Christmas Camping 2011

Well our family did something a little different this year and planned a little trip away camping. We ventured on a trip to Bicheno on Friday evening and set up camp with the Crossin family. We were pretty lucky as the Crossin's had arrived early and set up there tent and our tent which was great otherwise it may have been a very late night!
On Christmas eve we enjoyed a little walk to look at the local shops and also a few of the local sights. William enjoyed a walk to the blow hole and then a walk to the playground with Amelia and Dad where they also ventured out on the beach and ended up paddling.

Christmas day was all about waking early, and then having to wake the kids and we did all the presents. It was really funny as the night before we had the kids set up a treat for Santa in the back of the van so the next morning the kids got a shock to see the van full of gifts.

We drove to Hobart for Christmas with family we started off lunch at my Mum's which was lovely as the three boys got on really well playing with their DS games and then Will's new scooter from Santa. It was also lovely to catch up with my sister who had her little baby on the 14th and I hadn't met as yet. Was lovely having so many cuddles!
In the afternoon we visited Ryan's family and stayed there a short while before we ventured back to the camp site, which made the day extremely long! We all slept well Christmas night I think it may have been a mix of long driving and way too much good Christmas food!

Boxing day William was excited to use his Christmas present he got from Adam and Abby which was a fishing line. Will was keen for the first 5 minutes and then he ditched the rod and was keen to ride his scooter. We had a few lines in and it was fun watching the boys catch the fish, Ryan only managed to catch little baby ones which had to go back in where as Rob caught one that was apparently huge! Amelia even caught a little fry! Another trip to the park then we ventured back for a BBQ with fish caught and some sausages. We took a drive to Aspen park and even though we did not go on the walk we thought we may do it some other time. That night when the kiddies had gone to bed some of us ventured up to the blow hole and to see the little penguins come in. We managed to see three come in and waddle up to the safety of the bushes for them to rest for the night. Mind you we got there a whole hour before hand and got eaten alive by mozzies so when we saw the three we thought that was enough and then walked back to the tent to recoup from the mozzie invasions!

On the Tuesday we packed our stuff and drove up through Elephant Pass and stopped for some pancakes at a cute little place. We then continues our trek home with a stop at St Marys to look at a place where a guy has set up his collections on many things from cars to computers to you name it!

After a busy few days we were excited to get back to our own beds, down side to camping is that we had so much washing and airing to do of our clothes and camping stuff, but we would do it all again as it was fun!

Christmas Family Photos

I have been trying for the past few weeks to get some family photos taken for Christmas and today we finally got a chance to do it!

We went to a wonderful park in Launceston that doesn't have a big playground but has wonderful green grass and heaps of trees that offer great shade from a beating sun!

The kids were a little feral but we managed to get some ok shots! I love to do it each year and to see how we have all changed!

I found this photo from last year!!! How they have changed!

Another Assembly

So busy this time of year, and this time it was Charlotte's school final assembly.

It started with a few songs that the children grooved to and then a welcome from the Principle then the class groups performed and were presented with a book reward and then a slide show. Charlotte's group shared their stories they helped make on the computer about their trip to the farm earlier this year. Charlotte got her certificate for her swimming achievements during the year, and the book 'If Your Happy and You Know It'.
The assembly finished with a Christmas sing along and then a morning tea and a chance to chat with the other families and staff. It was a great way to finish the school year, which I am looking forward to kind of as it means chances to sleep in laze around and relax, something I am really looking forward to only three more school days to go!

Birthday Love!

On Wednesday I celebrated another birthday, and before any ones asks I am not telling my age or maybe I will 21! Yeah right!!!! Any way I had a wonderful day filled with the things I love. Woke up to a beautiful family singing Happy Birthday and then some lovely gifts including Julie Goodwin the winner from Masterchef season 1 second cookbook and a Sushie box that included a DVD book and bits and pieces to make sushi and a few other bits and pieces. I felt very spoilt, I am sure the family would have cooked breakfast and all if they could have but I am not a big breakfast girl when I plan to workout in the morning! See that's the other great thing I got to send the morning at the gym doing what I love Combat and then hanging out with Will and baking Caramel Slice from Julies new cookbook (however I did make some little changes so really could make it my own).

I was spoilt for dinner as Ryan cooked a yummy dinner with lots of special bits as extra including a beetroot with fetta dip and a sweet potato dip as well that he used as a sauce for the meat. He even did a great presentation with the dish!

As much as I loved the main I am a sweet tooth so need I say that for me desert was the BEST!!! Ice cream cake and chocolate what more could a girl ask for! Really I am not a cake girl but ice cream and chocolate I can manage really well any time!!!!!

Thanks to my wonderful family for making my birthday extra special!

A Day Trip To Melbourne

Just realised I got caught up and forgot to write about Amelia's trip to Melbourne!!!

Wow like I said heaps on but last weekend Amelia was lucky to go on the Stake Temple Trip to the Melbourne Temple! We got up really early to leave on the 6.30am Qantas flight!! Let me tell you I was scared as it was a plane with propellars!!!! It was the smallest plane I had ever seen! We got on and Amelia had a slight panic attack but overall was great to fly over with. We could have had something to eat but the greasy pastry was a little too much so early in the morning!!!!!

We got in and then had to walk for ever to get out bag, I almost think that we could not have landed any more remote than what we did, maybe the Melbourne airport were a little embarrased having tiny planes land there!!!!
We got the bus with the rest of the Stake and it took about 40 minutes to get to destination. Both Yvette and Amy and Kirk where there to meet us which was lovely! Kirk and Amy took Amelia for breakfast which was lovely and then when she got back we did some baptisms with her. After some baptisms Aunty Yvette took her to the shops and spoilt her rotten! Ryan and I got to spend some time together which was lovely.

After a busy day we caught the bus back to the airport and this time had the scenic drive through Melbourne and I think it took over an hour! We got some tea at the airport and did some shopping for Will and Charlotte who were back home with Aunty Coral (a big thanks to Coral and Abby and Adam for looking after the other two). Oh and a brought some Krispy Kremes to bring home! This flight was not as good as the first and Amelia had a big panic attack when the plane took off BUT at least we managed to get her to relax a little thanks to drugs and a great air host who made a fuss of her! I think we have both decided now that next time we go away we will catch the boat!