Real 4wding

And you thought they actually DROVE the cars around the bush...ha ha, no it's way more fun this way. Boys playing cars in the mud.

Toolangi National Park Victoria

Mt Franklin and Wombat State Forest

After a busy weekend Monday arrived with a welcome relief of it being a public holiday. After a nice slow morning start we packed up a picnic and head toward Daylesford area, specifically Mt. Franklin an extinct volcano which you can drive up and walk around. Once we arrived (and realised I'd forgotten the fry pan, tongs and oil) Danny and the boys fired up the barbie and cooked some snags and while Charlie explored his surroundings.

After our picnic and cuppa in the beautiful sun we set off for a walk in the trees. It was really lovely and the boys had fun. it was so nice to be doing something relaxing and taking it easy.

After some quiet adventuring it was time for Danny to do some adventuring of his own, so we took the long way home via Wombat State forest and found some great puddles and tracks. It was heaps of fun, and we arrived home with the car suitably muddied up. (see "Danny's Puddle for a video of...well...his puddle)

Danny's Puddle

Please excuse my momentary fit of panic at the start of the clip...I DID stop myself from saying anymore.

Olives from Richards Trees

Charlie helping to sort the olives with Aunty Simone

Needle Felting

Kylie introduced my to this wonderful craft last Monday. I heard much about it but never quite understood it. However seeing it done simply inspired me to pick up a needle and create.
This cute little bird was my first creation, not bad for a beginner (I do tend to have beginners luck with these things though, unfortunately my second bird looked slightly more gumbo than this).

Josh created a beautiful mushroom (will post a photo of course). He was more addicted to this than I was in the end.

Charlotte helped me make some balls and flowers for the hanging bird I made s we could give it to her mum. Noah had a crack at it too and did very well creating himself a little person. A few needles lost there lives in the process though, so once we reinvest in some more needle felting will have to take a back seat. Oh well it will give me time to make Charlie some nappies.

Update 4th June 2010

Life seems to rushing by in a blurr at the moment. We are very lucky however to have Simone (Danny's sister) here with us for a few weeks. It has been really wonderful. Apart from the fact that I have not had to do dishes for 2 and a half weeks now, it's very nice to have her company. She cooked a lovely meal for us tonight which she picked up from her time working in Italy, and I tell you I could get used to this...trying to find a way to convince her to stay.
She took the boys off to church last Saturday (they always have so much fun there with Charlotte and the other kids), there was a church social in the evening...Spanish theme...Noah came home sporting a rather fetching moustache.
On Sunday we had Charlie party. On Monday (Charlie's actual birthday) we had our traditional pancake breakfast. We invited our friends Kylie, Khobi and Manny, we had a great day (it's never a bad day when pancakes are involved). Kylie even taught us how to do needle felting. LOVE IT...so much. Charlotte and I made a little birdie which we gave to her mum. I was quite impressed with my first attempts. Josh made a really cool mushroom.
The rest of the week we just pottered around, busy doing stuff here and there. On Tuesday we went out and picked two buckets full of beautiful olives. It was such a nice thing to do, I know if I had on olive grove I could get Simone to stay. There was something so satisfying about picking them. Last year she "pickled" (for lack of a better word) two jars to see how they would go, a year later we tried them and they were so yummy. This year we are being slightly more ambitious and doing a whole tub full (by "we" I collectively mean Simone). Hope they work again. We had lunch on the beach that day too, it was lovely. Hadn't been down to the beach much lately so we really must do it at least once a week.
Josh went to "Enviro Ed" his home school class he goes to once a week. They just acquired a plot in the community garden next door, which is very exciting, so they weeded and planted and planned in there for the day. He also found and befriended a fellow "succulent" fan at the garden, she seemed so happy to meet a kid who was so into it all. He had a great day.
Noah went to his friend "Ally's" house today after school. She is a friend from school which he hasn't' seen for ages but we ran into then at Auskick last week. They are a lovely family, hope to continue to catch up with them in the future.
Oh Yeah, Danny and I (and Charlie) went to lunch at The Koko Lounge (Sri Lankan) in Mornington. We've decided it's much better going out to lunch than attempting to go out to dinner. That was very nice and very special, as it's certainly not something we do often.
Had the usual basket ball, football and Auskick and would have had gymnastics had I not completely forgotten about it (woops sorry boys).
Today Chuckles and I went over to Janine's to help her pack and load some stuff, not sure how much help we actually were, but hopefully some.
Faith (Danny's mum) arrives tomorrow, so that will be very nice to have her here for the week before her and Simone head off to the UK for a few weeks.
Oh and another highlight of my week would have to been receiving my new "snap press" in the post, now EVERYTHING can have press studs, I am so excited. I have already started making Charlie some more nappies out of old bunny rugs and expect some more fabric in the post (for covers) any day now. I even made a nappy for Charlies baby doll. I even impress myself sometimes...really.
Hmm what else. A trip to our organic vege lady (always a worthwhile trip). Some nice time spent at home. Noah new maths curriculum arrived. A garden weeded, a lawn mowed, some Sunshine enjoyed and soaked up. And much food cooked and eaten. Occasionally the house was cleaned (and tidied, I kid you not). Washing machine pulled apart and fixed.
I guess it has been a kinda busy week, no wonder I feel exhausted. It all on again tomorrow as we are expecting guests for lunch now, which will be lovely.
It's late and couldn't be bothered uploading photos right now, so they will have to wait. I really have been slack lately taking photos. I will endeavour to remedy this.
P.S. oh my, I am tired, thank goodness for spell check that could have been disastrous.

Charlie Turns One 31st May 2010

My purely delightful One Year Old...he is just so much fun (except when he needs his nappy or cloths changed, can't wait for summer), and such a happy little chap.

Well, in this post I myself would expect a load of wonderful photos of the wonderful day we had last Sunday celebrating Charlie's birthday (as it really was a lovely day, Thank You all so much).

However this mother's brain was in overload as it was and failed to remember to charge my camera battery (duh). So I have no photos, only memories of that day.

Simone and I cooked up a feast for all and Josh made his dad's tzaziki recipe to go with the roast lamb...it was delish. I baked Charlie a very yummy chocolate mud cake with cream. Thank You to the following people for coming and sharing in the celebrations: Charlotte, Simone,Jo, Adam, Izzy, Will, Aunty Carol, Bobby, Rikka, Torin, Reilly, Soraya (and bubs in tum), Mike, Alex, Chris, Andy, Olivia, Ethan, and Amelia.

And a big Thank You to everyone who remembered Charlie on his birthday and sent their well wishes, beautiful cards and lovely gifts.

I made this bunting for Charlie for his birthday, it's such cute fabric (thanks sis). My very clever friend Kylie made these needle felted birds for him, they are so cute and Charlie loves them (so do I).