Another birthday gone

Jessica was one a few weeks ago. The in-laws were here for the week so it was good that Jessica got a bit of a party eve though she won't be able to remember it. Hollie got her a big red ball from the money out of her piggy bank and it has proved to be the favourite birthday present. Hollie knows that it is Jessica's ball but she still wants to play with it all the time. It's good, it keeps the both amused even if it does bring numerous fights.

Jessica is still my baby (even though she is now one and looking less and less like a baby every day) until the next one arrives in March but my how she is growing. She has just started to take a few steps so it won't be long until she's running around with Hollie and then I'll know about being run off my feet! It is just delightful watching them grow. Jessica is speak a lot more now and Hollie just never stops (and she's very good if I do say so myself). In the last week she has learnt the alphabet! and she's just two. Gosh I'm not proud or anything am I?

We are going to Brisbane in a few weeks to visit everyone and for Kevin to attend conference. It is a long drive and I'm going to be glad to get home after two weeks away. It really takes it out of me being away with the girls for so long. It will be good for the girls to see their old friends and to reconnect with the people down there. We don't want them to forget them while we are out here.

Count down to another birthday

It's now on. The count down to Jessica's birthday. Yes it is 4 weeks away but I can't believe that it has come around so quickly. She is one in 4 weeks!!! My little baby, my baby no longer. She is becoming very grown up. She said, "bot-bot" today for the first time clearly and everyday she expands her vocabulary. She is doing more and more and I look at her and my heart just fills with joy. What a precious little thing she is.
I was hoping to have her first year album completed by September, one month after her first birthday but I don't see that happening. Too much to do, not enough time or money to get it done. I was meant to get a whole heap of photos printed off while we were in Brisbane over the holidays but I ran out of time or didn't plan my time well enough. Oh well. There is plenty to do.
Now I am off to try to get tired and sick Hollie off to sleep for a little while and hopefully have a sleep myself.

Mum's Home!!!!

Isn't it funny that she can be gone so many months and be on the other side of the world and everything seems ok because I know that it is difficult to get to her. Mum came home on Sunday and I just want to see her. I am at least 1200kms away from her and it is difficult to get to her but she is here. She is in Australia!! It's the first time since September 2007. She has missed out on so much grandchild time with our kids. I'm so glad that Mum got to spend the time with Fuchsia and Azaan but now that she is back I just want her to be with my kids. I feel like a little kid myself. I feel as though I'm home sick!! Crazy isn't it?
We are leaving for the long long drive on Monday morning after we have Hollie's birthday here on Sunday. Hollie is so excited about her "Happy Birthday" and we have a count down claendar on the wall. All she wants is cake and candles. I can't believe that she is two already and poor Mum has missed out on half her life. At least now they'll have time to reconnect and spend some lovely Nanny/granddaughter time together.
Not looking forward to the drive but am very much looking forward to what's at the other end.

Training the trainer

They always say that dogs are a reflection of their parents/owners. Most people also say that about children. I'm not sure about children because they have a very definate mind of their own but it is true for dogs. I must be a very bad dog parent and some what of a bad human parent.

Dog 1, Toby, jumps the fence all the time and we don't see him for half a day. Dog 2, Buddy, doesn't understand simple things like stay or drop and won't fetch the ball and today got out and ran away as I was leaving for playgroup. Luckily for me he only went to the place across the road but would not come when called. Toby is now either, tied up, inside, in the "cubby" or under the house. Buddy at least is too short to jump the fence. I don't know what I'm going to do. Build a higher fence and do lots and lots of training.

Jessica, daughter 2, is not sleeping through a 9 months. Kevin and I are sick of it. We are both exhausted and need some sleep. We have been attempting a no feed in the middle of the night thing and just keep caving in. We need to stick to it so that she learns. We are bad trainers. Lazy trainers. Tired trainers. It is no excuse and I guess that is why people end up having 2 or 3 year olds that don't sleep through because they keep attending to them and giving them what they want, making the rely on having the feed or the cuddle or the rocking. It is hard but must be done.

Here are a few of my lastest creations

I have been very slack lately with my scrapbooking but here are a few that I have done in the last few weeks.

New people, new places, new faces

We have been here 3 weeks today. Longreach is a nice small town. It has everything that you could need and I am very happy here. Everything is close. We hardly use the car so we are getting enough exercise and we are also doing exercise at night.

I have been to the local Playgroup for the last few times. It is good to meet other people and spend some time with people other than the kids. It is hard though. I think it will take a long time to make friends here. The people are all lovely and most of the people at the Playgroup know the isolation of being here. Know how hard it is tomake friends. I guess also I have never had to try to make friends with kids. It is a lot easier hen you don't have kids because you've got more time.

I guess it takes a while to get use to things being different. I am really happy with the house here. I am happy with the way that the girls have settled in. I am happy being at home so much and I guess that I am kin of happy to be isolated. To spend so much time with my family. I guess that it is not really that much different for me. Apart from my friends and Kevin's Mum there isn't really anything different for me. My Mum has been overseas for over a year now so it doesn't really feel that I'm moving away from her. My life hasn't changed much. The kids are my life now. The house is my life now. I spend time with them trying to make them into good people. What else does a Mum do? I guess that apart from the weekly visits to Emma and the access to Kevin's Mum things are the same for me. I like it here. It's small and quiet and gives us the chance to get ahead in life.

On the move

Well the family is on the move!!! We didn't think that we would be doing this for a number of years to come. We are moving a long way from everyone and everything we know. We are happy to have a permanent job but are nervous about the move. Nervous about having to go somewhere so far from everyone, somewhere that's hard to get to, somewhere that's far from support networks. It is just a big shock. Something we didn't plan but when opprtunity knocks, what can you do? We are going to be apart for a month while I finalise things here and Kevin works up there. That is also nerve racking but people cope all the time with all kinds of adversity and we will be fine but it is a huge shift in our lifestyles and our mind sets from two days ago. Two days ago we thought we would be living here for another five years. On Wednesday Kevin rang to inquire about the job and last night they rang to say he could have the job and how quickly could he start. So he starts in 10 days!!! We have to go to Melbourne next weekend so there isn't much point him going up there next week to come back on Friday for the Melbourne trip.
Gosh what a change!!