Santa at the QVB

On Sunday we headed into Sydney to the Queen Victoria Building to visit Santa. There was a huge Christmas tree - the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. And the building itself is quite stunning.

When we arrived and found Santa, there where like three people in line. I thought score, but no, they hand you a pager and tell you it will be a two and a half hour wait. Miss the page because you leave the building and add another thirty minutes to to the process. So yes, three hours to see Santa.

We killed time by having coffee, roaming the building, and eating lunch (outside the building - where we missed the page).

Here are some of the pictures.

The tree.
Annmarie was so excited to see Santa. She insisted on wearing her Santa hat.
But when it came time to actually see Santa, she froze.

This was her expression. Here with the toy solider.
And then with Santa. She didn't smile, cry, nothing. Just stone cold froze. Santa sure is happy though.
Ben - well, he's all - dude, where's the barbecue?

Bonnie Visits Part I - Koala Park and Sydney

We had the awesome privilege of having a live-in Nanny for a couple of weeks - Bonnie. I kid, but seriously, she was a huge help, she cooked, cleaned, and babysat. She was especially helpful when Jamie left us for four nights to go to Singapore. We paid her by allowing her to drink as much of our beer and wine as she wanted.

We also did some of fun stuff - went to the Koala Park, took the ferry Sydney, went to the beach, sat and had coffee, had dance parties with Annmarie, watched countless YouTube videos (Annmarie's favorites included - Charlie bit my finger and the Jimmy Kimmel Halloween Candy One), went to parks, saw Breaking Dawn, baked and more.

I took a good amount of pictures, so I will do this in a couple of posts

First, here are the pictures from our visit to the Koala Park.

We checked out the lambs first. Here is a naked one.
We then visited the roo's. We sent Annmarie in first.
I think it may have been awhile since they had been feed, because some of them were pretty aggressive.
Then it was on to the koalas. Do you know that muma koalas leave their bubs up in a tree in about a years time?
On a Friday while Annmarie was at preschool, we took the Ferry over to Sydney.

Ben wasn't so sure about it.
We walked around the Opera house and had drink at the Opera bar - it's right there below in the picture.
Checked out a some of the botanical gardens.
We then had an unimpressive lunch and hopped back on the ferry.It ended up being a beautiful day and really warmed up.

Next up - Angela gets out of the house for SIX hours!!

Ben :: Three Months

Ben was three months on Monday. He's a total sweetheart and has the best smile. He loves smiling at anyone that will talk to him. He loves milk and his hands. He sleeps pretty good. We have an ok routine, but as the second child he gets toted around a lot. Fortunately, he likes to sleep on the go. He is still sleeping in our room in a bassinet. We hope to get his room ready this week and will probably move him out at the beginning of the year, after we get back from our visit back home. Yes, we will be braving the 14 hour flight and the crazy time difference. Wish us luck. Oh and you should see Ben's passport photo, it's hilarious. We think he is pretty awesome and love having him around.

Happy Thanksgiving

Quick look through the iphone

Bonnie is here! We are having heaps of fun. More to come once I get the pictures off the big camera.

(Facebooking with Annmarie and coffee with Ben)

(sleepy Ben)

Annmarie is into making faces every time she sees the camera. Lovely.

Taking the Ferry to Sydney. Ben wasn't too sure about it.

(Indifferent, not so happy, getting sleepy)

(Taken from the Botanical Gardens)

Breaking Dawn Part I - Loved it!
I heart SF too! Had to take a picture of that.

Annmarie's Concert

Annmarie had her first ballet concert last Saturday. It was brilliant! It was the cutest. She had a great time. She was a bit embarrassed, but did great. She was a little Tikerbella. The concert was a Disney theme. After the show she was a little sad. When I asked her why - she told me that she didn't want it to be over. She keeps asking when she gets to do it again.

Here are the pictures.

(at home getting ready)

(sea of tikerbella's)

(AM hanging with the ballerina)

(after)

I Did It!

I bought Ben Sophie. I flat out refused to buy one for Annmarie. Because really, when you look at it and feel it, it's not much different than a dog toy. However, Annmarie was a very easy to soothe and settle. Ben takes a little more effort when he gets into one of his moods and he will not take a dummy (pacifier). So we'll see if all the hype is true, Sophie. I will never admit to how much I spent on Sophie. We're talking Aussie dollars too, so I think it makes it worse.

Any who, first introductions went well.
And some other pics of our Bub.

Random Stuff

Don't let the cuteness fool you, she has been a sick sick mess all week.
A much needed get out of the house coffee break. Annmarie still sick. Ben sleeping.
Sleeping Ben. Annmarie at the library last week. Jelly fish - these things creep me out.
Fish and chip dinner in Palm beach a couple of weeks ago. Gorgeous evening.

Siblings