Monday, September 26, 2011

Happy Birthday Simone

Sorry for all the crypticness Facebook world! Mike's friend Simone had an Italian themed party last night for her birthday...she's also into teapots so Mike commissioned me to make a tea cosy as she didn't have one. He asked me to make it really ugly, I failed! He also told me just in time that she actually likes dragonflies, not mosquitos as he had previously told me! Seriously, who likes mosquitos?!?! So, while channelling Mel King (the only person I know with a tea cosy!) I made my first, and probably last one! Here it is!!!


And finally, an excuse for cupcakes!!! Italian themed of course! My kids told me (loudly) how silly I was, while walking round the supermarket buying Oreos to make meatballs! Raspberry pasta sauce was great too, and perfectly topped off with white chocolate parmesan! So next time you're having bolognaise, lasagna or tiramisu, try making these too, they're surprisingly easy!











And as I wasn't in charge of the camera I didn't get a photo of the birthday girl (who's camera puts mine to shame anyway!) but Lily got this shot of Miko in the wrapping paper that Eden chose for the teapot.


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Saturday, September 24, 2011

Perth

A few mixed up, random shots of our trip to Perth...we left at 2am so the kids didn't notice the 7 hour drive. This is 6.30am, having breakfast at a park in Northam, an hour out of Perth.


We were an hour early for opening time at AQWA, the Aquarium of Western Australia, so we went for a walk along the beach and did some crab spotting.


Argh, who's got Lachie?!


The touch pool was the favourite; baby stingrays, starfish, kina (but they're not called that obviously) and sea cucumbers that you can touch, pat, hold...Lachie was bravest, Lily tried, but got a bit freaked out by how friendly the stingrays are...see it stretching out of the water?


Whale tail seat...


Cooper still getting his energy out after a good nights sleep, even if it was half in the car!


Another miss poser


At Caversham Wildlife park, a must-see if you're in Perth. Feeding and patting the kangaroos!!! This was the highlight of the park for us. There was every animal from Australia, grouped into the location you'd find them, with these friendly guys in the middle.


Lily found the biggest to cuddle


Lachie tried to feed every one!


Eden had her favorites


It took a trip to another country for our kids to feed baby lambs! They also milked a cow and watched sheep rounding up and shearing at the farm show, surprisingly similar to NZ!


Eden wanted her own koala photo! She had to stand this far away as that's a handreared koala called Sunshine, who chases people for cuddles, but the keepers were adamant that she wasn't allowed any cuddles, unfortunately. The only ones we were allowed to pat were the sleeping ones.


Check out that sign..."chocolateria"!! Great place for after dinner!


Me and my girls...before the chocolate dipping sauce and bubbachinos!


Perth, by night...this is from the south, but we stayed right in the city. That ended probably the most perfect day ever. A quick trip round IKEA, which took almost 3 hours, while it rained, followed by all the favourite Aussie animals and a chocolate restaurant to end the day!


No need to find a pool, the hotel had one the perfect size!


And handy for daily first thing in the morning swims


Next day and Mike was in charge of all the plans. Walk, ride, scoot down to the harbour to catch the ferry to Fremantle and a walk around the markets and shops there. Was fun, and beautiful weather, but I think I'd like to go again without kids and with a full wallet! No car day included the train and buses too. Then a walk round to Mike's friend from school's place to watch Ireland beat Australia and have a great Aussie BBQ!


Last day, was raining a bit so we went to Sitech Science Centre, another must-see place. You need a whole day there! Here's our thermal family portrait!


Kids in the planetarium


And although we got home late, 11.30pm and it was a bit overcast while driving, we were very lucky to miss the storms that the Goldfields area had! It was a fair day for Coolgardie, about an hour from Kambalda, they had a massive dust storm, and Kalgoorlie had a lot of trees down went I went to town the other day, and Kambalda had been without power for a lot of Sunday night. A bit of rain in Perth was by far preferable!!!
Here's Lachie with one of his purchases, although he seems to think it actually repels flies...when there's been one inside, he puts the hat on thinking he's chasing it out! All I can say is, yay for flyspray! And yay that we won't be here for summer when they're really bad!


So that is about 1% of the photos from Perth!!


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Sunday, August 28, 2011

Esperance

Otherwise known as the second most beautiful place in Australia (maybe I should find out where is first!). It's about as far from home to Wellington, without the Levin park pitstop!
Esperance loosely translated is French for hope.
On the way we found fields and fields of what we think is canola plants...almost as good as a daffodil photo, since we'll miss Taniwha this year.





The star attraction at our picnic spot


Bit of a show off, almost as much as his friend that was swimming round the jetty!


Picnic on a beautiful lace on a beautiful day


Why?


Would be a great photo (with some colour adjustments) except for the blurry bit on the lens, maybe we'll have to do another trip to redo this shot since it was such a cool tree!


The beach is gorgeous, fine white sand for miles...and the water wasn't too cold, considering it's winter!








Stopping off at the skatepark after a long walk...Lachie contemplating this ramp, after which I videoed his decent...doubt he wants you to see it though!


A rose between so many (fun to watch) thorns!


Found another secluded part of the coast









And a few scenic shots, just to rub it in!


Looking across the bay to the township. Another 30-odd kms round the coast is Lucky Bay, right by a National Park. Kangaroos are often seen sunbathing on the beach there! Will have to try and fit in another longer stay one day.


And stopping on the way home, just on dusk to see the camels of Norseman.


All the kids tried really hard to stay up and watch the All Blacks, delayed coverage on free tv, started here at 8pm. I couldn't resist and read the tvnz.co.nz match report so after we put all the sleeping beauties to bed at half time, I left Mike to it on his own (as he didn't want to know the score!)


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Sunday, August 28, 2011

Character Dress Up Parade

We did very well considering Lachie didn't give us the notice til 6pm the night before and we didn't bring any dress-ups with us!!! The school kids dressed up as book or movie characters and paraded in front of the rest of the school...
Here are the kindy class kids. Eden as a Highland dancer, she even did a quick demo for the whole school


Lily as Thumberlina (the Barbie version one) with home made wings using the packaging from the duvet covers! Spot her Teenage Mutant Ninja Teacher!!


Lachie All Black, a few supporters out there, but a louder "Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!" at least he was recognisable! (and not hassled after last weekends game!)


Here are the winners of each class...picked by two senior girls. Their prize is a $20 book voucher each! Some more Aussie books heading for our bookcase! All the kids that dressed up get a freezie (ice block) and a bookmark.


Giving themselves a pat on the back...isn't Harry Potter from pre-primary cute!


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