Thursday, December 3, 2009
It's Cherry Time
It's cherry season here in Victoria which means one thing. A trip to Red Hill to pick some cherries. The weather was great last weekend for cherry picking, the cherries where only $8 kg and there wasn't anyone there. What else could we have asked for.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Backapakka
It's been a while since I've had the inspiration to blog. We probably haven't been doing much that's noteworthy. The end of daylight savings and the onset of some "wtf is it winter already?" cold weather has brought on the end of our park BBQ outings. But... we've discovered the baby backpack. We've been toying with the idea for a while because we're supposed to be heading to Thailand/Vietnam/Malaysia mid year. If you've ever been to Bangkok, a pram/stroller ain't gunna cut it going up and down stairs to navigate the overpases over the tuk-tuk filled roads. That and little man chucks a spaz when he has to sit in the pram anyway.
So the baby backpack... we tried it out a couple of times and TJ was not impressed but we bit the bullet and bought one anyway hoping he'd get used to it. It didn't take long. Which is fantastic because I was really struggling carrying him everywhere (although it has resulted in some fairly impressive biceps for someone who is as naturally scrawny as I am). So this means we can actually go places - places no little man has gone before. Well maybe not quite, but it is really going to open up some options for us over winter (as long as it's not wet). Bananas is planning to get us some maps of the Dandenongs so we can figure out some short hikes - short enough to fit in some scones from Miss Marples on the way home that is :)
So the baby backpack... we tried it out a couple of times and TJ was not impressed but we bit the bullet and bought one anyway hoping he'd get used to it. It didn't take long. Which is fantastic because I was really struggling carrying him everywhere (although it has resulted in some fairly impressive biceps for someone who is as naturally scrawny as I am). So this means we can actually go places - places no little man has gone before. Well maybe not quite, but it is really going to open up some options for us over winter (as long as it's not wet). Bananas is planning to get us some maps of the Dandenongs so we can figure out some short hikes - short enough to fit in some scones from Miss Marples on the way home that is :)
Monday, February 16, 2009
First Birthday
For the last couple of months I have been very busy organising Baby T's first birthday. A very exciting time for both Bananas and I but also a sad time. Don't believe how fast he is growing and wish that he will stay this young longer.
The party is now over and we have been eating leftover for the last couple of days. A fantastic turn out. The last time that I counted there was 80 people and all packed into my parents backyard. The theme was rubber duckies and here are some photos that I would like to share.
The party is now over and we have been eating leftover for the last couple of days. A fantastic turn out. The last time that I counted there was 80 people and all packed into my parents backyard. The theme was rubber duckies and here are some photos that I would like to share.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
First Christmas with the little manhhhhhhhhh
We love the holiday season. It's always good to wind down towards the end of year, fatten up on BBQ meat, seafood and pudding and drink lots of booze. This year we managed to maintain the tradition while still getting little man at a reasonable hour to sleep most nights.
To save ourselves driving over town on Christmas day this year we decided to host Xmas lunch. This also gave us the option to invite both sets of parents over. This can be frought with danger, but luckily we managed to round up some friends to come eat big bird with us as well to dilute the awkwardness that can sometimes arise when mixing parents. Feeding 17 people + toddlers meant our poor little oven needed help so we cooked the bird in our BBQ (one of those hooded ones). Was a fair bit of work but all in all everyone got fed and the turkey actually turned out pretty well for a first attempt, if I do say so myself.
Not alot of time on the day to do much but cook and eat, but had a bit of a break from work after that and had a really good chance to reflect on what an awesome year we've had. And it seriously was an awesome year. Our genes incarnate are starting to grow into an actual small person and learning to walk. He's even developing his own personality and starting to figure out things like he loves ice cream. Alot. He's also figured out that he doesn't like it when there's none left. I know he's not supposed to eat ice cream yet but what the heck, it's Christmas, and we were eating lots of stuff we probably shouldn't either. Meh. In any case, I think his favourite part of Christmas was all the lights. We've had lots of quality time with family and friends (even though we probably haven't actually seen as much of most of our friends as we have in previous years) and it's just been one of the periods of our lives that I am truly grateful for.
After this one, the next year has much to live up to. Just wish they's stop going by so quickly...
Baby TJ opening his Christmas presents.
Tike from Mummy and Daddy.
To save ourselves driving over town on Christmas day this year we decided to host Xmas lunch. This also gave us the option to invite both sets of parents over. This can be frought with danger, but luckily we managed to round up some friends to come eat big bird with us as well to dilute the awkwardness that can sometimes arise when mixing parents. Feeding 17 people + toddlers meant our poor little oven needed help so we cooked the bird in our BBQ (one of those hooded ones). Was a fair bit of work but all in all everyone got fed and the turkey actually turned out pretty well for a first attempt, if I do say so myself.
Not alot of time on the day to do much but cook and eat, but had a bit of a break from work after that and had a really good chance to reflect on what an awesome year we've had. And it seriously was an awesome year. Our genes incarnate are starting to grow into an actual small person and learning to walk. He's even developing his own personality and starting to figure out things like he loves ice cream. Alot. He's also figured out that he doesn't like it when there's none left. I know he's not supposed to eat ice cream yet but what the heck, it's Christmas, and we were eating lots of stuff we probably shouldn't either. Meh. In any case, I think his favourite part of Christmas was all the lights. We've had lots of quality time with family and friends (even though we probably haven't actually seen as much of most of our friends as we have in previous years) and it's just been one of the periods of our lives that I am truly grateful for.
After this one, the next year has much to live up to. Just wish they's stop going by so quickly...
Baby TJ opening his Christmas presents.
Tike from Mummy and Daddy.
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Love Boat
I didn't have the chance to finish my last post about the wedding day. The ceremony was a beautiful one held in a lovely church in Cliffton Hill followed by a reception dinner on a boat cruising the yarra river and out to the bay. The night was beautiful and peaceful. Here are a few photos of the lovely night.
A photos of the wedding car and a picture of the flowergirl dress and the ring pillow that I made. A couple of nights of hard work but I was so happy with myself. Doesn't she look cute.
Chocolate mud cake topped with sugar flowers and feathers.
The dinner table decorated with candles and flowers. Guest where given hand made soap from our onono range. The soaps where wrapped the night before the wedding.
Two Chinese lions visited the boat and entertained the guest with a lion dance before the boat sailed. Good Luck for both the bride and groom.
A photos of the wedding car and a picture of the flowergirl dress and the ring pillow that I made. A couple of nights of hard work but I was so happy with myself. Doesn't she look cute.
Chocolate mud cake topped with sugar flowers and feathers.
The dinner table decorated with candles and flowers. Guest where given hand made soap from our onono range. The soaps where wrapped the night before the wedding.
Two Chinese lions visited the boat and entertained the guest with a lion dance before the boat sailed. Good Luck for both the bride and groom.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Finally a wedding
Two of our closest friends recently got married after 14 years of being together. They meet back in high school and have been together ever since. The last couple out of my close group of girlfriends to finally get married so ofcourse we had to go out with a bang....two hens functions, two wedding functions and a BBQ thrown in.
Function 1 - Hens:
Us girls spent a day down at the Mornington Peninsula. Starting with a quick breakfast at our place before heading to the Red Hill craft/farmers market where we brought loads of yummy olives. We then headed to the Peninsula Hot Springs where we sent the rest of our day. A hens package was organised for us, first relaxing in their hot mineral pools follow by a healthy lunch (too healthy for me) and then finishing off with a massage in their Arabian Marquee. A beautiful day out with the girls.
Function 2 - Hens dinner:
Ten girls headed to the The Italian in the city. A beautiful restaurant that has moved from their previous location off Malthouse lane to their current location 101 Collins Street. We decided that a quiet, intimate dinner with some hens games is what we wanted rather than heading to a loud bar with a stripper (we've had quite a few of those hens in the past). A three course dinner, some hens games, a funky t-shirt for the bride and finishing off with a few glasses of wine at the Supper Club. A late night for all the girls especially since most of us have kids under two.
Function 3 - Vietnamese Tea Ceremony
I was asked to wear the Vietnamese traditional dress for the Vietnamese tea ceremony which was held two weeks before the church and reception. A tea ceremony which is the Vietnamese wedding is the tradition of sealing the deal. Once the transaction has taken place (including handing the dowry over), the bride is owned by the husband's family. She is taken back to the groom's house to cook and clean etc. Modern Vietnamese women conveniently like to forget this part of tradition. Oh by the way in case you didn't realise, this is Eggs - Bananas asked me to finish her tea ceremony blog. As usual, you can only tell a man either what to do or how to do it, but not both. I'm not making this stuff up though. Asian people, ask your grandparents.
Function 1 - Hens:
Us girls spent a day down at the Mornington Peninsula. Starting with a quick breakfast at our place before heading to the Red Hill craft/farmers market where we brought loads of yummy olives. We then headed to the Peninsula Hot Springs where we sent the rest of our day. A hens package was organised for us, first relaxing in their hot mineral pools follow by a healthy lunch (too healthy for me) and then finishing off with a massage in their Arabian Marquee. A beautiful day out with the girls.
Function 2 - Hens dinner:
Ten girls headed to the The Italian in the city. A beautiful restaurant that has moved from their previous location off Malthouse lane to their current location 101 Collins Street. We decided that a quiet, intimate dinner with some hens games is what we wanted rather than heading to a loud bar with a stripper (we've had quite a few of those hens in the past). A three course dinner, some hens games, a funky t-shirt for the bride and finishing off with a few glasses of wine at the Supper Club. A late night for all the girls especially since most of us have kids under two.
Function 3 - Vietnamese Tea Ceremony
I was asked to wear the Vietnamese traditional dress for the Vietnamese tea ceremony which was held two weeks before the church and reception. A tea ceremony which is the Vietnamese wedding is the tradition of sealing the deal. Once the transaction has taken place (including handing the dowry over), the bride is owned by the husband's family. She is taken back to the groom's house to cook and clean etc. Modern Vietnamese women conveniently like to forget this part of tradition. Oh by the way in case you didn't realise, this is Eggs - Bananas asked me to finish her tea ceremony blog. As usual, you can only tell a man either what to do or how to do it, but not both. I'm not making this stuff up though. Asian people, ask your grandparents.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Busy Busy Busy
Yes, it has been quite a while since eggs and I have updated this blog. We've been extremely busy. I'm back at work and have been for over a month now. After eight months being at home I was getting use to it and find it hard pulling myself out of bed in the morning to put on my suit especially since I'm doing full time hours over four days which means I'm up at 5.30am getting ready to head into the office. I rather be home with Baby TJ and I miss him heaps. Can't wait to get home everyday and feel like I'm missing so much.
Did I mention that we have been very busy? We'll, we had a family trip to Adelaide to visit my sister, we've had a wedding actually two wedding functions for one wonderful couple (who finally got married) as well as two hens functions (any excuse to get out and about with the girls), two 1st birthdays and a 4th, I'm also doing cake decorating classes on the Thursday night and I even had my 31st birthday in between and much more. I'll post up some photos but will start with our trip to Adelaide.
Baby TJ had his first flight on an airplane. I was a bit nervous about flying with a baby. Eggs and I have been on many overseas trips where we've heard screaming babies. Back then when we didn't have any kids ourselves and didn't understand, we hated being on a plane with a baby. The screaming drove us crazy. Even before I got onto the plane and sat down I can imagine what people where thinking..Baby TJ surprised us both and didn't even cry once (so proud of the little man). He was too busy checking things out and loved the plane.
We visited many wineries in the Barosa Valley. One of the famous wine regions in South Australia. Home of some of the best wineries e.g. Penfolds, Wolf Blass. We went to visit Hahndorf which is a small town about 30 minutes outside of Adelaide. The town has German influences with German architecture, original surviving buildings and many restaurants serving Geman cuisine. A weekend wasn't long enough but hopefully we'll be back for Christmas.
Did I mention that we have been very busy? We'll, we had a family trip to Adelaide to visit my sister, we've had a wedding actually two wedding functions for one wonderful couple (who finally got married) as well as two hens functions (any excuse to get out and about with the girls), two 1st birthdays and a 4th, I'm also doing cake decorating classes on the Thursday night and I even had my 31st birthday in between and much more. I'll post up some photos but will start with our trip to Adelaide.
Baby TJ had his first flight on an airplane. I was a bit nervous about flying with a baby. Eggs and I have been on many overseas trips where we've heard screaming babies. Back then when we didn't have any kids ourselves and didn't understand, we hated being on a plane with a baby. The screaming drove us crazy. Even before I got onto the plane and sat down I can imagine what people where thinking..Baby TJ surprised us both and didn't even cry once (so proud of the little man). He was too busy checking things out and loved the plane.
We visited many wineries in the Barosa Valley. One of the famous wine regions in South Australia. Home of some of the best wineries e.g. Penfolds, Wolf Blass. We went to visit Hahndorf which is a small town about 30 minutes outside of Adelaide. The town has German influences with German architecture, original surviving buildings and many restaurants serving Geman cuisine. A weekend wasn't long enough but hopefully we'll be back for Christmas.
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