Ahoy there mates

like the mean pirate face and hook arm???

What is a pirate's favorite letter?...............RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

It has been raining quiet a bit over the last couple of weeks driving us to play more indoors than out. We've discovered a love of pirates, treasure hunts, and maps. The playroom door is covered with hand drawn maps. Nate often awakes to find a map on his nightstand leading him to treasure (or a bowl of cereal). And we all walk around saying fun things like "shiver me timbers" and "yo ho yo ho a pirate's life for me" and "aye captain".

My brain has turned to mush

Help! I am not sure if it because I spend my days talking with a 4 & 2 year old or that fact that I will soon be turning 40 but it is official - my brain has turned to mush. In the last 2 months I have lost 3 major items. Of course they couldn't be little insignificant items like a receipt or phone number....noooo I had to lose a camera, a set of car keys and my cell phone. I swear that the phone and keys will turn up in the house but I have looked high and low for them. It is possible that Reese pinched them since she loves playing with keys and phones. Perhaps she convinced Sam to be an accomplice and bury them in the yard. I hope that they will turn up.
In the mean time I am not allowed to hold anything of value and or put anything at 2 year old height.
*****UPDATE***** since the publishing of this post the car keys have been found. I found them in Michael's jean pocket. VINDICATED!!!! at least I am not going completely crazy. Now if I could only find my phone ;)

Nate soccer update- tremendous progress

A quick update for those following the action packed Lasers under 6 soccer season. You may recall from earlier entries that Nate had a rough start to the season- bursting into tears at game one and refusing to play. I am happy to report that Nate is strongly in the running for most improved player this season. At last weekend's game (game #3) not only did he get on the pitch (happily with no bribes or protests) but he actually played in the match. "Played" might be a tad complimentary- as he often could be spotted standing still zoning out -completely unaware that the game was still going on around him. While not the most aggressive player he did make some brilliant kick ins. Good news and bad- Nate scored a goal (!!!!) .....bad news he kicked it into his own team's goal. Good thing they don't keep official score at this age (unofficially we got slaughter...I think it was something like 20-1). I might make up huge arrow signs for all the parents to hold so we can get our team to head in the correct field direction.

Overall some excellent progress but still some room for improvement!

Barrenjoey Lighthouse

Our friends Maria & Kristian are in town visiting us from Sweden (note to Seattle friends - some people are braving the journey from even farther away). It has been fun playing tour guide showing them the Opera house, harbour tour, Manly, Dee Why Beach, etc. Today we went to the Barrenjoey lighthouse (look up Palm Beach, NSW on a map)- at the very tip of the Northern Beaches. Only a short hike (20 minutes straight up and about 10 minutes to get down) with stellar views. Nate was a hiking champ- no moaning at all- leaping from rock to rock and peeing off the ledge.

before starting our ascent

incredible views of the ocean and harbour

finally we reach the top- the lighthouse

what do you do when you get to the top- why throw rocks off the cliff of course ;)

Reese and her BFF

How cute is this picture of Reese and her Seattle BFF Callie;) Note that Callie is 3 months younger than Reese and already towers over her. I remember last summer giving Callie some of Reese's clothes when she outgrew them....no longer. We'll show this picture to the girls years from now when they are college roomies- class of 2029 (wow that sounds far off...like I'll take my jetson's car to visit her).

Our future pole dancer?????

I am a bit concerned about my daughter;) While she is only 2 (not until next month) she has started to demonstrate some alarming hobbies. She loves wallets, credit cards and money (of her limited vocabulary "money" comes through perfectly clear and understandable); she loves playing pretend store ("buy, buy, buy"); and she loves shoes and sunglasses (she changes her shoes at least 4 times a day). But more frightening (and extremely funny at the same time) is her love of dancing- in particular pole dancing and sexy dancing (hand on bum or hip and shaking her bum). Anywhere she finds a pole you'll find her on it- rental car lines, malls, restaurants, ... you name it. I guess the skills will come in handy when she needs to pay those hefty tuition bills.

Check out some of these recent shots. Only wish we had a video to share....but suspect it will be filmed one of these days.

lost my camera @#&)*@!&(*^)

I was hoping to share lots of fun photos from our recent visit back to the States. Unfortunately I lost my camera :( and it had all our Disney photos on it. Total bummer.

We had a great visit- not really a vacation since there were too many doctor's check ups and errands. But it was fantastic to see everyone; fun to visit our old favorite haunts; filled a whole suitcase with USA goods (yes I came with only two large bags and left with four); and of course stuffed ourselves with all the foods we had missed over the last several months. Although by the end of the trip I was feeling like a unhealthy American and was looking forward to returning to smaller Aussie portions and healthier food.

I got a bit nervous when at the start of our trip (when boarding the plane for a 13 hour flight) Reese threw up in my hair. She was on my shoulders and laughing so hard that she puked....not a lot but it made Michael and Nate roll with laughter. We were quite the scene. Everyone around was silently praying that that weren't seated near us.

Overall the kids were champs on the planes and adjusting to the different time zones (thank goodness for hotel blackout shades). Of course when I flew back with them alone they decided to only sleep 5 hours...odd since it was the middle of the night for them (made for a bit of a cranky mom). Let this blog entry be a public apology to anyone who might have been on our Seattle to SF flight. Sorry for the horrible screaming you endured during the last half an hour of the flight and taxi to the gate (poor Reese was so over tired). And to the old lady who suggested that I sing to my daughter during her meltdown....wow I wish I had thought of that idea (jackass). One serious thank you- thank you to the Thrifty rent a car guy who let the kids sleep in the car (parked in the return lane) then drove us (in our rental car)to the airport and helped me with the 6 bags and a stroller so I won't have to take the shuttle bus. It was a long day returning back to Sydney....and I'm sure that I must have looked like I had been traveling for over 24 hours because all the customs people took pity on me and let me pass with all my suitcases filled with US food.

But we made it. And I have since put away our suitcases - hoping not to need them for some time.