August madness - Mirabella's 3rd Birthday Approaches!

Hi Folks,

It's been a few weeks since we last posted and it's mainly because we have been flat out!  Here are some photos!










Lily blogging & writing in between helping miss Bella learn all the time and being a cheeky-bean.

Bella's latest fad is "Because I love you".  This she uses in response to just about everything. 
"Why are you following me Bella?"
"Because I love you"



"Why are you feeding me playdoe you found on the floor?"
"Because I love you"







"Why are you not asleep yet Bella?"
"Because I love you and was waiting for you to get home... I love you sooooo much"



Another thing Bella is doing a lot of lately is hunting and finding bunny rabbits and crickets.... We also had fireflies earlier in the summer and they were a real treat! Putting them in jars and them becoming her best friend instantly.
"I love Mr Firefly, I want to hold and cuddle him!"



We have been exploring creativity and imagination also with masks, doctors toys (Bella loves to take our temperature and give us band aids and kisses to make us all better) and making things (a giraffe is her's and Lily's latest creation!



Grug is still her favourite book but Hairy Mclairy and Doc McStuffins are close equal seconds.



Bella also received her first BBF bracelet made my the kids next door.  Our 6  and 11 year old neighbours both joust over who is Bella's best friend; meanwhile Bella is dodging hugs from everyone and being cheeky ;-)

Only two sleeps till Mimi and Gaga come! (Wendy & Mike) A week until Bella turns 3!

2 Day family holiday in NYC and South South Jersey

So we had an excuse to go to NYC, my interview at a local energy engineering consulting company and so we were in the city taking in the sitghts and sounds.  The interview went well and afterwards I met Bella and Lily at a cafe on the Lower East Side called "Teany's" which was started by Moby in the early norties.  All the food being vegetarian or vegan I had my Canadian "bacon" bagel washed down with a  dates, strawberry and banana smoothie, TASTY.  Lily and Bella had just eaten a rice dish at a local Asian restaurant as per Bella's request for "RICE". It was here that Mirabella the little rebel found something she really loved:    A motorbike in her size!

After a big morning of adventure in the city and playing on the 2 playgrounds she spotted, it was time for a nap.

The next day we headed out to Parvin State Park near Vineland NJ. On the way there were cornfields, farms, horses, deer farms and many producers selling blueberries, tomatoes and all sorts of seasonal fruits and veg; it was the true country.  We even spotted some Confederate flags, true blue patriots! Once we arrived at the park there were awesome forest walks and a big lake with a beach were Bella and Nick worked as lifeguards.

Much love Bella, Nick and Lily

4th of July & Skanda's Visit

The last few days we have had a good friend from Melbourne in town! Skanda visited on his way from Mexico to London.  While he has here he hired a car and hung out.  Friday was 4th of July so Skanda, Lily and Bella visited Nick at the WELCOME AMERICA festival in Philadelphia.

This was a massive street party featuring the Roots and the biggest 4th of July fireworks in the USA! Over 500,000 people showed up!

The next day we headed into NYC for the Celebrate Brooklyn festival with talib kweli headlining, check the photos:

  

My trusty corn roaster:

Skanda's authentic dinner experience

Skydiving for Nick:

Hot weather:

Summer is awesome.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILY!

So the day, last Thursday it was Lily's Birthday and we had a very special day!

It started with a decadent breakfast in the beautiful Ocean City followed by wineries, breweries and dinner at Cape May in South New Jersey.

After dinner we had an experience at the Beach Boardwalk at Wildwood, not the usual beach experience for sure!

Was an amazing day for an AMAZING BIRTHDAY GIRL!