New face

Joss was pretty nervous about getting her braces on. She came to work with me for a while and then we both went to the orthodontist. I took this lovely shot of her metal free smile and awesome glasses before going back to work and leaving them to it.

They didn't hurt going on, but are a bit sore now. Everyone at school was lovely and I think the trickiest thing, at the moment, is working out how to smile.

I'm off to Canberra for a few days and am not sure about my Internet access.... I'll be back on Friday.

Back to work relief

This was not one of those weekends that offers relaxation and recharging. I got up very early on Saturday to be out at the farm to set up our market stall at 8am. Megan was with me in the morning, we set up together, worked out we needed much bigger tent pegs when the whole thing went flying away, and then I was alone for the last three hours. Somewhere between the new venue, change from Sunday to Saturday and the Farmers' Markets, Jazz Festival and Rex Open Day being on at the same time, nobody came to Muddi. Let's just say that I had some lovely long chats with other stall holders who were able to leave their stalls unattended and that I read so much Bleak House on my phone that I nearly ran out of battery.

Thankfully, Megan came back at the end to pack up with me and I had seven friends come over in the evening for stamping, coffee, tea and cake so the day ended happily.

This morning, I taught at Kids' Church and then we went to the Botanic Gardens for a BBQ with Toby's soccer team. The kids had lots of fun playing.

Bethany looks very worried in this photo, but she loves that flying fox.

Bethany, Joss and I played hide and seek in the maze. Bethany always found us by going over or under the walls.

Andrew left the BBQ to go to his seventh gig for the weekend and then, at 4pm, Toby and I were able to catch the last gig. It was held at the Home Tavern and Toby and I went up to the bar to get him a drink. I said that I would like to buy my son a beer, but could it please be poured from the Lift tap. Toby enjoyed his first pub beer very much.

The gig was awesome. The darkness is not great for photos but that doesn't really matter as I should have taken video so you could hear. Great trumpet solos, sharp brass lines and a tight band with talented, young singers. Toby and I had such a good time.

Now, the washing and ironing is all done and, while a sleep in would be welcome, I'm glad to be getting back to work tomorrow! Actually, I have to take Joss to get her braces, the fun continues. She has been eating apples and carrots because they will be off the menu....

No babies

Tim has blogged about the twins! How exciting, we have two sets of twins in the family. I'm not sure whether to feel left out or as if I have dodged a bullet.

I do know this, there is nothing anywhere near as exciting as twins going on at our place.  Bethany had her hair up in nine plaits. She is seen here playing the drums on a tree, on the way home from art class.

The plaits came out this morning, giving perfect crimps for a mufti day.

This is the last photo of Bethany's grin with a baby front tooth. That tooth has been hanging on by the barest of threads these last few days.

It finally came out as she cleaned her teeth this evening.

Summer is coming

The weather has well and truly turned in Wagga. It happens all of a sudden. One morning it is dark at 6 am, after the weekend, it is light. The light is only pale, of course, but it is there. It is still cold in the mornings and evenings but it can be properly warm during the day.

This lovely mid-season never seems to last for long.

I am being positive and looking forward to my washing drying outside over night.

Last weekend I went to a high tea at church for Monica, who is getting married soon. Look at Donna in no sleeves! Admittedly, she was cold.

This weekend it is the Jazz Festival. Andrew is playing around 400 gigs (translation - 4 or 5) in 3 different bands. I have the Muddi markets tomorrow during the day and friends coming over to stamp during the evening. It may well rain and be cold but we will be enjoying busy, country life!

Winner!

Toby played in three sections of the Wagga Eisteddfod today. He won the 2nd Grade piano section, came third in the duet with Stephanie and won the 10 year olds' section. He's pleased and we are pretty impressed too! Andrew took these photos on his phone.

He was given two medallions and two trophies!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads close to me! To my two Dads, my father-in-law and the father of my children. It ought to be Fathers' Day (there is a slight, but meaningful grammatical change there, for those of you not into such things).

Andrew, after a late night at a gig, had a little sleep in followed by presents and croissants in bed. After church we had our favourite Sunday lunch of BBQ chicken and then went up to and around the velodrome. Andrew has been at more rehearsals this afternoon as the jazz festival is next weekend.

Bethany has been working on widening the gap at the top of her mouth. She is simultaneously desperate to get the tooth out, wary of the pain and frightened of the blood.

It makes for some good faces.

There is lots of consternation.

In the end, she decided to leave it to its own devices.

I would never have done that. It's all I can do not to pin her down and yank it out!

A proper large

I have been driving Bethany to and from school while Toby has been in Ballarat. I think she is old enough to manage it by herself but I hadn't thought to prepare her beforehand and she wasn't keen. The trip home does involve getting one bus to a local high school, in a street with a less than fantastic reputation, and then waiting there for another bus to take her the rest of the journey. I can understand her not wanting to hang around there by herself.

On Thursday, she hopped into the car and I threw her bag into the boot. The Father's Day stall had been that day and she wanted to get her purchases out of her bag. It would have been much quicker for me to get out of the car and open the boot, but it was much more fun to watch her climb through the trap door.

When my friend Sonya asked to have a meeting with me about the projects she is planning that the library might get involved with, I suggested we go to the Old Empire Tea Rooms because they (it is really just one, tiny room, but the name is plural) are right near Sonya's work and I have been meaning to go since they opened.

We ordered a large flat white and a large mocha. Let's just say that it was lucky I hadn't managed to have any breakfast.

The photo above doesn't really give any perspective, so here is Sonya with her very large, large.

The decor is quirky and fun and I will definitely go again. After all, one really should have tea in tea rooms.