I need a magic wand...ASAP!

Lately I've been noticing how big my two munchkins are getting.  Maybe it's because Elly is now wearing a size 9 shoe, or  because of the way she sometimes articulates like a little adult.  Or maybe it's the way Noah looks more and more like a big boy/cassanova (see previous post). Or could it be due to his 'Sampson' like long locks/mullet that just proves how much he has grown... well his hair anyway. Whatever it is, I want time to slow down a little. But how???

Two nights ago as the kids were getting ready for bed, I asked Elly for a cuddle. As she sat on my lap, while I squeezed her tightly, I couldn't help but notice how much she had grown. 

So I asked her... "Elly can you please stay little forever...?" 

To which Elly replied... "Mummy, I can't stay little. If I had a magic wand, maybe I could. But I don't have one mum, so I have to grow up!"

Of course... a magic wand! Why didn't I think of that!? It's EXACTLY what I need. So where can I get one!? Ebay???

What a girl wants...

 No matter wether she's young or old, all a girl wants is... shoes. Lots and lots of shoes!

Well this girl (Elly) does anyway...

We went to Rocky this weekend. It has become a little tradition that every time we travel the three hours to Rocky, Joe gives the kids $20 each to spend in the toy section at Kmart as their special treat. Funnily enough, while I was shopping for shoes in there, the kids stayed with Joe and picked what they wanted. Noah picked a ball and a little wagon to carry his ball all over the store with (very convenient), and Elly picked shoes... a whole box of them (and some matching jewellery- another weakness) for $20 BUCKS! What a bargain! Clearly I have taught her well, and knowing her granny (and her love for shopping and shoes) I know she'd be proud too. 

Her choice really comes at no surprise. One of Elly's first words were "shoes" and she has always had a love for them. Just the other day, as I was reading an old email I had sent to one of my friends (as you do), I came across this passage I had written...

"Elly is still Elly. Overly energetic, outgoing and naughty! She's talking heaps now and I can't believe she'll be the big 2 in March! She is starting to be more and more like a big girl!
The other day, I could here her getting very frustrated in her room and she kept saying "it's stuck, it's stuck". Anyways, I went in there to see what was wrong and I saw her trying to squeeze her foot into a shoe that was about 2 sizes too small for her (they are the cutest pair of shoes though, I could see why she was so determined, the girl has good taste like her mum!). I told her that her foot was too big, but she kept insisting "please...shoes...my shoes!" So with her help, I managed to squeeze that foot in there! With her delight she got up and started prancing around the place with this one shoe that clearly looked too small! Her little foot reminded me of a pork roast tied up tightly with string! Anyways, with a lot of hesitation from elly, I decided to take her shoe off before her foot fell off from the lack of blood circulating it! She was so devastated that I would do such a thing!
So that's when It hit me. Elly LOVES shoes and will have no problem following my golden rule..."pain is beauty!" Joe is going to hate me.

Haha! See what I mean about the love affair. After all this time, it's still going strong and there are no signs of it ever dying down. She handles her new shoes like precious babies and lines them up neatly every night before bed. If only she were this neat and organised with all her other toys.

And just for the record, here is a pic of Noah and his selection...

... who couldn't care less for shoes!

'All you single ladies...'

All you (future) single ladies, listen up..! I think I have a little ladies man on my hands.

Noah will be quite the catch one day, if these picture are anything to go by...

He is gentle, loving, caring and considerate. Clearly he will make a great daddy one day...

He loves to cook...

...and even prepares his own lunches...

He is so clever, he can read recipes upside down...!

He has great style...

... and can even pull off a Hawaiian shirt...

He doesn't mind a bit of shopping...

But he can also be a 'manly man'...

... and he can even be a bit of a 'bad boy' and what girl doesn't like that?!

He has good looks, charm and a killer smile...

He is quite the romantic. He enjoys strolls and picnics at the park and  and doesn't mind listening while the girl does all the talking...

He will even pick her flowers...

....even if they're not always well received...

He is quite the gentleman...

... and is not afraid to match his 'date'...

Noah, you are my little ladies man and a little 'chip of the old block'. In fact, I am pretty much describing your daddy with this list of traits- except the shopping and matching your date one. If you turn out to be even half the man your daddy is, any girl would be lucky to have you. I would know. xox

Best things in life are free

So we went to the Flood Fest last week and it was all FREE! The entry was free, rides were free, High Five and Dorothy the dinosaur live shows were all FREE! So what happens when there is a free event in Emerald..? The whole town is there! So what happens when the whole town is there and you realise just how many people actually live here..? You loose one of your kids!

 Yep, I think I jinxed myself (see previous post) and I lost Noah for around 5 minutes... 5 minutes too long! It was the most horrible and anxious 5 minutes of my life! One second he was standing right in front of me waiting for the dodgem cars, then the next second he was gone. Just like that.

My friend Cassie, who for some reason always seems to be the one to find the precious things I loose (eg. my diamond wedding band, at night, in a big field), found Noah being held by a lovely lady who had found him waiting for another ride not far from where we were. I guess Noah wasn't in the mood for dodgem cars.

Well, I learnt a few things from this experience...

1. I would die if something were to ever happen to one of my children.

2. I don't care if it looks like I can't handle my kid, or if he looks like a 'puppy' on a leash, but next time we go to one of these big events, I'm making Noah wear one of those kiddy bag thingos' with a lead!

3. Never take my eyes of him. Not even for a second.

4. Have Cassie on hand, in case no. 2 and 3 fail.

On a lighter note, we got there pretty early to secure a nice and semi- shady place to sit and wait for the shows.

So we waited...

...and waited...

...and waited some more...

... all for a lady to stand right in front of us just as the show was about to begin and block our view!  I  even nicknamed her- 'red shirt evil lady.' 

But despite 'red shirt evil lady,' the kids and I enjoyed dancing and singing along to Dorothy the Dinosaur and Hi 5, all while Joe watched on in disgust and took one for the team. He is such a good sport.

So after a shaky start to day,  and 'red shirt evil lady' making me see red... literally, and the steak burgers sadly having no beetroot, look who Elly got to meet just before we headed home...

Hi 5!!!

It was definitely the highlight of the whole event for this little fan... oh, and Elly's too! ;)

Show time!

It was show time in Emerald this week! We went on Tuesday night and had so much fun! It's very similar to the EKKA (Royal show) just a little (or a lot) smaller- which is actually a good thing, as it reduces the chance of us loosing one or both our kids!

Now that Elly is 4, it makes these sort of family activities a lot more fun and expensive! But we had such a great time, that it was worth the money being sucked out of Joe's wallet! Even Noah had a great time despite what the following pictures portray....

                                        

Ok, so clearly the jumping castle was a waste of $5 bucks... thanks Noah. But the highlight of the night for the kids...ok,ok, for all of us... was the free family circus. Joe and I couldn't help but 'LOL' throughout the whole thing like a couple of excited little kids. Ahhhh, it really doesn't take much these days, but to our defence, the clown was a classic! It was a really entertaining show...

The kids (well, mainly Elly) loved the petting farm, rides, and playing the show games and of course winning prizes. Meanwhile, I was in heaven eating my way through the entire range of tasty food and treats all prepared for me and ready to devour! Seriously, I was like a bottom less pit/homeless person who hadn't eaten a meal in weeks. 

Now, you simply can't leave the show and go home without getting a bubble gun to leave a soapy mess in the car with, or a light saver sword to get hit on the head with... 

Our next exciting family outing will be to the free 'Flood Fest' tomorrow and we can't wait! It means lots more fun, and food... glorious food! As well as another up coming post. :)