I've got a couple of weeks leave so im giving Mr Mum another crack for a while. The amigoes were in school today so I got to potter and do some housework. I even managed to fit in a couple of episodes of spooks.

Marshall met his nemesis at school today. Rapata. It sounds as if they had a disagreement and Marshall was keen to tell me when he got home.
"No push me rapata, dont like it, go away."

The boys had chips with their tea tonight and Xander genourously offered his dad one before dipping it in sauce. Of course I replied, "No thanks mate, no sauce for me." So he looked at it, sucked the sauce off and handed it over. What could i say, it was yum.

backup

Ive been searching for a while for a good way to back up the blog , just in case. Well I havent really come up with a viable solution but i have backed it up. All i did was save as, "web archine single file" and then open it word and save it as a word doc. I then printed it out. You have to change the settings so that all the posts are on the screen as well though.

I used this to print out all the posts (thanks work for the printer) and i posted them off to the dodes on Friday. It looked okay but had to read from back to front to make sense. You also dont have to comments which is a shame, but it is a easy way to keep some copy.

PS , There is a fantastic bit of software to do this blogcollecter but its about 200 bucks. Anyone who wants to buy it???

Marshall was apparently in a funny mood this morning and refused to take off his pyjama top. He was so stubborn about it he ended up at creche in his balls/sports jammy top. Saved time in the evening though.

Xander, Marshall and Amelia all had a milestone today. They have their first bank accounts. They include a little policeman money box which was a hit. Xander insisted in sleeping with his. A fool and his money easily parted, no fool my boy!

Xander also played his first video game. Dora the explorer on the internet, he has the idea of the mouse down really well and Marshall enjoys watching Xander play.
If your interested



: http://nickjr.co.uk/play/games/flashHolder.aspx?name=dora_pirate_game&type=flash&height=351&width=620

Daddy Day Care

Carmel was unavailable for child care today so I had a RD and was Daddy Day Care. Fortunately all three were fantastic and we had a great time. I did washing, mopping and cooked tea. An award you say?? I enjoyed myself and would like to do it more often but i guess it would become less novelty based. Unfortunately Marshall got upset when we got back from the shops. His 2yo molars are coming through and he was inconsable over little issues. Back to work tomorrow.

Marshalls vocabulary is really growing and if you dont understand him sometimes Xander will translate. I think Xander has watched Shrek too much, although not for ages. "Daddy, Ogres are like onions, they both have layers." He then went on to eat his onion in the stir fry as he was happy to eat Shrek!!

Amelias bottom teeth are coming right up now and easy to see.

Saturday- Amelia has started swimming lessons and loved being in the water. Xander and Marshall are doing well too.

Sunday - Lovely weather here today so the boys went for a bike ride to the park. We packed up the trailer with two children, the Sunday paper and some snacks and off to play and feed the ducks. Home for a rest and then gardening. All three had fun in the garden with Amelia in the sand pit and the boys kicking a football about and riding there bikes. BBQ hamburgers and chips for tea and a quick watch of Lion King.

Happy Birthday to Gemma!!! They keep growing up dont they!!!

Xander and Marshall had their normal story before bed tonight and Xander chose, "Are you a Dinosaur" We read through it together and then Xander started to read it himself. He then went to bed and read it again.

Amelia is still crook and a doctor visit confirmed she has bronchilitis. She is doing okay but has a bad chest and nasty cough.

Xander sitting at the dining table with mum and dad.

"Daddy, im sitting like a child." (legs under his bottom)

"Daddy, your sitting like a woman." (legs crossed and hands on lap)

What do you say to that.

Marshall has really started to get some vocabulary and you can see Xander and Marshall playing together and discussing what to do next. Amelia now has two teeth but has been a bit under the weather the last couple of days with a heavy chest and cough.

Marshall's birthday

This was Marshall's birthday weekend. Whilst Sunday was the official day, Marshall had a few of his friends over on Saturday for a party. It was a small affair but they certainly made up for it with noise. He got some great presents and had a ball playing with his chums in the rumpus.









Sunday was then of course his actual birthday and a few more pressies. Then off to Phil and Millys for a haircut for most of the family and a play. Marshall looks great now with his new doo. Grandma and Grandfer then came over to have a lasagne.




Present of the year - Anything Buzz and Woody including book, t=shirt and toy
Food eaten at party - Animal pies, little boys, Sausage rolls and Mikey Cake!!!!!

Amelia loves her jolly jumper

Small things amuse small minds! (And I was amused!!)

Xander and Marshall were sitting watching Play School this morning and both managed to make me laugh. Marshall was very interested in "The Windows" and gave a big "NO" to the diamond, round and arch windows, before giving the square a big thumbs-up and shouting "Yes!" He laughed himself silly when he realised he was right!

I was smiling at his behaviour when I happened to glance across at Xander and caught him in the act...picking his nose and eating it!! When he saw he'd been sprung he turned his solemn little face towards me and said, "I had some bread in my nose." He then refused to make eye contact again!! I walked away giggling like a mad woman. As the title says, small things......

Amelia is now sitting up by herself and loves it, even in the bath. She also has her first tooth on the bottom.

Yes, Cammy, we do have a dog.

We went to the cemetry to put some flowers on Grandpas grave. It gets more complicated and also easier in some ways to explain to Xander all the time. The boys collected sticks to put on his grave.

Amelia met Ruben a bit more closely tonight. She is absolutely in love with him and he is such a good dog.

We had the annual Donnelly BBQ today to remember Grandpa's birthday, with the whole family here. It doubled as a Donnelly birthday party for Marshall, (he's having his real party next week with some friends). The whole clan managed to fit into the house and, more importantly, we managed to cook enough meat on the barbie. The boys and Amelia had great fun playing with their cousins, the swing set got a heavy work out. Thanks to everyone for bringing a salad or dessert and a big thanks to the girls for tidying up the toys. Thanks to Gran for helping out too.

Xander wasn't too good today, had a case of bad bot! Wasn't interested in eating tea and was in bed by 6:30 and asleep by 6:35!!

Marshall's speech is improving so much. Tonight he made a 3 word sentence: "Xander, dinner's ready." He loves naming all the animals as they appear on The Lion King too.

Amelia has had a lovely day today after two that weren't so good. I think i felt her first tooth this morning but she wouldn't let me have a good look tonight so it'll have to wait until tomorrow for confirmation. Now, if only she'd roll! I'll have to stop her brothers retreving her toys for her - afterall, why roll over to reach a toy when you have two slaves to get it for you?!?!

The ENJO juggernaught has barged its way through the house again. Dette had another party and the house was half cleaned (wonderfully though). Something for me this time as we got car cleaning products. They were even trying to brainwash Amelia!! Marshall is a bit under the weather, perhaps her 2 year old molars and Amelia has her teeth coming through as well.

Some more pics

Dette is enjoying her sleep in and the boys are playing nicely so im on the net. i have recreated my flickr account and put some pics on. Dettes camera is a ripper and im enjoying snapping away. Here are a couple of new pics.

Grand Final Day

Today was Grand Final day and as it was West Coast Eagles vs Sydney Swans the interest in Victoria was not at its usual fever pitch. My turn for a sleep in and then potter around the house. We are renovating the wardrobes in the childrens rooms so i started on that job. 2 trips to Bunnings and still didnt have all i needed. Kids under my feet so i put it off till tommorrow. Then we went to Dette's friend Christina's 30th birthday party and Grandma and Grandfer babysat. All three were really good and slept like a charm and Dette drunk a bottle of red. Dette's sleep in tommorrow!!!