Don't you wish you could?

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Intrepid explorers

With all of the rain we've been having lately the boys have a touch of cabin fever.  To alleviate some of the crazyness we went for a walk on Sunday morning.  We now have afternoon church so our mornings are free.  Our walk around the block brought us to the nearby creek which only a week ago was but a trickle.  It now has a nice bubbling brook kind of feel to it, I think the boys thought it was more of a roaring river though.  With leeches, puddles, rocks, trees, slimy stuff  and rain it was a great day for exploration.

They are out

We were hoping for Christmas, no such luck.  

Ethan's two front teeth have been loose for a few months now.   

On his first week at school this year, the dentist sneakily removed his first big front tooth.  It was kind of protruding at a 90 degree angle and wouldn't budge.

Yesterday after much wiggling Ethan finally removed his second front tooth.  Ethan said he "sucked it out" after a few attempts at pulling it.  We now have a collection of 3 teeth that Ethan so far wishes to keep, he's not ready to swap them for money yet.  Why?? Click here.

Things I have seen today

Toad stools

Sam playing golf with toad stools

Green moss and gum nuts

Early flowering magnolias

Pine cones

Jelly fish on the grass

Seed pods where the weird jelly stuff fell from

Changing of the leaves

A full creek

A little love to go round

Dig deep

The boys school is holding a fundraiser today for the bushfire appeal.  I'm so proud of my boys donating some of their money box savings.  Even Toby who couldn't comprehend the loss that people have gone through wants to donate.  

Don't forget you can help by donating blood to the red cross or money to the Australian Red Cross bushfire appeal.

Coles is donating their proceeds to the Victorian Bushfire appeal this Friday.  So if you don't have much to donate just go and do your grocery shopping at Coles on Friday and spend your money and let Coles donate for you.

I am moved to tears constantly by the horrors that these people have faced and the loved ones and possessions they have lost, but I know they will get help.  On the other hand I hope and pray that the animals that have lost their homes and that have been injured from the fires will find that help too. 

Wildlife Victoria have an appeal where you can donate money to assist in the recovery of the wildlife affected by the bushfires go here.  

What kind of fruit are you?

I think some fruits have personality to match those who eat them

Rather well rounded and voluptuous 

Luscious and sweet

Blushes when ripe

Tends to bruise easily

Handle gently

Prefers a cooler climate

Rots in the heat

You are what you eat

I'm a pear

What kind of fruit are you?

Victorian Bushfire Appeal

It's heart breaking seeing on the news about the horrific fire storm that has brought such tragedy to many small towns in Victoria.  What can we do? Donate your blood or your money.

The Australian Red Cross is launching an appeal for families who have been affected by the fires.  Go here for more information or if you wish to donate. 

Bread maker bread maker make me some bread

I have inherited a bread maker and a 10kg bag of bread mix.  I have wanted one for a while but figured we didn't have room for any bulky appliances as our kitchen is so small and we have no storage.  I found a place to keep it though, around the corner on my food storage (book case) shelf in the hall way.

I have basically been baking bread for the last three days and I feel like Wonder woman.  I guess most of you out there have bread makers so the novelty has probably worn off.  I have only baked bread the old fashioned way once before, Cheesy bread sticks, which was delicious but making my own loaves of bread everyday is fantastically easy.

The boys were so excited they kept lifting the lid on the bread maker to have a look, so our first loaf rose right to the top and then deflated a little, but it was still delicious.  Our second loaf I baked in the oven and came out perfect.  Sam and Ethan think I should sell this free bread I'm making.  My third loaf is still cooking and is smelling so good that my stomach is growling.

Keeping cool

One of the ways we have survived summer this year, and it's been a loooong hot summer, is by having lots of smoothies.  I love old bananas cause they go straight into the freezer ready to be blended into a smoothie.  I bought a heap of cheap strawberries last week on my trip to the egg farm.  I love the fruit and vegie stalls along the way and I love buying local produce.  The strawberries were so plump and juicy but bruised easily.  So we ate lots really quickly and I cleaned the rest of them...

....and froze them

...and then blended them with some frozen bananas, ice cubes and some apple pear juice and drank them.

Toby is really my smoothie inspiration, he'll start the morning off by saying "You know Mummy I'm thinking of smoothies" and that will be it and I start planning what type of smoothies we'll be having.  Banana smoothies...

 

or berry smoothies  

Oh how I love my smoothies this year. 

Someone was quietly excited

Something special was happening that day

Toby was starting pre-school

Like his brothers before him Toby was going to the same pre-school

We said our good byes, with only a slight tear in my eye 

and he without a backward glance continued to grow.

Going along just swimmingly

Swimming lessons have started for this brave little man.  Toby has spent his entire life watching his big brothers go to swimming lessons and now it's his turn. 

 

He was a little scared in case there were lots of people and it was noisy as it usually is for Sam and Ethan's lessons.  

peek-a-boo

There were only three of them plus the teacher in the whole pool so Toby was eager to get into the water and do what ever his lovely teacher asked him to do and he did it with a smile.

Sam had his swimming carnival today and he bravely swam in the 50 metre freestyle race which he has never done before.  I didn't get to see it,  I was with Toby at his first swimming lesson.  I was still proud of Sam for attempting something he's never done before and finishing the race.  He has such determination.

This boy....

.....is growing up.  This boy is getting more responsible everyday.  This boy helps his mum when she asks.  This boy has a good heart and a wonderful spirit.

This boy is getting more handsome every day.

This boy is going to be a beautiful man one day, a beautiful, gorgeous handsome man.