Cardboard castle

I just thought this was so cute I had to add it. Last week our washing machine died (that is not the cute part!) and so reluctantly we had to go and buy another one. Although secretly I must say I was kind of relieved. I really hated my front loader and was quite happy to get a brand new top loader. And despite the expense, I am rapped with my new washing machine! Yes, things like that excite me!

So anyways getting back to it, we had this new washing machine and a great big box, which was by far more exciting for the girls ( I don't know why, cant they see the joy that I get from it! Obviously not, they couldn't care less if their clothes were clean or dirty, well at least Amelia wouldn't anyway). Anyhoo, so they had this great big cardboard box which they had to do everything in. First it was a big cave that they needed a torch to see in (no, not a flaming stick, that's just what we call a flashlight :)), and then it was their bedroom, and then it was a castle. They both got dressed up in their princess dresses and played in their castle for hours. It is amazing how something so simple as a cardboard box is far more entertaining than any expensive toy. They took their crayons out and decorated it, rode their bikes in it and ate their lunch in it. And the best thing is is that they could do pretty much whatever they wanted to it, because all we have to do is throw it away! This definitely re-defines the saying that "its the simple things in life that are the best"!

Swinging Solo

Today was a very exciting day for Annabel - she has learned to swing all by herself! She has been trying and trying for what seems like years to her and today she accomplished that dream! And Adam and I couldn't be more happier, because now we can actually SIT outside and watch the girls play instead of standing there pushing them both. Now while Amelia cant swing herself, Annabel is more than glad to push her little sister. So its great! Annabel's over the moon and so are we!

It is so cute to watch her and see how proud she felt. You forget how something so small like swinging on a swing can be so huge for someone so little. I remember when I was little sitting there for hours trying to click my fingers and when I did it it was like I had a climbed Mount Everest!

So she couldn't get enough of this new accomplishment of hers. She swung her little self back and forth for over an hour before she quickly ran inside, gobbled down her dinner, and ran straight back out there swinging again until it started getting dark and her bath was ready. I am sure tomorrow, after preschool, will be the same, and for the next few days or so until she finds something else to master. She has been trying to whistle, but I think that will take a little while yet!

delinquent?

I seem to be finding it hard to keep Amelia out of trouble. She is into EVERYTHING! The little monkey pulls all the gates down and gets into every cupboard she can find. The other morning I caught her in the kitchen with a dish washing tablet in her mouth! Thankfully she didn't swallow any. She thought it was a milky way, but I think a soon as she put it in her mouth she realized it wasn't chocolate and threw it on the ground. I in the mean time was ready to call the poisons info line, but after assessing the tablet I realized she had only managed to wet it a bit. Talk about a panic attack!

She is still in the habit of taking her nappy off as well. To my horror once again, she took it off after having done a poo. I wont go into to much detail, but lets just say I am glad we have floor boards and not carpet in our lounge room. It was quite disgusting! Anyone who didn't have children would have been horrified and sworn off kids for life!

She is so very cute though, but she sure is challenging at times! I am finding that while some things get easier new things pop up and others get harder. Like right now I feel like we're almost past all the "baby" things. She eats everything we do, doesn't have a bottle, she can play outside with Annabel and she can say quite a few things now. But now she can do lots of things, she still cant understand why she's not allowed to. Like playing with the toilet brush for instance. And eating leaves and ripping my plants out of their pots.

I just need to be patient and enjoy them and keep telling myself that one day they will be teenagers and from what I hear, they are a heck of alot harder! (not to be pessimistic or anything!).

Summer already?

The girls paddling in their little pool

This is South Bank in the city where we take the girls swimming

It is beautiful!

I just cant get over how hot the weather has been lately! I mean, I know we are in Brisbane and it is warm up here, but it has been HOT! Yesterday it was 33 degrees Celsius ( I think that is about 90 F) and it is still technically winter! I'm not complaining though, I love this weather! But I have to say that I am a little concerned about how hot the summer is going to be this year. Thankfully we have airconditioning and we got our roof insulated so that should keep us cool.

On Sunday we went up into the city to South Bank and took the girls swimming in the lagoon. It is a man made beach/lagoon thingy right in the heart of the city over looking the river. It is just beautiful there. We all had a swim and the girls had a blast. It was actually quite relaxing this time. Both girls are pretty cautious so we just sat in the water and they splashed away. It was great!

Yesterday I put the girls little pool up and let them have a splash around. And I think I will be doing the same thing today. Both of them are so tan it makes me jealous! But I am glad that they have their Fathers skin and not mine, otherwise we would probably have 2 little red girls!

This past weekend we went away for the long weekend with our friends Jody and Mark and their two little girls, Mia and Bella. It was such a relaxing weekend! I was quite surprised at how well all the girls behaved! We went up to Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast (about an hour and a half's drive north of us) and it was absolutely beautiful! We stayed in an apartment right across from the beach and a big park. The kids had an absolute ball! And us adults actually got to relax and enjoy ourselves. The weather was perfect, it was warm and sunny, and the kids got to have a swim at the beach and play in the sand. We were close to everything so we didn't have to drive anywhere which was great. It was our 2nd time staying up there, we went up with Adam's parents last time they were over and are going back again in February with them. It is definitely one of our favourite holiday get aways!

Today we went for another bike ride with the girls and we had such a nice time. The weather was beautiful and the girls were really well behaved. We rode to the park again and this time we packed a lunch and let the girls run around while we sat back in the sun and relaxed. I am really enjoying being able to do more now that the girls are getting bigger. I dont feel like I am tied to the house as much or that I need to pack a billion things before we go anywhere. We rode along some knew bike trails and I actually feel like I am getting better (corners and hills dont scare me as much anymore!). I am, however, still pretty unfit, but hopefully that will improve with time aswell. The girls took in all the scenery and Annabel kept yelling out to Adam to go faster, especially when he was trying to pull them up a big hill. But he still does so much better than me and all I have to do is pull myself along!

On the way back home both the girls fell asleep. They cuddled into each other and looked so cute. It was lovely though because when we got home they stayed asleep, and because the bike trailer also converts into a stroller all we had to do was wheel them inside and leave them to sleep. So while they were asleep we got to relax in some peace and quiet. All in all it was a great day.

To toilet train or not?

I am not sure what to do at the moment. Amelia still keeps taking her nappy off and running around the house half nude. Not only that, nearly everytime I put her down for a nap I always end up finding her asleep with no pants or nappy on. To my horror the other day I found more than just her nappy in her cot, and on the floor! I needn't say anymore, I am sure you have got the "messy" picture.
Yes so I am thinking that maybe little miss may need to be toilet trained early. I am not sure it will work, (Im not getting my hopes up!), or if I can really be bothered with the hassle just yet. But then again I am not liking cleaning up all her little messes I have found through the house, so I should probably just give it a whirl. I hate toilet training though! Annabel picked it up straight away and was great for 3 months, then all of sudden she went backwards and was back in nappies (after many "accidents") for another 5 months or so. But maybe because Amelia has Annabel as a role model now she might pick it up quickly and keep it up? At least I am hoping!
So maybe I should go ahead and "try". I just wish it could be done in 1 day!