Work around the House

Here are some shots of the work that has been going on at our place. Deck and new roof was finished this week - We are very excited and can't wait for spring (we can feel it in the air). Notice we can now walk to the laundry without walking up and down lots of steps and without getting wet....

1. Looking out from the kitchen 2. Looking back into the house

The other project finished recently was the middle bedroom. It is painted the colour Apple Fresh. It has become the girls playroom as they prefer to sleep in the smaller bedroom together.

Finally got Gisele's name on the wall in the girls bedroom too (See below) Now that she is a big girl and has her own big bed. Elise has her name on the wall so of course it is only fair Gisele's is on there too!!

Pity she doesn't always sleep in her own big girls bed - see below on the loungeroom floor.

I have been having a lot of fun restyling and colouring since I did my colour course.

In the entrance...

New colour scheme in the loungeroom...

Sean painted the wall of the garage that faces on to our outside deck today so I will post some photos of that soon.
I have been recovering from surgery - tough going with 2 active little girls which means not much rest. I am feeling stronger now. Thanks to our hero Sean/daddy for looking after us all. We are very lucky. Being forced to stay at home for a while has given me some space to consider what I want to do next? I am dreaming up some ways I can work from home and doing lots of research......

Gisele turns 2 years old

Our baby girl turned 2 on July 9. Gisele tells me she is "Not a baby. Big girl now!" She tells people she is turning 4 and puts up 1 finger.
Here are some cute pictures of her over the last year......

We took Gisele Belle to the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo for her 2nd birthday. Aunty Meggy, Aunty Ang, Toby, Nate and Archie came along with Gisele, Elise and I for the day. We had a picnic lunch watching the monkeys!

Gisele was very insistent that she wanted to see the kangaroos. Poor little tired girl fell asleep before we got to see them (thankfully the zoo ticket was valid for 2 days and her dad took her back the next day to see the kangaroos).

We enjoyed seeing the hippos, giraffes, otters and a tiger grrrr!!

Here is the birthday girl!

The birthday girl with Aunty Meg & cousins.

Elise and Toby.

Archie & the walking boy Nate!

Yummy sponge cake from the village!
Sean flew to Dubs for the weekend so we had a dinner/ cake with daddy that night.

Happy Birthday dear Gisele

And the party continued the next day with the Sparrows and Thommos who were fresh back from their trip to Adelaide.....We also got to see Uncle Bern before we left who was back from his big trip on the Ghan and time up in the NT.

A picture of Elise with Nina Edmiston from a few weeks ago at David & Elaine's anniversary breakfast.

Our sexy new deck. Woohoo! It is not stained yet as the new gutters are going up this week and the new roofing next week...

Twin Baker bubbies were not back in Dubbo as yet. They are still in Sydney - we will get to see them in dubs one day soon I am sure.

Winter Musings

Elise got her photos back from preschool. She looks so cute and happy -loving preschool and knows everyones name now and who her friends are. Elise always talks about Emily, Joy and Jackson!

Work has started on our back patio. The guttering attached to the house and garage are in really bad shape and needed replacing so the whole roof of the patio had to come down. We thought we might as well get a new wooden deck that is level with the kitchen. So here is a before picture...and in a few weeks we can show you the after picture.....

Little Gisele Belle had a rather unfortunate haircut last week - got hacked into!! I was reminded of the hair cuts we had in our pixi photos as a child. After looking at some pictures of Megan I couldn't believe how much Gisele looks like Megsy as a little girl. AMAZING!

Gisele's new haircut!

Pictures of Megsy - Megs is being held by dad on the left hand side photo and (R) a picture of Megsy as a preschooler.

We had a lovely weekend despite all the painting we had to do. We celebrated David & Elaine's 40th wedding anniversary at Paul, Jodie & Nina's house for breakfast. Elaine & David just got back from their holiday in Vietnam.

On Sunday we had a Christmas in July party in a Balmain pub with a log fire and mulled wine. This is my idea of heaven - I must be showing my age!

We are off to Dubbo this week for Gisele's birthday to spend time with family and the Baker twins. More photos soon.

Joy in June

Lots of birthdays in June and always some new arrivals...must be the 9 months after the start of Spring!

Nina Edmiston turned 1. Happy Birthday to Nina! Here is a picture of her (above) at her party eating the cake icing mmm yum!

Eugenie Cottage - Bright
For the long weekend we went away to Bright in Victoria. We met up with our friends from Mildura - The Whytes.
We were hoping for some snow on the mountains and we were in luck for some snow play.

Snow crystals & a snowman.

Cameron & Elise enjoying it all - big smiles!

Elise and Rohan having some fun. Rohan was a great shot!

Elise throwing snowballs. Look out Merryl and Graeme!

Gisele wasn't too keen about the snow but thawed out for a smile in this picture.

We went to Wandiligong maze (biggest in southern hemispehere) and had a great time and a yummy cake/dessert afterwards.

Having a breather in the middle of the maze!
We all really enjoyed our weekend together. Great to catch up with old friends and see our kids make new friends with each other. Elise and Rohan get on famously! Bright is a pretty village and we were right in the centre of town so we could walk to parks and coffee!!

I got to start my birthday celebrations early with a cake and candles at the cafe before we left.

We went to visit Michelle last week (day before the babies arrived) and we walked to the local park so the girls could play. Michelle and Tim are staying in Penrith for the birth of the twins. Doesn't she look amazing - pregnancy agrees with her!! Baby Aiden and Baby Eloise were born Thurs 17 June at the Nepean Hospital. Welcome to the world little ones.

I had a lovely birthday- thanks to everyone for the well wishes.

Got my certificate for my Colour Course - all completed.
Sean has gone to San Fransisco for work this week - lucky devil. David & Elaine are off on a holiday to Vietnam for their 40th wedding anniversary- Bon Voyage!

Only 2 and a bit weeks 'til Belle Belle turns 2! She is rapidly developing with her now 4 word sentences and her increasing determination and independance! Look out world!

May

Hi Everyone,
Winter is upon us so the constant bugs and colds have arrived. Yucko - hang in there until spring everyone!
May 14 was mum's 2nd anniversary. All her kids and grandkids went to the Central Coast for the weekend to visit her and grampy's spot at Palmdale. Here are the traditional photos at the grave.

We stayed in a big house together at Pearl Beach - only 200m to the beach and cafe (nobody believed me that it was a short distance - because some people think I exaggerate short distances for some strange reason....)

We were lucky to have some gorgeous weather. The kids made the most of it running in and out the water!

Nate & Gisele look similiar in this photo - same expression. I still think Gisele has many of my dad's expressions - something about the eyes....

Little Archie was not a fan of the water or the sand- especially after a sand face plant! Bit tricky toddling on sand...

Mick and Nigel got to go to the footy one night. Ang, Mick and Nige had some coastal retail therapy. It was good to spend the rest of the time just hanging out. The kids adore each other.

Here is our lovely holiday house at Pearl Beach which had 2 seperate wings with plenty of room for us all.

OTHER NEWS.
Elise is loving preschool and says she wants to go 7 days a week. She went to her 1st preschool birthday party recently and had a fantastic time- fell asleep on the way home!

Gisele is amazing us with her 3 or more word sentences these days and her standard response to any question is "Nothing". She moved into her own big bed last week - no magic sleep through the nights as yet but we live in hope. Not long now until our baby is 2 years old....

I am keen to paint, paint and repaint parts of the house inspired by my colour course. We are staring with the middle bedroom. The previous owners did a quick paint job before selling so now it is taking us ages to strip back 4 layers of bad paint jobs!

We have decided on a builder to redo the back patio so we can fix our guttering. Should all be ready in time for spring. YAH!
Happy Birthday to Nigel on his 30th last week and how jealous are we that they have gone off to Fiji for a holiday - Well deserved after all their hard work.

Little Nina Edmiston turns 1 this week. Time flies with little ones. The girls are looking forward to her birthday party.

We are off to the Alpine country in Victoria for the long weekend to see our friends the Whytes - can't wait. The girls might see snow for the 1st time.

We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Michelle and Tim's twin babies. Michelle is 35 weeks now- amazing pregnancy and all doing well. How exciting!

We made chocolate cake. Snuggled up together to keep warm.

The girls love to look after babies. Here are the girls with Samuel & Chavelle Fehir.

Elise dressed up in her raincoat to go to preschool.

G chilling out in the doll pram.

Yes I am a cheeky little monkey and not long now until I turn 2...