Of course, with five kids in a picture, you're never going to get all of them to look at the camera!
After school, especially on Friday's, the kids are exhausted and just need to veg out!
This isn't the best picture (a little blurry), but it is from a fun bonding experience with Loco. Since Lei has been born, I have been trying really hard to spend individual alone time with all of the kids . . . hard to do with three :)
One day after lunch, we shared a custard pastry and had a huge laugh b/c he was being such a piggy. I kept saying, "Who's mama's boy?!?" And he would giggle, cram more cake in his mouth, and then replay, "Loco is!" We had so much fun, doing almost nothing . . . that is what the best part of parenting is about!
I just wanted to eat him, instead of the pastry! I love this boy!
BTW - Dada doesn't want to leave here b/c the local bakeries are soooooo good! We get fresh bread, scones, etc. weekly, so I will be lucky to loose any of the pregnancy weight - LOL!
Just posted a bunch of pics (2 pages) on Flickr - please visit.
And I have no clue where we are going to fit it all!!!
What is the "it"?!??! EVERYTHING!
We had two containers delivered today with all of our possessions from the USA. It is a lot of stuff, too much stuff. I am up past 1 a.m. thinking about where we are going to put all this stuff! As of right now, we have one bedroom suite extra, one breakfast table and chairs extra, a hundred toys extra, more clothes than we have space for in the master robes, etc.
In the end, we will have several choices: pay for storage here or store in the garage (leaving no room for anything else), list it in the trade post (classifieds), or have a garage sale . . . too much to think about with five weeks until the baby. Please someone wave a magic wand and make it all be put away nicely :)
Pics to follow soon on Flickr. Later, mates!
www.flickr.com
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This week, we received two invites: one for a Mum's Morning Tea and another for a "play" after school! VERY EXCITING :)
They came just in time, since Mama was getting tired of most of her conversations being with the kids or bombarding Dada when he walks through the door. Or, worse yet, over-conversing with random strangers, just because they are someone new - LOL!
The rest of the week has been really busy, too:
+ I made another major purchase on Monday with a new vacuum. The funny part is that I was excited about getting it and have been researching for the last few weeks . . . sad, really!
+ Tuesday Mama volunteered in Loo's class for "roster duty". It was wonderful spending the day with her in school - we both really enjoyed the experience. The letter of the week is A, so Loo brought in an American flag. I helped her talk about where she was from and the teacher had a map to show the kids Texas, plus we mapped the trip we flew over!
Then, I cut up the fruit for "morning tea" (snack time) and divied it up between three containers (in term 1, each student brings one piece and they all share it). I shared a cup of tea and a hot cross bun with all of the teachers during the morning play. And was invited by Loo's friend to eat lunch with them on the playground - thankfully, I planned for a full day and packed myself a lunch, too.
The best part of the day was the My Favorite Apple taste test that I was in charge of. All the kids sat with me and tried one of four apples: Granny Smith, Royal Gala, Golden Delicious, & Hi Early. They selected their favorite, colored an apple to match, and placed it on a bar graph chart - a wonderful concept for them to be learning at this age - I was impressed! Plus, I was able to meet all of the children in the class and visit with them for a few minutes. Now, when Loo talks about one of them, I know the face :)
+ Mama & Loco went to the Petroleum Women of Perth's Mum & Tots Play Group on Wednesday morning and met lots of other expiate women. The "parent group" (I am learning a lot) is comprised of lots of women from all walks of life that are related to the oil field. It was interesting to talk with other Mom's that have been in the same situation and finding out how they adjusted. All of them really wanted their cargo shipments, too!
+ Loo went to the dentist today for the first time b/c one of her bottom baby teeth is a little loose, but won't come out and the new tooth is growing in behind it! (Sound familiar Grandma Jacki?) So, they took an x-ray of it and the root is really long. We have an appointment on the 21st to have it extracted; however, I was advised to not speak of it much and barely tell her what they are going to do. Hopefully, if we wiggle it enough, it might fall out before hand . . . we're not holding our breathe, though. She was a perfect patient today and had her first cleaning/fluoride treatment.
+ This afternoon we went to the doctor, again, for Mama and the baby. I took the kids with me, so they could meet him for the first time (before they get sick). Unfortunately, he was really busy, so he didn't get much a chance to visit with them, but they didn't care or notice and were too busy checking out the room! I have gained 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lbs.) in two weeks . . . finally, since I am still below my pre-pregnancy weight. The baby is already in position for delivery and growing right on target.
+ And tomorrow night, Dada is going to his first rugby game in Perth. Needless to say, he is very excited!
That's it for now. Still waiting on the wireless router to get the pics off my laptop. Hopefully, soon . . .
Hugs to all :)
It seems like forever ago that we were packing up the house in the Houston-area for our Australian move. The movers arrived on Tuesday, January 22nd at 9 a.m. to begin the lengthy process and finished around lunch time on Friday with a fully loaded 40 foot cargo container.
During our stay in the hotel suite in Houston, I didn't miss the material goods of our home (much); however, I missed the space and routine of our home. When we first arrived in Perth, we were so busy adjusting that I didn't think about it. Then, thankfully, we received our air shipment boxes (after a week and a half) and everyone was happy to have some "new" things! Dada got his new work and play clothes and the new shoes he bought before we left. I got a few things from Bath & Body Works! The kids got their bath toys to tide them over. And, most importantly, there was a case of diapers and wipes - yippee!
On this Friday, we will have been in our rental home for four weeks. And I have been dreaming of our king-size bed, toys for the kids, the filing cabinets to clean up all the paperwork, etc. Knowing that our items have been less than 15 minutes away for the last two weeks at the Fremantle Port is killing me! Originally, based on our update emails that we receive (like below), our delivery was fore casted to be on April 8th. Now, it looks like it is going to be a week later! When I talked to Dada today at work, after he forwarded me the new timeline, he tried to be positive, saying, "What's another week?!?!"
I'll tell you . . . ARGH!
Mama, Loco (2.5), Dada, & Loo (5.5)
