Happy Halloween!!!

As many of you would know...we've had a hectic few weeks...but nowhere near as hectic as Grandma & Granddad...

The last fortnight started normally... coffee and toast on Sunday morning.. which as usual resulted in more peanut butter on the outside of their mouths than on the inside!

 Claire & Daddy set off afterwards with the task of making cake-pops...which were surprisingly troublesome...but oh so good...

These were made in such a hurry, before daddy rushed off to the airport to fly home to Sydney for the week...

 A week later...with grandma and granddad's new home setup, a tired daddy came home to a tired mummy and kids... to start yet another busy week!

Firstly was a gathering for Julie's birthday...

Here's our little techno-geek...first thing she asks for each morning... iPad...

On Saturday we headed of  to brunch with Sienna and Jasmine (and parents)..  here are some pictures which show our girls being themselves. 

(PS you can click on the picture and it will open a larger version of it).

The brunch was quickly organised as the reality of leaving sets in... the Lagdaman family will be away in the US soon... so this was perhaps our last chance for a family gathering (for a while at least)...

The girls made sure they got lots of value for their play time...

Claire prepared the rest of the girls a nice lunch... (note the french hat)

Before taking her role as 'teacher' and explaining all the food types...

Sienna and Jasmine enjoyed their meal...

While Claire and Keira enjoyed some time on the swing...

Followed by Claire and Sienna...

Sienna and Claire have been friends for about as long as either of them could be!!!  

And a couple of videos of the fun...

And the parents still haven't learnt to take group photo BEFORE the kids are tired...

After all the activities of the morning, and a brief sleep, it was time to go trick or treating... A group of families (8 households) all arranged to go door to door to allow the kids to experience a real halloween night...

Our girls got into the spirit, Claire as a "gun-witch'...and Keira as a devil, though daddy thinks she looks a little like the girl from Street Fighter...

 

Here's the girls in action

Sadly, even daddy got into the action (though barely)...

 

In total there were 15 little monster's of various degrees wondering around the condo...

Their screams of "trick or treat" could be heard up the lift shafts from the lower floors to the top...

Happy Halloween...

Splashing & Science

Hola...the last week has given daddy an opportunity to test both of his new cameras...  The first, a small kodak waterproof video camera (see later videos)...which was purchased just for fun and so the kids could also play around with it...

So the girls hit the pool to see if it worked...

The girls don't need much of an excuse to pose for a camera...

 No idea where they get it from!

They especially loved the idea that they were allowed (and encouraged) to splash daddy with the camera...normally a big no-no...

Here are a couple of videos of the little fishes...

The next camera, daddy's S95 (which sadly has been superseded by the cheaper and better s100 during postage...but we'll live)... Bought specially to try and capture more nice portraits and happy snaps of the kids...

Keira's black-eye is improving, and we're still getting weird looks everywhere we go...

Today daddy took the girls to the Science Centre... a chance to explore, catch an iMax movie and generally have a good day...

I can only suppose that Keira decided that it was time to teach the elephant to dance!

We got to the centre a bit early, so Claire took some time to study the plans and decide on the route we should take...making sure we get back to the cinema before the movie starts...

After the movie, a very very near miss (Claire tumbled down the last 3 stairs after not being careful, giving daddy another handful of white hairs!), and some lunch..the girls hit the water games...

 I think Claire simply enjoyed that she was getting her clothes wet... I think the water park is more fun when you know you're wearing clothes that aren't supposed to be wet!

Keira was just happy being a bit cool (it was stinking hot out there!).

And as all daddy's know, there's no way to avoid getting soaked yourself too!

Simply Keira...

Then...before we go..here are some pictures from the spare camera which was left in Semarang with the girls...

They look so cute in their pjs... best outfits...

Haircuts, Holidays and Tigers...

This week was a big week for Keira... She has recently taken to the 'terrible twos' with so much energy and enthusiasm that we have been a little shocked...  Unlike the car, which when squealing and making lots of noise, can be quieted with a press of a button...this girl cannot be stopped...

But she seems to be enjoying this new phase of her life, so I suppose we'll just have to get used to it...easier than battling with it I suppose!

But another big item this week was her first haircut!

Yes, just like her Auntie Karen, Keira's hair has been a little slower to grow...but this week we thought it was about time for a quick trim...

She did like the idea of sitting in front of a mirror and being pampered...  I think daddy is going to have a hard time when the two girls reach their teens!

Mummy also got a haircut, and the picture's not that clear, but we're trying to show the colour difference!

This past weekend we headed to Semarang for a much needed break (in fact, at time of writing the girls are still back enjoying the rest and food!)

While there, we drove to a new restaurant over the hills... setup as a little floating village (with a stage for our performers)...

You may not notice it, but if you look carefully, you will see Keira has a black eye, after banging her head on a table at Soto Bokoran.

 

Claire helped Keira find all the fish in the water...

Another special feature of this restaurant... found by climbing the large metal ramp....

Was two tigers...

Real live ones...and quite close...

Claire was not too impressed (I admit I too didn't like the smell)...but Keira was captivated...

And had a nice long chat with the tiger...not even jumping when he jumped up against the cage and roared... (I jumped, Claire jumped...Keira said "hello tiger")...

A couple of close ups..

And one with a nice smile..

Claire was all set to start her motorbiking...but we thought it would be unacceptable to install the training wheels...so she'll have to wait a while...

The kids enjoying a train ride with Oma...

A cuddle with mummy and Ee Mer at a Chocolat Cafe...

This has been Keira's special trick lately... She's being an 'angry bird'... the photo doesn't do the pose justice, and I will try to get a better one, but it is a classic pose..

Keira's learning the art of iPhone gaming...

Ko Dylan is a good teacher...very patient with the girls...

Hopefully mummy will take some more pictures this week during all the fun and games in Semarang...until then...