Make It Perfect

Monday morning (8th Jan) saw us saying goodbye to our brother Ty as he left on his mission to Fiji. We had a busy family weekend with everyone staying at Mum and Dad’s house spending our last few days with Ty. We are all SO excited for him, he will spend the next few weeks at the Provo MTC learning the missionary ropes and preparing himself to enter the Fiji Suva Mission. He also has to learn how to speak Fijian. We are all so proud of him, he is so ready to be a missionary after a few months of waiting at home before he finally was able to leave.

Trying to get some decent family photos…

Ty imagining Fiji…

At the airport…ok, so no one looks good at 6am! Ty was so excited to be leaving, he couldn’t get onto the plane quick enough. Later on, during his travels, he called Mum to let her know he was okay and told her that he felt bad that he didn’t cry when he was saying goodbye to everyone, he was just so excited to go!

Mum and Dad with Oscar and Maya at the beach on the weekend…

Soooo much to catch up on! I feel like I haven’t been home for ages! We spent a few days at Mum and Dad’s hosue after christmas playing at the beach and having fun in the sun then it was off to Melbourne for a week of fun and excitement!

It was lovely to spend time with Grandie and Nanna and the aunties and uncles and we were lucky enough to have some time with Lewin and Gemmah and their kids aswell. As always we did WAY too much shopping, went to the movies (Night at the Museum), played at the beach and spent a very hot day at the Melbourne Zoo.

Unfortunately the night before we were due to fly from Launceston to Melbourne Oscar came down with some kind of gastro and was throwing up all night long – it was horrible, I don’t think I will be able to eat yoghurt and cheese for a long time! Oscar was miserable and grumpy and we had no sleep and HEAPS of washing to do! We were sitting on the plane, almost in Melbourne and he put his arms out to me so I held him on my lap, facing me and he looked up and threw up all over me – it was huge and smelly and went all over my clothes and down my top and all over him! Lucky I was prepared with a change of clothes for Oscar and a new top for me and we could get changed. Poor little boy. He got over it after a day or two but managed to pass it onto just about everyone else in the Coward household so there were a lot of sick people to deal with over the course of our holiday – sorry guys for bringing in the dreaded Tasmanian bug!!

These photos are of everyone at the beach in Edithvale – some very funky beach houses and beautiful sunset in the background, perfect opportunity for some snaps!

A couple of shots from the zoo – it was sooo hot, we hardly took any photos…

Don’t you think Christmas just happens too quickly? We had a lovely family day at Mum and Dad’s house. Stayed the night on Christmas Eve – had a shocker with Oscar who wouldn’t sleep in the cot so ended up with me on a single bed matress on the floor – he wriggled around all night long! We were greeted with pancakes and bircher muesli in the morning followed by a lazy day filled with loads of eating and opening presents, playing cricket, napping and playing with our lovely gifts.

Oscar was an absolute delight when it came to opening presents – he was so excited and would rip the paper off his presents saying “wow, wow, WOW” over and over again! Then he would hand someone the present and say “ta” so that they could take it out of the packaging for him to play with. It was so very cute, he is such an angel!

These next photos are so funny, Mum got him a cool little Quicksilver jacket and he was trying to put it on for ages!

Gramma opening her gifts…

Ty – always a bit of a punk doing things his own way! Our last Christmas with him for 2 years – he leaves for his mission to Fiji in less than 2 weeks!!

Jaron’s prized possession A&W Rootbeer – he had no idea and was soooo happy! Lucky no one down here likes it so all 24 cans are HIS!

Aunty Fil with her new bag for all of her planned travels for 2007…

Cade – sorry Cade I didn’t take any decent shots of you! Lots of fun gifts – cricket set, trip to QLD, shoes…

And it was all a bit too much for Poppy Tom by the time the presents were opened!

I always seem to be the photo taker and not in the photos – this is my new ipod shuffle – THANKS WINSTON! Now I will be the coolest Mum in Deloraine walking the streets with my tunes!

Oh…and on a final note…just walked into my bedroom…Oscar’s new hobby – why do I bother folding and stacking my clothes in neat little piles when he LOVES to destroy it every day! Good one buddy!

Only 4 sleeps to go – I am starting to get excited! So glad that my morning sickness isn”t too bad so that I can actually enjoy the yummy christmas food we have planned for the next week or so! (My favourite at the moment is crackers with butter and cheese – yum!)

This is what Santa thinks of me this year…
“Much more nice than naughty. Can be very thoughtful. Has improved cleanliness, which I like. Could take better care of toys. Says “thankyou” often, but still not as much as I would like. Good mood often spreads to others. Hopefully, will keep up the good work!”

Thanks Santa – you rock!!

Santa had this to say about Oscar:
“Nice, with a few exceptoins. Needs to be nice to everyone, not just friends. Could try a little harder when things are tough. Good sense of humour. Made the list last year. Needs to be good all December.”

And this about Jaron:
“Has been nice most of the year (not just Christmas!) Makes others happy. Could share a little more, however. Politeness is sometimes very good. Can be a great listener.”

Looks like we’re all on track to pressies from Santa….

Cade and I took Oscar for a swim yesterday in Aunty Deidre’s pool – it was great! So nice and warm. He was a bit unsure for awhile and wouldn’t let go of his super strong koala grip on me but we gradually eased him into his little seat and he was having heaps of fun by the end – although he hardly cracked a smile! Daddy missed out on the first swim so we might take him again on the weekend.

Update on bubble…
all is going well. I have been throwing up a bit but not every single day which is great so far. Some days I get heaps done and feel pretty good, but others are rotten. I cherish my afternoon naps when Oscar is sleeping, always makes me feel so much better.

POSITION VACANT!
Filipa has been staying with us for the last few nights while she is working out here. It is fantastic – I have a live-in chef, cleaner and nanny – don’t go homeFil! Anyone want to fill her spot when she goes?? Pays great!!!