Day 274 - Fun times

With beautiful weather in Bingara Gorge, we decided to head out for a little lunch and then a play in the park. We had a great time, me getting lots of manual practice and the girls having fun at the playground around the corner of their house. It was one of our best visits to the beautiful Pearson family, mostly because the girls are really coming out of their shell and instead of hiding behind our legs or holding our hand, they happily hugged Neri and Andy and held their hands while out and about instead of ours. It truly is love - from all sides.

Day 273 - Dessert

Today we celebrated a Thanksgiving for Cooper with Sarah, Brad and their families and friends. After that, we hit the road to visit Nerida and Andrew for the long weekend. Upon arrival we delivered some very special birthday presents - Chocolate Brownies, which we enjoyed warmed, with some ice cream and strawberries for dessert. A perfect way to end a perfect day.

Day 272 - Wet and Fun Friday!

Today Isabel came over for a play with the girls. We had talked at school about her wish to come play with the girls, why not make this plan on a wet and rainy day. The girls played happily together in their room, we had lunch, made cupcakes and did a little bit of cleaning up as well. Olivia and Ava enjoyed Isabel coming over for a play and so did I!

Day 271 - Sleeping Beauties

When the girls are asleep I find it the best time for a spot of relaxing. Currently when I am enjoying my cup of tea and possibly a treat before bed, I am usually found playing the Song Pop App on my iPhone. This collage fitted in well with todays photo theme of love/hate. I certainly love bedtime, while I am pretty sure some days the girls hate it - one day, they might come to love it!

Day 270 - Happy Birthday Grandad

Tonight we went out to dinner to celebrate Dave's birthday. Ava and Isabel were very happy to pose with their Grandad. We went to dinner at Walshes, where the kids ate free - what a score, and enjoyed a delicious flourless chocolate orange cake.

Happy birthday Dave!

Day 269 - Madie

Today's theme for Photo a day was frame. While enjoying a delicious lunch at Helen's house, I did observe some frames that would have been fun to use. Instead when I went to pick up Dad for dinner, I had a little brain wave and took a photo of my neice Madison framing her beautiful big eyes. I am quite happy with this image, captures Madison very well I believe.

268 - A Walking ad for Bleach

Today was the first day of school holidays - with a few odd jobs on our list of things to do, the girls got some quality time outside. I possibly should have thought about dressing my daughter in white. Particularly when she thought washing her car with the dirt was a good idea. This is the end result - I think it is rather ironic how happy and proud she is looking in this picture, completely opposite reaction to what my reaction was.

Day 267 - Before Bed

Before bed, we pick 2 books from the bookshelf to read before we go to sleep. Sometimes we seem to be reading 'The Gruffalo' every night! We usually let the girls choose a book each, but often Ava is too busy getting into bed, she actually misses out on picking... which I think ends up okay, because then I get to choose!

Day 266 - Showered with Love

Today I went to Abbey's baby shower, which since has been renamed the Love Shower. It was a lovely afternoon to spend celebrating the impending arrival of baby Cherry. Abbey is a glowing mummy to be and with thanks to the fabulous four organising the shower, is going to have lots of amazing things to share with baby Cherry.

Thank you for the invite and the chance to celebrate along with you Abbey. I can't wait to meet her.

Day 265 - A Little Luxury

Tonight Shane and I were spoilt with a little of bonus luxury. We had made reservations at the Novotel at Sydney Olympic Park however ended up staying in an executive suite at the Pullman at Sydney Olympic Park. I was quite happy with this free upgrade and this big beautiful bed. I would love a bed this big in my own bedroom - I might be a little happier then to share the bed with 2 growing girls!

We were here at Olympic Park to watch the AFL Preliminary final between the Sydney Swans and Collingwood. I am extremely happy to say - of course Sydney won!

Day 264 - Musicians

There is nothing like a little music in your house. I am sure that I wouldn't mind if they had a little tone and rhythm. The girls had a wonderful afternoon playing with their instruments singing songs like 'Hey Diddle Diddle', 'A.B.C' and even some modern pop classics like Maroon 5's 'Moves like Jagger'

I wonder if this musical development is a sign of things to come... maybe they will be my key to being rich and famous. I am sure that they both do indeed have the X Factor.

Day 263 - Underneath

It is amazing how quickly Ava falls asleep. We can kiss her goodnight, tuck her in, walk out, put pyjamas on and she'll be asleep. Amazingly the shenanigans that Olivia gets up to before she falls asleep do not wake her up - nor does she stir from underneath the blankets for a few hours.

Day 262 - Price

Tonight I fuelled up the car in preparation for a trip down to Sunshine bay for work tomorrow. I quite liked the reflection in the petrol bowser of the dark skies, which are threatening my Wednesday to be anything but full of sunshine. I possibly don't notice the price of petrol as often as I should. I guess it is a little expensive.

Day 261 - Swimming Lessons

Tonight was the last swimming lesson for Term 3 - safety week. Swimming lessons are sometimes the funniest 30 minutes I have all week. Aside from being funny, it was a very serious topic as well. Watching the girls float around with their life jackets around their ears, trying to keep their feet pointing down rather than allowing them to kick to the surface like they normally do, was definitely something I wish I had captured on video. They saved each other with their noodles and life jackets and sometimes they didn't want to save one another.

I look forward to many more adventures of swimming on Monday afternoons next Term.

Day 260 - Strange

Today we took the girls to their movies, Ava who is pictured above, is usually my television junkie. However today, while at the movies, she asked if we could go home and covered her eyes. Which is why I picked this photo for today's photo a day topic of Strange.

We went to watch Madagascar 3, which incidentally, she loved and did not cover her eyes again.

Day 259 - Kitchen Helpers

Today we caught up with friends - while we had a lovely lunch and a catch up, we also discovered through the help of Debbie the skill our children have at washing dishes. They are both possibly happy that we have a dishwasher, but I am sure that I can keep some dishes aside for them to happily wash up.

Day 258 - Favourite

Favourite: most liked; preferred above all others.

Suprisingly I am often asked if I have a favourite twin, of course I do, it just depends on which day it is! What my favourite thing really is - the bond they share. They don't always demonstrate it with the sibling disagreements they have, however mostly they are just in love with one another. Best Friends, Sisters. Could it get any better than this?

Day 257 - Company for dinner

It is quite often we have dinner guests of the soft toy variety. Tonight Jesse graced us with her presence, however, we might have to teach her some table manners. It isn't polite to fall asleep at the table!

Day 256 - Reading Together

I believe there is nothing more important than instilling a love of reading in the girls. I think the amount of times I catch them reading stories, so far I am successful. I love listening to them reading and telling each other stories, especially when they are reading a completely different story to the book they are holding. It is just a little heartwarming because I remember growing up, with my nose often in a good book.

I wonder if I am going to have to look out for reading beneath the blankets with a torch when they get older. Secretly I hope so!

Day 255 - Hero

Hero: a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.

There are many people who I believe fit the description of Hero as listed above. None more so than Shane. He being the girl's hero. He is indeed the Superdad, there isn't anything he wouldn't do for his girls.

Day 254 - Letter - a very welcomed letter

Today I received my official appointment notice, which fitted nicely into today's photo theme of Black and White. It is a very exciting yet sad time. Sad because I am leaving a place that has been my teaching home since 2003, but exciting to have a security net and beginning a new adventure at Jerrabomberra Public School. I look forward to starting my new job on the 29th January 2013.

Day 253 - Picnic

Today we enjoyed a beautiful picnic in the sun. The girls are getting into the warmer weather playing outside and having a wonderful time. Olivia is getting right into the warmer weather with a request to wear her skirts every day.

It was a lovely afternoon playing together outside - hopefully the warmer weather continues on the weekends when we get to enjoy it most.

Day 252 - At night

There are lots of things around the home that I do not enjoy - dishes, washing - both pegging out and folding and cleaning the bathroom. Today's theme for the photo a day was at night - at night there are always dishes left over that do not fit into the dishwasher, I do try and wash them up so that when we get up there is a clean cupboard awaiting us. Some nights, that just does not happen. Hopefully in the holidays I can create a new routine... fingers crossed!

Day 251 - Natual

The topic for today's Photo a Day is Natural - being home sick still I captured only what my girls think is natural. Carrying Jemima around upside down and walking around with a dress up on each and every day, which I find to be just adorable.

Day 250 - Everyday

Everyday these dolls are carried around from room to room. Usually they begin the day in our bed, moving on to breakfast with the girls. While they are at school - they are usually wherever the girls leave them. Today, they were left on the couch ready and waiting for them to come home.

It is nice to know Jemima is still a favourite.

Day 249 - bright

Luckily today's theme for the September Photo a Day challenge was a simple photo - Bright. I didn't see much of the bright sun outside, I saw the bright light of my lamp on my bedside table. I was still at home sick, with the doctor giving me the rest of the week off.

Day 248 - Copy cats

I was home sick today, my first all year which I think is an impressive effort. When the girls came home from school they played copy cat and lined all their sick toys up on the pillow, cuddled them to make them feel better and then patted them to sleep. Such caring girls I have.

Day 247 - It Takes Two - Take 6

Monday brings a fresh week at school - and a continuance of our dress alike theme. Both girls were looking very fresh for a Monday morning!

Day 246 - Happy Father's Day!

Today was Father's Day. We spent the day celebrating our wonderful dad's. We visited the park, played bubbles in the back yard and just had a wonderful day altogether.

Happy Father's Day Shane - we hope you had a wonderful day.

Day 245 - Spring has sprung!

We all know that Spring brings along warmer weather and we thought why not get out and about in the garden with the beautiful weather we had today. Shane planted some seedlings while I planted some flowers, with the help of our mini gardeners who enjoyed digging and watering their dirt.

Hopefully they don't pick the tomatoes or strawberries as soon as they see them!