What a beautiful day!

Christmas day! I hope you all had a magic one. I know we did.
I loved the look of excitement on Marios face when he saw his stocking and presents and then was taken outside to see his special present from Mummy and Daddy (a trampoline - which by the way we are all having heaps of fun bouncing on) and then there was the gourmet breakfast, more present opening, more food, lots of playing, a delicious roast lunch, a rest to recover from slight over indulgence, visitors, more presents and playing, more eating, a summer evening feast, enjoying new books and bed.

When it came to the trampoline it was Peters job to put it together while Mario and I enjoyed an outdoor mass. Poor Mario was a little confused at being outside when we always go to church inside. It was very hard for him to sit still.

It was just the three of us and Peters Mum for lunch and it was easy to prepare and delicious to eat. But as usual it was over catered for so there are plenty of leftovers to be had!

Now it is time to put the advent calendar away, find somewhere for the toys and presents and get ourselves packed and ready to go on our annual holiday waterskiing and caravanning at Jindabyne. We are not back until the new year so we wish you a happy and joyous one and may all your wishes come true!!

It's a Wiggly World

If you ever want to see a spectacular kids show ... go and see The Wiggles.
Mario and a few of his mates went along last week and we were enthralled by the hour - hour fifteen show. All your favourite songs, lots of dancing, visually spectacular and just the sheer look of wonder and excitement on the kids faces. We all just loved it and had an absolute ball.

Nothing though surpasses meeting Sam Wiggle as they all came out into the audience. Marios only disappointment was he got close to all the Wiggles except Murray who didnt quite make it to the area we were sitting. Must say it has been non stop talk about the show since. What a great lead in to Christmas.

Bye the way Merry Christmas to all. May you all enjoy being surrounded by family and friends and remember the true meaning of this time of year. Of course to Mario that means food, Santa, presents, lollies, cooking and food.

Christmas countdown

The Christmas countdown has begun. The advent calendar is out and filled with exciting prizes for Mario to go through each evening - since there are chocolates, lollipops and candy canes included you can't have them for breakfast so it is an after dinner job. We have also included balloons (we had so much fun the other night playing balloon soccer), money and stickers. So far Mario waits patiently to help find each count down number but I wonder how long that will last.

As we won't be with my family this Christmas we had a get together last weekend. The weather was wet and miserable but with 5 children and a Christmas tree and plenty of food and drink it was just so much fun. We let everyone open their presents - mainly so we could see their excitement - check out Mario with his Thomas train - and I must say it was great with no expectations plus time to treasure and enjoy each toy or gift. I tried to take photos but there was too much action and movement and too much to watch and enjoy but it was just wonderful.

Now it is time to finish the rest of the shopping, do my annual cards and letters, go out and celebrate with friends, go and enjoy cand sine loudly (even if out of tune) at carols by candlelight, remember the true meaning of Christmas and delight in childrens faces. Keep well and take care and if I dont get to write before Christmas make it a happy and merry one.

It's all about me!

For a change this blog is about me as I take up the tag from a fellow blogger and friend I have never spoken to in actual words but know Tiffany and her family through stories and pictures. The challenge was to share 8 things about me that not too many people know. So, here goes .....

1. My favourite indulgence is sitting with Mario watching kids shows. Even before Mario I would watch the kids serials and cartoons and movies and now I just have the perfect excuse ...

2. And while I am watching my favourite show I love to enjoy a glass or two champagne or white wine or red wine or scotch and diet coke (but I do try and make sure I save it for the weekend when it is time to really relax). The wine is always Australian and in support of the area I grew up usually comes from North East Victoria - All Saints, St Leonards, Brown Brothers, Pfeiffers or Cofields. Yummo and time to go and have one now!

3. I love to read. Nothing heavy or true to life but something I can get lost in, an imaginery world of spies and car chases and totally crazy and unbelievable stories where the good guy wins and never seems to get hurt. If you have ever read Matthew Reilly then you will know what I mean.

4. I am always busy, doing something and not sitting around. As I sit and do nothing I am always thinking of things that should be done and usually that thought gets the better of me and I am off. Drives my husband Peter crazy. Still doesnt mean that the house is neat and tidy (with a 3year old and a husband I think that will never happen) but I just do something, anything yet I cant say I really have a hobby.

5. I love ballet and dance and theatre, though that is another thing not shared with my husband, so when my Mum and Dad move to Canberra I am sure I will get to many more shows. I did ballet for 13 years as a child and I have a great love and passion. I was never going to be a ballerina (though it was a secret ambition) as I was just built all wrong and had a love for food that wasnt helping but there is always that dream. Instead I became an occupational therapist and now work for the government. Not really the worlds most exciting career but it has worked out pretty well. Now that is a mix of thoughts and ideas!!

6. I dream of doing more travel around the world. Peter was never keen but I think a trip to the Philippines opened his eyes and interest. Of course there is so much to see here in Australia and it is a wonderful country but there are other dreams too. To see the Eiffel Tower, to go suba diving in the meditteranean, to see the wildebeeast in Africa, to laze on a beach in the south pacific, to see everything there is to see and do in New York (I dont have an interest in LA or the west coast, there is something about the east that entralls me), to see ancient ruins in Europe, to immerse myself in any asian country and finally to know the country of my sons birth, the Philippines.

7. I love to cook but am really not so great at it. I "Karenise" so many recipes it is embarassing. Some work some dont and sometimes it takes me twice as long as it should. I get excited and frustrated with my efforts and it can be quite frustrating. When it works it is wonderful and when it doesnt ... you need a back up plan.

8. I am just me with so many idiosyncracies and funny ways of doing things and views of the world but then ... isnt all that what makes the world the way it is. We cant love or be loved by everyone and we will drive some people crazy. You have your friends and family and loves of your life - husband, son, dog, parents, siblings and their families and really our little world is just lovely. I do love being me and I love and am grateful everyday for my life loves and my past and future.

Thank you Tiffany for having me share and for letting me think about what makes me me.

Spring is in the air

The days are getting longer and warmer. The trees are springing to life with new leaves and little flowers. Mario is patiently watching the apple tree to see the first little fruits start to develop. Hopefully this year he wont pull them off before they ripen. This weekend we are planning on putting some flowers in so that he can watch them grow and so he can have his own flowers to pick. It is just a beautiful time of the year.

It is made even more beautiful by a little boys birthday. It is a time where I think about Marios birth mother and what lead her to leaving her little boy in the care of the hospital. I wonder what she thinks about at this time of the year. I write my letter to her to fill her in on the year and the special memories that have been created. It may never go anywhere and we may never ever meet her but if it happens and she wants my thoughts and feelings they will be there.

Of course a 3 year old is not thinking about the same things that mummy is thinking about. For him it was presents and party food and playing with friends. We had a lovely party at home with a Thomas the Tank Engine theme and lots of Thomas presents - thank you to everyone it made Marios day. It was fun preparing and fun at the party and the clean up was .... ugh and my feet were ready to rest and my eyes ready for sleep. Then we did it all again the next day at another little friends party. Spring is definitely the time of new life!

And so my little boy is growing up. At times he seems older than his years and other times just a little boy and other times a little devil with tantrums and tears that leave me wondering what is happening and other times he is an angel with manners that make you melt. All that I am sure is part of a childs persona and to keep mummy and daddy on their toes. It also leaves me pulling my hair out and needing time out to get my head around what is happening but then there are other times when I just sit there and watch him and feel the love that is in my heart for him. Life is sure exciting and wonderful with him around.

Family fun

Mario has had 2 weekends catching up with his cousins (and that means I got to catch up with my sisters!).

Firstly we travelled up to stay with Aunty Ange, Uncle Matt, Lucas and Adrian. We played in the park and went to the markets and stocked up on all sorts of exciting things. Mario then went to Ellas 4th birthday party where he ate plenty of lollies and cake and all the important foods that kids love at parties. From there is was a visit to Aunty M, Uncle Mike, Jordan and Mikayla and a visit to the Berowra woodchop. Exhausting but so much fun.

This weekend just gone was a visit from Aunty M, Uncle Mike, Jordan and Mikayla. They had a day at the snow so our place was the perfect spot to travel from. The kids had a ball together and Mario just loved having Jordie sleep all night in his room. We had a fun day at the nature park on Saturday and the kids used up all their energy with their running and climbing and swinging about. The flying fox was a huge hit. Good thing we had the gumboots with us as there was lots of splashing and playing in the water.

Have to say, there is nothing like family and there is nothing so great as seeing cousins playing together and everyone just getting on so well. I really love these special times and I hope that when Mario is all grown up he remembers these days and will always make family number 1.

We're going to the zoo!

Time has been flying along and here we are finally on the other side of winter. Not that I am wishing the year away, I just like sunshine and spring and summer when everything is green and colourful and the days are longer and we can do so much more outside. Not that we have been sitting around and doing nothing and waiting for time to pass. We have been out and about and just doing family things. We just have to rug up and make sure we have our beanies on.

Marios childcare had an outing to the zoo. It was on one of my days off and so I volunteered to help out. All I can say is "oh my goodness!" the childcare workers are wonders with what they do with 19 little 2-3 year olds. I was so exhausted at the end of the day that I could not wait to put my feet up. But on the other hand there is nothing so joyous as seeing the smiles on the kids faces as they touched and fed and looked at all the animals.

Mario loved the lions because the went "R O A R" when he asked them too. He loved the fish because he saw Nemo, Dory and his favourite ..... Bruce the shark. He also loved the snakes as he got to touch one (and Mummy got to hold one) and the lizards because they can stick their tongues out. The monkeys loved to play around, the tigers had big paws and the giraffes played with each other and wouldnt come for a feed, the emu was running around like crazy and the kangaroos just wouldn't stay still (and neither would you if 19 kids wanted to pat and feed you). Oh it was just lots of fun.

We then had the weekend in Wagga with Peters aunt and they have a little kiddies zoo. Mario fed the kangaroos, patted the donkeys and I think even managed a lick from an appreciative donkey. I kept well away from the ducks and geese - ever since I was chased by geese as a kid and got stuck up a slippery dip I have never had a liking for geese.

In Memory

Thursday 28 June 2007 saw the passing of my dear and wonderful Gran who was in her 94th year. Her body had just had enough and she passed gently, quietly and peacefully into Gods hands. I am sure that Pop was waiting for her there with a cup of tea and a slice in hand. Now they are off on another caravanning adventure. They are now both watching over us.

The funeral was held back in her home town where she was laid to rest with the rest of her family (she was the last of her generation) and our beloved Pop. While it was a sad occasion for those of us here on earth, and especially for Dad who was an only child, I think there was relief for Gran too. Family and friends all joined us on the day.

For me I was so pleased that I was able to view Gran before she was laid to rest and to see the calm on her face and admire her beauty. It was my decision and one Dad had left to each of us 3 girls to decide. For me it was a case of closure. It also helped me to deliver my eulogy on behalf of my sisters - one of the things I did as the big sister. I would have made it through without tears if I hadn't looked to them for reassurance. When I said the goodbye with the famous (in our family) "double handed Gran wave" and saw the tears on my sisters face it was hard to go on. What was reassuring was to see Grans great grandchildren as part of the ceremony, sitting and participating and being part of this occasion. I was so proud of them all.

The final lowering was hard for those of us still here as it really brought Grans life to a conclusion. The lowering was done by 2 of Dads cousins and 2 grandsons in laws - one of them being Peter. At the graveside Mario took a piece of wattle and gently dropped it on the coffin for me. While he may not understand the gesture, he made my heart melt. It was a time for tears for me.

The wake afterwards was very Gran - we made all her slices, served up on Gran plates, and even had her lollies on hand that we use to nibble on as kids. It was a day of memories.

We love you Gran so much and you are forever in our hearts.

Winter wonderland

We have now officially entered into winter. The leaves were so slow to change colour this year as autumn seemed to carry along for a lot longer than in other years and even the start of winter was quite mild. BUT now here we are a couple of weeks in and winter has come and caught us out. We have cold temperatures (we haven't made double figures the last few days), snow on the Brindabellas and even some sleet here at home, lazy winds that go through you and not around, grey clouds and rain. The rain is great for our dams and our water supply and our tanks are all full and our grass is looking glorious but some some people it has been more than they ever wanted with some parts in flood.
It is warm and pleasant inside and the house is filled with the aroma of either freshly cooked cakes, bread baking or a casserole in the slow cooker. The central heating is wonderful and the weekend evenings are spent around the crackle of the fire. It is so nice to be able to sit down and play games with trucks and cars and know that we are all safe and sound.

We have had a visit to Nannys house. While we had a bit of rain ... well lots of rain ... we were out and about as much as we could be. Mario had his first ride in a train (we went 2 stops) but it is a scenic ride past the beaches and through a tunnel and into town. I love the look that was on Marios face as he watched everything go by. We watched the waves crashing on the rocks and the surfies out having fun (it would have been a tad chilly).

At home Pear has his umpiring on weekends and Mario and I spend out time out and about going to markets, watching and cheering Daddy and taking Charlie and the bike out for rides. The cheeks get nice and rosy and we all just have lots of fun.

What a Happy Mothers Day

It is so lovely to celebrate Mothers Day and this is my 2nd year so am a bit of a novice at it. This year when asked what I would like I requested a family outing to Jindabyne with lunch out. What a lovely day it was with Peter and Mario to share it with. Mario had made me some lovely gifts at childcare which we happened to open on Thursday when he brought them home. He was just so excited to have this present that there was no hope of it lasting any longer.

I hope all the mums had a lovely Mothers Day and celebrated it in their own special way. I know my Mum enjoyed her day too as she was in Sydney celebrating with my middle sister who had just given birth to the 5th and final grandchild (Adrian Leslie named after both his grandfathers) and with the other 3 grandchildren who joined them on the day. That gives them 4 grandsons and one little princess. We will catch up with everyone soon.

Surf and Sun

A family weekend away in Queensland ... how good does that sound?? Afterall ... Queensland ... beautiful one day ...... perfect the next and since we live in Canberra where winter is cold and summer is hot the idea of a weekend in Queensland was just wonderful. We of course had a purpose - a friends 40th and an opportunity to spend some time with many of our friends who either live there or came to the party.

The alarm going off at 4am on Friday morning was not the most inviting thing but by leaving home then it meant we were going to get a full day of fun in on that day and enjoy a day at the beach on the Saturday, party Saturday night and the aquarium Sunday morning before heading home. Great in theory til you throw a 2 1/2 yo in the mix.......
We caught up with friends, had lunch out, settled into our motel, went for a walk, had dinner out, fell in love with staring at the beach and the waves and the blue sky and we were so relaxed. Saturday was breakfast watching the waves, swim at the beach (hmmm things start not going to plan) ... Mario is not happy with the waves or being in the water so we have a play on the rocks and play in the park and back to the motel for a swim in the pool, Mario has a nap and I get to go shopping .... oooh now I am as happy as a pig in mud and my credit card is having a work out. We shower and change and head off to the party. Nothing fancy just relaxing on the deck of a pub overlooking the marina and dreaming about owning one of those huge luxury "boats".

Before midnight Mario wakes .. he climbs into bed with me (Daddy was still partying) ... an hour or so later ... ah oh ...things are not good as we end up with a sick little boy. We shower, clean up and remake the bed ... 30 min later we have to repeat the process but by this time we are scrounging for bed linen that is clean. Poor little mite is feeling hot, uncomfy and just not well. By morning he is a little chirpier or so we think (or maybe we were just hoping given we had plans). Breakfast went down and breakfast came up and so our plans were in tatters. No seal show today. All we could do was put him to bed and hope he felt better before travelling home that afternoon. Sleep (and panadol) does wonders for a kid and we survived.... but only just .....the trip home and could not wait to get Mario changed and into bed. But look at the photos he does look like he is having fun. I know that mum and dad were!!

It took a couple of days but things are back to normal ... how do we know ... Mario is back to eating and drinking like he usually does. We have a history of Mario being unwell when we go away like this and we are hoping to break the cycle ... so maybe we will have better luck next trip and yes of course there will be a next trip as we really have some great family moments!

How Mario became an Easter egg

It started at 7.15 Sunday morning with a shake and a rattle of the eggs on Marios bed and then he found more eggs in his room and brought them down to Mummy and Daddys bed where the one that shaked and rattled was openend and munched on - it was a cute Humpty Dumpty filled with smarties.
On the way to the dining room for breakfast Mario found more eggs scattered along the way and his mouth and hands just couldn't hold anymore. It looked like Easter Bunny Rabbit (as he is known) had a very full basket and he just dropped them everywhere. There were eggs on the trampoline, eggs near the phone, eggs on the tonka truck, eggs on the lounge, eggs on the coffee table, eggs on the bike, eggs with the weetbix and eggs in a bowl ..... but ...... sitting on the dining table were the best eggs ..... one forMummy, one for Daddy and one big Thomas the Tank box for Mario. Easter Bunny Rabbit had been very generous. Breakfast consisted of easter eggs followed by some cereal and milk. As Mum I am determined to get something healthy into him today.

To work off the Easter eggs including all that energy from that sugar we took Charlie (the dog) around the little lake. We thought we were safe from eggs but there were celebrations in the park and eggs were being given out and Mario couldn't resist and even went for a swing munching on his egg.

Home for morning tea and poor Easter Bunny Rabbit lost his ears. Nanny rang and so it was time to eat the little baby eggs and scatter foil far and wide. Lunch was fruit (got to eat something healthy sometime and fruit was the best option) washed down with .... you guessed it ... more baby eggs and a big huge drink of water. Somehow Mario went off to sleep and a few eggs have been packed away for later. I think when he wakes we will all need a run around the block to work off all that easter egg.

And so it looks like 2007 was the year Mario became one giant round easter egg.

PS I think Mummy has slightly over indulged too without even realising it.

At this special time of the year and all that it means to you we wish everyone a safe, happy Easter.

Our busy life

2007 is steaming ahead and I feel like I only have my fingertips hanging on for the ride. There are times that it feels like I am going to fall off and the year will pass me by and other times I feel I am sitting up high as captain of my boat powering on through the year.

It has been some time since I updated the family blog and that is because it has been a hectic month with heaps happening. Returning to work just added to this and made my time at home with Mario more special. I use his sleep times to catch up on business work, clean up the house, do the ever growing pile of washing and ironing, get some cooking done and try and do some computer work or whatever needs doing. The list is always growing.
So, what have we been up to ... Working 3 days a week keeps me busy and the brain active and gives Mario the most wonderful time at childcare. He has taken to it well and even has a little mate to run around with and I am sure that they cause havoc but they are active busy little boys. Weekends are busy times with swimming, my time out at the gym (and how I cherish that "me" time), birthday parties, a weekend with Pears Aunt in Wagga, toilet training, golf - well Pear and Mario anyway, the house things that need to get done and then there was last weekend. Mario and I took the plane to Port Macquarie to go to the 40th birthday celebration AND wedding for one of my dearest and most wonderful friends from uni. We first met at a careers camp in year 11 (guess we were 16) and happened to meet up when we started studying and have been friends ever since. With another friend we have an annual get together - it takes us that long to organise and plan what to do - and it is just the best time and I look forward to it every year. Partners and kids are part of it nowdays and everyone gets on so well and has a ball.

Anyway with the trip - Mario and I weren't going but Pear convinced me to travel up and I would regret not going to the wedding so with frequent flyers we were off. It was a fleeting visit but the best thing so far this year. Mario was sensational on the plane though by the time we got home Sunday night he was over being good and just needed to let it all out. But it wasn't just the plane, it was everything we did ... well almost ... OK there was a bit of a wobbly during the vows and some time in the naughty corner . His manners were lovely, he partied and danced away at the wedding, ne wore undies and had no accidents but did use training pants on the plane as timing and access to plane toilets as anyone knows is hard enough as an adult, let alone as a little kid just on L plates.

don't mind that finger .. it wasn't really headed where you think it might be going ...

We have Easter around the corner and a trip to Brisbane and then Anzac day so hopefully by May I will be sitting up on the ship and not clutching with just my fingernails as we travel through the year and well, it is almost winter and time to hibernate so that should let us get back on track.

Another birthday

Peter turned 42 yesterday - double being 21 and has highlighted to us all that we are moving up in numbers but still feel quite a few numbers younger.

In the past when it was just the 2 of us we would dress up, have a nice dinner out and that was that. The joy of birthdays now is that they are celebrated more through a childs eyes. It is now so much fun to bake a cake and decorate it and then make a big fuss over blowing out the candles. It is fun to go shopping for a range of presents, make paper, wrap the presents and make or decorate cards. When it comes to the unwrapping we have a 2 1/2 yo who just loved ripping the paper off and seeing what was inside and then just moving on to the next one.

The big kid at 42 had fun playing golf and telling everyone all about his presents that he was using out on the golf course that day. Just like any kid would do It was a HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAY!!

HOORAY HOORAY its adoption day!!!!!

February 14 may be Valentines Day to most people but in our family it is now officially known as Adoption Day. Finally after a bit of procrastination with the paperwork late last year and eveything closing for the Christmas/summer period we finally got our 5 minutes with the Chief Justice of the ACT who signed the papers witnessed by family and friends. Mario John Nestor really truly and forever became ours and is now a fair dinkum Aussie!!

What a wonderful moment in all our lives. It was so nice to be able to have the grandparents around to share it and have friends take time out of their work and busy days to be part of it as well.

Our celebration was a lovely morning tea where Mario ate a delicious looking and rather large biscuit covered in M&M's. He was just so happy. Not that he seemed to really know what was going on except he was the king for a day. and that he was wearing his favourite colour (orange!)

Here we are as one little happy family! Celebrating on such a lovely summers day in the middle of our beautiful city.

I decided to celebrate the evening with a traditional Filippino meal - pork and chicken adobo and lovely sticky rice followed by a slightly modified version of halo halo (as I couldn't locate all the ingredients). Delicious.

So now life continues and we continue to grow and learn as a family. It was such a special day and with the help of Dad there are plenty of photos to remind us. Of course Charlie couldn't miss out on the action!

Marios 1 year anniversary

7 February 2007 was a day of celebration as it has been 1 year since Mario came into our family as a son, nephew, cousin, grandchild and friend. Yes there are days that have been hard and a real struggle but these can pale into insignificance when you have so many days of bright cheery smiles and a little boy that is so active it is exhausting.

We celebrated the day with his mates in our usual Wednesday morning playgroup with a swim and a play and some eats. Our evening meal was nice and simple - chinese followed by an ice cream cake. To end the evening the photos and the video came out to remind ourselves what an amazing year it had been.

The photos at HMV show this dear little boy with the saddest look in his eyes. He was also an impish little boy running around with a biscuit in each hand and would stop for a drink of pineapple juice and would be off again running with his little mate, Judah. I remember the tears in my eyes, the tears in the sisters eyes and driving away. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad. After that we were in for a rude shock as we were completely in the dark and had no idea what we were doing. Probably still don't but we are getting better at it and just moving with the flow.

So dear Mario was a wonderful year and a wonderful life we are all sharing together. There are lots more to come.