This Moment #28

{This Moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

This Moment #27

{This Moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

This Moment #26

This Moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

This Moment #25

This Moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Blog Makeover

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I would perhaps play around with the layout of my Blog and I finally did during a few moments of boredness (yes I know that is not actually a real word). Here is the result of my Blog makeover, I customized a more modern Blog template and I thought the simplicity of it was more suited to my personality and of course blue being my favourite colour I choose it for the theme.

I am unsure if I’m really digging the new look, although I LOVE simplistic things, I can’t decide if the simplicity is sleek, clean and minimalistic or if it is just plain boring. I’ll stick with it for a few weeks and see if it grows on me and then knowing me I will most probably decide I hate it and go back to what I had before.

Now that really was a post about nothing, if ever I read one.

Anzac Day 2012

Anzac (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) Day is a National Day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand to commemorate all who have served and died in military operations for their countries.  It is honoured every year on the April 25th, the day of the landing in Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 during World War I.

Every year since Jacob was born we have attended the Anzac Day Parade/March in Brisbane City.  We have often talked about going to the Dawn Service at 4am but for various reasons we have never actually done it.  We thought it would be too cold for Jacob as a baby, then we worried he would be too cranky during the service because we had woke him so early, then Bella was a new born and then and then and then, well you get the picture.

This year I discovered that the local RSL Club in Wynnum was holding its very own dawn service.  Wynnum RSL is less than a 3 minute drive for us, which was perfect for and left us no excuse not to attend a service.

Jacob had quite a clear understanding of Anzac Day this year as we had been reading “My Grandfather Marches on Anzac Day” by Catriona Hoy during the lead up to Anzac Day and of course his class had been talking about it at school.  So he already knew what the Dawn Service was and he was eager to attend.  The night before, we packed the kids off to bed early and set the alarm for 3.15am. 

Sure enough the alarm went off at 3.15 and it was surprisingly easy to get out of bed, I got myself dressed, woke up Jason followed by the kids.  They were both excited to be awake and eating breakfast “in the middle of the night”.

After a quick breakfast we got them dressed in some warm clothing and off we went on the short drive to the RSL.  When we arrived I was amazed at how many people had turned out and how far from the venue we had to park the car.  Just being a little local event I expected around 100-150 people to show up, in reality the number was more like 350-400 people, which gave for a good feeling of community spirit.  The community, young and old had come together to honour its hero’s.

The service was at times emotional and you couldn’t fail to shed a tear.  The kids behaved impeccably and even remained quiet during the minute’s silence.  After the service, the RSL provided toast and biscuits and the traditional Gunfire Breakfast of rum, milk and coffee, and yes this was as disgusting as it sounds and I couldn’t drink it.

We then headed for home where we all hopped in to mummy and daddy’s bed where we tried in vain to get the kids back to sleep or at least rest until it was time to head in to the city for the Parade.  The kids were however in no mood for resting and the lack of sleep sent them a little feral.

Jacob Applauding the Marchers

I’m not going to give a blow by blow account of our trip to the Parade in the city but there were a few memories from the day that will stay with me and I would like to share.

Firstly there was the young man who was marching wearing what I presumed to be his Grandfathers medals.  He was overcome by emotions and I got to wondering what his story was.  Perhaps he was just an emotional individual, perhaps it was the first time his grandfather or relative couldn’t march and he had taken their place, perhaps the person he was marching for had recently died.  I don’t know what his story was but witnessing how overwhelmed he was got me a little emotional too.

Then there was the very old guy who was being driven in a military vehicle clearly too weak to manage the walk and despite the cheering and clapping he was sound asleep in the passenger’s seat.  It’s a memory that will stay with me.

The most emotional moment for me and certainly the most memorable was another old gentleman who was being driven in some sort of military vehicle, he was applauding the crowd and yelling out to everyone “Thank You so much for coming along, I really appreciate it”.  The man next to me summed it up in his reply, “No mate, thank you, you are all heroes”.  I couldn’t believe he was thanking us for sitting on the side of a walk way and cheering after the things that some of these hero’s had to see and do in their lifetimes.  It was a very touching moment.

Bella Spots the Marchers

By the evening we were all rather tired and a little cranky after the early start to the day but it was worth it.  It’s something that as a family we will continue to do each year as I believe it is important that kids learn to commemorate important events and show respect where and when appropriate.  This nation and indeed many nations have some amazing individuals who put their lives on the line daily to protect us all, of course that needs to be honoured.

This Moment #24

This Moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

This Moment #23

This Moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Mellow March

As we head towards the end of April I guess it’s about time I write March’s Blog entry.  However, this is easier said than done.  BlogSpot has kindly upgraded their interface, meaning the process of updating and writing Blog posts has COMPLETELY changed and it is taking me a while to navigate my way around the new site, I’m sure I will get the hang of things eventually and probably end up loving the changes.  I haven’t checked yet but I don’t think the actual appearance of The Taylor Family Blog has altered however now might be a good time for me to change things up a little, I’m starting to get bored of the green leafy background and the family pictures down the side there could do with a little updating.

Anyway enough of the rambling and let’s get on with things.  March 2012 was a fairly mellow month and hasn’t produced a great deal to write home about.

Bella has a Helping Hand from a Friend Down the Slip and Slide

The month kicked off with Lilly’s 4 Birthday gathering.  As always with Birthday gatherings at these guys place the kids had a complete blast.  There was the all time favourite “Slip and Slide”, Water Balloon fights, Piñata and of course, as always Sarah produced an amazing cake.

Saying Goodbye to Cricket Until Next Summer

Half way through the month we all enjoyed Jacob’s break up bash for cricket.  Yes the summer of cricket has come to an end.  Jacob’s break up bash clashed with Jason’s end of season awards night for his cricket but Jason managed to fit both in and we were all very proud when he brought home the C4 batting trophy for Coorparoo.

Other than that it was just the usual for the Taylors during March.

We had trips to the swimming pool.

We played at Wynnum Waterfront.

We enjoyed rides at Movieworld.

And we made the most of the backyard before summer comes to an end.

It’s a while since I have done an individual update on the kids, so here goes.

Jacob Spends his Hard Earned Pocket Money

Jacob

Jacob continues to enjoy school and is developing some great new friendships.  His favourite pastimes at the moment are drawing and colouring.  He will sit and draw for hours and has a pretty amazing imagination for a 5 year old.

He recently saved his chore/pocket money for 3 months and bought a LEGO set he had been wanting for a while.  It was quite an achievement.

Jacob was rather sick in March and we had a few trips to the hospital with him.  We finally got to the bottom of the problem and tests showed that he had a bowel infection called gardia.  He had some treatment and things seem to have cleared up now.

Bella

Bella has turned out just like her big brother and is a “Talker”,yep just like Jacob she NEVER shuts up. She always has something to say about everything and makes sure her opinion is known. She still loves Dora, she loves to draw, she has discovered the DS, and she LOVE LOVE LOVES going to the swimming pool and would spend all day every day at the play park if she could. She is a complete dare devil and sometimes scares the hell out of me with the things she attempts. I can see many trips to the emergency department with her in the future.

But what Bella Loves most???

Is cups of tea.

This Moment #22

This Moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

I haven't done "This Moment" for a couple of weeks now and we have been rather busy so I have a few pics to post this week.

This Moment #21

This Moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Undies, Thongs, Pants and Flip Flops

Last week I celebrated seven years as an Australian resident.  Seven years hasn’t quite turned me into a true blue Aussie and you won’t catch me coming out with phrases such as “G’Day Mate” or “Fair Dinkum” but I am now known to be caught saying “Bloody Oath” and there has been significant change to my vocabulary. 

Obviously on moving to Brisbane I had to tone down my Scottish tongue and cut out most Scottish slang words from my every day speech because let’s face it, if I didn’t there wouldn’t be too many people who understood a dam word I said.  I guess my accent has changed a little too, I don’t really notice it but my brother has commented before that he notices a change.  There has been a big change in the everyday words that I use and they now roll of my tongue without me even giving it a second thought.  Here are some examples of these words:

There was a time when I called this a vest.

Now I know it better as a singlet.

This was once a duvet.

Now it's a doona.

A thong was once one of these.  Although clearly I have never looked this good in one.

Now thongs are actually these, which I once knew as flip flops.

And so it goes on.

Pants used to underwear, now underwear are undies and pants are trousers or shorts.  Off licences used to be the place to go to buy my beer, now I buy my amber fluid from the bottlo.  I get my petrol from the servo instead of the garage or petrol station.  I collect Jacob from school in the arvo not the afternoon.

Now if you excuse me, I’m off to throw some snags on the barbie and when I am as full as a goog I think I will crack myself a tinnie.

This Moment #20

This Moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Anything but Picture Perfect

I have posted a similar post to this once before, here at “The goal is not to change your subjects, but for the subject to change the photograph.”  Basically, these posts  demonstrates just how frustrating it can be to get a photograph of two children together, BOTH looking at the camera and BOTH smiling.  Here is another recent attempt.

First Bella decides her hat needs adjusting.

I can see the hats may cause problems.

So we try without the hats but still no good, first Bella looks away.

Then Jacob looks away.

And then Bella again.

And of course, then they BOTH look away.

Well I guess I will just have to settle for this then.

February

2012 is well and truly underway, Jacob is half way through his first term at school and Bella is just getting cheekier and cheekier by the day but at least that cheekiness is wrapped up in one very cute little package.

So it’s February and for once I really don’t have much to say this month.  It’s been a quiet month for the Taylors, nothing really worth while reporting.  So instead I am going to share some of my favourite pictures I took of the kids in February.

We attempted a little photo shoot.

Hmmm, it got a little silly.

Until we captured this special moment.

Bella followed in her family footsteps and developed a LOVE of books.

The kids enjoyed their favourite summer tea, fruit salad.

We continue to enjoy our nightly board game sessions, Bella continues to hate losing.

The kids have enjoyed the wading pool at Wynnum.

As well as continuing to LOVE Wynnum Waterfront Park.

We took in some of the action at Wynnum District Cricket.

And finally, lets not forget the fun of dress ups.