Eden in the Apple Island

Cosmo Wolfgang

2011-12-05T22:11:00.000-08:00

Cosmo Wolfgang
24th November 2011
Born 9:20pm weighing 8lb 9 ounces
So loved.

November Dolls

2011-11-02T22:24:00.001-07:00

Aren't they sweet

Sweetpeas

2011-10-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

What more do I need to say.

South Sea Sirens Roller Derby Doll

2011-10-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post, one of these day's I may find a spare 2 minutes in my day and write more than 6 sentences, but today my friend is not that day.

My lovely cousin Selina asked me to make up a custom doll to donate to her Roller Derby team, how could I resist!

Here she is, resplendent in her gold hot pants and matching skates!

Doll Making & Picture Taking

2011-09-27T04:01:00.000-07:00

Well after about a month of toiling away and nothing really concrete to show for it, I finally had some dolls I could take out and photograph for the Facebook page.

Finally we had a rare hour or so of sunshine here in the green North East of Tasmania, so I packed up a tea set, a little doll quilt I made and a few dolls about to be sent to their new homes and went off to do a little improvised photo shoot.

I felt like somewhat of a Douchebag, especially when a few school mums drove past. Just me, my dolls and a tea set hanging in the hood'.

As per usual my photography skills are sadly lacking, but hey I can't be good at everything...right?

Spring Flowers

2011-09-10T02:11:00.000-07:00

Picked by the Husband

The Year So Far In Images

2011-08-30T04:06:00.000-07:00

I'm Back.....Again

2011-08-25T23:53:00.000-07:00

And I swear it will be with true commitment this time!

A quick update.

A Lupus Diagnosis

A new Baby on the way

A interstate move ( we made it Tasmania)

A billion hospital stays and some very unwell months

A new facebook business opened ( Fail Dollyies are GO).

I will be giving the ol' Bloggity a facelift in the coming few weeks, and changing the name, in the hope of focusing also on the
dollmaking more, and also our move to Tasmania. I'd been meaning to do this when we first arrived but after the "whoopsadaisy" 5th pregnancy and subsequent deathlike coma I fell into it's been delayed until now.

I would thank my Dearest Constant Reader,but by now I'm sure they've given up and gone and played Angry Birds.....

Peace Out
Eden

Gorgeousness

2010-05-28T00:12:00.000-07:00

Isn't she.

xoxo

Love

2010-05-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

Love.

My last two Blog posts have now both had this word in the title and it is no mere coincidence that they are the first Blog posts I've made since our little Iris came into our lives.

Now before you gag on the sappiness of the above sentence please take note...those who know me will be the first to explain that when it comes to heart and soul I'm possibly lacking either. I'm about the least Hallmark kinda person around and my way of showing affection still borders on primary school. If I like you I'll give you a punch in the arm and a noogie to show my feelings for you...I should have been a man!

But Dear Constants, this baby just turns me into sappy, gag worthy mush, she is just beyond divine. Now don't get me wrong this is my fourth child and she is no more loved than any child in this house, but I really feel like for the first time I've grown into myself as a mother and can just enjoy the newborn stage.

I know now if she cries she isn't going to break, I'm confident in myself that there is nothing that she can throw at me that I haven't dealt with before, and for the first time a baby with no breastfeeding dramas.

So in summary, if I have been missing in action it's because I'm gazing dewy eyed at this absolutely divine gift to our family.

Now Shhhhhh lets just keep this between you and I, it will my carefully crafted reputation if people start thinking I'm getting soft.

In other news, garden is coming along nicely. I found a wonderful ebay seller who stocks some awesome heirloom varieties of Tomato, Eggplant and Zucchini, so I'm excited about getting them started and the ones I do have in now are getting quite productive. I'm dreaming about the big Tassie move next year as I've developed a hankering for roses...I bought myself a early mothers day present of a bunch of Tulips but it's just not the same as beautiful cut cabbage roses.

Oh and I've caved to the dark side and conned Beau into getting an iphone as a combined Mothers Day/Birthday Present....I know very non frugal etc etc but what can I say...it just radiates awesomeness!

And a big shout out to my Sister in Law Bree who dragged her butt up to visit her two new nieces, was lovely to see you and have a grown ups nite out with you...and even lovelier when you left....as you can see in the below picture you drive me to drink haha

Well my house is silent so that is possibly my cue to exit the blogging hemisphere, until next time peeps....

Introducing....

2010-03-10T22:15:00.001-08:00

Philomena Iris Davidson

Born 5th March 2010, 6lb9oz and very very loved.

Isn't she Lovely....

2010-03-02T22:34:00.000-08:00

Which is bloody lucky as she's repulsive at the moment...I know why they call it the "feral three's" and yes I can think of another F word that could substitute for feral.

But at least she's lovely to look at.

White Choc Macadamia Cookies and other Rambles..

2010-02-27T19:20:00.000-08:00

Well I'm kid free for the day and have finally found my Blog mojo again, this house has been very lacking in excitement other than the fact Cairns has seemed to reach a new record for hot/stickiness, so I've been spending most of my time huge and pregnant at the computer refreshing Facebook(therefore not cooking or gardening) and whinging about the heat.

Of course ice cream is always one way to motivate me, and when my brothers girlfriend offered a swap of the awesome ice cream where she works for some Macadamia cookies I hauled myself into action.

Here is the recipe for those who requested.

Macadamia and White Choc Chip Cookies

250g softened butter
2 cups of soft brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp milk
2 beaten eggs
3 cups plain flour
2 tsp baking powder.
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup white choc chips

Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
Add vanilla,milk and beaten egg and fold in.
Mix in flour and baking powder until combined.
Gently fold through nuts and chocolate.

Bake at 180 for approx 15 minutes.

Enjoy :)

The garden is coming along nicely,after wondering if we were going to have any joy with the corn it suddenly decided to rocket up and is now higher than the neighbours fence with little immature cobs on it. I had to get Beau to make me a cover for the raised garden bed as the cats had decided it was the Worlds Largest Litter Tray and scratched up all my baby seedlings, but that's now replanted.

The little self seeded pumpkin has taken over the lawn now and has lots of lovely little baby pumps on it.

Mum also came over the other day and helped me get my Autumn planting of curcubits in as well as a new lot of hybrid sunflowers and some winged bean seeds that an lovely Earth Garden member sent me.

Speaking of curcubits, I have a Zucchini dilemma, I've been getting lots of little baby Black Zucchinis, but most of them have been becoming ridged and sort of shrivelling.
It doesn't seem to be a fertilisation issue, it doesn't just happen to the immature ones but right up to ones around 10cms. They seem fine one minute then start developing ridges and yellowing. Nothing I've found on the Great Google seems to explain it?

We've also had another arrival into this crazy family. Man of The House's sister had her first babe on Tuesday,now I'm the first to admit that I'm not generally a baby person and tend to think all newborns look like Winston Churchill but baby Matilda is just divine. Congrats Jaimee and Nick she's just lovely.

Other than that it's just a bit of a waiting game for our new unnamed Bebe to arrive in the Davidson household. With the older kids at school and only Miss Theodora the terror at home I feel like I'm just sitting around twiddling my thumbs in expectation and waiting now. I know I really should be baking/freezing/preparing things now but it's just been so hot that all motivation seems to have deserted me for cooler climes.

On that note, the couch and my Costa dvd is calling me, I'll leave you all with a final image. Raphaela's latest artistic rendition of the family, as you can tell I'm the round one in the middle!

Until we meet again.
Eden

The Harvest begins....

2010-02-10T18:30:00.000-08:00

Well I use the word "harvest" very loosely but hey, we're starting to eat actual real food from our actual real garden, so that's a start at least!

We had Pasta Primavera last night, with our own snake beans, and first zucchini and a lone tomato.

I also found a ripe watermelon hiding in the sweet potato patch when I was weeding, I had no idea of it's existence until then and that made a nice surprise

The sunflowers have bloomed too,just a smaller variety but I planted Giant Russians a few days ago so I hope I have some success with them. It would be quite spectacular to have 3 metre high flowers to gaze at when I wake in the morning ( well when I'm not gazing at Teddys face 2 millimetres from mine, "Mummy, Mum , Mummy, Muuuum Mum ,MUMMY").

Other than that it's just been nesting/baking/nesting/baking....6 weeks to go now until bebe #4 is here but 6 weeks may as well be 6 years in this weather, I feel like an elephant who has been pregnant for years.But nursery is ready to go, pram re-assembled,Etsy quilt arrived, carseat bought and now all I really have to do is pay off a few remaining laybuys, and sit at home and mope...whilst baking bread and other delicious things that are contributing to my backfat.

Oh and find The Name, we really must do that....I really think the poor poppet is going to be called Baby all her life, Beau and I are having so much trouble settling on a name.
And yes Valentina and Serafina are definately out my Constant Readers.

So.....what you YOU think she looks like? ;)

Random musings of a Bored Housewife...

2010-02-05T01:08:00.000-08:00

So once again the time has come that I share the excitement that is my life with you all.

Firstly I have a confession.

I am cool, and I don't mean in a big sunnies, Nicole Ritchie kinda way. I mean my body temperature is hovering at comfortable, which can only mean one thing.

I have caved and used the aircon for the first time this year.

I know I knoooow, but the temperature reached 39 in some places here today, the humidity was the normal wet tropics sauna levels and after a day of being out in the sun hand weeding the veggie garden I couldn't hack it anymore.

Ok I've admitted it, lets move on shall we.....

Firstly another Brag for Beau....he was home Monday so he did another "Skip Scavenge" and found enough wood to knock together a potting table for me.

Veggie garden is slowly recovering from the epic rain we had last week, I think my zucc's will fruit after all if there isn't another big downpour, and after removing the older mildew affected leaves it's looking much perkier. The gourd seeds I planted for Beau have sprouted and I found a few self seeded tomatoes in the watermelon patch. I'm really waiting for March though and that's when the serious planting shall commence.

I also lost my contacting virginity the other day, I think my left eye is still twitching slightly. I had to help Teddy contact and decorate her "special book" for Kindy.

What evil despot invented that foul sticky stuff I don't know, but my life was definitely happier without it lol

Other than that I think my days just revolve around school pick up/drop off and feeding said school children. I had fond ideas of pottering around organising the new Bebes room etc whilst the older kids were at school, but it seems all I do is race around baking for their school lunches.

At least if they don't remember the effort I went to when they're older they can check this blog for proof!

Latest effort for the school lunchbox was homemade labna and hotcross buns. Both successful but I'm not sure how wise I was for picking such a god awful stinking hot day to bake them.

The recipe for the buns is just one I found specifically for the breadmaker, A few people have asked for the "recipe" so here we go.

Hot Cross Buns

Dough

Water 330ml

Margarine 2 tbs

1 Egg

3/4 cup sultanas

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 Brown Sugar

520g Plain Flour

2 1/2 tsp yeast

Add to Breadmaker and turn use Pizza setting, or one approx 1 1/2 hours, you only need one rise

Take out risen dough, knead on a floured surface until springy and then shape dough on a greased tray into 12 buns.

Leave in a warm place for half an hour to rise.

Crosses

80g Plain flour

80ml water

2 tsp Sugar

Mix well and pipe onto top of buns.

Bake at 180 for 30 minutes

Glaze while warm.

Glaze

2 tbs water

2tbs sugar

1 tsp Gelatine.

Dissolve ingredients either on stovetop or microwave then glaze buns.

Voila!

And of course if anyone has any good school lunch recipes to share, knock yourselves out.

Until next time ....

The Taj Machook

2010-02-01T00:42:00.000-08:00

Actually when I ponder it I think the Taj Mahal may have had less time and thought invested in it.

Beau has been lovingly and methodically slaving away at this Chook Palace for weeks now. In the meanwhile our poor girls have been shunted around like itinerant Gypsy's whilst Beau madly hammered away on the few days he gets away from work.

I'm so proud of his handiwork, between the fact it was practically free( lucky for us we live in a new development...hence lots of skip bins filled with timber scraps)
and the fact he managed to do something so technical with no plans and nothing but a few basic tools...well shucks and all that but I have a new respect for The Man of Much hair aka The Husband.

So it was move in date for the girls today, and after much cursing and experimenting to get the coop out of the garage it's finally in place and chookies look noticeably happier already.

Anyway enough of the praise for Man of the House, and back to my favourite subject...ie bragging about myself.

I made homemade pasta today( it's amazing the things you can achieve when 2/3's of your children are being cared for by government employees)

It wasn't bad at all even if I do say so myself...but I think I'll have to find a better drying tool, I'm not sure draped across the back of my kitchen stools was completely ideal.

I served it with a cream,garlic,basil reduction and it was none too shabby...kids hoovered it down but that isn't unusual for them, they'll consume anything.

So once again another riverting insight to the Davidson household,I bet you can hardly contain the excitement Dear Constant Reader.

It never rains it pours.....

2010-01-30T21:51:00.000-08:00

At least in Far North Queensland.

After much finger drumming and whinging about the humidity the heavens have seen fit to open and rain down upon us.
Of course in perfect timing this also coincided with my Zucchini and Pumpkin setting about 300 fruit which have now all rotted, and back to school for the elder children of mine. Which meant I had the debatable pleasure of chaperoning back to school on Wednesday two children who by the time they reached their new classrooms were soggier than drowned rats and almost $200 of drenched school books.
The Joy.

But yes our Fat Boy otherwise known as The Child who had a Speech Delay yet now won't shut up has started school. Prep. I'd almost pretend I'm human and I shed a tear, but Dearest Constant Reader you know me too well. I shoved him through that door with more glee and I even experience when I hit the David Jones sales and went rocketing home to enjoy the peace and quiet.

Oh and the rain....mustn't forget the rain.

Well that's about it for us at the moment...I'm slowly trying to restore the veggie garden to some semblance of order after the torrential rain and within a few days "Our Girls" aka Angry Chook, Zen Hen and Poppet's Chicken Palace should be ready and I'll update with pictures ( Beau is fancying himself muchly,with reason mind you)

Purple chilli,Black Zebra Tomato, Capsicum and a heritage Eggplant
Tomato and Eggplant
My very happy Okra

Baby Watermelon!

Sad looking Zucchini

Squash and various Tomatoes

My Yam!

Sweet Potato

Self Seeded Pumpkin

Sunflowers

Tommy Toe Tomato
Over and Out.

Beware the Ides of March(Flies)

2010-01-10T17:41:00.000-08:00

Well in a valiant effort to follow through with my resolutions, here I am again Dearest Readers.

I'm back from our trip to the wilds, our first official "Family Camping Trip". Amazingly Beau and I remained on speaking terms for most of the trip.

Biggest hurdles were the evil mass of march flies that decided it had never feasted upon a tastier morsel than my pregnancy bloated legs and the torrential downpour we had the first night. Probably not helped by the fact I clung to Beau all that night whimpering and clutching a hammer and asking him if the bolts of lightening was actual Axe Murderers come to butcher me in my sleep....Ahem anyway.

But despite this we all had a great time, I floated in the beautiful freshwater creek scaring the cows, Beau wandered around half naked trying to spear fish and the kids turned half wild.

We came home to find the garden had bloomed once again( especially the bloody nutgrass)and some self seeded pumpkin and tomato had also popped up. I've managed to con Beau into setting up my raised garden bed as well, so I've been fantasising about what seeds I'm going to order for that. I'm thinking some Purple Chilli, Pink Thai Tomato and a heritage variety of Thai Eggplant. Ohhh and I'm ordering some Yams and fantasising about the Push Mower I saw in Bunnings yesterday....exciting much?

So that's about it for my thrilling life at the moment, I'll finish off with some updated garden pictures and if you can stay awake through that consider it a triumph.

Zucchini Patch

Sunflower

Pumpkin

Watermelon hiding behind the Pumpkin

Sweet Potato

More Watermelon

Self Seeded Butternut

Raised Garden Bed

My amazing garden in its entirety

Peace out.

New Years Resolutions.

2010-01-01T18:24:00.000-08:00

Can you guess #1 is to Blog with more regularity?

After wasting approx 6 months of my life this year mentally drooling over everyone elses blogs

I've finally found the motivation to return once again, if only to TELL you I've found the motivation to return once again.

So you all know 1# now, and I pinky swear now Non Constant Reader I will stay true.

Now for the rest.

#2 To eat better. Somehow whenever I fall pregnant I change from being the food nazi to consuming anything that crosses my path. Somehow I doubt my breakfast each morning of chocolate rolo dessert custard and diet coke is doing much for my backfat or helpful for optimal fetal nutrition.

3# To live more sustainably. This shall be the ultimate challenge considering I can barely spell sustainable, but hey my hearts in the right place. Normal wanky suburban measures are being put in place, half dead vegetable garden etc haha. Aim in the new year is to get some chicken and a bokashi bin. But I have been trying, I've even given up the dream of having a hushamok for bebe #4 and instead I'm putting that money towards a stash of cloth nappies....the ultimate sacrifice *wipes a tear*.

If only I had inherited my mothers green thumb.

#4 To finally get on top of all our debt and start saving for some land, after being inspired by the very clever Kelly of http://theantirat.blogspot.com/ .

#5 Learn how to sew. BAHAHAHAHA *clutches sides*

And now just a preview of the start of my "resolutions", hopefully now I've admitted all this I'll follow through!

My Meyer Lemon Tree

Imperial Mandarin Tree

Zuccini

Pumpkin

My Snazzy new watering can

Sprouting sweet potato.

Homemade laundry powder

I also have Chocolate capsicum, two types of tomato,watermelon,passionfruit,basil, snake beans,eggplant and balinese sweet corn growing. Beau also gave me a lovely raised garden bed for Christmas but we're yet to assemble it. Hopefully I manage to get something edible in the end!

Last but not least, a new companion to Fred and our latest addition.

"Frankie Blue Eyes"

Meatloaf and Me Me Me!!!

2009-09-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

Well like everything in my life, once I get off the proverbial butt and get started I can't stop, so after a break of 9 months I now have 2 blog posts in 2 days.

I'll start off with THE best meatloaf recipe ever....this recipe changed my life, fail to believe me if you will, but trust me make it and you'll be a convert

Credit to my cooking idol Tessa Kiros, it's from the worlds best cookbook Apples for Jam(excuse the picture, I couldn't find the last picture I took of the meatloaf so I took a photo of the cookbook pic).

Meatloaf with Roasted Vegetables

80g White bread crusts removed
1/2 cup of milk
2 large carrots peeled
1 large potato peeled
1 red capsicum
500g Beef mince (she uses lean, I use pov mince because I think it makes a better tastier meatloaf)
2 tbs of finely chopped parsley(I use basil)
1 garlic clove finely chopped
1 heaped tbsp grated parmasan
1 lightly beaten egg
4 tbsp olive oil
100g thinly sliced pancetta
2 sage sprigs(I never have sage so just double the rosemary)
2 rosemary sprigs
2 unpeeled garlic cloves
1 tbsp plain flour
1/2 cup of white wine or stock

Preheat the oven to 180C. Soak the bread in milk for about 15 minutes, squashing it up with your hands so it collapses.
Cut the carrots in half lengthways then into four. Repeat with the Zuccini.Cut the potato into more or less the same size wedges and the capsicum into strips.
Put aside
Put mince into bowl with parsley(or basil),garlic,parmasan,egg and squashed up bread and a flat tsp of salt. Combine until smooth then form a large loaf shaped like a giant egg.
Drizzle half the olive oil into a large flameproof baking dish and put the meatloaf on top.Cover with overlapping slices of pancetta tucking them in at the bottom.
Scatter the veggies around, drizzle them with the rest of the oil and toss with some salt. Tuck the herbs and garlic cloves under the veggies.
Bake for about 1 1/4 hours turning the veggies halfway through. They should be crusty and golden and the pancetta crispy. Turn oven off. Remove the veg and meatloaf to a platter, cover with foil and return to the oven to keep warm.
Put the baking dish on the stovetop over high heat and sprinkle in the flour.
Cook, stirring constantly to scrape up all the bits. Pour in wine/stock and stir until evaporated. Add 250ml of hot water season with salt and cook until smooth and thick.
Serve with thick slices of meatloaf and veggies.

Enjoy!

Now just for some random pictures of my Oh So interesting life.

We've recently had the misfortune( I kid I kid) of having Beau's sister Bree and her husband EJ come visit from the backwater they call Perth. It's lovely seeing the kids, especially Bruno interact with their cousins and I'll be very sad to see them go...well the boys anyway haha

They actually have my big kids and have taken them camping once again proving without doubt to me that they are not the brightest sparks...leaving me with just the unruly child, Miss Teddy. So to take advantage of our new found freedom Beau and I pretended we were a one child family yesterday and took Her Ladyship The Esteemed Theodora to Muddies for some chips and a splash around.
She's obnoxious but rather lovely to look at.

And lastly mucho thanko's to the lovely Tina who reminded me of two precious objects I had "put away somewhere safe" and now have pride of place on the girls bedroom walls.

I don't like to blog about Ava, because I don't believe anything I say can do her justice,I sound too clumsy, too sentimental. But she is still very very much remembered in this household.
XoSuper PrincessoX

They say it's like riding a bike

2009-09-21T16:12:00.000-07:00

And for a start stop being filthy you lot, I'm talking about blogging!

Secondly it's all lies, it's not at all like riding a bike, I can't remember
a damn thing...where is the thingamie button to post pics? How do I do this?
how do I do that? I have the memory of a goldfish so it's like learning to ride
said bike all over again.

Well I'm back ;)
I thought I'd be back because Domestic Goddess I am, I made my truly superb
Tess Kiros Meatloaf the other night for dinner and I wanted to share with the world
what a clever clever chook I am.
Then I realised I didn't take a picture.
Then I realised I'm as unmotivated as hell.
Then I forgot.

Then I decided that I'm going to die in childbirth with this pregnancy from an amniotic embolism (reason #7585 why Dr Google is NOT your friend ) and in the search for information about my future manner of death came across this foul piece of blogging trash.

http://skepticalob.blogspot.com/ I tried to insert her Blog as a clickable link
but it was an epic fail.

I'm not particularly passionate about Home birth, not that I don't think it's a wonderful idea, but I just KNOW I'd be racing around afterwards wanting to mop up blood and home births and white bedlinen is so not a match made in heaven ( plus I'm a sicko that loves hospitals and even *gasp* hospital food).
But Dearest long suffering and now probably non existent Constant Reader, her views on homebirth are just vicious, she's meant to be an Ob Gyn but the language she uses to describe home births, the midwives that attend them and the woman who have them are just, well , petty?
She sounds like a 14 year old who's boycrush decided to take her uglier nicer friend to the movies instead of her.
Soooooooo of course I went poking about in her Blog and what was her latest post about...Down Syndrome of course *sigh* . And because I have all the self preservation and control of a gnat I stayed and read it...and let my panties wedge further up my bum crack, then commented , then got my panties further twisted.

Result, now I'm here Blogging about it.

My first disclaimer is that I am not religious at all and I am not Pro Life.
My views about termination and Down Syndrome derive from neither of the above things, in fact if anything the fact I'm not religious means effects to an extent the way I feel about D.S and termination for medical reasons.
We get one shot at this life kiddo's and Down Syndrome is not a bloody good enough reason to let that chance go.
I read recently on Essential Baby someone parrot the view that there are some "Fates worse than death" too justify terminating a fetus with Down Syndrome.
Fucking.Bullshit.
I dare, I effing double dare, anyone with that view to come live with me and observe Raphaela's life and tell me that her fate , her very existence is worse that being dead. The very concept is so far removed from the truth it's difficult to even dignify it with a response. Yet the sad thing is that it's quite a common view, especially( a view made from my very unreliable experience online in the past 6 years) in American culture and nowhere do you see this view parroted more than in the U.S blogging community and in U.S parenting forums.

What I think bothers me more than anything is the lack of honesty and posturing behind it all. Say you don't want a child with Down Syndrome, say it's to hard or hurts too bad or they look funny....hell medical inducement will make it all go away.
But do not patronise me and pretend that being born with Down Syndrome is hell on earth, that that extra 21st chromosome guarantee's a short lifetime of medical problems and pain,a worthless life, of being a burden on their families.
If we were going to bargain away the lives of our children on odds, we'd be better off only having children with Down Syndrome, anyone ever googled everything that can go wrong with a chromosomally "normal" child?

What people like the esteemed Dr Amy Tuteur MD and like minded colleagues fail to grasp in the nasty little cesspit they call a mind, is that parents like me, parents of children with Down Syndrome, advocate and get caught up in these extremely painful discussion not through some sadist need or because "quote" of the guilt of bearing a defective offspring.

Down.Syndrome.Is.Just.Not.That.Bad.

We, not Dr Amy Tuteur MD, not any of the other Dr's or genetic counsellors LIVE with a child with Down Syndrome every day. Not a "high functioning" child as my friend Dr Amy Tuteur MD would like to claim. But a child whos quality of life is as good as any of her siblings. Who deserves to LIVE. Just like any of her unborn peers.

So take that Dr Amy Tuteur MD and shove it up your pipehole.

P.s Melissa, will be back with said meatloaf recipe when I've finished making playdoh voodoo dolls of my favourite blogger :)

For Mum

2009-01-06T00:23:00.001-08:00

Just some pics...because Mumsy wont use facebook..

2008-12-18T23:35:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I forget to be grateful

2008-11-27T04:51:00.000-08:00

As some of my Dear Constant Readers would know Bruno has never been a great talker.
He was very very late to talk at all and now at nearly 4 his latest assessment has been a moderate to
severe expressive and receptive language delay. At one stage I truly believed I'd never
have a child that would ever talk.

Anywho...the other day I was on the phone to my poor mother whinging (as per usual)
about what the kids had been doing to torture my fragile mind that particular day.
I was halfway through a particularly energetic vent about Bruno...(Arggg he follows me
everywhere, Arggg if i hear Mummy, Mummy , Mummy, mum, mummy? MUMMY!!! one more time
that day i was going to scream, if i heard him ask me the same sentence 17 gazillion
times once more i was going to scream , WOULD THAT DAMN CHILD EVER SHUT UP!!!??)
when she calmly and quite humorously reminded me of all the times I said full of woe to
her that I'd give my right leg, favourite pair of jeans etc to be able to say that Bruno
never shut up. That I would have been grateful for just one mummy.
Well I had about a billion "Mummy's" that particular day and I hadn't been grateful for any of them.
I guess it just made me stop and smell the roses a bit,we're at a stage with Bruno's talking that
we never thought we'd reach so soon and I don't want to take a moment of it for granted.
I was pondering this exact subject driving home this afternoon from Kindy, zoning out to my
too loud music when I heard his little voice pipe up from the backseat.

"Mummy I talkn to YOU"

Yes Bruno, yes you are!

(P.S excuse the fact I have no new photos, the monsters have misplaced my camera)

Divalicious overload and Newsflash ...the Terrible Two do love one another...

2008-11-26T00:59:00.000-08:00

Excuse the huge overload of Raphaela pictures, but she was actually halfway groomed

and well behaved for once so I thought I might jump while the iron was hot so to speak

( I can sense one Poppa getting mucho excited right now).

Now bare with me me as I type a half hearted post to go with these photo's, my children

are actually trying to murder me via sleep deprivation and my brain has morphed into sludge.

So here we go.

These. is . my. children. ( minus Teddles )

See, they do actually love one another sometimes !

And look how long Diva's hair is now, trust me it normally doesn't look like this,
but caked in grime and food instead.

Its good to be back Dearest and most patient constant ( to my inconsistency ) Reader.

7 months ~ ( A picture essay)

2008-11-03T23:41:00.000-08:00

Just call me Nigella...

2008-04-03T21:09:00.000-07:00

Well other than the fact I adore Nigella ( her neice, her kids names, her life *sigh*) I've been baking up a storm today.

Firstly to understand why I'll mention one thing.

My father arrives tomorrow, and for those of you that don't know my father one fact remains.

That man can EAT...and I mean eat with a capital E.

So my tally so far today is fetta and basil savoury muffins, sponge cake with jam and cream and shortbread.

Now I just have to cook him up some Kofta and a roast for when he arrives and he should be set for approx 3 hours.

Now for the cleaning!

*grins* Can you tell I'm excited?

Drive safe mum & dad, seeya soon!

P.P.S

2008-04-02T19:30:00.003-07:00

But would my Teddy not look DIVINE in this .

Ok really going now Dear Constant....

Sleeping Beauty....in my bed!

2008-04-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

I had a visitor in my bed the other night.

(That almost sounds rude doesn't it tehehe!)

I'd been sitting on the computer in my usual "kids are in bed, my day is done" fueled daze and had decided to pack it in for the night.

Who did I find curled up asleep in my bed but Miss Diva Raphaela!

She can be as quiet as a mouse when it suits her, an she must have snuck in without me hearing her...anyway I thought it was cute and took some happy snaps ( it's a shame she snores like a 50 year old man! )

Back to packing anyway( and cleaning for my parents imminent arrival YAY)...we're off bush! Back to one of the towns I went to High School in.

So I'll be Eden in Kadina soon!

Jeebus preserve us all!

Bruno's "Dinosaur Cake"

2008-03-26T00:44:00.000-07:00

Well technically it isn't a Dinosaur cake at all, it's actually a yoghurt,berry crumble cake...but Bruno helped bake it and he christened it a Dinosaur cake so *shrug*.
Kids are strange...especially mine.

But we had alot of fun on this drizzly cold day baking it, and even more fun eating it.

As Bruno would say...

I cook yummy Dinosaur cake mummy!!

Cold Blooded Creatures.

2008-03-25T00:10:00.000-07:00

Cold Blooded Creatures.

Myself and the children I mean.

We all function better in the warmth in this family.

Adelaide had a "heatwave" recently ( I wore singlets for 2 blissful sunny weeks yet it was still barely warm enough to swim IMO! )

For two wonderful sunny shiny weeks I was happy...but now the chill has hit *cue tough southerners to giggle in disbelief, OK I know 20 degrees isn't thaaaaat cold* and I thought I'd be miserable.

But Dear Constant Reader....It ain't too bad!

It's been quite nice snuggling under the doona at night and having nice warm baths.

Teddy has discovered the joy of the Bogans favourite footwear, the almighty "Ugg" and showcased a pair of her own today. She put a whole new meaning into these boots are made for walking.

Bruno and Raph are in their element.

Mud

Puddles

Rain , what more could a little boy wish for?, other a mother that didn't hack at his hair herself that is ( how do you say Homeless Orphan Chic!).

And of course the kids have been enjoying their warm bubble baths too, god knows they need one by the end of the day to scrub all the mud off!

Adios!

The Pink Wiggle and the Saga of my Grotty Children

2008-03-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

My Children are grotty.

Filthy

Dirty

Grubby

I can dress them and have them look immaculate and within 20 seconds they look like they've never seen a bathtub in their lives let alone made intimate acquaintance with one.

It must be genetic because I'm rather like that. I dress myself, I fix my hair and do my make up.By the time I walk out the door I look like I'm homeless and that's without noticing the miscellaneous stains that gather around my bust area.

So to get decent pictures of my darling grots I usually have to pounce in the 2.5 second gap between dressing them and the remainder of the day.

Well Dear Constant ( and long suffering ) Reader, I have given up...so here are some pictures of my children at their finest, filthy( or naked, Ted's latest skill is undressing herself).

We also had visitors today, one of my best friends Kelly and her boyfriend Dave dropped round. He's now known as the unofficial Pink Wiggle for his skill in baby entertaining. I've never seen such a big strapping childless blokey bloke have such patience in reading 4656 renditions of a cardboard dinosaur book to a 15 month old.

Go Dave ya big ol softy!

Also some random pictures of Teddy and myself at the Adelaide museum and Zoo , including on picture of her in her new Ergo carrier.

I look happy in the picture but I must mention she'd just piddled all down my back, the joys of her nappy getting scrunched down while I carried her !

Enjoy and Ciao for now Dearest charming Constant Reader.

Time flies...

2008-01-28T00:17:00.000-08:00

When your having fun...

I've been flicking through some of my old photos and I found these ones
of Theodora.

The first was taken in the hospital when she was born, the second is in March 07 with her cousin Zeke.

Hasn't she grown *sheds a tear*.

Crazy Women coming to a Pub near you...

2008-01-26T17:08:00.000-08:00

I went to a Hens Night last night...and lots of love and best wishes to the glowing Bride to be...but if she was an actual Hen she'd be a Boiler.

The Bride to be is one of my good friend Sheree's Mother in Law, and it quite amusing going out with them to say the least...they made us feel old!

So if you saw a busload of 40+ women out on friday night, dressed in 70's inspired outfits and fluro wigs ( picture an aged Britney Spears on a bad day) ...then that was us!

Here's a picture of me and Sheree(excuse the missing eyes, I drink..they disappear!)...we've been friends since we were 12, and for some reason unknown to me she still tolerates me!

Anyway back to the grindstone...Raphaela starts for sessions of Kindy this coming week, very exciting!

Pizza in the Park...Belated Birthdays and Diva twins

2008-01-22T04:06:00.000-08:00

Firstly today was the day we celebrated Bruno's "fake" birthday.

Beau took him too see Waterhorse, with the general consensus that he would adore it.

BZZZZZT wrong, he took Beau by the hand mid movie and led him out *mutter mutter ungrateful child mutter mutter serpent tooth*

Then to finish today's celebrations off, we went to the Disability S.A New Years pizza in the park shindig.

And so we get to Grace.

There is always much talk of evil twins, well Raphaela has a good twin...Grace.

We have had the privilege of meeting the lovely Grace and family through the Down Syndrome society of S.A. It amazes me how much Raph and Gracie are alike, right down to their bows, Oilily and Diva nicknames. They even strut alike!

( and a big Thank you to Karen, Grace's mum for letting me post these pictures! )

The kids had a wonderful time stuffing themselves with pizza,icecream and racing off into the distance making their poor parents chase after them. Thats when they weren't using Beau for a " Horsy" that is!

Enjoy the photos Dear Constant Reader...there sure is enough of them!

Here is Raphy holding hands with another new friend Hannah.

Blowing Bubbles

I LOVE this picture I took of Raphaela today, one of my favourite ever shots.
She looks so serene and otherworldly...so unlike her normal manic self!

Teddy practicing her new found walking skills and looking angelic...looks are so deceiving!

God help us all...

2008-01-21T01:36:00.000-08:00

Teddy is finally walking...

Pray for us, she is unstoppable...now not only does she have the vocabulary of
a 15 year old, but soon she'll be outrunning us as well.

Here the mini Strumpet is , living it up at what she thinks is her second home...AKA Vanessa the Unts house.

She adores Kara, and even more strangely adores her mother. Well someone has too...

Stay tuned Dear Constant Reader...Tomorrow is a very important day ( well actually it isn't, LAST Wednesday was...but we cancelled Brunos birthday that day due to him having Gastro haha!)

Bruno's (FAKE) Birthday!!

Talk soon lovely people...

The things we do to our children...

2008-01-12T20:02:00.000-08:00

To amuse ourselves.

Including in Beaus case putting a tea towel turban on Theodora's head and singing
"Bollywood" style to her.

But she looked so cute, don't you think "tea towel chic" brings out her eyes!

Thursday was a stinking hot 42 here in Adelaide, so we did the only sane sensible thing as per usual...bundled all the kids into our hot car and dragged them to Brighton beach.

It was a lovely day though, we packed a nice picnic lunch,Raphaela managed to steal
some tourists toy shovel and none of us managed to drown.

Excellent!

Later that evening I abandoned the children so I could go help my friend Kelly pack up her house in Noarlunga. Which was pretty lucky I earned so much good Karma with her as the useless evil mouldering shit heap that I call a car decided to hemorrhage
coolant and die just as a pulled into a friends driveway the next morning.

Thanks so much Karen for keeping the kids entertained while I swore and coated myself in coolant...and thanks so much Kel for rescuing me!

~((HUGZ))~

Peace out!

Girls Day In.

2008-01-09T00:42:00.000-08:00

Well despite my best intentions I did just about nothing today.

Well I vacuumed the car and washed the couch cover...again ( DO.NOT.ASK )...but nothing compared to what I usually do.

Bruno was at daycare today and Beau was at work, so it was just my and my girls, and it was rather nice.

And did I mention peaceful?

We wandered down the shops for milk, watched some DVDs and just chilled out in Raphaela's room taking pictures.

I just have to add these pictures of Raphaela and I, despite the fact the picture fully illustrates the fact I could eat an apple through a keyhole ( DAMN you mother for never getting me braces).

Don't we look cute!

I can't resist posting this picture of Ted either, I was faffing around in the kitchen and when I checked on her as it was rather quiet I discovered she'd climbed onto the couch and had fallen asleep ( disclaimer , although it was extremely tempting I did not leave her there).

We're off to Brighton tomorrow, stay tuned!

The Silly Season is done and dusted...

2008-01-07T17:06:00.000-08:00

And Dear Neglected Constant Reader don't despair.

I am indeed back!

Oh and what a season it's been!

But what's done is done and now it's not only a lovely bright and shiny day, but a lovely bright and shiny new year.

We had our holiday in Wallaroo, there were tears and tantrums and people running away from home...and that was just the adults. Christmas was only slightly less eventful so we won't even go there!

I had a lovely time in Snowtown as well, and despite all predictions did not end up in a barrel...it was lovely to catch up Sheree!

Oh and of course a big shout-out to Vanessa the Ow who babysat mini Ow for New Years...god know how you tamed her, but you did it.

Beau has another new job now, this time finally a full time one, and just around the corner at Mitcham *insert Eden dancing with glee*.

That's about it really readers, I've added some miscellaneous photo's from christmas and New Years...stay tuned now I have my camera charger back.

Mwah Mwah etc.

My Bogan Bebe.

2007-12-17T19:34:00.000-08:00

I shouldn't have.

If I had any true class or refinement I wouldn't have done this.

But goddamn it!, Theodora is 1 now and still only has about the same amount of hair Raphaela was born with...so I got the girl a headband.

*EB readers swoon in disgust at my lack of taste*

Even I think they're stupid, but hey I had to do something...ok!

I still think she looks pretty cute in it.

And cheeky, mustn't forget cheeky.

We had a nice day wandering the Glenelg shops yesterday, Beau was at a work trial(yes Dear Constant Reader, after he in true Chef fashion threw some plates around and quit his job yesterday) so we had some time to kill.

We ended up chilling out on the grass with a horrible/wonderful! greasy Yiros and watching the world go by.

Oh and my car radio caught on fire...but that my Darling Dearest Constant Reader is a whole other tale.
I'm not sure who wanted the Yiros more, the seagulls or Ted!

Last of all, for you Mumsy, my new haircut.

It was traumatic...but I got there in the end!

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Stars.

2007-12-16T01:26:00.000-08:00

Another lazy Sunday spent dragging children from drains ( Don't ask!) and baking Christmas sweeties.

As I've already bragged copious times to my mother already...I made Chocolate Dipped Shortbread and it tastes so divine!

Can you tell I'm feeling rather pleased with myself.

Also included for the benefit of my charming parents ...

Bruno with pink undies on his head.

Princess Grotty Pants

Monday Night Pokie Madness

2007-12-11T00:57:00.000-08:00

Who Dear Constant Reader is insane enough to go out to the Adelaide city on a Monday night.

Yup you guessed it , lil ol moi.

Kelly and I were having a hankering for being all dressed up with literally nowhere to go, so thats exactly what we did.

Of course it being Monday night everything was closed or as dull as dishwater...we of course we ended up on Hindley Street of all places...playing the pokies !

From here on in, we would know like to be known as "Ezza and Kezza".

It may not have been a night of excitement, but hey it got us out the house.

(and I'm sure the bartender had fun cleaning up the several glasses I smashed!)

xoxox
Eden, who is well known for being death on glasses.

Ted's "Wet and Wild" madness

2007-12-11T00:50:00.000-08:00

My daughter, my teensy tiny bebe girl jumped in the bath yesterday...all by herself.

Fully clothed.

Yes Dear Constant Reader...fully clothed.

She found it very amusing, I don't think I've ever seen her quite so cheekily gleeful before.

Of course I had to grab the camera...isn't she just radiating naughtiness!

Christmas Cookies.

2007-12-08T00:37:00.000-08:00

Another Nigella moment today ( if only I had her gorgeous brown eyes and pots of money!).

We baked the Christmas tree cookies from this years Coles Xmas magazine, we also made stars and hearts and some strange unidentifiable shapes(Cheers Bruno)

We did a magnificent job of destroying the kitchen and I managed to knock over a whole containers of those little silver balls...God what ARE they called anyway.

But they all turned out well in the end, and even taste rather scrummy...rather shortbreadish I think.

Checkout Bruno's special "Didor" tree that he made too.

Another day ...

2007-12-06T20:10:00.000-08:00

Another "Mytime" spent scoffing Tim Tams and swilling endless mugs of tea.

Have I mentioned I adore Mytime?

I love having a child with "special needs".
All because Raphaela is graced with some measly little extra chromosome I get an excuse to have trained carers sit and entertain my children whilst I gasbag with like minded parents.

It is bliss my friends, BLISS.

Anyway while I sat and did nothing my children frolicked and looked adorable...here's the proof(none of Fatboy sorry, he wouldn't stay still for a photo).

P.S Constant Reader...I have finally met the lovely Karen...mother to Grace who's 4 with Down Syndrome and lover of all things Oilily.

Watch out Diva, you have competition!!!

Jackie O on Crack.

2007-12-06T20:00:00.000-08:00

Wednesday.

Kid Free day for Eden, need I say more?

There was everything needed for a fun filled day.

My new Big Bug eye sunglasses, especially purchased to annoy my husband.

Dress ups with Erin at C.A.F.E. We were helping sort donated clothes and I made a stunning ensemble from a fuzzy scarf and a babies bib.

Diet Coke.

Ohhh and did I mention shopping?

P.s Constant Reader.
A picture of Raph using the broom as a horsey. Just cause shes cute.

Dress Twirling and Apple pies.

2007-12-04T01:10:00.000-08:00

I had a lovely uneventful boring day at home today.

I baked a superb, if I do say so myself, apple & rhubarb pie and bustled around cleaning most the day.

I really should be listing on ebay but Raphaela has fallen back in love with one of the dresses I should be listing.

What do you think dear Constant Reader?

Stay or Nay?

Happy Birthday Teddles & Special Childrens Xmas Party!

2007-12-02T03:21:00.000-08:00

What a day, what A day.

This time last year I was nursing my newborn baby girl, I just cannot comprehend that she's 1 already!

We started the day by giving her presents, she just loves her new walker...almost as much as Bruno does!

Then I made myself look somewhat presentable, packed all the various kids up and packed them off to Erin's so I could take Raphaela to the Special Children's Christmas Party at the Adelaide Zoo.

We just had such a lovely day, we wandered around with Grace and Hannah checking out all the animals.

Raphaela spent the day scarfing all the free food,I've never know a child that can eat like her!(wonder where she gets it from?).

She received some wonderful pressies & she's fast asleep as I type still clutching the baby doll she was given.

Last but not least I've included a picture of the corn chip she shared with me.

Generous my girl is.

"Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree".

2007-12-02T02:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was December the 1st, so by annual Davidson tradition the Christmas tree went up (and down a few times *eye twitch*).

It looks a tad shonky, but hey, its all ours!

We also had a friends little boys 1st birthday party..we didn't stay long because I'm allergic to Play Cafe's but I'm sure the kidlets had fun.

I'm not even going to discuss the fact I took the wrong turn driving through the City on the way home Constant Reader!

Tis the season to be Jolly

2007-11-28T23:46:00.000-08:00

Tra la la la la...la la la Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Yes I'm Christmas obsessed, hence not being able to wait another day to post these pictures!

Stay tuned Constant Reader...Christmas Tree goes up Saturday!

Life's a Beach.

2007-11-28T23:31:00.000-08:00

Another day another beach...this time Noarlunga with Kelly.

After a somewhat tragic day yesterday Kel obviously decided she was a glutton for punishment and asked if the kids & I would like to head down her way for a swim.

Well...I think Kelly has now lost any urge to breed anytime soon and perhaps even the will to live...but hey what the heck, the kids had fun!

Ted consumed more vast quantities of sand whilst Raphaela dashed around trying to drown herself and Bruno strutted in his sister's bikini bottoms. We even managed to get Teddles to venture into the water....& check out the bum pic!

After our swim we headed to Maccas for a icecream treat then back to Kellys for a drink and some watermelon ( Oh and Raphaela managed to knock over Kel's Christmas tree not once but TWICE! ).

Thanks for the great day Kelly...your a bloody trouper(BOOBIES!)

Semaphore Beach...another of Eden's shining days.

2007-11-27T21:01:00.000-08:00

South Australian weather in summer...what more can I say...Bliss!

We made the trip out to Semaphore Beach yesterday to take the kids for a swim.

We ( & when I say we, I mean "I") made a delicious picnic lunch, bundled the kids into the car and off we went.

Beau and the kids had fun playing in on the excellent waterfront playground whilst I sat back and swilled from my ever present bottle of diet coke.

We even managed to get Raph and Bruno on the swings, as you can see they loved it!.

After the kids burned off some energy we headed down to the actual beach...Theodora ate about her own weight in sand and seemed like a real beach bebe. Not bad for a child that is nearly 1 and has only ever been to the beach once before.

Raphaela and Bruno of course spent the entire time racing around stealing each other's buckets and spades and trying to drown themselves while Erin and I soaked up some sun.

I also got some classic shots of Raphaela's midday breakdown, and of the children chasing some more seagulls.

All in all another lovely day, I really must make sure we get to the beach more often.

Ciao for now.

Family Fun Day at the Down Syndrome Association!

2007-11-26T03:03:00.000-08:00

Sunday was another one of my beautiful shining days, so it was quite fitting that it was the annual Down Syndrome Association of South Australia's Family Fun day.

What a wonderful (albeit busy hot and sticky ) day we had!

Erin and I packed up our whole tribe, buckled and strapped them into their respective prams, strollers and baby slings and off we trotted to check out the festivities.

Well it had just about everything a Raphaela could dream of.

Petting Zoo, Pony's (SAUCY'S MUMMY SAUCY'S), Santa , snags galore and last but most certainly not least 50 CENT DIXIE CUPS!!!.

Raphaela had a blast watching the magic show and Theodora was obsessed with the piglets and baby goat at the petting zoo.

I actually remembered my camera for once, but I forgot to charge the battery so my camera carked it just as I went to take pictures of Bruno and Raph having horsey rides.

To top the day off we also got to meet two lovely ladies...Karen who has a little girl Grace the same age as Raphaela with Down Syndrome ( we kept missing eachother like ships in the night at mytime!) & a lovely EB mum (*waves to Jess*).

Today I had lovely relaxing day shopping for Xmas decorations...How I adore the silly season.
We were going to drive to Hahndorf but decided we'll save that for next week.

Then it was home again to make curry and bake a homemade apple,peach and blueberry pie...it will go nicely at the beach picnic we're planning tomorrow.

Stat tuned Constant Reader...camera is now charged!

Lady in Red.

2007-11-23T00:23:00.000-08:00

Well girl technically, but in red nonetheless!

Excuse the fact she was trying to scale a couch to try to escape me...it seems my children are often trying to do that.

We had another lovely relaxing day today, C.A.F.E Enfield for Mytime (Love you Tricia!)...then to Erins to drop Bruno off for a sleepover.

I've just finished having a delicious and lazy dinner of veggie wraps & now theres nothing more to do than relax with a glass of vino and browse ebay.

I also have included some old pics of Teddy...the only child who could fall asleep covered in food in an Ikea highchair.

A Weeks Random Rambles...

2007-11-12T00:20:00.000-08:00

Well not technically a week, dear Constant Reader, but five days is close enough for artistic license.

But I am back in blogger action thanks to a borrowed USB cable( Cheers Erin ) so here go my rambles.

Thursday.

Raphaela had Kindy & it was another lovely warm day so I thought we might use that as an excuse to bring out the new season Fred.

She wore the very chic tie waisted dress and it looked just gorgeous on her, my dodgy photography skills just don't do it justice.

After kindy drop off I then managed to abandon my other children with Beau long enough to duck out to BB's with Vanessa.

I had a very healthy breakfast of a biscuit & Diet coke. I dread to imagine what my insides look like!

Then it was off to Glenelg to take Bruno to the playground, and for an icecream, then Kindy pickup ( sadly no Bruno pictures, I forgot my camera ).

Friday.

We had MYTIME playgroup for children with special needs at C.A.F.E Enfield, Raphaela wore Target and Mummy sat on her butt and scarfed all the biscuits.

Then a quick visit to Erin's to cuddle with her cat, and home again home again.

I also got some cute pictures of Theodora and Cupcake that afternoon, they both curled up into the bouncer & had a sleep!

Saturday.

This was the day of the Adelaide Christmas Pageant.

I had originally planned on leaving Theodora with Beau and taking the big kids in to see the floats, but sadly they were both struck down with gastro.

I must be insane, because I decided to take Theodora in anyway and caught the bus into the city with her in the Baby Bjorn & Erin with her two girls.

Well...I can tell you dear constant reader, 6 hours with a 9 1/2 kg baby in the city does not a fun day maketh. Erin must be even madder than me because she decided to line up for Santa's Cave...4 hours later she finally got her photo's and left.

On the upside it gave me an excellent excuse to spend hours browsing David Jones, I was a good girl and left after only buying some new O.P.I nailpolish and Crabtree & Evelyn roomspray ( think I sampled every perfume in the store, omg I'm in lust with La Prarie's Silver Rain perfume! ).

Teddy had a nice play in the David Jones baby room as well...she takes after her Mummy and loves the place too!

Sunday & Monday

Just nice relaxing home days, nothing really to report.

Teddy is learning to feed herself, check out how much fun she had with a tub of yoghurt!

Well thats about all dear Constant Reader, hopefully chat more now I can load pictures again.

Spring has Sprung.

2007-11-07T04:20:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me well knows how dependent upon the weather my moods are.

So when I woke to a warm bright sunny day after a couple of weeks of pretty miserable weather I practically leapt out of bed ( even a traumatising Raphaela poo incident couldn't bring me down!).

Of course then the girls "NEEDED" just the right outfits for C.A.F.E playgroup...we finally settled on Vintage Oilily for the Diva & Sprout for Teddy....of course it was hard choosing...my girls are rather deprived of pretty dresses.

We had a wonderful day sitting in the sun at playgroup, Raphaela was at her most charming and even Angry Baby kept whinging to a bare minimum.

Erin of course was there with Tamia, and not only was a motivated enough to get Beau to take a rare picture of me with Raphaela(even if she does look slightly traumatised)...but I actually got one of Erin & I together too!

Then after an afternoon of browsing the shops it was home to play with our new kitten...(Cupcake).
Isnt she adorable?.

Anywho ... I left the kids unattended for a minute to grab something from the shed & I found them all curled up in bed together hugging the cat.

Sometimes with just the addition of a little sunshine, life becomes quite grand.

(As an afterthought for my Dad...here's a black and white version of one of the Raphie pics...I know how you love them and I think this one looked pretty special)

Oh Happy Days!

2007-11-07T01:05:00.000-08:00

Bruno went on the Potty without prompting today!!!!.

Much shrieking and prancing from Mummy then followed.

Oh the Joy...I'd only have 2 in nappies if he Toilet Trained!

Just had to brag...I'd have more interesting things to post but my bloody camera USB cord has died.

Stay tuned Constant Reader.

Happy Birthday Kara!

2007-11-04T20:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had the pleasure of attending Kara's 5th birthday party.

There was every ingredient needed for a great party....cupcakes, jelly, lollies by the dozen and even animals ( I'm still traumatised by the snake).

My kids had a blast getting absolutely filthy & I think the Birthday Girl didn't have such a shabby time either.

Only one picture,a pic of Teddy taken by Vanessa...I was clever and forgot my camera.

Happy Birthday Kara...hope you had a great day!

It feels just like the Old Days.

2007-11-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry but I just had the urge to do this.

OMG OMG OMG.

NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!!!!!!!!!!!!

My children love one another... really!

2007-11-01T04:07:00.000-07:00

You may find it hard to believe Constant Reader...But Raphaela & Bruno
are quite fond of another in their own little way.

You have to be there at the right moment (sometime between the hair pulling and sly swipes) but the affection is there.

I was quite busy baking a pie ( yep Nigella again) today & noticed the room had fallen silent...an unusual and often not positive occurrence in this household.

After further investigation I found for once, rather than fighting , the two terror twins had pulled the blanket and pillow from the couch and had made their own "bed" up together on the floor.

Aren't they sweet!

Another Post for my Mother .

2007-11-01T04:02:00.000-07:00

Not that I make it a habit to tease and taunt my mother dearest, but I just get such a naughty thrill posting a picture of my father out the front of the L'Occitane store in Adelaide.

Oh how she will wish it was her.

Don't worry mum.....next time I'm there I'll make sure I think of you as I shop
in that delicious smelling store....right after I nip into D.J's that is.

And another picture of Dad when he visited us....isn't he adorable!

Happy Birthday Diva & visits from Poppa.

2007-10-28T01:33:00.000-07:00

Well better late than never the expression goes, & I'm certainly late!

Raphaela turned 4 on Thursday!!

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The day started with much excitement and unwrapping of presents, Raphaela insisted on wearing her birthday Tiara to eat breakfast and later wore it to Kindy.

I can't resist also adding a picture of Bruno's "Didor" cereal, a toddlers mind works in mysterious ways!

After Kindy we spent some time baking in preparation for Raphies party, & then waited the arrival of *gasp* POPPA.

On the Friday we had the big birthday girl's party, complete with her "Happy Yellow Cake" and cupcakes.

It was a fun evening had by all, especially the birthday girl...who was practically oozing sugar and hyped up energy from her pores by the end ( see said picture!)

Last but not least, some random Fatboy and Teddybear pictures, just because I try and pretend I have other children.

Back in Black.

2007-10-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

Another day another Ballet "ensemble".

No other exciting stories, sorry Constant Reader...just an excuse
to show off my girl!

Dancing Diva's Fourth birthday tomorrow...stay tuned!

Banoffee Pie.

2007-10-20T02:17:00.000-07:00

After much fantasising about Banoffee Pie I finally mustered the the energy to make it today.

It was a huge hit with the kids, and an even huger hit with the garbage disposal unit I married.

Aren't I clever, just call me Nigella.

Raphaela is a big kindy girl!

2007-10-18T02:40:00.001-07:00

Raphaela started her first day of Kindy today, I can't believe how fast time has gone....she'll be pestering me for my car keys soon!

She started the day with a breakfast on strawberries , she was actually meant to have a hearty meal but would rather filch fruit from her baby sister.

Raphaela decided on a "ensemble" consisting of new season Cotton On Kids & after prying a sobbing Bruno and Theodora from me leg proceeded to Kindy.

We then met with Vanessa who's little girl Kara attends the same kindy.

Raphaela adores Vanessa which basically proves that she has very little sense, she spent most of the time she was there clinging to her.

After staying long enough to admire some of Raphaela's artwork & watch her play with dolls( doesn't it look like a "Didor" ) I then bolted off for a quick David Jones Fix...MMMMM Fred Bare & Gavarlin!

And just a picture of Raphies bag hanging,because it looks so grown up!

Dancing Diva.

2007-10-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

Raphaela formally started dance classes today.

I'd love to wax lyrical about how she danced like the sugarplum fairy, but alas she actually spent most the lesson scrubbing the floor with a babywipe & gazing with love at her own reflection.

It could have been worse I suppose, she could have been scrubbing the floor with an actual baby.

Anyway, my eye is still twitching but she had fun, and she looked gorgeous....I've never seen her more in love with an outfit. She spent about 45 minutes racing around the house prancing like a baby elephant!

Then from dancing we went to playgroup where The Diva models (HA!) Beetlejuice.

So there you go Constant Reader, I'm off to drink a bottle of Gin and recover from the whole ordeal.

My kid has more Chromosomes than your kid!

2007-10-15T03:13:00.000-07:00

From the 14th of October until the 21st is World Down Syndrome Awareness week.

Raphaela my eldest daughter has Down Syndrome, she turns 4 in just under two weeks.

Since she was a tiny baby we have called her a Diva, she's blessed us with endless joy and endless attitude!

She required open heart surgery when she was just 5 weeks old, but she bounced back beautifully from that (Big thanks to Dr Pohlner & Staff at Brisbane's Prince Charles Hospital) & hasn't looked back.

Now at nearly four she does everything and more that any "un-enhanced" child would do.
She starts Kindy in 3 days, loves Fimbles, Bananas in Pyjamas & her Poppy, she loves playgroup and dancing and her temper is almost as bad as her mummy's.

Less and less children with Down Syndrome are being born into our society, due higher rates of prenatal detection and ignorance about what its really like to live with this Syndrome.

We are losing a whole generation of Raphaela's peers because of fear and misinformation.

The world is not a better place with this practice of modern "eugenics".

Love you baby girl.

Missing in Action.

2007-10-13T21:06:00.000-07:00

I have been.

Well according my my darling parents who were ready to call in the troops.

It's school holidays Pater! Of course I'm going to be out alot....back to the grindstone tomorrow unfortunately though.

So here is a current picture of myself and Bruno to prove I'm alive and somewhat well....stay tuned for more exciting updates.....Raphaela starts Kindy & dance lessons this week.

Didor!

2007-10-07T03:21:00.000-07:00

It would be an understatement to say Bruno loves dinosaurs.

Bruno lives and breathes for "Didors".

He has Didor clothes & Didor toys & Didor cups & Didor bed linen and Didor.....well I'm sure you get the picture.

So with much pleasure yesterday Bruno not only got to have a "Didor" face painting, he got to meet a real live Didor! (well technically a man in a Dragon suit, but who am I to burst his bubble).

Raphaela also got to meet him, but she wasn't quite as impressed.

A Road Trip Down Memory Lane.

2007-10-02T03:38:00.000-07:00

I think everyone must have a special place, the one place that a little part of them always wishes they were.

Mine would easily be Wallaroo on the Yorke Peninsula.

As a teenager I lived there, and spend many a hot day soaking up the sun on Wallaroo Jetty or swimming at the sea pool.

There is no where on earth that has sunsets like Wallaroo and often no where on else I'd rather be.

Erin and I had a charming house ( OK I admit it, Dive ) in Wallaroo & some of my best pre children memories are my adventures there.

Since living in Cairns I don't think a day has passed I havn't missed being there, & I finally got the opportunity on Labour Day to go back with Erin, this time instead of a teenager , as a wife with children of my own.

Our first stop was Bute , where we stopped in to visit Bob aka "Goggles",Erin's dad & my substitute father.

The kids had a blast rolling around in the South Australian red dirt, and Teddy got a chance to "ride" a 4 wheeler.

Then onto Kadina, where the boys got to ride BMX & Erin and I went cruising to drive past my old house & to visit with some old school friends ...

Then onto Wallaroo.

After a quick tour of our old house,my favourite phonebox and Wallaroo Jetty it was back home to Adelaide, with significantly filthier children!

Bjorn Wiinblad, Bathing Beautys & other Brags....

2007-09-25T02:39:00.000-07:00

First things first I must get this over and done with.

I now own a Bjorn Wiinblad plate, he's a European artist who did alot of plate designs, is apparently tipped to be the next picasso (minus the huge prize tag) & sooo very Oilily!

My mother got me hooked on his designs, so I just have to post my newly mounted plate to rub it in a little. This plate is part of the Aladdin series and just gorgeous to look at.

Mother....It looks even noicer in real life!

Now, next......

Theodora and Bruno are now having swim lessons at Unley State Swim.

I don't think I've ever had as many compliments on an outfit as I have for Ted's swimming "ensemble".

I promised mum pics...so here you go....

Isn't she very Anne Gedde'ish!

Also Bruno has already been moved up to the Kindy swim classes...he gets to go in all by himself like a big boy!

Here's his certificate,I'm so Proud!

Last but not least, here is the The Divine Diva....simply being herself..

Port Noarlunga.

2007-09-23T00:41:00.000-07:00

After a few days stuck at home with Bruno sick & catching up my washing, we decided to venture out to the beach.

It was an absolutely stunning day at the beach, but blowing a gale , so we only stayed long enough to scoff our lunch and then head off to the park instead.

I got some lovely pictures of Port Noarlunga and Christies Beach but unfortunately no wonderful shots of the kids.

Then home again for homemade pizzas....Teddy as you can see loved hers.

Well that's another weekend done and dusted....

Pimp my Bug.

2007-09-22T21:20:00.000-07:00

As some of you will know I regard my pram somewhat like most normal people would regard a sports car.
My husband swears it nearly cost as much as one.
Anyway I had become bored with the pink/grey combination recently so I purchased a custom cover from ebay.

I've Pimped my Bug!

Yo checkit!

The Diva's "Big Girl Tail".

2007-09-22T01:40:00.000-07:00

For Poppa.

Hi Poppy,
I have a ponytail now, its very swishy and cute....& I'll make sure
it's free of yoghurt, twigs & other generalised dirt when you come visit.

Lots of love

Your Favourite Lalibah.

XOXO

p.s

Could I get ANY closer to the T.V?

p.p.s
Isn't my sister getting big!

A Birthday, a Sleepover & BMX.

2007-09-20T03:31:00.000-07:00

Erin and I have been friends for 9 years, its my longest friendship & it's been wonderful finally living in the same city as her again.
It was her birthday last weekend & we had a wonderful time with her and her children.

Friday night Hope slept over, we made pizzas (pictures included for Mummy to view!), then went shopping the next morning for Erin(Mummys) birthday present.

Then off to BMX we went to watch Erin's partner Stuart race BMX, then to Erin's surprise birthday dinner.

A fun weekend had by all.

Bruno and Daddy at the Adelaide Show.

2007-09-12T03:57:00.000-07:00

Beau had the day off yesterday so he had a Boys Day Out with Bruno.

Apparently much fun was had by all, Bruno chased a goat, saw a cow & went on the Dodgem Cars.

Beau even stopped by Waste not Want not on the way home and bought me some organic pasta....Bless his hairy little heart.

Today was busy busy busy again...Theodora had swim lessons whilst Raphaela visited at Brunos daycare.

Then off to C.A.F.E Enfield to meet with Erin and Tamia for playgroup .

I can't believe how big Tamia is now,here she is with her friend Keisha.

Then home in time to get Bruno from daycare.

Also a BIG thankyou to Belle & Boo on Etsy for the beautiful pictures of the Super Princess.

They now have pride of place on Theodora's bedroom wall, & I like to think of her there looking down on my Bebe girl.

Ava is still very much thought of in this household.

Raphaela..Mistress of Seagulls & other stories...

2007-09-10T03:16:00.000-07:00

Bruno started daycare at Unley Community Childcare today.

It's absolutely wonderful there & he had an absolute blast.

Doesn't he look so grown-up!

Beau & I took the girls out to Glenelg today to get greasy fish and chips.

It was a windy , rainy , miserable old day but Raphaela rugged up in her best "Bag Lady Couture" and had fun stalking poor seagulls.

I don't think the poor things knew what hit them!

After a quick play on the sand we retreated from the bad weather...but not before Raphaela found a random Old Dear and waylaid her with a hug.

We then dropped Raphie off to spend time with Erin and her adored Stewy & headed for Unley Library.

Now kids are sleeping, I have some good books, what more could a girl wish for.

All in all a good day.

My big little girl.

2007-09-09T01:57:00.000-07:00

I was bored this afternoon so I took my trusty kitchen shears to
Raphaela's hair.

The end result was slightly lopsided and emo looking but cute

I think she just looks so grown up, I can't believe my baby girl will be 4 next month.

The other kinder are well.

Theodora is still bad tempered and living up to the motto that Sleep is for the Weak.
Shes my grumpy girl.

Bruno is well....Bruno.

Love to all.

My forgotten children.

2007-09-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

I promise I don't lock them in cages and just trot them out for weddings and public holidays.

No really I swear!

So why all the pictures of Theodora you ask?

Well Dear Constant Reader ( as Stephen King would say)

Theodora doesn't sit in the pond and eat dirt, she doesnt cover her designer clothes with baked beans and flakey bits of tree bark.
She doesn't fall and get scabby noses or chins or rub yoghurt in her hair.

She also doesn't run from the camera.

Toddlers really aren't camera friendly!

So here are some new pictures,minus fancy fred bare and pretty poses....but they are having fun, and I hardly ever lock them up in the cage now...

A diary of a day out....

2007-09-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

We had a busy social day yesterday, it was so good to get out and about
and explore a bit.

In the morning Teddy and I drove to Stirling in the Adelaide Hills to meet Mikyla and the gorgeous Macy Mae for coffee( i was very pleased with myself as Ted and I were even colour coordinated...yes cringe cringe).

We ended up eating at The Organic Cafe & it is just beautiful there. I can't wait to go back and have a poke around in the produce section.

I had the yummiest foccacia with bocconcini & ham.

Then it was back into Adelaide to go collect Raphaela from her sleepover with Erin.

We stayed for dinner & watched the girls have their swim lessons, finally reaching home about 7.30.

What a day!

(Oh and I mustn't forget, a big thank you to Vanessa "oh cowish one" who drove me to the real estate that morning because I was to chicken to make a right turn, Onya V)

Glenelg Beach.

2007-09-01T03:39:00.001-07:00

I'd never visited Glenelg beach on previous trips to Adelaide, now it seems I'm always there.
Which isn't a bad thing,its such a gorgeous beach.
Beau works across from the pier there, at a little place called Lungomare & I also went there today to meet with someone.
What a beautiful day it was too.

I love Adelaide.

Last but not least.
Theodora in her pram, at the beach.

For my Mother

2007-09-01T03:31:00.001-07:00

I restrained the urge to bow at the doors.

But I felt like doing it.

I live near David Jones Mother. I've included a small photo of myself at the childrens clothing counter, I thought you'd appreciate it.

Jealous much?

I've also added some pictures of myself and Princess Chubster, aka Teddydora dressed in her David Jones purchase.

Three Oilily Divas.

2007-08-28T03:33:00.001-07:00

Instead of Two .

Here are the girls in their Oilily Kimono the other day.

Aren't they sweet.

Unley Barbie..

2007-08-27T02:46:00.000-07:00

No leopard prints here.....yet!

"Unley Barbie" This collagen injected, rhino plastic Barbie wears a leopard print outfit and drinks cosmopolitans while entertaining friends. Xenical prescription available as well as warehouse conversion condo.

& for a laugh.

" Salisbury Barbie"
This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional accessories include a Centrelink life member form and bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his 1979 Commodore were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant and a 10% off sale at Supercheap.

More pictures.....

2007-08-26T02:17:00.000-07:00

Included are some pictures of the neighbourhood, and our friendly local possum.

My dream come true.

2007-08-26T02:10:00.000-07:00

I'm finally back in Adelaide, it feels so unreal.

The kids had a ball exploring the new yard and neighbour this week,
I'll post more pictures after this of our walk and "burb".

Raphaela & Bruno also had fun covering Teddy in weeds from the garden today.
Of course when Raphaela saw my reaction she had to copy as well !