Happy New Year

Toni and I are saying Goodbye to 2008. Hold your Margarita up for 2009!

A Garden Bed

When I came home from a stressful day of work in the last week of term the boys had built this beautiful planter box. Stu got some Bunnings vouchers for Christmas so when I came home from grocery shopping today the boys had planted this beautiful garden. Although it isn't the roses that I ordered, the grass is drought tolerant and has a modern look. I love it!

Stu had to ask if it was 'blog worthy?'

Gardening in cream coloured pants and dropping a trailer full of top soil on your big toe - that's blog worthy!

Christmas in Bemboka

After a big roast lunch and a nap we cooled off in the Bemboka River.

The water was beautiful.

Uncle Dan found a turtle which Jack loved.

And of course the bike came too.

Big Splash

Jack and I went to Big Splash today - just because we could. We LOVE summer holidays!

Christmas Chooks

Here is Jack feeding his Chooks that Nan & Pop gave him for Christmas. The chooks have been fed at least 5 times already today and it's only 12 o'clock!

Web Album

Xmas day 08

A Motbey Christmas

Molly has had a lovely first Christmas and some wonderful news that she will soon be a big sister!

Aunty Rach bought Jack the quad bike and it was a winner.

Molly tried out her new swimsuit in the wading pool and this was her first time in a pool.

We had an enormous feast for dinner and a big dessert. There was lovely wines and cheeses all day and we drove home at 9 o'clock with a whole CAR load of pressies. We have all been spoilt! The most fun was when we played pass the parcel and Jack cheered every time the music stopped.

A Duncan Christmas

Jack so amazed when he found what Santa left in the backyard this morning. The fort came with a rock climbing wall, slide, chalk board and rope ladder. I was afraid he wouldn't be ready to climb it on his own but he has been up and down it a hundred times already.


The Duncan boys put on a delicious lunch with all the trimmings. We lit some beautiful candles and made a toast to Grandma.

Jack was completely spoilt and we still haven't seen the Motbey's yet! He must have been a good boy this year?

Lights!

Our annual drive around the streets of Northern Canberra was so much more exciting than it ever has been before. Every time we drove up to a new house Jack's eyes lit up and he exclaimed, 'Lights!' Occasionally when we showed him a house with just a few lights he just said, 'more.'

The most beautiful house we saw was on Amagula Ave, Ngunnawal and this handy map along with the GPS left no room for arguments with the map in the dark.

Jack is really starting to get excited about Christmas!

Memory Box

Jack was so proud of his cookies that when he heard Stu's car in the driveway he ran with the plate of decorated cookies to the door to show his dad. He and Stu both shared a cookie and when Stu went to put them away he demanded that the plate of cookies be put under the Christmas tree. Jack wanted to eat the rest of the cookies for dinner and he completely lost it when we told him that they had to go away until after dinner. He was SO proud of his cookies - how DARE we put them away!

Jack the Chef

The boys made chocolate mousse to take for dessert to Maryanne & Gye's place. They were under instruction to also buy custard for Jack (which they did) but Jack still got a taste of the chocolate because he was helping with the mixing and decided sneak in a taste-test.

He liked it.

He jumps out of bed in the morning

Do you think he likes the new bed?

'BED!' is the last word.

Santa Cat

Jack loved dressing himself and the cat up as Santa.

My independant boy

Suddenly a bed has made him grow up. He is no longer needing 2 day sleeps because he is sleeping 12 hours at night.

My boy is reckless and couragious but he is afraid of the lawn mower. His favourite TV shows are The Night Garden and Lazy Town. He runs fast and climbs the play equipment independantly. He is SO independant and friendly too. He loves to play with other children and says 'bye bye' to all of the checkout ladies and Woolworths. He brings me flowers from the yard and gives us kisses and cuddles.

He is facinated by trucks, trains and buses and although he doesn't talk much he makes a lot of noise. Jack loves his food but he won't eat if there is playing to be done. He likes french toast, spaghetti and juice. He wants to be outside ALL of the time. He loves animals but is wary of big dogs.

Jack is a mummy's boy when he is sick or very tired. He clings on tight when I have been at work too many days in a row. He loves to be rough with his dad and his face lights up when he hears the car coming up the driveway. Every morning we wake up to Jack calling out for 'MA!'

Lately he enjoys showing us he is a 'good boy' by helping out and doing the right things and when he is in trouble he takes himself to Time Out for 2 minutes until he comes out and appologises. He is always dragging us outside to sit and watch him play. He doesn't mind if I take a cuppa so long as he has some company.

I wish these days would last forever.

Fish Bed

The kindness of strangers is always a special surprise and this one was especially nice because it has meant so much to our 'big boy'. Toni from Nan's work handed down her toddler bed to Jack and it fit so nicely in his ocean theme bedroom.

Jack was very excited as his dad put together the fish bed. He tried to help him put it all together. When I was clearing out his bedroom Jack was running from Mum to check on Dad's progress on the bed and back to his room to make sure we were getting things together. He kept saying 'fish bed, fish bed.' When Stu carried the bed into his room he cheered 'hooray' with arms in the air. He was so excited!

We made the bed and he was asleep within 5 mins.

Sometimes I secretly wish he would never grow up.
He isn't a baby anymore.

Merry Christmas Lyneham, Happy Birthday Alex, Merry Christmas Verizon and God Bless Tayliah

December is exhausting. Stuart was home this weekend which made things easier but we just didn't stop. Friday night started it all with the Lyneham Support Unit Christmas Party. On Saturday we went to Alex's 2nd birthday party at Kid City. The party started right on nap time and Jack was too exhausted by the end of it, although he did have a great time.

Today we went to church for Tayliah's christening. Kai was looking great - his mum ran across the carpark with hairspray and conditioner before the baptism. Love those curls!


After lunch Jack was exhausted again. Lovely Jen, is God-mother to beautiful Tayliah and it was so nice that her Solomon family was able to come for the event. Justine and 'nanny' made a delicious lunch and dessert and everyone had a wonderful time.


We had an early bbq dinner at the lake - hosted by Stu for the Verizon Christmas. Jack befriended Gulliver who is 3. Gully took his hand and showed him how to climb the play equipment and paddle in the lake.

Stu did an excellent job cooking and people raved about his delicious food and good choice in venue. Snap.

Swimming

Every week Jack and I go swimming at Kings. Jack is scared of putting his head under water but he is confident as long as his head is above the water!

Below: This is what they call 'water play' - apparently this will help Jack to be less scared of water. Or it's just for the teacher to laugh at?

From Bemboka to the Urban Family Christmas

On Saturday we drove with Nan R to Bemboka to pick out a puppy for Jack. We cheered Great Nan up and helped her out with lunch and dinner because she had her knee operation just 2 weeks ago. It poured with rain but we still managed to hang out with the chooks and have a great time. Poor Uncle Mike got sick on the way home.

Today John & Jules hosted the Urban Family Christmas and everyone bought delicious food and drinks.

Jack loved playing with the other toddlers and they were all so good. Jack thought the crackers were great and the hats that came out when they popped.

Beth, Grace and Jack jumped in the little pool and they had a wonderful time for over an hour.

Jack was the last one out.

As soon as Stu got home from work he opened his present and he couldn't wait to get started using his dutch pancake maker, they were delicious. Thanks Jules!

Santa is stressed.

Jack was such a great boy for his Santa photo today. He was shy at first but boldly sat on Santa's knee after watching other 2 yr olds run away crying. It is amazing to compare to last year's Santa photo. My boy has grown so much!

I'm thinking that Santa is looking a little stressed this year. Even when Baby Sam saw him last week he looked under the weather.

Christmas Stocking

Thanks Juliette, for this beautiful hand made Christmas stocking. I added the extra green ribbon so we could hang it from a door.

Merry DUNCAN Christmas!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Thanks for the Ice Cream JULES!

Jack is not allowed to have ice cream again until he is 4!

Sunday Morning

Only one week until summer and it's a freezing 5 C this morning. Jack helped to pull the quilt off our bed and tucked himself under to watch his cartoons. After warm porridge for breakfast we have a busy Sunday with swimming at 11.30 and lunch in Royalla.

A good kid

There isn't much happening around the Duncan house this weekend. It is so nice to have a quiet 5 day weekend where we don't have to be anywhere in particular.

Jack helped clean the whole house today and do 4 loads of washing. He has recently been very proud to be a 'good boy' and helps where he can. We only had 2 trips to Time Out all week. Jack is talking more and more, he has a range of new words but his favourites are; please, pop, bus, truck, motorbike, chooks, baa baas, juice. His best phrase is, 'More juice please pa.'

I couldn't help but think of Jules as Jack was painting this today after one of her playgroup babies was taken off in an ambulance after a nasty paint reaction. They are all good now. Maybe next time use brushes with the 4 month olds?

Molly's Baptism

We all gathered at All Saints Church for Molly's Baptism today. It was a beautiful day, not too hot like the past 3 days and hardly a cloud in the sky. Above are Molly's most important Aunties and of course Uncle Mike. Below is Nan R and Pop with Jack. Jack wasn't too worried about the Baptism or Molly - all he went on about all morning was 'Pop.'

The Duncan's showed up in style as always.

Molly looked gorgeous wearing her mum's Christening dress from 22 years ago. Her bracelet was a special gift from her parents.

Aunty Bec is the favourite God Mother of course :)

Web Album

Play School

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELISABELLA!!!

After Eli's 1st Birthday Jack met Molly at the Play School concert.


George Spartells (presenter since 1985) and Anglea Moore (Presenter since 1993)

Out of everyone - Aunty Rach enjoyed it the most!

Molly in the sand pit

Molly is just 5 months and she is sitting by herself. SEE!

Today was the first time she was really big enough to play in the sandpit with Jack. She picked up the spades and had a ball for almost an hour until the parents had to go home.

Jack loved having Molly over to play today.

He makes us proud

Jack did this painting for his dad this afternoon. He was focused on his painting for half an hour and cried when his paint finally ran out. I taught him how to do spots and stripes and then he carefully chose the motor bikes to add to the masterpiece. He used a brush and every stoke was deliberate and calculated.

He was so excited when his dad walked in the door from work and he took him straight to the painting. You should have seen him swell with pride.

Melbourne Cup

We had a great day today!

Jack loved the live music in Glebe Park for our picnic lunch.

Jack is trying out his new art smock for day care.
Back in the ol' days we wore one of dad's old shirts but they requested that he have a plastic smock.