Hop a Long

40 is not far away and as you get older you temp to fall a bit. Well I fell down a curb today and rolled my ankle. Rather sore but a week away from the 412 hell hole!!!

Boys camping Summer 2011

To start a tradition you need to do something a few times so we are well on the way to having a frequent trip to remember for the Dawson boys. Last year we went down to Rye for the camping trip and whilst we all like to think we are Bear Grylls we know our limits and decided to stay at a caravan park on Phillip Island.

After school and work on Friday we arrived at the campsite around 5ish and set about making camp. The site was large enough and being a site had all the amenities one could ask for. Sam and Cammy had the super solo tents, Pete and Fraser in the 3 manner and we were in the monster tent. Yes, it can sleep 14...... So after fish and chips and a couple of ghost stories with hot chocolate we tried to get some sleep. Now of course the little ones slept like logs and Dad tossed and turned till dawn.

Saturday Morning and after a quick stroll to the beach Cammy set to making brekky, Bacon, Sausages and pancakes. A very relaxing morning whilst setting up for the beach. Woolamai is well known as a serious surf beach and with the boys donning their new wetsuits they certainly looked the part. The monster waves provided plenty of excitement and a few mouthfuls of sand with each set.

There is nothing better after a day at the beach than a dip in a pool to clean off, fortuntely the camp site was well equipped and Marshall and Xander came into thier own. They can really swim well now.

Another trip into Cowes for tea after an unsuccessful attempt to get the RC car going and some rockpooling. Pizzas on the foreshore and back to the tent for a better nights sleep.

Unfortunatley Sunday meant packing up all the gumf associated with camping and whilst Cammy, Marshall and Xander cooked brekky it chucked it down raining for 10 minutes. So all the packing was now ten times harder. A wizard idea from Sam had the tent drying on the foreshore whilst the kids played in the shallows.

So after a busy weekend we were all knackered and came home to a warm welcome. Unfortunately Amelia was not quite so warm as she was quite sick and Dad ended up at Casey Clinc for 3 hours!!! long day.

Un-Natural Disasters

I can always remember looking up natural disasters in the Guinness Book of Records and being amazed at the destruction and loss of life. It seems that the book is looking to be updated as we have had natural occurences all over the planet, Floods in Qld and here, Cyclone YASI and now the clear winner, the earthquake in Japan. Not only a quake but the double wammy with a tsunami.

Counting our blessings.

Busy few days

Mr Mum is in town. With Dette away at camps and conferences it has been Dad doing the running around with the kids. This has included Keeleys eye appointment, Xander at the Dentist, Mass and morning tea with the prep mums and loads of washing.

Amongst all the chaos the computer blew up so the house has been full of computer components and cables. On Mondays trip to pick a computer the Kia decided it didnt want to start. Yay. So a tow truck and taxi trip.

Amelia's Party

Now that Amelia is at school she is allowed to have a Maccas party on her birthday. Well she took advantage of that and invited all the girls in her class. She was chuffed to bits as she got a 100% positive RSVP. Mum and Dad very proud too!!!So off to Maccas with the five and then an hour or so of screaming girls, fries and fun. Amelia had a great time and strenghed some freindships. Here are two of the noisest screaming girls.

If you didnt make it along to the party thanks for all the well wishes and gifts.

On Monday it was Amelia's official 5th birthday and she was very excited to see a DS in her presents. Mum made a make up bag cake with real make up on it. well cool.

Dee's farewell

Dee is leaving Victoria for the sunnier climes of country NSW so we had a send off dinner at Mark and Tims. As usual there was a great spread of food and drinks and the kids had a ball by watching a movie on the home theatre and playing/feeding the menagerie. Tim took some great photos of the day, but none with Dee, what were we thinking!!!

Dette and Dee went off to do a bit of shopping and the boys introduced Mark to 2 a side football. Then it was a bit sad as we had to say goodbye to Dee for a while. We'll miss her heaps but wish her all the best with her new adventure.

Healesville Sanctuary

There is an advantage to Dad having time off work during school time: He can go on excursions. Marshall and Xander are both in 1-2 composite classes so now get to do most activities together.

Today was a trip to Healesville Sanctuary with the boys. An excited couple of boys go on to coaches at Don Bosco, unfortunately Marshall was on a different bus on the way up but we were soon there.

After purchasing a bottle of RID, the mozzies were huge, we started adventuring around the park. I had a gang of five boys to start with but were soon joined by another red haired boy!!

So after seeing the many native animals we sat down for some lunch and the birds of prey show which was a ripper. The Ibis was walking around pinching our scraps!! Then we split up again and into the discovery centre. We got to touch a lizard, a snake and a green tree frog.

Marshall sat next to Dad on the long bus ride home and back to Don Bosco. The day wasn't finished though as the three school kids then had parent teacher interviews. All three had glowing reports with their teachers very happy with them. So KFC for tea.