http://darrenandclaire.com Be corky. Sun, 11 May 2008 17:45:52 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Mom, you are the best mom in the whole world. I know that I did choose you and dad in heaven, and I would pick you over and over and over again. Thanks for showing me the way in motherhood. Thanks for your unconditional love. Thanks for forgiving and forgetting so ... http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/341 I love this practical definition of a spiritual concept: An atmosphere of faith... an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, humanness is understood‚ communication is open, and preferences are flexible... an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding, where the frailties of the individual are overlooked while seeing the ... http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/340 Evie is now sitting, playing with toys, and eating (with her two bottom teeth). [photopress:Picture_018_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image] [photopress:DSC_0796.JPG,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/338 [photopress:DSC_0809.JPG,full,pp_image][photopress:DSC_0808.JPG,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/337 Ella turned six today. Both her brothers were so sweet to her today. Evan even laid off his new habit of big-brother teasing & spent the day randomly saying sweet things like "I love you, Ella." Emmer suprised me with his kindness and generosity: his second-cousin, Richard, had given him two bags ... http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/336 I heard one or two people say that they read my blog and thought it looked like I have a perfect life. I do have a keeper of a husband who also happens to far beyond an average dad, great with the budget, to whom I am a priority, and ... http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/335 I finally met a croc I like!! (On the day I wore the wrong pair of shoes while trekking around Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo.) [photopress:Picture_410.jpg,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/334 It was lovely to visit with Darren’s older brother Ben, and Mel, his wife. They have a lovely home, and two beautiful, affectionate and well-behaved pugs named Elvis and Lola. (It was nice for the kids to be able to have a good experience with friendly pups.)   Mel is a ... http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/333 We chose this beach to go to on the Sunshine Coast because it was listed as a great beach for kids. It is. We found this quaint cafe where I immensly enjoyed this mocha latte (sooooo much better than the Starbucks variety), and we sampled their meat pies. Darren wanted me ... http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/332 [photopress:Picture_460.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_461.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_429.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_455.jpg,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/331 [photopress:Picture_038_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_044_1.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_136.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_170.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_174_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/330 Jesus blessed us with another beautiful day full of good experiences; we visited the Powerhouse museum (science, history, technology, desgin, etc.) yesterday along with grandpa and grandma & Lani, Trevor & Gavin. The Diana exhibition -a celebration of her life- held pictures, movies of her childhood, pieces of her wardrobe, ... http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/329 [photopress:DSC_0337.JPG,full,pp_image][photopress:DSC_0341.JPG,full,pp_image][photopress:DSC_0331.JPG,full,pp_image] Dad caught a fish today in the pond of his back yard. It was a big old carp & the highlight of the day. We released him, so he lived to be caught another day. Later, we went to visit Paul, Joy, David, and friends in the Home nearby here. The kids enjoyed ... http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/328 I think I'm in-love. Sydney is henceforth one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. It reminded me of Boston -culture, design, style, beauty, business & pleasure --only bigger. [photopress:Picture_285_1.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_294.jpg,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/327 Then we went here and it was great! Did you know that Australia is home to the world's most dangerous bird, spiders, and ants? Whew. Our bus driver (on the ride back home) also told us that there are more than 10,000 wildlife species in Oz that are not yet named. [photopress:Picture_207.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_213.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_241.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_246.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_274.jpg,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/326 A very fun experience! Up close to the biggest sharks & rays we've ever seen, and a great barrier reef exhibit. We loved it. [photopress:Picture_098.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_123.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_125_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_130_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_174_1.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_151.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_150_1.jpg,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/325 [photopress:Picture_052_1.jpg,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/324 [photopress:Picture_040__2__1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_307.jpg,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/323 A six pack of Corona costs $30.00 here. A six pack of native beer costs $12-15. A head of iceberg lettuce at a regular grocery store costs $3.39. I wonder what Wallaby tastes like. http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/322 [photopress:Picture_033_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_092_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_094_1.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_097_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_100_1.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_100_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_101_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_121_1.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_145_1_2_3.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_137_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/321 [photopress:Picture_046_1_2_3.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_048_1.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_056_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_057.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_058.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_059.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_060_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_069_1.jpg,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/319 [photopress:Picture_015_1_2_3.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_010__2_.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_020_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_028_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_029_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_032_1.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_034.jpg,full,pp_image] [photopress:Picture_035_1.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_041_1_2_3.jpg,full,pp_image][photopress:Picture_042_1_2.jpg,full,pp_image] http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/318 Okay, so I’m going to blog this before too many days go by and too much has happened and I can’t catch up anymore. I’ll skip right over the weeks of work and packing leading up to this long-awaited trip to Australia –to visit Darren’s homeland and family. Although I ... http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/317 We're here! It's almost paradise here. We're having fun. The kids are having a great time playing with their uncles and aunts. I'll post some pics. http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/316 I shall have to make a clarification. Two posts ago I was not thinking of moving (again) or looking for a new Home. It's the Winning Offensive and "Fresh New Mindsets" that's got me thinking, breathing, dreaming, of newness and change. Change comes to every thing and every one. It just helps ... http://darrenandclaire.com/archives/315