Daddy Day Care

Hello Folks!

Today is the day that I head out on my grand adventure...minus my husband and children and dog to Sydney, Australia! (Sometimes I still can't believe I am in Australia....that is SO awesome!)

7 ladies, 1 vehicle. I envision tons of laughter and womanly wonderfulness! I am so excited!

While I'm gone...this is what's gonna go on at my house:

When Destiny was quite young, she enjoyed watching this movie. All the children and colors really attracted her to it. The storyline is so funny! I hope you enjoy the clip of it that I have included.

Ever since I first met Matt, I have always said that he would be a great daddy some day. And he IS! I feel so blessed to have found a man that is willing to take time off of work to watch the girls so I can go to a conference! How wonderful!

Matt and baby Destiny (SanDiego, Cali.)

Matt and baby Addi (Ocean Shores, WA)

This is where I will be:

At Hillsong convention center in Sydney! woot!

I'll be missing in action for a few days...I highly doubt that there will be any guest posts on the blog by Mr. Mom. haha!

Enjoy today and the weekend! {I know I will!!!!}

Q & A with my NDC

Howdy! How is every one doing today? This morning, Addi slept in until after 10 AM...that NEVER happens! We skipped paint n' play and are now cleaning up the house. We'll head out to ride bikes in a little bit so we get some outside time, but first I have to tell you about the FANTASTIC MAIL DAY we had on MONDAY!

I am friends with our Post Office on Facebook. Each day they take a moment to post the mail box numbers who have boxes waiting for them. I was SO excited to see our number! Not only did we have a box but also we had: 2 letters from my dear Great Auntie Mona, one letter from my Grandma and one letter from my cousins in ND. The box was from my momma and included a few goodies from my Great Auntie Mona! It was GREAT!

Here is the mail we got...You can see marshmallows (for my friend Cheri, she really wants to make rice crispy treat so I had mom send us those for her) goodies for the girls, yummy treats for all of us! It was so great!

I titled this post Q & A with my NDC meaning: Questions and Answers with my North Dakota Cousins. 3 of my cousins from North Dakota wrote us letters. In the envelope was a special card from my cousin Caelic to sweet baby Addi. Addi loved the card, Caelic!! We also recieved letters from my cousin Josiah and my cousin Jenae. Both of them asked some pretty good questions and I thought I would share the answers to their questions on the BLOG!

My favorite special treat in the box from my mom (and Great Auntie Mona) dark chocolate peanut m and m. They are nearly gone!

Question one came from Josiah: Do you have a big back yard for the girls to play in?

Answer: Yes, Josiah, we do have a nice back yard. We also have a lovely patio that we can grill on and eat outside. We have the girl's play equipment set up on the patio.

Here is the grassy part of the back yard. Dusty loves this area. The girls like it too. On the far fence is where I hang laundry each morning too! Compared to most of our neighbors, our yard is very large!

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Question 2 (also from Josiah): Do you have a garden? If you do, what do you grow in it?

Answer: Yes, we do have a garden. This year, since it was our first year, it was a trial and error process. We planted strawberries, carrots, capsicum (red peppers in the states), cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, rosemary, pumpkin (squash in the states), and tons of tomatoes. It is nearly the end of the growing season here, but we just harvested our first red pepper and are constantly getting in big juicy red tomatoes. Earlier we had TONS of cucumbers!

We found out that carrots, spinach and lettice all were a bit difficult to grow. Also, our strawberries were eaten by other critters before we could get to them!

Our first red pepper!

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Here is a picture of my cousins from N.D. Jenae in the blue, Josiah standing in back next to Jenae and Caelic in the front. (this is an older picture, they are much more grown up now :)

Question 3 (also from Josiah): For each of you, what has been your favorite new Australian food?

There are so many new, fun foods to try here. These are just our favorites:

The girls LOVE to snack on "Monster Snacks". They are a bit like Cheetos.

My favorite foods come from the bakeries here. I really love the passion fruit/white chocolate scones.

Matt loves the meat pies here (also from the bakeries)

Some of our favorite snack items are TimTams

And Iced Vovo, they are both considered biscuits and found in the biscuit aisle in the grocery store.

Another fun and new thing that we have been trying is called a "babycino" it's the foam from the espresso machine and they serve it with cocoa powder on top! Destiny calls it her "coffee"!

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Jenae also shared some questions with me.

Question 1 from Jenae: How is everyone?

Answer: We are all doing very well. The girls love having time spent with play group friends and they always want to be on the run. Matt is busy with work right now; they have many visitors coming until the end of March. I stay busy with housework and the girls. I have also found some time to be a little artistic lately which is fun! I head out for a conference in Sydney tomorrow and I'm looking forward to that!

Question 2 from Jenae: I am just wondering, but what time (Aussie time) do you usually write your blog?

Answer: I try really really REALLY hard to write the blog before the girls wake up in the morning. This usually means that I have uploaded the pictures the evening before and just have to type in the words in the morning. Life doesn't always work out that way so sometimes I write it during breakfast or at nap time which is around 1 PM.

Question 3 from Jenae: How long did this letter take to get to you?

Answer: The date that you wrote the letter is March 8th, the envelope was post marked March 12th. I received the letter on March 21st which would be March 20th in the States.

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A special thank you to all of you who have written to us. We LOVE getting mail! I was over joyed to see our mail box filled to the brim with letters and packages!!!

I am late with my blogging today so I best be off to let the girls outside a bit before lunch time!

Enjoy today!

Man-Eating Kangaroos!

Happy Monday!!! This morning has been PRODUCTIVE! I love these kinds of days. I ran, I cleaned, I fed the monkeys {I mean children}. Now it's time to go to the store! I love shopping Mondays...if the girlies are good, I'll let them play in the play area near Big W (Aussie for Walmart).


Celebrating St. Paddy's Day with Green Play Dough! What fun!

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As of March 19, Matt and I have been married 6 years! That seems like SO long! A wedding, one dog, 2 children and a move across the world later...HERE WE ARE! We had big plans to celebrate our anniversary in Sydney, however, our plans quickly changed when we found there was a HUGE celebration going on here in Canberra, celebrating their 98th birthday! So we hung out around home so we could take in the festivities. Our anniversary looked the same as many of our Saturdays look here in Canberra:

A stop off at the farmer's market early in the morn. There was a teen aged boy playing an accordion! Two little ones in red shirts sitting and enjoying the music!

I often talk about the farmer's market in the blog so I thought I would post a picture of how big of a deal it really is. It is jam packed with people. So many vendors selling exciting food!

After the market we went off on our 5K run around the lake. I have created a monster! I always used to beat Matt when we ran, but now he can run a mile nearly a minute faster than I can! It's good for him; we both feel really good and healthy and that's all that matters. Many of you know how competitive I am though....he usually is in the lead the whole way and then lets me "win" the "race" at the end! That's why I love him and that's why we've been together 6 years :)

Our run was a little detoured this time around as they had a couple of stages set up for concerts later in the evening (my next blog will involve more info. on that). We ended up running up and down grassy hills and going WAY off course.

When we got home I took some pics of our farmer's market finds. The usual: eggs, blueberries, beets, bagels, strawberry rhubarb pie and apple cinnamon muffin. The unusual: Macadamia nut oil! We are excited about this one. We have used it twice now and love it! I can't wait to bake with it!

Later in the day we headed out to an outlet mall and I found my Bride's maid dress for my cousin's wedding! It's so much fun shopping for new dresses! I'm not sure if I have shared on the blog, but we are headed back HOME in SEPTEMBER for my cousin's wedding in Oregon! I am SO stoked!!!! We will be traveling all over the states so let us know if you would like us to pop in and see you!

Aussie sign o' the day:

Man-eating kangaroos: next 3 km?

or Kangaroos and Pedestrians next 3 km?

Who knows?

haha!

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Aussie word o' the day: Hakuna Matata = "no worries"

We were watching Lion King the other night and Pumba and Timon sang "hakuna matata" I got really excited and asked Matt "Is that song Australian...cuz it means "no worries"?" haha! I was totally joking but then it developed into me posting it on the blog as the word o' the day...so there you have it!

It's bath time for the littles ones and then we are off to the grocery store for a few things!

Enjoy today!

Fireworks, just for us! Gee thanks :)

Hi Friends!

Matt and I have joked from the moment we heard there were going to be fireworks on our anniversary, that they were doing such a display just for "us"! haha! We headed out to the park early and found a great parking spot and a great spot to set up or little camp!

The stage was near us, we could see and hear everything!

This picture flipped side ways, but it's the Aussie Flag on Regatta Point.

Me and Matt in the drizzle.

We brought yummy bagels from the farmer's market to eat. The girls loved theirs. However, Destiny was begging for cotton candy by the end of the night (calling it Ice cream because they look like big ice cream cones)

Addi scarfing her bagel down.

The sign displaying the name of the event. (they didn't call it "Matt and Jill's Anniversary show...I was disappointment)

Fireworks. Matt wanted me to name this blog Fireworks and Mullets, because I'm not sure what I saw more of...yikes!

Destiny was so excited because they played her favorite song!

Me and Addi. Addi loved seeing the fireworks! She just watches quietly.

My beautiful flowers from Matt! I love Lillies!!! (and I love Lili, my cousin :) the flowers always make me think of her!

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Something I've wanted to post on the blog for a while:

Conversation in American English:

Person 1: Hi, how are you doing?

Person 2: Fine, how are you?

Conversation in Aussie English:

Person 1: G'day, how are you going?

Person 2: Good, how are you?

Conversation in American English:

Person 1: Thank you.

Person 2: You're welcome.

Conversation in Aussie English:

Person 1: Thank youuuuu.

Person 2: That's okay.

**** I find it very difficult to react to people saying "that's okay" instead of "you're welcome". I think that is something I will NEVER get used to.

Well, we are off to a coffee shop to meet up with some other moms and babes!

Enjoy today!

Kiss me!

Happy St. Patrick's Day in the States. In Oz, it was celebrated yesterday, and I was disappointed with the lack of green I saw when I was out and about. I guess they just don't do the holidays up that big here! I could have done a LOT of pinching...Oh well! I hope you are wearing green today :)

Here's Destiny to say "good morning" to you!

Yesterday I took some time and finally started and finished an art project that I have been meaning to do for Addi's room. It's a pastel drawing with paint on canvas. I had so much fun creating this for her. Destiny asked, "where's mine?" I hadn't made her one, but to Matt's dismay, she requested a "cat"! haha! If you know Matt, you know he HATES cats!

This morning we are celebrating St. Patrick's day with a few of our play group friends. There shall be finger painting and green play dough! Sounds like good time to me!

Here is a great Irish Quote that I found:

Here's to you and yours

And to mine and ours.

And if mine and ours

Ever come across to you and yours,

I hope you and yours will do

As much for mine and ours

As mine and ours have done

For you and yours!


Another thing that makes me think of St. Patrick's day is this recipe. I made this a year ago and LOVED every bite of it. If you try it let me know!

Corned Beef Hash:

1/2 lb cooked corned beef, shredded

1 Green bell pepper, diced in 1/2 inch cubes

1/4 c. unsalted butter

1 T chopped fresh parsley

2 large potatoes, diced in 1/2 inch cubes

1 large onion, diced in 1/2 inch cubes

Salt and Pepper

Drop diced potatoes into a large saucepan of boiling water, cook for 6 minutes or until just tender. Drain. In a large skillet melt butter and saute onions and garlic over medium heat until onion begin to brown. Add bell peppers and cook, stirring for 5 minutes. Add shredded corned beef (Hint: to shred meats use two forks and pull meat apart against the grain), potatoes and salt and pepper to taste, increase heat to medium-high and saute quickly until hash has begun to brown and crisp, about another 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and toss with fresh parley, plate and serve with fried eggs. Now that's an Irish breakfast fit for Brian Boru (not sure who Brian Boru is, but that is what the recipe says)

Enjoy today! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Estrogen and Chocolate

Hi Friends!

How is life going for you? I am missing the States lately. Tell me something interesting that is happening over there!!!

I have been really delayed on some of these pictures but I wanted to share them with you.

I made stuffed bell peppers for dinner...Mexi style. They were SO good! Matt was amazed that I "made up" the recipe :)

I made my Grandma's bundt cake! My first bundt ever and it tasted SO good!

The other day the girls and I met up with the play group at Lake Burley Griffin. The girls stopped for a picture as we shared some Candy at The Deck Cafe.

Destiny with her pretty hat.

Addi on a toy at the park. She was so happy to get out and play. Later that day, we found a park that is entirely made out of rocks (except the slide and rails). It is really neat and the girls loved it!

We don't have peeps in Australia! That's right...no peeps! However, for Easter the bakeries make marshmallow bunnies. I got some for the girls :)

Last night, I hosted a Mom's Night In at my house. We had a dessert pot luck. Matt came home with the girls in the middle of the party and he told me, "there was way too much Chocolate and Estrogen out there". Haha! We had a great night! I was so excited to try a new recipe. Cake Truffles. One of my favorite bakeries in the states makes cake truffles and I buy them for 3 dollars each. I made about 50 of them for under 10 dollars :) They were delish! Some of the other eats were: cheesecake, brownies, ice cream, and a bunch of baked goodies from a bakery! It was fantastic! It's these kind of nights the EVERY mom needs in her life!

I'm off to the library today!

Enjoy today!

All dressed up...and MANY places to go!

Hi Everyone! How did you like the post about the balloons? It was quite spectacular! I have a friend who said she lives right in the area that they take off. She can sit on her deck with her morning coffee each day this week and enjoy a kaleidoscope of colors as they pass by.


This Sunday, the girls dressed up for church. They looked so cute so I had to take a few snaps of them.

Destiny holding pretty flowers

Addi saying "cheese"

Addi in her Easter Basket.

My girls. It's hard to believe how much they have grown. They are turning into such lovely ladies.

I have to tell you, yesterday, Addi followed me around all day asking to be held! She hasn't done this in quite some time. I tried to embrace the closeness, but it's difficult when you just "need to get stuff done".

Saturday brought a quick stop by the farmer's market...here is our loot: 3 bottles of wine, fresh farm eggs, a bag o' garlic, 6 lovely bagels, chocolate cake and pear pistachio cake, and cute little Brussels sprouts! Yum Yum Yum!

Today the girls and I are off to Paint n' Play at the park...I hope they have it, it's a bit foggy outside and play equipment may be wet. They usually cancel if the play equipment is wet. Then I am hosting a ladies night for the play groups moms at my house. NO KIDS ALLOWED! yay!

I'm off to do some baking for tonight!

Enjoy today!