Boxing Day

A hot Australian Christmas wouldn't be the same without spending Boxing Day at the beach. The kids had a great time wading through the water, exploring rockpools, and being chased up the beach by waves. Later in the afternoon we headed to a park for a picnic dinner and a play.

Christmas Day

It was a very Hobson Christmas. We played host to Michael's family. His sister Libby and her husband Michael. Their three kids, Aisling (6), Rory (4), and Ciara (2). Also visiting were Michael's parents. It was a full house, and a very happy one, with Henry and Rory being inseparable and keeping each other entertained.

Stockings and presents - looks like Santa's been.

Henry unloading the loot.

Henry and Rory very excited it is finally Christmas.

Helping Milly open her stocking.

A slightly bewildered Milly.

Opening presents with Nanoo... or as Milly calls her Noonee.

Milly's first set of wheels.

This Christmas caper is exhausting.

Christmas lunch.

A cooling dip to end a very hot day.

Henry's Christmas wish

I asked Henry what he would like Santa to bring him for Christmas. He thought about it for a while then said "a drink and a toy". As you can see he's not a greedy boy but I thought it was an interesting Christmas list.

I asked him what kind of drink and what sort of toy he'd like Santa to bring. "Soup and a big truck" was the answer.

Michael's birthday cake

No our children do not have a diet consisting solely of chocolate. Although looking back over the blog it could be seen that way given the number of photos we have posted with the kids faces covered in it. The special occassion this time was Michael's birthday. Anyone who knows Michael knows his love of chocolate, a gene he has passed down to Henry who can sniff it out like a dog a bone, so only a super chocolately cake would do to celebrate Michael's ageing.

Every child's favourite part of baking - licking the beaters.

And of course, someone has to lick the saucepan too.

Henry decided a whole cucumber was needed to go with his chocolate beater.

Henry and his cucumber sing Happy Birthday to Michael.
Milly kept her distance from the candles.

Happy Birthday Dadda.


Henry on his homemade stilts.

The Good Life

It is spring and I’m loving it. I love the smell of the neighbourhood gardens when I jog by – freshly mown grass and jasmine. I love the locals who all say hello and want to know you. Moving up here has been the right decision. We love our house and love our garden, and it has been the garden where we have spent most of our weekends.

The back patio.

One of the three kookaburras who visit us.

When we first moved in the garden provided us with privacy and the extra space we lacked living in Sydney. On closer inspection there was a lot of overgrown trees and shrubs, bushes that were actually weeds, and vines smothering other plants. We knew that we wanted to get two things out of the garden – a vegie patch and room for a cubby house – so a big clean up was called for.

The backyard before the clean up.

Nanoo and Peter came over to help and we all set to work transforming the garden. By the end of the day it looked bare but now that a few months have passed it is growing back greener and looks great. With spring now here we can sit in the backyard in the late afternoon and smell our own jasmine, see plenty of colour from the azaleas and other flowering shrubs and breath in the fresh air provided from the gum trees.

Michael and Peter cutting down the jungle.

We have started the vegie patch, all from seed, so there isn’t much to brag about yet. We bought a couple of cherry tomato plants which are now bearing fruit, and Peter gave us some of his strawberry plants which have just produced our first homegrown treats.

Tasting the fruits.

Spying on the neighbours.

The side terrace.

Yes, life is good.

Bits and bobs

Here are just a few random photos from the past month.

Big Chris and Roary the Racing Car. If you don't know who they are, you obviously don't have young children.

Footballer's legs.

An afternoon snuggle.

Strike a pose. Vogue.

Goldilocks. This one is just right.

Darby Street Fair: harness on, ready for action.

Darby Street Fair: jumping for joy.

Darby Street Fair: can I have a snow cone Nanoo?.

Darby Street Fair: if Henry has a snow cone, I want one too.

Megan's 37.75th birthday: Luka giving Henry a taste of what life will be like if they get married.

Megan's 37.75th birthday: party animal.

Megan's 37.75th birthday: the next Helmut Newton.

Chocolate mousse

Yummy, yummy, yummy.