One of my favorite things about summer - FRESH FRUIT. What a better way to get your kids to eat it than have them put it on a kebob stick themselves.

NEW DO

A few people have asked if I got my hair cut while I was away - the answer yes!!! I have wanted it short for a while now and since it is much cheaper (much, much, much cheaper) I decided to go for it. It was a slight A-line, but since I have gone home I tried to trim the front a bit and now it isn't much of an A-line anymore. Why do I think I can cut my own hair - you would think that I have learned from experience by now. Anyway, I am loving it and may even cut it shorter next time - if I can find a cheap, yet good, place to get my hair cut here.

Also, while in Utah my SIL, Janae, did pictures for us. They turned out really well - thanks Janae!!! Here is one of our fam and you can see the kids on the side. I even took my camera along and took a few of the kids myself - they didn't turn out so bad!! That makes me happy!! Sometime soon I want to take the kids out and get photos of just the three of them - still haven't done that yet and my mom has been bugging me about it so I really should get it done.

Won't this look great on my Christmas blog card? (Yep, too cheap again this year to send them all by post)

STUDENT OF THE WEEK

I had a very proud mommy moment yesterday. Madi was picked by her teacher to be the student of the week for all K-2. Her teacher had called me the day before to tell me that she was going to give Madi the award so we showed up to the assembly. Apparently Madi was wondering why we were there when she saw us in the back. Anyway, we waited until the very end - right before the National Anthem (I really should learn the words to this - I still think I should cross my heart or something). Madi was so surprised she said she didn't know, but then realized why we were there in the back. Her teacher said so many wonderful things about her. She is an excellent student and always goes above and beyond what she needs to do. That part I was glad to hear about, but the next bit made me tear up a bit. She went on to tell about what a good person Madi is. She has had to adjust to a new culture and a new "language" and she is such a nice person. She is always helping out those around her without even being asked to. Her teacher said that she just notices when someone needs something and helps out if she can. I have have always thought that part of what makes a good person, in my humble opinion, is a person who thinks of others. I have tried really hard to teach this to my children. I so want them to be good contributors to society and to be kind to those around them. Apparently something is sticking. So Madi gets to keep this little plaque for a week before she has to return it to school for the next student of the week.

BIRTHDAY BOY

Every year since Kev was a little boy his family has set up their Christmas tree on his birthday - since we were in Utah Susan decided to do this tradition early and therefore had all her Christmas stuff up well before Thanksgiving. The kids always love to help grandma set up her tree - they like to find the treasures that her ornaments provide. Every ornament seems to have a story and some have even hung on Kev's grandparen'ts tree. I love how Susan gives the grandkids full rein on her tree - she doesn't even move any of the ornaments. I am not that good I always go around after the kids decorate and move things so that it looks good. We celebrated Kev's birthday and I tried really hard to stay awake and watch a movie with him after the kids went to bed, but alas the jet lag got the better of me and I don't even think I made it past the first 15 minutes. Madi picked out the shirt that the kids gave him and he got the game Agricola which we bought in Utah before we left - we got the last avaliable copy of it in the valley I think and it was the store's playing copy so we even got a discount! This game is so much fun. We played it so much with Travis while we were in Utah and decided to add it to our game collection. Happy Birthday Kevy we love you very much!

ONLY IN AUSTRALIA...

...can you give your toddler some bowls, a cup, and a spoon to play with water outside at 4:00pm and a few hours later decorate the Christmas tree. Well, last night was the Monday after Thanksgiving, and at our house that means FHE of putting up our Christmas tree and listening to Oakridge Boys Christmas. I don't think that I could ever get used to living in the Southern hemisphere and having Christmas in summer time instead of winter - it really messes with your senses. The magic isn't all there for me to be honest - I need hot chocolate, a fire, some snow falling, you know the picture of Christmas - it helps that the kids are just as excited for Christmas whether in summer or winter. Lucky for us all of our Christmas shopping is done at this household!!! That makes me so happy - we can just enjoy the month of December and any surprises that may be in store for us!

Each year the kids get a new ornament to put on the tree - last year we found some Aussie ornaments on clearance. I love them - especially the snorkeling Santa.

kangaroo - Rylee, santa - Cooper, platypus - Madi

We always lay under the Christmas tree when it is all over and try to count the candy canes - I used to do this as a kid with my brothers and sisters with the lights off and the Christmas lights on. However, since we brought a pre-lit tree and it blows the fuse we have no lights on our Christmas tree again this year. Oh well! Here is our Santa waiting under the tree to inspect the pressies put under there before Christmas Eve.

COOP IS A CRACK UP!

One of the days that Kev went into the office to work I sent the kids to rest for a bit. Madi was in the bedroom and Cooper had the playroom all to himself. My dad was down in the family room and when I went down to check on Cooper I could hear him chatting away to my dad. There he was sitting on the couch with his shirt off. I though what is this kid doing? Here goes the conversation (the entire time my dad was snickering on the couch - apparently he had already had a similar conversation with my son):

Me - Cooper what are you doing?

Cooper - Exercising mom!

Me - Well, why is your shirt off?

Cooper - Because that is what boys do when they exercise.

Me - Where did you find this out?

Cooper - I saw it on TV!

It then took some convincing for him to exercise again and show me his big arms for a picture. He is probablly going to kill me later for these pictures - I promise not to show them to any potential girlfriends in the future.

TOOTH FAIRY HAPPINESS

While in the States Madi lost two teeth - bringing her total lost tooth count to three. The first one was really loose when we left and she held onto it for a long time. Wiggling and wiggling it until it was only hanging on by the smallest bit. Her gums were starting to get red and a bit infected because of all of her wiggling so Kev finally convinced her that he could pull it out quickly. Sure enough, one small tug and out it came. A few days later she lost another tooth on the bottom and I got to do the surgery this time. This one came loose because she got some doll clothes stuck on it and when they were yanked free it started wiggling. We asked her if the tooth fairy brought her US money because she was in Utah or Australian money. She picked the US money - smart girl it is worth more at the moment. She spent her money wisely at the Black Friday sales and got a digital pet shop - it was perfect for the plane!

The other front tooth is wiggly as well so she is going to work on that one for Christmas time. It is really all for scrapbooking purposes. I want to take a picture and put on it the title: All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. I can see it now...

MEETING THE NEWEST COUSIN

When Rylee and I came to Utah before I was excited to see the newest addition to our family. My sister had a baby and I was so excited to see them. Well, this was something that Madi and Cooper were sad that they missed out on. When they finally got to meet her they were so cute around baby Claire and gave her lots of cuddles and kisses. Madi especially loved to help out where she could and always wanted to hold Claire and spend time with her - she is such a good little helper.