Celebrating the big Four-Zero!

We left home early today and headed down the coast to Rockingham where we caught the ferry over to Penguin Island. A glass-bottom boat was waiting for us on arrival for a tour over to see the sea lions (we only saw one) and a running commentary about the area. It was quite interesting, but our kids were a bit too young to take it all in.
Then we arrived back on Penguin Island where we had a picnic lunch and the kids had a paddle in the cool waters. Then it was off to see the Penguin Feeding show. Unfortunately the kids got fidgety because it was so busy and they could barely see. But a lovely time was had anyway.
Very tired kids tonight, all that sea air should make them sleep well.
It was a great way to spend the day with the special people in my life on my birthday.

Easter Sunday

The girls were super excited went they went to bed last night in anticipation of the Easter Bunny coming. Kate, the ever fastidious one made us tidy up the whole house. She would not let me sit down until the kitchen sparkled, the floors gleamed and everything was put away in its place! Bless her! Then she went straight to bed ahead of Ella and was soon sound asleep. The only downside of that was that she woke at 4am and wanted to go on an egg hunt. I, of course said no, so she hopped into bed with me and chatted nearly non-stop until Ella came in at 6am. Then they were into it! They loved looking for all the eggs and collecting them in the baskets they made earlier this week. It's also become somewhat a tradition they get new winter pyjamas too. This year they were extra lucky and got dressing gowns and ugg boots! Ruby & Jonah spent the day with us as Amie had to work. The kids played outside nearly all day (got to love this cooler weather) in their little tent. They even managed to get Jonah to sit in it, that was until he spied something better to explore!

A Day Out in the City

We had a lovely day out in the city this morning. The girls wanted to do some shopping and picked the city to go to. Of course we had to go on the train. We wandered around a bit before buying a few things. Bought some lunch and sat in the sun and watched the people go by. A bit more wandering around and then we caught the train home again. The city was really busy being a long weekend, but the train was pretty empty.

A lovely way to end the term

Kate & Ella both received Honours Certificates at today's assembly. This is the first time this has happened.

Ella received hers for: Excellent writing and great use of punctuation!


Kate received hers for: Always displaying an exemplary standard of behaviour and for completing her English tasks with great detail. You are a great role model for your peers Kate. Well done!

Then the Year One's and Two's held their Easter hat parade. This is my last year of having a child in this, nice after 4 years continually making hats.

Next year I will be able to sit back at watch Ruby parade, except I won't have to make the hat.

The photos are dark that were taken today, will try to lighten them later and post.

House

before

This week we have had the roof men here restoring our roof. It's been the original early seventies roof which has held up exceptionally well, even through Perth's storm last Monday, we didn't get a single leek. They made roofs well in those days. Anyway the roof took four days to complete. We chose a green colour (a bit of a change from the white) and it looks fantastic. The photos don't really do it justice, the light was wrong, but Kate was feeling poorly (she now has the vomiting bug Ella had last weekend) so I was in a hurry.
The gutterings still need to be painted, we opted to do it ourselves and save some dollars.

after

Friendship Boxes

I had an idea for the girls to make friendship boxes in the hope they when they are mean to each other that they can go to their boxes and what's inside will reflect what they really feel about each other. The idea is that at anytime they can pop something nice into their sisters box - a handwritten note how special they are, a small toy, a drawing - anything that will make the other happy. When they are fighting they will be sent to their rooms to look through their boxes and hopefully it will make them realise how special having a sister is. Fingers crossed.

The drought has broken

After four long months without rain, yesterday the skies opened up and down it came in force. We were lucky where we live, no damage at all, but we were without power for 13hrs (from 4pm to 5am) which didn't really worry the girls at all. They love the opportunity to use their torches for real.

Sickness in the house!

Yesterday Ella woke with a sore tummy, and as the day wore on she moaned and groaned more until the vomiting started. Then came a blinding headache and high temp. So she of course stayed home from school today even though she is better (she was better by bedtime last night) There is a bug doing the rounds at school, last week had kids away and there was only 10 at school in her class today.
Poor wee Jonah is sick too, but of a different kind. Poor thing has pneumonia. Not sure where he got it from, he didn't even have a hint of a cold. This is the first time he's been sick in his little life, and oh what a thing to have.

New Brightenings

I saw these gorgeous pictures for Ella's room last year before we painted it for her. I layby'd four of the six prints and then forgot all about them. So on Thursday I went and picked them up. Ella decided to share two of them with Kate, even though they don't really fit the theme/colour of her room they still look lovely.

Library Love

I go to the library two or three times a week as it's right next door to where the girls go to dancing, so I pop in to kill time and check out what new books I can borrow. The girls get to go sometimes too, but often I will pick out some for them (Kate often gives me a list) They love the library as much as me.

This is what I'm currently working my way through:

Do you love to visit the library? What are you currently reading?

Baby Jonah plays with the dolls (5mths old)

These photos were taken a couple of weeks ago when I was looking after him one day. He snuck into Ella's bedroom and was fascinated with the baby in the cot. Loved putting the dummy in and out of its mouth ~ and his!!! I think we need to invest in some boys toys.

Corymbia Festival

We went along yesterday to the annual festival in our suburb to ride the camels, rides, eat fairy floss and meet up with lots of other families from school. The added bonus was both Kate & Ella were performing their ballet dance from last years concert (Kate has danced at the festival before, but first time for Ella) They loved every second of it especially as so many of their friends were watching!
The baby animals were a huge hit too!
It won't be long before Jonah will be camel riding too!

Happy 22nd Birthday to Amie! (15th February)

It's hard to believe that 22 years has past since Amie was born! Where did the time go? It only seems like yesterday she was born on a hot afternoon on a Monday in February, in Hastings, New Zealand. Now she is a beautiful Mum to Ruby & Jonah. We love you Amie xxx

PS: I just noticed this post is dated Tues 16th Feb. It's actually still Monday 15th in WA (10pm) so it's still Amie's birthday TODAY!