Day 11 - Sunday 20th - Heading Home with a Day Trip on the Spirit

Never again will I travel on a day trip on the Spirit again. Will never be going on a romantic cruise either. Both Baker Bob and I were terribly seasick. The swell WAS pretty bad with water lapping up onto the decks but gee I'm glad our kids have a better constitution than we do.

Baker Bob spent basically the whole trip either being sick or sleeping. Eventually the kids went down for a nap (as we had a deluxe cabin again, thank goodness) and I finally bombed. It was also extremely lucky that I brought the laptop and some DVDs onboard. They were my salvation.

By the time they went down for their nap, I think the kids did start to feel a bit green, or bored, or both.
I think we all missed Poppy but we were glad to get home to our own beds in the end. ( Well, we enjoyed our bed, the kids were happy to see their toy room!)

It was a long day too as we left for Devonport at 4:30am (3 hour drive) and didn't get off the boat until 7:30pm.

Day 10 - Saturday 19th - Catching up with More Cousins

Today we had vists from 2 of Baker Bob's cousins and their children. (The tribe's 3rd cousins)

They received belated Christmas gifts, which they adored and run amok with the younger kids.
This time I did remember to take some photos but only because dear Vanessa pulled out her camera.

Day 9 - Friday 18th - Catching up with Cousins

This evening we had a visit from Jamie - Baker Bob's brother, his very pregnant missus Emillie and their two beautiful kidlets Amelia and Noah.

Once again I forgot to take photos (I need to tie the camera around my neck) of all the cousins playing together but they all got a long like a house on fire and tended to occupy each other. It was Amelia's 5th birthday so we had sponge cake with jam and cream. Next time I'll have to get a nice photo. Especially for Poppy.

These are a couple of my favourites taken earlier in the day, before I became distracted by raising children.

Day 8 - Thursday 17th - House of Twins

Feeling much better today. The kids have spent the day destroying Poppy's lounge room with their toys.

Then we went around to our friend Richard and Erin's place to have a good cuddle with their almost 3 month old twins (Born 7th January 2011, the day before the boys' 2nd birthday).

I became so enthralled in them that I completely forgot to take photos. Plus once again my children became a force to be reckoned with. Richard, being a mechanic, also did Baker Bob a huge favour and fixed something in the car that was making a massive amount of noise. (Now we only have a million things to fix in it instead of a million and one.)

So in lieu of the fact I have no pics from the day, here are photos of Richard and Erin's gorgeous twins, taken on Sunday. (Either I don't photograph well or I have inflated opinion of how I look, please excuse my ugly mug). How good does Erin look for someone who had twins less than 3 months ago?!

Day 7 - Wednesday 16th - Sick As A Dog

Super sick. Losing my voice feel queasy and exhausted.

Slept past 10am. First time since the boys were born.

Day 6 - Tuesday 15th - Tackling the Hills

Today we spent mostly at Poppy's place. I'm coming down with something so not feeling great.
We also had a visit from Baker Bob's Aunty and she lavished the tribe with attention.

We took the kids for a walk around to the corner shop too, just to get them out of the house. (About a 20 minute walk). The boys walked and Eva was in the umbrella stroller which Linc insisted on 'helping' push. Mans flaked about 5mins in and insisted Baker Bob carry him. And of course he gave in.

So Baker Bob spent the whole walk there and back negotiating pick up and walking points for Mans.
"When we get to the bridge then I'll pick you up".
He has walked further before but he has his father wrapped around his little finger. Although it was hotter than I thought and by the time we had tackled all the hills, not once but twice we were all glad to see Poppy's front yard come into view. Plus we had a chocolate treat to help smooth things over.

Obviously this is not what they wore to the shops. They got stripped because they were hot. And chocolate stains.

Day 5 - Monday 14th - Haircuts and a Spot of Shopping

Today dear Suez took me to her very cool city mall salon Sudar and cut and coloured my hair. She was supposed to be on holiday and it was 2 days after her wedding, 1 day before she leaves for her honeymoon she's giving ME a treat. What a superstar!

She also trimmed the mullets off the boys and gave Eva her first haircut. She even opened up the salon to the cyclone that is my children because there was no way Baker Bob was going to manage by himself.
Then we did a spot of shopping and although it was a public holiday and even though most of shops in the middle of Hobart were closed, I managed to pick up a few things for Eva's birthday party.

Day 4 - Sunday 13th - Dave & Suez's After Wedding Party

This I was able to attend. We all had fun catching up and the kids made some new friends.

Suez surprised me by giving me her bouquet and telling me she was treating me to a make over the following day. She's such a special person. Couldn't believe on HER weekend she was making me feel special!

Unfortunately I gave Baker Bob the camera with the instructions to "Take Photos" He took all of 5 photos and so I've had to rely on other people's photos of the kids (Thanks again Anne!). He didn't even get any of the "Day After Bride". I swear, hopeless!

Day 3 - Saturday 12th - Uncle Dave and Aunty Suez Gets Married

Uncle Dave is one of Baker Bob's closest friends and on the 12th of March he got married to his perfect match, Suez. Baker Bob was the best man, but unfortunately I was unable to attend. I was devastated by this and quite a few times over the day, I had a bit of a cry over it.

I stayed at Baker Bob's family home to watch the kidlets as I couldn't expect Poppy to run around after the 3 of them by himself. As well as drive the bride to the wedding, get the kids lunch, put them down for naps, feed them dinner and put them to bed of a night, plus drive me back and forward for breastfeeds. There's only so much a Poppy can do.

Baker Bob caught the garter (which I think was a bit of a set up lol) but he refuses to believe it. Apparently it was his marking skills. "It was all in the timing and the ability to leap like Liam Jurrah."

Here's a picture of the beautiful couple. Doesn't the bride look gorgeous!

Day 2 - Friday 11th - Arrive in Tassie

We arrived in Devonport at 6:15am but we bummed around the cabin for a little while as we knew we had a little bit of time to burn as the car was parked on one of the last accessed decks. We had a little breakfast and the kids drank water from the complimentary champagne flutes as I forgot their cups in the car. The boys were also thrilled at Devonport all light up through the cabin window.

We were through quarantine and on our way by 8am.
The kids were so well behaved for the 3 hour car ride that when we got to Poppy's house I went and bought them a Matchbox car each.

Day 1 - Thursday 10th - Leaving for Tassie

Boarded the Spirit of Tasmania II at 8:30 which was a bit late. That didn't sit well with the kids as we were sitting in a stationery car for more than a hour. But even I was cranky after that point.

When we boarded we found our 'Deluxe Cabin' (definitely worth the extra money), which was at the very front of the boat, put their dressing gowns on and went out to wave good bye to Grandma, Grandpa and Aunty Bry. Then we went back to our cabin and we set up their little portable cots, provided by the Spirit. Very cute!

We could have easily fitted a 3rd portable cot in the room but they don't allow more than 2 portable cots in a room so Eva bunked with us. They were all asleep by 10pm and although I hate sleeping with Eva because she's a real wriggler (and every time she moves she wakes me up), they were all really well behaved and made me so proud.

Eva did decide at 4am that it was wake up time but it was kind of nice being woken by her giggling and playing with my nose instead of kicking me in the guts.

Please excuse poor photo quality.

Tasmania, Batten Down the Hatches. Storm Nemo is Coming to Town

Tomorrow we leave for Taswaii on board the Spirit.

The kids' bag and on board bags are packed as well as their nappy bag. Just have to do mine and Baker Bob's bags and fit it all in the car.

I'm going to try and blog everyday while we're away but I'll see how we go. With 3 kids and an interstate trip, anything can happen. At least this time it looks like we might actually get there.

Though Eva did give me a scare last Sunday. She had 'highish' temperatures (37.6 - 38.3) and she was cranky and tired having barely slept the night before. As I was taking her temperature I was having flashbacks to when she was in hospital and I had to hold her still while they did all their obs. But it only lasted 24 hours and panadol would make the temperature go away completely. Plus she has 6 teeth pressing on her gums, trying to come out. She's still a little cranky and clingy but no sign of a temperature and she hasn't lost her appetite. Really do think this time, it's just teeth.

So off we go on our adventure...

Sweet Banana

Today I made banana cake.
I didn't have all the ingredients for the recipe I usually use so I played around with it.

It's edible but a few things went wrong...
Needed more bananas
Needed less sugar
The white chocolate icing's sweetness just over powers the cake.

All well, I'll know for next time and I already have some ideas for a healthier version. (If there is such a thing as a healthier version of cake).

Inspiration

For a long time I've wanted to do an event management course. Since I was about 16. I have always loved throwing parties, applying myself to the creative process, coming up with a theme and coordinating everything around it. I have contributed at many a party.

Some of the time, in my opinion, they fall a bit short of my vision because of tight budgets, (As did the boys' birthday party) but I always get huge amounts of positive feedback.

Then while trolling the internet I came across other women (Americans mostly) that have turned their passion into a business. I would love to do that. I have been inspired. Maybe all the people that keep telling me I should do it for a living weren't just being polite. Maybe I could actually do this.

One of my favourite contributions to a party were the invitations I made for a Mad Hatter 1st Birthday





 And the corresponding cake

Someone Get A Brick

Yesterday we had a MCHN appointment. Eva's 12 month and the boys' 2 year check-ups.
We didn't see our usual Health Nurse as she was away on leave but the nurse we saw was lovely and didn't seem concerned about anything. In fact she seemed rather impressed.

I spend most of my days doubting parenting decisions that I make are the right ones. Maybe I should have some conviction in my decisions. Maybe the fact I doubt, worry and second guess myself makes me a good mummy. But it's always lovely to get praise from the 'powers that be'. I'm a sucker for a kind word. In fact she lavished Baker Bob and I with praise.

I am still a little concern with the boys' speech. I maybe being nervous due to a history of hearing and subsequent speech therapy in our family but we're going back for a follow up appointment in 3 months and in that time I'm going to try and take notes about their communication and words that they say. Better safe than sorry.

Physical development wise Eva is tall for age and her weight is in proportion. Once she starts really walking she'll drop some weight as well. She also has her 2 bottom front teeth well and truly chomping and her 2 top front teeth have just popped through the gums. Linc is taller and heavier built than Mans. His weight is in proportion to his height and his pigeon toes seem to have pretty much corrected themselves. Mans is short for his age and lean, within proportion. They've still all got big heads but Baker Bob and I were informed yesterday that we have bigheads too so nothing unusual. It would be more worrying if they had little heads.

It's going to be a busy month with our 10 day trip to Tassie, Eva's b'day party, 3 hip appointments for Eva and 2 meningitis followup appointments including a hearing test.We're going to organise their first dental appointment within the next month or so too. That's just another big kid step, that and kinder enrolments open today for the boys. I'm booking places in VIC and TAS just to keep us covered. They're growing up way too quickly!


And here's proof. Eva acting like a teenage girl and animatedly chatting on the phone. (It's not actually a phone, it's a remote but give a girl a break, she's only 1 and she's just been caught in her brother's old PJs.)