My Aussie kids...

So, I just wouldn't be an Aussie if I didn't introduce my kids to Vegemite. It is the choice of toast covering for my breakfast everyday. As a kid I had 2 slices of toast with Vegemite and a cup of tea. As an adult I have continued but the tea is now coffee.

Mind you I have been known to mix it up with this perennial favourite of mine. For example, I believe that 2 slices of toast, topped with butter and Vegemite, a fried egg for each slice and tomato sauce (ketchup for the yanks amongst us) scares the yukky feeling of a hangover away! (Add a choccy milk and I am in serious blissdom....)

For lunch a cheese and Vegemite sandwich rocks as does a Vegemite and honey sanga for an afternoon snack. Vegemite is a wonderful addition in a gravy and adds flavour beyond compare to a Sao (Aussie savoury biscuit!) or vitaweats to make worms (Aussie thing - too hard to explain!). It's no wonder that I didn't hesitate to introduce my kiddies to the wonderful world of Vegemite.

I am so proud to say that my kiddies love it as much as I do. They pounce on their lunchtime special everyday with gusto and such zest. It tugs my heartstrings!

 It's messy work eating Vegemite...

P.S. I cannot tell you how impressed I am with blogger that they actually have Vegemite in their spellcheck!

Another purchase

We also bought a bean bag today for the girls. Sydney is not so keen on it but Kendall was having a ball in it. Storm kept throwing her into it and she kept reaching out for him to get him to do it again. It was a gigglefest for her.
So cute.....

We have to let out some beans as it really is quite full and the effect that you usally get from landing on a beanbag, well, you just don't get it from this bag. I don't think that the 26+lbs that Kendall is will flatten them out anytime soon so we'll let some out tomorrow (very carefully of course...)

BTW: 13 days AND counting.......

Garage sale finds

Storm and I haven't been garage "saling" since god knows when (definitely since before I fell preggers with the girls) so it was quite a surprise to me when he agreed to go one this morning whilst we were running errands with the girls.

I had been on Craigslist last night (just looking for nothing in particular etc) and had seen a description of a garage sale that sounded interesting. It was close to home and I kinda knew where it was so we just headed up to it rather than heading straight home.

I'm happy with the $15.50 that we spent. Check it out...

This was $10. It's a wine cabinet thingey. Stands about 3 feet tall.

Storm spied these next things the minute we pulled up. A buck a-piece! I put the glass cleaner bottle next to them so that you can get an idea of size. Really happy that I can decorate them for Halloween with creepy crawly stuff (cue spooky muzak) or fall stuff or Christmas stuff. Or just put candles in them even....

(The ones at the back weren't cleaned at time of photo taking time)

I also spied this little beauty. I'm not sure exactly what it was but it's a galvanized chest with leather handles. It has 6 compartments in it and will be perfect for crafting projects. She had $2 on it! I will paint it and use my cricut for lettering. Oh the possibilities!

Now I was lucky that my friend Carole came around to the house today. We decided to head up to my (read oh! so!) favourite store RODWORKS so she could check it out. I had spoken about it often and knew that she would absolutely die for some of the stuff that they have up there. Well she did. The prices are so fantastic so I (of course!) bought stuff. Most of it Halloween items ranging in prices from $1.95 to $3.95. I've stored it in my new crafting box (you can see it in the compartments above! I'll reveal more once it comes to time).

The item that I was after the most had been discounted to $17.00 and I got the second last one ( a lady took the last one whilst I was putting the one that I got onto the counter). I'm so happy with my set of pumpkins that I put them on top of our new wine cabinet thingey.

This is one of the Halloween decorations that I got. I just couldn't resist hanging it up. It's the cutest black, glittery owl perching on a twig. So cute and only $3.95! Love it!

Can't wait for fall now and the decor changes that it will bring. Sigh.....

P.S. Just in case you were counting, the total came up to $15.00 and I told you that we spent $15.50. Well, I also got an Elmo DVD for the girls for 50 cents. Can't forget the girls!

What's bin happenin'?

So, it's been a while since I last posted so I thought that I would give an idea of what the Kulhan Family have been doing. (Cue crickets chirping...no not really). I'm on the laptop and the pics are on the PC so you'll just have to read.

Well, as always our business is a top priority. Kerri has been away enjoying family and friends in Kansas and Candice has been prepping for her first of two sales trips this month (Storm will be joining her on the second in Orlando - I know again? These conference organizers seem to stick to the same places all the time. We used to love going to new places. Come on people try Wyoming or Montana! Never been there.) We're on our way to deadline again and we're well ahead of schedule this time which is nice. We've got the business consultant looking over everything again and we're waiting for her recommendations and Storm continues to come up with brilliant ideas on how to improve processes etc.

We've both been exercising and eating right which is great. We made a conscious decision that we didn't want to be fat parents so we're doing all we can to be healthier, fitter and generally happier with ourselves. Remember "Happy wife, happy life..." I'm just not sure how to extend that to "Happy mummy and daddy, happy life" (just doesn't cut it!).

The weather has been slightly better in the afternoons so the fur-babies have been enjoying some time out of the house as well. The girls are also digging the walks and sitting up at the park on the rug, watching the dogs in the dog park, eating their fruit. They've been sleeping better which is a nice change. I still have to get up a couple of times in the night to attend to Syd (the dummy issue) but my attending is short and it's straight back to bed.

We've tried to get out a lot more lately as well. We've done a lot more errands with the girls in tow. We did go to The Secret Garden and dolphin habitat at the Mirage on the weekend. Talk about a disaster (will show pics and give more details in a later post). But the gist is that Kendall decided to scream her head off the minute we left the air-con of the hotel, all through the things to look at (yes the dolphins freaked her out massively) until we got back into the air-con. Now I'm not sure if it's the heat, the crowds or the animals (or the naptime adjustment that we're still fine tuning) but it just didn't work. I just hope this doesn't happen in Hawaii.

2 WEEKS TO GO!!!!!!!!!! Counting it down with only 15 more sleeps.......

Something new to do!

Well, I've finally joined a Mommy and Me group. I went to the open house today and met up with some of the volunteer moms and was happy with what I saw/heard. I think that the girls will really benefit from being exposed to other kiddies and me? Well, getting out of the house won't hurt me either.

The funny thing is that their membership year goes from Sept. 1st to Aug. 31st and costs $50 for the year - sorry that's not the funny thing! They wanted to charge me $20 for membership from now (Aug. 17th) to Aug. 31st. Apparently, it's in their bylaws that the pro-rated fee is that much. (I didn't say it was funny ha-ha!) 

Now don't get me wrong - I'm not that cheap but it was the principle of the thing. So I paid the $50 for the 2010/2011 membership year and went to visit Kerri since I was kinda, sorta in the neighbourhood.

So, I've also realized that I'm not ready for the girls to go to one nap during the day. At the moment they're moving towards dropping the afternoon nap (unconventional I know!). For some reason they still adore the morning one (me too!) and can sleep sometimes for 2 1/2 hours without a peep! I'll try to see if I can sway them from the 9.30am nap and hold them out until midday/1pm-ish. Perhaps they'll sleep longer and mummy can get some work done ('cause right now my desk looks like several bombs have hit it and things are starting to disappear under the piles, never to be seen again I fear!).

Now I want you to know that I have tried to explain to them that mummy needs her "naptime-time" but right now they're refusing to comprehend what I am saying. (How rude!)

Have I mentioned how anxious I am for autumn (fall for you yanks!)? I need this incessant need for air conditioning to go as my throat is dry and itchy as are my eyes. Today was muggy as we had clouds and almost, I mean almost, got some rain. Well, alright I am exaggerating as all it was that the sun got blocked by some clouds. It got our hopes up though. Oh well, maybe one day (sigh....)

So, I am still having the sleeping issues. However, last night wasn't as bad as the other (I fell asleep after 2am) but fingers crossed I fall asleep faster tonight (Storm has his fingers crossed as I'm turning into a real wenchy during the day!) More coffee please!!!!!!!!!

24 DAYS TO HAWAII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay.

Update on bored and not tired...

FYI - I couldn't sleep until 4-ish this morning. Yes, the last time I looked at the clock was 3.54am. So you can imagine how much fun it was today with Syd waking up early and in a mood and not napping for her morning or afternoon nap. I'm not sure how I can impress to the girls that mummy needs their nap time. I mean really needs it!........

Bored - and not tired

I know - it's late and I should be taking advantage of the fact that the kids are finally sleeping through the night again (ok Syd stirs a couple of times when she can't find her dummy...) and hit the sack. But I can't! I'm just not tired.

Why is it that I can be absolutely exhausted in the morning and throughout the day but when it comes to night, nights I am completely unable to go to sleep at a reasonable time? Storm has been asleep for at least an hour (he watched The Next Food Network Star - Aarti won - YAY! Can't wait to learn from her and her show!) as are the dogs and kiddies. So why not me?

I have just watched a silly movie (Eragon - based on the book that I really enjoyed but the movie was poor) and have now turned over to Cupcake Wars on the food network. (I don't know why I am watching this as I have not allowed anything tasty or sugary past my lips for the past 3 1/2 weeks and I am kinda reaping the benefits but I love the creativity of the cupcake challenges. One of the ones they've done is try and create cupcakes using bizarre ingredients e.g. curry and make it yummy, delicious and visually appealing. Gotta love that!)

Anyway, so I'm bored and have been blog hopping as well as watching the silly movie. Am counting down the days until Hawaii. Cannot wait for the holiday of the year.

So, I'm going to go and start the nightime ritual of removing the makeup and brushing the teeth and hopefully that will help get me in the mood for sleeeeeeppppppp!

Amusing ourselves...

Now keep in mind that keeping two youngsters entertained is a challenge for any mum and I am no different with these two.

I can't take them out shopping. It's struggle to shop with them when I'm by myself as there is only one place here in town (Centennial Walmart) that makes shopping carts with two seats in them and trying to balance a double stroller with one hand and hip and a shopping cart/basket in the other is a feat that I dare anyone to try! It's not a pretty sight as I've discovered only the one time (I'm a fast learner not to do it again!).

I can take them walking in the stroller but it really has been quite hot here still and if I'm hot then they must be boiling! (Also I feel bad to leave the house on foot if I'm not taking the dogs with me. They really suffer in the summer months as the timing between waking up-feeding the girls-and walking has become so tight that it's just too hot to take them out. I mean we could drive up there but it's still stinking and I know that they wouldn't mind at all but how fair is it to exercise in a fur jacket? The panting afterwards goes on for hours so it's just not right!)

I could take them to a mall and just window shop. Well, I am on a self imposed shopping 12-step program right now and needless to say I have always found the concept of looking at things that you don't plan to buy or have an interest in (say comparing it to something else you plan to purchase later on etc) is pointless. I know, I am hard core!

Another suggestion is that I take them to the Gymboree plan and learn sessions. The issue with that is that it's quite hard to remain "in a hug's reach" of my kid when both of them are going in different directions. Can't really comply with their rules.

As for a trip to the museum etc - well they're not really interested in that just yet and want to touch everything and/or put it in their mouth.

So, what am I left with? Now remember, Storm is working so I am trying to think of ways to entertain them.

Tried and tested #1 - BUBBLES!!!!

Gymboree makes the best bubble solution. I hate to think about what is actually in it (the bubbles can last for 1 1/2 days if left alone!) but it keeps them amused for at least 15 minutes!

#2 - PAPER!
My shopping addiction has a plus side and that is that apart from my lovely purchases (sob!) we get packing paper and boxes to play in. It's amazing how one long sheet of paper can take up a half hour of their time easy.

#3 - SAND!!
The Galvins gave us their red crab sand pit and once it was filled it was all go for the girls. It's not going over as well as I would have liked. (Kendall isn't going to be a tomboy I think - perhaps a little prissy? I don't know you look at the picture). I'm going to keep trying to sway their opinions as Syd enjoyed it (the comb-over hair is unforgivable - blame her dad for that do!) and they'll get their fair share when we go to Hawaii (5 1/2 weeks and counting....)

and last one - #4 -Open the door and let them look outside!

 As they get older I have to think of more things...perhaps I'll trawl the blogs and see what others are doing!

Brushing, brushing, brushing

With the new toothy pegs that the girls have, comes a new responsibility - brushing them and keeping them clean.

Luckily, they are actually enjoying me taking the brush and brushing their top and bottom pearly whites (who knows how long it will last?) and enjoy trying to mimic the action themselves.

So much fun!

I swear, Kendall is so laid back sometimes she would fall backwards given half the chance...

Here it comes....

Look at that graze!

With Sydney trying to stand at every turn it's inevitable that we're going to have some injuries and last night was the first - of what I imagine - will be many bumps, bruises and scrapes.

Luckily I had bought some ice packs but she wouldn't let me place it on her face. I thought she was going to have a shiner as well but luckily this morning it is not so. I am just so happy that she didn't get her eye. I don't want to be a "hover mum" as she needs to learn herself but how do you stop yourself when she could do herself harm at every step?

Either way, she cried for about 5 minutes and then after her last bottle settled down to enjoy sucking on the bottle cap.

 At least I have one child who is still staying on the ground/couch. I don't think I could handle two children having accidents on a daily basis...