Geek Day

End of term one was casual clothes day 'Geek Theme'. I think our little man is a very handsome 'geek'!!

Team Spirit

Darcy was placed in 'spirit team' for his recent cross country or as Imogen says 'red team'. Our little runner doesn't have much of a competitive spirit but he loved competing in the cross country. 

Imogen and I supported his team by wearing red!

Imogen was a little disappointed she couldn't run but soon entertained herself playing with some friends from playgroup.

First Camping Trip

We joined our Ward in an Overnighter at Arm River in March. Imogen & Darcy loved their first camping trip, which included snow falling before going to bed and a visit to the snow the next morning. Darcy finally got to use his sleeping bag on a 'real camping trip' and not just camping on his bedroom floor!

Our Baby

Our little girl isn't so little any more.  My baby is going to be three in September.

After procrastinating getting rid of Imogen's dummy for a long time (since December 2010). We finally 'lost' it in January, after a few sleepless nights she adjusted to not having her beloved dummy - the whole experience wasn't as painful as I thought it would be.

Last month we said good bye to nappies (so excited). Toilet training Immi was so easy and it was great that she night trained at the same time.

July - December 2011

 Imogen and Darcy had a visit to the dentist in July. Imogen enjoyed her first visit and loved wearing the glasses. The dentist gave the kids some gloves and face masks so we enjoyed playing dentist and patient over and over again (that is until I threw them all in the bin!).

 Sandy joined our family in July. The vet believes she is eight or nine years old which is great for me, cause I don't have to walk her everyday! She doesn't bark all the time which I love, nothing worse than a yappy little dog. 

 

We celebrated Immi's 2nd Birthday, this is one of the few photos we have. Gotta love how my little girl loves her food!

 During September Grandpa came down to help Devin prepare his car for a Rally and compete. The kids loved 'playing' in the rally car and wearing the cool helmets. It was fun to watch Devin compete in his rally - the Hyundai is now known as "The Rally Car".

October saw Darcy master bike riding at the Bike Centre. He was so proud of his accomplishment and not needing Mum or Dad's help anymore. Devin subscribes to the 'glide theory' on learning to ride your bike so Darcy never had training wheels.

 

Imogen wasn't interested in riding bikes, she was entertained with her own can of 'creamy soda'. It goes to show that 'colourings' in our food and drink are strong cause it took two longish baths to remove the pink stain from her face, chest and tummy!

Baby Sarah was blessed in December.

Feeding cousin Charli dinner is so much better than my doll!

Charli and Sarah the two youngest babies in the family, so cute!

 Santa or (Ho Ho as Immi calls him) delivered a new bike and dolls house Christmas morning.

and that is a recap of 2011!!

Pre-Kinder

Late June saw the start of Pre-Kinder for Darcy. The first few weeks we had Grandad look after Imogen, which was a great settling in period for Darcy without his little sister attending.

We already knew a few of the kids and parents from attending our local Launch into Learning at the Primary School. We've had to select our prefered option for school next year - we chose four days from 9am -1pm.

Once Imogen attended, she was hooked. I'm not sure who enjoys 'school' more. Thanks to a recent public holiday in Burnie, Devin was able to attend Pre-Kinder which was great for Darcy. Imogen however stood at the closed front door sobbing her little heart out saying 'school, school'.

This term we have been able to leave Darcy at Pre-Kinder for the last hour. It's been a great introduction to Kinder next year.  I've got my fingers crossed that we'll be lucky enough to have this year's kinder teacher.

 We've also had 'Oscar' (Kinder Budgie) come for a sleep over he was a much loved house guest by the kids. I wasn't too impressed having to clean up his mess.

Darcy is adjusting well and is already counting down till he can start Kinder. He likes to say that he'll be four when he starts Kinder but he turns five during the year. I don't know how I'll cope sending my little boy to school, but it'll be chin up at least until I walk out the school room.

Cars 2

Cmax Cinema's has been a place of fascination for Darcy; Mum what's that building?, what’s the words say?, can I go up those stairs?, what’s an emergency? can we see a movie?. I have avoided parking in the Cmax Cinema car park recently just to avoid the numerous questions hurled at me each visit. 

Imogen stayed home with Auntie Jayne. While Dev, Darcy, Georgia and I saw Cars 2. It was a great movie for our little fella to see for his first cinema experience. The experience was enhanced by the 3D glasses (though how he could see through them with all the fingerprints over them, I'll never now). Popcorn and lemonade was enjoyed - though a quick trip to the toilets was required in the last ten minutes of the movie.

When we got home he asked "Can we go to the cinema's again (long pause) tomorrow?  

For Grandma

Grandma here is the proof that I actually iced and decorated the cake!! Nothing fancy but I did it, kudos to me.

4

We celebrated Darcy's 4th Birthday in the recent school holidays. We enjoyed a birthday morning tea with Grandma, Grandad, Auntie Alison, Auntie Clare & Chloe. 

(He did have an actual birthday cake that evening but I don't have any photos!)

Imogen enjoyed her perch on Grandad's lap, which allowed unlimited access to the mini mm's on Alison's slice!

Darcy has enjoyed playing with his birthday presents, we allowed him to sleep in his new sleeping bag for 3-4 nights and one night when I went in to check the kids I found him wearing his head torch (another birthday present)

 

Auntie Alison took the kids outside later in the day and took some great photos, I love how I can see the enjoyment on Imogen's face and the grin on Darcy's face.

It's hard to believe that my baby boy is four. Darcy is a loving little fella who would do anything to make another person happy. He is a great big brother who willing shares his toys with Imogen and has let her adpot his birthday present 'Pete the Cat' from Auntie Jayne. We are truly blessed to have this wonderful little man in our family.

Miss Imogen

has been playing in flour.....

she wasn't too impressed when I insisted it was time to clean up!

Easter Holidays

We had a wonderful time away, Auntie Elise and Uncle Rob were kind enough to look after the kids so Devin & I could to attend the Temple which was such a blessing given recent events. 

We spent time at the Paringa Holiday Park in Deniliquin with Uncle Teague.  Darcy enjoyed going on the ski trainer and Imogen loved the jumping pillow and park.

We visited the Zoo with Rafe, Hunter, Grandpa, Auntie Elise and Uncle Rob.  Darcy's favourite animals were the Lions. It was a great time but very exhausting for the kids.

We visited with the kids Great Nan.

Darcy went with Devin & Uncle Teague to his first AFL match. Here he is wearing some Tiger gear courtesy of Uncle Teague.

I'm not sure what the highlight was for him, it could have been the meat pie, jam donuts, bottle of lemonade, footy or the train ride. He had wonderful time though.

It is hard to believe that we have been home for more than a week; it doesn't take long to settle into routine again.

25th October 2011

is when we expect Baby Cullis no. three to join our family.  

We are super excited! Darcy has already requested both a brother and a sister! (nope we aren't having twins, well as far as we know we aren't!).  Imogen doesn't have a clue she's going to be a big sister which is fine with me cause I want her to be my baby for a little longer.  

Auntie Jayne has asked requested that the baby arrive a day late so they can share a birthday. No, promises Auntie Jayne but we'll see what we can do!

We are in debate about finding out the sex of the baby.  We nearly did with Imogen but during the ultrasound I changed my mine! Thankfully we have a while for this debate to continue along with the name game!!

Thanks heaps Joey!

Back in February we had Auntie Alison & her man Joey visit. Joey takes awesome photos so we had him take a few of us while they stayed.  Here are a few of my favourites.

I love this photo of Dev all spiffy for Church

This is so how Imogen used to go down the slide.

My gorgeous little man

At first I didn't like this photo cause it showed the messy room, but then it hit me it's a 'real photo'. Sunday mornings are always messy!

Lovely relaxed family photo.

 Thanks heaps Joey we love the photos.

Nursery

Imogen has been attending Nursery since January when Devin & I were called as Nursery Leaders. But she is now officially a Nursery Kid!!!

I can't believe she is old enough to be in there, before we know it she will be attending Primary with Darcy.

Imogen loves the interaction with the other children and especially loves singing time with Sister Sarah. But I think her all time favourite Nursery Assistant is Sister Rhonda! I'm loving being in Nursery with Imogen and she doesn't really seem to mind that Mum & Dad are always there.

We have been

picking vegies from our garden.

Watching grass grow courtesy of Darcy's Primary Lesson - I am thankful for Trees, Plants, & Flowers.

Cleaning up vomit, wiping brows & administering pandol. Imogen started off vomiting Tuesday night and seems fully recovered today. She was kind enough to share it with her brother though!

9:30am Wednesday morning and Darcy was ready for bed!

Hopefully next week we'll be feeling better.

Darcy & Imogen

 

Thanks Lisa at Lisa King Images for these gorgeous photos.

Finally possible

Imogen's hair can finally go up in pony tail, I was so excited. She wasn't!

 Distraction is mandatory otherwise she is doing this until it all falls out.

We love that we can now see her gorgeous little face!!

When did he get so big?

When did my little man get old enough to go to Primary? 

His first Sunday in Primary went really well (better than I expected).  Grandma is his Primary Teacher so there is no way he is getting away with anything!! There are seven kids in his Sunbeams class (five boys & two girls).

Christmas

Christmas Eve 2009

Christmas Eve 2010

Can't half tell that Imogen doesn't like stitting still can you??

We had a wonderful Christmas, too much food, drink and for the kids too many new toys!