How'd you like to meet this on a dark night?

Ben has been studying Australia's explorers. I looked at his latest drawings yesterday and thought - how'd you feel meeting someone like this on a dark night!! And then I thought, hmmm great stock we Australians descend from!

Strzelecki

Then, to be fair, I've posted up one of my drawings. When I went to Ben's class meeting this week, all the parents had to draw a picture of someone from ancient times. I chose Julius Caesar, because it looked easiest. We were shown some drawing techniques, which the kids will be learning all this year.

Julius Caeser

Birdy

Birdy
Originally uploaded by Melody Johnson Quilts

Really into birds and quilts and bird fabric at the moment. This one caught my eye. Beautiful!

Moving day

We spent Saturday (and part of Sunday) moving my husband's work from one side of an arcade to the other. Then I had everyone round for a thank you barbie. Whew, one way to know you're alive, and the new place is looking fantastic!


One of the general treatment rooms. The only one with signage up so far.



The back room, full of stuff to put away.



The largest room, biomechanics room.



We moved just across the corridor, took us all day!



Reception desk. It took 8 of us to carry in this monster.



Maureen, my m-in-law did lots of dusting.

Sticks and tan bark

Ben's so funny. He's 30 kilos (that's about 4 stone) long and lean. He looked at his tummy after a milkshake today and said it's getting big.

I said he's a stick, and takes after his grandpa. Grandpa's nickname is Stick. Ben said, I'm not a stick, I'm little, I'm (a piece of) tan bark.

The other exciting thing we did today was shopping. The kids managed to make it fun. And they're both in jumpers and track suit pants, in February, in Australia. What is with this weather!!

My new toy

I have a new sewing machine. I had a day off with the boys on Thursday,  picked it up from the shop and spent a lazy afternoon having lots of hugs from the kids and learning how to thread the machine and the bobbin. Took me a day or two before I even sewed my first seam!

This is my first ever new sewing machine. Until now I've been sewing with mum's old one. I remember the salesman coming to the house (!) when I was 10. (Can you ever imagine a salesman coming to the house nowdays!)

A month away from the kids

The kids have arrived back safely after a whole month away with their grandparents. It's been a long haul, and I'm overjoyed to have them back again. It did mean I could work all January, instead of trying to find vacation care - and it was fantastic of their grandparents to think of such a present. Here's some thoughts about our child-free January:

1. We'd forgotten - after 14 years of having kids - what it's like to just go out and do things at night. Night-time mostly found us home. Finally two days before they were due home, we went out to dinner and a movie!
2. I kept hearing the kids turning in their sleep or rustling - when they were most definitely not home. It's a bit like losing a limb - I hear that people still imagine they can feel their missing arm or leg.
3. We kept thinking, oh the kids would like to do this, or I wish they were here to experience this - then realise that it was just us two.
4. It's amazing how quickly you get used to being kids-free. I couldn't talk about them for the first week without tearing up and choking up. Then it got better. But I did get attacks of the sads.
5. I could hear Ben being brave when he talked to me towards the end - mother's intuition.
6. It's an insight into what it'll be like in no time at all when the kids are off adventuring on their own.

Kids and boxes - does it ever stop?

The minute I unpacked the sewing machine, the kids took over the boxes. I think Ben was thrilled that he could curl up - and fit in the sewing machine space.