Here we have young Kate Hendry modelling a delightful outfit consisting of a Dorothy hat and tail coupled with 2 santa stockings straight from the mantel piece	Kate runs wild!	We hired this car from the Toy library	Aiden wears Daddy's shoes	Hanging out on the couch
		She wears a princess headband, fake plaits and her Dorothy Tail	Aiden rides his new motorbike	Hmmm lollipop
Reading a story with Nanna	Opening presents with Mummy	"Tram-o-been!"	"Whatchoo lookin' at?"	Wiggles wannabees

Monday January 5th 2003

If there was a phrase to sum up this update it would be, "KATIE DO IT!!"

She has become fiercely independent and wants to do everything herself.....heaven help you if you have the audacity to try to do anything for her. Our job is to merely stand back and be asked to help. Both our children can actually use the microwave. They sit on the bench, put their bottles into the microwave, heat them for the required time, remove them and then cheer loudly. Children of the modern era.

Christmas was just delightful and finally we get to enjoy the wonder of a childhood Christmas as they finally "got it". They become present unwrapping nazis who delighted in unwrapping anything that looked remotely like a present. I bought a chocolate bar and Aiden went nuts thinking it was a present, then of course he remembered he doesn't eat anything that isn't directly from a cow so there ended his joy.

Santa was very kind to Kate and Aiden. He got them a new trampoline, new bikes and a myriad of other little toys all designed to keep them out of their Mummy's hair for more than 5 minutes at a time. Gotta love the Santa dude.

We had our family Christmas carol singing on Christmas Eve. Kate and Aiden just love to sing and they lead a hearty rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, complete with actions. We won't mention the fact that they also sang "Twinkle twinkle" to every other carol.

We went to Victor Harbor for a week. Victor Harbor is a small town on the beach only an hour's drive away. We stayed in a gorgeous townhouse and Aiden and Kate had to share a room. Every night they stayed up late, squealing with delight and causing havoc. In the end we had to separate them. Of course we only had this brainwave on the last night. Aiden crashed early and slept through the whole night.

Kate's life at the moment revolves around her Dorothy the Dinosaur tail and bandaids. She checks her body meticulously every day for some sign of injury. The most microscopic of cuts results in a triumphant yelling of, "BUNAID BUNAID! WIGGLES BUNAID!" (Yes, I know, I do in fact buy Wiggle's Bandaids).  In her warped 2 year old way of thinking, she figures if she has a bandaid put onto her finger it heals all parts of her body, so if she has a cut on her foot the bandaid must go onto her finger and then all is right with the world. Aiden can live without bandaids, in fact he hates the things. His ails can be healed with Mummy's kisses. Of course all of his injures happen to occur on his feet, dirty - ran-through-the-dirt-and-mud-feet. Mmmmmm......lucky Mummy.

Kate is potty training in spite of me not because of me. I put a potty into the lounge room and bought her some big girls pants and left her to it because I can't be bothered. She will often remove her nappy and go to the potty and then ask for her big girl pants. If I were to really push the issue I know she would be fully trained in no time at all. Wish I had more dedication - it's just too easy with a nappy. Still I will put more effort into it soon. Aiden shows no interest, except with putting cars into the potty - that's my boy!

Kate does all of her thinking out loud. She has all sorts of amazing conversations as she makes meaning from her world. It hasn't become too tiresome because it's just so amusing. Aiden still has a habit of nonsense talking where we can't really understand what he is saying. He sounds remarkably like Yoda. If I was to be totally honest I would say we are laughing at them, not with them. Makes up for all the hard times. They are such incredible fun at the moment and I finally understand that mystical term, "The joy of motherhood". I no longer wonder if they could possibly sleep for 23 hours a day. They are so much fun.

Aiden is obsessed with planes. Never knew how close we were to the flight path until I had Aiden. As soon as he hears a plane (and believe me the boy has microscopic hearing) he yells, "Plane plane!" and I have to scoop him up and run outside to see the plane. I was walking along on my own the other day and a plane passed overhead and I literally stopped quickly and spun around, I stopped short of yelling, "Plane! Plane!" which was fortunate given the amount of people who were walking near me.

Who says there is no mystery and intrigue in my life? I found myself endlessly wondering if "Mary" (names have been changed to protect the innocent) from Playschool is pregnant or is actually getting fat. She has one of those bodies that make it hard to tell. She is starting to wear baggy clothes but I still can't be sure. It's quite sad how much time I have dedicated to wondering about her state of being. I suppose it beats the mind-numbing nursery rhymes.

Aiden plays in the boat at Victor	Kate wears Mummy's jumper	Going on the steam train with Nanna and Pop	Look out the window	In the train
Waiting for Hi 5!	It's Hi 5!	Big brave Aiden	A good bottle and memorabilia - the only way to enjoy a concert

Wednesday January 14th 2003

Today we went to see Hi 5. We had amazing seats, up on the first balcony and on couches! They were 2 person couches and when the show started Aaron had Kate and Aiden with him on one couch and I had one to myself. They yelled, "HERE'S HI 5!!!" and they started singing and Aiden screamed and launched himself over the arm of his couch and onto me, crying the whole time. I got such a shock to be hit by this screaming missile. Eventually he calmed down somewhat and enjoyed the show. Kate spent the whole time dancing and grooving. Was a great time!

As we were walking back to our car we were in quite a large crowd. All mums and dads and kids with Hi 5 balloons. Suddenly the whole crowd stopped, pointed upwards and yelled excitedly, "Plane!" as a plane almost landed on our heads (we were near the airport). Ahhhh.....nice to know I am not alone......

Kate and Aiden have been developing their dexterity. They have been learning how to jump. Little miss can jump beautifully on both feet. Aiden is struggling somewhat. He can only jump with one leg at a time so this results in him looking like a cross between a native dancer and Quasimodo. Whenever I need cheering up or just a good laugh I ask Aiden to jump for me. He is always so proud of his efforts.

When Simon was here he was out watching the kids on their new trampoline. Aiden is not yet confident enough to jump standing up, Kate is almost ready to learn how to do somersaults. Anyway when they are on the trampoline Kate jumps standing up on her half and Aiden bounces on his knees on his half. Simon was talking to Kate and asked her what animals jump. She replied "Kangaroo. Katie a kangaroo.....Aiden a sheep". 

Aiden's language has been just great and the grunting has eased up. I rue the day he learnt how to ask for an icecream.