This picture was taken at Courtney and Steven's wedding.

(this is everyone!!)

Protecting our children

I know they say that we should not wrap our children in Cotton Wool

or Bubble wrap, but we need to let them experience life and

learn to deal with what comes their way.

BUT....

What do we do when they wrap themselves in Bubble Wrap??

This was Megan today.
(I secretly think she was trying to hide from Madison,

so Madison didn't see her playing with the Troy and Gabriella dolls!!)

THANKSGIVING - Aussie Style

Ok so Thanksgiving is not traditionally celebrated here in Australia.

Because Jason (our brother in law) is from America and

we love to help him celebrate all the American holidays

and thanksgiving is one that we REALLY enjoy!

These pictures are of some cupcakes that I made for dessert

and the lovely turkey we enjoyed.

Thanksgiving is a holiday I could get used to!!

A told B and b told C....MADISON is 5

CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM

Madison is 5!!

When we were in the USA 18 months ago a friend introduced us to the book

'Chicka Chicka Boom Boom'

It is a fantastic book, which the girls LOVE.

So for Madison we decided to have a

'Chicka Chicka Boom Boom' party.

Madison has been waiting to turn 5 since her cousin Jacob was 5 in May.

Some days she was in tears because she wasn't 5 yet.

On the morning of her birthday, still half asleep she mummbled

"I am 5"

It was so cute, she is so excited to be 5, that means she is

a big girl and she will be able to start school next year!

They had so much fun as we had a few kids from

Kinder there and then the

family party afterwards.

Madison was SO spoilt!

I just can't believe that she is 5.

She starts school next year and just can't wait.

MY BABY IS GROWING UP!!

HOT, HOT, HOT!!!

For Melbourne Cup weekend this year we decided to go camping somewhere different.
(let it just be said that we will NEVER do that again!!)

We went up to Echuca, about 3 hrs from Melbourne and it was

HOT!

It was about 37 degrees everyday, and when you are staying in tents and caravans,

with NO aircon, it can get very hot.

As you will see in the pics, everyone tried many different ways to keep cool!
(This included Maya drinking from a spray bottle - as above!)

~ WATER BABIES ~

For those who know my little Madison,

she has been petrified of water.

Since Dave and Sue got their spa her confidence has soared,

to even putting her head under!

(being a swimming teacher, let me tell you that is a HUGE accomplishment)

When we were away, she took it to even new levels,

she was jumping in, getting dunked and I even taught her how to swim torpedo.

~ BASKETBALL ~

OK so I mentioned it was HOT right?

Well even in the heat the boys still managed to play basketball!



~HALLOWEEN~
Australian Camping Style

While we were away it was Halloween.

This is a tradition that is just starting to warm up here in Australia.

Jason (our brother in law) is from Chicago,

so we love to celebrate all the American Holidays with him.

The kids also enjoy this, so they donned on their outfits and

went around to all the campsights trick or treating.....they had a ball!



~ ROADBLOCK ~

One day while we were driving back to camp
(which I might add was in the middle of nowhere!)

We were stopped at a road block.

There were flashing lights, but we couldn't really see what was going on.

Ohhh did I mention that it was HOT?

So Madison and Megan grabbed the spray bottles to keep themselves cool.

It turned out that a car had caught fire and then it had started a small scrub fire.

The girls were very excited to see all the fire trucks.

Because it was so HOT we decided to pack up early and come home.

Next year we will be going back to 'Blue Gums' in Eildon
(where the year before last we were just about flooded out hehe)