22 December 2012


Though starting off chirpy,
Matai progressively becomes
Cuddlier and cuddlier,
Tolder and tolder,
As Bastien and Lowan's birthday party pans out.




21 December 2012


Miro looks after Matai so caringly
When we go to the giant playground
And the boys go again and again on the giant slide...




20 December 2012


Afternoon rough n' tumble
With Dinsplace and Miro,
On the verandah.



19 December 2012


A walk from Manly Beach to Cabbage Tree Bay
Is met with wonder from the boys,
Who delight in the lizards we spot,
Caves to explore, and giant
Rock sculptures to climb.

Later on, this adventurous spirit must however be curbed
As Matai keeps escaping up the Harbour stairs without us.





18 December 2012


Caramel birthday cake in the garden
Is a competition with the mynahs.

"GO AWAY LITTLE BIRDIES!" rouses Matai!




17 December 2012


His Royal Highness, Chief Matai
Is "told" and so needs a regal blankie
And humble Din's Place to Feemee.



16 December 2012


Sinbinned outside for general naughtiness,
Tai soon has the nap he needs,
Quickly falling asleep on the lounge chair!




15 December 2012


Christmas lunch
And a triple birthday celebration
See the chaos of life
Rearrange into a beautiful symmetry.





14 December 2012


Long-legged big babies.



13 December 2012


Lately, whenever Matai is asked to smile for a photo,
He puts his fingers in his mouth and pulls it open. We think he's doing it to tease.
But then today, in a quiet moment, he asks Mummy to show him how to smile.
She shows him. He tries with his fingers.
"No, not with the fingers, just like this!"
She smiles again. Tai watches intently.
"Show me again, Mummy," he says. And watching her smile,
Gradually learns to do it without the use of any fingers at all!




Later, another precious moment
When he is spotted being kind to Bastien, helping him from the lounge,
And willingly cuddles him with heartfelt love.


12 December 2012


Boys



11 December 2012


Lately, with all the chaos of Christmas preparations,
There's been far too much of this.

They watch mostly Transformers ads (!)



10 December 2012


A Very Merry Xmas To You!



9 December 2012


Every day is a designated chocolate party for Tai.



8 December 2012


The boys in the back of the bus
After a beautifully exhausting afternoon of sand and water
At sparkling Clovelly Beach.



7 December 2012


Tai walks around the nursery
Sniffing like a puppy dog - snorting pointedly while still metres away from the petals -
And finding the little lizard who lives in the step.



6 December 2012


Matai's first cherries.




And later...
A tranquil row on the river with Papa.


5 December 2012


Awfully sincere smiles
Wishing Broadway patrons
A Very Merry Christmas.



4 December 2012


Morning or night,
Matai wants to wear only pyjamas:

Chuggington, Thomas, Transformers,
Spongebob, Miderman...



3 December 2012


Making a beautiful pirate birthday card for Reuben's birthday...
Matai earnestly contributes the black squiggles.



2 December 2012


Sandwiches, watching the kids play,
At Papa's Boys-Day-Out.



1 December 2012


Heatwave day;
Sticky from bitty;
The boys plunge in the paddlepool
And make little floating islands of dirt and grass.



30 November 2012


Crashed out on the lounge again;
Miro upside-down beside...



29 November 2012


Busy boys making a quarry
With rocks pocketed from Jervis Bay.



28 November 2012


Morning starts spoon-licking good
When we make brownies to take to Cat's place...




In the afternoon, it's two happy boys
And a very happy Mummy
Proudly showing off some seriously spunky home-made hair...




Finally, that night, Tai does what he has done for the last three nights...

Too scared to sleep in the lounge room with Miro, saying there is "something else"
He sneaks into the hallway and falls asleep on the floorboards. 
Usually we discover this at the 2am twin feed, when he is nearly stepped on,
Resulting in his triumphant slumbering entry into the big bed thereafter...


27 November 2012


Playdate at Leo's house!
Tai gives Miranda a kiss without being asked twice...



26 November 2012


The big boys don't like the twins intruding on their train games...

But the twins just want to be big boys!



25 November 2012


Matai.
Wanderer-away and rock-climber.



24 November 2012


Hunting out pirate caves
And pretty girls to talk to...



23 November 2012


Late-afternoon Sleeping Beauty...
And then dinnertime Beast!



22 November 2012


Nanna cuddles...
In between racing the length and breadth of the cafe
In a most naughty fashion.



21 November 2012


The Gang
Taking control of the pirate ship!



20 November 2012


Chippies with Paulee



19 November 2012


Our little Pacific Islander
Loves to decorate his body.

"You look like a tiger," says Miro.
"Yes," says Tai, with satisfaction.



18 November 2012


A typical four-boy hug!



17 November 2012


Delivering 16 bamboo to Matt and Cat's house,
The bus blooms into a verdant tropical forest,
A peaceful Tai beneath the canopy.



16 November 2012


As it gets ever closer to bedtime,
The big boys get ever wilder...



15 November 2012


Tonight Matai asks to cuddle Nanny in her bed
But he can't go in there dirty!

Quick as a whip, he's in the shower,
Earnestly soaping, towel-drying and pyjamaing
Before snuggling deep into her rosy aroma
Watching cartoons together.



14 November 2012


Shower boys
Under a makeshift umbrella.



13 November 2012


Little Taiby Leprachaun
Playing in the purple snow.