Wonmor Down Under

Dialogue

2011-09-19T03:28:00.002+10:00

Me: Max, please put away the cutlery for me.

Max: This is not called cutlery.

Me: What do you call it?

Max: Silverware.

Me: Cutlery is another word for silverware. I grew up calling it silverware but, when we moved to Australia, I heard people calling it cutlery. Now I use both words.

Max: Cutlery is a swear word.

Me: What does it mean?

Max: It means baby in Spanish. The "cut" part means fighting.

(We've been working on only using "baby" to refer to the babies)

Jailed

2011-09-09T12:17:00.000+10:00

They thought this was great fun...for ten minutes

2011-09-09T12:11:00.003+10:00

Helping Daddy Work

2011-09-09T12:09:00.000+10:00

We use a lot of nappies

2011-09-09T12:07:00.002+10:00

Elise, Abby and Max

Another "make-ups" creation

2011-09-09T12:04:00.001+10:00

Any guesses???

Playing at Southbank

2011-09-09T11:55:00.003+10:00

We took a trip to Southbank with some friends a few weeks ago. The water was still a bit chilly for the weather but the kids didn't seem to mind. Plus the sand at Streets Beach is always a hit.

Max, Sadie and I playing in the sand

Sadie and Ryan

Funny comment

2011-09-09T11:22:00.002+10:00

Max's teacher approached me when I arrived at his montessori to pick him up yesterday. She asked me to sign an incident report b/c another child bit Max. Here's the story as she related it:

Max and Orlando were playing with some dinosaurs and Caleb bit Max when Max would not give a dinosaur to him (apparently the rule is that only two children can play with the dinosaurs at one time). The teacher noticed Max crying and went over to the boys. After inquiring about what happened, Max said, "Caleb bit me."

The teacher asked Caleb whether or not he bit Max (there were not teeth marks on Max's arm). Caleb replied, "No. I scratched him with my teeth. I'm not allowed to bite."

The mark on Max's arm looks like a scratch so I think Caleb truly believed he was not biting :)

Arts and Crafts

2011-08-07T21:17:00.003+10:00

We have created an arts and crafts box where I put all sorts of boxes, ribbons, containers, doodads, and gobbledygook. Max has, in the last three months, become really interested in making things. He has made Ben 10 watches out of toilet rolls, Green Lantern rings out of paper, dare I say hundreds of paper airplanes (yes, I do), a robot, a wobble board (Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport), Star Wars space ships, a DVD player and TV complete with DVDs and two remote controls, a boobie trap for above one of the bedroom doors, etc. I love to watch his creative side developing.

Wobble board

robot

Ice skating in Brisbane?!

2011-08-07T20:51:00.003+10:00

There was a German market/winter carnival traveling through the capital cities of Australia this winter. We decided it was a good time to introduce Max to ice skating. He loved it!

A summit in the cot

Elsa giving me kisses as we watched Max and Tim ice skate

Ice skating with the seal scooter

We also had three rides on the ice slide

We spotted some girls with animal balloons at the German market. After we asked them where they got the balloons, we tracked down the artist on the Queen Street Mall.

Max wearing his scabbard while using his sword and shield on me. It was frightening as you can see (is fear the expression on my face?!).

Dairy Allergy

2011-08-07T20:18:00.004+10:00

Elsa has had eczema since she was two to three months old. I wasn't too concerned about it until she gained enough fine motor skill to scratch it. And then there was the time that her neck, upper chest, and side of her face became infected...

When I came to realize that the discomfort was effecting her personality, I decided that I needed to take serious action to get the eczema under control and try to figure out her triggers. Our local GP and a dermatologist gave me some good guidelines on how to treat flare ups and what to do for general maintenance. We were lucky enough to also see the allergist on the Gold Coast who is a bit of a local legend so in mid-July, we found out that Elsa has a dairy allergy. I had suspected that was true b/c she refused to eat yoghurt and even broke out in hives the last time I tried to feed it to her.

Elsa and I have gone dairy free. Well, sort of. I avoid all of the obvious dairy but I haven't been as careful at dinner or birthday parties. Unfortunately, I think that Elsa pays the price after those occasions so I need to be a bit more diligent. I just hope that we don't discover more allergies in the next few months!

Elsa soaking in her bath oil

Elsa's eczema at its worst (I cringe just looking at this picture. Thankfully, she is much, much, much better now).

Too Long

2011-08-07T19:43:00.003+10:00

I can't seem to blog and facebook at the same time. Facebook has won out for the past six months or so. Hopefully I can get back into blogging.

Life has been so busy since the twins arrived. Beyond the time that it takes to care for two babies, I've committed to running the Under Ones playgroup for the Brisbane Multiple Birth Association-Westside. The group gets together twice per month at a couple of our local libraries. I've enjoyed meeting with other Moms of multiples.

Maxwell is still enjoying Montessori three days per week. He never wants to go in the morning but, as soon as he arrives, he's off to play with his friends with hardly a good-bye. His teachers are lovely: Tim and I are very pleased that he has the opportunity to spend a year there.

Max also hit a big milestone in June. We have a five-year-old in the family! We had a joint party with his buddy, Alexi, in the local park. It was the first year that we didn't host the party at our apartment. Gotta say--the clean up is much easier at the park :)

The girls are growing so fast! I can't believe how quickly these last seven months have gone! They are both starting to scoot around on the floor, have been eating solids for three months, and are working on sitting.

Addie is very smiley and outgoing yet she is also the first one to burst into tears when she is tired and amongst strangers. Elsa is a bit more reserved--she likes to observe the world around her with a poker face. Yet she always has a smile for Max--he loves to make her laugh (and laugh she does!).

Break for snacks during a bushwalk

Max holding Elsa

Perhaps he was a bit sick that day

Addie showing off her toothy grin

We are Australians!

2011-04-09T07:41:00.003+10:00

On Thursday night we attended our citizenship ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was a really special night for Max b/c he got to stay up late and have an exclusive outing with M&D. Unfortunately, we didn't bring the camera. Such a shame! It would have been nice to document Max asleep on Tim's lap at the cafe after the ceremony.

The ceremony itself was nice if not a bit long. Max really enjoyed the aboriginal dancing, the children's choir and the Australian Army Band. It was strange to see a banner with a life-size photograph of the queen standing behind the official party. Tim's query: "Is that a cardboard cut-out of the queen up there?" Each speaker began his speech acknowledging the traditional inhabitants of the land on which the Convention and Exhibition Centre lies. They used the exact same words, verbatim. It is some sort of official requirement (I looked it up in the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code, p 36).

We wanted to get a photo of Max with the Lord Mayor but the Lord Mayor's robe and gold medallions put Max off. He looked a bit like a rapper Father Christmas.

This is the previous Lord Mayor: the current one is taller and gaunter, like Father Christmas. There aren't any pics of the new Lord Mayor in ceremonial garb b/c he had just been appointed the morning of the day of the ceremony.

Visiting Assisted Conception Australia

2011-04-09T06:58:00.002+10:00

This week Wednesday we visited ACA for the first time since the beginning of my second trimester. I had seen a lot of the ACA staff during our last IVF cycle, especially since I hyper-stimulated (I was hospitalized for six days and had a belly like I was 7 months pregnant--my ovaries were the size of grapefruits and I had fluid in my "third spaces"). They played such a significant role in our early pregnancy--it seemed to strange that they did not see me at all after I hit fourteen weeks and they had not yet met the twins. I felt more connected to ACA than I did to the OBs and staff at Arrivals who monitored my pregnancy and delivered the twins.

It was great to show off the twins to the people who made them possible. I told the twins that they hadn't been in the ACA office since they were only eight cells (Dr Clare Boothroyd has a separate office from the main ACA office where she performs the embryo transfers) and Clare hadn't seen them since they were 10-week fetuses!

Visiting Clare in her office--she's such a good one! (I have Addie, Clare has Elsa...Tim has Max)

Margie holding Elsa and Claire (the other one) holding Addie in the ACA office. Margie is one of the IVF nurses and Claire is the ACA office manager. Margie has 18-year-old twin boys by IVF.

Steven Fleming (the embryologist who loaded 8-cell Addie and Elsa into the syringe for the embryo transfer) holding Addie and Claire holding Elsa

ACA has their 3 year anniversary celebration in July so we'll get to see them again at that time!

Max's First 1k Race

2011-04-06T17:52:00.001+10:00

Games for the kids afterwards

First Time Rock Climbing Too

Max and Daddy Running the Race

All That Pink! March 18

2011-04-06T16:58:00.000+10:00

Bath Time

2011-03-11T15:25:00.000+10:00

Watching "The Funny Show"

2011-03-11T15:23:00.001+10:00

Of Course There's Room for You!

2011-03-11T15:21:00.000+10:00

Another Dream Time Dialogue

2011-03-11T14:44:00.003+10:00

Max: You have hair growing under your arms.

Tim: Yes, I do.

Max: Will I have hair under my arms when I grow big?

Tim: I imagine you will.

Max: Will it be as long as Mommy's? (I must interject that I don't have long armpit hair. It is just darker than Tim's so it is more noticeable).

Tim: Hmmm.

Max: Ginormica (the giant girl in Monsters Vs Aliens) must have really long hair under her arms.

Dialogue between Max and Tim

2011-02-24T20:12:00.002+10:00

As Max was falling to sleep, we started talking about Rachel's birthday.

Max: If Mommy keeps growing, her head will hit the ceiling.

Daddy: At some point your body will say, "I'm the perfect height" and it will stop growing. Mommy and Daddy will keep having birthdays but we probably won't grow any taller.

Max: (pause) I'm the perfect height. I don't want to get any taller.

Daddy: I agree.

Max: If I get taller, I'll be a man and then I'll have to go to work.

Daddy: Yeah, you'll get to go to work.

Max: I'll have to duck in the elevator.

The Twins' Arrival!

2011-01-09T15:02:00.004+10:00

I was finally convinced on December 22nd that it would be best to be induced between 37 and 38 weeks (I was 37+2 that day) so on the 23rd, I scheduled to be induced the next morning. Grandma Wonhof had been visiting since the 16th so Max stayed home with her on the 24th.

Tim and I arrived at the hospital at 7.30am, were in a delivery suite by 8am, then had my waters broken at 8.30am. By 10am I still did not have strong or regular enough contractions so the OB gave me Oxytocin to bring on the contractions. It worked. Fortunately I had an epidural by 10.30am so I was able to relax a bit more for the last three hours. The OBs told me that they recommend an epidural with twins b/c of the risk of something going wrong with the delivery of the second twin. I'm certainly glad I followed that recommendation because twin two's heart rate dropped to 50 bpm and the OB needed to use a vacuum to get her out. She didn't start breathing on her own for 4 minutes. A chaotic and scary 4 minutes. Fortunately, I think I was a bit too distracted to fully comprehend what was going on at the time.

Elizabeth Morse Wonhof (Elsa) was born at 1.44pm on 24.12.10 weighing in at 2664g (5lbs 14oz) and Adelaide Emmerich Wonhof (Addie) was born at 1.58pm the same day at 2888g (6lbs 5 oz).

Grandma Wonhof with Addie

Addie

Elsa

Tim with Addie

Proud older brother holding Addie

Can you see the theme throughout the pictures? Addie is not the laid back one :-)

Baxter Visits!

2010-11-26T15:34:00.002+10:00

Our friends, Caz and Bill, came for a quick visit on Saturday morning. They came into town from Stanthorpe for Bill's 50th birthday party. It was great to see them and watch Max and Baxter play again.

Gymnastics

2010-11-26T15:20:00.003+10:00

Max has taken two terms of gymnastics this year. He likes it and it is a good challenge for him. There are lots of activities outside his comfort zone and he has to listen carefully to instructions. Both are equally big challenges for him.

These photos are from the "championships." Judges checked to see how independently and correctly the kids could do the different activities. Max loved receiving a medal at the end

Swinging on the uneven bars (he was asked to keep his knees tucked and together and his toes pointed)

Holding himself still on the bar with pointy toes and straight legs

Holding his body straight while hanging then dismounting with arms raised

Receiving his medal and certificate

His class and teachers

We'll have to decide whether or not to keep him in the class again next year. I think we'd see a lot of improvement and more confidence if he stays in...but we have a busy year ahead of us. I feel he is a bit over-scheduled currently so I'll have to withdraw him from something (he has "school" three days per week then ballet, gymnastics and music too).

Playdate with Kindy/Ballet Friends

2010-11-26T15:14:00.002+10:00

We had a playdate at Max's friend's, Jaime's, house. Max, Perry, and Jaime attend the same kindy and ballet class. Bianca and Jaime's younger brother, Mitchell, attend the ballet class too. We've developed a Tuesday ritual that, after ballet, we go to a local bakery for a tasty treat. The kids LOVE Tuesday afternoons.

All of the kids playing around/in the pool

Max and his buddy Mitchell playing with a remote control aqua-car

Toy Story 3: in the park

2010-11-26T15:08:00.002+10:00

Max's Montessori sponsored a movie in the park a couple of weeks ago. We sat with our friends, Celine and Nicolas and their boys. Max and Alexi are in the same group at Montessori (and they've known each other since they were 8 months old).

Max and Alexi playing with glow sticks

Max, Raphael, and Alexi "watching" the movie

28 Week Scan

2010-10-27T19:59:00.002+10:00

Here are the photos from the 28 week scan. It's hard to tell that the pics are of two different babies...but they are. The top one is twin 2, the bottom twin 1. They are both head down at this point: hopefully there isn't enough room in there for them to change formation.

State Library

2010-10-10T22:00:00.002+10:00

We met our friends Stephen and Haliel with their boys, Yishai and Jonah, at the Kid's Corner of the state library. It's a great rainy day activity (and it was so rainy today!). There is a different theme each month and then there are the regular books, puzzles, computer activities, and crafts. This month had an aviation theme.

Max piloting the passenger plane

Max wearing the aviator glasses

Baby Gear

2010-10-10T21:57:00.002+10:00

Friends have been kindly passing on baby gear to us. Max loves most of it but has taken a particular liking to this bouncy chair. He especially likes to pretend it is a rocket ship and asks Tim to carry him around our house in it.

Drawings

2010-10-10T21:53:00.002+10:00

Max made these wonderful drawings at his kindy. The top one was used in the annual kindy art show.

He drew us next to our apartment building, inclusive of the steps leading up to the building.

Thomas and Percy (trains)

Mama Mia!!

2010-10-10T21:48:00.002+10:00

Tim and I had one of our few and far between "date nights." Our friends Malia and Emmanuel accompanied us for an evening of Mama Mia. I love that show! It was such a special treat. Thank you Tim!

Tim's birthday

2010-10-10T21:43:00.002+10:00

Pete Froehlich

2010-10-10T21:39:00.002+10:00

Our friend, Pete Froehlich, flew in for a night to celebrate Tim's 40th birthday. He spent about twice as much time getting to and from Brisbane as he spent in Brisbane. What a cool surprise for Tim!

MAX

2010-10-10T21:36:00.003+10:00

Max loves to write his name, to point out his name whenever he sees it (max. short for maximum is a common sighting), or to make his name with objects (like pencils or pretzels).

Wrapped

2010-10-10T21:33:00.003+10:00

This was Max's typical look first thing in the morning this winter.

25 Weeks

2010-10-10T21:17:00.003+10:00

My friend, Angela Hammond, took some pregnancy photos of me with Max. Check out some of her work at Blueberry Hill Photography.

Tim's Birthday Book

2010-08-26T14:33:00.001+10:00

I used this picture on the cover of the birthday/memory book.

New MacDonald's Farm Show

2010-08-26T14:28:00.001+10:00

Tim took Max to see a New MacDonald's Farm show.

Twins

2010-08-26T13:03:00.005+10:00

The 20-week scan went well. Twin girls!

Too long!

2010-08-26T12:58:00.002+10:00

I knew it had been at least a month since I blogged but two?! I haven't been that busy! I'll blame it on all of the sickness going around.

Here's a story...

Tim was reading a story about Cars The Movie in a Disney/Pixar anthology. I originally bought the book b/c I was looking for something with more words and fewer pictures. This particular story is about 20 pages: for 10 pages, Max had his Kiki recite the story verbatim. Tim and I were laughing in amazement at our son's memory. Max was laughing b/c he thought we were laughing at Kiki. It's amazing what those munchkins can remember!

For the Grandparents

2010-06-27T10:28:00.004+10:00

Max has, over the last few months, become interested in treasure maps. I drew a map of our apartment then Tim enlarged and laminated it. We now can hide things (like birthday presents) around the apartment, draw an X on the map, and Max will search for them. He's starting to be able to read that map (not sure if it is truly map reading or memorization, probably the latter...my drawing ability isn't that good :-P).

Don't Wake Daddy

2010-06-18T10:10:00.000+10:00

Max and I got up overnight to have a bowl of cereal. He wanted a couple of cars but they were in the bedroom with Tim. I told Max he could go into the bedroom if he didn't wake up Daddy. A moment later I heard Tim and Max talking. I scolded Max, "I said you could go in the bedroom if you didn't wake up Daddy." Max replied, "I didn't. I only woke up his head."

4th Birthday Party

2010-06-16T20:15:00.003+10:00

Birthday Party

2010-06-16T20:12:00.001+10:00

Chuffed with his new Chuggington pajamas (he's looking in the mirror)

Tim's masterpiece (second year in a row!)

Decorating Birthday Cupcakes

2010-06-16T20:07:00.001+10:00

Finished Product

The Decorator

BBQ

2010-06-16T20:04:00.000+10:00

At the end of our evening bbq

Bath

2010-06-16T19:59:00.001+10:00

I want to take a bath in here tonight.

"Super Fast!"

2010-06-16T19:58:00.001+10:00

Last thing that came out of Max's mouth tonight as he was falling asleep: "super fast" from Little Einsteins.

Kiki's Video Debut

2010-05-23T14:02:00.003+10:00

Great Climbing Tree

2010-05-23T14:00:00.000+10:00

Exhausted before 7pm

2010-05-23T13:58:00.000+10:00

I love cupcakes!

2010-05-23T13:55:00.000+10:00

Super Mommy Mouse

2010-05-23T13:52:00.000+10:00

Balloon Animals

2010-05-23T13:25:00.002+10:00

Max thought the remainder of his balloon dragonfly would make a good pair of sunglasses.

Easter Egg Hunt Movie

2010-04-10T09:29:00.003+10:00

Max wanted the Easter Bunny to bring him Sally from Cars, the movie. Although this video is a bit long, it captures his enthusiasm well.

Easter Egg Hunt

2010-04-10T09:17:00.005+10:00

Bunny tracks

First egg was chocolate!

Posing with his "chickie house"

Max made this "chickie house" at preschool: I heard about it for a few weeks before he brought it home. His teacher, Miss Kelly, told me that initially, he had made it 12 boxes high. After a short engineering lesson, he decided that four boxes would stick together and still be portable.

Rocks Riverside Park Picnic

2010-04-10T09:11:00.002+10:00

Picnic with Lena and Tim (Tim and Max share the same birthday)

Teddy Bears Picnic

2010-04-08T20:27:00.002+10:00

The rail museum had a special "Teddy Bears Picnic" theme today. Max and I had a wonderful afternoon amongst the bears and trains.

Making a Teddy Bear on a stick

Giving Kiki a cuddle

Max, Kiki, and the teddy bears having a picnic

Listening to Henry, the conductor, before the Teddy Bear Parade

"If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands"

Maxwell didn't last through the singing time before the Teddy Bear Parade. He bolted as Henry was explaining about the parade.

Max initially wanted to be a teddy bear...

but finally decided to be spider man. Tim thinks he looks more like an oompa loompa.

Ear Muffs

2010-04-08T20:23:00.001+10:00

Max and Joschka were watching Volker operate a "whacker packer."

Easter Bunny Ears

2010-04-08T20:21:00.000+10:00

Juicing

2010-04-08T20:19:00.000+10:00

Easter Long Weekend in Byron

2010-04-04T20:05:00.002+10:00

We went to Byron Bay in northern New South Wales to visit our friends, the Seligs. Once again, we had a wonderful visit. They are such good people and Max loves playing with both of their boys.

Yishai and Jonah: loving brothers

Max and Yishai got a ride into Byron Bay. Steven was nice enough to pull them behind his bike so the rest of us could fit into one car. I think they enjoyed themselves.

Yish is 8 months older than Max--although Max has lost much of his baby fat, he still has comparatively chubby cheeks next to Yishai.

Haliel made us two super yummy meals. The first night we had spicy meatballs with green beans and cauliflower "mashed potatoes" (cauliflower with spices whirled through the blender--amazingly good and clever). Saturday night she made Pad Thai which I have never made at home. She inspired me so I made it tonight for dinner...not quite as good as hers but still tasty.

"Going to Work"

2010-04-04T20:00:00.002+10:00

Max drove his car to work (not sure why he does that since Tim commutes by train).

He seems to be having a good day at work.

Sheep Shearing

2010-04-04T19:56:00.003+10:00

The sheep dog show and the sheep shearing were the highlights of our trip to Lone Pine this week.

The Road Beckons

2010-03-28T20:30:00.003+10:00

Thanks for all that you've done for me, Mom and Dad, but my future lies with music. I gotta hit the road.

Undies

2010-03-28T20:28:00.001+10:00

Max returned from the toilet looking like this. What's great is that none of the other kids were phased by it.

A "Super" Ready for Preschool

2010-03-28T20:25:00.000+10:00

Vegetables

2010-03-25T17:20:00.001+10:00

Now that there are flowers on the pea plant and the tomato plant, Max gives each of the plants a kiss. So sweet.

Our Vegetable Patch

2010-03-15T21:36:00.001+10:00

Max and I planted these from seed--he loves checking on their growth and feeding them fish fertilizer.

Roly Poly Pudding

2010-03-15T21:30:00.003+10:00

Beatrix Potter had a strange imagination (and idea of what are appropriate topics for children). Nonetheless, we have a series of DVDs based on her stories. One bizarre story is "The Tale of Samuel Whiskers," in which Samuel, a rat, catches a kitten so his wife can make roly poly pudding. It's a story worth reading/watching if for no other reason than to exclaim "What?!" at the end.

Max's Project While I Made Cookies

2010-03-15T21:28:00.001+10:00

Making Sandwiches

2010-03-15T21:05:00.004+10:00

After a walk on Mt. Coot-tha and at its botanical gardens, Tim and I were a bit tired. I suggested to Max that he make us some sandwiches while Tim and I nap. He LOVED that idea. He made sure that I only laid out the ingredients for him and later that I only helped spread the mayonnaise (after I noticed he did more eating than spreading). He wanted to do the rest.

The sandwich maker

the finished products

Hide and Seek Trail at Mt. Coot-tha Botanical Garden

2010-03-15T20:59:00.002+10:00

Before we started the trail, it started raining so we stopped for a "picnic" (I only brought an orange) in the Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden

Cuddle With You?

2010-03-15T20:55:00.002+10:00

When Max comes into our bed overnight, he typically asks, "Mommy, cuddle with you?" I'm not sure that I knew he had come in on this particular night.

Vitamin Train

2010-03-15T20:50:00.002+10:00

I came up with this idea a couple of months ago and now it is a daily ritual. When it is time to take his vitamins, Max finds his trains and waits at the station (wherever he decides to sit down). My role is to turn on the "move by itself" Thomas and announce "the vitamin train is now approaching Max's station."

Buff Cowboy

2010-03-15T20:48:00.002+10:00

My Birthday

2010-02-28T19:47:00.002+10:00

Thanks for all of the kind "happy birthday" wishes this week. I had a lovely birthday. We started the day by calling my dad b/c his birthday is on the 25th: since we are a day ahead, we celebrate our birthdays at the same time. Kinda nifty.

Max and I had a busy morning. We went to the Mt. Coot-tha Botanical Gardens to do their "hide-and-seek trail." It is a beautiful garden and Max enjoyed the trail. We stopped for morning tea during a brief rainstorm. The highlight of the outing was when we watched two crows trying to kill a young tiger snake. The crows' objective was to break the snake's back so it couldn't escape. A woman who was watching the snake and crows with us said that once the snake's back is broken, the snake will bite itself. Hard to imagine but okay. We didn't watch long enough for the crows to finish it off--a couple of Canadians couldn't help but approach the battle to take pictures. They kept scaring away the crows. Max lost interest (we stood about 10 meters away for safety so there wasn't much to watch when the crows periodically flew away at the approach of the Canadians).

After the botanical garden, we headed to the doctor where I received the swine flu vaccination then Max and I went to a cafe for a lunch date. He was so well-behaved at the doctor and at the cafe. He's usually so active that it is hard to contain him during those types of activities. What a birthday treat!

Our friend Emmanuel watched Max in the evening while Tim and I walked around the West End and had dinner at a Greek restaurant. It was so nice to have a leisurely meal with Tim. Thank you Emman and thank you Tim!

Bike Riding

2010-02-21T13:31:00.003+10:00

Max learned to ride his bike without training wheels! He had attempted it in December but he wasn't confident enough to stick with it. This week he was ready.

Art from Preschool

Ready to go to the park: I asked him to dress himself. Little Jokester.

Riding his bike

Abby's 3rd Birthday

2010-02-14T20:53:00.002+10:00

Max's friend, Abby, had her third birthday party today at an indoor play center and cafe. We had such a lovely time. Abby's family recently moved to Toowoomba, a town about 1.5 hours from Brisbane. It was fun to see them--we miss seeing them regularly.

Playing musical chairs

The kids didn't understand the game. They weren't listening to the music. The only time they sat down was when the leader told them to. There was no scrambling for chairs. No chairs tipped over. Two kids never sat on a chair together. They were thinking, "Why is this lady telling us to sit when there are not enough chairs?" Tears were shed over the lack of chairs only once.

Playing vids

The birthday girl and her mummy

The John Family

2010-02-14T20:17:00.003+10:00

Some friends, Robin and Richard, from our Chicago days were traveling through Brisbane on their way to Perth. We met them at the airport during their brief stopover. They had flown from FL to LA, had a 12-hour layover (they went to the beach and rented bikes), flew LA to Brisbane then were boarding another 5-hour flight to Perth. All of them, kids included, were in remarkably good spirits. They hardly looked fatigued!

Thanks for the lovely coffee and chat!

The Johns scrambling for their next flight

As an aside, I am a bit of a "stress case" when I travel. Because only ticketed passengers can pass through security in the U.S., I haven't been in an airport terminal as a non-traveler in years. For domestic flights in Australia, any person can pass through security into the terminal. I found the experience rather relaxing as a non-traveler--I watched the stress around me from the safety of my worry-free bubble. In fact, if I had been holding any tension in my body, I think the travelers took it with them. No more yoga or massage for me! In the future, I'll just visit the airport!

Wednesday the 10th

2010-02-14T19:35:00.003+10:00

We visited Tim's office over lunch

Max made a campfire from seashells.

Masterpiece from Preschool/Kindy

2010-02-14T19:32:00.001+10:00

Marble Race

2010-02-09T20:43:00.002+10:00

Here is a follow-up video of Max's marble race. He still likes to play with it but not as it was intended. He likes to create new paths for the marbles. In this case, he wanted the marbles to go outside on the patio but we didn't have enough pieces. We had a few discussions about gravity after he tried to extend the end towards the door, creating an uphill portion.

Playing "Super"

2010-02-09T20:31:00.002+10:00

Max has a Disney anthology which includes a couple of stories about The Incredibles. We call them the "Supers." Max's cousins gave him this super outfit for Christmas 2008.

A "super" pose

Second Week of Preschool

2010-02-08T13:52:00.004+10:00

Max was not nearly as excited about preschool this morning. Beforehand, he tried to convince me that it wasn't preschool day then, upon arrival, he didn't want me to leave him. Tugs at my heart strings. He's still so little!

On a brighter note, we went bushwalking yesterday afternoon at Mt Coot-tha. We'd had buckets of rain Saturday night so we had to walk through the stream bed where the path was flooded. Max loved it! He walked the summit path to about 1/2 km from the top then ran all of the way down.

Max Loves Red Peppers

2010-02-06T22:20:00.002+10:00

Tonight I made pizza for dinner. Half the pizza had red peppers on it. Max's half had sauce, ham and cheese. When I served the pizza, Max asked what was on Tim's and my pieces. I told him that I put red peppers on mommy and daddy's but that his piece did not have any. Max proceeded to explain that he liked the PRETEND red peppers that were on his piece of pizza. Every time he took a bite, he exclaimed, "I got a red pepper!"

I would ask, "Was it good?"

"Yes!"

A few times he told me that he got a spicy red pepper in a bite. He liked the pretend spicy ones equally well.

First Week of February

2010-02-06T14:03:00.002+10:00

Tim fell asleep as I read books to Max--I don't think either of them budged all night.

Max wanted me to fill a bucket with water. He proceeded to sit in it. When I pulled out the camera, he then asked me to take photos of him in different poses (smiling, saying "oh", standing in the bucket, looking up). He then started running a circuit around the patio columns, around the table, through the water in the bucket, and down the path to the back garden. I was the official announcer/commentator (saying things like, "Ooo, he chose to go a different route this time). I'd post a video, but, as usual, he's naked in it.

The best seat in the house

Max's friend, Abby, spent the night. Max went to bed early but Abby stayed awake for a late night concert (she played the drum/book).

First Day of Preschool

2010-02-01T11:54:00.004+10:00

Today is Max's first day of preschool. He didn't really want to go but he came around to the idea when it was time to put on his "new" backpack and carry his lunchbag. When we arrived at his school, we saw a little girl who was in his pre-kindy class. He mentioned that "she plays with Toby. Toby snatches." I gave him a little pep talk about what to do if another child tries to take his toy. After that, it was smooth sailing. He put his shoes and backpack into his cubby, found some trains, gave me a kiss and hug, and that's that.

Daddy going to work. Maxie going to school.

Max loved this picture because he knew he was pulling a face

Ready for school

In his "classroom"

I'll have to post pictures of his school. It has such a good set up. It's in a converted home in a neighborhood. One wall has been knocked out so the kids can choose to be indoors or outdoors. The garden has a greenhouse, sandpit, climbing area, mature trees, rock walls, and a cave for the kids to play and climb on. There are always lots of different art projects (Max seldom does them) and many building/discovery toys as well as imaginative play areas. I'm a big fan of the place, as you might perceive.

He'll attend Mondays and Tuesdays from 9-2.30. It seems like a long time for the little guy. Hopefully he will still be keen to go tomorrow!

Joschka's Third Birthday Party

2010-02-01T11:41:00.003+10:00

Max's friend, Joschka, turns three today but we celebrated with him yesterday. Max and Joschka are bushwalking, camping and biking buddies. The party was held at a local pool with nice wading pools and water slides. Maxwell went on the big water slide that ended in the lap pool all by himself! I am constantly amazed at his newfound comfort in the water--he just started putting his head underwater in December! No wonder people say that kids grow up fast!

Max and the birthday boy

We had four of five rain squalls during the 2.5 hours we were at the pool. The first one came before we had changed into our swimmers.

Sharing umbrellas and watermelon

Rail Museum (Again)

2010-01-28T12:56:00.003+10:00

We went with a friend to the Thomas exhibit at the Rail Museum. I had told Max a few weeks ago that we could go again before the Thomas exhibit finished. Here are a few pics.

Koala Sanctuary

2010-01-28T12:50:00.002+10:00

We went to the Koala Sanctuary again this morning. We had read a book about sheep shearers last night so Max wanted to go there to see the sheepdog show. Unfortunately, the shearers weren't performing today and the camera battery wasn't charged so no pics.

It is amazing to watch the sheepdogs work! Max was able to see the mama sheepdog feed her three-week-old pups and he also got to feed a bottle of formula to a baby goat. He's becoming more and more interested in the animals (but not the koalas), which is nice when we are at an animal sanctuary :-)

Popsicle Course

2010-01-22T20:12:00.004+10:00

Max created an obstacle course ("popsicle course") in his boredom while I was on the phone with a friend. His one mishap occurred when he decided to use a ball as a means to step onto the table. Luckily there were just a few tears and a swollen lip. No blood.

Diving with Abby

2010-01-21T20:19:00.003+10:00

Max's friend Abby is learning to dive into the water. Max is still all play. Notice that he tries to do a somersault in the water. He's become a little fish this summer. BTW, Abby is just turning three next month--she is a little swimming star!

Goggles

2010-01-21T20:15:00.001+10:00

Max has discovered the joy of goggles!

Ready to swim! Ummm...but mean Mommy and Daddy say I have to wear a bathing suit

Bike Trip to Southbank

2010-01-21T19:34:00.005+10:00

We went on another fantastic outing to Southbank last weekend. I bought a used bike a couple of weeks ago so now we all have bikes and can utilize the great bikeways in Brisbane together as a family. On our next outing, I will take pictures of us all on our bicycles. Max rides his balance bike part of the way and wears a headlamp on top of his helmet after dark. Very cute.

Max was promised an ice cream when we arrived at Southbank because he rode in the Chariot most of the way rather than on his balance bike. While the bikeways are nice, some people use them for training. Although Max does pretty well following the rules, his three-year-old brain often becomes distracted by the sights and sounds around him. We keep him off the narrowest bits for the safety of all users.

Anyway, Max wanted the blue ice cream. I doubt he had any idea what bubble gum flavor is. It was sweet--he liked it.

Wading in the "river"

Balancing on the rocks along the "river"

This man is a horned being that lives below the earth's crust ("not to be mistaken for the devil"). He is friendly and curious. For a gold coin donation, he will do something besides stand there (he basically touches the child's hair, shakes hands, and poses for a picture). Guess middle earth is ruled by the almighty dollar as well.

Thanks Uncle Jim, Auntie Lee and Cousin Brady

2010-01-13T19:48:00.004+10:00

Soon after taking this video, Max discovered there is a button that makes the tools dance while the toolbox sings a song. I still don't know all of the lyrics after listening to the song for most of the day but I've enjoyed Max's dancing and attempts to sing along with the toolbox. Thank you!

The John Butler Trio Concert

2010-01-13T19:21:00.006+10:00

A couple of friends, Steven and Haliel, are big JBT fans. When they mentioned that JBT were in town and playing at a small venue, Tim and I decided to join them. Wow! They can really put on a show! We had a great night out--good music, good friends.

The last of many "jam sessions" during the show

I love the combination of playing the standing bass and the didgeridoo simultaneously

Haliel and Steven

At the show!!!

I hadn't realized that Tim and Steven look alike but the guy selling merchandise thought they were the same guy. Steven had purchased hats for his sons. When Tim saw the hat, he decided to buy one for Max. When Tim approached the merchandise salesperson and asked for a hat, the guy said, "Another one? You were just up here, weren't you?"

I guess all Americans look alike :-) Yet, to give the guy credit, Steven and Tim are the same height, have the same hair and eye color and were both wearing dark blue t-shirts. The accent must have blinded the guy to Steven's goatee and Tim's glasses :-)

Santa on his Sleigh/Magic Carpet

2010-01-07T17:48:00.007+10:00

It is hard for a three-year-old to let go of Christmas after the holidays. Max has asked me, every few days, if we could set out cookies for Santa again.

"No, Santa only comes on December 24th, Christmas Eve."

"Why?" (Max has definitely entered the "why" stage)

Today he wanted to play with the little baby Jesus from his nativity set (which was packed away in a trunk)--how can you say no to that?! He ALWAYS gets to play with Baby Jesus on request. He also wanted to pretend that he was Santa (i.e. I had to set out a plate of cookies for him). Fortunately, he was satisfied with pretending that some pretzels on a plate were the plate of cookies.

Christmas Time Videos

2009-12-26T21:24:00.002+10:00

A video of the launching game

Max and Tim playing their first unplugged home concert

Christmas Day

2009-12-26T21:14:00.002+10:00

Max was excited to get a guitar like Daddy's. He actually guessed what it was from the shape of the box it was wrapped in (it was impressive to me since Tim does not store his guitars in anything of that shape). Max suggested that they play "The Little Red Caboose" in their first home concert.

His new tool set has gotten a workout since Christmas: he has helped open battery compartments, hang a picture, and put together shoe shelves.