Ramblings of the Christmas Kind

I am so way behind in my Christmas jobs, I haven't even sent any cards. I usually am so well organised and have them sent out at the beginning of December. Not this year! Today I will madly scratch out some messages and madly chase the postman to deliver them, hopefully before the 25th.

Speaking of mail, last week I received a postcard congratulating Matt and I on the birth of our baby boy. The Doctor was born 4 years and seven months ago. It's taken Indonesia post that long to deliver our mail. Wow. It must have circumnavigated the world a few times in those years? The tales that wee postcard could tell!

It's also Tiny's birthday this week, as well as the wrap up of pre-school, and I've also scheduled a wee meltdown for the tail end of the week too. Just for kicks.

I am also getting super excited about Christmas! We saw my Mum and Dad this weekend for a little pre-Christmas festivities, which was fun to the power of fun. We didn't want to leave.

We've had a French family staying with us for a few days. Now it feels like there's a great big hole since they've left this morning. The Doctor had a wonderful time playing with the boys, each morning busting to go in to see them (at 6am, non!), and staying up well past his seven o'clock and calling out 'Bon soir!' at bedtime.

I've been making Suffolk Puffs, or yo-yos. It's easy. It's cheaper than therapy. I likey.

Today is for making sense of where we are at. Where are we at? Can someone tell me? I'd really love to know. And while you're at it, can you tell me what to do next? Merci beau coup!

Quiet Days

We're enjoying quiet, sunny Winter days with the smalls enjoying windows of time playing outside. Up and down the path on the tricycle. Tiny tentatively pushes the trolley. Up and down they go.

If you're at a loose end this Sunday, and looking for something to do, come along to Mathilda's Markets. I'll be working with Cindy from Bug and Pop. Make sure you say hi if you're around.

Eating with Children

Getting out with two little ones can be difficult, and sometimes it's one of those things we avoid altogether. When we found 'Chicken and Fishhead' it was a little too exciting. So exciting that we started frequenting the place almost every weekend. We've since gone cold turkey, but sometimes we do go - even just for a coffee.

I found that Bitton in Erskineville is a pretty cool spot for the kiddies. It features an outdoor courtyard area, plus a playroom including toys and a TV. What more could small fry want? Well. The mama could want more, because we went there in December Noah was a little car-sick. The waitress was not very accommodating and made me feel embarrassed cleaning up while she watched (there was no one else in that particular dining room - thank goodness!). A good lesson in humility. We left there in a hurry having barely eaten anything.

Kam Fook in Chatswood is a BIG winner. The noise and general happenings are enough to detract from your own noise-makers, and there's enough going on around that Noah is entertained enough to keep him seated at least for dinner. We try to get there early on a Saturday so we get served quickly. The crabs and fish are also easy entertainment, and there's a great Borders right next door. Too easy.

Fish and chips at Balmoral is a winner with our whole family. It combines sand play, seagulls and great fish & chips. Especially on Sunday afternoons in summer, it's a great place to head and kick back, take a dip and then head off into the sunset.

Today's Good Living (SMH) features 'Meals and Squeals' uncovering Sydney's child-friendly restaurants. It's got a pretty good cross-section of places to discover without feeling like a social pariah, and without fearing putting child-less diners off their dinner.

It's certainly different to being relegated to cafes such as the one featured in Kids Central. Bad coffee, below-average food. Might be a novelty for a little while, but it's just not got a good vibe. It's just a shonky little cafe stuck in the middle of a kids shop.

Another family-friendly place is the little cafe in Rushcutter's Bay Park.. The same one where Todd McKenney was found passed out. Well, him aside, it's a good place for babies to go wild. There are loads of ride-on vehicles, toys, and boats in the harbour. Baby-cinos aplenty.. I haven't been there for some time, but it's a nice spot to meet friends.

Wouldn't it be great to compile an on-line list of child-friendly cafes? If you know of any, please leave in the comments below and I'll compile them into one big happy family list.

Countdown!

It's just one more week and my sister and niece will be arriving from Perth. I can't wait. I am so excited! I haven't seen them since July - and before that - May, when Noah and I went on an adventure to visit them. All too brief.

I can't wait to clock up some sister time, and get to know little Phoebs all over again. And maybe glean as much stitching info from Choc, she's a girl genius. I'm hoping to knock up a little quilt for Scouty. Is that too much to do in a few days?

I was also lucky enough to catch up with my other sister this week, and my nephew Oskar. Noah was so darn excited to see 'Ossie' that he couldn't stop giggling. Hilarious.

Precious little people, changing all the time, growing, laughing. Shy smiles. Curious little fingers. Full of hope and wonder, giggles and goos.