Emma's Summer Uniform

Here is Emma's summer uniform - it's just a bit too long!! May need to take it up a few inches!

Lucy watching on

Mr Magpie Comes To Visit

One day last week, a curious and hungry magpie came to visit. He swooped in to our pergola area and gladly ate the chopped up ham we put out for him. Lucy was fascinated by this feathered friend - he must have been very hungry as he wasn't even bothered by Lucy's screams of delight!

Our Lady of Hope Day

Friday 16 September was Our Lady of Hope day at Emma's school. This is an annual day cleebrated by the school, starting with the whole school attending mass. The students then jump onto buses and are taken to Thordon Park for a day of fun and games with teachers, family and friends. It's a great day, with the teachers playing games with the students, a sausage sizzle, the older students held a face painting stall and families getting to know each other over a picnic lunch. It was a great day and Thorndon Park is a beautiful spot. It's a huge park about half an hour away from the school in the suburb of Paradise, with a huge lake (fenced), playground, open ovals and leafy picnic spots. The kids had a great day - Lucy loved chasing after the big kids, and it was a good chance for me to get to know some of the other parents. The kids are already talking about next year's Our Lady of Hope day!!

Emma's class - Room 1

Emma's "boyfriend", Nick!

Emma's "other boyfriend", James - poor boys!! (Lucy in the background, riffling through everyone's bags for food!!)

Now THAT'S A Rocking Horse!

On Sunday 16 September we jumped in the car and headed into the Adelaide Hills. We ended up at the Big Rocking Horse, located at Gumeracha, about 40 mins from Adelaide. After our Fairyland Village adventure, we were a little worried about what lay ahead. But we were pleasantly surprised. We were greeted by, you guessed it, a very large rocking horse. Technically, not really a "rocking" horse, but an excellent representation none the less. It's free entry, and only $2 to climb to the top of the horse, upon completetion of which you are entitled to a certificate proclaiming your acheievment. Emma and I braved the cold and rain to ascend this large metal beast; Wayne was on baby sitting duties. I have to say, the rocking horse is very well designed, with an "up" ladder and a "down" ladder. Emma enjoyed it so much we did the climb again before heading home!
There is also an animal park, which you can meander through and feed an assortment of animals. Kangaroos, wallabies, ducks, chooks, sheep, goats and a couple of rather nasty alpacas. Poor Lucy got smacked on the head by a hungry goat and Emma left me stranded in between the mean alpacas. After feeding the wildlife, we headed for the gift shop, where there is a huge range of wooden toys, most of which are made on site. Then it was off to the cafe for a bite to eat.
Overall, we had a great day and I would strongly recommend anyone to head out for a look should you find yourself in this neck of the woods. It was good fun and not too expensive - a nice change!

Yep, that's us at the top!

Up close and personal with the wildlife.

How cute!

Happy Birthday Emma!

On 24 August we celebrated Emma's fifth birthday! Jan and Kerry came down from Brisbane and stayed with us for the week, and on the night of Emma's birthday we went out for a family dinner to celebrate.She was, of course, spoiled rotten, by all. I couldn't help but feel sad for her though, not having any of her close friends and family around to help her party. She still had a great day and thoroughly enjoyed all her gifts.

Rapunzel, Let Down Your Hair!

Last week, Emma's school celebrated Book Week. Throughout the week there were various readings and activities centring around childrens books and story book characters. On Friday the week was wrapped up with a Costume Parade, with all the kids dressing up as their favourite character. Emma chose Rapunzel, so I set about making her a Rapunzel dress and long woollen plait. The dress turned out ok (don't look too closely - this was my first foray into ball gowns!!) and the plait looked great. Only problem was that Emma's hair, being like her folicly challenged mothers', is very fine and the plait proved too heavy. So, it lasted until we got to school where it was promptly ripped from her head and I was left standing holding onto it! I did manage to get some photos before we left home. The day was great - the kids loved dressing up and all the teachers, even Mr Blake the principal got into the spirit and wore costumes. There was a lot of wizards, and Harry Potter-esque costumes, fairies, princesses, pirates and there was even one Spongebob! Emma is already discussing what she wants to go as for next year's parade!! I better sign up for some sewing classes, fast!!

Where the Hell is Fairyland Village??

Back in July, on a particulalry cold and wet Adelaide Sunday, we decided to head out for the day and explore our new surrounds. We had scoured the internet, Googled "things to do in Adelaide" and checked out the local paper and stumbled across a place up in the Adelaide Hills called Fairyland Village. Described as a "Theme Park, Party venue and Fairy shop, the park displays fairytales in life size theatrical settings using antiques and memorabilia. Set in the beautiful Adelaide Hills in the town of Lobethal, Fairyland village has been entertaining children, parents and grand parents since 1973. A delight for all ages." Sounds great right?? Emma was excited - "are we there yet?" was repeated every 5 seconds. After checking whereis.com and setting up the GPS, it appeared it was only going to take us about 45 minutes to get there.

So off we went. I'm not sure what happended or where we took the wrong tun but 45 minutes turned into about three and a half hours!! Luckily I had packed lunch for the girls. We kept driving up hills, down hills, past farms and through towns that reminded me of that movie "Deliverance". Where the hell were we?? At one stage I was laughing so hard I couldn't see the road for tears. Of course, I was the designated driver (as always!) and eventually nature called - I had to go to the toilet - quick!! "We'll stop at the next servo" offers Wayne....there was no "next servo". We kept driving. I was not stopping on the side of the road. Then, out of nowhere, the sign we had been waiting for - "Fairyland Village".

Now, when you describe something as a "theme park", one has images of Dreamworld, Seaworld, even Australia Zoo. Fairyland Village doesn't really fit into any of those images. And it appeared as though some of the theatrical settings hadn't been spruced up since 1973. But Emma was excited. So we were determined to enjoy the day. Unfortunatley, it was probably the coldest, wettest, windest day on record. Luckily, I had rugged up the girls in multiple layers and I personally was wearing almost every piece of clothing I own.

It's cold!!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

They even had a Spongebob display!

These were a little distrubing...

The 'Santa's Workshop' display

Anyway, despite the long, arduous journey, the miserable weather and the somewhat tired state of the displays, we had fun at Fairyland Village. We enjoyed a lovely devonshire tea, with homemade scones and we even went for a second look around before heading off home. It just goes to show that it's not all about the destination - the journey is half the fun!

Fairy Dancing Girls

 It seema that Emma isn't the only little fairy dancing girl we have in our house. No, Wayne has not donned a fairy skirt (yet!) but little Lucy is now joining in with Emma's ballet antics, and even loves to dress the part!

The Next Mozart??

I think both the girls are going to pursue musical/dancing past times - Lucy has lately been wandering into the  front lounge room and protests quite loudly for the piano to be opened up. She then takes great joy in bashing away at the keys! 

Happy Birthday Waynie!

So Monday was Waynie's 37th birthday!! It was a bit of a quiet day for poor Wayne - off to work as usual and then a sedate family dinner that night. But I did cook him a special dinner - crumbed steak, honey carrots, cauliflower with white sauce, potato bake and strawberry cream cake for dessert. Yummo! Even little Lucy enjoyed herself! Emma loved the cake the best - especially the chocolate covered strawberries - her two favourite food groups in one!

I got Wayne a pair of sterling silver cuff links with the girls fingerprints on them and their names engraved on them. I saw them at a recent baby and kids handmade market down here and thought it would be a nice way for him to have a little piece of the girls with him when he is at work. I also got him an "Electrician" coffee mug, as the one he had got broken and he also received his Wallabies polo shirt in the mail from his mum, which he loved. Happy birthday Waynie!

Day Trip to Glenelg

On Sunday 3 July we jumped on a tram in the city and headed for Glenelg. It was the first day of sunshine in weeks and we were determined to get out and see some of the sights of Adelaide. The trip only took about 20 minutes and the girls were very excited to be finally catching a tram. Once we got there we wandered out to where the long pier heads out to sea. Although the sunshine was lovely, the wind was ferocious and boy, was it cold!! Needless to say, we didn't take the long walk along the pier, opting instead for the heated interior of the "Beach House". The Beach House is like Time Zone, but bigger! Emma was in awe! There is also a mini train track, heated water slides, boat rides, dodgem cars, undercover playground and what is said to be the oldest carosel in Australia. We were a bit disappointed that we couldn't head out along the pier, but we will definatley head back down to Glenelg when the weather is a bit warmer. It was a great day though, and we all slept well that night, having had a day out in the lovely fresh ocean sunshine.

Emma's First Day at School!

Yesterday, was Emma's first day at "big school". She has been eagerley awaiting this day and was only too happy to say goodbye to us once we dropped her off. The transisiton program was a great idea, as when we got there yesterday morning, she sort of knew what to do and where everything went. Her teacher, Miss Delia, is a lovely lady and I think she will be a great teacher and mentor for Emma.

School these days has certainly changed since I was there - instead of reading out the roll to see how was present and who was away, each classroom has an interactive projector screen. Each morning as the kids come in, they find their name on the screen and "pop" the balloon with their name in it!! Amazing!! I may actually have enjoyed school if they had this stuff back then!!

Today Emma was a bit teary and didn't want me to go, but I think this was becasue she was wanting to have a go on the computers, which wee already taken up with some of the other kids. Hopefully when i pick her up this afternoon she will have had a good day.

My Very First Blog!

So, here I am writing my first blog! I thought this would be a good way to keep everyone up to date with what we have been up to while we are in the deep south. And an easier wya to share photos without having to send emails with enormous attachments. So, I will try to update every week or so, with new photos etc and anything of interest. Hope this works out!!