A New Year!

So last year I got pretty slack with my blog posts. This year one of my goals is to write something at least once a week. Hopefully I'll be better at sticking with it.

I've spent some time recently sorting through all of the photo files on our computer and saving and storing them in a better, more efficient manner. It is so fun to go back and look at photos because it is so easy to forget the little things that happen. So tonight I just want to share a few of my favourite photos from last year. It won't make up for my lack of blog posts, but it might help!

Me and my boy!

Getting buried at the beach

First day of school 2012

A new park to explore

Some photos that Poppy took of Amie for the invitations to her Baptism. I love how all of them turned out!

Teeball!!!

Camping in the Flinders Rangers with Grandma and Grandpa

Best buddies. These two talked non-stop for the whole camping trip!

Lachlan taking Kris for a ride on his quad bike

Exploring the botanical gardens

Hunting for Easter Eggs while camping

Haylie turned 4 while we were on holidays in Halls Gap. As you can tell she is very into the Octonauts!

The pinnacle! Halls Gap.

We spent a wonderful week on a beautiful houseboat exploring the Murray River

Amie 8th Birthday party. Note the balloon banner in the background, not as easy to put together as the instructions lead you to believe!

Amie's Baptism

At work with Buzz. Getting ready to crawl underneath a building.

Haylie helped me make a cake for the kids to celebrate the end of a school term

Hiking up Ansteys Hill

Exploring Port Adelaide

Doesn't he make a beautiful flower!!

At kindy

Faces painted at the Royal Adelaide Show

For some reason I really love this picture of Buzz and I!

At the Christmas Pageant

Amie's beautiful chalk drawing.

Well they are just a few of the many photos taken this past year. I still have one from Christmas that I want to share but that might have to wait for another day.

Caitlyn turns six!

To my beautiful, sweet baby girl Caitlyn,

         I can't believe that you are six years old already! I love you so much! Here are six things that I especially love about you right now!

  1. You have a very infectious giggle. You make everyone around you smile and laugh with your giggles and laughter. Sometimes you find the smallest thing to crack up about. I love your sweet humour!

2. You love to help me by cleaning up, especially when I haven't even asked you to. You are the biggest helper in our family and set a good example for your brother and sisters.

3. You truly care about other peoples feelings and like to comfort people when they are sad or upset. You make friends easily and are loved by everyone you meet!

4. I love your ability to talk to everyone you encounter. Even when you were younger you would talk to everyone you saw. Sometimes i felt bad for the people you were questioning in the lift, or the ladies at the checkouts. Some people still don't know how to react to your very forthright comments and questions, but I love that you are aren't afraid to talk to anyone.

5.  I love your cuddles. You love to snuggle up on the couch and be close. You give the best hugs and not just to me, you share the love around to everyone, even to your brother who doesn't always appreciate them!

6.  I love your independence. You have always been a very independent child and have wanted to do everything by yourself.

Enjoy your special day and enjoy being six!

Love Mummy
xoxoxo

Today is the Day!

We have spent many weeks counting down and finally the day is here! In about one hour we go pick up the kids from school and then head to the airport to pick up Grandma and Grandpa!

The kids have been SO excited! They have been going a little bit nuts! Grandma and Grandpa and certainly going to be bombarded with lots of information, stories and things shown to them!

The house is all sparkly and clean. The beds are made. The floor is mopped. And the dishes are done!

Once they get here there will be no time to rest though. We are headed out camping in the Flinders Rangers early on Friday morning so we have to shop and pack for that trip. We also have swimming lessons, School Assembly and Boys Activity Night to get to.

Let the fun begin!

Sports Day 2012

On Friday the kids had Sports Day at school. Normally we have it in 4th term, but this year they changed it to 1st term. All the of my children are in the green team named Coombes.

They started the day doing their team chants and a health hustle. They then went around to all the different events with their teachers.  They had lots of fun and did really well through out the whole day. Of course they were all in different events, in different places all at the same time so Haylie and I spent a lot of time going between the events to watch the kids do different things.

Vortex Throw

Frisbee (Discus)

Long Jump

Accuracy Kick

Hurdles

They even let Haylie have a turn on the Hurdles

Obstacle Course

It was freezing cold on Friday and we even had a bit of rain, but it wasn't enough to dampen the kids enthusiasm.

By the end of the day though the kids were very tired and worn out!

Five weeks!

In five weeks time, or in 34 sleeps we will be getting some special visitors!

Grandma and Grandpa Montague!

Last time they were here was for Lachlan's Baptism.

This time they are coming because this beautiful girls is turning 8 and getting baptised.

Everyone is very excited about their arrival! The kids talk about it every time they see an airplane fly overhead. They mention in their prayers every day for Grandma and Grandpa to have a safe trip. We spend a lot of time talking about all the fun things that we will do when they arrive.

We are planning on taking them on some trips to see a bit more of Australia. First we are headed to the Flinders Rangers. We will be camping on some private property, just outside of Hawker. When spent last Easter long weekend there and just loved it. We are able to take the quad bikes and there is lots of see and explore.

We can do some hiking and driving through some beautiful countryside.

There are also some ruins we can go and see. We will also go and visit some caves with Aboriginal art in them.

Next up is a trip to Halls Gap, which is in the Grampians, which is about halfway between Adelaide and Melbourne. I have never been there but have heard lots of good things about it. Again we will be doing some hiking, driving and just exploring the area.

Next up we will be heading to the Murray River for a whole week on a luxury houseboat.

It will be nice to just cruise down the river taking in the scenery, taking the kayaks out for a paddle, relaxing in the spa or driving the jet ski. All while taking in the views.

After all those trips it will be time for Amie's Birthday Party and Baptism.

We are all so excited for them to come and to go and explore some more of this wonderful country! While we wait though there is plenty to be done.