sister

Charlotte put Toby to bed yesterday lunchtime.

They were both at home for the day and we'd had a busy morning at the beach and playground then came home and watched Finding Nemo.

It was almost 3pm and we were upstairs as I was changing Toby's nappy (really need to get on and potty train him!) and I thought we had gone past his nap time when the next thing I knew, Charlotte was closing my bedroom door behind her. She looked up at me and with a big smile on her face said she had just put Toby to bed. She told me she had tucked him in and given him his teddy to cuddle. I  heard her kiss him. So precious.

I went in to check and he was there, all snug in my bed. Bless her! He often sleeps in my bed during the day and I wasn't sure if she was jealous so I thought it was so lovely that she was taking care of her little brother. 

He tries to look after her too but sometimes gets a bit distracted. Like the other day when he tried to tell her that her label was poking out of her new Princess costume but ended up in his little trance and sucked his thumb whilst holding her label. Quite a sight - her standing in the living room admiring her new costume and him behind her holding her label and sucking his thumb! 

So they might drive me crazy sometimes and break my heart when they fight, but all I need are moments like these to treasure forever. 

They are off to Preschool today. Charlotte is moving up to afternoons (though will go to day care in the morning) and Toby is starting in the mornings. So a big day for both of them but at least they have each other.

Sister. 

I love my brother very much. 

I just wish he was closer so I could give him a hug.

photo-a-day-august

I did the photo-a-day challenge again in August and here are my photos:

1. Outside - an evening bike ride

2. One - One duvet in one commercial washer with one chid watching

3. Coin 

4. Somewhere you sat - a welcome sight after an 11 mile run 

5. Logo

6. Writing - the date on our beach pass

7. 8 o'clock - breakfast 

7. 8 o'clock - boys out on a trail bike ride

8. Glasses - Si's sunglasses which have been repaired every day this week with superglue (and tissue!) 

9. Messy - visitors make a mess but bring such joy! 

10. Ring

11. Purple - one of my favourite clothing brands (I miss Dorothy Perkins!)

12. Spoon

13. Simple - pleasures like being the first to dip into the butter

14. Arrow - at Sleeping Bear Dunes

15. Ready - for fishing apparently! 

16. Food - of the junk variety... Bye bye processed food, hello 'clean eating' 

17. Faces - from the last two weeks of fun! 

18. Inside - getting warm with a coffee at Biggby! 

19. Hole

20. Today 

21. Cool - ice cream treat after his first day at daycare

22. Home 

23. Pair 

24. Path 

25. Fresh - off a flight from Oz (via LA) 

26. Dream 

27. Tap 

28. Clock

29. Down - the slide after stroller strides 

30. Card - my little girls turns 4 on Sunday!

31. Hiding - a nocturnal kinkajou at Binder park zoo last weekend

now that I am 4...

It is Charlotte's 4th birthday today.

A lot has changed over the last year and she has grown up into a gorgeous little lady!

All day she has been saying "Now that I am 4...." or "Because I am 4"

... I can go potty on my own without any help

... Wear Mummy's makeup

.... I can get dressed all by myself

... I can reach that shelf and Toby can't because he is 2

I wish I could remember the other dozen things she has said today but it's been a bit stimulus overload!

So how have we celebrated her birthday this weekend?

Well we went to a pool party on Friday evening - our new neighbours have a pool in their back yard and a few of us piled over there, brought drinks and snacks with us and chipped in for takeaway pizza. It was fab and the kids loved it - we could not get Charlotte away from the diving board or stop Toby jumping in off the side!

Yesterday Jeremy and the kids came to meet me at the end of my run and were happy running round the YMCA grounds whilst I caught my breath. After I recovered (a bath and lunch helped!), we went to Chuckie Cheese's - an amusement arcade where you buy tokens to play games and win tickets which you exchange for prizes. Except you need a lot of tickets! The kids won enough for a packet of sweets and a curly straw each. But they loved all of the arcade games and the tunnels that went across the ceiling!

This morning Toby woke up first and came into our bed for a wriggly snuggle. Charlotte wasn't far behind him and as soon as he saw her he said "Happy Birthday Charlotte". So sweet that he is starting to understand!

We asked Charlotte what she wanted to do and she said stay at home and play. So we did! We have had a crazy summer and so I am not surprised that she was happy to play with her new toys and enjoy a lazy morning.

She was over the moon with her new Princess costumes and lego stables. I was very happy to sit with a coffee and help her build it. Well of course I built it and she spent an hour playing with the horses and taking the heads on and off the riders!

In the afternoon we had some close friends over for dinner and cake. The kids had a lovely time playing with their friends and we enjoyed fresh veggies from our neighbours' garden.
Charlotte's cake was a hit - her face lit up when she saw it. She saw me icing it last night but I refused to decorate it until she went to bed and kept it hidden all day!

And then she opened a few more presents. Each time she has opened new clothes or pjs she has excitedly put them on. She must have changed outfit 6 or 7 times today! Every time she opened a new game she wanted to play with it. She really loved a crazy chefs game. We got the paints out after reading a book of craft ideas. The last thing she did before bed was a sparkly mermaid mosaic and count her growing collection of Disney Princesses!

We have all had a wonderful day and I am very proud to have such a beautiful 4 year old daughter.

This was her reaction when she saw her cake (I think she was pleased): 

Chuckie-cheese-tastic!:

Another of her many outfits worn today: