Milestones

 Hj's first school award for her reading and also settling so well into school - as you can tell by these shots I was running a teeny bit late for school assembly.

The tooth fairy has also been kept busy

oh joy & heart break the first day of school

Our Wonderful Holiday in East Gippsland!

Nearly been back for a week, I have worked two days of a new contract, which I am really enjoying! J getting into the routine of early starts and lots of driving to his new job - goodness life will be hectic with school in the mix too.

We stayed in a place called Bumberrah, much to our children's delight, at the Tambo Trails by the Ringbark, which we can highly recommend to you!


Being on a pastoral property we did a little yabbying and general mud play!

 

We spent most of our time on water or in water, below is on a cruise we took around the Gippsland Lakes, a huge system of water - I couldn't picture in my mind how it all worked until we took the cruise.

 

We also did plenty of bike riding and little walking hikes!

 

The River we were staying near was the Tambo River, we also stayed near the East Gipsland Rail Trail.  On Adventurous day week took a 12km ride with the kids to Bruthen, a sweet little town with a fab opshop & also it's own brewery - much to J's joy! We started at the old Bumberrah train station.

After the ride and a boutique beer we took at dip in the local river in the sand bars (that is an abandoned hand made raft, not toxic waste!)

Throughout the area we stayed there were a lot of these amazing trestle rail bridges - historical engineering amazingness, here I am below looking very impressed.

A walk through the grounds at the historical Nyerimilang Park, Nungurner. With a spot of bird watching and family embraces, not to mention little leaps of joy.

Of course we took at trip to the Buchan Caves

Our favourite place was the Mitchell River and its surrounding natural park. It is a very special place - without any crowds, we enjoyed the river all to ourselves.  It is also a very special indigenous site.

Kinder Concert

 Lots of new starts for us this year - J a new job with loads of travelling - me a new contract with a festival and Hj starting school!


 We all adored her kinder year - her kinder was just beautiful and her teacher amazing.  I hope her experience of school is just as positive and fulfilling for her.  Not far away now - picking up school book order next week!

Hetty is dressed up here as a numbat - as everyone had a letter from the alphabet and made up their own little rhyme for the letter to the tune of Skip to My Lou  Numbats are nibbling, N, N, N!!

The Christmas that was

This year Christmas for me was saying a lot of no.  No to parties and outings and extra events, just to keep our head above the water, as it was our first Christmas without our special mother & Granny.  Also school and kinder concert, changing jobs, applying for jobs interviews and all that joyful stuff.

In so many ways I am glad this time of year is over and we are in a new year.  The kids had a fabulous time and enjoyed being spoilt and loved and cared for!

 

Here is me and Hj in our matching Christmas outfits - something I have been wanting to do for years - inspired by SoulMamma I am holding my handmade gift by my sister!

 (Check out Kd's knees - a result of a spectacular scooting accident at the bottom of our steep drive way!)

Play at home & kinder

 Kd going through a huge lego phase - including making a zombie disco

 Kd at kinder with her beautiful friends

I keep on forgetting about this fantastic site Made by Joel so much inspiration out there for play

And now for something completely practical!

Too funny Hj!