Good Citizens

So last week was a bit of a milestone for us.  

We became Australians!

Yey for us, its been a winding road but a good one.

It's definitely not something I ever imagined eight years ago

but after six years here it feels good

we can walk a bit lighter now.

The girls got special ceremony dresses.

Skye picked out a bridesmaid dress pattern and it seemed the most appropriate occasion.

It's the 1st time I've made them both 'pretty' dresses :)

They stood up to say their pledges too.

.... but were most interested in the lammingtons and strawberries they could spy on the side.

A trip down the jetty, a night market and a few glasses of bubbles followed.

Cheers.

The Dinosaur Day

The big Dinosaur Birthday finally arrived on September 17th.

As she liked to tell you for a few months before.

Maud and Arthur spent a late night grappling with allen keys to produce a masterpiece kitchen.

(Thank you Grandma & Grandpa!)

The smalls woke early and Skye was the 1st to remember the day.

Presents were discovered, unwrapped, cooked on, put on and slid down.

'Steggie' was iced and made his way to playgroup with us, 

facing certain extinction.

It felt like the 1st day of summer,

and the 3 year old sure felt it too.

Running and paddling, shedding clothes, squealing with laughter and chasing seagulls.

A truly lovely day!

Birthday number 2

Next up was Arthur's Birthday.

I was just back from 2 weeks in Nepal,

We were all pretty tired.

We did manage to bake a cake,

and maybe he didn't mind the numbers we had for the candles!

Happy Birthday to Me!

My birthday kicks off birthday season in our house.

It was a beautiful sunny day,

The sort of day you hope for, for an August birthday in England but normally don't get.

We enjoyed choccy cake and strawberries on our front lawn.

Followed by a few acrobatics.

Cousins.

Down at the beach, someone isn't so interested in the view!

Pretty tiring meeting your two cousins for the 1st time...

The Pink Peril

On the way to the bike shop we were planning for something sober, not too girly...

but then we got there and she wouldn't get off this one...

She loves the tassels....  they match her outfit.

She's not sure about going up and down curbs but made it to Grandma & Grandpas.

1st Day

The 1st day of School came on us in a rush

Skye was ready..... indoor shoes, woolly hat and everything,

We all got to go for the 1st day

I don't think Skye would have minded in the least if we hadn't!

Yummy food, dress ups and some songs.

Really happy that she'll be here,

knowing Julie and Mim will look after them all.

Happy Girl

Hello Again

I've been away too long

Not that we haven't had some amazing moments in between

but no computer of my own kind of got to me

all sorted now.

Hi Alex!

They got these bolts as part of a puzzle for Christmas

Not where they were meant to go but they do fit quite well!

Flower Girl

I would like to say that winter is on its way out

but its howling a gale again and pouring with rain 

as it has been for the last month or so.

Here's Skye to cheer us up.

These Lilies just make me think of winter here.

She loves the lilies and happily, as they are a weed here, its ok to pick them.

Face painting in the 1st photos model's own...

Last photo professionally done.  

She was having none of the fairy options and insisted she wanted a cow face.