June Photo a Day - Day 8

Day 8 Prompt - Six O'Clock

6am - Hanging at Grandma and Grandpa's on our dressing gowns
6pm - Driving home

Australia Day at an Australian Icon

For Australia Day the council organised a celebration at the local foreshore with a free sausage sizzle, jumping castle, live band and fireworks. (I love living within a municipal that holds heaps of free events!) I was asked to volunteer but I thought I'd take the VIPs to the event instead and declined. The event started at 6pm until dusk which was a bit later than the VIPs are used to being out but I thought that just this once it would be fine. They'd never seen fireworks afterall.

I wanted to get a good spot and enjoy the beach before it got too cool so we headed off after lunch.
We spent the day building sandcastles, playing in the water, chomping on scrummy lamingtons and slurping up melting ice cream. By the time 6pm arrived the VIPs were spent and ready for bed. I called it a day and missed the foreshore celebrations rather than push the day too far and deal with 3 VIPs having mental breakdowns.

They all fell asleep on the 10min car ride home and after a quick dinner and shower, slept until 7:30 the next morning. As Baker Bob said, there's something about the salt air that is just exhausting. For me, it was the sand clean up at the other end that did me in! I'd forgotten just how bad sand can be.

Christmas Day 2011 - Part 2

After breakfast, the VIPs went and got dressed and played with their new toys, while I got stuck into the food preparations.

Grandma and Grandpa came, along with all the uncles and aunts and we had a late lunch.

Then there was lots of present opening. The VIPs, Baker Bob and I were very spoilt!

By this stage the VIPs were all pretty exhausted and they went to bed nice and early.

It's just a pity the weather was so crappy. It means all the photos are flash exposed., but at least this year we have photos! I'm very thankful for that.

Treats of the Season

12 Days of Christmas Activities - Day 8 Roll something in coconut

Every year, at Christmas, we make these delicious truffles.

This year the VIPs were old enough to help by rolling the worked truffles in coconut. (According to Eva that means squish it into the table and then shove it in your mouth - Have we noticed a trend yet with this girl?)

Please be aware of a few things while viewing this pics...

1. They are blurry because they were taken with my hands covered in sticky truffle mix

2. Mans has not turned into the half naked chef, he is actually wearing jocks. (TT partial success, but I'll post about that another day!)

3. I had help - Aunty Bry and Aunty Hayley were "Ball monitors" lol

Last Night I Was Out After Dark

I was most unexpectantly surprised by a night out last night. (No one can accuse me of being a vampire. I'm only ever out of the house when it's daylight.)
It had apparently been organised since Mother's Day.
Persumably because I didn't really have a mother's day, whole other blog entry.

Baker Bob got home from work and asked me if the kid's could have an early, simple dinner and then he'd cook us a nice, late dinner. Great I thought. The boys hadn't slept for their nap and Eva has been a bit cranky so an early night for them was a good idea.

While the kids ate I chatted to Grandma, who was waiting to be picked up from work by Grandpa. (Or so I thought). Kid's in bed, Baker Bob leaves to pick up the ingredient's for our special dinner. 5 minutes later he returns with Grandma and Grandpa in tow. I still didn't twig until Grandma annouced "Now that your babysitters are here you guys can go."

In a daze of shock (It's not often people can get away with keeping a secret from me, especially Baker Bob), I was ushered out the door. I had no idea where we were going and when we were half way there I realised that my pants leg and shoulder had half eaten pear smudged into them. Score one for me!

We had dinner at the 'old faithful' Pancake Palour and then popped in to see the movie Source Code. Neither of us knew anything about the movie but I'd mentioned that I wanted to see it during the week because of it's great reviews. (Even the super critical reviewer at the Herald Sun gave it 4 and 1/2 stars!)

It really was an excellent movie. We got home a bit after 12am and we were both exhausted. We said cheerio to the babysitters and fell into bed. Spent and content!

Baker Bob's Super Ice-cream Soda

Thank-you Baker Bob, but you really didn't have to go to so much trouble.

Easter Saturday at Grandma and Grandpa's

This year it was arranged to spend Easter Saturday at Grandma and Grandpa's with all the aunts and uncles in attendance.

Grandma supplied tasty salad sandwiches and pears for lunch and Grandpa whipped up some yummy southern spiced chicken with sweet potato chips and veg for dinner.

And because Easter isn't full of enough sweet, sugary goodness I decided my contribution to lunch / dinner would be a dessert table. (Hence the baking on Good Friday).

The kids were spoilt regardless of the fact that I told all aunts and uncles not to buy them easter presents but they only ate one egg between them so there was no sugar high, thank goodness otherwise I probably would have had a melt down.

They love going to Grandma and Grandpa's place, but it was a long day for them, (and us) because they refused to have a nap for fear of missing out on any fun and were very cranky when we arrived back home at bedtime.

But it was a great day with lots of adult conversation and lots of people to watch the kids, so I had a bit of a relax. I think Grandma and Grandpa had a good time too!