The munchkins

Thought I'd do an update on the kids. Chelsea is now 3 and Byron is coming up to his 2nd birthday. Both are still off the growth charts for height and weight... (doesn't help that both Mark and I are huge! 6' 5" and 5' 11" respectively)... so I think these kids are going to be on the tall side of things! 

We've been trying to think of an outdoor play activity for them that didn't offer an opportunity to fall and break an arm (thank you trampoline of 2011) , or that would just result in ramming sessions and massive fights (like the ride on cars). 

A sandpit came up in our brainstorming, but neither Mark nor I were sure we wanted to deal with sand all over the lawn and inevitably all through the house. But sentiment won us over... after all, what is a childhood without a sandpit to bury mum's Tupperware in! 

Needless to say, the kids approved! And we've only had a handful of 'sand in our bed' incidents so far! 

(Plus, it keeps them busy making messes outside, while we're busy making messes inside cutting rolls of fur!)

We're in a pretty good routine now though. Byron and Chels go to kindy together three days a week - which become our full on work days (trying to cram 5-days worth of tasks into 3 is a challenge, but a rewarding one at that). On their off days, we try to do something fun as a family. One thursday recently, we decided to visit the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in the city.

(We don't often venture 'into the city', firstly - because parking is a pain in the ass. And secondly - because trying to keep two excitable toddlers from running off and never being seen again tends to detract from whatever fun activity was originally planned... on this occasion we were both feeling optimistic that we could handle the munchkins, so we just packed them up and did it!)

This was one of the first exhibitions we came across. A HUGE wall made up entirely of handmade toys. There were some quirky little creatures in there! I did feel a bit sad that they were strung up behind glass and not being played with by a child somewhere though... 

Chelsea found a stamping station with all different symbols/letters.

This was the top floor, looking down on a ceiling of truck inner-tubes stuck inside each other... the effect from the ground floor was quite impressive... should have thought to take a photo from down there! lol 

These were wall-mounted cleaning things... like the kind you find in car washes. I'm not sure how this was art... but it grabbed Byron's attention. The intensity of the wind coming off them as they spun around was a unexpected. 

I just really liked this sculpture. Like scooters have come to life, and are mimicking real animals... the movement in this still-art was beautifully achieved!  

And I don't think this one needs a caption really... Byron chose to look away! lol 

After we had spent a reasonably incident-free, tantrum-minimising morning at the art gallery, we walked over to the Brisbane Wheel  - a huge Ferris wheel contraption set up in the middle of the tourist area. The last time we rode the wheel, Chelsea was about 7 months old. She loved it then and she loved it now. This girl has no fear! 

So all in all, it has been a bit of an adjustment working out how our lives now fit around running a business from home, but a few months in and things seem pretty settled. Next year the kids will do kindy 4 days a week so that we can have more 'business hours' time to get the tasks done that are currently being done after the kids go to bed... It will be interesting to reflect on how our lives have changed this time in 2013. 

You'll have to stay tuned for that post! :)