Now he really is a Big Boy

Aidan started school this week... he was so excited. We had driven past his new school, Driver Primary, on a number of occasions and he was overjoyed to finally walk into a classroom... and his teachers are Mrs Edgecombe and Ms Minoa.

After a long January of settling into live in the Top End I think both Aidan and I were relieved that the first day of school finally arrived... so much so that there were no tears, just a short "Bye Mum" after he sat down to do puzzles. So Joshie and I left and went to Playgroup out at Robertson Barracks...

Cane Toad Horror!!!

OHHH the DRAMA.....

IT RAN AFTER ME... IT REALLY DID CHASE ME!!! AND... I discovered I CAN SCREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We found this HUGE Cane Toad swimming in the Pool this morning.... And it simply had to go....

I had been told (by a very reliable source!!) that DETTOL KILLS CANE TOADS ... well that is true for small 'baby' cane toads but not this wopper!!!

Justin fished the blasted thing out by using a bucket... but it jumped out so I poored dettol on its back, and then it turned around and CHASED ME!!!! And I screamed.... Joshie screamed... and Ella tried to catch it... I was trying to run away, Joshie was trying to hide behind me, the cane toad kept coming for me... it was terrifying.....

Anyway... Dettol didn't work... But the Cricket Bat did... Justin wollopped it on the head, and then I did one for good measure... and then Justin picked it up with the Dogs POO tongs.... and put it in this plastic bag...

They are trully revolting.... Aidan is now practicing for the next Cane Toad....

So..... I hate Cane Toads even more now... Aidan is keenly awaiting the next one... and Justin just wishes he a video camera in his hands at the time... we would be $rich... after winning funniest home videos in 2008!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Aidan

Today was Aidan's long awaited 4th Birthday... he has been waiting for it since Christmas... and asking about it everyday...

He was stoked...For his Birthday Aidan recieved a new life jacket to go out on the boat and his long awaited and eagerly anticipated new bike .....



We were going to go out on the boat; but after some motor malfunctions we had to take a raincheck. So Uncle Andrew and Uncle John came over for lunch, a swim and to watch the cricket.

I made Aidan this chocolate cake... he absolutely loved the Dinosaur candles (I found them in a Newsagency when we were visiting Mum and Dad over Christmas...)

So now my little baby is quickly becoming a little boy... off to Preschool in a week (oh where have these last 4 years gone.... ???)

Happy 4th Birthday Aidan..... we hope you had a good day

Slowly getting back into my Scrapbooking... after more than a month with all my stash packed away whilst we moved I have been a little slow at getting into the groove again..... and it isn't due to a lack of photo's... Catching up with the Scrapbooking scene on the internet, enjoying the balmy nights here in Darwin, and being busy with little time to spare has left few chances to scrap... but I vow to get more into it.

What I have scrapped of late is the Enchanted Scrapbooking January Packs: Handsome Prince and Mushroom Magic. Great little packs.

And I have done the first Penny-wise Challenge of 2008

What a Clever Cheeky Monkey!!!

After learning to ride a bike (with no brakes) at Nan & Pops at Christmas... we knew it would not be long until Joshie got the gist of how the back pedal brake system worked... and the day before he is set to inherit Aidan's relatively brand new bike... he GOT IT.... !!! After a few failed attempts, suddenly he realised what needed to be done in order to continue on his journey and he was gone....

So on the eve of Aidan's 4th Birthday Joshie, my little baby... who is not yet 2, has a new bike 'Big Boy Bike' !!!!

Now we all wait and see what Aidan gets for his Birthday from the "Birthday Fairies"

So glad that we scored a house with a pool...................

Swimming has quickly become the favoured past-time and a daily ritual... once in the morning and again in the afternoon.... (too hot during the day) The boys absolutely love it and I have done more swimming in the past 2 weeks than the past 10 years... so I am enjoying it also....... the water tempreture is just perfect...however some afternoons it is more like a warm bath and then it is nicer jumping in, getting wet and sitting under the patio area...

We have had the joy of finding ONE disgusting Cane Toad in the pool... Aidan was all excited thinking he'd be swimming with a Frog... we fished it out and bagged it until he cooked.... they are just revolting...

Hi from the TOP END!!!

We travelled to Darwin and arrived the early hours of NYE.. just in time to start the NEW Year in Darwin...

It was warm, humid and Im loving it...

The boys were wonderful on the plane and we managed to get 6 seats between us. Justin looked after our Heffalump Joshie and I looked after our Porkchoppy Aidan.. The boys slept and the flight went quickly.

We spent the first few days playing tourist... we went ot Aquascene and Crocodylus Park.. we were scheduled to move into our new house on the 4th Jan... but they lost the confirmation from DHA or something... and then they 'convienently' blamed Cyclone Helen... One week in Darwin and we have our first Cyclone... it is never dull being a Voute!!!

Cyclone Helen was a category 2 and despite the fallen trees all over Darwin I didn't think it was anything worse than a bad storm in winter in Port Kennedy. However saying that.. outside our Hotel in Darwin 4 massive trees were all uprooted...




Finally on the 9th Jan we moved into our new house...and finally got the internet on the other day. The boys are happy, they have a pool and all their toys back... and it is funny how you feel more comfortable when you have your 'stuff' with you.

AND..... Our House in the TOP END

This is the house that we chose over the internet all those months ago and thankfully it is very nice. Smaller than our house back in Port Kennedy but now that we are all moved in we realise all that 'extra' space was unneccessary. It is comfortable, we love the layout and it has a great pool. So we are happy and have settled surprisingly fast.

Oh and the weather is fabulous.....