Beautiful ladybird lights!

Our dear friends Teresa, Nathan and their gorgeous girls stayed with us recently and when they went home they found these sweet lights for Eb for her birthday. She was so excited and now they are on each night.....

A day at the snow

It has been an amazing snow season this year. Snow for opening weekend, then very little in June/July and then in August it all came down and made up for the lack of snow up until then.
We decided to take Eb and Autumn-Grace up (she was so keen to go) - and she was such a trouper. She had a ball - but she was (literally) sick on the way up AND the way down!
Anyway, we did have fun and here are the photo's to show for it!

Cars IN the snow!


some of the beautiful sights






including almost buried rubbish bins


Two little snowbunny's.. (notice the snow up to the TOP of the playground fence!)






our snowman....

Visit to the lake and then dance....again

Today we just had a visit to the lake...and a walk around it...in the cold and rain! It was a lot of fun though.
Then it was off to dance this afternoon. Oh how I love Friday's!







love this carefree photo of my little girl just loving life...

A wonderful weekend at King Valley with the Gliddon's

This was such a treat for us - a whole 2 nights and 3 days with this beautiful family - before they head back home. It didn't look like it was going to happen - and then God opened the door and we had such a lovely time. We didn't do a great deal - just walks and 'chillin together!

here we stopped at 'Sam Miranda' winery




then we arrived at King Valley and it didn't take long for the children to settle into some play on the swing....




got some beautiful shots of the 2 girls together...








some morning fun for the girls


gorgeous Josiah


and gorgeous Eb


the 4 children had so much fun just doing farm things....


and some more photo fun with the girls










Elijah the cat lover


Elijah and Kat cooking


playing on daddy's shoulders


three children having a ball!

Party day at last!

Ebony was SO excited. She has been really anticipating this holiday - like never before. She asked questions ALL morning until it was finally time to go.

She had the most wonderful party and all the children seemed to truly enjoy it. The first hour seemed to go very slowly and then it was all over!

I couldn't have done it without the help of, particularly Kat and Susan - they were diamonds! This was my first attempt at a party (and my last at such a big one!). The amazing thing about the country is how the invited children come complete with their siblings! I hadn't really counted on that (and there ended up being a LOT of them). One sweet friend actually called me and asked, but the rest just see it as normal. I probably would too if I had more than one child! I didn't mind at all and thankfully it all worked out and I don't think anyone missed out - but I must say a party for 18 ended up being more like a party for 30!

Here's some memories of a wonderful day for my darling girl.

Before the fun began!


The Cake - this had been a bit of a nightmare for me. I had decided to make the cake the night before and left it way too late. I went to carry it into the laundry where it was a bit cooler for overnight - only to have the top section collapse! I took it very well - through it in the bin and went to bed. Got up the next morning and thankfully it all came together beautifully in the end!


it wasn't my choice of cake - but Eb was very happy....


then the excitement started! - it's so beautiful to watch the joy of a little girl without a care. It's EXACTLY the way childhood should be.....




more food made by me!






Then some party fun started!




Presents were really interesting! the children bombarded Eb and she was a bit overwhelmed...I had to try and 'manage' the children 'cause they all wanted her to open their present!




pass the parcel....


then it was cake time....


Jade watned to be part of the candles too :)




then it was all over so we had a family snap or two ....