Bugs, Babies & Life Stories

Well as we start to get back into the full swing of things this week, it is hard to not wonder were the holidays have gone!

Caitie is at preschool today and Pip is having a sleep and the house is so quiet, just the sound of the air conditioner (as it is soooo hot) is keeping me company.

After just reading "Mackay's what happening" latest blog about Maddie starting big school and Maddie crying and Annette crying, I'm sitting here crying, the closer I get to next Wednesday when Pip goes of to preschool, the more emotional I am getting. I now soooo understand how Aunty Merrillie was feeling. But the nice thing is I was reading the information that the preschool gave me on Pips room and its says, No matter if this is your first, second or third child starting, we understand and are here to help.....

After we drop both the girls off next week, we are thinking of going for a ride and having a nice relaxing kid free lunch, so at least that will hopefully take my mind of it.

Anyway we have Caitie's 4th Birthday to think about first as it is Saturday. So we will start the day with presents and a yummy breakfast then we head down to BJ & Kerryn's as it is Imogens 1st Birthday on Friday and so they are having her party Saturday morning. Then it is back home at 12pm for a Pip sleep and to get ready to head up to the pool for Caities party at 2pm. Busy Busy Day. My biggest frustration with this is our digital camera is broken and is in getting fixed and so I don't have a camera to take photos...... I have to see if I can find some one with one that we can borrow for a while as the shop said 'don't expected it back in a hurry' helpful hey.....

Well there are washing baskets surrounding me so I should start sorting, on fun!!!

Wednesday Girl

Thursday Girl

Well we could not be prouder of our Caitlyn. She went off to preschool this week with no hassles, no fears and most of all NO TEARS!!!

Wednesday we get ready and head out. She was a little put out that she was now a Butterfly and had to move into the butterfly room rather than a Caterpillar, but other than that all was good. We get there, she kind of clings a bit and and asks when will Tahlia be here? I said she will be here soon, who you like me to wait till she gets here? Yes! Then as I am signing her in she asks if she can go play? and she is gone.... For me to be able to tell her what locker is hers and that I am putting things in the car I have to find her in the sandpit or on the climbing gym with the other kids. Eventually I found her and told her that I had to go, (even though Tahlia was still not there) and she said ok mum bye. When we picked her up in the afternoon, I was told she did really well and other than when she spilled her water she did not cry, not even at rest time. What a girl!!!!

Thursday, this was the day I was worried about as it was her day without Tahlia. But on Sunday we had found out that Lauriann & Carig Cousins (who have just moved back into the area) little girl Harley was going Thursday, So Merrillie introduced them and I was reminding Caitie that Harley was going Thursday too. So we get there, there are hardly any kids and cause of the rain they are inside. Caitie says mummy can I go play, but them comes back and says they are all little kids. So we both head into her room and put her bag in the locker when she sees the table with the paper and scissors, so she is off. Miss Trudie brings in some more kids in her class and she starts talking to them. I say I'm going and she says ok, bye!!!! When I picked her up she was sitting with Hayley and said she had a good day.

We did have to be a little gentle with her that afternoon, as she was very tired and so a little emotional, especially when she could not find her cup to have a drink. But other than that she was great.

I should not put my fears on my kids and worry that they are going to have issues, as every time I do they prove me wrong and show me just how much they are growing up.

I know I am very blessed and love my bug dearly.

Now I just have to get through leaving Pip in 2 weeks, I'm excited and I know I will be a little like Aunty Merrillie on Wednesday too........ sniff sniff give me some tissues...

These were taken when the girls were sick.

Well December has been a rather long, stressful and tiring month. Not only did we have all the usual busyness of the different things finishing and catch up with everyone before Christmas but both the girls got tonsillitis and Andrew was really unwell again. So by the end of the 2nd week of playing Dr to my darlings I was over them all and if I could have, I would have disappeared however this was not possible and so we did get through it all and are much better now. However Caitie has started complaining of a sore ear again tonight and went to bed at 4:30pm so that is not a good sign!!!!

Anyway Christmas.

We had our traditional Christmas eve of clean up and get ready for the following day (set the table and get food ready etc), put the kids to bed and eat finger food, while sipping Champagne. Very nice tradition that we started when we first got married.

Christmas morning I was up at 5:15am (not quite sure why as had to wake the rest of the house at 6:30am), breakfast is 7am you see. Anyway up we got and started cooking Grandma Verlie arrived and a little late Dad & Barb arrived but we still enjoyed a yummy breakfast of bacon, sausages, eggs, croissants, toast and juice. Then it was time for presents.

Next year remind me that wrapping is a waste of time as i unwrap every present that I had wrapped for Pip and then some. The girls were very spoilt as we both Andrew and I. Caitie got her first Big Girl Bike, Pip got her first dolly and a pram, Andrew got a Summer Bike Jacket and a really great Ducati jacket and I got an ipod.

It was then time for Andrew to head over to the church and for us to all get dressed properly, hair done, face on and out the door in time for Church. It was a great service, the church was packed and a nice chance to catch up with so many friends and old faces.

Then home for lunch with Jo & Steve, a family from the church and then an afternoon of bike riding and relaxing.

At 4:30pm we headed down to BJ & Kerryns for the 'Camp family' dinner, actually it isn't really the 'Camp' family as this is when we catch up with The Alexanders, The Robsons and The Bevans (mum's side of the family). Anyway we had a really lovely evening catching up with everyone as it was last Christmas that we saw Greg & Lorraine. Dad & Barb were not there this year as they had left for their holidays up north after the mornings service. The girls played on the bikes and enjoyed their time with their cousins and at 9pm when we started the present giving nightmare, all the girls had hit the fan and there were cries and sobs coming from all directions. We headed home not to much after that and the girls were both asleep by the time we hit Windsor Road.

On Boxing day we had the 'Parkinson' family Christmas as with Dad being away and having had his birthday on the 23rd we were free to catch up with Glen & Michelle and Verlie for lunch. After that we headed over to the church to Skype Dave & Dee and had a chat with them while Teghan threw up on camera.

It was really and nice couple of days and we loved visiting with family and watching the faces on our fast growing up girls as they enjoyed their days and all the presents and chocolate.....