Superheros to the rescue

Sebastian: Um mum what do you need help with? cause we are Superheros and we can rescue you

CHICKENS

On Christmas Eve Derek arrived home from work with a box. I heard scuffles coming from this box.
To set the scene let me tell you about the last 4 years work of suggestions ( Nagging) and discussion. I thought having Chickens would be fun, Derek did not. we have an on going arguement about cage eggs vs free range. I am happy to buy cage eggs but Derek is not. I said we could keep chickens and love them and their eggs would be as free range as they come, but Derek was not convinced. we had a conversation that went a little like this.
Me: I think chickens would be great.
Derek: Heres what would happen. Its 11 oclock at night and its wet and you are in bed and I come in and you say "Oh Derek, I m not sure the chickens are ok" so I have to go out in the dark wet and cold to check the chickens and chase them around the yard. Thats not fun
Me: hmmmm yes I can see that happening
Derek: its not happening
Me:.....

So when there is scuffling coming from the box Im not sure what to think

Please dont let it be a guinea pig I think, Im not sure why other than my general dislike for the rodents. But Derek put the box down and opened it to reveal two brown point of lay chickens for us for christmas!!!
I never in a million years expected him to do this - when it was so unexpected and so much not something he wanted. I am seriously impressed. The Board shorts I got him look a bit silly.

What a lesson in giving. From someone who giving and recieving is not that important to.
Giving Selflessly, at cost.
here they are Henny ( the one with the short comb) and Rosieswalk ( the one with the longer comb) Sebastian named them Rosies walk was a favourite book from preschool about a chicken who outsmarts a fox. They started laying on Christmas Day, pretty much two eggs a day.

THere are going to be lots of lessons learned here

PORK

SO we made Pork Loin that was supposed to be stuffed with peaches garlic, wine thyme and butter, then wrapped in proscuitto. However I obviously cant read ( or had two small distractions with me while I was doing the christmas grocery shop) and picked up 2 tins of pears not 2 tins of peaches. So it was Pork stuffed with pears butter thyme garlic and wine wrapped in proscuitto.
It turned out pretty good. I made a gravy from the juices and I even strained it to made it smooth! ( Im usually to lazy for that kind of malarky)
It was a tasty tasty feast, served with baby spinach pea and feta salad.

christmas Day

There was an omnitrix (the nose picking hasn't stopped)

This is the awesome car track that Sebastian gave Elliot for his birthday from his pocket money.

Special Deliver from Aunty Steph!
Superheros!

Happy Birthday Elliot!

Elliot is 2! Hooray we made it. He is a great little guy. Bursting with energy and enthusiasm for practically everything. He loves his brother, he loves sharing, he loves Lazy town. He loved his Sportacus cake. We had a quiet day of celebrating with Family. We took him for dinner on the saturday night with Grandma and Grandad to Shorncliffe with the hope of having a play in the water and at the park, yet it was pouring with rain. So we ate fish and chips at the cafe and when the rain cleared so we went across to the jetty and let the kids with their icecreams paddle in the creek/bay. We laughed as they splashed and watched the fish jumping as the tide went out. A lady walked past with her two small dogs, the exchange went like this.
lady: Are you locals?
Us: No.
Lady: Oh, well I wouldnt let your children play in the water if I were you. Bull sharks hunt in the shallows at dusk. They have been known to attack dogs in the water.
Us: KIDS GET OUT OF THE WATER NOW. it wouldn't look good to have you eaten by a shark on your birthday.

Im intrigued by what the lady might have said if we had said we were locals


This was the nicest birthday cake we have had so far, chocolate with marmalade,hmmmmmm
It was so nice to have Grandma and Grandad here on his birthday. More photos to follow from Richards camera

christmas decorations

This year I made some snowflakes from a tutorial I saw online (googled how to make a paper snowflake) I was really impressed with how they turned out. I tried to get the kids to join in but they lasted about 5 minutes so I was left having a lovely time cutting paper snowflakes on my own reminiscing about being about 10 and cutting every piece of paper insight into a snowflake or a paperdoll. Good times.




I also got a box of straw or corn husk Christmas decorations from Ikea. They look so fresh and nice. and swedish, I was disappointed to see however that they were made in China. Does that distract from the swedishness of them? I have nothing against Chinese decorations - although they dont celebrated Christmas - with Christianity being banned for many many years - hardly likely to celebrate the Birth of the Christ - the King - riles in the face of communism I think. But surely Swedish style decorations become less swedish and less Christmassy being made by people who dont even know who Jesus is.

I think Im gonna love school

Here in Brisbane most schools as I understand it contract out their stationery supplies and you order your box from the company - no last minute dashes in early feb choosing textas and pencils - they all arrive prepackaged with your requirements in early Dec ready for next year - Sebastian was so excited about his school things arriving - we checked them 3 -4 times, and I found him lying on top of the box like this the next day. Next Stop uniform central.

Le Trois Dummies

Can you fit 3 dummies in your mouth?

Beauty in the details

I think the think I like about old stuff ( lets say vintage and be pretentious) is the details. They just dont make em like they used. On the New trains they have put on the line there are no lovely details. Look at the luggage racks and the rails and gates. Just lovely. Plus the Shiny Red Paint does wonders.

Someones up to no good

Here is a perfectly working 1920's switch, the box said so. It said "switch". No kidding, it was a big switch. For what I am not sure. It was one of those switches that looks like if you pull it down the power for the whole city would go out. A serious switch.
I wonder what it does...

Someone willing to find out!
There was also a STOP THE TRAIN pulley. It was a simple wire the guard told us it applied the brakes and bought the whole train to a screeching halt.... tempting, the fine was only $10 ( back in the 20's Im sure inflation wouldnt affect that too much!

Friends on a train

Elliot is almost 2. Next week.
Just a great photo two boys on a train

Last Train to Mitchelton

Today we caught the last steam train from Mitchelton to Ferny Grove. It was a fully restored 1910 steam train with full carriages. It was great. Now Im not the budding train spotter - we did see some of those. But this was a great piece of history - except for the full restored energy saving lightglobes in the lights. Check out the details, the fan, the high gloss paint, the signage, great fun, and sadly the last time it will happen - the guide/conductor said that they were pulling up the cross frames which I assumed meant the train couldnt turn around or fit on the tracks. it was great to be a little part of history to a time where a train trip meant a real journey, where things were slower and people were more mindful of the little things.

a hard days work

Friday saw a thorough cleaning of the deck. Child Labour. Sebastian was the most enthusiastic constantly reminding me of what a great job he was doing (mothers son much? need a little affirmation and praise?) Elliot was the foreman pointing out what Georgia was doing wrong.
Elliot also said about 500 times "I got same mummy" He and I had the same washer - he thought that was grand
the reward was iceblocks at the end

two year old thoughts

"Oh Sebastian you are so funny"
"don't you touch my mummie (dummy). Ive got one Im working on and one spare but dont you go touching it"

this boys days with the dummy are numbered

The Handsome Prince

Before I have blogged about Sebastian being le petite prince however this time he was a prince for real in the Christmas song concert at preschool. There was a princess long ago long ago long ago there was a princess long ago long long ago.




Here is the prince ready to wake up the sleeping princess by gently kissing her repeatedly on the shoulder and back








He tells me though that he isnt really going to marry the princess - she is marrying Isaac and He will marry Gina - its all sorted.
There is such sweetness there