Elders Quorum Camp

Yesterday afternoon (Friday the 13th), we set off to Gunns Plains to the Wing's Wildlife Park. We set up camp for an overnight camping trip. It was the kids first camping trip, and was such a novelty. Maddi was very excited all morning and kept asking if we were going camping yet. We got to use our new tent for the first time (Alex got it for his birthday last year), and I had been dying to use it. We were the first family to arrive and by 6 o'clock most other people were there too.

We left home mid afternoon, all packed ready to go. The car was packed full!

Setting up camp

The site where we camped was just beautiful. Lots of beautiful farmlands surrounded the paddock and a river ran nearby which was really clean. It was shallow enough for the kids yet deep enough for the more adventurous. The site reminded me a lot of Pop's river. The Only difference was that there was a nearby Cafe, flushing toilets, showers and more car traffic as people would go and visit the wildlife park. There were also other campers that shared the paddock.

The kids playing in the wide opened paddock.

Our camp site

Maddi was excited to have her bed setup in the tent and kept referring to the tent as "my house." Our tent is a three roomed tent and Maddi referred to the middle room as ''the loungeroom." Maddi and Alex shared a room together.

At dusk we had a look at some of the wildlife park animals. The kids loved the experience and fed the animals. We looked at pigs, llamas, donkeys, horses, turkeys, camels etc.




Feeding the camels
Jared, Becky, Kelsea and Eamon came for an evening visit.

Laurie, Lucy, Lindi and Abbey went for a swim at sunset and came out freezing. Laurie and Lucy are heading for the showers to get warm. The things you do when you're young! I think ten years ago, I would of been in on that.

The kids went to bed at about 9 and the adults gathered around the campfire and talked, played spotlight and tried to stay warm. Alex and I went to bed after 11.00 and I was amazed at how well the kids were sleeping. As we crept into the tent Little Alex was disturbed and unsettled. I ended up sleeping on the matress with him as he was so cold and it was the only way he was going to sleep. I was feeling the cold too, and realised how unprepared I was at packing the bedding. It was a full moon and so hard to tell what time of the morning it was, so it seemed like a long night. By 7am the kids were awake and ready to go. Outside it was all foggy and damp. The other campers reported about loud snoring noises coming from the opposite direction from us. The culprit was caught and named and shamed!

Warming up by the camp fire. The fog lifting off

The Elders Quorum cooked a yummy breakfast of sausages, tomatoes and bacon and egg sandwhiches. The morning warmed up very quickly and we went from being all rugged up, to having to get into our shorts and t-shirts, and applying sunscreen.

The kids had a paddle in the river were all keen to have a dip in the river.

Around midday we started to pack up our gear. While we were doing this Steve, had some games organised for the kids. The camp reminded me a lot of the Ward Easter Camps back in "the old days." I have such fond memories, of all the kids hanging out together doing their thing, while the adults did their thing. The kids had so much fun together.

Steve was very popular with Maddi, as he put on a lolly hunt for the kids. They also had a sack race and played some other games.


The lolly hunt

Maddi in the sack race and enjoying her lollies.



We were all pretty tired when we headed home. Especially Little Alex. The kids slept on the way home and didn't wake when we moved them into their beds. We did some unpacking, and I had a nap as well. I was a little tired after my restless sleep with Alex. When I woke up I had a nice Valentines Day surprise waiting for me, Ferrero Rochers, a rose stem, and a lovely heartfelt letter. Alex also gave me a night off cooking which topped off a great day.

On his birthday.....

......He can eat dessert for breakfast!



He gets morning tea supplied and delivered by me.


It's tradition that whoever's birthday it is at work, is the one to supply morning tea. We took along a spread of Pavlova, homemade sausage rolls (Mum's recipe), his favourite chocolate cake recipe, party pies and profiteroles.



He gets showered with presents! We met up with him in his lunch break and gave him his presents. Which consisted of some Hawks memorabilia, and a multiple of presents to be redeemed in a couple of days in March all wrapped in Hawks colours -A trip to the MCG for the Hawthorn versus Geelong game, a day off work, a visit to the temple, a buffet meal at the Casino and a visit with his best mate all rolled into a couple of days. What busy days we'll have! As Alex was opening his presents Maddi said "you're getting some rocks Daddy!" We added some rocks to the box with the airline tickets, just to throw him off a bit.

A trip to the movies


Thanks to Mum's willingness to come at such short notice we had a babysitter to look after the kids. The kids were all tuckered out and were in bed by 6.30pm.

Auntie Becc and Uncle Brise Visit

Regatta Day in the South of the State brought Becc and Brise up for a few nights. Maddi loved having these visitors up. Saturday night when they arrived at around 9.30pm, Maddi peeked out her bedroom window to greet them. Then she put on a half an hour concert full of singing and dancing. After she finished one song she would ask for our request by saying "Another one?" She really does like an audience. We heard songs that she made up, and songs that she knew at the top of her lungs.

On Sunday night Becc cooked us tea of Indian Dahl and Roti bread. Becc did some Adult Ed Indian cooking classes last year and this was one of the recipes from the class. It was so delicious that I got the recipe off her, and can't wait to make it myself. We all enjoyed it a lot and I certainly appreciated her cooking for us.



Maddi enjoyed her Dahl!

Alex took the day off yesterday and we visited the Leven Canyon. It was such a beautiful and untouched place. It was our first visit to the Canyon, and after much curiosity we did the drive out there. It took about 35 minutes from Ulverstone.

To get to the canyon lookout it was a 20 minute walk advised for all ages. We found that it definitely was not for all ages because of the steep incline. Maddi was carried all the way there and back. I could just picture it to be every digital SLR photographer's dream to take photos of these beautiful surroundings.

The view from the top.

Not enjoyable for people who are scared of heights.


I could just picture Becky (the Botanist) getting excited about the flora.


After we went to the canyon, we noticed a 15km sign to get to some falls. We took a 10 minute gravel road trip, only to find no signs about the falls. We wondered if we were on the right track and sent Becc and Brise ahead on the further 7km to see if it was worth our while to go exploring. After their exploration they turned around straight away only to find that it was not worth a 2 hour walk to the falls!

While we were driving along the Foresty road our car ran over a Tiger Snake, and then it got hit by Becc and Brise in the Landcruiser who were right behind us. We checked to see if the snake was dead when we returned, but it was no where to be seen. It must of been one tough snake!

We then took a scenic country drive to Forth where we played Target Golf. We purchased a bucket of balls and tried hard to hit the targets out on the course. We were no Tiger Woods but had fun whacking the golf balls. I found that when I didn't try so hard at aiming I would get closer to hitting a target. No cash prizes were taken home by us!

Maddi was a bit upset that she couldn't hit the ball here.

After some help from Dad she was happy

The targets looked like they would be easy to hit but weren't.


We got home in the late afternoon and had a barbeque for tea. This boy is getting more personality everyday! He keeps us on our toes as he's into everything in a big way.

The multi-tasker- Eating his tea and playing.
We finished the night off with a DVD and got to bed quite late. It seems that whenever we have a late night, we're in for a rough night with the kids. Alex woke up unconsoliable during the night and it wasn't until a dose of panadol and a rock in the chair for half an hour that he settled down. It's funny how when your baby sleeps through the night you get so used to it and get so comfortable. I'm far more tired when he does a surprise wake than when I expect him to wake up.

A day with some Hawks

Alex took the afternoon off work yesterday. We went to Aurora Stadium and met up with the Kings to see some of the Hawks players. Alex has always been a Hawks fan, but it was only when he finished Uni and had the time to watch AFL that he really got into being a more active supporter of the Hawks.

The King's must have signs written all over them for the press! Yesterday morning while I was watching Sunrise, I saw Jay in the backround holding Kobe. Another take on Sunrise Harri was hand balling the footy into a target!

When we arrived at Aurora, Jay was being interviewed by a camera crew for the new show Hawks kids Tv. About 10 minutes later ABC radio wanted to do an interview with him on air. I was amazed that the Examiner didn't start snapping photos of him!

It was a relaxing afternoon. Maddi was happy to see her cousins. Alex is always so inquisitive of Noah and is always touching him. While the boys had their Auskick training we sat on the field and relaxed.

Devonport's own Grant Birchall

The training session with the kids

Luke Hodge

Michael Osbourne, Tim Boyle, Brent Guerra among others

While the autographs were being signed the kids played and mobbed Hawka. Alex got some more autograps from some of the players for his guensey. He had a bit of a chat to Jarryd Roughead and said he was a really humble guy. Jarryd Roughhead's number is number 2, and Jarrod was saying that when he sees number 2 guernseys he thinks that it's missing the number 3, (23 being Lance Franklin's number), he couldn't believe that people would want his number.
The kids all love the Hawks' mascot Hawka. Hawka is a very cheeky mascot. He was playing keepings off Jay and Harri here.

The kids had a great time with Hawka. Here they are chasing him across the field.

Harri chasing Hawka 2nd from front, and Jay in the 4th position.

Playing Duck, Duck Goose with Hawka.

As we were leaving Aurora we bumped into some of the players who were heading off. Alex was quite excited to get his photo taken with Clinton Young. He thinks that Clinton is one of the unsung heroes.

Apparently we were on the Southern Cross News last night. Steph texted us to let us know, and a few people at Alex's work said so too.

First trip to the Dentist

Today was Maddi's first trip to the dentist. We couldn't of asked for a better dentist. She was so good with Maddi and made her feel so comfortable. She explained everything that she was doing and was such a lovely lady. Before it was Maddi's turn to go on the chair, it was the purple rabbit's turn. Maddi laughed when the purple rabbit went back in the chair.


The rabbit getting a checkup

Maddi's turn

We got good reports about Maddi's teeth. We are due to go back in another 6 months for a checkup.

A while ago we got a book out of the library about going to the Dentist. In the book the girl got some milk from the dentist. Maddi got it in her head that you get milk when you go to the dentist. Of course we weren't given milk, but she got a sticker and a colouring in page which she chose. I bought some milk for afterwards. Maddi still thinks that the milk came from the dentist!

A Truckie Visit

We have a regular Truckie come and stay with us. His name is Poppy. Poppy does business up this way and often brings a truck up with him to deliver. He stays the night and then goes off to work the next morning. Before he leaves the kids always have a look at the trucks. This truck was a Volvo. I'm not sure if it had a sleeper cab in it or not. Our favourite type of truck is a Mack truck, especially since the kids watch the movie Cars. Poppy sometimes brings Mack trucks up with him as well.


You can just see Maddi's little head on the right hand side!

Heading off to work in the morning. It's a bit dark!

It's great that we get to see Poppy reguarly. Maddi is always keen to eat breakfast with Poppy before he goes. When Maddi knows Poppy is coming to visit she will not sleep a wink until she has seen Poppy. Poppy always brings a bag of mixed lollies up with him, and Maddi thinks Poppy is the best! The other day out of the blue she said, "Poppy is my friend... I love Poppy."