Family Photos

Last week I booked my birthday present, we are getting professional family photos taken. I found Eaton Photography advertising in Sydney Child. We are having photos taken at Oatley Park in March. Michelle and Troy had their professional wedding photos taken there in July 09, it is a stunning park with ample photo opportunities. In the meantime I will continue to take photos of the girls. Here are some favourites that I have taken this week. I love capturing the 'sisterly' moments when Sophie is affection towards Natalie. I also love the unconventional photo of Sophie, I love the angle and how captivating her eyes are.

Pampered Mummy

Stephen and the girls treated me to a Christmas gift voucher to EB Medispa Beauty Fitness. After making sure there was a day's supply of expressed milk, the appointment was for an hour, I prepared to leave the house without baby Natalie. I tried in vain to get her to sleep before leaving, there was no success. She was however content in her bouncer. I reminded Steve of all the baby distraction devices we have sprawled around our lounge room. Thank fully he was very understanding and didn't seem to mind that I was acting as if he had never cared for a baby before. I was extremely anxious for him because we have had more bottle failures than successes.

I arrived at my appointment 30 minutes early. They agreed to start early. I was relived to know I would be back home at least half an hour earlier. My appointment was for a Aromatherapy Facial in which they promised to regain my equilibrium with a signature back massage using essential oils. I had to hold back my excitement when they handed me an organza bag for my jewelery and stated that it was mine to keep. I then settled down for some equilibrium pampering for the next 60 minutes. During this time my skin was diagnosed dry, hundreds of creams and lotions were applied and washed off, my nose was prodded and poked, and I thought of the girls a million times and silently wished they were not screaming and reducing their father to a quivering mess (they have the potential, I am certain) - oh, and I r-e-l-a-x-e-d! Near the end I was offered an 'add on' hydration treatment for my dry skin for a small additional cost ($59), I declined.

It was a beautiful gift and I did enjoy it. I am sure as Natalie becomes less dependent on me I will be able to relax more and simply enjoy pampering time. I am looking forward to the next school holidays and hope that M and I can resume our holiday massage at Absolute Essential Beauty . I always feel like every dollar spent there is completely worth it. I wonder what my therapist at Eb beauty did with the extra 15 minutes of my appointment that I didn't receive.

I was home in record time and was relieved to see Natalie asleep in her swing and Stephen relaxing on the couch after doing the dishes and hanging out the washing. Now I'll finish off my 'me time' with some delicious 'Weis' Macadamia chunks with Mango and Cream' icecream!

Ah, Bugger!

Yesterday Sophie exclaimed "Ah, Bugger" when she dropped a toy...these two words were continually used yesterday in response to accidents, spills and dropped toys. It was very amusing because it reminded me of the Toyota 'Bugger' dog. I am extremely thankful that that I say 'ah, bugger', it is better then correcting her at the shops if she called out #@%&..."where's the truck honey?" What little sponges our beautiful girls are =)

My School Website

The Australian Government My School website was launched yesterday. I was keen to get online and see what all the fuss was about.

The Government has created the website as a tool for parents to compare schools that are deemed to be statistically similar. Initially I was skeptical and concerned and thought about the issues I have with the site from a teacher's point of view. However, I am currently a full time parent so that is the hat I am adopting today.

As a parent, I do find the website helpful. The tables are easy to follow and allow you to compare the local schools in your area. Most parents that I speak to consider their child's educational options and needs from a very young age. Some people have placed their child's name on waiting lessons before they can even write an actual birth date. Steve and I are completely confused which of the local schools would be best for our daughters, we are open to all options whether private, Catholic or public. We simply want to send our daughters to a 'good' school. At least now we can look at basic Naplan results to help us with our decision.

I don't think the media gives enough credit to parents. Parents surely realise this is only one tool and over time the site will provide more information, for instance the progress of cohorts of children as they progress through the years. I think this could be a step in the right direction for National testing and curriculum development.

Don't doubt the Gs!

Sorry guys, I guess I just can't trick you! My hat goes off to you both xxx

Challenge #2

I decided to have another crack at trying to trick K & D. They are better at picking the girls in photos then what we are! This is also a chance for M to redeem herself.

Sophie - The Dancing Princess

Sophie had her second dancing lesson yesterday. She loved every minute. We began last week but she was a little unsure and I didn't know if we would continue attending. I am so glad that we went back for another attempt.

She was excited all day about 'fairy dancing with Bella'. In fact she was dancing in the lounge room in the morning and fell face first into a wall! (perhaps she has inherited my dancing abilities). My poor little girl (and I) experienced the first bloody fat lip. She has some cuts inside her lip and even this morning I declare the wall the winner of the altercation.

Isabella and Sophie are attending baby lessons at Synergy Fitness Studio. The teachers, Sarah & Emma, have done a great job of making the lessons fun. The promised lolly pops handed out at the end of the lesson has already burned into Sophie's memory with her asking for one on the drive to her second lesson!

We are looking forward to next week's lesson and will go hunting for some pink tights and jiffies to complete her black leotard uniform.

My husband, My Life.

For the past 11 and a bit years I have had an ally.

I met Stephen when he was an 18 year old pizza delivery boy. His hair was long and his conversations were not. I came to learn that his quietness was not disinterest and that he was mature beyond his years. We had a difficult couple of years to begin with, I was 16 and unable to socialise a lot outside of work. He was studying to be a software engineer and I was studying for my HSC. I have never regretted meeting him early in life. I believe that many of my successes in life are due to his support and encouragement. He was the one to encourage me to apply for uni. He always had faith in my abilities even when others around me didn't. I know that my present life would be completely different without him.

I am proud of everything that he has accomplished as well. He is hardworking, honest, reliable and loving. He is the best father and husband I could ever have imagined. Yes, we have our disagreements but we have never spent an angry night apart and we always try our best to understand where the other one is coming from.

He IS my one and only and I look forward to sharing the rest of our lifetime together.

It is a shame that he won't read this post, he has already informed me that blogging is crap :)

Sisters

It may just be me but I think the girls look VERY similar. I will have to ensure that all baby photos are labeled carefully! Can you guess who is who?

Beginnings...

I created this blog a long time ago, choosing the name "Mitty Moo's View" with the intention of writing witty things that Sophie Moo has said and done during the days as a stay at home mum and part-time teacher. I knew that I would have at least one faithful follower, (thanks Chelle!).

I discovered the joys of family life blogs thanks to the clever and effervescent Cathy. Cathy is mum to three beautiful boys and she always has a story on the ready that is bound to get laughs. Unfortunately the little ones have kept her away from her blog, which is very understandable!

I have called this post beginnings, because I have decided to start afresh...

1. I have renamed my blog to the more suitable 'Princesses in Tow'. My two beautiful girls are my daily sunshine. Although I do wonder if "Mummy in tow" would be more appropriate...

2. I have decided that since my MIL does mean her best and truly loves the girls that I will attempt to ease up on her a little. Keep an eye out for a post on Wednesday to see if this new resolution is abandoned.

3. I am going to begin the mammoth task over the next week or so of going through my wardrobe. Maybe if I put my pre-pregnancy clothes away for a while I will avoid the 'poor me' whines!

4. We are beginning potty training with Mitty Moo. A very exciting and oh so unpredictable venture.

I could continue my list of things I would like to begin, but as many of you know - if you take on too many projects at once, something is bound to fail..I am thinking # 2 :)