Happenings!

Just a few photo's from the last few weeks! I'm a little slack getting the camera out, a lot goes on in a day and photography usually isn't very high on the list of priorities!

We spent a week up the northern half of the state with my parents while my sister and niece were over from the west. These two munchkins would/will be a whole lot of trouble when they are older! Such a cheeky pair between them and never short of smiles and laughs! You would never guess who eats the most!

I tried so hard to get a nice photo of all 3 small people, but after about 10 attempts this was about the best of the lot!!

 And this little monkey has finally decided sitting isn't so bad and one does not need to throw themselves backward or try to perfect the art of planking when mum tries to sit me on the floor!! Ok, so she only sits for about 5 minutes at a stretch, but those muscles will get stronger!! She has also managed to cut her first tooth with the second very close to erupting as well (bit disappointed about the development of teeth at 7.5months, was hoping she would be like the boys and wait until about 9 months).

Maybe the camera will appear a little more often in the next few weeks with Q's birthday rapidly approaching (but don't get your hopes up)!

Randoms

This is what happens when you ask the boys to give Eleanor some toys! They very generously give her all her toys and put them on her face (must be so she can see/find them).

Peek-a-boo!!

 It's really difficult to get a decent photo of this child!! He never sits/stands still long enough!!

The bestest big brother! 

Watching 'Iggle Piggle' together!

Birthday Celebrations

Today we celebrated my birthday with an afternoon tea. I had spent quite a bit of my week baking lots of yummy things to eat, and, after some frustration and grouching on my part, everything came together and the food tasted great! I have been wanting to host a 'High Tea' for quite some time, and while this wasn't a true High Tea, I still enjoyed playing around with ideas and the food side of it.

Larry and the little people spoilt me rotten. Yes, Larry has good taste in jewelery, flowers and CD's!! Now all I need to do is spend a few $'s on a new pair of decent (read - waterproof) walking shoes.

Here are a few of the photo's we took this afternoon.

Top - Toffee Crunch Cheesecakes, Middle - Lemon Meringue Pies,

 Bottom - Custard Fruit Tarts

Creamy Egg and Lettuce Fingers, 

Salmon and Cream Cheese Rolls

Mini Carrot Cakes

Cheese, Dip and Meat Platter

(with my favourite dip at the moment, Beetroot, Cashew and Parmesan) 

Macy and Miss E

Somebody's very crazy children :o

(definitely not the best photo of our children)

A few of my gifts from my darling hubby and children......

A moon stone bracelet

Beautiful flowers

CD - You'll Never Walk Alone

(duets by a tenor and a baritone-bass)

Til next time.........LBQSE

A little bit of cuteness!!

Our Ella Bella having fun in her playgym and discovering toys are great for eating!

The toy has a ring on the end which she loves to chew!

How can you not but smile with her!?! (melt.....) 

She just charms the pants off anyone she sees! 

We are so very blessed to have such a happy, easy going baby!

Agfest!

After much discussion (and very little persuasion on my part) we (being Larry and I) made the decision to trundle up to Carrick for Agfest this year. Each time we had driven past the signs in previous years, we made the comment that we should go.

What is Agfest? It's a rural/farming type show organised and run by Tasmania's rural youth association. It's not your 'traditional' show, there are no side show alleys, no rides, no show bags (there are plenty of crafts on display and for sale though, but no competition displays). It's very much a display of all things agricultural (machinery, livestock, hardware, sheep dog trials, equine 'stuff' and camping/outdoors type stuff - caravans, camper trailers, boats). It's difficult to explain, but I'm sure if you google it you'll find the relevant site and get the gist of what I'm trying to say.

The highlight of the boys day (apart from jumping in muddy puddles, well, mostly just mud) were the tractors and machinery! Q was spoilt and treated to a 'helihopter' ride/flight with Larry (Sebastian didn't want to go). We bought plants (bulbs), we found samples of chook and dog food, we ate good (people) food, we walked and walked and walked some more! The pram (which we finally got fixed last Monday) was (and still is) caked in mud. We were caked in mud and slightly weary by the time we got back to the car. We were privy to a spectacular sun set as we drove home (yes we got there about 10am and left about 5pm).

So here are a few of the photo's we did actually take on the day (not very many, we were too busy looking at everything).

Having a sit on the kid size John Deere tractors!

They would have loved to take them home but at 

$400+ a pop, I don't think so..... :o 

Waiting for the helicopter to land!

Slightly excited!!

The view from the air 

(I think that's the town of Carrick you can see).

Two someones enjoying themselves

(it was over far too quickly though)!!

 

Spectacular sunset to cap off a great day!

 So ends another update! I will (hopefully) post a few pics of Miss E (seeing as she didn't feature in any of the above) a little later.

Til then...........

Growing up!

Our little boys are growing up! We had two very excited little munchkins, desperate to go to bed this afternoon! The reason is in the pic below!

Not sure how long the eagerness to go to bed will last, I guess only as long as the novelty of bunk beds lasts!

Our Bubba is sure growing up. In the last week he has really got the hang of toilet training (almost more so than Q, his nappy is usually dry after his nap, Q's is usually pretty wet) with very few accidents, proudly announcing to us last night that he'd put poo's in the potty (we didn't realise he'd even done it, despite being in the same room as Sebastian and the potty).

Today he was super excited as mum and dad went out to buy him a 'big boy' mattress and doona cover (and pillow). We just need to add a rail so he doesn't fall out and we're good to go (we did buy a rail but it needs to be returned as it was damaged and it's not suitable for his bed - it hasn't been my day for shopping and getting things right!).

Next step will be to change Miss E over into the cot (from the cradle). That wont be happening for a month or so yet (until Sebastian no longer thinks of the cot as his bed).

That's all for now! Maybe one day I'll get around to putting up some pics from our time away at Easter.

Surprise Visit!

One phone call can change a weekends plans in an instant!! After receiving a phone call from my sister on Friday (the 23rd of March) just before 8am, I had flights booked to Perth for the following morning by 9.30am. Plans for a quiet weekend (having the kids on my own while Larry went to WA) went out the window and a surprise was in the making! A phone call to one sister-in-law and the surprise was set!

Roll on 6am and Larry and I (with Eleanor) depart for Perth arriving at 9.30am (Perth time). We met Bruce and Sarah (and kids) at the airport, and surprise a shocked Diana. On the way to the homestead, it was decided that Larry would go inside with the others and I would ring the doorbell. Dad H greeted Larry in the driveway and took about 5 minutes to register that I was there as well (hehehe). They went inside while Eleanor and I waited at the front door. I rang the bell, thankfully Eleanor managed to keep quiet for a bit, and Mum H answered with '....what?!?!?!'.

Eleanor all set for her big adventure (at 4.30am)!

As the day went on, other family members were in and out. Gerry's reaction was the best though! I think we almost had to pry her off the ceiling and were all temporarily deafened ;) !!

After a visit with all the gathered family, we headed up to surprise Jo! All she could manage was 'What are you doing here?'!! Thanks Jo, come all that way and I don't even get a 'hi' ;) !! Her phone call with the news of their daughters birth was the reason I booked flights!

Jo before she saw us 

(Larry was trying to catch her expression as we walked in the door)

Cuddles with Dayna

Jo catching up with (a sleepy) Eleanor 

(who was 2 weeks old when they last saw each other)

Eleanor (intent on eating her dress) and Dayna

 After a short visit, we headed back to the homestead for a quick rest before the onslaught of people/activities/fun began with the Huizinga/Janssen reunion!

 Cuddles with Aunty Diana

Action in the pool yard!

 

Clive and Kiera

Gorgeous Sophy (from Karlo and Annet Janssen)

Dad H directing proceedings

Start of the kids treasure hunt

From L to R: Annet and Sophy, Wendy, Me and Eleanor, Dad H

From R to L: Dean, Len, Damian, Emma, Rachel, Mrs Janssen

Huizinga/Janssen grandkids 

(minus Alywn, Quinlan, Sebastian and Eleanor - she was sleeping)

 Huzinga's and Janssen's 

(trying to replicate an old photo from a holiday nearly 20 years ago)

 Sunday we spent with Larry's family, I snuck up to Rockingham while everyone went to Church in the afternoon.

Ash, Elliott and Eleanor

Mother and daughter!

 Dayna waving 'bye'

 

 We caught of with some friends and their gorgeous girl in the evening before Larry headed home (yup, sort and sweet).

Gorgeous Adelle (from Joy and DongWoo)

 Monday Eleanor and I spent some time with Sarah, Janneke, Tash and relevant kids, finally got a tour of Bruce and Sarah's house and managed to sneak in a few more cuddles of my new niece before heading home on the midnight horror!

Lunch at McDonalds (where else can you 

sit in peace and catch up while the kids can play?)

 

Evan didn't want to look in the group photo!

Cousins, holding hands already!

Little Miss Bright Eyes, Dayna

Eleanor was/is a great traveler, it's much easier taking a 12 week old than a 11+ month old! She slept on both flights home, we had 3 seats to stretch out on on the flight to Melbourne. Got squished into a window seat to Hobart (at least it's only a short flight from Melb).


The boys had their own adventure at Granny's house and had a blast with her! THANK YOU so much for having them, Granny! Thank you to Mum and Dad H who put us up for the weekend, and to Bruce and Sarah for the loan of the car!!

Til next time.......