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!