Easter 2018

 

Dear Matthew and Toby

 

For Easter this year (Toby's first!) we began as usual by celebrating Good Friday at Ma Ma and Gumps' house with brunch. Gumps cooked waffles and Aunty Robyn made a yummy hot cross bun pudding. After brunch Matt and Gumps played bocce and then Matt you did an Easter egg hunt in the front yard. It was beautiful weather, as it always seems to be on Good Friday, and it was lovely to just sit out on the front veranda with you two, your dad, Ma Ma, Gumps, Aunty Robyn and Kieran (or Keerwan as you like to say, Matt).

 

On Easter morning I was woken up by a very excited Matt running around the house yelling 'the Easter bunny has been!' (or perhaps it was Easter Bunnings). You were just jumping around with anticipation Matt, and we grabbed you a basket so you could collect the eggs that had been left by the bunny out the front of our house. You also loved jumping in the footprints the Easter bunny had left.

 

In the afternoon, Nanna, Darryl, Aunty Chantel, Andrew and all your cousins came over. We had another big Easter egg hunt in the backyard, followed by some egg dying, a water bomb fight and finished the afternoon with tacos. It was so nice to see you playing happily with all of your lovely cousins Matt, and Toby you were showered with love and attention from everyone all weekend long.

 

It was a great Easter holiday.

 

Love you boys,

 

Mum xxx

 

 

Matt's surgery

Dear Matthew and Toby

 

On Holy Thursday we all got up really early and headed to the Southbank Day Surgery for Matt's operation. Luckily it was just to have some dental work, however given the work that needed to be done you need to have a general anaesthetic, Matt, as there would be no way you'd sit still in a dentist chair for the length of time required to get it all done properly.

 

The reason you needed to get it done was that you had marks formed on your front teeth while you were in utero, and some degrading of your back teeth (supposedly) from long-term breastfeeding. I'm sorry you had to have this work done, I'm told there was nothing we could have done to have prevented the marks on your front teeth (which eventually started eroding away at your teeth), but I still feel bad that it happened while you were growing in my belly. Just a random unlucky occurrence, I'm told. With regards to your back teeth, I won't apologise for breast feeding you as long as you wanted - I chose to put your emotional and mental well being above your physical well being, and I'd do that again and again. I'm sorry it led to decay (supposedly) but you clearly needed that comfort from a developmental perspective so I believe we did what was best for you at the time. We chose to have the work done now in order to prevent a potential emergency later down the track, which may have been very painful for you (you didn't feel anything with the procedure).

 

So we arrived before 7am, and you got to chose the bandages that covered the cream to numb your hands (you chose blue and green). We met with the anaesthetist and your dentist before daddy took you into surgery (I needed to stay with Toby and only one parent is allowed, and from memory I'm pretty sure you chose daddy anyway). The mask was placed over your nose and you fell asleep while the work was done. When you woke up we were called in to where you were right away. You were very drowsy and took a while to sit up, but the nurses coaxed you up eventually with an icy pole. We took you home and you slept in the car and for a few hours more in your bed, but then got up and were absolutely fine.

 

You now love your new teeth and after a check up at the dentist yesterday who confirmed that they look perfect, we are so happy with the decision and know you are too as you smile a lot more freely now. We are so proud of how brave you were, and love you so much for being so resilient at only four.

 

Love you boys,

 

Mum xxx

 

 

Matt's first liturgy

Dear Matthew and Toby

 

Last Tuesday Matt's kindy class hosted an Easter liturgy at school. It was so lovely, held in the Church. I was holding Toby at the back most of the time so didn't get the best view but luckily Matt you were on the top step so I got to watch you sing your songs. You had been practising 'this little light of mine' nonstop at home and watching 60 4 year olds singing this really made for a beautiful start to my day!

 

Afterwards we shared a morning tea with the other kids and their parents back at your classroom.

 

You're loving your new school and so are we. The teachers are so wonderful, they genuinely care about each and every student and you can tell by the way you're thriving there that they are looking after you well. At home you are constantly doing paintings and drawings to take in for your main teacher, it is so gorgeous. You also wake up asking me to take you to school which is just music to my ears because I would have been so sad if you'd hated school given I loved it so much when I was a kid.

 

I won't share more photos due to the school policy but here's Matt walking out of the Church afterwards, so proud!!

 

Love you boys,

 

Mum xxx

 

 

 

Margaret River

 

Dear Matthew and Toby

 

Last weekend we took our first holiday as a family of four down to Margaret River. We headed down there as your dad and I had been invited to a wedding of you dad's work colleague so we decided to make it a little holiday. I was nervous given Toby hasn't enjoyed being in the car for long stints, but luckily Toby you slept most of the way there (and a good portion of the way back) and generally put up with our drives to and from touristy spots in the south west.

 

We started the holiday at around lunchtime on Thursday after Matt's swimming lesson. Soda joined us as we were staying in pet friendly accommodation at the Margaret River Stone Cottages. Our cottage was really beautiful, as you can see from the photos below, very picturesque surroundings and remote. We settled in on Thursday evening and woke up nice and early on the Friday and attempted to feed the chooks that were advertised as being on the property, but after walking around for a while we couldn't locate them so decided to head to Sunflowers Animal Farm. Matt you loved feeding the kangaroos, horses, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, cows etc and Toby you were petrified of the baby chicks! So funny (sort of) to watch you be totally at home with these huge animals then freak out at three week old chickens.

 

We then headed to Cheeky Monkey Brewery for lunch. Matt you enjoyed playing on the playground and Toby slept most of the lunch. Your dad and I enjoyed the view and the pizza and souvlaki chicken we'd ordered. Afterwards we walked around Margaret River town before heading back to the cottages for dinner. Your aunty Robyn and Kieran joined us after dinner, as they were to help with babysitting the next day.

 

On Saturday we went caving at Mammoth Cave, which absolutely captivated your Matt. After the cave we went on a little bushwalk then went to Berry Farm, east of Witchcliffe, for lunch. Your dad and I enjoyed the best beef pie and tomato chutney and Matt you again loved playing on their playground. Afterwards we headed back home to get wedding-ready then headed to the foreshore for the wedding. Your dad and I watched the ceremony by ourselves while you two were looked after by Aunty Robyn and Kieran and then while the bride and groom were having photos I brought Toby back to the drinks area while Matt you enjoyed playing on the sand (and getting drenched) with your babysitters. That night while your dad stayed on for the reception we all enjoyed making s'mores in the fireplace back at the cottage.

 

On the Sunday it was time to head home so we slowly made our way back to Perth with only one small stop to get some lunch and let Soda have a wee. It really was a lovely holiday and filled the soul right up again!

 

Love you,

 

Mum xxx