Christmastime Is Here

Merry Christmas from Our House to Yours!

As a young family, we are still in the process of creating our own traditions. 

First, we celebrated on Christmas Eve with the Wrye side of the family. Everyone came to my parent's house for lunch. The boys looked so handsome.

After, we went to the Candlelight Service at CBC, and headed to Mt Carmel for Christmas with the Dicus side of the family. By the time we got home it was very late and Santa was due to arrive any minute, so we set out cookies and sprinkled reindeer food on the front porch, and went to bed.

6:30 came very quickly, but the excitement (on my part...I had to wake the boys up) hurtled me out of bed and down the stairs where the proof was in the full stockings and stacks of presents. Santa came!

After I woke the boys up, we discovered that Santa had left a present under the small tree in each of their rooms. They both were so excited to open their first present of the day.

I let the boys open their gifts throughout the course of the day. Both of them prefer to play with each gift as it is opened. This allowed them the space and freedom to express gratitude for each gift received. Also, as it happens every 7 years, Christmas fell on a Sunday, and as I am a church musician, I had to be at church. The rest of my family stayed home to play with already opened gifts.

Jackson did great opening his gifts. He got the hang of tearing off the wrapping paper (in the style Aunt Holly prefers...fast and chaotic).

Samuel crawled around and played with everything. He even tried to steal Santa's leftover cookie.

The boys made off with some great gifts. Santa didn't let Jackson down in the puzzle department. In total, he got 14 puzzles. That should keep him busy. For a couple of days, at least...

Some of the other popular gifts include:

A 3-2-1 Trike for Samuel

And Art Board for Jackson (from Mio and Grandmommy)

A LeapPad for Jackson

A Sports Center for Samuel

Samuel is VERY good at putting the ball in the basket. 

A Piano for Jackson

Though Samuel enjoys it, too.

A Thomas the Train Tent for the boys

And plenty of books

I didn't do too badly, either. I got a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, a Cake Ball Maker, some cake decorating supplies, gift cards, and a really awesome bear hat.

Much to my dismay, the most popular stocking stuffer this year was a voice changer.

The first gift was opened at 8:00am and the last was opened around 6:30pm. I think Jackson sang Jingle Bells and said "Happy Christmas" all day long. It was a long, full day full of happiness and magic and family.

But most important, it was filled with love.

Only 364 days till next Christmas!

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

I adore these two picture taken before and during Myles's baseball game this morning:

We're so grateful for family.

Love Is In The Air

Happy Valentine's Day!

Yes, I realize that this is a holiday to mainly boost the sales of florists and jewelers, but I don't care. I'm a sucker for romance. I buy hook, line and sinker into the whole thing. I feel the magic in the air. Valentine's Day, to me, is the one holiday where people put aside their differences and celebrate love! What about Christmas, you ask... well, put religion into the mix...that's how wars are stared. How many wars are fought over religious beliefs? How many people in this world actually believe in Jesus? You don't have to believe in Jesus to believe in LOVE! Valentine's Day (despite it being originally a Catholic holiday, but removed from the Roman Calendar in 1969) is a day for every one. It is literally celebrated all over the world. Traditionally in most cultures, it is a day not only for romantic lovers, but a day to remember your friends.

So, on this day of love, I would like to share with you 20 things I love.


1. I love this man, my husband, my best friend, the father of my children. I love him for many reasons... he is incredibly funny. He is incredibly smart - I always tell him if I was ever on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire he'd be my phone-a-friend. He is opinionated - granted so am I and our opinions don't always match, but what fun would it be if we always agreed? He is strong - physically as well as emotionally. In our current situation, he is over on the other side of the world without me, without our children. I miss him a lot, but no matter how bad it may seem for me, it is worse for him. If the situation were reversed and I were without him AND the boys, I would die. Simply wither away and die. I wouldn't be able to do it. But he does. Without complaint. And I know he misses us ALL terribly. Yes, I love this man.

2. I love Jackson Wayne Bennett. My eldest son. The little boy who made me a mommy; who gave me the greatest gift of all - motherhood. I love his sweetness. I love his honesty. I love the wonderment through which he sees all things. He is my little sweet pea.
3. I love Samuel Wrye Bennett. My youngest son. The sweet little bundle who made me a mommy, again! I love his gummy smiles and his willingness to go along with whatever. I love seeing his personality develop every day. He is my little Sammy-Bug.

4. I love my Dad. He was my very first Valentine. He, to this day, would give the shirt off his back to make sure I was looked after. He is the most kind, generous and respectable man I know.

5. I love the rest of my family, too...my Mom, my sister, my gorgeous nephew Myles, my aunt Mio, my Grandmother...the list goes on and on. I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful family.

6. I love the Wrye Family Weight Loss Challenge girls. You gals are so inspiring and encouraging. I never thought I'd actually look forward to weighing myself once a week. Thanks for helping me do this!

7. I love my All Night Nursing Moms Group. It is amazing to know that 34 (yes, 34) of my friends either just had babies or will have babies in the near future. I am grateful to be able to share in your successes and trials, and to feel that support that every new (and new again) moms need. You women are amazing!

8. I love my jobs. All four of them. I am grateful that my jobs allow me the luxury to bring Samuel along with me. I love that my office is a Steinway.

9. I love my Church Choir! Wow, are you all fantastic! I have never heard a men's section in a volunteer church choir like the one we have. And such kind hearted people, too! You are like family to me and I appreciate you!

10. I love my friends near and far. Jill, Katherine, Meg, Kristi...you girls have stuck with me through thick and thin. I couldn't be luckier.

11. I love that I am able to breastfeed my babies. Well, not Jackson anymore, but he went for 16 months before weening. I feel great knowing that I am able to give them the best thing for them.

12. I love cloth diapers! Seriously. I didn't think I would, but they are great. So cute and don't irritate Samuel's bottom. Plus, I am saving so much money by doing it.

13. I love my freedom to decide. I love that I am able to chose what I wear, what I believe, to whom I pray, what to eat, where to travel, where to live, where to work, and what I say without fear of reprimand.

14. I love the changing of the seasons. I love experiencing four distinct times of the year. And I love that Spring is upon us.

15. I love music. All kinds of music... and people who make the music.

16. I love helping students figure out how their voice works. This is different than teaching voice. This is discovering a voice.

17. I love the beauty of this world. I can't wait to see more of it.

18. I love to hear birth stories. I think the woman's body is an amazing thing to be able to grow and birth another human being. I cry at the experience.

19. I love teachers. I am grateful to mine of the past and present for the gifts they have given me.

20. I love books. I love to read. Love love love. If I could, I'd stay in bed all day reading. Thank you to the wonderful writers of the world.



So enjoy this day with the ones you love, doing things you love, and appreciating all the love that is...in the air.

L.O.V.E.

Week 42 here in Oz was a STINKER! And by stinker I mean constant humidity and heat and horribleness. We must have all taken at least 2 showers a day. YUCK!


But week 42 also brought some good things! For example, a tooth! Jackson, as of today, has tooth number five. It is on the bottom left side if you are looking at him. He has been drooling a lot, but otherwise showed no typical teething signs. I was surprised when I caught sight of the little toothie-peg this morning!

We had the opportunity to meet up with David's family today for lunch. A good time was had by all. Everybody made it - Neville (David's dad), Marie (David's stepmom), Allison (David's sister), Peter (Allison's husband), Jordan (nephew) and his fiance May, Callum (other nephew), Jon and his girlfriend Chloe, Jess and her boyfriend Rory, and Peter's sister Jenny and her husband.






Jackson was the life of the party and entertained everyone with his bouncing. He especially liked to bounce on his Aunty Allison.



Jackson crawls everywhere now... and I mean everywhere. He knows his way around the house and loves to go exploring. His new favorite spots are:

Under the table:


And in the cupboard underneath the drawers in his closet. I usually keep the doors to his closet closed. I forgot one morning and then he went quiet. When he goes quiet you had better look for him quick because it means he is in to something he shouldn't be. This was just too cute though:



His new favorite activities include:

Playing in the trash (Nice):


Playing Peekaboo:


Reading (I know this isn't really new, but he likes to read his books - his current favorite is the Little Polar Bear book with the finger puppet - thanks Nana!):


And pressing buttons on the printer (he knows how to turn it off and on):



If we tell him no or take something away from him, he cries. We can't help but laugh... it is so darn cute!

I like to think he was crying in this picture because Nana didn't answer her phone when we tried to call. But I think it was probably because I wouldn't let him press the buttons on the printer. Hm. Mean mommy.

He talks lots. Not as much as Myles... Jackson is more of a studier. He isn't afraid of new things... but will study them until he thinks he's got it figured out and then be crazy. I think this is good... though I suspect he will be a late walker because of it. Crawling is just too efficient. I am definitely willing to be proven wrong though. Here is one of the conversations we had this week:


Swimming went well this week. He played with another little boy most of the time. He didn't want me to hold onto him while he was swimming with his floaties on. I think I was cramping his style.

We went to lunch with Bianca and Julian this week. We were going to go see a movie, but decided against it at the last minute and just did lunch instead. I don't think Jackson would sit through a movie anymore. There is just too much crawling to do!

New foods this week: beef (he had a cottage pie with kumera mash and LOVED it...in the cottage pie was beef, celery, whole peas, etc topped with sweet potato); and we tried the mango again this time mixed with rice and bananas and it was a hit. He loves loves LOVES custard. He wouldn't have anything to do with his dinner tonight, but he sure did eat half my custard and peaches dessert!

Speaking of my dessert, I have been counting calories since being back from Christmas as my mom and I have a deal to each lose 25lbs by Disney World. So far I've lost 14.5lbs. I kind of blew the diet today, but it's the first slack day I've had so I figured it wouldn't hurt. I'd still like to lose another 19lbs... then I'd be back at my pre-pregnancy weight. I cleaned out my closet and drawers this week... got rid of a lot of stuff. But kept my pre-pregnancy jeans. I hope I fit back into them some day. I can't believe how skinny I was! They won't fit around my knees now!

Two other bits of random news:
1. We have officially booked a ticket to the States for June 14! Yay! Let the countdown begin!
2. We are moving house at the end of February. The landlord's daughter is coming back and wants to move in here. Inconvenient, but we're moving to a cheaper place so at least we'll save some money. And the new place has an airconditioned family room and an orange tree in the back.

Thanks for reading about our full week here! We love you! Happy Valentines Day!

Do The Puppet Master

Week 37 has been a HUGE week!


Jackson's second tooth popped through Monday morning. It was a top one right above his bottom tooth.

And the BIGGEST news is that on Tuesday, Jackson started to crawl! Forward! He'll make the journey for a wheat puff or a remote control.

And just lately he has figured out where we keep his toys (in his toy box, duh) and will make his way over to get some out. So now we have a mobile baby. He can roll over, sit up by himself, and crawl. Kind of sounds like a dog, huh? But much cuter :)

On Saturday, we headed to Muswellbrook to visit with David's dad and stepmom. We picked up Jessica on the way! It was a big day for Jackson - getting to meet his sister and his granddad and Marie! We had a fantastic visit. Granddad was absolutely charmed by Jackson - he didn't want to let him go!


Here are three generations of Bennett men. I like to call them 2 and a half men. Hehe!


And Jackson with Granddad and Marie.


Jackson LOVED his sister. They studied each other for a while...and then became fast friends playing and smiling and doing weird head motions that I can only assume is a weird sibling thing.


Lucky for us, Jon was also around this week (though he wasn't able to go to Muswellbrook with us). He stopped by on Tuesday for a visit (and to borrow my car). Sensing Jon is the alpha male, Jackson could only check him out... didn't quite know what to think of Jon. But I think it had something to do with similar hair-dos...


Jackson spent a lot of the week playing with his new toys from Christmas (and watching his new favorite video, Yo Gabba Gabba - we have dance parties... my favorite is Do The Puppet Master with Elijah Wood- good times). We even invited Julian and his mom and dad over to have a play. I managed to catch this sequence of events on camera...
This toy (courtesy of Aunt Holly) has balls in it. Jackson knows that if he presses down on the balls they go into the lower part of the toy. He has pressed and knows those balls are in there.


He tried to reach into the toy to get the balls out. Usually this isn't to much of an issue as they roll out, but Jackson has tilted the toy back to where the balls won't roll out.


He manages to get 2 of the 3 balls out, but isn't able to reach the 3rd. Certain it is still in there, he lifts up the toy peers into it... where is that ball??

Hysterical!!

We started swim lessons again with Miss Paula on Thursdays. He missed her so much! Smiles, kisses and hugs straight away. We may or may not continue with GymbaROO this term. I have been looking into an Early Childhood Music Program at the Conservatorium. Jackson loves to play the piano and sing along. What kind of mother (or musician) would I be if I didn't encourage that??

It has been quite hot and humid here this week. YUCK! To keep cool, we have been eating popsicles. And it was only fair for Jackson to have a lick, too!


New foods this week: I don't think I gave him anything new... he hasn't figured out how to use the sippy cup yet (only chewing on it) and he'll drink out of a cup, but I got tired of having to assist him. So I put water in a bottle with a fast flow nipple and a handle and he drinks 4oz of water a day now by himself! Think I'll start him on beans next week...

From our house to yours, have a wonderful week 38! 2 more weeks and he will have been out the same amount of time he was in! It goes FAAAAST! To those in Australia, stay cool. To those in the USA, stay warm. Hopefully one day we can meet in the middle, eh...