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Unexpected visitor

Luke — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:07:47 +0000

(while eating breakfast)

RJ: (staring at LR) What the…

LR: (raises an eyebrow and keeps eating)

RJ: (to LR, incredulous) Who are you?

LR: (rolls her eyes)

RJ: How can this… I… I… I’m totally freaking out!

LR: (annoyed) What is it RJ!?

Dad: Yes, RJ. Give it a rest, please.

RJ: Dad! THIS IS NOT LR. It’s a baby wearing a seven-year-old suit!

Dad: Oh really? How do you know?

RJ: Take a really close look at the eyes. You can always tell it’s a suit when you look at the eyes.

Dad: (peering at LR) I don’t know, RJ. I’m not convinced.

LR: Dad…

RJ: Look really close, around the edges.

LR: Dad! RJ! I AM NOT A BABY!

Dad: You’re right, RJ. Only a baby would say that!

August 2011, Photo Wrap-Up

Luke — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:07:21 +0000

In August, as many of us suffered colds and ear infections, another birthday rolled around, RJ played his soccer final, and the kids dressed up for Book Day. We also spent a great weekend up at Gingin with some friends and discovered LR really can be an angel when she wants to.

Make a wish! Mom slices into her favorite cake, pinapple upside-down cake!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Poppa and LR look over some of his pictures of New York as RJ backflips in the background.

RJ takes the ball in his soccer finals! Go Ninjas!

Coach Jeremy presents RJ with a medal with a congratulatory handshake.

RJ rescued this waterlogged dragonfly at the beach and resuscitated it successfully.

The kids dressed up as their favourite characters for Book Day: RJ as Korlo the Gatekeeper and LR as Nancy Drew.

We spent a weekend up at Gingin, and a friend brought along their dirt bike. LR thought it was AWESOME.

RJ enjoys a piece of cake while taking a break on the pizza oven.

LR threatens to jump on Dad's head from a great height.

A huge stone warrior, bewildered at his sudden relocation to Australia, makes friends with LR.

RJ admires the warrior's collection of snakes, and wants to join the club.

After dark, LR and a friend posed for some light-painting antics.

Big news: RJ has started piano lessons and loves it! In other news, the song "Chopsticks" is taking an unassailable position as least favourite of all time (amongst parents age 30-39).

Totally Wicked

Luke — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 03:07:58 +0000

Mom was feeling a little Wicked, dressed in all her verdant glory.

On Sunday, Grammy and Poppa took us to go and see the broadway show Wicked! We had been listening to the soundtrack during the week before and we even had a movie night on Saturday and watched the original Wizard of Oz. When the day finally came we were totally buzzing with excitement.
Because it was the three year anniversary of the show in Australia, they selected the best dressed audience members to come backstage and meet the cast and crew to celebrate and enjoy cake. We spent a little time getting into costumes before the show and crossed our fingers.

As the final curtain closed, we were whisked away by one of the stage managers and rushed through a series of dark twisty corridors, lined with an incredible array of wigs, costumes, props and set pieces. Eventually we made it to the stage, right behind the big curtain we had seen just moments ago from the other side. The applause was still fading away and we could hear the chatter of the crowd making their way out of the theatre. The entire cast was still lined up after their final bow and turned to meet us. There were lots of comments on our outfits and they were all really friendly. We stopped and had a chat with Elphaba and Galinda/Glinda, before a press photographer stopped by to get our photo. We hurried back to another room to enjoy cake and meet the rest of the cast. Again, everyone was really friendly and were pretty amused to see the lot of us mirroring their characters.

RJ cowardly? No way! He was as fierce as they get.

LR loved her role as Dorothy, and her little dog too.

LR, Mom and RJ before their big adventure along the Yellow Brick Road.

Even Dad dressed up, scampering about as a flying monkey.

They had mysterious glowing sugar potions... apparently perfect for Cowardly Lions.

We arrived really early, so we spent a little time waiting for the show... Our witch was suprisingly courteous and took her hat off for the full house.

As the final curtain dropped, we were rushed backstage after the show to meet the cast and crew. Glinda was nice enough to pick up RJ for the picture.

A photographer from the newspaper was also there to capture the event!

An enormous chocolate mud cake was prepared to help celebrate the 3 year anniversary of the show in Australia.

One of the cast members has a chat with the kids about the show. They were all really friendly and lots of fun.

Mom wasn't sure where she parked the broom, so the Cowardly Lion, witch and Dorothy had to drive home instead.

LR’s Seventh Birthday Party

Luke — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 03:07:03 +0000

LR awoke to a huge pile of presents. Yeah!!!!

Her main present was a sewing kit, complete with pins, needles, fabric, thread, yarn, knitting needles, scissors and marking chalk, and most importantly, a big box with lots of little compartments to keep it all organised.

LR opens one of her presents from RJ, a glowing speaker for her ipod. He spent a lot of time with Mom carefully choosing something he knew she would like.

LR also received a phone call from the USA. Grandma Wendy and Grandpa Jeff called to wish her Happy Birthday!

Grammy stopped by to deliver her present (from Poppa too). An art kit with charcoal, pencils, brushes, and a sketch pad -- perfect for taking with you, anywhere.

Dad promised he would decorate her cake exactly as she wanted it. LR joined in to help make it perfect. Requirements: the planet Saturn, bacterial colonies, a strand of DNA and some writing.

Mom sets down the cake as LR dangerously wields the notorious Birthday Cake Knife.

While LR’s actual birthday fell during the school week, LR’s party had to wait until the weekend. She spent days planning the event and how everything would work. The main focus of the party was to have everyone act in a play that she had put together. She put significant amounts of thought in to who should play each role, and to anticipate problems that might occur. During the party, groups of people would act out a scene at the house, while the others played games across the road at the park. Taking turns acting and playing, none of the girls had the chance to see the entire production until it was edited and put together for a grand screening at the end of the party. Everyone loved it!

LR's birthday party was a carefully planned event. Everyone was required to wear a costume. LR chose to dress as a princess.

LR and the girls played different games at the park.

Food time! A horde of hungry girls swarms the table.

While one group of girls played games across the road, the rest performed for the video camera in a suspensful tale of deceit and treachery (directed by Dad). The footage was edited while the kids ate cake and other goodies. Once done, they all sat down to watch themselves in their own movie. The entire concept was LR's plan from the beginning and everyone loved it!

February, 2011 Photo Wrap-Up

Luke — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:07:05 +0000

It’s been a while since we posted a bunch of photos, so here’s a quick wrap-up for February!

LR lost another two teeth this month, and the kids did some home experiments with dry ice. RJ discovered a fascination for disguises and interesting clothes. Mum sang her heart out at a South Pacific concert and we had a couple of trips to the beach to have fish and chips for dinner. Mum and Dad even got dressed up for a party, and at the end of the month, it was the kids turn with an evening picnic and disco down at the school.

One of the last pictures of LR with all her upper teeth... One of her front incisors came out the next day!

RJ prepares to lower his balloon into the ominous, bubbling green concoction, OF SCIENCE!

LR observes the size of the balloon before and after dunking it in the yellow, bubbling, potion OF SCIENCE!

It can feel pretty cold when you've been swimming for half-an-hour in the olympic pool, so we're always quick to put on some warm, dry clothes afterwards. RJ has been wearing lots of different hats lately.

Mom had a singing concert! RJ, Dad and LR wait outside Winthrop Hall where Mom will be performing!

Sing it Mom!

RJ takes a break on the beach blanket after a big meal of fish and chips.

Poppa also needed a bit of a rest after a long hard day at work.

Mom and Dad went to a crazy Bollywood birthday party for our friends.

Dad, LR and RJ stopped by Great Grandpa Maurie and Great Grandma Dot's place to play some games.

RJ experimented with some different costumes -- this one apparently inspired by Devo.

LR, RJ and Ta. dressed up for the school barbeque picnic and disco... or Barbedisco as they called it. Each kid had to bring their favorite stuffed animal.

RJ on the dance floor!

Halloween 2010 – The Preparation!

Luke — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 03:07:51 +0000

The days before Halloween were filled with sorting through decorations and preparing for the party. This year we made our own piñata and carved our “jack-o-melons” ahead of time.

We’ll have pictures from the massive party coming in the next couple of days, so definitely check back in!

RJ was planning on being a witch for Halloween... but ended up changing his mind later.

Mum and the kids work through the huge piles of Halloween decorations to get ready for the party.

LR and Dad fill the piñata... It's very heavy. Will it be strong enough to survive the onslaught of thirty children?

RJ had to make five birthday cards for a birthday party on Halloween morning. Who has their birthday party on Halloween anyway?

This year, LR carved her own watermelon for Halloween!

RJ drew his jack-o-lantern face on paper, which Dad attempted to reproduce, but couldn't quite get right. RJ had to fix it up himself.

LR sprays the spiderwebs and redbacks off the apple bobbing pool. We don't want anything getting bitten in there, except the apples.

The party's starting soon Dad, we've got to get this piñata up in the tree RIGHT NOW!

We wont be doing this again for a while

Luke — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:07:48 +0000

It’s been a really busy month, so expect a few more picture updates over the coming days / weeks. One of the massive events that took place was my little sister’s wedding! After over a year of planning and deliberation, everything went perfectly. Jess and Nic (and everyone else) looked fantastic. LR, along with cousins PB and AB were flowergirls, and RJ went down the aisle as a page boy a secret agent.

These are just a few of the photos taken by me. The photos from the real photographer are still on the way.

The forecast for late afternoon thunderstorms was thankfully wrong.

LR follows PB down the aisle.

RJ follows the girls, dressed as a secret agent. He isn't wearing shoes so "the bad guys don't hear him coming."

The stars of the show.

AB and LR get distracted from colouring in by the procedings.

The Kiss

A bouquet of flowergirls.

The fathers of the groom and bride (Richard and Poppa) pose after the ceremony.

LR discusses life, the universe, and everything with her new uncle.

My little sister's all grown up.

RJ, still in secret agent gear, points to his sister on the playground.

Poppa and Grammy made a big speech.

Total annihilation of the cake.

The bouquet gets launched to an excited crowd!

Primary School Musical

Luke — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:07:50 +0000

LR’s school put on its huge biennial musical performance. All the kids at the school have a part, with each grade getting its own big musical piece to perform. The plays are written by the school principal and are an enless run of weak jokes and bad puns — fantastic stuff! LR’s scene revolved around King Halfur and the Knights of the Times Tables.

LR poses in costume before her big show.

The stage fills with the main cast and the entire first grade for the 'Knights of the Times Tables' scene.

LR and the maidens curtsey, and the knights thrust swords into the air as they sing their big musical number.

LR watches as King Halfer tries to solve some problems with his knights.

LR pairs off with A for the dance.

As long as you say it with conviction

Luke — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:17:03 +0000

(At a friend’s dress-up / fancy dress birthday party — we had no idea costumes were an option, let alone expected.)

Friend’s Mother: Hi RJ! What are you dressed up as?

RJ: I’m not dressed as anything because I don’t need to be dressed as anything.

(runs off with group of other kids following him)

Halloween 2009

Luke — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:01:27 +0000

This year, our Halloween party was the biggest ever. Every kid from both of the Year 1 classes at LR’s school was invited, as well as all the children on our street and a bunch of RJ’s friends. It was absolutely crazy, but we did our best to keep them busy. Activities included the Haunted Garage, a “Yucky” dip, a piñata, a broom race, a treasure hunt, making disembodied hands and the grand finale, a total, all-out assault on Dad with water balloons.

LR, as Supergirl, decided the world needed rescuing.

RJ and Mum put together a great snapping turtle costume.

Follow the link to get to the rest of the pictures and see what went on!!!

Grammy came along too. We needed all the help we could get!

We recruited a couple of the dads to carve pumpkins and watermelons brought by the kids.

A couple of the kids were amazed by our American maibox. Australian letter boxes look nothing like this.

The Yucky Dip involved a huge bowl of slimy, coloured pasta of different shapes. Prizes and bugs were hidden through it and the kids had to do their best to find a prize in the revolting mess.

Mum helps one of the kids search for a prize in the "Yucky Dip".

We do the apple bobbing every year. The kids figured out pretty quickly that grabbing the apples by the steps was the easiest way to win… This year, though, only apples without stems got prizes!

RJ volunteers to be next in the apple bobbing competition.

An apple bobbing champion is born!

In previous years, we’ve made disembodied hands for each of the kids in LR and RJ’s classes. It’s a huge amount of work, but the kids love it. This year we got smarter and had the kids make them!

Everyone had fun making ghoulish popcorn hands with Am!

You have to fill them all the way to the top with popcorn!

The annual treasure hunt is always a big hit, but it’s getting harder and harder to find enough hiding places for the number of kids that show up. For the older kids this year, we hid marbles around the yard, with different prizes available for one or more marbles. The younger kids, searching our neighbour’s yard, had to find tiny pumpkin baskets containing small toys and sometimes a piece of candy.

Mum gives everyone instructions on the treasure hunt. This year they had to find marbles hidden around the front yard. It wasn't easy.

One of LR's class mates hunts for precious, precious marbles.

LR found two! Home field advantage, perhaps? She donated one to someone who wasn't as fortunate.

The younger kids had their search across the road. They had to find little plastic pumpkins and cauldrons.

This year we asked all the kids to bring a broom with them for a broom race. We ran two races and the kids did really well. We may have to rethink this one, having 15 kids running at you with long sticks is not very safe.

RJ gets his broom tuned up for the Broom Race.

Kids rush to prepare for the Broom Race.

Two serious contenders for the prize... provided no one brings kryptonite along.

RUN RUN RUN RUN!

The piñata survived through quite a few attacks before finally relinquishing its hidden treasure.

The piñata was especially popular.

T prepares to deal a mighty blow to poor old Jack.

Can I be next please?!!

SMASH! The lollies have been liberated!

To wrap things up, we had a water bombing event. The kids line up along the side of the road, heavily loaded with water balloons. A very brave, and soon to be thoroughly drenched, Dad makes several sprints past them as they hurl their watery grenades at him.

30 kids. 200 water balloons. 1 victim... at least Dad had his goggles. Dad gets the kids riled up with some serious trash-talk.

Splash! Direct hit!

Totally soaked, except for the bits under the goggles, there were still more balloons to come, as well as a bucket of water.

Finally, after almost everyone has left, we get to go trick or treating. Not everyone on the street has candy, but those who do love to see us and check out the costumes.

Trick or Treat! LR checks out the new neighbours to see if they've got treats... and maybe if they'd like to come trick or treating with us.

This... is... the... BEST THING EVER!!! FREE CANDY AND LOLLIES!!!!

Let's head home and see what we've got.