Circular Quay

Ben was working at a franchise expo in Darling Harbour Friday and Saturday so we decided to go in and meet him after he had finished.

We met Mandy and Dom on the train in Chatswood and headed to the city. When we left it was bright and sunny and at least 30 degrees. By the time we got to Darling Harbour it had clouded over and we so nearly made it to the exhibition centre when the heavens decided to open up. It was torrential and all we could to was run for cover in the Imax Centre and hope it eased up! It was quite funny, especially when we were soooo close to Ben but couldn't get there. Ben ended up borrowing a couple of big umbrellas from an icecream guy and came and rescued us! We still got completely drenched but it added to the fun.

After meeting up with Simon and Tamara and eating, we headed to Circular Quay to see the cruise ship Sapphire Princess depart and experience Mandy and Dom's fav cafe, City Extra.

Jared loses his first tooth!

At not even 4 1/2 Jared has lost his first tooth!! We were really worried he had a knock to the mouth which made both his bottom front teeth loose, but after only 2 weeks he has a new one growing! The one next to it is getting fairly loose so he'll have a pretty big gap for a little while.

Calling all 'Home and Away' fans

Well today we visited Palm Beach, more famously known as Summer Bay. It was a beautiful HOT day with a great sea breeze :)

It was well worth the drive a bit further north because parking and beach space was plentiful!!

She has to be just like Mummy

On the way to the beach we drove past mini golf and we promised the kids we would play it on the way home. Probably not the best idea at 6.30 when we were all a bit exhausted but we made the best of it anyway!

Dani was into the one handed swing!

Jared getting what he like to call a 'strike'

WESTLIFE!!!!!!

Lastnight Ben came home from work and sprung Westlife tickets on me!!!! We had less than an hour to finish cooking tea, eat, get ready and get to the train but we made it!

They were so awesome live. It really made you appreciate how much all 4 of them bring to group, not just the main 2 you always seem to think about on the albums.

In the middle they did a tribute to their 'inpirations' from before they were together - Backstreet Boys, Boyzone and Take That - singing one each of their songs. It was so funny, especially the dance moves that went along with them!

They announced it was coming to the end of their show, sung another song and left the stage. I was feeling a bit gutted because I REALLY wanted to hear Flying Without Wings (our wedding song :) ) live. After a few minutes of darkness and a whole lot of screaming they had done a costume change and came back out with 'The Rose' and finally....Flying Without Wings!!! I was soooo excited and it was an amazing way to end the night.

February....

Dani doing what she does best....getting into trouble!!! This time she decided her hair needed moisturising!

Last weekend we spent Saturday at Homebush (Olympic Park) where we had lunch, went to the playground and fed the ducks/eels/pelicans. The kids thought it was pretty cool there weren't just ducks at this pond! Jared was especially fascinated by the pelicans (who were hilarious to watch trying to eat bread!), which he called geese.

We went on to Paramatta Westfield for a look then up to visit Mandy and Dom for a bit.

It was soooo exciting to learn that Mandy is pregnant but sad they are moving back to Nelson in July.

Sunday we had a family round for lunch from down the street then we headed to North Sydney pools for a swim with Mandy and Dom, followed by fish and chips for tea.

A very busy weekend!!

Today was Zac's 1st birthday party!

We went to Rouse Hill Park for lunch, cake, playing...the usual party stuff. It was VERY hot and we were ready for the airconditioning by 2pm!

The birthday boy and his family

Tonight we have Pete and Sam Kristofski arriving from Nelson.

Sam is moving over to study and is going to live with us for a while. Jared has been kind enough to lend him his room and he is going to share with Dani for a while. We have been busy getting the rooms ready and the kids have been very helpful :)

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.