I tried to post some more piccies and text about what we've been doing and it appears that I have now reached the maximum size that this blog can be and still be free. I don't want to pay for that and still have restrictions on how I can do stuff. No way Jose!
So, in light of that little out-of-the-blue piece of information, it appears that I need to follow up with Storm about having a website of our own.
This will take a little piece of time as I need to put it into the queue of other things that (he) need(s) to be (get) done but I want desperately to catch up with posting. Especially with christmas just around the corner there is a whole bunch of photos that need to be displayed to the world of these beautiful kiddoes.
We've got a busy week next week with a day trip to Asheville, NC for business, mum arriving and then a mini-vacay to the Christmas parade in Gatlinburg, TN. Then the week after is the Christmas party that I'm hosting here for the neighbours. So excited! Woo hoo!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
It's beginning to look a lot like....
This was one busy weekend and I am exhausted.
We got family piccies taken on Saturday by a local photographer. We were going to do the matching cheesy Christmas sweaters (as it would aggravate a few people I'm sure!) but didn't. The girls were quite adamant about what they wanted to wear - stripey dresses with cowboy boots. So cute! Anyway, it'll be a week before we get the pics back and I'll see if I can get a few posted before we release them to the world! Mind you Thanksgiving is Thursday and we're off to Bryson City, NC to spend the day with Amber and her family before riding the Polar Express on Friday. So excited!
And before you think that I'm too crazy you need to know how much I love Christmas! Yes, the Christmas tree is up and decorated. Both fire place mantels are decorated and there's assorted spots around the house all decked out too. I will post some photos soon but am far too knackered right now to go around and take piccies.
All that is left to be done is the rest of the lights outside (but we're not so sure how to get to the top of the house to string the lights), decorate the balusters on the two front doors and the back deck and then the office balcony needs to be done. That's next weekend though as we are done for today!
Storm has been making sausages (in between helping me with holding things up) and boy they are tasty. He's planning on catering the Christmas party with everything he is making. We'll see but he's definitely on his way with the sweet Italian and Cajun spiced snags. Yummo. (He's trying hand at salami tonight - I'll let you know how that goes!)
Sorry, must dash but don't know how to sleep after watching the latest episode of "The Walking Dead". I am so amped and cannot wait for next week's episode. So addicted! It even ranks higher than Sons of Anarchy now.
Yes, my name is Nichole and I am a Christmas and Walking Dead addict!
We got family piccies taken on Saturday by a local photographer. We were going to do the matching cheesy Christmas sweaters (as it would aggravate a few people I'm sure!) but didn't. The girls were quite adamant about what they wanted to wear - stripey dresses with cowboy boots. So cute! Anyway, it'll be a week before we get the pics back and I'll see if I can get a few posted before we release them to the world! Mind you Thanksgiving is Thursday and we're off to Bryson City, NC to spend the day with Amber and her family before riding the Polar Express on Friday. So excited!
And before you think that I'm too crazy you need to know how much I love Christmas! Yes, the Christmas tree is up and decorated. Both fire place mantels are decorated and there's assorted spots around the house all decked out too. I will post some photos soon but am far too knackered right now to go around and take piccies.
All that is left to be done is the rest of the lights outside (but we're not so sure how to get to the top of the house to string the lights), decorate the balusters on the two front doors and the back deck and then the office balcony needs to be done. That's next weekend though as we are done for today!
Storm has been making sausages (in between helping me with holding things up) and boy they are tasty. He's planning on catering the Christmas party with everything he is making. We'll see but he's definitely on his way with the sweet Italian and Cajun spiced snags. Yummo. (He's trying hand at salami tonight - I'll let you know how that goes!)
Sorry, must dash but don't know how to sleep after watching the latest episode of "The Walking Dead". I am so amped and cannot wait for next week's episode. So addicted! It even ranks higher than Sons of Anarchy now.
Yes, my name is Nichole and I am a Christmas and Walking Dead addict!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Trunk or Treating
So I'm sure that you all realize by now that we live in a semi-rural area. Each house has around 2 1/2 to 3 acres each and there are no footpaths along the roads. So, you can imagine that trick-or-treating has some issues with a neighbourhood like this. So, rather than bombing a neighbourhood on Halloween night we decided to go to a truck or treat at a local church the Friday night before.
(Now for the Aussie contingent - trunk or treat is an event - usually organized by a school or church - held in a carpark that involves those who want to participate parking their cars and opening their trunks (boots) to hand out candy. They usually decorate the cars in a spooky, halloween theme and may dress up themselves.)
We joined some friends of ours (Melody, Parker, Kate and Marguerite and Richard, Heather and her two children and some others that I wish I could remember the names of but I missed them when I was introduced and was distracted with kids...) and started around all of the cars.
Now the kids were not as open to going up to strangers and asking for candy (go figure!) and it took quite a while for them to warm up. They weren't even as accepting of Kate and Parker that they normally are so it was quite an ordeal to get them to participate.
As you can see the enthusiasm was not "abounding" that evening..
Kendall debating on whether to go closer...
And in the end she didn't need to as the lady took pity on her and came to her and put the candy in the bucket...(maybe she's onto something?)
Sydney was also hesitant and even Kate needed prompting by Richard (but not that much)...
The three girls together. There is exactly fourteen days between the girls and Kate (she's younger).
Yes, this was still early in the evening and the fatigue is showing....
Some of the cars were decorated (we saw one decorated as Duck Dynasty, big teeth, Clemson supporters, graveyards, pumpkins etc).
Some even brought livestock! This was after the girls were absolutely fascinated with the pony and after they finished patting her. They were so reluctant to leave her.
Yes, the enthusiasm really dwindled at the end. But hold on what's that in the background? Is it a blow-up slide shaped like an alligator?
Quick, quick! Get my shoes off! I've got to...
....SSSSLLLIIIDDDEEE!!!!
And SSSSLLLLIIIIDDDEEE some more!
Syd flew so fast down that slide!
And what's next? A bouncy house? Whoo hooooooo!
Ju..jus..just can't bounce fast enough daddy!
An inflatable obstacle course? Oh yea...This is at the end where Kendall finally made it out. She got stuck halfway through and an older girl had to help her around one of the obstacles!
Fantastically, she did not cry or get upset at the fact that she couldn't get past this chest high obstacle but laughed and laughed as she kept trying to get over until the young girl helped her.
Syd went through twice but on the second time around she had trouble with the same obstacle. Thankfully, she giggled the entire time as she finally made it over it and through the end hole where we were.
...came down equally as fast.
Kendall was also absolutely absorbed with getting up and down as many times as possible!
And chose to come down on her stomach...each time! I don't know why she chose to do it that way but she loved it and giggled her heart out at the bottom every time! So hard that we had to drag her off so the next child could go.
And then to top it all off they wanted to get their faces painted. Kendall wouldn't speak to the lady who was painting her face so Sydney would answer on her behalf when she was asked questions. Syd spoke to the lady when she was getting her face done without a problem which was really wonderful to see.
A flower for Sydney and a heart for Kendall. So cute.
It was getting late so we went to an italian restaurant which was a gamble for us as the girls don't like pizza a lot (only the ones they make) but we thought that the restaurant would have something for them. But we ordered pizza anyway but it was hawaiian so an acceptable risk and Kendall scoffed down three pieces and Sydney had only the one. They really enjoyed it and the restaurant made really good pizza (we had mediterranean which was sooo tasty!) and we'll definitely go back there again.
Once we were home it wasn't long before the kids settled down enough to go to bed and go to sleep they did. Not one call out! The music went off after the first cycle (10 minutes) so that meant noone was awake to press is again to replay it. This also meant that the other wasn't awake to moan about the fact that the music went off! Good stuff.
Great night and definitely something that we'll do again for the next couple of years. We have a neighborhood development about 3-minutes away from here so we may end up bombing them in the future but until the girls are desperately anxious to do so we're more than content to trunk-or-treat!
(Now for the Aussie contingent - trunk or treat is an event - usually organized by a school or church - held in a carpark that involves those who want to participate parking their cars and opening their trunks (boots) to hand out candy. They usually decorate the cars in a spooky, halloween theme and may dress up themselves.)
We joined some friends of ours (Melody, Parker, Kate and Marguerite and Richard, Heather and her two children and some others that I wish I could remember the names of but I missed them when I was introduced and was distracted with kids...) and started around all of the cars.
Now the kids were not as open to going up to strangers and asking for candy (go figure!) and it took quite a while for them to warm up. They weren't even as accepting of Kate and Parker that they normally are so it was quite an ordeal to get them to participate.
As you can see the enthusiasm was not "abounding" that evening..
Fantastically, she did not cry or get upset at the fact that she couldn't get past this chest high obstacle but laughed and laughed as she kept trying to get over until the young girl helped her.
This was the last slide of the evening and the girls could not get enough of it. Syd scooted up so fast and... 
Once we were home it wasn't long before the kids settled down enough to go to bed and go to sleep they did. Not one call out! The music went off after the first cycle (10 minutes) so that meant noone was awake to press is again to replay it. This also meant that the other wasn't awake to moan about the fact that the music went off! Good stuff.
Great night and definitely something that we'll do again for the next couple of years. We have a neighborhood development about 3-minutes away from here so we may end up bombing them in the future but until the girls are desperately anxious to do so we're more than content to trunk-or-treat!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Quick Halloween Piccie
Just wanted to showcase the girls in their halloween finery!
We went to a "trunk or treat" with Melody, Parker, Kate, Marguerite, Richard and a whole bunch of others at a local church on Friday afternoon. It was a lovely afternoon and a real pleasure being out.
Anyway, both Kendall and Sydney wanted to be Izzy (from Jake and the Neverland Pirates) but at the last minute Syd changed her mind and wanted to be Minnie. So, we went out on Thursday night and got a Minnie costume and I whipped up the accessories for Kendall's costume (headpiece, sash and pixie dust bag.)
Anyway, I will post more about the evening later but for now.....
I loved the way they looked and they were both so excited to be dressed up. Both had such a great time (took a while to warm up with the trick or treating part) especially on the blow-up slides and houses afterwards! I'm so stoked that they are going to swap costumes for the school halloween party on Wednesday.
We went to a "trunk or treat" with Melody, Parker, Kate, Marguerite, Richard and a whole bunch of others at a local church on Friday afternoon. It was a lovely afternoon and a real pleasure being out.
Anyway, both Kendall and Sydney wanted to be Izzy (from Jake and the Neverland Pirates) but at the last minute Syd changed her mind and wanted to be Minnie. So, we went out on Thursday night and got a Minnie costume and I whipped up the accessories for Kendall's costume (headpiece, sash and pixie dust bag.)
Anyway, I will post more about the evening later but for now.....
I loved the way they looked and they were both so excited to be dressed up. Both had such a great time (took a while to warm up with the trick or treating part) especially on the blow-up slides and houses afterwards! I'm so stoked that they are going to swap costumes for the school halloween party on Wednesday.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Cooking with the girls
Both girls are so happy to help out in the kitchen. When Mavis was here they were both happy to help wash up and most days they want to help prepare dinner by cutting up the vegies and cheese etc.
One night we made pizza which they happily made and then, with a bigger grin on their face, happily ate. They're not big fans of pizza (except for last night when Kendall ate three pieces of Hawaiian - but that's for a different post!) so anything to get their buy-in is a good thing in my eyes.
Last year, Henry and Karen bought the girls a learning tower for christmas. This thing is fantastic as it brings them up to counter height safely. This was really important for them and I thank Henry and Karen a lot for such a great pressie.
Playing with food. Nothing beats it! I used to do it with cheezels (I think every Aussie kid does) and it's so much fun!
Making pizza.....
Yes, Kendall loves olives!
Just the essentials for Syd - ham, cheese, pineapple and peppers! Woo hoo.
And, yes...tomato sauce goes with everything. Grapes, honeydew melon, apple, pineapple all extremly scrumptious and better with tomato sauce.
One night we made pizza which they happily made and then, with a bigger grin on their face, happily ate. They're not big fans of pizza (except for last night when Kendall ate three pieces of Hawaiian - but that's for a different post!) so anything to get their buy-in is a good thing in my eyes.
Last year, Henry and Karen bought the girls a learning tower for christmas. This thing is fantastic as it brings them up to counter height safely. This was really important for them and I thank Henry and Karen a lot for such a great pressie.
Falls Park
Recently Simon and Katie came to visit on their pre-baby trip. They went to a wedding in Hawaii where Katie was a bridesmaid (again! She has so many friends getting married!) and then stayed with us for a week before heading out to Cancun for a small babymoon before heading home.
It was great seeing them both for the short time we did and the girls just fell in love with their Aunty Simon and Uncle Simon (yes, they kept getting it backwards!). They used our car to get around a couple of times and we all went out and about together a couple of times together (thank you mini-van!) too and of those times was to the Greenville markets on Saturday. Main St in Greenville is a very pretty sight and after walking through the markets we headed down to Falls Park.
Falls Park is a lovely developed nature area surrounding the natural falls there. There's miles and miles of walking/biking trails that lead to and from the zoo to downtown where we were. There is also a great suspension bridge that goes over the falls providing a great aspect for photos. There are always a lot of ducks and geese there which the girls just absolutely love.
On the way down along Main Street is some great brick scupltures that the girls just have to climb through everytime. This time Kendall got the sweet spot to pose.
Down along the top part of the Reedy River before it goes into the falls with the ducks and geese. I have a bucketload of bread ends and crusts in the freezer that I keep meaning to pack in the car when we come to the park here. Oh well, next time....
I cannot tell you how fascinated the girls are with animals (which makes me so happy). There is no fear just a wonderful sense of awe and love for all creatures (except for bugs which Syd will squish after a lengthy observance!).
Kendall let the ducks eat from her hand but only once. I don't think that she liked the pressure of the feeding. All we had to give to the ducks were the peanut butter crackers that we took just in case the girls got hungry. Those ducks would have eaten anything that day!
Posing with Daddy. My three most favourite people!
A lovely piccie of the happy expecting couple beside the river. The suspension bridge is in the background. Katie is expecting in January somewhere between my birthday (11th) and Kauren's (16th) from what I understand so it will be very exciting when we meet our neice or nephew. That's right I am pleased to know that they don't want to know what they're having and are waiting for the big reveal!
Posing with Uncle Simon and Aunty Katie.
I just managed to get this pic of Kendall swinging from the guardrail before I walked around to join her.
Looking back towards Main Street from the suspension bridge with the beginning of the falls in the background. Did I tell you that Nanny was also staying with us?
Afterwards we went to Papas & Beer for lunch. We usually go to the one here in Simpsonville but it is so small and the Greenville one was closer. A much bigger restaurant with some yummy (but huge portions) of mexican food. My favourite is the shrimp fajita quesadilla. Storm's is the beer I think....
I don't think that Simon understood just how big the portions were. Especially compared to Australian portion sizes and made a face accordingly...
I think that Mavis was equally overwhelmed with her meal too...
It was great seeing them both for the short time we did and the girls just fell in love with their Aunty Simon and Uncle Simon (yes, they kept getting it backwards!). They used our car to get around a couple of times and we all went out and about together a couple of times together (thank you mini-van!) too and of those times was to the Greenville markets on Saturday. Main St in Greenville is a very pretty sight and after walking through the markets we headed down to Falls Park.
Falls Park is a lovely developed nature area surrounding the natural falls there. There's miles and miles of walking/biking trails that lead to and from the zoo to downtown where we were. There is also a great suspension bridge that goes over the falls providing a great aspect for photos. There are always a lot of ducks and geese there which the girls just absolutely love.
On the way down along Main Street is some great brick scupltures that the girls just have to climb through everytime. This time Kendall got the sweet spot to pose.
I was supposed to have gone to a conference in Asheville, NC that day and I'm glad I didn't as we had a lovely day all together.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Birthday time!
The occassion? Kendall and Sydney turning three...
Not much to report as the day was spent with just us four (and the doggies too!) and it was nice...
without further ado...
Not much to report as the day was spent with just us four (and the doggies too!) and it was nice...
without further ado...
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