Just had to add this one!

Couldn't resist taking this photo, although had to do it quick before we lost the lot.  Had some similar photos with the girls when they were young, but we were on vacation with them when they did it and they had been at it a lot longer before we found them.

September 2011 in Gatton, Qld.

Here's Keith (at left) with out little prince (and my Mum in the background).  Brooklyn and Brittney were invited to a 5 y/o Princess party and the girls said Leroy had to dress the part too.  Then here are our tired little princesses on their way home from the 'ball'.  Thankfully, the car didn't turn into a pumpkin!

The party was on the 2nd September - I was just recovering from shingles (hence no pics of me - shingles hit on my face!).  Brooklyn was in Blue and Brittney in Pink.

A little later in the month - during the school holidays we went to visit a good friend of my (which so happens to be my old boss).  She has taken on my galahs - they can't fly and her son has since made some perches for them so they can 'free-range'.  Brittney thoroughly enjoyed feeding them by hand.

We hadn't ventured up to Alison's before - she lives in the hills behind Gatton and it is such a peaceful place - I almost envy the birds.

Keith takes the kids only occastionally with him down the farm.  He certainly doesn't make a practise of taking them on cabless tractors, but when he came home the other day they wanted a ride from the road to the shed - pleased as punch, they were; just like Leroy on the motor-bike and the rocking horse! 

Here are some more photos of our little boy.  Pardon the pyjamas, but we were ready for bed. He isn't yet 10mths, but he is already well over 12kgs.  The girls were so much smaller at this age, I notice it most because I still have to carry him to most places.  He is crawling really well now, but we don't allow him outside much since we've had a few snakes already out this season and it isn't even summer.  

    

July/August Update

Here's our little man hoeing down on the porridge spoon.  No we don't start them off on these type of solids normally!  In fact he's very dubious about attempting solids at all - unless of course it's not meant to go in the mouth.  Loves the taste of the girls homework and labels off balls of wool (we've found out) - but not veggies.  Actually, both Leroy and I have had pneumonia in the last few weeks, I think he is having a relapse at the moment and along with that and moving Mum we've been rather busy.  The girls had 'Under 8's' Day last Friday.  They managed to get their faces painted - the usual thing at these events, and then get their photo in the state paper to top it off.

I spent a day baking for the event and then the next day there, so housework got put on hold for a few days.  I enjoyed that, but getting back into the daily chores wasn't pleasant - you certainly can't let things build up! 

The latest of the three kids.  Taken just after 'Under 8's Day'.  Brooklyn was disappointed that the red heart on her face was coming off that she recoloured it in with texta.  Oh my!  Anyways, it came off - thankfully, without too much hassle.  Sorry about the angle the photo was taken on - but I like that look in scrapbooking.

Looking back in time (about 1 yr ago)

I just found this photo in my files.  It is one of our favourites and I enlarged it and made a canvas poster for Keith's birthday last year.  That was the beauty of working at the printery!  The girls were invited to a school friend's birthday party, which was a cowgirl theme.  The parents of the school friend own a riding school - and our girls just love horses.  What little girl doesn't?  Aren't they just sweeties - even if I do say so myself!

Tummy Sleep

Here is Leroy having his first 'tummy sleep'.  Due to the recommendations given by the hospital - to prevent SIDS in babies, we've always slept him on his back, which he doesn't mind.  However, about 2 weeks ago he learnt to roll over.  The other day I put him on our bed (on his back) and had to go and do something, when I returned a couple of minutes later, here he was fast asleep!  He does so love this new position - especially on our bed.

Our little man

Leroy loves his Daddy.  He settles so well with Keith and often goes to sleep when Dad holds him.  Such a cutie!  Here he is, at right, helping me with the washing.  He was so mesmerised by the washing machine going round!

The Girls 'New' Bedroom.



Today has been such a busy day.  I've been meaning to rearrange the girls room for quite a while now, and put their beds together in the L-shaped double bunk so that they could have some more floor space.  However, I couldn't locate the spare bolts.  Anyhow, I had a few bolts from another bed and just lucky - they fitted perfectly.  So we got working today.  The girls shifted out all the toys and books (and clothes) that had accumulated UNDER the bed (we have yet to sort through all that), and Mum set to work unbolting the current bed arrangement and quickly set to work to get it all done before Leroy woke up for his next feed.  The girls are thrilled with the result.  I guess no trouble tonight getting them to sleep in their own beds!  They also have my electronic piano in their room - a bonus since they start music lessons the first week back after the school holidays.  Our other piano is in the loungeroom, so we should be able to get piano practice over with (at the same time).

And just to finish off - a close-up of our little washer-man, 2nd July 2011.



SeaWorld Fun 28th June 2011

Yesterday we went to Seaworld - what a mistake going in the school holidays!  However, Keith and the girls managed to get 3 flume rides - which they absolutely enjoyed - and we got to most shows.  Won't be going back again for a while (way too expensive for value) and it doesn't seem to be as good as it was 10-20 years ago.  The girls have nothing to compare it with so it didn't matter to them.  They loved the dolphins and managed to see the polar bears really actively playing (fighting) - Mum missed seeing the bears as Keith and the girls went ahead to make the most of their time while I plodded around with the pram and Leroy.

Brooklyn on the left with her knee up.

Keith had fun with a water shooting canon - wetting all the boats that we going around a track - he was able to get away from them shooting him, but they couldn't get away from him.

Keith getting ready to run.

The weather was great - clouded over at lunch time and cooled off but it managed to hold off rain until we were well on our way home.



This is the latest photo of our 3 children.  Hard to get one of them altogether.  We went to a friends place for afternoon tea on Saturday 25th June, and she had this delightful garden swing, which the girls thoroughly enjoyed.  Brittney in pink, Brooklyn in blue and white.

Adding Leroy to our family - photo taken 21st May, 2011.

Here is the latest addition to our family - dear Leroy Keith, pictured here with his Grandma K.  (Keith's Mum - Fay).  He looks a little on the chubby side here, but has since started to lengthen out and look more in proportion to a little boy.

The Blog Beginning

Today, Thursday, 23rd June, 2011, I began our family blog - thanks to the help of a precious friend overseas.  It's taken a little while to understand only some of the basics, but hey, I'm getting there.  This is our family - Brittney, Sarah, Brooklyn, Keith - the photo was taken in June 2008, just after special meetings.  More to be added as I get familiar with the site.  Sarah