Day 90 - My Version of "Pie in a Can"

Whenever I am not home for dinner, Dale always asks me to buy him a Frey Bentos Pie in a Can. To me they sound like camping food (if you had an oven on your camping trip, I guess). For me, I always go for a fresh pasta and sauce! Dale doesn't seem to be keen on them although he really likes fresh pasta (albeit home made) and since I only make filled pasta about once a year, these do me very well! One more night until Dale is home and only also one more until the weekend, which I am really looking forward to, since we have been away so much lately. Maybe if we are homebodies a bit more during April and since I have school holidays I might have to get the pasta machine out. It takes time, but it's pretty sastisfying.

Day 89 - A Quiet Night on my Own

As Dale is in Sydney for work, Wednesday night was a quiet one. Henry slept well and I got lots of things done mostly folding washing (always a backlog). I made sure everything was ready for Henry's morning, because I know it is hard enough getting to work on time at the moment, without having to drop Henry off on the way. I don't mind the odd night on my own; although I really miss Dale when he is away, it's not often that I am alone. Since Henry slept well on Wednesday night, I actually had time to myself. Only thing is that when Dale is away I delay getting in bed because the house is so dark and quiet once the tv is off!

Day 88 - So Much to Do

I love a good list, mainly because I find crossing things off it very satisfying. Returning to work has been so flat out that my list for this holidays is really long - probably too much on there to actually get done, but you do have to aim high, right? About a week and a half of term left to go... just have to get through parent teacher interviews, a couple of special events next week... oh and easter craft... messy times ahead.

Day 87 - One More Big Day

Just sharing this picture because I think it is so cute! I took it as we sat out on the balcony post wedding, having coffee and left over wedding cake for morning tea. Henry is sitting on his Nanna's lap, after he had a little sleep in the pram during a walk around the resort at Wisemans.

Day 86 - The New Mr & Mrs Freke

Well, we all had a great time at David and Dani's Sunday Night Wedding at Wisemans Ferry. There was a little rain during the ceremony but other than that from the beautifully matched everything, to the great food and speeches, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole lot. My favourite part though, had to be firstly dancing with Henry when he woke up for a little while and then mostly, the last song of the night, which was Huey Lewis' Power of Love. Dani gave it all she had while I don't think Dave knew what to do; it was just a classic. I wonder if they will continue the dancing lessons (it's something I would like to give a go myself). Congratulations D&D!

Day 85 - Family Affair Wedding Cake

And finally David and Dani's wedding cake came together! I did cheat a little by getting Mum to do a little of the piping as it is more her forte than mine. So the cake really was a team effort what with Dale assisting with the baking and rice paper and Mum with the piping. Although this cake was inspired by a picture we already had, it was quite different in bright blues and with three tiers. It isn't until the last minute when you get to see it all together that you can decide whether or not it all works!

Day 84 - Friday Night in the Blue Mountains

It took us a while to get away, but finally we did, and about 3 and a half hours later we finally arrived at Robbie and Robert's place in the Blue Mountains. We haven't stayed at their place since they started redecorating it was great to see their gorgeous new polished floorboards and new paintwork and so on.  We had a late dinner and some red wine and dessert to chat over later. It was great to catch up.

Day 83 - Henry Wants to Move!

Henry was having a good go at shuffling about on his bottom after this photo was taken and we are wondering if he is coming close to crawling or getting about somehow or other! Dale actually had the video going as he reached for a block which was a little distance away. When he finally got it, he turned around and passed it to me as if to say, "Look Mum!"

Day 82 - Breakfast Antics

I had taken my photo of the day by 7.30 this morning! As we sit there eating breakfast in the dark each morning (when is Daylight Savings ever ending?!) Henry keeps us entertained over his weetbix by pulling funny faces, shaking his head side to side, and the latest; cocking his head to the side like in the picture! His favourite part is when you laugh and copy him!

Day 81 - Best Smell in the World!

And by morning, with the aroma of a warm chocolate mud cake permeating the house, this is what the top of the cake looked like! Yum! Now to begin the assembly process to be done by Sunday.

Day 80 - Mmmm... Mmmmud Cake

Before we went to bed it was decided that the mud cake would be put into the oven at 3.30am overnight so that it would be ready by 6am. Upon deciding this, it suddenly struck me how funny it was that I didn't think that putting a cake in the oven at 3.30am was so odd, because I am usually up at that time anyway! I set the alarm, but I happened to be up not long before that anyway, just as predicted. While I worked on some of the decorations for the cake, my assistant chef Dale helped out by chopping chocolate and measuring out other ingredients. I only wish I had thought to get a pic of him licking the bowl which was bigger than his head.

Day 79 - Wedding Cake Begins

This is the fruit cake which will be the top layer of David and Dani's wedding cake next weekend. Before it is iced, all the little dips and cracks are filled with fondant and the cake is doused in rum again. Tomorrow the mud cake will be made and it is busy, busy, busy from here on in.

Day 78 - Sleep Bubby, Sleep!

It both prevents stress and causes it; this baby monitor! A present from my sister in law to be (Dani) it's a present that we have used so much, it really has become indispensable, but the sound of a baby waking before he is expected to is often the start of rearranging the evening's chores and dimming the lights early!

Day 77 - Dirt Track to School

It looked quite bizarre to see the road outside of school become a dirt track over the last few days as the roads were resurfaced! The work outside actually lead to an evacuation of all the children before we actually made it into school in the morning due to a gas leak. We had just done a practise evacuation the day before, so I have to say that by the second one, the morning was a bit of a write off, concentration-wise!

Day 76 - Where The Wild Things Are

I needed to choose a picture book for a writing lesson that I am doing tomorrow, so I decided to read to Henry this afternoon. Think I will stick to board books for a while, since he seems more intent on chewing the book or roughly flapping the pages about! Henry has quite a library already and I can't wait to be able to read to him more. He likes the little board books and I really like reading Mem Fox's Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes which is a great book for bubs.

Day 75 - Night Times at Our Place

Every night we get Henry's things ready for the next day and with Dale sick at the moment, I have found myself up late getting Henry's bag ready. The list is the same each day, with six nappies to be folded, a wet pack, a muslin wrap, spare nappy cover, spare clothes, measured formula and two bottles of sterilised water. Oh and eye drops at the moment too. I'm glad that Henry only has one or two bottles a day because that really is enough bottle preparation for me! I also wouldn't want to be heating up a bottle of formula at 3 in the morning... now, just to get him to sleep through his little 3am feed and I will be all set!

Day 74 - Grubby Bubby

This is Henry after his dinner tonight. It was bad enough when I picked him up this afternoon with the lower half of his body covered in milk arrowroot, but post dinner chicken and corn risoni didn't help matters! It wasn't worth putting a bib on him when he was such a grot already!

Day 73 - Baking Bill's Brownies

Ahh... love a bit of alliteration... Tuesdays are morning tea day at school and everyone always appreciates something homemade. I was one of the people on duty this week, and I was quite proud that I managed to make something myself (time is limited these days and last time I think I brought in a big bag of Fantales and some bought hot cross buns). Anyway I have to share Bill's recipe, because it is so easy and full of chocolatey goodness. He made them on Sunrise a couple of months ago and I have made them many times since. Visit bill-grangers-brownies to get the recipe!

Day 72 - Morning Cuddles

It may look like the middle of the night, but Henry wakes between 6 and 6.30am, so sharing a motel room, meant that that's when everyone had to wake up! Henry came into bed with us at about 6.30 and Jenna followed not long after when Dale got up for a shower. Henry loves his big sister Jenna and she always manages to get plenty of giggles and smiles from him.

Day 71 - Henry Meets his Great Grandfather

The reason for our trip to Melbourne and Wonthaggi was for Dale's Pop's 90th Birthday. It is amazing to think that there is roughly 90 years difference between Henry and his Great Grandfathers ages! My own Nan always enjoyed having photos with as many generations in them as she could, so I took one of Dale and kids with his Mum and her Dad!

Day 70 - Henry's First Flight

Henry at Canberra Airport

I love this picture of Henry in the airport lounge! He enjoyed his first flight, in particular reading the laminated safety instructions... Henry had a happy little flight, enjoyed some breakfast of blueberry oatmeal and touched down safely ready for lunch in Melbourne before the drive to Wonthaggi.

Day 69 - Any Room for my Clothes?

Packing for our Friday trip to Melbourne, it becomes quite obvious that Henry has a lot of stuff! We know whenever we go to Sydney that we pack a lot of stuff in the car for him, but flying means that we have to reduce what we take a little. Trouble is he needs so much! Clothes, nappies, toys, formula, weetbix, bickies, sterilised water, a dinner plate, spoons, bibs, bottled baby food and let's not forget Little Ted!

Day 68 - Beautiful Eyes

I always get so many comments, even from strangers (typically little old ladies in Woolies) about how lovely Henry's big blue eyes are. They really aren't so good at the moment though as he has had conjunctivitis this week, caught from another bub at day care. He seems to pick things up very easily and so far I have managed to get sick from him too. Hopefully not this time though, because although I would like a day off from work, I don't want to go away this weekend with red, gooey eyes!

Day 67 - Bills, Bills, Bills!

Is there anyone who likes paying bills? The only satisfaction I get from it is seeing a nice neat pile of bills with "PAID" written on them... only problem is that it creates filing... Anyway, bill paying night over, this little pile of filing can sit and wait until the school hols.

Day 66 - Colouring In - Not Just for Kids!

As Jenna and I coloured in, waiting for dinner to be ready tonight, I commented that I really liked colouring in, and she was pretty surprised. Like I said to her, when you grow up you don't really have much time or excuse to colour in! Occasionally I will colour something in at school with kids, but most of the time if they have to colour anything I use the opportunity to get things done. I mentioned the other day that my camera had a line drawing setting and this is an example of it. I don't know how often I will use that setting, but I love how it works!

Day 65 - Relaxation in a Packed Weekend

The gardens at the Sebel at Windsor

Once again we found ourselves away for the weekend. This time it was for Dani's Hen's Day and David's Buck's activities. While the boys went out go karting for the day, the girls spent the afternoon having high tea at the Sebel in Windsor, followed by massages and facials at Villa Thalgo at the same venue. I don't think I have had a massage since we both had one on our honeymoon on Brampton Island. This time I wasn't all sunburned so it was much better! I was only saying a couple of weeks ago that I needed one due to the backache associated with Henry not sleeping well and needing lots of carrying around, so it was really welcomed. Three weeks until the wedding!

Day 64 - Purrrrrr!

I was playing around with the line drawing setting on my camera and thought that Baby would make a good subject for a line drawing. Turns out that she doesn't have enough contrast and so it didn't turn out that well. Anyway, it amused me that every time the flash went off she closed her eyes and looked all content and sleepy even though she wasn't! I will have to take her outdoors sometime for a better portrait.

Day 63 - Clean Up Australia Day

Every year on the Friday before Clean Up Australia Day, we have 'Clean Up Australia Day in Schools' where we all traipse outside with a plastic bag and a glove to pick up rubbish. Since the kids have rules about picking up sharps and broken glass, a lot of the time for teachers is spent picking up little pieces of glass that children have spotted. Yes they are obsessed! I worry that we create more rubbish than we collect, what with all of the plastic bags. Plastic bags are pretty much an environmental nightmare if they aren't recycled rather than ending up in the bin. Maybe we need to encourage kids to bring a bucket to school for their collection. I guess it is all about building awareness though and it's a good experience for kids to get out there and pick up after themselves!

Day 62 - Nightly Ritual

I kind of feel like something is missing if I don't have a cup of tea (or coffee if I can be bothered getting the machine going) before bed. Lately though I have been wondering if the kettle sets off some kind of disturbance on the monitor in Henry's room because a large percentage of the time he wakes up as soon as I have sat down with my cup. How does he know?

Day 61 - Does this Count as a Sleep In?

So yesterday I said that sleeping after 7 would be a sleep in... Henry usually wakes between 6 and 6.30 and this morning I was in his room at 7am snapping away, using the flash and everything. He finally woke at 7.15 when I gave him a bit of a nudge. At this point I am encouraging some sleeping in, since Daylight Savings is ending soon. I love how his mouth looks all smooshy in this pic!

Day 60 - The Photo You Take When You Don't Have a Photo!

At 11.05pm I realise I haven't taken any photos all day and it's mainly because of lack of time. If I had a few bonus hours in the day I would:

Sleep in (that means past 7am)
Clean the whole house top to bottom (all on the same day)
Finish sewing the curtains in Jenna's room
Paint the spare room
Read all the books on my 'to read' pile
Make homemade ravioli for dinner

Ahhh... I can dream....