Day 168 - Distraction

We took Jenna to karate practice this morning. For a more comprehensive photo and description of the sport, perhaps read Dale's blog here. I, however, didn't get a great pic of Jenna with her not being in the front row and me not wanting to be too obtrusive! Henry was very quiet during the class, which I think baffles him a bit, what with all the outfits and sharp yelling noises! Towards the end, he needed entertaining and I think that his Daddy fit the bill particularly well.

Day 113 - Down by the Wharf

Ice cream was on the agenda for this morning, after Dale had promised Jenna one on Saturday morning. She certainly wasn't going to let him forget that one!

We took a little drive down to the Marina where we had a look at all the fishing boats that were around and where we took a lot of photos in our attempts to be a bit artistic! Dale really was... check out his cool photo at Another Project 366 Sheep Joins the Herd.

Anyway I particularly liked this one of Dale and Jenna, because it wasn't great weather and the sky looks pretty dramatic.

After ice-cream, a wander and a pit stop to buy some local smoked prawns and mussels, we were on our way back to Canberra.

Day 112 - Side by Side

After a morning at the markets, where Glenda ran a stall selling produce from the community garden, including her jams and chutneys and where Jenna spent about half an hour choosing some cowrie shells from the jewellery stall (I felt just like I was waiting outside of Diva for her) we came home for some lunch and for Henry to decide he didn't want a sleep. Conversely Dale did want a sleep, so Jenna, Henry, Glenda and I took a walk down to the beach. In a semi attempt to get Henry to fall asleep we even wheeled him down in the stroller. That didn't work.

Anyway, Jenna and the little green machine had a great time running about the beach, even if Henry did sit down in the water by accident in the first couple of minutes. Keen to get Henry into the water, Jenna did her best to entice him. Henry had other ideas about those little foamy waves surrounding his feet!

Day 111 - Reunited at Last!

We drove down south to Eden this afternoon for a visit with Dale's Mum, Glenda. Jenna has been staying with her Nanna Glenda all week and we will be bringing her home at the end of the weekend. Unusually, because Jenna has been away, Henry hasn't seen his sister all week. The look on his face when he saw Jenna up in the windows at the front of the house on our arrival, was priceless! Henry chose Jenna to read him his bed time story tonight.

Day 71 - A Play in the Park

First idea was to visit the Tuggeranong Homestead Markets, but when we arrived they were almost at the end of packing up, so we decided to try the Picnic Markets at Tharwa (mental note to visit next weekend when they are actually on). Another option was to take Mum to the fabric shop she likes in Tuggeranong but that closed early being Sunday, so we went to the park instead! Henry and Jenna enjoyed chasing the big black swan around the grass area, feeding the ducks and swans in the water and playing on the equipment. Henry had his first go on the swings, but mostly loved the slippery dip!

Day 55 - Father Daughter Bonding

As we cooked a later than usual dinner tonight with Mum and Dad visiting, everyone seemed to end up in the kitchen. Yes, we do still have to paint the outside wall of the pantry! Dale and Jenna were bonding in this picture over some Maths. Jenna always likes a bit of a challenge in the area of Maths when she is bored and with 4 available adults to provide some challenging questions, she turned to her Dad for a few explanations. If you know Dale and his Maths skills well, you may think that is kind of ironic... considering that there were 3 other available adults!

Day 50 - A Love of Reading

My photo today is courtesy of a photo competition Jenna is entering at school, which I think is being run by the school librarian. From what I could gather, the theme was families and a love of reading, so Jenna set up the shot today and this is one that I snapped of her, Dale and Henry reading together. I don't think Henry was 100% sure of his role here, as he did roll away a couple of times, but he did have many giggles! Jenna is a great reader and I hope that Henry will be too some day - the signs are very good so far. 

Day 43 - Kinzie's Baptism and the Amazing Navigator

I left in such a rush this morning to get to Kinzie's baptism that my camera was not the only thing I left behind (thanks Jenna for the loan of your camera for this post church pic!). I also left behind my handwritten directions to get to the church in Evatt. I have trouble getting around Canberra without the sat nav and I still haven't gotten a replacement connection cable. Anyhow, without my directions or my street directory, I picked up Jenna and borrowed her mum's directory. From here on in, Jenna should be known as the Amazing Navigator. From the back seat she directed me without one wrong move to the other side of Canberra to a suburb I had never been to! A trip across town without the sat nav or Dale (who is an excellent alternative) could have been a disaster, but we were only 2 minutes late in the end.

Day 42 - Fancy Meeting You Here

It was one of those dreary days where from lack of sleep the previous night I did not feel like going anywhere. Luckily, it wasn't a work day. Dale had left fairly early for a weekend away on the bike and so Henry and I had had a very quiet day. Anyway at about quarter to 5, Henry and I dragged ourselves down to Calwell to buy something for dinner and while down there we spotted Jenna and her Mum, Sue. Sue gave Henry a couple of coins to toss into the money spinner and he was absolutely enthralled (yet raising money for vision impaired people at the same time... socially conscious huh?). After each coin he came looking for another... I think that we will be visiting that money spinner again, somehow...

Day 36 - Water Babies

With the lure of a trip to the Leisure Centre at Stanhope Gardens promised to Jenna, she was quite agreeable to yesterday's car shopping. Of course this morning, we were quite obliged to go swimming, even though I think we were both feeling a bit lazy! Henry hasn't been swimming a lot yet, but as you can see, he had quite a bit of fun today! It's interesting to compare to the photo on my blog last year that you can see here: Day 16, 2011. Although he didn't get into the wave pool, when it was going, he loved watching Jenna and his Daddy playing around in the waves. In fact, Henry rarely let Daddy out of sight at the pool today... I think he senses who is the strongest swimmer!

Day 28 - Remember What it's Like to be Ten?

Robbie and Jenna seemed to enjoy catching up on Saturday afternoon, when Jenna made recommendations on what apps Robbie just had to have! Robbie left with not only a few good ones like Words with Friends, but a bunch of others that apparently do a range of things like adding moustaches to photos and so on. I snapped this picture of them just moments before Robbie asked Jenna if she could try on her beloved headband... I do not know if she will be getting one of her own, but they sure did bond!

Day 3 - Hi Jenna!

If you squint a bit you can see who Henry saw in the water. There is Jenna out with her boogie board and Henry is giving her a little delayed wave. We arrived at Eden early afternoon, for a visit with Dale's Mum, Glenda, and it was almost straight down to the beach to grab a couple of hours play before dinner. We dug in the sand and built a few sandcastles, Uncle Dion dug a hole to hide Henry in, Dale and Jenna braved it in the water and Sawyer (Dion's little dog) ran up and down the beach barking at the waves; a good afternoon had by all.

Oh, and as Dale pointed out - a happy 3rd anniversary to us on the third day of 2012!

Day 1 - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We spent some of this afternoon out by Henry's new pool, which we have set up in the gazebo. It is funny, my photo from Day 1 in 2011 was taken from the same spot. Henry hasn't quite been himself for a day or two and was even refusing cuddles from one of his favourite people, his big sister Jenna. Out by the pool, the smiles came out and although he found the water too cold to stand in, both Henry and Jenna had fun, having a little splash.