Dear family and friends,

It’s been ages since I posted my blog and that’s because we really have been busy, and then I was getting closer to Cameron’s 1st birthday so thought I’d wait and post something then.

Work has been really busy for both of us and we’ve also been out in the garden a lot planting bulbs and getting hanging baskets ready, putting in applications to the council for the removal of 8 pine trees (which has involved numerous arborists, tree removal specialists and a dispute with an idiot neighbour), visiting my lovely neighbour with MS who you might remember I found in the summer having fallen and broken her hip and general house maintenance such as researching and choosing a new bed and bedroom furniture, oven and various other heavily discussed but no action taken until now items.

July was jam packed with me travelling to Melbourne and Bendigo twice for work, one trip to Bendigo immediately prior to us having to be in Melbourne for Kevin’s 40th birthday. So we decided to make the trip to Bendigo a family trip and we drove over there and Iain spent the 2 days I was at work tripping around Bendigo with the kids. It was a long journey but it was fun to have Iain and the kids with me in Bendigo, particularly as it was my birthday while we were there.

Iain and the kids had bought me a very lovely and warm new coat which I needed for winters in the Adelaide Hills but then also couldn’t resist some pottery from the Bendigo pottery for the outside wall of the house. A sun, of course in bright colours. And the obligatory bottle of Lanson which I will drink given any occasion but especially on my birthday!

Since I have a million photos to post of this trip and I have already posted them to facebook – here is the link.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=472555&id=794955156&l=62edbb85e8
and
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=470279&id=794955156&l=a245a6b4ad

We then headed to Melbourne through the little Victorian towns and got to Nicole and Alex’s house late in the afternoon. Amelia was so excited about seeing her friends Charlie and Tommy and they had a ball. Amelia shared a room with them and there was much fun to be had. At 6am in the morning when they all ran across Iain and I sleeping peacefully on the air mattress in their playroom in their haste to get to the Thomas the Tank Engine – well that was not so much fun!

We had a super meal with Nicole and Alex while Nicole’s brave and pregnant sister Jo looked after all 5 kids (our four and one of hers!). Brave, so brave.

On the Saturday Nicole took Amelia and the boys to a park while Alex cooked and Cameron slept we chuffed off to have Yum Cha in Prahran with Kev, Dave, John and a friend from Lifeplan, Alison. Heading back to say our goodbyes and collect the kids and cases we moved on to the hotel we were staying for the next 2 nights near to Kev’s 40th birthday venue.

It as great so see everyone and Kev had a ball. Oh so fast Monday came around and our long and tiring drive back that began at 4.45am and ended at 2.30pm. We were very glad to be home by then!

Cameron’s 1st birthday was a small and enjoyable event at our house. A winter baby does not go well with a BBQ so we were all packed into the kitchen and lounge with bursts of sunshine when we could herd the kids outside with bubbles and balls.

He had fun and then had to have a nap.

Can’t believe he is one already! Here are the links to facebook for some general “I am one” photos and also a comparison with his sister at the same age.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=475591&id=794955156&l=63b724d14e

and

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=474459&id=794955156&l=0323fb9848

In the meantime we have been to the work mid year show which was the ‘time travellers ball’ see how fabulous I look here  - new dress folks and designer too (which as is my nature got 80% off the original price – how impressed are you?)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=458720&id=794955156&l=09f4afb874

and the rendering of the house is finally finished after 4 long, long months.
See before and after shots here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=472563&id=794955156&l=7b1c3ae639

In exciting news as well, we have booked our holiday to the South of France for July next year and will be attending my Dad’s Rotary President’s night in London and then enjoying 3 weeks in France with all the grandparents near Carcassone.

I have to say a special thank you here to Iain who has done so much organising of this trip and also incorporated the ability to see fireworks on my birthday (again) because he knows how much I love that. Iain I may not have expressed my appreciation on all the work you have done because I’m usually thinking ‘how soon is it before I can go to bed and fall asleep” recently.

So mountains of stuff to look at!

Now it’s time to start planning for Amelia’s birthday party and Christmas!!

Enjoy and until the next time – lots of love
Caroline, Iain, Amelia and Cameron
xxxx

Photos - in no particular order sorry!

Phew - I need a rest!

Dancing!