Making Baby Food

 It's that time again...steaming vegetables and mashing them to make baby food. The thermomix makes it so easy. Alissa is loving all the different flavours. Thanks Grammie for the baby food containers - they freeze and re-heat so well!
 



New Trampoline

We have been wanting to get the kids a trampoline for a while. The backyard of our old house in Perth was too small for a trampoline so when we moved to this house with a larger backyard, we decided we could finally get one. We still got a fairly small one (10ft) but the kids love it! Clinton ordered it online and Sienna was asking every day if the trampoline had arrived. One day she took a small parcel out of the letterbox and said, "look Mum, it's the trampoline!" Haha! I had to explain that the trampoline would be arriving in a much larger box. When it was finally delivered, Sienna and Harrison wanted me to put it together straight away. I made them wait for Daddy to get home! Clint put it together while I was making dinner and the kids couldn't wait to jump on it! Hooray, another way for them to burn off excess energy!!

Alissa Starting Solids

Well...I put it off as long as I could but Alissa has now started eating solid foods. She's nearly 6 months old and as you can see she's not wasting away, however, the signs were definitely there that Alissa was looking for something more. She's only had rice cereal in the morning for the past two days but tomorrow I'll start introducing mashed up vegetables. I think she'll love trying all the different flavours. She's just growing up too fast!

 



random iphone photos

I was just deleting photos off my phone and thought I'd post a few of the latest ones of the kids. Apologies if you have already seen these in emails. The problem with having a camera on your mobile phone is that it's tempting to take a photo of everything that's happening! Yep...I pretty much do just that. They are not the best photos but they are capturing a moment as it's happening.

 

Sienna channelling Elton John

 Super Harry!

Beautiful baby xx

 Chocolate moustache

 Big brother cuddles

 My beautiful 10 year wedding anniversary ring from Clinton - I absolutely love it! So spoilt!

 When Grammie was here - making whoopee pies together.

 Harrison took this photo of a sunrise with my phone - stunning!

 Another sunset photo of Withnell Bay

 Alissa and Evander (a gorgeous baby from church who is one day younger than Alissa)

 Alissa's sparkly shoes for church

 Bubble monsters!

 Harrison and Michael riding and scootering after school.

 Sienna making mud pies or as she later called them "whoopee pies for Grammie".

 Lissy Lou, growing up too fast!

 Riding on the red dirt

 Sienna getting presents from the "dummy fairy"

 At the park, enjoying the sunshine

 Harry and Sienna on the flying fox.

 All tuckered out...being a baby is hard work!

 Sienna enjoying craft time after the story reading session at the local library

 With her buddies Lucy and Tahlia

 Sienna and Harry put Alissa in their Lego box and named it "bub in a box".

 Clinton on another bush walk with Harrison texted me this photo - beautiful.

 

 Love my bub!

 Sienna enjoying sushi on Friday - it's become a Friday lunch tradition.

And would you believe, I left out heaps of other photos on my phone!! I won't even mention how many videos are on there...o'well, at least my children's lives are being documented!



Run Run Run!

Harrison's school had a 'fun run' on Wednesday morning - where the students collected sponsorship money to run as many times as they could around the oval. The money raised goes towards the school P&C. The fun run was originally scheduled for the day before but it rained all day (very rare for Karratha in winter, during the dry season). Wednesday was beautiful and sunny though so it was perfect conditions for a fun run.

 

Sienna was given a 'fun run' balloon to walk around with.

 Harrison getting his hand stamped for doing another lap.

 I was so proud of Harrison - he did 11 laps during the half hour fun run. At about 6 laps he got a stitch and thought he'd have to stop. I ran another lap with him (with Sienna on my back) to show him you can 'run off' a stitch if you just keep going. He then went on to run a further 5 laps!  

 Sienna and Harry ran a full lap on their own. Sienna loved getting a stamp on her hand!

 Since this is a blog about running, I thought I would add that 2 weeks ago at one of the Little Athletics competition nights Harrison came first in a sprints race. He also got several other ribbons for beating his personal best times and measurements for different events. He was so excited to come first in an event!! I think it will help to build his confidence. He's really loving little athletics at the moment.  



Alissa at 5 (and a half) months

ALISSA

  

Also Known As:

Lissa

Lissy

Lissy-Lou

Lissa-Miss

Um-chog (Thanks Papa Snow)

Chog-Chog

Cutie Patootie

Bub

Bub-Bub

The name Alissa is from Hebrew origins, it means "noble, exalted, great happiness, rational, from the blessed isles." Alissa has certainly brought our family a great amount of happiness. She has a beautifully content nature. In her baby blessing Clinton said she will be a "peacemaker" in our family and I can see how she will be. She slept through the night at about 9 weeks old and wakes up kicking her legs and smiling. She loves cuddling into you and having some quiet time (unfortunately not much is to be had in our noisy house!). Alissa started rolling from front to back in early May and first rolled from back to front on the 2nd of June. She rolls onto her front a lot, probably because she can see what's going on better from that position. Alissa loves her brother and sister although, she is a little wary of Sienna's over-the-top affection! She is VERY dribbly and constantly sucks on her hands. This is better than Harrison and Sienna who used to vomit all the time! Being dribbled on is much better than being vomited on. Her hair has started to fall out, in a very similar way to Harrison's at the same age. She may end up quite bald on top for a while! She has a sweet little laugh and loves being played with. She also likes being read to...sadly, being child number three, this doesn't happen as often as it should. Bath times are very exciting for Alissa. As soon as she enters the bathroom and hears the taps running she starts smiling and pumping her legs. She loves laying in the water and kicking...Sienna has been known to pour a cup of water on her face from time to time though (poor bub). Alissa enjoys watching Sienna at dancing class, she sits in her pram and kicks her legs to the music. Last Sunday she was trying to "sing" along to the hymns too, the people behind us thought this was hilarious. She has found her voice! She makes little cooing sounds and high pitched, happy squeals. Unfortunately, she has reached the age where she is starting to become a little bit clingy. It's hard in Karratha where she is mainly being held by me and hardly anyone else. She really is a little ray of sunshine in our home. An adorable, cuddly, smiley little girl who makes you happy just being around her. We are so grateful to have our precious Lissy-Lou, we love her so much. xx

 

 





Our Harry Boy

Harrison

 

Also Known As:

Harry

Harry-Boy

Hazza 

Harry-Monondez

Hazzamaroo

Harry Horse

DJ Habib (by Uncle Jazz)

 

 

Our Harrison is now 6 years old and 9 months. He is becoming a very independent, confident, grown up boy. Although, he still loves cuddles from me and kisses goodbye at school (I am taking advantage of this because I know it won't last forever). Harrison NEEDS at least 10 hours sleep. He is very busy physically and in his mind. He is constantly thinking up new "inventions", experiments, artistic creations, Lego models and mini projects to occupy himself. This can be exhausting...mainly for everyone else. He is up every day at 6am. In fact, I don't need an alarm as I can set my watch by Harrison. "I am bored" or "what can I do now" are common Harrison phrases. He likes things that challenge his mind, like a 300 piece puzzle or a large Lego model. He also likes riding his bike, scootering, bush walking, swimming, snorkelling, rock climbing, playing tennis and wrestling with Dad.

Harrison is thoughtful and often writes notes to me and Clinton saying, "I love you". He has a beautiful imagination...that sometimes gets a little carried away! He thinks up and writes wonderful stories. His school teacher told me he wrote an amazing short story recently, she even made him show it to another teacher. Needless to say, Harrison loves listening to stories. We have read Enid Blyton books, the first two Harry Potter books, many Roald Dahl books and the list goes on. We have books on CD in the car, that we listen to on long drives.

Harrison is very helpful. He'll help with jobs I give him around the house but, he really loves "helping" Dad with his projects. Anything involving power tools and noisy machinery - Harry wants in! Although, he also likes cooking in the kitchen with me.

He likes to talk, and talk, and talk some more. He is intense and passionate about anything and everything. This does lead to some tantrums and arguments with us. However, we wouldn't really want him to be different because we know that this determination, excitement and passion for life will be great assets when he is a grown man.

He still doesn't like chocolate or lollies. If you offer him a lolly he will say "no thanks"...this is definitely not something he learned from us. He does enjoy his meat (BBQ ribs being a favourite) and chips. TimTam's are one chocolate treat he will indulge in. It's probably a good thing that this boy isn't a sweet tooth...he really doesn't need any more energy!

Harrison loves riding his BMX bike. Clinton usually takes Harry for a bike ride every Saturday and now that we live in Karratha they have been doing some off road mountain biking. Harrison loves this one on one time with his Dad. They have also been playing their violins together. It was very difficult to find a violin teacher in Karratha. I found a 16 year old student who was willing to teach Harrison and keep his skills up. He is an excellent teacher and Harrison is enjoying learning from him and his Dad.

Harrison is liking his new school, Tambrey. He has an excellent year one teacher and a lovely best friend Michael. We are so happy with how well he has settled in. School is a great way for him to burn off that energy too...

We are so proud of Harrison and the generous, kind-hearted soul that he is. We love you Harry-Boy xx

At 6am one morning I woke up to this 'experiment' that Harry had made. A popcorn kernel in wet tissues, hanging in the sun.

The kernels sprouted...

 Harry planted them in the garden and they are growing. He is waiting for some corn!

 Harry & Papa's vegetable patch is growing well.

 

 Harrison mowed the lawn for the first time on Saturday (under Clinton's supervision). He loved it!