Sooty

 I just realised I miss a couple of pics from the wedding weekend.

This was pretty funny (sort of) Cath, Andrew and I were looking at the Chinese supermarket whilst the other waited outside in China Town. When I came out Krys and Sooty were surrounded by Korean tourists! The little girls were especially taken with Miss Alexis. In the end Krys picked Sooty up  as it was getting a bit full on (not too mention all the photos that were being taken of her!)

 

 

 

Two peas in a pod.

Changing

I love this blog but I don't need it as much as I use to. So I desire to post less and less and that is a shame because having a record of everyday life with the kids is so precious.

Back in November, after two very hard years and what really has been a lifetime of anxiety I went on medication. I could write pages and pages of how that decision came about and how it has change my life.

Since then life has been different. In so many ways better, but still different.

Christmas was so so so good  with David's family ... until it completely crashed and burned.

David and I and the kids have never been better... life is challenging, we struggle to pay school  fees and a mortgage, we find parenting two teenagers HARD at times, we would like to go to Bali and relax for two weeks but cant, David's job continues to be in flux, and my job is so wonderful but probably going to finish in June  2014.

From here on in, I am who I am ... doing the best that I can with what I've got (which is all pretty amazing :-)

I need to find some space for forgiveness ... my beautiful Mother in Law Pauline hasn't spoken to me since New Years Day... and after being someones daughter for 19 years ... that's hard.

If you are reading this I love you and thank you for being in my life.

Ex

Weekend in the Valley

My darling brother and sis Joel and Krys flew to Brisbane for a wedding and Lulu and I got to spend time with them and look after Alexis Margaret!!!! 

My pics aren't in order so this is the lovelies all dressed up for the wedding.

We took Sooty shopping ... she loved it. 

Lucy and I pretty much did this for for the weekend. Poor Krys and Joel didn't get to hold their own baby much! And on that note Krys is so good at letting us all hold and carry Alexis. I remember back when I was a new mum... I would have got cranky with my precious bundle being passed from pillar to post. I know Krysy reads this blog sometimes ... so thank you my Darling from the bottom of our hearts for sharing your precious girl with us.

Krys looking very glamorous, getting ready for the wedding.

My sister Cath and Aunty Nutty looking gorgeous. It was so cool to see lots of old friends and in law family (Ashley the Groom is Andrew's brother).

For the actual ceremony Lucy and I were asked to look after Greg and Susie's baby. Greg and I use to share a flat in Darwin before I met David. It was great to catch up with him and Susie (who I haven't seen since Joel and Krys's wedding as the live in Perth). Gracie May was just delightful and we were in our element with two babies to fuss over.

My gorgeous Niece DJ

Sleepy Sooty

Sooty in the Valley

We stayed in an amazing hotel that had lots of restaurants around it. We took Alexis for a walk to the Mexican restaurant and I got the most amazing take away. 

At breaky the next morning. Aunty Cath and Alexis.

Cousins Georgie and Lucy

We spent the day walking around china town and then had afternoon tea at a restaurant Krys was keen to try.

The deserts were very yummy ... the mocha not so much :-)

So stoked to have little Sooty love bites :-)

A big thank you to David who drove to Brisbane and came back after work on Monday to pick us up and save us from the 2 hour train trip home. I love this man!

It was so good to see my family ... Big love and thanks to Joel and Krys for organising it.
Ex

Miss Alexis (I am besotted)

Is it ok to be so totally besotted with my baby niece?

 

 

Last weekend we got to see her and her gorgeous Mummy and Daddy in the flesh and I have a whole post to dedicate to that but for now ... here is a pic that they sent to me yesterday. She likes to suck her fingers :-)  

THAT kid

Today is Lucy's first day of High School.
I made mini quiches (one of her favourite things to eat) last night and there were some left over after tea. I asked if  she might like to take them in her lunchbox today.
To which she replied "Mum I'm not going to be THAT kid ... who rocks up with mini quiches in their lunch box on the first day".

 

OK good to know.

September Summation (before our trip to D Town)

September 2012 started with Fathers Day. Riley came up with a great gift idea of good quality earphones for David. David is hard to buy for so this was  a brilliant move on Bears part. Of course now David has to practically keep his uber expensive headphones locked away as the kids think they own them!





According to my iphone pics Riley and I went out to Lunch.

These are my Managers (yes it takes two to keep me under control). Bron and Brian are seriously the best bosses on earth. I am learning so much from them. Here we are about to head off to a meeting.  

 

 

 

All of a sudden it was Snipper Time! This is Lucy doing the timed pool swim to pass competency for her age group at Nippers. It wasn't pretty (she is the first to tell you her swimming 'sucks'). She has a great Nipper Coach this year and has met some really sweet nice girls, its not always the way so I am really appreciating it.

This is what happens when you ask them to smile for a first day at Nippers pic.


Riley went on a week long retreat for school. This involved hiking and camping (without tents) at the North Shore, as well as taking and carrying all his food for the week in his pack. The above pic is Dave trying to make his pack easier to carry. Bear was so amped that morning (nervous and slightly worried he was going to starve) that getting a pic of him was impossible. I think I did say ... "if you do starve or get eaten by a Dingo I wont have one last picture of you" apparently that wasn't helpful. We picked him up a week later very tired and very hungry but full of funny stories about his mates and the things 15 year old boys find funny (like the night they had to sit in the beach alone in darkness and contemplate their place in the world. Of course instead of doing that the boys made animal noises to communicate with each other on different sections of the beach-who would be a teacher?).


After dropping Riley at school at stupid o'clock for the retreat, Lucy and I killed time before school started by having a hot chocolate and contemplating our place in the world :-)


We also took her out to tea on her own and the meal was much yummier than it looks.

That was September before we packed up the circus and headed north.

(and then it was) The August Summation

August started with David getting back into the serious house renos. He put in our new  (gorgeous) front door .

Bear and I went to the plaza and thought we would try to be hipsters.

I took these pics from my office window because they made me smile. The kangaroos on campus (the Uni has lots of reserve land for the kangaroos and there is a large population of them living on campus). They mainly stay on the grass and away from the paved traffic areas. Last week I saw some really big males quite close to the brasserie (which gives me the creeps) but for the most part if people don't approach them or try to pat or feed them they are harmless.  In the winter months the roos lay around on the campus sports fields in the sun and this day a class from the high school next door had come to play soccer. The large roos were really close to the kids but neither party  seemed to worried about the other.

Joy and Dad are back in Oz for a while but in August Joy had to go back to Kiribati for work. We went up to the bay to spend some time with Dad lest he think he could enjoy his alone time whist Joy was OS.

This is one of many selfies the kids too while they were out skateboarding. The video footage is beyond hilarious.

Believe it or not the kids were super excited to go on the wave simulator.

and pose for pics in the trolley/bike/buggy thing. 

Ahhhh I have seen my future ...

You are not a Brooks male unless you are COMPETITIVE. Yes Riley really was challenging his Grandfather to a chin up competition!


There must be something in the water at the Bay ... because no where else on earth  do I feel as relaxed as when I am here. It helps that Dad lets me be the Boss :-)

Uncle Andrew also came down to the coast for a quick trip in August. We went to Dana's tavern for tea.

August ended with us bath shopping. Bath shopping is both awkward and exhausting. You HAVE to try out each bath as there are some very uncomfortable baths out there. 

There are also some very expensive ones. This baby costs more than sane people should spend on a bath!

Stay tuned for September 2012 when we go to Darwin Town yay.