Party!

We had Poppy's first Birthday party extravaganza!

I went into my usual pre party frenzy but all was calm and fun by the time the guests arrived. Was so lovely to have family and friends over to celebrate and eat, eat, eat!!!!

Menu highlights:
-Safta's Burrekas
-Anna's Sandwiches
-Wilma's honey joys and chocolate crackles
-Bunny rabbit fairy bread

-Dreamy Cupcakes (massive cupcake naches, truly one of my proudest of cupcake moments, except the Persian fairy floss collapsed and partially dissolved over night, had to re-apply in the morning)

-Chocolate Birthday Cake (of course!)

This is the only photo of the 4 of us together, still, it's quite fitting.

Poppy and Mia were on their best behaviour (not to mention the other 12 kiddies/babies ranging from 6 weeks to 4 years). Poppy was exhausted at the end but happily wandered from embrace to embrace and also found the time to digest crayons and draw with texters all over her face and outfit.

Mia spent most of the time eating and blowing bubbles (new fish bubble gun massive hit!) and flirting with boyfriend #27 (Daniel).

It was all over way too quickly and not only did we have to part with Luke mid way through the party (off to a work conference for a few days), we also had to bid farewell to Granny Ro & Max who have embarked on another caravanning adventure (Ro did manage to do most of the dishes before she left though, yippee!!!).

Tired & bewildered by all the attention... yet still content

The day ended nicely with a low key dinner with Safta, when Mia turned to Poppy, placed her arm around her shoulder and said: "I love you Poppy!"

Poppy has since reciprocated in so many ways including actively hugging (with arms!) Mia and the rest of us, in fact it's the first and the last thing she does every day.....(ahhhhhh, I have no words).

Finally, (and I know this is very late..broadband & email issues) I would like to thank everyone that came, and while some couldn't resist and had to buy Poppy a present, and others donated directly, I'm pleased to advised that on the day we still managed to raise $300 for the Royal Children's Hospital, so thank you!

Poppy is 1 today!

Just wanted to wish our little Poppy a big Mazel Tov and happy 1st Birthday!!!

May you continue to charm your way through life, be curious, be clever, be funny, strong willed and love your family.

You light up our world AKoochi-Moo!

All my love,
Mama Cookie

Love the Pesach Bunny!

It was nice to make it to a real 'Seder' this year, as last year's was spent in hospital with a very brand new little Poppy and eating Kneidelach from a plastic Tupperwear container.

We had a wonderful time at sister's with a unique touch, care of an Israeli backpacker who adorned every single guest (over 20 of us) with Himalayan type beanies. Food was magnificent and Mia particularly had a great time with her Jewish holiday boyfriend (named Shy).

We had a 2nd Seder here with Mum and friends including Peter from Hong Kong, Karen his new fiance...(gorgeous, and never seen Peter happier), and his fabulous son Thomas, plus the Hughes'. It was a non traditional evening (no reading of the 'Hagada') just the headlines (if that) but you couldn't tell looking at the food (except for the Easter Bunny desserts). Really enjoyed sharing it all with friends and hope to do it again next year and beyond.

M&M re-enacting the battles of our forfathers, oh hang on....

Back to the Catholic end of the religious spectrum, no we didn't take Mia to Easter service, but we did 'let' the Bunny in. Excite able shrieks erupted from Mia's bedroom when she discovered a chocolate egg by her pillow and then realised the hunt was on! A visit to the Botanic gardens and then another park in the afternoon made for a very relaxing Easter Sunday.

Mommy, mommy, is it really a Jewish bunny???

Poppy has thoroughly enjoyed her first Easter and unlike her older sister, did get to have chocolate before she turns 1 (next Thursday!!!), see out stretched hand on right.

I'm relieved to advise that Poppy hasn't added any new bruises as she's learnt to sit down rather than fall over. She's also learnt to convert multiple forms of furniture to walking frames, pull some hilarious faces and her new word is ''look'' (sounds like "ook").

The face!

Mia tending to the Botanic vegi-garden

We've just come back from a trip to the Kew Boathouse with the girls. It was both girls' first time in a boat and while Luke and I made for very poor rowers (my arms do feel buffed however), we had a great time.
Thoroughly enjoyed this long weekend before a big week leading up to Poppy's Birthday and party on Sunday... Mia is bursting with excitement, hope jealously doesn't creep in (so far so good, playing so well together bar a few competitive moments), wondering whether should buy her a present as well??? Maybe a framed photo of the Obamas??? Mia is quite obsessed with The President and continues to explain to us that when she's older she will go to New York and meet Barack Obama (Woody Allen also gets the occasional mention re NY visits) and she's taken to finding him in the paper and recognising his voice on the radio.... better that idolising Bratz Dolls I say.
Frame these shots for Mia? She loves the new White House pet 'Bo'

Happy Easach!

Just a quick note to wish everyone a happy Easach!

May your holidays be filled with delicious and genuine Gifelte Fish, original Maza (not those low fat/wholemeal/saltless/antioxidant infused varieties), Kneidelach (again, as before) & chocolate (of the best kind of course) all delivered by a little eager bunny.

Sorry, no new shots of the girls (nothing's changed, still Bindi wearing black and blue).

Oh, and before I go, please be advised I'm on Twitter! Been on for a little while, but only now beginning to get it, feel free to follow and be followed.
xx
Cookie

Things & Thumps

Who said 'things' can't make you happy?

I've had my eye on this Eames 'Hang It All' forever, and the other day I decided it was time it was mine. I knew it belonged in our home, and of course I was vibrating with excitement at the store (Living Edge...oooo I love!), but it wasn't until I actually got it home and ripped the box open that I realised how happy it made me.

Even the next morning, as it patiently lay on our bedroom chair, waiting to be hung, I smiled, and felt a great sense purchase satisfaction.

It's now hanging proudly in our entrance and I make a special effort to greet it as often as possible.

It's a good thing its hooks are round and not sharp as it appears the girls have both inherited their parents ability to create accidents wherever the potential exists.

Mia decided to test out a stunt-double career when she was bouncing on a friend's enclosed trampoline - yes - I highlight enclosed - she unzipped the zipper of course and continued to bounce, flying straight through the opening to the ground, landed on her shoulder, rolled and bounced right up..... lots of tears followed but nothing an icy-pole couldn't fix, for her anyway, I'm still having palpitations.

Central Bindi supported by two 'eggs' on either side

Meanwhile, Poppy has declared herself to be a true 'head banger'; not of the musical/bogan kind but of the literal kind. Her will consistently overrides her lack of skill and now has two beautiful eggs on her forehead, as one Jewish friend commented, rather like "Jew horns". Yesterday she also added to the list a bruised cheek and sore chin.... when will this end? I'm just hoping all of these marks will clear by the Birthday extravaganza so she doesn't spoil my photos..... ooops I meant her photos.

Perhaps we should have simply kept Poppy in her original box, that way she would still be in mint condition

Aside from trying to save our girls from serious injury, Luke and I actually took some time out the other day, to celebrate our seventh wedding anniversary. We headed to the city for a matinee performance of Billy Elliot. Was fabulous, great cast, set, music, everything, possibly the best musical I've ever seen! We later indulged in an early dinner at MoVida where I proceeded to intoxicate myself with a single glass of red and two sips of Absinthe - was soooo relaxed.

Thanks to the grandparents who looked after the girls, and not to mention folded some washing!

Other developments: Just wanted to share this photo of Mia and explain the Bindi craze in this house. Mia's kinder teacher is Indian, so Mia has taken to a curious fascination with Indian stuff, mostly painted elephants, Bindis and their colourful music. I've been teaching her and Poppy all of my Bollywood moves (2) post dinner to the music from Monsoon Wedding.

Finally, as a follow on to my previous post, I'm glad to announce we have sold our Deco dazzler Bar/Cabinet for $1100, not bad considering it was a little damaged. Unfortunately the rudest woman in the world bought it which has turned our Saturday into something out of a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode... Luke has named her Cabinet C%#!@!

Oh, and we've painted the house and found a new hairdresser who can cut fringes! I shall continue to rely on you blog followers for leads, I got some great links with outstanding results.

Noisy

Life seems rather noisy these days, so much going on and my head feels rather busy and consumed by too many thoughts (mostly of the un helpful kind). Anyway.. I'm working on it, and, today is Wednesday which is always a good thing when Wednesday is my wonderful day off work and on with the girls.... I LOOOOVE Wednesdays!

However, this morning's activity didn't quite go to plan. It was Mia's 3 & 1/2 y.o. check up with the Health Nurse. My naches meter was primed and polished only to be snatched and buried before I could even say "yes well, we do realised she's very special, yes we are very proud of our Mia". Mia was in a defiant and shy mood and refused to do anything!!!!!!!!!!! So in short we walked away with little but a name of a speech pathologist.

More attitude....

Over the last few months I've been concerned about Mia's speech. She has significantly improved in recent months, however, I feel she is behind her peers. To all of you out there reminding me that she's bi-lingual, yes I have taken that into consideration, but I'm still a little concerned, mainly as I worry that her limited vocab and lack of speech clarity could potentially limit her social experience as it's affecting her confidence and as other children are beginning to notice. So I've just booked her in for a hearing assessment and we'll take it from there.

Aside from that, she's been wonderful. Luke and I had a great time with her this past Sunday when we attended the Mt Scopus musical production of the the Sound Of Music one of Mia's favourite musicals.

It was fabulous, so professional and entertaining, we had a ball. The highlight for us of course was simply observing Mia as she experienced a live show for the first time. She was so excited by everything around her, the lights, the curtains, the seats, the music and even the actors. It took her a little while to believe they were the characters (I think she expected to see Julie Andrews herself) but she was sold at the end and when we got to meet some of the cast, she was smitten as she would have been meeting the real Fredrick and co.

I must say, we were all surprised to hear one song which we know as Shalom, Farewell being sung as So Long, Farewell, and this, at a Jewish school!

Luke and I loved the Jewish nuns (no crosses, but quality shcnozzes), all singing in Latin! We were however disappointed this line (not for children!) didn't quite appear in the production.

Meanwhile Poppy has been perfecting her own character and has introduced us to her tantrums complete with throwing herself back and screeching like a hyena... charming. Actually she is charming most of the time. She's learnt to blow kisses but often misses her mouth and instead hits herself on the forehead turning her gesture from a sweet affection to more of a Homer Simpson "Dough" type of move.

Now I failed to capture Poppy doing any of the wonderful things I've shared here, instead, here is Poppy ignoring her mother's instructions, just like her sister

Which is pretty much what I said to myself the other day when I realised I had fallen off my real-estate obsession wagon and found myself with not one casual and curious house inspection but with a list of 3!!!!! How could I allow this to happen? Anyway, I think I'm OK now, I caught myself after inspecting house 1 and being a little disappointed.

So instead, I'm looking for a painter to come and make this place look a little better. There are a few other tasks to perform as part of this 'Latte-House' revival:

-Clear furniture: We have a couple of pieces we've decided to clear as they don't fit. I've already listed one on Ebay, our deco-bar, feel free to bid.

-Source a cleaner: If anyone knows of someone good who will do our area, please let me know as I'm struggling.

And that's just the beginning!

I'm also in need of a little TLC myself and am after a new hair dresser, had to dismiss the last one, too sloppy, conversation too inane even for me... so again, if anyone can recommend.... my hair is out of control!

TREMOR

We had an earth tremor last weekend, registered 4.7 on the Richter scale. We were all home, still awake and what initially sounded like a train passing by quickly turned into something much more powerful.

I couldn't help but think that this was timely considering the state of the world around us (bush fires, drought, financial downturn... crisis! crisis! crisis!).

And in my own nervous world, three friend's husbands lost their jobs recently, so it was rather real & close when my company announced almost 2000 jobs were to go. I prepared myself for the worst while Luke prepared for nothing "Why worry? I'll worry if and when we have a reason to worry." His worryless attitude both irritated and incited envy as I struggled to control my erratic head.

I was so consumed that on a grocery shopping expedition with the girls I didn't notice when Mia's shorts fell down to her ankles as she trailed behind me calmly explaining "My shorts Mummy, can you see, they've fallen down!"

Meanwhile Luke did try to offer some support in the form of a preparatory role playing exercise for 'the meeting'. Some of Luke's helpful lines were: "If I draw the blinds and give you x will you reconsider?" and "Is it because I'm Jewish?". Needless to say, I had my own back up lines.

So after spending the last few weeks endlessly speculating with my colleagues on what was to be, and developing a nervous and ridiculous habit of laughing at the most inappropriate moments (dubbed 'funeral laughter'), most of the team was relieved to receive good news on Thursday that we were in fact still employed! A bittersweet feeling remains as some people weren't so lucky.

Perhaps Poppy sensed the future and was sending me a signal when the day before 'the meeting' she was motivated by Mia's chocolate ice cream on the coffee table to stand! She was generously rewarded with Mia voluntarily sharing her ice cream, pity little of it made it to Poppy's enthusiastic taste buds.

Other new Poppy achievements:

Doing: Pointing, clapping and placing hands on he head ('mechi mechi capa-im'), crawling, snooping

Saying: Mama, Dada, Or (light in Hebrew), Boodi (Bear in Hebrew backwards), Book (for Bakbook which is bottle in Hebrew)

Meanwhile Mia continues to amaze me with her compassionate and playful approach to sisterhood, I just hope that continues and that when these girls are in their 80's they still enjoy each other's company

Sister, you're so funny you make me want to gauge my eye out

Today I had special time with Mia, she has a fever but the poor love is still deliciously gorgeous and hasn't complained one bit. It's the first time we've shared a day at home since Pre-Poppy, no offence Poppy, but we've had a time.