Ballet Class

When D turned 2, she recieved for her birthday a children's book about ballet. All about the positions, moves, attire, performances, etc. Apparently, it was educational AND inspiring.

D has been begging to take ballet lessons ever since. So, we enrolled her this term to begin Teeny Ballet with other 3 and 4-year-olds. She loves it. She watches the instructor and imitates (to the best of her ability) every move she makes.

As I watch her each week, it is very hard not to laugh out loud. D is the youngest in the class, and she tries her very best. She is very serious thoughout the class and her little 3-year-old body just cracks me up. This first video is "Ballerina Trots."

Below is the video of "Flying Hops." It's my favorite part. D isn't getting a lot of air time yet, but A for effort.

Come to Daddy!

We've been waiting for C to reach the next big milestone. He has been cruising around the furniture since July or August, getting more and more confident all the time. But not confident enough to let go and try out those feet! However, Friday night, when daddy came home from work, must have been the moment he was waiting for. C took his first steps, finally letting go of the sofa and taking 2 steps to T. I missed the event, busy in the kitchen cooking dinner. But our boy was kind enough to do it 2 more times so I could see the new skill.

We've been encouraging more steps all weekend and sometimes C happily goes for it. We'll get some video up soon.

Happy Halloween from Perth!

Halloween is such great fun. D enjoys it more and more each year. And T and I truly enjoy watching her get into the spirit. The holiday is not really celebrated by many here in Australia. In the month prior, a few stores carried a small selection of candy or decorations. Costumes here are called "Fancy Dress" and they are available year round, though not in the quantities and number of locations that you can get them back home at Halloween. But, we still insist on celebrating and giving the children some semblance of Trick or Treating.

So, we did celebrate over the past week and it was great. First, and most important, was teaching D a few new jokes. I'm a stickler for some type of "trick" if you are going to be given free candy. D learned 4 new jokes.

Our friends, the Schellhases hosted a great Halloween party last weekend. D arrived in a pink princess dress, but throughout the party, made appearances in several other dresses belonging to the host children. It gave costume party a whole new meaning. We were also wowed by my friend Maggie's handmade, knitted ghost finger puppets and yummy mummy cupcakes.

Friday, I dressed the kids up and we did a little trick or treating at T's office. The kids visited various cubicles and D traded jokes for candy. Then, with some friends expecting our visit, we popped over for some front door trick or treating. It was our luck that a house down the street was decorated for Halloween so we stopped there as well. There was a crowd of children knocking on doors but few were in any sort of costume and I think they were getting very few sweets from the houses they visited. I say, if you can adopt the candy part of the holiday, you can figure out the costume part too!

C was spectacularly cooperative, wearing the Jack Sparrow braids with his pirate ensemble.

D can flutter and wave a wand with the best of them.

Saturday, was the Halloween Festibul (as D calls it) at the International School of Western Australia. This was good fun for D and I. The boys stayed home this time, as it would have been pretty late for C. We took the kids last year but the weather was not so nice. This year, the weather was gorgeous and the people came out to celebrate! The American Women's Club helps with the event and they put on a great festival, though it only went on from 6-8 pm.

The evening included games and prizes, Trick or Trunking (where 40+ people decorate the trucks of their cars and the kids go from car to car in the parking lot for candy. There is a prize for the best trunk), grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, pony rides, and a bake sale. It was a full evening and it attracted LOTS of people, most kids in costume.

D was very good to allow me to take video of 2 of her jokes. I promised her that everyone who reads our blog would laugh their heads off. Don't make a liar out of me! These are the funniest jokes you've ever heard, right!? (the punchline is "tweets!")

Is 'Uh-Oh' a word?

When D was 12 months old, she had 8-10 words. It was a blessing that she could communicate so young. We never had that frustrating phase where the child wants to convey some need or want but doesn't have the verbal ability to do so.

C is now 12 months old. We've been anxiously awaiting the first word in hopes of having 2 early talkers. T insists he's been saying "Dada" for months (It's just babble). Will it be "more"? It really ought to be "Mama". But, I think we'll have to settle for "Uh-oh!"

Dictionary.com defines uh-oh as an interjection "used to indicate concern or chagrin at a mildly unfortunate event". C started declaring this about a week and a half ago whenever he would drop/spill/tip over any of the items he comes into contact during the day. (And dropping/spilling/tipping is big, frequent fun for him these days). In fact, I suspect some of the "accidents" are deliberate when I hear the "uh-oh" before the cup/spoon/pancake/toy/book takes a hit.

D continues to amaze (and entertain) us with the new words she puts into conversation. Lately I've enjoyed her use of "safety violation" when witenessing a person riding a bike with no helmet or a person in a car wearing no seatbelt. This morning (and this one is good for a laugh or a scare) she named the imaginary king in her pretend kingdom "soul-ja" because he has lots of soldiers. Not sure where that one came from.

Sibling Revelry and Other Adventures in Parenting

Well, Daddy is away and C is taking the task of being "Man of the House" very seriously. What ever would we do without him!? (That's the television remote in his hand)

I was cooking this morning and both kids were playing so nicely together in the playroom. I enjoyed the sweet sound of their laughter. I wanted to know what had them laughing but not enough to risk interrupting them and causing them to stop. Soon, they joined me in the kitchen to show off their latest stunt. Good times.

Finally, we took a trip to the grocery store yesterday and left the car at home. One thing I love about living here is having most things within walking distance. I hope to have this when we move back to the US too. Anyway, we walked and toted our goods home in the buggy. Most things fit in the basket below, but D did me the favor of holding a bag of fruit on her lap.

It was near lunch time and often C gets fussy as we approach noon but he was quiet and content in his seat, under the sun cover (where I can't see him well).

We arrived home and I quickly discovered why C was so content. He had chewed up the fresh zucchini I had placed in the basket at his feet. The stem was gone and the poor vegetable was missing half a dozen chunks! C likes zucchini!

Farewall to an Amazing Lady

Family and friends, we are sad to report that T's Grandma, Virginia Sweeney, passed away on Wednesday. Services will be held Saturday in Creston, IA.

She was one of the neatest ladies I've ever met. So sweet, so kind, so funny. We've had many great memories and laughs with Grandma, who has always had such a sharp mind and fantastic wit.

D shares her middle name with Grandma.

It is always very hard to say good-bye each time we are headed out overseas but we are very pleased that C was able to meet Grandma on our trip home last December.

T is in the air right now, traveling back to attend the funeral. The kids and I are not taking this trip. The journey is very, very long and we would be in no shape to attend services when we arrive. T will be back here in Perth on Thursday.

D and I have been looking at photos and having nice talks about her "Granny." Grandma always delighted in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And D is always happy to entertain!

Thank you to those of you who might offer up some prayers for Grandma, T, and all of the family.

First Birthday Festivities

C's first birthday went very well. Thanks to all our marvelous family and friends who sent greetings, gifts, hugs and kisses, and who attended his birthday party. The celebrations left the little guy exhausted- but feeling loved!

We had a couple of Skype calls on Friday and C opened a few gifts that arrived from overseas. Thanks grandparents!

We held the party Saturday afternoon and, unfortunately, the weather was quite cool and windy. But, never the less, some of the time was spent outdoors will the bubble machine (thanks Maggie!) and a round of Pass the Parcel. But the guests spent most of the time inside eating and enjoying good company.

This was C's first taste of Nana's layered ice cream cake. I made him his own miniature version. He seemed to really enjoy the icing. Who wouldn't?

Below (and this is a shout out to you ladies from IHS) is my work of art. We threw C's party with an ocean theme and I couldn't pass up the idea once I found it. For anyone who can't tell, it's a whale carved from a watermelon. The watermelons here are more round than oblong so I wasn't sure how well he would turn out but, I think all the guests knew what I was aiming to create.

Sunday was spent recovering from the party and enjoying the leftover balloons. Few things bring out squeals of delight like having a dozen balloons thrown at you in the kitchen. If only they could last forever...

Our gift to C was a bouncy castle/paddling pool combo thing that will come out of it's box when the weather is a bit warmer. We'll post photos then. That could be a blog post all by itself!