Ahh spring.. how I have missed thee – runny noses… constant sneezing… itchy eyes…. ahhh, the serenity!

It’s looking more and more like Grunge is getting hayfever.. either that or her philtrum is conducting some sort of gross experiment.  We’ve been to the Dr’s for her runny eye and he gave us drops but they didn’t seem to help.  Grunge was pretty awesome with the eye drops though… I swear she has some sort of medicine dependance already however I guess that comes from being medicated all your life – note to self… tone down how awesome I tell her she is for having her medicine

Anyway – lots happening as usual.  I’ve finally had a chance to update the Flickr account with some photos of Grunge’s birthday party which is only almost 3 months late

Daycare is going well, still going 2 small days and a long day however this week she trooped in for an extra day while I had a “me” day.  Me days sure aren’t what they used to be   I spent the morning getting a hair cut… it’s like 800 different colours now – take that rainbow icecream!  It looks super.  After that I stole Em from work for lunch fit for a Felafel king and then cleaned out and washed the car.  Super exciting stuff that!

The weekend was a bit of a windy pearler so we hooked up Dummy Thievin’ Princess Mish and Grunge’s cousin Cassie for some kite flying and daisy chain making.  Grunge totally adores her Princess Mish and cousin and had a ball “flying” kites yelling “Go go go go”.  Mia went out for the day on a ride with some people from her website then went to the gym.

Ow, ow ow ow ow ow ow … I just yawned and totally boke my tongue.. .ow ow ow.. that’s it… I’m going to bed!

I <3 Christmas.

I could really end this post at that

This week I organised some accommodation for while we’re away (which is difficult being summer holidays), found accommodation for the dogs at a kennel for a few weeks (even more difficult) and picked the day for our family Christmas party. I think we’re sorted now.

Grunge has had a pretty average week – she’s been off colour and sooky which can get pretty tiring. We’ve had quite a few nasty nappy surprises too – eww. I’ve also been sick and think I’m now getting a cold. D’oh! Early night for me I think!

*thinks* week in a nutshell – Tuesday…. iMa Day! We headed to one of our favourite parks with iMa (who once again spoilt Grunge). Grunge is getting more indapendent and was running off by herself. This did give iMa and I some time to chat which is good Friday – Kindermusik and shopping and some spring cleaning. Dinner was Lasagnarama at the Neighbours of Awesomenesses house. Saturday… dog trainer followed by a house auction, and after a nap Em went to the gym while Cody and I painted. Sunday – Happy Father’s Day! Swimming (only 2 kids showed up) and then a trip to the nursery to pick and plan our new lawn then home for a nap while Em checked out a couple of fences we like. Grunge and Em went to visit Pappou while I mowed the back yard and got things sorted for our accountant. Phew!

Grunge of the week…
Me: Can you say strawberry?
Grunge: *whispers* warberry
Me: Can you say it loud?
Grunge: Loud!

On Tuesday Grunge and I headed to the pediatric dentist to have her first checkup. As a kid my brothers and I would go to the community dentist and we still tell horror stories when we catch up…so it was important to me that Grunge never gets that type of experience.

We managed to get a “next day” appointment which left me less time to worry (yes, it’s all about me ) and headed in early. The place was awesome, fully stocked waiting room with toys, books and activities complete with floor to ceiling Hannah Barbara characters (yes, I know a bit 80s ). The dentist we saw was unreal. Grunge got a new tooth brush which the dentist used to count Grunge’s teeth and even laid down on the dentists lap so she could hear her “teeth talking to her”… clever way to describe that awful poking/scrapey combo tool. We got a pack with stickers in it which was a big hit and stopped at the markets for some vanilla buns (yum yum yum).

While we were out the door guys finally installed our new security door – feeling a bit safer now The locksmith also came out during the week to fix our other new door – it was intermittently locking us out. It turns out the manufacturer had installed the mechanism inside back to front.

Yesterday was our Goddaughters 7th birthday – which means we’ve now been in Adelaide 7 years. Happy Birthday Laylah Mac

So I haven’t been blogging a whole lot lately, and I’d made a promise to one of our VIPs that I would – so… I’m committing to at least a weekly update

This week was a big one and as usual we had a fantastic Friday and weekend.

Friday morning is our Kindermusik class with Mr Geoff; each week each kid gets to pick an action and have it performed as part of the welcome song. Most kids pick jumping, clapping or similar however Grunge’s choices are becoming a little abstract – last week was “open shut them” with her hands and this week was “cat”. Kindermusik was awesome as usual however I noticed my knee was starting to get painful. This semester is focused on animals and the sounds they make; it’s such a great program.

After music we headed to the store to get some supplies for dinner, parmesan and sundried tomato hamburgers. Grunge picked her own treat from the bakery; a marshmallow icecream cone and we headed home for a nap.

Every second Friday is iMa Day so after Grunge’s nap we met iMa at a pub with a playground and spent the afternoon hanging out and chatting. Grunge loved watching Sarah McLachlan and P!nk on iMa’s iPhone 3GS while I played with her iPhone 3G (can you guess why she’s called iMa?)

After iMa we came home and I sat on the couch sooking about my sore knee while we watched Finding Nemo. After Em came home we ate our awesome burgers and then had a visit from our neighbour until late in the night.

Saturday we had the dog trainer out again; Grunge is getting much more confident with the dogs. After a nap Grunge hung out with our awesome neighbours while we lobbed to Bunnings to pick out our new outdoor setting. Em and I played Tetris fitting in the 6 chairs and table into the Mazda. After that we headed to an open house of a property I’d checked out and gotten excited about the week before. The property was just as good as I remembered, Em and I talked a lot about what the place needed and we’ve agreed it’s a great place however it’s just not for us.

And today, Sunday started with swimming lessons – we found out they’re moving Grunge up to Tadpoles in November with her older classmates. She’s already passed all the benchmarks for the class she’s in however she needs to be closer to 2 1/2. I can’t wait to take her swimming in Mum’s pool at Christmas!

After swimming we dropped Em off home and headed to Ikea for brunch. Grunge ate (in the style of the Hungry Little Caterpillar) One Rice Bubble Bar, one cheese sandwich, one apricot bar, one lot of chips, one pack of bbq crisps, one chocolate moose, one orange juice and some quiche. We think she might be growing!

Unfortunately Ikea didn’t have the cabinet I need (still!) and we headed home for a nap.

We spent the afternoon with Lady Magda, Lady Nick and Moshi – three of our VIPs. Nick made great scones and Grunge proceeded to eat about a punnet of strawberries and some biscuits and scones. When we got home she ate dinner (we have a kid who eats!) and went straight to bed!

So that leads to here… Sunday night on the couch, dosed up on the good drugs and watching tv. I need to head out to the office to do some work after hitting a very expensive snag during the week.

I was singing the ABC song to Grunge and she looked at me incredulously, shook her head and started singing “Baa sheep!”

It was only recently that I realised they were the same tune – bloody kid is smarter than me

Tonight I finally came clean to Em about something I’d been keeping from her. My secret had been eating me up inside and I found myself starting to get worried about telling Em and her reaction.

I prefaced my confession with a get out of jail free card – “Honey, there are times in a relationship where you’re allowed to just leave the other person and what I’m about to tell you will be one of those times.”

It was then our relationship changed, possibly forever. I told her.

Honey, I like mushrooms.

We’re seeking counseling and hopefully we can work through our differences….

She is small; she likes to check that the mailman has been and can even manipulate the dodgy padlock on our letterbox; she likes puzzles, babies and biscuits; sometimes I wonder what sort of passed life she had, she knows things she shouldn’t; she has rhythm and the best victory dance I’ve ever seen; her laugh delights me; she loves one of our cats like he is the best thing since sliced bread; she loves “duddles”, she likes to snuggle in bed with us as long as there is the correct “blillows” on the bed; she can go down the big slide by herself; she loves to ride with me on my bike; she makes up her own signs; she loves books and to be read to; she likes porridge and beans, though not together; she waves to ants; she cleans up after herself; in the shopping centre she’ll say hello and goodbye to everyone she meets; she likes to share; she sleeps beautifully; she is gentle and caring; she loves to sing and we’ll hear “e, i, e, i, e” from the back seat in the car; she’s everything I dreamed of in child.

I know one day she’ll change the rest of the world the same way she has changed ours.

Grunge turned two on Saturday and we’re pretty sure she’s only just come down on from the fairy bread fueled sugar high

We had a full house with Uncle Sparky, Aunty Sar and Baby Dash testing out our new and improved spare room and festivities started after lunch on Saturday. The bouncy castle man came while Grunge was asleep and the surprise on her face when she saw the castle in the backyard was priceless. Thankfully Em and Sparky took the kids out for a walk while Sar tried to finish the cake and I tried to make magic in the backyard…. A frantic SMS to our awesome neighbour gave us an extra set of hands with the prep and slowly our friends and family arrived and all pitched in; I swear within about 30 minutes we went from a bouncy castle in the backyard to a fully decorated, chaired, tabled, catered backyard! Have I told you how awesome the people in our life are?

The party was a big hit with and Grunge ate her weight in Fairy Bread and stayed up until 9:30 when the last of our friends said good night Turning two was definitely a very memorable day for all of us

Last week at swimming Grunge got her certificate for being able to swim by herself. We are pretty stoked She has been able to swim without us for a few months however we had to wait until her swimming instructor was able to witness it.

Hooray for Grunge!

This week we had the pleasure of a visit from our 2 1/2 year old neighbour Nate. Grunge thinks Nate is pretty awesome and the kids spent most of the evening running up and down the house swapping between pushing a baby in a stroller and Peter Rabbit in a dump truck. Eventually the kids wound down enough to do some drawing, eat some dinner and Grunge headed to bed.

Tomorrow is Nate’s Mums birthday – Happy Birthday Theresa!

Lots has been happening here – it’s late so I’ll update later. Quickly tho – house painting done, rangehood up in kitchen, back yard update planned, new doors on way, new fence and gate in pipeline, new couch and flannelet sheets on bed *brrr*.