Visit From Gran and Grampa

We all had a very exciting and wonderfully busy weekend. Saturday morning saw the arrival of Gran and Grampa, Janine and the birthday girl Charlotte.

We headed out to the beach (Mt Martha) for the kiddies to have a puppy run and a very short cold swim (Golden Rule: One can NOT go to the beach and NOT swim regardless of the weather), I managed to talk Charlie out of a swim though.

We moved on for the mandatory hot chips at the beach (Safety Beach)

And a play in the park.

On the eve of the big birthday the kids (and Danny) camped out in the back yard, very exciting, so exciting in fact they they didn't get to sleep until 10 o'clock. This was Charlotte's first time in a tent.

Tub Time

It was hot today however we chose to stay home for some much needed r&r. We've had such a full on couple of months and it is starting to take it's toll on us all.After an afternoon nap (all round), Josh took Charlie out for a play in the tub and with the hose. Charlie being the water baby that he is loved this of course
Look at those cute teeth

I think Josh wished he was big enough to squeeze in there with him. I reassured by telling him about the time he DID do just that when he was Charlies age (all those years ago...boohoo).

Thanks for being SUCH an ace big brother Josh.

I'm Dying.......Tie Dying that is, of course

This is the kind of dying we always enjoy...every couple of years we do a new batch of tie dye shirts for the boys and cousins.First we got busy with the rubber bands, the boys put in loads of thought and got really creative tieing.

Next we mixed up our blue and green dyes and filled our trusty sauce bottles ready for squirting.

We then hit the back yard to make a wonderful mess (lucky the grass was already green).

It's so exciting making things change colour. The boys loved this bit too, the sauce bottle are an easy way for the boys to use the dyes without having to touch them.

Even more exciting was what we found when we removed the rubber bands...I love it (I just wish the over the counter dyes stayed this vibrant). They loved seeing what designs turned out like, what worked well and what didn't.

We love our 2010 "Ocean and Earth" series of Tie Dyed shirts.

Very Exclusive...Limited edition, only 8 were made. lol

More new Spunky Trunks

These are so so cute, an other Aunty Janine creation...

Love em, the baby's not too bad either.

Shower Baby

How cute is this, Josh giving Chuckles a shower. What an awesome big brother he is.

Wilsons Prom - Wildthings Home Ed Camp 2010

Oh and what a week we had too...it makes me so happy that I am able to provide these opportunities to my children, how blessed we truly are to be homeschooling, to have access to such beautiful environments and spend time with such great friends.

Nothing like a late afternoon walk on the beach to kick off a holiday, not to mention great photo opportunities...I love taking photos in these lights.

Love this photo of Eli captured by the sun.

Kelp everywhere, but not to much that it was gross to swim thankfully.

There were thousands of these crab shells all over the beach in all shapes and sizes

Nature journaling was a big part of what the kids did at camp, all the kids got right into it, it was great. They were involved in night bush walks, bird watching, beach games, insect collecting, beach combing, beach games, bike riding, surfing, swimming, body boarding, beach art and loads more.
Charlie getting amongst it helping out in a special that only Charlie knows how
BUGGERED!!!

One afternoon, I (and Charlie) took Josh down for a late swim, it had been a very stressful day (for me) and so it was so relaxing to unwind on the beach and get some more nice shots while I had a spare hand to actually take photos.

Love this one of Josh paddling for a wave at sunset.

Oh and how Charlie loves the beach and water, he just couldn't get enough of it, it was so lovely to watch him so thoroughly enjoy himself. One day I took him in the waves and he loved the waves breaking on him, he ended up falling asleep with waves breaking on him and slept out in the water in my arms for an hour. My water baby.

I was so glad we squeezed the boards in...not as glad as the boys were though.

SURFING...huh who would have thought. One afternoon one of the mother approached the surf school and asked if we could hire out there boards for the afternoon, Josh took to it straight away (as did lots of other kids). My big shock was Noah though, after announcing he wasn't even going to bother trying to stand up...he did and stood up first go. I was bursting with pride, not only at my boys mastering such an awesome skill but Noah outdoing himself.

So cool, love it, go Noah.

Guess what EVERYONE wants for a birthday present now??? Except Noah as he figured out his birthday is forever away, so he just wants a surf...just because.

We stopped at Whiskey Bay on the way out, the rocks there are awesome, we couldn't stay long but we will definitely revisit the Prom another time, hopefully with Danny next time.

There was heaps I didn't get photos of because it was all just a bit too hard sometimes, and I figured it was more important enjoying the moment than trying to capture it on film.