...birthday jitters!

Ooooohhhhh, it's getting close to Milla's birthday now, and she is very excited!!! Today she received heaps of mail - lots of happy birthday cards and even two pressies, one from tante Merethe and one from tante Sissel, which we are waiting patiently to open until the party day comes on Saturday:)

Accidents happen:(

All the girls sleep in the same bedroom. That means that even if it is bedtime, we can hear them giggle and laugh in their beds...telling stories and laughing even more...at least an hour past bedtime. No different tonight. Laughing and doing 'silly voices' and telling jokes...giggling away. Until I heard Milla cry. A proper cry. As the mum, I recognise when it's serious and when it's not...and this was a serious cry. I could see her sitting in the corner of her bed, clutching her forehead: 'mamma, I don't need stitches, don't take me to the doctor's for stitches!!!' (G has been to the doctor's twice for stitches lately, and she thought that was pretty scary I think). Luckily no need for stitches. Just lots of blood and a proper gash in her head after she stumbled and hit her head on the corner of the dresser (=kommode, mamma:) Now we are all better, Besta. No need to worry. An icepack and a Dora-bandaid does wonders!

Milla's graduation and End of Year Fair

Before Christmas we had many 'End of Year' parties...for the kids it was parties in child care, in kindy, at ballet, with friends...and for us grown-ups there were drinks at G's work, and my two workplaces, with the ladies etc...it is safe to say that December was very, very busy!

First up was Milla's graduation at Kindy. She got a folder containing some of the highlights of the year, plus her very first report card! A beautiful folder it is! I'm very proud of her!

After the ceremony, we had lunch to celebrate. Here is Milla and Anya-Lilly. They will be in the same class from next year when school starts full time.

Then there was the End of Year Fair in Kindy, with stalls and lotteries and food and boucy castles - and even Grandma came with us!

The girls have tried the 'lucky dip' and won prizes - and I'm making Waffles for everyone...mmmmm it smelled good!

We came home with lots and lots of prizes that night!

Purple snow

We have a Jacaranda tree in our front garden. Most of the year it's just a dull, grey tree. No leaves, no nothing really. But at the end of the year it blossoms. Purple flowers everywhere. And towards the end of the season all the flowers drop off...and it looks like we have purple snow covering the ground! Beautiful!

Now the season is over, and we have to wait an entire year until next time...

We're growing a dinosaur!

When auntie Kelly and uncle Brett came back from their US holiday, they brought us a very special present....a dinosaur egg from Jurassic Park!!! Boy were we excited to see if there really was a little dino in there!

We put the egg in water on the kitchen bench, and checked on it every day.

Look! Someone in there is trying to get out!

Every day the little dinosaur grew bigger... and bigger...

...almost out now...

...here he is!!! Elliot is very excited!

Milla and Agnes needs to hold him and say 'hello dino' as well

And voila! Our own little dino! Now, that's a cute pet:)

You are my sunshine...

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me  happy when skies are grey

You'll never know dear how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

Milk & Cookies

Gregg and the girls decided it was time for milk and cookies tonight! First baking them....

...and them the best part: dipping and eating!!!! Mmmmmmm!

Koala in the tree

There is a Koala that often comes by Kindy. Some days he just sits on top of the slide...sleepily watching the kids playing. Other days he just sits in his favourite tree...chewing some eucalyptus leaves...having another rest... Aaaahhh, what a lovely lifestyle! Can you see him up above Milla?

Little Miss Agnes and her band-aid

Little Agnes has been struggling with some very bad atopic eczema in her face. It comes and goes and we don't know what is bringing it on. We are keeping a food diary to see what may bring it about, but have yet to discover any connections. Poor thing, when it's bad, it is really bad.

But luckily, most of the time she is fine. Our dermatologist have now finally referred us onto an allergy specialist, and he also took some bloods for preliminary tests. She was so brave and she got a little smiley-face bandaid, and a star certificate from the nurse afterwards. She also got to choose a reward for being so good, and she chose to celebrate with a Babycino:)

Milla and mum

Milla and mum day today, and in the afternoon sea breeze we went for a bicycle ride down to Brighton. Lots of nice cafes on the beach there. Milla had some rainbow-icecream and I had a refreshingly strong Macchiato. After the icecream, Miss Milla decided she too needed a 'coffee' and went inside and ordered herself a Babycino - sort of a Cappucino, but without the coffee.

Mmmmmmm...yummy!

Sunshine and Bubblegum

Today Milla and I enjoyed the sunshine together. Agnes and Elliot went down to Meningie to visit GG (great-grandma) with pappa and pop (the first time we have 'separated' agendas really - and wow did it feel weird not to spend the day together!) as Milla had a birthday party to attend to. Her bestest friend through the years in child care and pre-school turned 5 and celebrated at http://theanimalbarn.com.au/ to Milla's joy. Ponyrides!! Yay!!

And what a beautiful day it was! Here is Milla and Emmison waiting for Bubblegum the pony to get ready:

The girls had tractor-rides...

...and they fed all the animals - including donkeys and a giant pig (got some funny video, but have not learned how to upload that yet)! And cuddled the smaller cutesies...

A day full of sunshine and good friends...Here is Milla with Emmison and Eliza.

Not long now until Miss Milla turns 5. She is counting down to the party...13 more sleeps to go!