Good dancing, Ballerina

I have been waiting for this day - to watch Kayla perform !! There is only one day per term for parents to sit in.

I think Kayla has done really well.

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New camera

"Upgraded" my camera recently. Hope I can capture sharper & beautiful photos of my family :)

Night Fury

Night Fury is a dragon from the movie How To Train A Dragon. Kieran enjoyed the movie & when I saw the jacket, I knew I had to buy it for him.

Chicken, Prawn & Tomato Paella

This is one of Donna Hay's recipes I tried & enjoyed by my kids.

Ingredients:
1.5 tablespoons olive oil
200g chicken thigh fillet, trimmed and chopped
200g green prawns, peeled, tails intact
1 small brown onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes (optional)
3/4 cup rice
400g can diced tomatoes ( I used tomato puree)
310ml campbell chicken stock
Parsley and lemon wedges, to serve

Method:
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add chicken and prawns & cook until golden (cooked through). Set aside.

Add the remaining oil to the pan with the onion, garlic, chilli (optional) & paprika until softened. Add the rice, tomato & stock, reduce heat & cook until the rice is cooked. Stir in the chicken & prawns and cook for a further 1 min.

Top with parsley and serve with lemon wedges. Serves 2.

Enjoy !

The Baby Proms (Syd Opera house)

Kayla's first pre-school excursion to The Baby Proms at the Sydney Opera House. The show and the orchestra was amazing !

The children had their morning tea on the steps of the Opera House, before going into the auditorium. After the show, we went to the Botanic Gardens for lunch (picnic). It was beautiful experience for the kids.

Outside the Opera House


Botanic Gardens


Kayla's best friend, Gabriella.

Beautiful Melbourne

Postdated: 3/6 - 9/6

Daddy had to work in Melbourne for a few days so of course, kids & I went along too ! Though it was only an hour flight from Sydney, it wasnt easy to manage 2 kids, 1 luggage & 1 handcarry bag on my own.

I love the beautiful Melbourne city - so clean, so neat & so easy to get around. The weather was terrible tho. ! It was freezing & rained most of the days.

Brought the kids for horse/carriage ride. The adults were more excited !!


Shushu & kids


Enjoying lunch at Melbourne Central:

Federation Square

In front of Flinders train station

My little masterchefs wearing nainai's apron. Thank you nainai for all the yummy pastry & food !

Ms Richard

Kiama

Gong2 & Popo2 visited us on the 3rd of May. We spent a good 3 weeks eating & shopping. Kids miss them terribly and they totally enjoyed their company !!

Over one of the weekends, we took a 1.5hr drive to Kiama - known for its beautiful natural scenery, clean beaches & architecture. The main attraction is the Blowhole.

Along the way, we stopped to take pictures of the sea cliff bridge along the Grand Pacific Drive:

Kiama:

Highlight - Blowhole:

Swimming - Term 2

Term 1 was a real struggle for the kids & for me (emotionally) - zero confidence; constant whinning & begging to stay away from the water! Their good friend, Melanie, has stopped learning because her mummy feels she is not ready. I was so afraid they would give up too. But I still went ahead with the payment for term 2 ... and pray for the best.

I am so pleasantly surprised with their change of attitude & confidence level at the pool today! Compare to the other kids (same age or younger!) in the earlier session, they are behind the program but thats fine.. I am already very proud of what they have achieved so far ! Keep it up !!

New wetsuits to keep them warm in the water


Blowing bubbles


Fully submerged in the water for the first time !


Swimming with the "noodle"

Twinkle twinkle little stars...

Ballerina

Nearly had a heartattack when I saw the amount I had to pay for Kayla's leotard, skirt, tights, ballet shoes and cross over top !!! They are so expensive but they are really really lovely & beautifully made.



Matching cross over top for cold days