Dani's 2nd Birthday - 30 Jan

Dani is now a big 2 year old!!!

She had a few pressies to open and was quite excited by it all. Jared was just as excited helping her unwrap them :)

It was a bit sad not having any of the family around to make a big deal of the day for Dani but I think she still had fun anyway.

It was so nice having Mandy and Dom come round in the afternoon. We went to a woodfire pizza place for tea then came back and had a cake and some lollies to finish it off.

Jared's first day at Preschool

Yesterday was Jared's 1st day at East Willoughby Preschool. He is going Mon, Tues, Wed afternoons and LOVES it. For about a week before it started he was counting down the 'sleeps' and was so anxious to get there. After we were in the door he couldn't care less about us - we couldn't even get him to look at for a photo or to say goodbye.

This morning he asked if he could stay there longer today so we might have to find one that has longer hours.

The only sad thing about it is Dani wants to go with her Jared.

The Blue Mountains

Last weekend was 'Australia Day Weekend' so we decided to make the most of the long weekend and visit Ben's Aunty and Uncle, Bev and Guy, in the Blue Mountains.

We did the worlds steepest railway, which Dani was a bit scared of, the cable car back out of the valley and the skyway across the top. Jared loved it and wanted to go on them all again.

On the railway

Dani in the cable car

The view

Jared and Bev creating

Ben's Birthday - 20 Jan

Ben's birthday was on a Saturday and it happened to fall when Mandy wasn't working so we went up to Mandy and Dom's for a swim at the camp before lunch, went to Hungry Jacks (Burger King), then headed to Berowra Waters for a cruise (in a dinghy!) up past all the flash (and some not-so-flash) houses. It was so nice to be out on the water and Jared loved steering the boat - especially round in circles!!





The boys followed this up with a visit to the driving range. We then had pizza for tea, another swim, and watched a movie. Needless to say we got home very late and very tired!

We all had a great day :)

The kids

Jared and his scary 'cheese'

Dani still likes to fall asleep in some odd places!

After thinking Dani was being awfully quiet, I thought I better check it out....there she was, sitting on the vanity, very carefully rubbing a WHOLE, brand new, bottle of foundation over her legs. I wasn't too impressed but it was kind of cute/funny I guess!!

The very next day we had a repeat with the sunscreen!

The kids like to make a tent out of the clothes horse. They read books in there, have a picnic, watch a movie......

....and have a lot of fun.

Nelson....Dec 27 - Jan 5

We had such a nice time in Nelson. The kids LOVED seeing Grandma, Dada, Rachel Mummy, Carlo Bob, Jade, Emma and Kayla and haven't stopped talking about them since we have been back in Sydney.

Mum and Dad ahve now booked to come and see us April 25 - May 7 and we are soooo excited....but sad we won't see the Goodwin/Haycock clan til October :(

Cuddles with Dada

DAD'S BIRTHDAY

Dad had his birthday while we were there too...Jan 4.

We gave him such much needed new clothes that actually fit him now he has lost so much weight!

Jared wrote in his card :)

MUM TURNS 50!!

Mum turned 50 on Dec 30! A few people special to her days on the farm went to Tui for a picnic lunch, followed by a party at Mum and Dad's for tea. We all had a great day and it was so nice to be back in Nelson to share it with her.

I don't have most of the photos from Nelson on my computer yet so I'll add some more another day...if you want to see some look at Rach and Carlos blog...www.goodwinhaycock.blogspot.com

Carlo, Jade, Emma and Kayla didn'y come to the party on Sat night so the next day Jade had to come and blow out the candles with Grandma :)

We tried so many time using the timer to get a half decent shot of all of us!!!

Auckland....Dec 19 - 27

BOXING DAY

We spent Boxing Day in Warkworth with GiGi and Graham. Graham made a slide down the bank with cardboard for the kids but I don't know who had the most fun!!

CHRISTMAS DAY

We woke up on Christmas Day at the Coopers house and the kids had their presents from Santa on the end of their bed. Jared got a train set and Dani a glow worm.

Cuddles with Aunty Somer

Jared was big on thank you's

The extended Bensley Clan

Christmas Eve...story time

ONEMANA BEACH

We went to spend a few days at the beach with the family soaking up the sun...but it rained...and rained...and rained.

Watching movies was a good way to pass the time while we waited for the weather to clear slightly

When it did we hit the courts

The rain didn't stop the fishermen though!

At Corwall Park with Aunty Melody

Bed time!

Dani wanted to sleep with Jared last night but he wouldn't let her cause she was being a pain. She waited for him to go to sleep and snuck in with him anyway!

Carols in the park

Sunday night we went to a carols night out Castle Hill way with Simon and Tamara and some other kiwi friends of theirs. There were sideshows, a train, singing and dancing performances by local kids, a visit from Santa and a fireworks finale., It was a lovely evening

Jared getting stuck in to his tea!

Simon, Tamara, Sophie and Zac

David Jones Christmas

On Saturday we headed into the City with Simon (an Action coach), Tamara and their kids Sophie and Zac. We were on a Christmas mission to check out the Christmas displays.

David Jones, a department store, had Displays with puppets singing and playing music in different scenes/carols in all their windows. The kids all loved them and they were so well done.
Inside they had Santa's cave with a talking tree (that actually heard you and answered your questions), a carousel, weird mirrors, lucky dips, a movie den with Cars playing, and, of course, Santa. We never actually saw Santa cause the lines were too long =(

We were then going to have fish'n'chips at Darling Harbour but it got too windy so we all came back to our place instead.

This train was in Santaland at Myer (another department store). It pretty much just had the train and Santa but the kids loved it. Dani and Sophie were a bit unsure but wanted to go again as soon as the ride was over