List 27 - favourite names

When I was growing up I was going to have a boy called Logan (based on the boy in the Babysitters Club books) and girls called Ashleigh and Jordan. Of course as I got older and pregnant and actually started needing a name my mind changed.

When pregnant with Hunter I liked:

Boys names
Hunter
Trae
Bailey
Will (but not William)
Drew (but not Andrew)

Girls names
Lainee
Paige
Mackenzie

We ended up deciding on Lainee Paige if he was a girl. Lainee named after my husband's Mum who passed away just before we got married. Her name was Elaine - which I didn't like. But I was reading a book when pregnant with a girl named Elaine who was called Lainey for short. I decided I liked it and suggested it to hubby - but rather than the traditional spelling I decided on rearranging the letters of Elaine to get Lainee. It just takes 1 letter change - the E from the front moves to the back!

When pregnant with Savannah

She was going to be Ryder if she was a boy. We found out she was a girl so started concentrating on girls names. Our previously picked Lainee I changed my mind on a bit but still wanted to include it based on the significance of it. We decided to use it as a nickname. Other names I liked were:

Indiana
Ebony 
Zahli
Willow (hubby thought this one was too hippy!)

Linking up with Deb at Listmania. 

29/52

I struggled with choosing photos this week - we 4 days in Sydney (I had 2 days for work and the family came along for a little holiday) so have lots of photos! I've gone with 2 each!

  "A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Hunter: First photo - Taronga Zoo - Hunter kept climbing on the statues and asking me to take his photo!
Second photo - Hunter bought monkey at the Zoo and took him everywhere. He asked me to take his photo on our last day at breakfast.

Savannah: First photo - on the ferry to the zoo - excited about being on the ferry and what we will see at the zoo

Second photo - Madam Tussand's wax museum - I asked Savannah to stand next to Nelson Mandela and was surprised when she held his hand. The woman who worked there was surprised too - she said most kids were scared!

Linking up with Che and Fidel

List 26 - A to Z

I missed a few weeks just due to the overwhelming busyness that I had going on and this time I've decided not to go back and try and catch up and add to my stress! I think this is a positive for me as usually I would try not to miss anything!
But we are back to the A to Z! So this one is a bit all over the place!

Adventures  - we are off to Sydney on Tuesday - I've got a 2 day training course and the rest of the family are going on some adventures like the aquarium! I will have 2 days with them too!

Ballet - Savannah loves her ballet - we are all looking forward to the end of the year concert and enjoyed parent watching week.

Cold - it has been very cold lately

Disco - we had a disco at kindy for a fundraiser - so much fun. And then Hunter went to a movie disco with his friend. He was a bit worried as it was a lock in - but he had a great time (I had to wait in the foyer for him)

Elephants - we are looking forward to seeing the elephants at the Zoo in Sydney as we don't have any in Adelaide anymore.

Flying - the kids are excited to be going on a plane again

Grades - Hunter received his first report with ability grades at the end of term 2 (last year in reception he only received effort scores). He did a great job.

Hubby - we had a "date night" last week when my parents had the kids overnight - we even got to sleep in the next morning!

Iphone - after my agonising decision earlier in the year on what phone to get - hubby and I both got iphones - but sometimes they are a bit of a distraction with all the games!!

Joey Scouts - Hunter started at Joey scouts 2 weeks before the end of the term - he loves it. It's great to find something he is interested in.....finally!!

Kindy - Savannah has finished 1 term of kindy - she is missing all her childcare friends but is enjoying the activities at kindy

Love - I'm thankful for my loving family

Music - loving some of the songs on the radio at the moment - I've downloaded some to my phone for running!

Naked - I'm forever seeing a naked 6 year old who has a habit of stripping off at home!

Overwhelmed - a little overwhelmed with everything that is going on at the moment

Parenting - trying our best but still struggling with some of their behaviours and getting our kids to sleep before 9pm

Quiet time - hmmm would love more quiet time in the house!

Reading - I'm pumping through the books. I've discovered bookrooster.com which gives me free kindle books in exchange for a review!

Surgery- hubby had shoulder surgery which has put him out of action for the last 7 weeks. He is finally allowed to drive again but can only drive my automatic. It has been a juggle without him driving with kid drop offs and pick ups etc.

Thermomix - I'm still loving cooking with the thermomix

Umbrellas - definitely getting a work out due to all the rain

Vacation - yep we are off on Tuesday for a short get away - then have a week away in October. We are planning an overseas trip for next year!

Weekend - I can't believe how quickly the weekends fly by!

Xxx - I love getting kisses from Savannah!

Yoga - well body balance - I finally went back to a body balance class and realised I need to do more of them!

Zzzzz - still not getting enough sleep!

Linking up with Deb at Listmania. 

28/52

  "A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Hunter: Face painting at Ikea - Hunter choose to be his usual - vampire!

Savannah: Face painting at Ikea - Purple butterfly!

Linking up with Che and Fidel

27/52

 "A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Hunter: Hunter's school had been preparing all term for the end of term dance concert. This year his class danced to It's a Party. He had to perform 3 times on the one day but had a ball!!

Savannah: Parent watching week at ballet. I really enjoyed watching my ballerina dance around! She loves ballet and is looking forward to the end of year concert!! 

Linking up with Che and Fidel

26/52

 A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Hunter: An impromptu visit to Melba's chocolate factory. After we bought our goodies we had a look at the old chocolate mixing machine. Hunter is getting up close and personal to see how it works.

Savannah: They then went for a climb up the rocks. Savannah stopped so I could take her photo. 

Linking up with Che and Fidel