a special trip...

We have just been on a very special trip....we drove 400km yesterday to Geraldton (north of Perth) to stay the night so this morning we could get up and go to see Ben at work...

The boat hasn't been this far south before so although it was a bit of a big trip it was worth it for us all to see where Ben works...it was all very last minute as the date changed several times! And so we weren't sure we were going until the night before!

And then we drove home 400km this afternoon again after spending a few hours with Ben this morning!

Here are the photos of it all...It was very interesting and the boat was bigger than I had imagined and the Bridge was a lot bigger...

Both the girls loved it...it was cold and VERY windy...we watched the boat come in... And then watched from the gate and waited until it was time to go down to the wharf...Waiting for Ben to appear...Evangeline and Morganne were very happy to see their dad! It was very windy!Then we had a look around!Chief Officers Cabin...the not so messy part! It has a couch, a bed and an en suite...
Lots of stairs...
The mess...
The Bridge...
The back deck...as seen from the bridge...
The "wheel"...Evangeline asked to see the wheel...expecting the traditional sailing ship type!
The driver's seat...with Master Brian!
Looking at the radar..Trying out the radio mics....
A few more things...
And then it was time to leave...We got off the boat and Ben came with us for a couple of hours...so a bit more to report but I shall leave that until later...Lissy

six...

Today Evangeline Rose...my little girl...turned six! I cannot believe she is six already! I know mums must think this every year! She woke up just after 6 am and came to see me in bed...then we got up to unwrap presents...she wanted to know if Morganne was awake to unwrap them with her as she thought Morganne would need some present unwrapping practice! M was still asleep so she started but left a few...Then she went to check M and low and behold M was awake and came out to help unwrap the last presents! And some sisterly birthday hugs...And we had some "birthday frothies"...Mum called from New Zealand and Annica and the boys called from the farm...She wrote in her diary...It is my birthday. I am six...Then it was off to school for her birthday story and cupcakes...Rainbow ones we made yesterday...And then after school a little friend Jess came to play and we had a little party with fairy bread and party bags and balloons...but mostly the girls played....Ben called in the afternoon...Then Diana came for tea...We had Asparagus and Pea pasta which E loves and then birthday cake! And at bedtime she discovered that Nissa the Birthday Fairy had left her a card! It had been there since last night but she has been too busy to notice! And Nana Jen called at bedtime...And this violin from my friend Jen & Imogen was very popular...she would love to learn!So a great day for one little girl! Lissy

a day off...

We had a day off school yesterday as the teachers had a professional development day...so we spent some time with Sharon and her eldest Renae in the morning taking photos...both girls did the drama queen thing...but Sharon wasn't phased and took some great photos....like this one...this is unedited...I love it...I have only seen a few and I know there will be lots more fabulous ones coming! I think she is rather enjoying her new camera...when the girls were running around all over the place I asked her if she had it set on running man...lol...well that's what I use! That or auto! Only joking...I know Sharon actually knows how to use a camera!

Then in the afternoon we had a play date at Ava's house...they live near a great park with ducks...Today was busy with Frank's birthday...I was the official photographer and managed a few good ones...thank goodness for auto and a good camera...lol..And then E had the school performance rehearsal...and someone was getting rather too friendly with the can of Quik (Nesquik)! And tomorrow is our niece Felicity's 7th birthday party...oh and then it will be one sleep until someone is SIX!! hmmmm....wonder who that might be...it will be a quiet birthday as her birthday party will be when Ben gets home! She wants him to be Peter Pan remember!! Can't have him missing out on that now can we....lol...I have to get cracking with preparations as the time will soon go...and I will have to bake cupcakes tomorrow to take to school on Monday...stay tuned...Lissy

23 months...

Morganne is fast approaching two years old...twenty three months old today...I read somewhere the quote "the days are long but the years are short"....so true! especially for one who is rises before 6am and is very perky to boot! I am not so perky at that hour! She can say lovely things like "nie nie" for good night or when she is putting the dolls to bed...She still is very keen on the dolls...and she loves to "draw" or "write"...mostly on the paper...but often on the walls too! She says "lus you" (love you)...she is mostly an adorable happy little girl who I must stop calling bubba! But we are sure getting a few of the inevitable tantrums happening!

She sings almost constantly...especially in the car...she does the actions to The Wheels on the Bus and "the babies on the bus go wah wah wah" is rather funny! She says "arf arf" for the dogs barking and any cream dog gets called "Dazz" (Jazz)...She is a bit of a rat bag and is quite happy to spread wipes or tissues around the house...and the other day she tipped out TWO litres (so a LOT) of olive oil all over the pantry...fortunately a lot she poured into a crockpot in there but it still was a horrid mess! She loves to dig in the dirt and play on the slide...and likes the trampoline too. And she can spot a plane anywhere...She will say "Dadda werk" when she is talking about Ben..and says this when he does a video call too...and will wave to him and blow him kisses! She will point out "dada's" and "mama's" for our cars. She is stringing a couple of words together now too. We are keeping an eye on her ears as she has had 3 lots of infections in two months...the ENT specialist that E goes to said they were fine at the moment but will have to watch them. After E's speech and hearing problems we do not want to let M have the same problems. She likes to help make her drinks and can unscrew the top of the "Quik" and spoon it into her cup..I add the milk, she stirs and then I put on the lid! And she likes to watch very closely when I am cooking...She can now jump and get both feet off the ground! And she loves to twirl around and puts music on the dance! Very cute. She is just starting to watch TV...she will watch "Playschool"...she doesn't take any notice of it much other wise which is fine by me. We limit TV watching around here anyway and it is only ABC.

She adores Evangeline and misses her when she is at school pointing to her car seat and says "gone"...She has no chance of getting E's name out yet! And loves to play with her. And E is a great big sister and mostly plays very well with her and is very tolerant and lets her play with all her things...they have their "moments" as all siblings do but they are few and far between...

She is about 13.5kg and about 87cm tall...so she has had a little growth spurt but her weight is about the same...she still has little feet...size 5 heading into a size 6...wearing the sandals that E had as a one year old! Her blonde curly hair is getting rather long and she is mostly happy to wear a clip so I have avoided having to cut it yet...she can also climb onto her change table...aaargh! She is trying to get her leg over the cot but hasn't managed it yet but I am thinking soon she will have to go into the toddler bed.Ben's mum has been to visit today and the girls thoroughly enjoyed it! And that about wraps up 23 months...Lissy

flying practice...

I have finished a few of the fairy wing backpacks...they are looking rather cute!

Evangeline decided she needed to try them out and do some flying practice! And not stopping still for any photos either!

We have a cute book called Alice the Fairy...she is a temporary fairy...not a permanent fairy...and practices flying and such! I might have to make the girls some temporary fairy badges or something!
I have more fairy stuff to do...which would be easier if I were not woken up at 5.15 am most days...E is sleeping better now that she has a digital clock and knows there has to be at least a 6 on it! But now Morganne has started waking up with the birds! aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!Lissy

the fairies have been busy...

I am getting organised for Evangeline's 6th birthday party...and thankfully the fairies have been helping out too...Evangeline found this in her fairy garden this morning...
Dear Evangeline
I am Nissa. I am a Birthday Fairy.
I have heard you are turning 6 soon and would like to have a fairy party!
What a wonderful idea!
I have made you some special fairy invites to give to 9 friends who would like to be fairies for the day.
And there is one for you to keep!
My fairy friends and I will come along and join in the fun but remember you won’t be able to see us but there will be little signs around the garden that we are here!
Maybe I can sit on your birthday cake?
We fairies are very excited! See you at the party!
Love Nissa
And these invites!

Fairies, fairies, did you hear?
Evangeline is 6 this year!
She will be Fairy Queen Evangeline for the day…
We fairies have planned a party so come along and play
At her party you'll dance, you'll eat, and you'll have sweet fun !
You'll be a fairy before it's all done.

Wear you fairy best, we fairies love pink too!
Your wings and accessories await you.
The party is on Saturday, November 28th at 2pm, please say you'll fly by.
Evangeline’s fairy god-mother for the day awaits your reply! Lis 9274 1706
Love the Fairies in Evangeline’s Garden
The fairy wing back packs are nearly made...these will be the wearable party bags...then it is onto fairy skirts...I am making little mini fairy colouring books and have fairy soaps to go in the bags with the skirts...and the wands and houses the girls will make themselves at the party...we will decorate paper mache fairy wands with a few jewels and such... and make fairy houses (out of paper mache plant pots)...and find what treasures the fairies have left around the garden!

Evangeline is hoping Harmony and Rhapsody of The Fairies will come too...

Stay tuned...Lissy

father christmas in the forest...

I have posted off most of the stuff I have here to Children of the Forest...including the baby carrier for Poppi and October (see post below)....and lots of undies...five very large parcels weighing about 5kg each! 25kg of stuff!

And I will send off more stuff as it arrives....so keep it coming...I nearly have enough for another parcel or two...

They are getting organised for Father Christmas to visit....

from Mark's email....

"This year for Christmas we have told the children that Father Christmas can only bring a clothing item. Hat, shoes, jackets etc and we have asked the children to write a letter choosing an item.

Daniel introduced FC when the project first started not realising that FC would soon have 150 children to visit.

Perhaps some of the things that you might be able to send in the parcels could be used to help our already stretched budget."

Things that you might have that you can give me to send....

Hats, jackets, hoodies, shoes (such as thongs, crocs, sandals etc...I am not sure about trainers etc)...

Also bags and backpacks...if you look at the photo below you will see the kids keep their clothes etc in a bag...

We know they will be getting lots of new underwear but wouldn't it be nice if they all got what they asked for too!

Have you looked on the website...here are a couple of photos of the home and school...I think most of these photos are from a while ago and now the number of children has doubled! Here is lunchtime...
And dinner time...
And inside a sleeping hut...
And one of the classrooms...
Evangeline was looking at these pictures and asked why they are all built of sticks..She asked if we could send them some bricks...one of her favourite stories is The Three Little Pigs so I think she is worried they may all blow away...lol...

So if you have anything you think may be useful please let me know! I am hoping to get stuff sent off soon so it will arrive before Christmas...many thanks...Lissy

birthday planning and such...

Goodness me...November already!

I am starting to organise Evangeline's birthday as she will be six soon!
We are having a Fairy Tea Party...so I am busy making fairy wing backpacks and such...all top secret!! It is the first party with just a few girls as previously it has been a big mixed group...We will actually have the party a couple of weeks after her real birthday as Ben and Mum will be home...Ben has never been to one of E's parties as he has always been away at sea...she is VERY exited but is worried the party is too girly as it is a fairy party...but she thought he could come as Peter Pan....lol...I can just see Ben in green tights!

Mum flew to Melbourne today to see my cousins for a few days and then off to New Zealand with a friend on a garden tour...she will also see another of my cousins who now lives over there!

Morganne has been busy at playgroup...

We visited Ben's family on Sunday and then went to Alli's for lunch...and came home with this...thanks Alli...M loves it!
Other than that I have been feeling sorry for myself...lol...sinus trouble....

And after E's party we will have to get organised for Morganne's second birthday party...probably a polka dot or rainbow theme!

And then of course it is Christmas!

I am still making E's curtains..I must get them finished! One set just needs to be hemmed and then I can make the other set.

And that is abut it around here...the weather is mostly getting to about 30C now...Benis home in about 3 weeks...Lissy