Last post of the year...

I thought I would post my last blog of the year, seeing as I have a heap of great pictures from yesterday; we had a spontaneous visit from Pete and Kaya!
Whilst the boys waited for their giant trampoline to inflate, they chilled out with some juice boxes and played in the backyard. It was a gorgeous afternoon, which soon proved to be perfect for bouncing...

Our guests, Pete and Kaya, hanging out with Slim dog

The bouncing begins!

See you all next year
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A Very Oli Christmas

Oli had a great Christmas this year, he was definitely more aware of the festivities after I put up some tinsel and baubles whilst he was napping on Christmas Eve, and he really got the idea when the presents came out the next day.
Here is a pictorial journey of Oli's Christmas moments...

Watching the rain on a wet Christmas Eve

He likes to get a little too close to the camera sometimes...

Although he doesn't look it in this shot, he was very pleased when we filled an old Christmas stocking with his favourite blocks.

Christmas Morning! A cheeky smile to start the day

Ok, perhaps not quite awake yet...

The first present was opened so quickly that I didn't even get a shot of him ripping the paper! He loved his new clothes.

This one took a little longer...

He likes what he sees so far. A bit of help from Dad.

More Dr Seuss! Thanks, Great Gran...

Some books and a matching DVD from Grandma and Grandad; more input for this clever little man.

Trying hard to open the packaging for the Hairy Maclary DVD

Almost got it...hang on...maybe we should just read the book? It's much easier to open.

Talking on the phone to Nana in Tennant Creek at the end of the day, wearing his T Rex T-shirt from Grandma and Grandad.

Merry Christmas...

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Countdown to Christmas

Well, we have had a festive time lately, with Oli getting some much loved presents from Nana and Mumpa, and more recently some new board books from Eva, Abi and Juz. The rest are only days away, now, as we have decided to save some parcels for Christmas day, even though Oli is only moderately aware of the fuss of the festive season.
Here are some pictures of him hanging out, reading his new books and just generally doing Olimonster stuff. I will try to remember to take pictures on Christmas day :)






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Oli Feast

Its been a while since my last post, so I thought I would lay out an Olimonster feast to show, pictorially, what he's been doing lately. He's had a very busy few days, out and about with a visiting Nana and Grandpa ('Mumpa').
He's been to the Melbourne Aquarium (where he was 'cared' of the big fish, but very enamoured of the penguins, I'm told), on a shopping trip to Toys R Us (see the 'little drummer boy' picture - pictures of the monstrous, inflatable trampoline to come!) and he saw half of the gorgeous Melbourne Zoo, where he impersonated the elephants and hung out with butterflies (and Mummy got to see some incredible, huge spiders!), then slumbered all the way home in the car.
Whilst Mummy managed to forget her camera for the zoo trip, and is relying on Nana and Grandpa for those shots, here are some of him at home in the last couple of days...

He cleans his teeth every day when Daddy does...

He's very grown up, you see...

The little drummer boy in action - tamborine and trampoline just visible...

The fantastical chair we built for Melbourne Bear - adding the finishing touches...

The serious, proud Olimonster posing with his creation...

A cheeky smile to finish up with...

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Birthday Party in the park

Today Oli went to his first official kids' birthday party; Abi turned 6 and had her party at the big crazy park down the road. There were plenty of kids, and a Piñata. Oli was busily checking out the equipment and running around like a madman :) Unfortunately, we didn't take the camera, but take it from me, he REALLY enjoyed himself, and went on a curly slide for the first time too.
So anyway, here is an awesome picture of the Olimonster in lieu of the party pictures, and I am certain that it will make you smile...


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Hanging out with Melbourne Bear

Oli has a favourite soft toy, and it's a bit special, because he's never had one singular toy that he carries around with him until now. He's gotten very attached to Melbourne Bear, a bright yellow bear that used to belong to Dad. He watches cartoons with him, eats with him (although Melbourne Bear sits next to him while he eats - peanut butter can be messy), takes him out in the pram sometimes and gets very upset if he doesn't have him to cuddle when he goes to bed. See if you can spot Melbourne Bear...

Watching cartoons...

Bringing him over to the computer to see Mum

Having a slightly sulky moment

You can just see the top of his little yellow ears in this one...

Kind of like 'Where's Waldo for Dummies'...
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Oli's building projects

The Olimonster has been very fond of his blocks lately, and has been constructing some amazing towers, most of them taller than he is! His hands are very steady and it's fun to watch him concentrate as he places each block carefully. We decided to document his latest creation (not tall, but very jenga-like), which made for some fun photo time :)

Pleased to be posing for a picture with his creation

Showing us his dimple (tower in the background)

Cheese!

'Helping' Mum take a picture

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Say 'cheese'!

Oli is coming along well with his language these days, trying to say every word I ask him to. He recognises how useful it is: he says 'more' when he wants another slice of peach, or 'down' and 'up' when he wants to be in his chair/on the ground/on your lap/picked up. So, today, I decided to see if he wanted to say 'cheese' for the camera, and, after some initial reluctance, he was very forthcoming.




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