Anzac Day at Hollybank

Yesterday we took the family for a trip to Hollybank. The sad thing is that it is the first time we had been there! I know Amelia and Charlotte have been there with school but Ryan and I hadn't. We packed a BBQ and aimed for a late lunch. When we got there it was close to 2 so we got a BBQ going. While the chef (Ryan) was cooking I had a chance to take some pictures! Been wanting to dust the old camera off for a while and sad to say but will not have a chance to edit, still have a back log to do just doesn't seem to be enough time in my day these days!

After a massive amount to eat we took a walk and enjoyed the sites. We even watched the group of treetop people practice for there trip through the trees! We would have liked to see them up a high but you can only go so far before a gate stops you. Ryan has made the suggestion that we should go for a treetop adventure one night!!!!!! He has got a few interested already including Robert and Coral BUT I am not sure as I always have bad luck when I get a bit adventurous!

The People Mover on two legs!

An Easter in Hobart

This year we packed the car and took a trip to Hobart for Easter. We again stayed with my Mum and enjoyed a relaxing time with family. Friday was a quiet day with the day starting bright and early thanks to William who doesn't know the meaning of sleeping in! He was awake around 5.30! So after dealing with him for an hour I decided to take off on a nice run! The weather was wet but it was great to run the areas where I grew up as a kid. After a 30 minute run it was back to a nice relaxing bath. Now the reason we love the bath at Mums is that it is deep and long, our bath at home is designed for midgets, just like the front door for those that have visited will know it has a rather low door handle that you have to bend down to open.
SO after a breakfast of hot cross buns we chilled out and watched a new movie that the kids got, Ben 10 series 1 and Enchanted. We then took the kids for a walk to pick up Pa and drive the car that we brought form him back. We are now the owner of a Ford Forte (will post another blog later about the car). Lunch as is tradition with my Mum consisted of fish, and after a disaster with the home made chips we sent Ryan and the kids out to get some from the shop! Our afternoon consisted of the kids playing and some adults snoozing (mainly the men).
Saturday was a trip to a few of the local shops to pick up some odds and ends. We travelled back Saturday afternoon as Ryan was asked to fill in for a talk and I was organising Nursery. It was a quick trip to Hobart but a  relaxing one for a change as we didn't have to rush around!

I think that this is one of my Gran's old wigs that has been around for a while, this kids big and little LOVE it!

Hawks Fan

Amelia LOVES the Hawks, although I think Hawka is a big draw card to liking the team as well! A few weeks back the Hawks played a game in Launceston, so on the Friday they had an open training session which we took the kids to. Amelia was able to get a few signatures of some of the players as well as a photo with Hawka.

Ryan is a blues supporter and felt that he should show respect to his team by taking his beanie to stay loyal. 

Kinder Session

Today parents were invited to visit the Kinder room and spend the afternoon with there child. Cate had heaps of great activities set up for the kids to do with there parents all based around the Easter theme. Will started decorating a cupcake and putting a fairy floss nest with eggs on top. He then decorated a beautiful butterfly. We then made a nest with shredded paper in a cupcake case and then put three eggs in it. He then made a friendship bracelet. We finished off with play dough and made some hot cross buns, decorated an easter bonnet and made some eggs to out in a basket! It was a great session and I love spending time in Kinder, so much so that I ended up having a few kids sit around while I read some if the class books!

I was also asked to take a class photo for the examiner so now have to go over a few and decide which one should go!

I am thinking that this is the best one, do you know how hard it is to get all the kinder kids to look at you at the same time! 

T2

I have really started to enjoy my herbal teas again now that the weather is starting to get a little cooler (ok so maybe a lot cooler)! While we were in Melbourne earlier in the year we found a great tea shop called T2. They have a great range of all types of tea including herbal teas. We purchased a couple while we were there but when we got home we shopped online and got another 6 types of tea. One of my favourites is roobios which is an African tea, I also love the strawberries and cream. Today I was online looking and noticed some beautiful teapots that they are selling which would make great gifts.

These are the suggested mother's day teas, and I noticed that strawberries and cream makes a mention!

So if my wonderful hubby reads this blog at work and wants suggestions you know where to head to!

Targa Cars

On Friday night we decided to venture into town and see the Targa cars on display. Will was very impressed with them but was more impressed with being a rock star to the band that were performing! He got his light saver and rocked out!

It was a really good family night with free jumping castle, mechanical bull riding, putt putt golf and slot cars, as well as a band performing and lots of cars to look at. The highlights for Amelia was the mechanical bull, which she really wanted to ride but we thought was a little unsafe for her, let alone trying to get her on to it! And checking out all the cool cars, which were either red or yellow. She is just like her Dad when she sees a great classic as she gives a little whistle at how impressed she is by it! Thank goodness she is only whistling at cars and not boys!

Going Gluten/Dairy/Yeast and Sugar Free

Well Amelia is on a regeneration diet that cuts out all of the above, and I can tell you that it is a little hard as she has never been a keen eater of fruit and veggies! So over the last week and a half we have been trying many different recipes and ideas, as well as different products. Friday night was a pie night and I thought I would share some of the recipes as I know how hard cooking can be when taking in all the above exclusions!

Ingredients

500g fresh beef mince (found a great butcher in Launceston that minces fresh each day)
gluten free gravy (found in coles)
dried Italian herbs
2 onions
3 grated carrots
brussel sprouts chopped finely
green beans chopped finely
tomato paste
vegan spread (like a marmite without the yeast)
mashed potato
grated sweet potato
salt and pepper

The How to

Spray a pan and brown the mince, add onion and soften. Add the grated carrot, beans and brussel sprouts in with the meat  and soften. Mix gluten free gravy with a little water to make a paste then add a cup of water and mix into the mince and vegetable mix. Add a good amount of Italian herbs and 2 teaspoons of vegan spread. Mix in a tablespoon of tomato paste and a little salt and pepper. On the side peel some potatoes and steam so that you can mash with a little soy milk to make creamier. Put the meat mix into a casserole dish and top with the mashed potato and then grate some sweet potato over the top. Place in the oven and cook. The sweet potato will brown on top which may make it a little crunchy!

The reason I added the veggies is that my kids will not eat veggies and we are always fighting them to eat so this way they get there veggies in and they don't even know that they are eating them!

Some Dinosaurs!

Oh boy were they some dinosaurs that we went and watched and patted in City Park yesterday! As part of Ten Days on the Island a special show was put on for free that has travelled all around Tassie called Dinosaur Petting Zoo!  It was a great show that had lots of information about dinosaurs as well as a chance to pat a baby dinosaur. The funny part was when the Tricertop went a little berserk and rampaged into the audience of mainly kids!!!! So many kids freaked out and ran, lucky I was sitting with Will and just held him but I was surprised how brave he was he didn't even cry or freak out. The only thing he grumbled about was not getting chosen to go out the front and pat a dinosaur or to tell a dinosaur joke, which I am grateful for as I have no idea what he would have said! I think it was just fantastic, the only sad part was before the show started we were asked to leave the kids on the hay so that they could see, which we did, but a older kids of about 13 came up and kicked Will for no reason which meant that I ended up sitting with him. A lady sitting close by saw the whole thing and thought maybe it was William's brother, which wasn't as he is the only boy in the family! The lady pointed the kid out and I had never seen him before! Not sure why a 13 year old feels it's ok to go around kicking 4 year old thought but I can tell you that if I hadn't been stuck at the front of the show I would have gone and had a talking to the kid and his mother the down side was that they left just as the show started go figure. Mind you I did take a lovely close up shot so that if I do see the kid again I will keep my eye on him!

A Birthday Party

Will went to one of his good mates birthday party a couple of weeks ago at Treasure Island! He had so much fun and enjoyed the new centre that he even forgot to eat! We did manage to get him to come and sit for 5 minutes while Campbell had his birthday cake, which was Buzz Light Year, and boy was it great! The decorations were fantastic and the cake was a beautiful chocolate mud cake that was super moist! We hope that Campbell enjoyed his 3rd birthday and enjoyed spending time with his mates!

A Trip to Hobart

A few weeks back we made a trip to Hobart so Amelia could attend the Youth Convention that was held. She managed to get to the Friday night and Saturday morning but was really not up to attending the rest. She did enjoy the time she did spend with the youth, even thought she was a little shy at first. Ryan was able to attend with her and to reassure her that he was there and things were ok.

So not only did we manage to take Amelia to convention we also got to catch up with family, this time it was only my family as Ryan's parents are travelling. So on the Saturday morning Mum, Charlotte, Will and I went to Salamanca Market. It was a lovely morning with the sun shining and the market was full of life as per usual! The only down side was William wanting EVERY THING he caught a glimpse of!!!!! After a walk around the market we managed to sit and enjoy a drink in the sunshine while William played with his new toy! He was really cute especially when a little baby came up and he was so kind showing the baby how it worked.

A new set of eyes, all the better to see with so William thinks!

We found some new art work in Salamanca so of course had to have a photo opportunity!

Wish they showed this love ALL the time!

In the afternoon we picked up Ryan and Amelia and did a little bit of shopping, the mission for this trip was to get William a new yellow polo top size 5 and Amelia red windcheaters, both impossible to find in Launceston. Both missions were accomplished thanks to Big W.

As it was a long weekend we managed to stay half of Monday and took the kids to the Cold Rock for ice cream, Ryan and I went out for dinner Saturday night and went for desert after and thought the kids would love it! Amelia wasn't sure about the pop rock in her ice cream however and when she hot some she would make a great expression! William LOVED his as well and enjoyed chewing the raspberry lollies, however next time would not get them through the ice cream as it took him so long to chew one that his ice cream would melt! Looking forward to a trip again soon when we get back down to Hobart, although my favourite place to go is Boost Juice so that will be first on the list when we go down next!