Newness

Frank (3 years and 7 months)

Arthur (2 years and almost 1 month)

Frank sang to a visiting stick insect and it danced and danced.

Arf's new best friend, Bruiser.

Bruiser: "Arf!"

Arf hiding in Bruiser's kennel.

Frank cuddles Brooke Baker (9 months already)

Frank and Bruiser hide from Arf.

New rock-chick Mum.

The back yard as it stands. Waterlogged. Big changes afoot....

Three weeks into the 'monsoon' and we automatically don our gumboots to go outside, all have super-curly hair, and the poor backyard is more of a swamp. Sigh. Big changes ahead though with the building of a sleep-out where the shed currently floats. Dougal, Pappy and various buddies are chomping at the bit to get started so fingers crossed the rain stops by Wednesday. Lani, we may be calling on you for another Sun Dance.

As you can see, Bruiser arrived, Aunty Emily! Both the boys love Arthur's birthday present from you and Jeremy and he's now part of the family. Frank wrestles and tackles him; Arfa cuddles and kisses him. The box has been fantastic too, as boxes always are.

More cousins...

For anyone who isn't family in the related sense, it must get a bit confusing with all these photos and mentions of cousins etc. It's a big family to keep track of - but don't worry, there's no exam at the end of all this.

It's been two weeks of miserable weather, school/kindy holidays, chesty coughs, runny noses and nightmares about 'Mum watching Thomas the Tank Engine.' In saying that, we've had some good catch ups with friends (at their places, crafty huh?) and then the sun finally came out today for our reunion with cousin Catherine and Ed who are over from Cape Cod. Delicious vegan food, kids let loose with the hose, crazy photo line ups, and lots of beautiful smiles. Family, yay!!!!

Two attempts at the photo - is Lily trying to moon us?

Catherine!

Arf, Phoebe and Frank planning something.

In the bambushes...