Corn

Corn is the super food that research has been trying to discover. This is Zach discovering he loves it, which means a) everyone in the house likes it; b) it takes ~2 minutes to cook (microwave); c) it lasts till the next day and is a great snack; d) fits the criteria of "pick-up" food (zach requirement); e) it is cheap. Amazing.

Holding on for the ride

Though his sister is a very safe pusher

Climbing

Zach has discovered the joy of stair climbing. However, he has not yet worked out how to go down. So, he spent the entire party climbing the 3 stairs, attempting to go face first back down them, yelling at his mother when she picked him up and put him at the bottom of the stairs, then getting excited because he got to climb the stairs again. Multiply that by about 30 and that sums up Zach (and his mums) time at the party!

Family time

One of those rare photos of the whole family - taken at Sean and Cathy's catch up with some old frisbee friends.

Learning how to wash a dog

After a morning of many visitors, our last ones of the day included the cousins and Scooter - who managed to dig out something decaying from the back yard. Hence, we were instructed in the art of the dog wash.

The two of us

It is actually pretty hard to get a photo of these two together, as though they are always playing together, Zach is rarely still. The look he is giving her is pretty typical of his adoration of his big sister.

An afternoon of leisure

Across the road there is a race track. And there are often crashes, and tears, but most of all laughter as the sound of many small vehicle wheels go tearing around.



After the race track and the trampoline, it was time for some pink glitter toes, styled and applied by Grace

The eagle has landed

A very big day in the household. No more nappies needed during the day.

My brother

Photo by Bronte

Gorgeous girl

Bronte is in a very gorgeous, funny, charming phase at the moment. We are enjoying it enormously while it lasts.

A new masterpiece

Some art was needed in the house so we set to work on "I see red".

Hat upgrade

Zach much preferred his new hat, that came with the bonus of something to chew on.

Monkey girl

She can't quite spin all the way around like Tadhg can, but she is still a monkey.

Swinger

Dancing girls

Ava came to visit which meant the dress-ups came out, and mamma mia was on.

Portrait of a Granddad

The funny face

Just like his sister, Zach has started pulling the "funny face". He usually does it while in the high chair, and seems to deliberately do it either to make us laugh, or when we are paying too much attention to his sister.

First the evidence that he is cute.


And then the face.

Big cuddles

The tombliboos have a new cuddler

Street walking

Striding down to Korean BBQ - Bronte looks just so good in jeans, though it is so hard to get her in them.


After dinner, she needed a helping shoulder from Reuben

May and Stu!

We managed to catch up with May and Stu on their first day in Melbourne.

9 months - Mr Mischief

This month Zach said his first word - "Car"! He practices standing for much of the day, and can slowly cruise along furniture. He helps to put his arms through clothes, though it is still very hard to change his nappy without him crawling rapidly away. He understands instructions (Zach, over here! look out the window), and has started doing the same tricks Bronte did - namely, Funny Face and Hooray! He can be found wherever there is a cord, or a potential choking item, or chasing the cat, or escaping outside, and everything must be banged, tasted, and thrown. He now has four teeth and although he is mischief, he is a very social, very smiley, and very gorgeous boy.

Lemon treats

Our melbourne social visits continued with an early dinner at the boss's house. Tegan provided a delicious lemon tart, and it was with mixed feelings I watched Bronte demolish it. I loved how she is a women after my own heart, but it also meant I didn't get seconds. Much like the chocolate milkshake situation. Bronte had lots of fun with Casey, Ava and Angus with trampoline jumps and dance moves.



The boys getting on.

Hooray!

The moves are coming out... this is hooray!


This is just cute.

3 and a half

Miss motor mouth continually astounds us with her grasp of concepts and her memory. She loves her letters, and is keen to get to that next phase of reading. Her singing is quite lovely - and creative in her interpretation of the lyrics. Currently, her favourite song to sing is "I see the moon".

Fun at the Normands

We had a lovely afternoon catching up with old friends, with cricket, bunnies, movies, puppies, and bubble baths all on the cards.

Sharing

While in Melbourne we were able to catch up with Neve, Nat and Showkat in their new townhouse. Neve taught Zach some early lessons on how to get on well with women i.e. give them what they want without complaint.

At the new house

Tegan and Rueben have recently moved into their fabulous new home in Melbourne. With open plan living and a big big deck, it was like being back in Queensland. Bronte's favourite part was the "magic door" that connected two of the rooms. And they both loved Ella - the well trained and beautiful german pointer who gave "kisses".

On the plane!

We headed down to Melbourne for a little bit of work, but mostly holiday. The last time Bronte was on a plane was to Canada, when she was still breastfeeding. Now - she sat cross-legged on her own seat, did up her seatbelt, put the headphones in, and watched some Dora. So grown up. Zach on the other hand still liked the feed.

Messing the room

While Bronte tried to do a drawing, Zach was busy pulling everything off her table. It has only just started...

Ladybird fun

Riding is more fun than pushing it. The ladybird has been a wonderful hand-me-down - with Bronte doing daily races up and down the hallway.

Big Sky 11

For the past three years, we have helped run the Big Sky frisbee tournament - a tournament to help raise funds for our mates Mike and Stacy with their battle with motor neuron disease. This year we were both playing as well as organising, so a huge thanks to the many babysitters who helped out. The day was a great success, raising >$21,000 - and the kids were wonderful all day.

The boys cool off