Last Weekend with G & G

On Friday I took Ellis to school and then I came home and tired Rowan out - first laundry (he runs around and throws the pegs under the fence), then swimming (it was nice and chilly - so he has to expend energy to keep warm), then lunch. I knew I had won when he fell asleep in his chair! I transfered him to bed and then did taxes all afternoon long. He slept for almost 4 hours!

G & G got back from their trip and we got Nandos for dinner. G & G had fun on their mini break - they got to go out and have leisurely dinners without having to say "get back in your chair Ellis." every minute. They walked through miles of rainforest as well - only drawback was the leeches and bloody socks...

On Saturday we decided to go to New Farm Market - so we took the city cat. Market was good, but we didn't buy much - ate some bad food (tasty but bad for you that is), wandered around New Farm and then headed home. Ellis slept the entire way and later on he asked me in a puzzled voice "Did we take the city cat home?"

Note picture above of Rowan and stick taken at New Farm Park. Rowan's favourite activity is throwing - sticks, rocks you name it. I have now started taking a ball to the park so that he throws that instead. He can also reach the top drawer in our bathroom and can open all the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen. I remember when Ellis started doing this and I freaked out and got Cyp to put safety locks on everything. Can't do that here and I don't think it really matters. Rowan is pretty good at shuffling the wine bottles around - I get a little anxious when he's moving the rum around, but so far so good.

We had planned on a picnic with Tanya and family. G. Doreen had expressed an interest in testing out the public barbecues - this interest seemed to dwindle a bit after we experienced the ineffective barbecues on our trip and also when she saw the barbecues at New Farm Park - essentially giant frying pans. We watched one group barbecue their snags (Aussie for sausages). They poured on one bottle of cooking oil, turned on the frying surface and then added their snags. Didn't look too appetizing.

There were also storm clouds a brewing. So at 2:30 I phoned Tanya to make contingency plans. Her husband Keith answered the phone and before she could probably stop him, he had offered up their house. Yay! We carted the snags over there and had a great dinner. I think mom and dad had a good time. The kids were saints - got along and didn't fight once. Tanya and Keith have a great yard - there always seems to be an abundance of birds and as dusk descends - bats. At one point, we could almost touch a bat that was hanging in a tree about a metre from their porch. These bats (or flying foxes as they are called) are large bats and if it weren't for the creepy wings, would be quite cute.

Rowan also liked their house as it appears to be on a bit of a flight path and planes are another of his favourites - Ehh?! He says as he points to the sky. If he's sad - just take him out on the porch.

Dad and Keith got along great - both being geologists - the kids seemed to entertain each other a bit so we could enjoy dinner. It was nice.