Olivia turns 7 years old

Here is Olivia's 7 year old photo shoot. I might do some more later as I lament not having any really good close ups, and I want to show her new teeth coming in! Olivia has become very mature just in the last month. She teases less and helps more and has really taken Thomas on as her little buddy. I love her so much, especially when I think how rough life has been this last year for her with all her medical problems. She really makes me happy I had kids!

Mary's Birthday- 5 years old!

Mary turned 5 on September 29th. Stan went in late to work to celebrate with the family. For breakfast she ordered waffles and strawberries (with chips) :-) For lunch she ordered McDonald's and for dinner she wanted Mac n' Cheese--easy enough for me! After breakfast we drove Stan into work at Darling Harbor and then the children and I spent the morning in the city. The kids and I went up the AMP tower which is a revolving glass tower that overlooks the city. The views were stunning but the kids were not that interested. We got some ice cream on the way home and then went to a friends birthday party that afternoon. Mary was great about celebrating someone else on her birthday and not being the princess of the party. She will have her big party on the 16th with Olivia once the school holiday is over...so stay tuned! Either way she still got plenty of gifts today, she has been such a sweet heart lately!

Birthday Breakfast!

Doodle pads to get through church

Bed time stories (both granny Joanney and Grandma sue like to send these books...we almost have the whole series now!)

Stick on earrings

Scripture bag from Aunt Katie, who has mad sewing skills!

Opening more gifts!

Her new outfit from Granny Joanney. Mary loves pink but I think she looks dazzling in blue--it is her color!

Mary's 5 year old photo shoot!

Here are Mary's 5 year old pictures. Mary is all about pink, Barbie's, bracelets, nail polish and birthday parties and her dad. She has a bad day at school if someone she considers her friend doesn't sit by her at lunch time. She is very loyal and can't wait to start kindy in January of 2011!

This is probably my favorite, b/c you can see her curls, bling and nail polish!

5 years old!

Koala mufti day and a teddy bear picnic!

This term the first graders created their own picnic baskets. On the second to last day of school all the kids walked to the park and met their families for a picnic. The picnic baskets were hilarious, and everyone was encouraged to bring a teddy bear to share their lunch with. Stan surprised Olivia and showed up early from Melbourne, in addition he had some Krispy Kreme doughnut with him!!

The weather was beautiful and the kids played soccer, footy, jump-rope etc.... It was great and took my mind back to my childhood school days! School really is FUN.

Olivia's picnic basket

Some of the people and games

Thomas going through every ones stuff while they are playing on the field

Olivia playing with the parachute! I loved the parachute!

On the last day of school there is something called "mufti day" It means you pay $1.00 and you get to wear something other than your school uniform. So far there has been PJ day, a casual clothes, and this term it was Koala day! Apparently the last day of school also landed on Koala awareness day since it is endangered species and so the kids all dressed up like Koalas. In addition, they were told to bring in their stuffed koala bears. I was thinking, I hope everyone has one, we just happened to have ONE, but it is pretty normal out here. Right up there with a Teddy Bear in America

Mary graduating from pre-school swimming lessons!

Today was Mary's last day of swimming lessons for term 3. While this usually only means a two week break of no swimming this time it is a BIG DEAL. She is graduating from the preschool swimming lesson time to the school kids time (after school).

Getting ready to go off the board

diving...right?

Susan, her teacher for two years!

Susan said she was going to miss Mary and that she was kind of sad she was moving on.

Riding the "pony"

Stan surprised Mary to see her jump off the diving board (only allowed on the last day of lessons/ term). She would high-5 him while getting back in line for the diving board. Next term during her after school lessons she won't get to jump off the board any more AND she will miss getting Susan for her teacher (sniff, sniff). A lot to swallow so Mary can gear up for kindergarten the term after (January 2011).

Sports day!

In the beginning of spring, Olivia's school has a sports carnival. It is all day and the parents bring a picnic and come to cheer their children on. Last year Olivia placed in most events which was pretty impressive. This year she did every event with her best friend Andrea who she promised to stick with so she wouldn't have to come in last alone. It was pretty cute!

Olivia and Andrea waiting for their turn!

Space hopper race!

Andrea just fell off her ball...

Olivia waited for her...

starting up again!

Coming in together!

Hooray Olivia! I had so many parents comment on it as most kids don't have a friend to wait for them if they fall down!!

Getting ready for a running race!

Check out that stride, again right next to Andrea!

And Skipping...cute hu!

Sack race, this time she got separated from Andrea into a different heat and started to care about winning!

First...but she wasn't exactly hopping...does shuffling in the bag count?

Kosh ball and spoon race!

Second!!