Christmas & New Year Adventures

We have just come back from 2 weeks camping in South Australia on two of the most beautiful beaches, Coffin Bay and Memory Cove.

William had a absolute ball - he caught his first fish and handled many others - not scared in the slighest. He ran on the beach with the other kids - got very very dirty in the soft powered dirt and learn't loads of new words.

He has two new teeth, got an infection in his toe and on his hand from cuts which both cleared up really quickly and slept very well snuggling in at the end of each day, rising early for more adventures.

He tried Abolone for the first time and prompty called "more" to the delight of the crowd. He charmed everyone in the group with kisses and "nigh night" and waves each bedtime.

Paul made a birthday cake for me and William licked the mixer whilst covered in dirt. The in car DVD player was worth every penny - William was great for the 18 or so hours it took to get there and another 20 hours back!! He did better than me, that's for sure!!

He had loads for adventures, but I'll let the pictures tell you the rest - Enjoy!

I think I'll be a fisherman like Daddy, but Mark caught this one!

Shall I give him a kiss Mummy?

Thanks Mark - I'll take it from here!

Can I wind it in now Daddy?

Catch of the Day

Does this rod suit me?
Mackeral - caught by Mark

Look at my fish Mummy

William's first catch - Garfish

No, not fish for dinner - Roast Lamb Birthday Dinner

Is this hat too big for me?

This is serious stuff - Bob is building a house

Sums up the holiday really - happy hour on the beach

Fresh caught Abolone - cooked three different ways for Happy hour at Memory Cove.

Happy hour for William too - Chippies!

Mum won't be happy when she see's me.

Oh well, what can she do - ground me?

What's more dirt - I have it everywhere already!

I think I might be in trouble
Yummy - Cake!!

Cousin Elise on Christmas Day

Got my hard hat, just in case I need it

Fun on Christmas Day

I'm riding in Muck from Bob the Builder

And this is Lofty

And this is Scoop!

Flying a kite with Daddy and Mark at Jells Park

Cake Monster

William has been helping me bake ginger bread men and Christmas Cake. He pulls the chair upto the side of the bench and gets upto all sorts of mischief. I was cutting out gingerbread men, turned away and he picked the cutter up and had a go himself (picture below). Then, whilst I was icing the men, he stole 2 when I wasn't looking!!

After creaming the butter, sugar and eggs for the Christmas cake, I gave him one of the beaters to lick and when I turned away to get the fruit he dipped the beater back into the mixture and he had the most mischievous look on his face when I turned around again!!

William turned his bike over and was "fixing" it like Paul fixes his bike, so Paul gave him two spanners and he preceded to fix his block cart (picture below). He is copying a lot of things we do and say so when I said "bugger" the other day, William followed suit!!!

William loves eating cake too - I made a batch of mini banana muffins and he ploughed through them in a couple of days - he saw them when he woke up from his nap and he yelled "cake".

Yummy Mum

Helping Mummy to cut shapes out

Finished product

Mr Fix it
Too tired for any more baking Mum! Let me watch Bob in peace

November and Early December

We spent the first week of December down the Great Ocean Road, following Paul and Mark for part of the Great Vic Bike Ride from Portland to Geelong - 550kms in all and 9 days to complete.

William and I went ahead to Apollo Bay and stayed in a cabin. Emma and Daniel joined us for 2 nights and the boys were either naughty or nice together - no surprises there!! but they did have a ball.

William is talking heaps, loads of new words, his favourite being 'stuck'. it is amazing how many different situations you can use this word - when he can't get out of his chair, his pusher, can't get his shoes off, or his bike gets caught behind a chair, he can't get his jumper off - 'stuck' always appears!

Mark has been here for a month now and William is enjoying having a new playmate.

Here are a few shots for November and early December.

Paul and Mark at the Port Fairy Lighthouse on the Great Vic Bike Ride

Drawing with Daniel at Apollo Bay

Helping mummy make banana cake

Yummmy Cake

Daniel and William cuddling Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy

Partners in Crime again - water play

Hello Mummy!

Still partners in Crime at Apollo Bay in the bath after sandcastles at the beach

I'm helping Daddy using tools!!

No Ruby, leave me alone, you've already had a kiss!

How do you like my new sandpit?

Wet through at Ruby's house playing in the water - sorry Mum!