Lost in holiday spirit

Wow- I can't believe I have been so slack at posting.. I think the lack of computer time is due to several things... first- the holidays are just around the corner- and although most Australians don't celebrate Thanksgiving- didn't mean I wasn't going to host a turkey chicken feast!!  Second- Misses Bug has demanded much more of my full attention lately- thanks to a friends recommendation of a book (Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina)- Thanks Kirty!- now I feel like allowing Dyllan to watch TV/movies is like drinking wine just after finding out i'm pregnant! And third- is for some crazy reason- our social calendar is jam packed with BBQ's, beach parties, art walks, play dates... it must be summer.  And holiday season.

Just to recap- I did make a decent attempt at recreating a Thanksgiving feast.  We had Dan's middle brother- Brenden and his wife Libby over for dinner Thursday night- and I decided to whip up a Thanksgiving feast- last min- and without going to the store (honestly!).  I made crasin (cranberry, right?) and feta stuffed chicken breasts- quinoa with sautéed crasins an onion (thanks to Jessica for this recipe here) - warm edamame (kinda like green beans)- sweet potato fries- and Libby made asparagus, and broccolini with herbs, lemon, walnuts and goats cheese (she's the best cook!) - and bread rolls.  Although it was no deep fried turkey- stuffing and garlic mash with pumpkin pie for desert (this is making my mouth actually water.. especially the pumpkin pie part- which they DONT have here)  - the feast was actually impressive- for not having gone shopping at all.  We ate our thanksgiving feast- while playing board games- a perfect combination for me (but not Dan's cup of tea... don't worry- slowly I will ease him into a board-game player...)

Like I mentioned before- Misses Bug is becoming more time containing- partly- Im sure- cause she is entering the TWO's (yikes, almost 2!!) and is naturally more inquisitive, independent- yet totally reliant, demanding, and active- like i'm sure most (almost) two year olds are.  This means any second I turn my back, deviate my attention, or brush her off for something else (like the computer) - she has a mental breakdown.  And now- thanks to Kirty's book recommendation (the book was actually really interesting- and written by a fellow Seattleite- scientist)- I can't turn to my number 1 babysitter- her DVD player- or the TV.  AND- just for the record- I am not a child-raising-book-reader- in fact this is only the second book I have read (i'm not a book reader) - the first one was "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth, MD - which I HIGHLY recommend (if I haven't before)- it was our Bible to Dyllan's sleep schedule.  It actually made out life super easy- even in the early months!  So--thanks to Kirty's book-  this past week or so- I have been in what I call "nanny mode".... I have nannied for years... and years.. and I gave each kid I nannied for 100% focus, attention, education, outdoors time, socialization... never once turned on the TV or sat around.. because that was what i was getting paid for!!  Now- not only am I earning a paycheck- take my good salaried work load and... throw in laundry (and when I say "laundry" I mean at least 2 loads a day and line drying everything.. even teeny-tiny baby socks, and underwear!!) vacuuming, cooking, and believe it or not... showering!!  Its way more than any nanny job I've ever had.. AND I don't even get paid!

Having said that.. I do consider my job worth monitory recognition.. I went to the dry cleaners yesterday to drop off 2 dresses and 2 jackets.. 3 of which needed specific "dry cleaning" washing.  After the lady told me the 2 dresses and 1 jacked (actually, more of just a piece of thin cloth with buttons) were going to cost $56... I took the "professional dry cleaning highly recommended" suit-jacket home with me- and figured my 15 min of time was worth WAY more than $25!!  So chalk that onto the minimal free time I have these days--- HOW did housewives do it back in the day?!?!?!  No dry cleaning?  Hand-washing-line-drying....Ironing and hemming?!?!?  6 kids?  Perfect hair and make up?  Tons of friends...  Don't get it.

Anyway- here are some pictures from life in the Newton family.. lately

Just a native parrot- in a native tree
(is it bad that i wanted to capture it and take it home for a pet?!)

Brenden and Dyllan boogying to some beats while we fixed Thanksgiving dinner

Our Thanksgiving feast (yes, thats ice in my wine glass... its HOT here right now)

The Chefs- Cheers!

Our Dining room.. 

Manly beach on Sunday.. I think summer has hit.  Beach was packed.  Volley ball tournaments- surf competitions.. old men in speedos yep- it summer in Manly.

Sunday BBQ at the Langridges (where we used to stay- before we found our new place)- Isabelle, Frankie (under water) , Dyllan and Dan- this is also the place we will be ringing in the New Year (costumes and all- but thats another blog post)

Surfing Dyllan

Saturday night- we went to Dan's High School friend - Jordan's wedding at Coogee Beach Baths (Carlye- I think of you every time I go to Coogee!!)

Rockstar (this morning)

After stopping to pick EVERY flower on the way home from gym/kids club- she decided to pick/kiss/cuddle the ONLY flower we have in our front entry.. 

Helping mom set up our (fake) xmas tree- definitely more than we bargained for- separating each fake branch... then tying each ornament string.. we are close- but not quite done!!  Dyllan got way too impatient for this project.