Easter weekend

We had a family filled Easter this year - which is a far cry from
Easters of the past when Greg often had to work, and we did sooo enjoy
it. Not many photos taken, but these few capture some of what we got up to:
- dyeing eggs (Olivia's particular favourite)
- building a small deck/path to the clothesline (Greg's particular
project for the weekend)
- sack races, egg & spoon obstacle courses and fun on the fort
- playing in the sprinkler (so nice to have full tanks!)
We also attended some beautiful and joy-filled Easter services, did some
Easter craft and made some stained glass Easter crosses to put on
windows (they look fantastic) and had many coffees, hot chocolates, hot
cross buns and a smidge of chocolate as well. Lots of visitors
throughout the weekend helped to make it even more fun - thanks everyone!

Back to the normal routine of school from tomorrow...I'll rather miss
this special family time.

Four no more

Sparklers were a hit

Birthday balloons crowding the van

Pancakes for breakfast

Olivia had her 5th birthday while we were away. The celebrations seemed to go all week with different sets of visitors on different days, nearly always bearing gifts and cake. On the actual day we filled the caravan with balloons (a portable tradition!), had pancakes for breakfast, morning tea with friends that the girls had made, big swims in the surf and gourmet pizza for dinner...all in all, Liv had a fantastic day!

Mooloolaba

We found a coconut and Daddy cracked it open for us

The coconut was fairly green, so we tried the juice and ate the soft flesh - mixed reviews...

Not a bad view from the breakfast table...

Early morning surf with Dad

Jumping waves

We took a week off and headed to Mooloolaba in our caravan for a family
holiday. Had a great time together, enjoyed lots of time on the beach
and in the surf, and now have Ellen who loves to go 'out the back' with
Dad and ride a board back in on her own, while Olivia remains more
content to stay closer to the shallows courtesy of a major dumping! We
all squeezed into our little old van rather well, although the trip has
inspired Greg to do some work on it - yet another project for him...
Lauren had her first swim at the beach and rather enjoyed it - she
lasted a lot longer than I thought, particularly given the rather stiff
breeze making things a tad cool at times.
All in all, a great holiday and some fantastic family time together with
no TV, radio, CDs or anything else to distract us...loving those early
nights and long sleeps, early swims before breakfast and afternoon naps
for the whole family. Time to plan our next trip I think!

Pardon?

A little left of centre sometimes...

The girls had a pupil free day today, so we headed out to have a special morning tea together. Olivia chose to bring along a little purse/handbag that Uncle David and Aunty Tess gave her a few years ago. I didn't think she had anything in it and then this conversation was overheard to occur in the backseat...

E: Why do you have dirty socks in your handbag?

O: Just in case.

E: In case of what?

O: In case there's a competition to see who can hold up socks first of course! (said as though her sister was being rather obtuse)

E: There's no such thing.

O: Well there could be, and I want to be prepared. I've got yellow socks and rainbow socks, just in case it isn't yellow that they want.

E: Oh... (like that explains everything?!?!)

And that was the end of that...and I'm left chuckling internally and wondering whether I should be more prepared for something unorthodox like that to happen in my life today?!?!