THANKS JULES AND BRANDON!! and some other stuff...

I HAVE THE BEST LITTLE SISTER IN THE WORLD! At the end of last week there was a knock at the door and there was a man with a package for us from Julie and Brandon! We opened it up and found the cutest little outfits for Rylee's birthday and some movies. We have already watched Alvin and the chipmunks twice and on Friday night we had pizza and movie night and watched the Bee movie! Jules you are the best. Here's a picture of Rylee sportin' one of the outfits you bought her - it brought some sunny colors into our cloudy, rainy world last week! Thanks you guys! We love you!! Thanks for not forgetting us.


I also got some video footage of our little dancer. She is adorable. Sorry I had the camera the wrong way so you have to watch the video sideways - but you will get the idea. She even likes "The Cars" like her daddy! Seriously Rylee hears music and her little body just can't hold still it begins to sway back and forth. She is getting more "moves" all of the time! We need to get this child into some dance classes in the future!

I also have a new train world in my play room. On Friday Cooper built the most amazing train track. Of course he wasn't too happy when Saturday rolled around knowing that he would have to take it down (Saturday is cleaning day). So I was nice and let him keep it up. By then there was also a Pet Shop world surrounding the train tracks. It is now Monday night and they have been playing with it every day. I think we may have to leave it up all week at this rate. Anyway, here is a picture of the train track he built. He always amazes me!

Looking at the world differently

Finally I got the toddler car seat cleaned up and we got it in the car on Saturday. We probablly should have put her in it a long time ago rear facing, but I was a slacker and didn't get it out of the garage soon enough. It was covered in years of dust and grime. Rylee was so excited. She can see what is coming now instead of what is going. She sits in her little seat and kicks her feet happily and constantly says, "mamma" or "dadda" until someone turns around and looks at her. The joys of toddlerhood! Also on Saturday we had another first. We visited our first drive thru window in Australia! We were heading to an Elder's Quorum BBQ lunch and we were late and had nothing to eat. We saw the "Golden Arches" and decided to check it out - it had a drive thru!!! We have actually been on a Macca's fast. The kids were asking for it all the time so we told them that they couldn't have it for a month. So we broke our McDonald's fast and had nuggets and fries, shakes, and a good old Big Mac. Now we can try for two months this time around.

We also forgot how much we love the drive thru. Really, you don't realize all the conveniences until they are lost. I am missing Wendy's though - fries and a frosty, yummo - and a shake from Arctic Circle, YUMMO!!! I'm going to gain at least 10 lbs when I come back home...

The Elder's Quorum activity didn't turn out as planned - it turned out to be an Elder's Quorum presidency BBQ - plus it was so cold. Apparently when the wind comes from the south it is not so good for the temperature, but good for the surfers. After eating lunch and a play at the park - once the kids were playing they didn't notice the cold a bit - when everyone left we headed over to this cool hand ball wall which had been painted all over (Janae you would have loved it). I tried to take some pictures for this weeks challenge for photography - the theme was Father's - I love this shot. I couldn't submit it because it has a lot of flaws - mostly because it is a bit out of focus and Rylee's got some issues - but it will make a great scrapbook LO. Plus isn't it just cute? By now Rylee was cold and not very cooperative so you take what you can get. We will have to go back on a warmer day and have some fun!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY (in the USofA)

Just wanted to wish Happy Father's Day to all those fathers we know in the U.S. (this year Kev only gets one Father's Day - he picked the Aussie one). We especially wanted to wish a happy day to our fathers and grandpas. We have a special song for you! Thanks for all you do and all that you have taught us. You have helped to shape our lives and we are so thankful for your love and support.

WE LOVE YOU!!!

{Be on the look out for your gifts - they got to the post late, OOPS!}

THE WORLD OF THE BOOK OF MORMON...

This week has been a bit crazy. I have had a cold now for about three and a half weeks, but on Tuesday morning when I woke up it had decided now was the time to turn into a full blown sinus infection. This wasn't so bad except that I called the doctor's office and they couldn't get me in until Thursday. What was I going to do our Primary activity was on Wednesday. So I prayed really hard to be able to make it through Wed and all the prep work plus the activity and to my amazement the pain wasn't so bad on Wed!! However, came back promptly on Thursday and I was grateful to get some antibiotics. A day later the pressure has eased and I am starting to feel a bit better! Good thing because we have friends coming over tonight to play games in celebration of Friday the 13th!!!

So more on the Primary activity. Months ago when talking to my sister Wendy about Primary she told me that they were doing an activity on the Book of Mormon and Jeff was acting out a part. I thought this was a lovely idea so when time came for us to plan an activity we took the idea and ran with it. I think it turned out so well.



We had three visitors come to our activity and the children (well most of them anyway) came dressed up in Nephite/Lamanite attire leaving all swords at home. The three visitors told us about their lives and then we did a craft. When we got to the room with King Benjamins tower in it the kids got to make their own tents with the doors facing the tower. They then picked a family name and ate a snack of dried fruit and crackers. We then gave each of the children their own copy of the Book of Mormon with a testimony in it from one of the youth. I was so touched when some of the children said, "This is my own copy?" or "I get to keep this?" All in all I think it was a successful activity and hopefully the kids learned something about the Book of Mormon.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

THE BROTHER OF JARED

showed us his rocks (the tops of lightbulbs) and how would work shining through his bag (a lightbulb in a flashlight) and had another teacher help him by reading from the scriptures wha tthe Lord had said behind a wall.

ABINIDI

told the kids he was burnt and one of them asked why he was still there? We had to laugh at that one.

KING BENJAMIN

brought gold coins to share his wealth with the people (chocolate coins covered in gold paper) and the kids all ran for them and spilled their cups of water all over the hall. When he started talking it was adorable to see the kids laying down on their stomachs with their chins on their hands listening to what he was saying.

CELEBRATING THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY

So today there was no school and no work!! Why?! Because apparently it is the Queen's birthday! What do you do when it is the queen's birthday? Who know? Well we went on a little adventure!!

A few weeks ago my friend Lisha had on her blog that they went to Berowra Waters so I decided that would be a nice place to go and check out and a nice family adventure. It isn't far from home and yet seemed like it was out in the country. It is a little inlet of water, down in a green valley, where boats come and go. So pretty!

We rode across on a little ferry which was five minutes of joy for the kids.

After ordering some fish and chips and chicken sandwiches the kids and I waited outside for Kev to bring the take away food. We watched some kids feeding the ducks and some others fishing. Then we headed over to the dock and the kids looked for fish. The water was not very clear (as you can see in the pictures) so we didn't really see much. We did watch a dog go fetch a stick in the water. The kids thought that maybe Sugar would go in the water for a stick (they still talk about Sugar all of the time).

After lunch we walked to the playground and Rylee finally got to get out of the stroller. Due to all the rain we have had the ground was muddy and soggy so I hadn't let her out before them. Plus I knew she would head straight for the water.

After our adventure we headed home for some rest and to do some laundry. What a great break.

Happy birthday to the Queen! (thanks for the day off!!!)

Gallah and birthday celebrations - it's been a busy week!

On Wednesday we went to Madi's school to see her class do the assembly. This was a special assembly because Madi got to be the gallah in the song. Her teacher told me that she thought she would ask the American to play an Australian bird. The kids sang their song and Madi got to "fly" around them and weave in and out of the kids. Here is a picture with her and some of her friends!We also got to celebrate Rylee's birthday this week. The kids were obviously more excited than she was and they sang Happy Birthday to her all day long. We got the seat belt version more than once and they couldn't wait for daddy to get home to eat cake and open presents. It ended up being a lovely evening. I made a cake - nothing fancy (got the idea of the butterflies from a friend of mine who had done it a week ago on cupcakes for her daughter). Nothing like Heather's fantastic cakes - but I was impressed with myself.

We opened presents. The kids each gave her a gift and Kevin and I gave her two. Plus Grandma Susan had sent her a card the week before with Australian money in it for me to buy her a gift (you bought her some bath toys BTW). The gift she liked the best was this little cell phone I found for her. She is always playing with Madi's toy one so I thought she needed one of her own. She carries it around and even says "Hello" on occasion.

After opening presents we had dinner of nuggets and fries and Rylee had her first taste of real milk. She wasn't sure at the beginning but soon was gulping it down - yeah! Then came the cake. We stripped her down to her diaper and gave her a piece. She didn't like the frosting on her fingers at first and we laughed about that. Until I gave her a taste of it. That was it she was shoveling it in as fast as she could. Pretty soon she picked up the whole piece and shoved it in her mouth. Now we have a one year old - still in shock about that one!

ONE YEAR OLDER!

Still having a hard time believeing that Rylee has turned one. Where has the time gone? We are so blessed to have her in our family. She makes us smile daily and laughs all of the time!

She is constantly taking the hand towels off of the oven handle and carrying them around the house. I go to dry my hands and there isn't anything there. Of course I grab another one and seconds later it has disappeared as well. I find them all over the house.

She has started to cuddle bears and dolls. She is so cute. She gives them little hugs and says OHHH! She is adorable!

She is so proficient at walking now and it getting fast. She runs after the other kids and also runs away from them. She doesn't fall as often so not as many bruises. However, she does get into more trouble and ends up places she shouldn't be.

HOW LUCKY ARE WE TO HAVE SUCH A SWEET LITTLE GIRL IN OUR FAMILY!!!

One word answers...

My friend Candy sent this to my e-mail, but I thought I would just put it on my blog...so you are all tagged and have to do it too!

1. Where is your cell phone? kitchen
2. Your significant other? Kevy
3. Your hair? HELP!
4. Your mother? nice
5. Your father? quiet
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? don't
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream/goal? happiness
10. The room you're in? lounge
11. Your hobby? scrapbooking
12. Your fear? drivers
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Utah
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you're not? patient
16. Muffins? bran
17. One wish list item? cruise
18. Where you grew up? Utah
19. The last thing you did? diaper
20. What are you wearing? sweater
21. Your TV? off
22. Your pets? SUGAR :(
23. Your computer? love
24. Your life? content
25. Your mood? blah
26. Missing someone? family
27. Your car? white
28. Something you're not wearing? shoes
29.Favorite store? Target
30. Your summer? beach
31. Like someone? everyone
32. Your favorite color? blue
33. When is the last time you laughed? today
34. Last time you cried? Oprah
35. Who will do this? Jen

A little more on Vegemite!

I just have to add a little more -- ok, two things -- to the last story that Stace put in on Vegemite.

First, I had gone to the store with Coop, so it was just the two of us. We had gone by the peanut butter section and I saw the Vegemite. I had told everyone that we can't come to Australia and not try vegemite so I put it in the trolly. Cooper, who was sitting in the trolly, saw it and asked what it was. I told him that it was Vegemite and that he was going to try it with the rest of us. Needless to say -- since Cooper is a complainer -- that the rest of the journey through the store and on the way home Cooper thought of 50 ways to tell me that he wasn't about to try the stuff and there was no way it was going to happen.

That night for dinner I pulled it out and spread a little on some crackers for everyone to try. Of course Cooper broke out into his 'country music' lyrics again about reasons why he wasn't going to try it! I finally bribed the kid with a $1 if he would try and and finally got an OK out of him. Here is the picture of his face just after he took a bite. He pauses for a minute (so his brain can assess the message being sent from his taste buds) and then this hit, followed by "I like it!" I just thought this picture caught the moment better that I could attempt to describe in words. Plus, it was even better after hearing how bad it would taste for an hour while we were at the shops! Gotta love our little complainer!

Second, I have come to believe that eating vegemite is an art form! The day after we had tried it I thought I wanted to have another go at it. So I put some on some crackers and started eating away. I think I was feeling gererous because I had liked it so much the night before so I spread a little more on than I did the night before. I will just say that, in my opinion, there is a fine line between just enough vegemite and WAY TO MUCH!!!!! I passed that line on my first cracker and it was NOT GOOD!!!!!

I had to give it another go and see if the night before was just a fluke so -- after a good rinsing out of my mouth -- I spread a little bit on another cracker and thought I would make it a best 2 out of 3 contest. This time it was just a little on the cracker and I did like it. So the moral of the story is that if you are eating vegemite it is better to be on the safe side and get too little than it is to get too much!