise. And some of the conversations go like this:
A few days
after returning from Hong Kong, I asked her to stop talking and please put her
seatbelt on.
MissE: I
wish you would go away again. I liked it
when you weren’t here.
Mr H: Yes,
she said that a lot when you weren’t home.
Gee, thanks for twisting the
knife.
The Runaway
After
telling her she has been naughty all day and we do not like it.
MissE: I’m
going to runaway. You are going to be
sad and miss me.
Mr H: Where
are you going to live?
MIssE: With
another family.
Mr H: What
happens if you are naughty for them?
MissE: I’ll
just find another family and another family.
At least I
didn’t get -
MissE: Daddy, I don’t think I love you anymore.
Eden
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| Eden in his PSY pyjamas (again Hong Kong find) |
It’s been a
few months since I posted individual developments. While Eloise has been getting much of the
press with her taekwondo grading and pre-school graduation, Eden is growing
leaps and bounds at the moment. His
vocabulary, sentence structure and memory recall amazes us.
Me: Eden,
how was your day today?
Eden: I was
sad.
Me: How
come?
Eden: I
crying. I miss you.
Eden:
Look! A wowo!
Me: Yes, a
little puppy.
Eden: Little
like me!
He is
definitely 2; he does what he wants and doesn’t like being told “no”. Our latest “trick” is The Man. One day we were driving and there was a
police car behind us. Eden had his arms
out of his restraint and I told him The Man behind us would come get him. Since then, any time he is up to no good, he
says “Man coming? Man following?” It’s working while time-outs aren’t!
He is also
asking to use the toilet for #1’s, and insists on standing only, then
immediately asking for a sticker. We are
more than happy to give him stickers!
What’s yours is Mine
Mr E has a
bad tendency to latch onto Miss E’s toys.
She used to have a monkey lovely that she only attached to for the
car. She kept in it her car seat and
would use it to keep her Wowo warm. When
Mr E was old enough (6 months) when she wasn’t in the car, he would take
it. Eventually it became his. Now, he is slowly latching onto Eloise’s
Wowo. She allows him to pat his ears and
sometimes hold him for her but now, sometimes we find him sitting on her bed,
cuddling Wowo when she is not there.
Uh-oh!
Me
I cashed in my birthday present, spa time at my favourite
spa, Villa Thalgo.
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| Post-massage swim surrounded by aquariums |
9-5
Thank you to
the Langham Hotel Group for a movie night (One Chance) in
Gold Class (reclining
chairs, beverage and food service throughout the movie. Seriously click the link and check it out).
More importantly, luck was on my side
because I won the lucky (grand) door prize: 1 night accommodation at The
Langham Melbourne.
Date night
With our
visitors, Conor and I also had the chance to see The Hunger Games: Catching
Fire a few nights later. Yay!
Christmas
Party Season
I also had
my company Christmas party at ECQ. The
champagne was definitely flowing… and we danced the night away until our cars
came to pick us up at 11pm. No turning into pumpkins for us!
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| Views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and champagne # ? |
