An Orange Easter

Over the Easter weekend we headed out west to Libby's family's place in Orange.  They just moved to a farm- and happened to be away (doing Medical work in Nepal) so we took advantage of the opportunity to get away for a few days.

Libby and Brenden 

Dyllan loved picking the grapes and eating them

Dyllan Monkey

Libby's house in the distance

Reading with Brenden after a long afternoon of wine tasting

Boating..

Driving.. in the middle of nowhere...

Dance PArty after wine tasting

Stretching in the grass

A Living Social Valentines Day

This year was my turn to plan Valentines day- Dan did such a great job last year, so this year I was determine to make it special.

I was sick on the Monday (week before Valentines day)- and while laying in bed with a sore throat, fever and wild toddler running around wild with a black sharpie (thats another story..)- I decided I needed to just book something before it got too late.  Lucky for me- in that instance I got an email from none other than living social.  The daily deal was perfect- Tapas for 2 with a bottle of wine for only $29- at a restaurant called Vue in Bondi (where Dan works)!  So I purchased it instantly- and called up to make our Valentines Day reservations.  Of course they told me they were all booked up for their Living Social vouchers on Valentines Day.. but after a little negotiating- we made a deal that if we arrived by 6pm and were done by 7:30pm we could come... phew!  We are losers early birds anyway- and that time was actually perfect.

It was a great night- food was amazing, view spectacular, and we had a ball people watching all the lovey dovey couples down on Bondi Beach with picnic baskets and blankets.. bean bag chairs on the lawn, guys with big bouquets of flowers walking home from work... we were surrounded by awkward first (or second) dates.. fake laughs, too much cologne, and romantic candles and music...

After dinner we walked over to Smooch for a frozen yogurt before heading home....what a perfect night.

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.  

A Beachy Christmas

Photo from here

Its taken me a while to get used to the whole beachy, hot Christmas.  Growing up Christmas was all about savoring each present- opening it slowly so that it would stretch as long as possible.. because in the rain, snow, or cold- when nothing was open- and all of your friends were busy with family things.. there was nothing left to do the rest of the day..  Sean and I used to wake up SUPER early- open our stockings, then twiddle our thumbs till mom and dad woke up- made their coffee- and told us that we could start opening our presents.  Mom used to make us go to the midnight church service on Christmas eve- so you'd think we would be able to sleep in a little later.  Nope- 5am we were always up- bright eyed, and ready to start the day.  Probably the one day of the year we were both excited to be up that early.

After having spent a few Christmas's in Australia now- I am starting to embrace the theme.  Still an early wake up- but less of a rush to open presents and gather under the tree.  Instead it might go something like this... wake up early- go on a walk to the beach.. maybe go for a swim- the boys usually go for a surf.. have a "take-away" coffee from a little cafe on the beach or go home and make coffee and have breakfast... THEN... open presents.  Yes, I know i'm not a kid anymore- so maybe that is the difference.. but it seems a lot more leisurely here.  I think partly because there is so much else to do.  The beaches are packed with swimmers, sun-bakers (they call it here), surfers, kids with their new boogie boards, or sand skateboards.. families camped out on the sand with their giant umbrellas and gallon pump bottles of sunscreen- coolers of ice cold beer and kids running around with buckets of "chips".  The beach is lined with over sized beach towels, grandparents reading their summer novels, pregnant women in bikinis, children with bleach blond hair and tanned skin, dad's playing beach cricket with the kids, teams in fancy- dress outfits for beach volleyball tournaments.. lifeguards in their crazy costumes.  Music is loud- people are relaxed and on vacation- and the city comes alive.

So here I am- embracing the Aussie Christmas.  I bought our first (fake) Christmas tree (well second- our first one was hot pink- several years ago- wish i had a photo!) the other day and I can't wait to set it up.  All 7 feet of fake pine!  It seems everyone here has fake trees... I am assuming because they don't grow real Christmas trees here?!  And since we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here-and there is no reason to wait-  I just might have to set it up this weekend!

Here are a few photos that remind me of Christmas in Australia..

A sand man- picture from here

People camp out at the beach- all day long 
Image from here

BBQing on the beach with friends
image from here

This photo is exactly like the off roads we take to camping destinations (but not proper camp sites)- on the beach

 Wharf Bar- the best place to be on a Sunday summer evening

Manly Wharf Bar in the distance

Queensland Mango's - Probably my favorite fruit of all time!

not even sure where this came from.. 

HAHA!  Santa on Vacation - photo from here

A typical Aussie BBQ on the beach
image from here

Photos from here