Good For A Giggle

I think one of Monet's favourite activities is dressing up her little sister.  Lily loves it just as much.  

The other day, Lily came out dressed in Monet's old Abu Dhabi school uniform, complete with cap and not one, but two backpacks.  It is a wonder she didn't topple backwards.  Oh yes, that's right, she did (in a fit of giggles!)

Monet pulled out her old school swimmers/bathers/togs.  We laughed for ages over that as Lily's nappy was sitting out of the back cutout.  She could get away with wearing them (size 8) if she wasn't actually half that size.

Olympic swimmer in the making perhaps? 

Lily Car

We have this running joke in our family about Lily having a certain type of car.  I'm not sure how it started but I have a feeling it was when we were in London in July 2010, where we bought from Hamley's Toy Store a 'My Little Pony' tiny toy car for Monet, that Lily became attached to.  We always said we could imagine Lily driving that actual car.  Anyway...

A couple of weeks ago I took Lily to an indoor play center where she spent ages in, what I called, a 'Lily Car'.  I MMSed Lyndon the below photo and thought it was as hilarious as what I did.  Lily in a Lily Car.  Cute little button she is. 

On the weekend, we found ourselves in a car yard where Lily immediately spotted a particular car and claimed it as her own.

Lily's future car perhaps.

Halloween 2011

So, I'm a little late here, but as the saying goes, better late than never.

Halloween has come and gone and the girls had a blast.  Our first 'dose' of Halloween came on the Thursday night beforehand, where Monet's school held their annual 'Fall Festival'.  Basically it is everything Halloween with apple bobbing, 'candy galore', blow up castles, food (food! oh so much food!), lots of people (so many people!) and lots of gorgeous kids dressed up in various costumes and the like.

Monet had decided many weeks ago, that she wanted to be a clown at the Festival.  A clown? Okay, so I thought I might actually make her an outfit....which didn't happen.  I cheated and visited my local 'Party Store' and was most impressed to find an actual clown costume.  The nose and hair were separate purchases, but Monet was rapt when I presented to her, her outfit.  So, with a bit heap of face make up, she was ready to go!

She did scare herself when she looked in the mirror, and ten minutes before we were to head out the door, the wig and nose were on the thrown on the floor and Monet was not at all keen on going dressed as a clown.  Urgh, kids I tell you.  But with a bit of reassurance, we went with Monet dressed as a clown and she was a hit.   I still look at that above photo and don't recognise that girl. I see the clown from Stephen King's IT.

So, by the time Halloween rolled around a few days later, the clown idea was out the window and Monet declared she was going as a 'scary fairy' to go Trick or Treating in our neighbourhood.   And Lily?  Well, she was going as a cute Pumpkin.

A cute pumpkin with an Aussie twist.

By then end of the evening, Lily's trick or treat bucket was full to over-flowing.  It initially took her a few door knocks to get the hang of the whole idea.  She was not keen on people putting something in her bucket but when she worked out that she was getting candy/sweeties/lollies, well, anyone who gave her some were her friend.  

I was most surprised that she didn't want to go trick or treating the following evening.  

Some Unusual Breakfast Guests

Monet and Lily invited a couple of guests to breakfast last week.

Molly (she's Irish) and Squeaky (she's a mouse, but recently accompanied us to Berlin and Barcelona, so she's a well traveled mouse).

They sat quietly (the guests, not the hosts) at the table on the table, and nibbled on their toast, and they had a teeny bit of bacon too, all washed down with a drop of water.

Bet you haven't had breakfast guests like that at yours before.

Sing

There are serious moments when, as a parent, my heart sings.  Those of you who have children (and maybe some of you who are not parents) hopefully can identify with me saying this.  It sings when I see either of my girls do something - nothing in particular, just something.

Take the other day, for example.

I got a phone call from the School Nurse saying that Monet was not well so I immediately dropped everything, scooped up Lily and drove to get her.

Back home, Monet showered, put her pyjamas on and went to bed for some well needed rest.  Upon waking and declaring she was feeling a little brighter, Lily and I joined her in her bedroom.

Then I witnessed this.

It made my heart sing.  I don't know why, it just did.  Little acts of kindness from big sister to little sister, little sister acting very funny, big sister enjoying little sister and vice-versa.  Nothing out of the ordinary, just something that made my heart sing.

Sometimes things like that happen few and far between, but then sometimes I witness little singing moments every day.

Monet's Doll

...is 6 weeks old today.

(I believe Lily looks like me as a baby in this photo...)

And yes, Monet does think that Lily is a doll half the time!  A real life one.  The girls are interacting with one another more so than ever.  It warms your heart to see.  I will never actually forget the first time Monet met Lily and then proceeded to sing her a lullaby.  :-)  I keep telling her that we have a lot to look forward to with Lily growing, as I know sometimes Monet struggles with having a newborn in the house (constantly told to shush; Monet doesn't know volume control in her voice!) but she's getting better with not being an only child any more...  When you hear Monet telling Lily how much she loves her or when Lily is presented with a drawing done by her big sister, you know everything is okay with the world.

So everything is going swimmingly.  She's a beautiful baby who is a hit with all the mum's at Monet's school (who coo and ahh over her every morning and afternoon).  

I can't complain about the lack of sleep I have because we have nights were I can get in a chunk of four or five hours solid sleep.  Some nights she'll wake up every couple of hours for a feed (like on Friday night but I suspect it was a growth spurt) and other nights I am getting up around 2 am and then 5am.  I am finding feeding so much easier second time around.  I had heard women say that but didn't believe it.  I believe it now.

Lily isn't a big dummy/pacifier sucker, but at times it does help when she just can't nod off but you know how tired she is.  She's not a 'spewy' baby either.  Sure there have been a few chucks here and there and a few dribbles, but otherwise she's not.  

And our girl is now most definitely into an Aussie size 00, or a 3-6 month old clothing.  Her Bonds Wondersuits in the 000 were getting a little too tight for the wee one, so last night she progressed a size.  

Lily's citizenship is in the process of well, being processed and once that arrives (hopefully in the next couple of weeks) we'll then get her passport.  After that it is hopeful booking of air tickets so our family and friends can meet our new addition. I cannot wait for Lily to especially meet her two Grandmothers and Great Grandmother, who I know feel the same...

Time for a Catch-Up on...not much really!

The title says it all.

...In the past week I have secured Monet's place a the Nursery School with the registration fee, only to have another Nursery School ring up on the same day to tell me they had a position available for Monet!  (Isn't that *always* the way.  Tried for months to get her into somewhere and then it rains offers!)

...I went grocery shopping with out Lyndon for the first time since being here.  I'll tell you what, having my UAE driver's license has been a God-send.  

...We went to the Le Meridian Hotel on Friday for lunch.  My lunch was delightful. (I swear they were the best wedges I have ever had!)

Lyndon had a couple of pints and I drove home, late Friday afternoon, through city traffic.  Lyndon thought that was wonderful.  (Don't blame him!)

...Spent the last few days  having a swim at the pool.  The water has been rather refreshing and Monet has been enjoying herself swimming around.  

...Took Monet into a Park in the cit yesterday for a bit of a play.  Was rather pretty in there, after finally finding the gate to enter the park.

...Have an old girlfriend from High School and her husband coming here tomorrow for an early lunch.  Both come from my hometown and I haven't seen them both for at least 15 years.  He is a chef who works in Dubai and she is a nurse and is nursing in Al Ain (both in the UAE).  Will be interesting to see them both.

...And finally I will leave you with a drawing Monet did yesterday of her mum and dad.  She was so proud!  Isn't Monet adorable in this photo?  Well I think so, but I am biased. 

Hope you've all had a good week.

A Cut and A Meeting

Somebody (not me) got a new haircut.

Cute hey? *snort*

That same somebody also got a new nightie and decided that 4pm would be a good time to wear it (pity the bedtime wasn't at that time!)...

That same somebody has a new b/f. He is MB from House&Baby.

'We' met face-to-face on Tuesday in a sunny Melbourne suburb. H&B has written about the event here and I echo her words because she sounded different to the voice I had of her in my head. It was also very surreal to be in H&B's home and to meet her two lovely boys. I knew I had the right house because of reading about the new fence they built yonks ago.

I was also fortunate to meet Stacey from Sheeps Clothing. I didn't realise she was going to be there for a little while so it was lucky that I was wearing one of her clips! *heehee* I know it was the first thing she checked out. *heehee*

In other news, Monet and I have a week left of being in Australia. The count down is definitely on.

Ladybird, Ladybird...

When staying at Lyndon's parents house the other night and enjoying the lovely warm evening, Monet and I were playing (?) in the backyard.  She was busy riding the trike they have available for the grandchildren to use, when she spotted a Ladybird in the grass.  

It ends up there were more than one.

Dozens in fact.

Monet collected as many as she could, happily placing them in the trike's 'bucket' and rode around, taking them on a little ride until they flew off to their homes... 

So in her Nanna and Poppy's garden there are many Ladybirds to be found.  At her Grandma and Grandad's garden there are little fairies to be found.  Including this big one...

Gee she looks happy doesn't she?  *smirk*

In other news, guess who gets to spend the weekend in Melbourne (with friends) beginning tomorrow, without a little somebody???  Meeeeeee......yippeeeeeeee.......

A Coat and a Jab

I've been sorting through my old wardrobe here at my parent's house.  I have been finding lots of things long forgotten about including this little number, modeled by our own beautiful four year old Miss Monet...

The winter jacket was actually worn by me, when I was four.  I think my Grandmother had bought it for me, to wear on those cold, winter days when I went to Kindergarten.  (Well, Monet won't be wearing that when she goes to Kindergarten now will she?)  It is in rather perfect nick and if we were residing in Victoria permanently she'd be wearing it now.  

Monet thought it was rather wonderful to be wearing her mum's 31 year old coat.  I wonder what else I might dig up in that wardrobe?  (Plenty of junk waiting to be piffed no doubt!)

In other news I had three jabs in my arms yesterday.  My right arm was so sore last night I couldn't lift it.  I had a bad night sleep, due to being not able to sleep on my preferred side.  (Don't you hate that?)  Monet had to have two jabs but she has been fine.  Who would wanna move to the UAE?  *wink wink*

Next Thing You Know, I'll Be Calling Her Claude...

Monet is getting quite good at doing drawing and painting...

She's always sitting on her little table and drawing picture after picture of us and her family.  Each drawing makes us smile and I tend to take photos of them so I will always have them.

The other Saturday morning, Monet had Lyndon and I grinning at each other.  Monet was being quite the professional artist when she began a watercolour of 'Viola', a doll that Grandma (my mother) had given her on the occasion of her 4th birthday.

She had Viola on her art drawers and Monet would stand back, study the doll and go back to her painting.   Like a true professional 'life drawing' artist.

The end result was very good.  And true to life.

I might have to frame that one.  

Where's Mine?

Lyndon had some important stuff to organise at home on Saturday so Monet and I got out of his hair by going into Cairns for a few hours.  

It was nice to browse (seems like ages since I had done so) and Monet was okay doing the same after she got a belly full of McDonalds.  (Happy Meals aren't called Happy Meals for nothing you know!)  

We visited Toys'r'Us, where last week we bought Monet this...

Yeah she's spoilt but gees it is fun playing Barbies once again! *heehee*  This week I told her she could look but we weren't buying her anything.  Instead we chose lots of presents that she wants for her birthday!  We also spied something for her cousin Heidi, who turns 4 five weeks before Monet.  I know Heidi will love this...

(She's Dora mad that niece/cousin of ours! I hope Sarah is prepared for her own little Dora the Explorer running around the house!)

On the way home we popped into KMart, browsing per usual, when Monet and I both spied at the same time and both said the same thing, so I just *had* to buy this...

We both thought it looked very much like a Minnie Mouse dress (you'll agree right?)

At under $13 I thought it was a bargain and now quite pleased we didn't fork out the $50-odd for a Minnie Mouse dress at Disneyland. 

I wonder when I'll buy myself something for a change?  Lyndon is wondering the same. 

Can I Dress You Up...

Monet loves to dress up.  I guess most girls her age (nearing 4) love to do the same.  

The past few weeks, if Monet isn't wearing one of her scraggy fairy dresses pretending she's either a ballet dancer or a fairy or a princess, she's wearing something else to pretend she's something or someone else.  She is actually becoming very (very) inventive with her own wardrobe.  

This little outfit is her 'Minnie Mouse' outfit - red dress with white cherries printed on it complete with black leggings, black long sleeved top and her Minnie Mouse ears.  (And a rather pathetic looking nose painted on by eye with eyeliner that I never use)...

Of course I think she is awfully cute and clever to come up with an outfit that looked unlike Minnie Mouses, but she really out did herself late last week when she walked out of her room dressed like her Irish Doll, Molly (That is Molly sitting on the little lounge - not a great photo but Monet did actually look like her doll!)...

I had to put her hair up in piggy tails of course but otherwise it is all Monet's doing.

Prehaps I have a costume designer on my hands here?

Easter Sky

How is your Easter Weekend going?

Ours is fine, bar the fact that Lyndon and Monet BOTH have head colds at the moment. They both have head colds, but both head colds are different. Where as Lyndon has a runny nose and headache, Monet has a throaty cough. Lucky us hey? But still, it never stopped Lyndon from going to work yesterday AND today. (Deadlines, deadlines!)

Yesterday morning it was only I who got to see the delight in Monet's face after spying what Easter Bunny had left for her. Just how does Easter Bunny work out that Monet has been wanting a 'flashlight' and a 'skipping rope' for yonks? Everything was a big hit. She's been very, very good at sharing her Easter Chocolate with her Mummy-dearest too - without me asking mind you. Sometimes Monet does make me proud...

I swear that horse she is sitting on in the above photo hasn't left her side in the past 36 hours. Nor the flashlight for that matter. It is a wonder it still works.

I have to share the next photo with you of the evening sky (about 6:30 pm) on Thursday night...

See that stripe? The bluest of blues it was. Now that photo is taken from our balcony, facing due East towards the ocean (about a 10 minute walk). East. Not west. Opposite to where the sun is setting. It would make sense if the sun was setting that way, but it doesn't. Lyndon and a friend we had staying the night, went to find out what the stripe was. It ends up that as the sun was setting in the west, a cloud was in the sun's rays and causing this stripe to reflect across the sky into a stripe. Nature never ceases to amaze me at times... I had never seen anything like it...

Construction

Lyndon had to go into work today for a little while and I needed to go and buy Little Miss You-Know-Who, some goodies for next weekend which I can't exactly do with her besides me, like she has done previously. She's now too 'switched on'. So I dropped Monet off at Lyndon's work for an hour.

Monet has been banging on for numerous weeks now that she 'wants to go to work with daddy'. Lyndon bought for her a while back from Bunnings, one of those kiddies tool belts, complete with tools and a Hard Hat. She adores it. She walks around the apartment 'fixing' things. Well, tries to anyway.

So last night, when Lyndon suggested that Monet could visit him at work for an hour today (he works on a big construction site) she was terribly excited. It is a wonder she could sleep last night.

I dropped her off at about 11am and she didn't look back as she walked into Lyndon's office. Did. Not. Look. Back. She had her lunch box and tool belt with her. I drove off child-free for an hour or so. (Yippee!)

When I returned, she looked like she had had a terrific time with her Dad. Lyndon said that when they walked over to the construction site, the security guards on duty couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces looking at Monet all dressed up with her hard hat and tool belt on. I wished I had a photo (but no cameras are allowed on site without permission!) Monet told me about the men laying tiles, the bathrooms, the kitchen, the tool boxes. She did some colouring-in off construction plans and was very happy to have gone to work with her daddy. But she said she was tired. Apparently it was hard work hanging around with Dad for an hour.

I wonder when Lyndon is working on a Sunday again?

Opportunity

After bucket loads of rain, yesterday saw us bathed in sunshine for a couple of hours. It didn't rain constantly for a change. With our window of opportunity, Monet and I walked down the beach for a couple of hours, to dig, to play, to make 'snow men' and 'castles'...

It was nice to be outside for a change, where we sat under the shade of one of the large Mango trees that are along the shoreline and played. And dug. And drew in the sand. And did all those things Monet had been wanting to do for the last few days after being cooped up indoors.

We collected little rocks to decorate our sand castles...

...and made a pretend tray of Sand Teddy Biscuits which Monet decorated with flair.

After collecting the rocks back off the Teddy Bears Monet proceeded to stand at the shoreline with the rocks and threw them, one by one, into the hungry dirty, sandy water.

"The Ocean's hungry," she said, "so I'm feeding the Ocean. It's pretty hungry today!" I think she was right.

After running around, doing silly activities (such as seeing if she could jump up and down whilst rubbing her tummy, for example and Star Jumps), we walked home.

"Walk slower!", Monet kept demanding. I was walking slow so she could keep with those legs of hers. But she was exhausted. I had to carry her part of the way home. "I'm so exhausted!" she exclaimed.

I know she was exhausted because our usual 9pm girl, was fast asleep and tucked up in bed by 8pm last night.

I wish the rain would go away today... This weather is too unpredictable! It's doing my head in!!

With a Splish and a Splash...

You know the 'wet season' has begun when it rains solidly for two days straight. And you have thunderstorms for two nights straight. Cairns received over 300mm in 48 hours. I can't believe it hasn't rained this morning but the forecast for the next week is more and more and more rain.


We are making the most of today's non-rainy-day (so far), by Monet going on her bike to the local shop. She rode around like she owned the place and had been riding for years. Besides not knowing exactly how the hand brake works yet and not quite being able to ride up slight little hills, she's doing really well and we get lots of smiles and waves from people.


Yesterday when it was slightly drizzling, I took Monet over to the park to do some puddle splashing...



To be a little kid again right?

The playground was flooded but Monet didn't mind splashing around in the puddles and playing.



When we returned home we had awful trouble trying to pry her gumboots off. Her foot was suction cuffed into the gumboot and we laughed and giggled for about 5 minutes twisting her boots off. When both feet were finally free I tipped the boots upside down to discover that both boots had about half a cup of water each in them! I think I might invest in a pair of these Croc Georgie wellies for her at some stage...


...as the little Target brand Size 10's seem to be getting a little tight. Literally.

We did lots of beading yesterday too. Monet loves threading the beads onto the elastic/nylon strings and making stuff. I was lucky enough to score a necklace yesterday made with her loving hands. We'll be making more later today I predict. Thank goodness for $2 shops, though up here those $2 shops are more like $2 Warehouses, they're huge!!


I predict that we'll be doing a bit of baking in the next few weeks (months??) too, along with colouring in, glueing, cutting (or 'snipping' as Monet calls it - Thanks Grandma!), stickers, eating, play doughing, painting, drawing, indoor picnics, blackboard games, card games, library visits, television watching, you name it!!!!.... Now, would someone like to come and do my housework?

Dress Ups

After sorting through Monet's bedroom last week, getting ready for all those new Christmas items (ie. the local 'Op Shop' received 3 'green' bags of Monet's old stuff - hopefully Monet doesn't notice any missing items!)

I decided she should have a box specifically for 'dress ups'. In it are old bags (and I thought I had a lot of bags!), hats, shawls, that kind of thing. She has a 'Dorothy the Dinosaur' (from The Wiggles) tail, a tutu and her favourite, Ariel The Little Mermaid costume. I have to post this picture;


Pretty darn cute hey?

Pity she thinks the top half is a 'bra' and insists some days on wearing it under her t-shirt (just like Mummy!) I'm glad I'm not a make up kind of girl as she'd be wanting to wear it too!

Yesterday she came out of her room looking like this;



For some reason or another she really reminded me of my Nana dressed like that. Not that my Nana would wear bunny ears, Lion mane and hat, together with purple poncho and carrying a baby blanket, she just reminded me of her. Funny. Maybe because my Nana once came home from visiting her favourite Op Shop (she was a big Op Shopper) and dressed up in a brunette wig and big thick brown fur coat, which she had just bought, looking like she had stepped off a plane from Russia!

My Nana died some 2 weeks after Monet's birth but I am regularly reminded of her! *heehee*

Too Cute To Not Post

Not great quality, I realise, but I filmed this a few weeks ago via my mobile phone.

This is Monet dancing to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song, which cracks us up. That's Monet dancing like her favourite character, Minnie Mouse. Notice the footwork please. I need to film an update on this dancing. The hands are now used and she sings in fine voice! Her spelling of Mickey Mouse is one to be noted here too.

Monet is *so* into Mickey Mouse and Co at the mo, it's not funny. We're thinking a trip to Paris Disneyland might just be on the books now...

La..la..laaa.....

Guess whose daughter sang the best AND the loudest at Playgroup today??

Yep, mine.

Usually a little reserved when it comes to 'sing-along' time, Monet today sang in a fine voice!

I wasn't the only one who sat shocked as the other parents looked over at me with raised eyebrows and grins.

*lovely*