Now that we have one car

Sometimes the children are shock horror .... Forces to walk places. Sometimes there are lovely trees to see.

Just because she's so cute

Bianca, aged 2 and 10/12ths. Dressed by Bianca.

New 23 night orienteering with children

The family took more than a little convincing to get everyone back out the door around 3.30pm after the zoo to get to the 4pm club training session down at Maroubra beach.

 

For many many years I was a member of a club predominantly based on the north shore, Big Foot. All their organising is done over there with quite a few of the social occasions held 70-80mins drive from us, as are their club training sessions.

 

So, in a radical break to tradition, when I recently joined up orienteering again, I joined a new club which is based around where I live, Uringa.  They have a new map at Maroubra beach, which is the beach north of the one we normally go to anyway.

 

Actually the whole reason we live in Arncliffe is that many many years ago, I was coached by Nick Wilmott, who lived in Arncliffe. At the time I remember being impressed by how close to the city it was via train so in the not so distant past we started looking for a house here.

 

So, we made it to the club training and it was excellent. Now I do feel like a bit of a traitor but one bonus about the club training that we went to was that some of the Big Foot people, Paula and Mark and kids were there too. No missing out. It concluded with some night orienteering, great for the 4-6 demographic. I started out with Jake and Toby went with one of the coaches, Ian but Ian and Toby caught us and I got kicked to the curb while Jake and Toby continued with Ian.  I returned to eat my sausages and warm mulled grape juice (seriously yum) at the bbq.  What a great family night out. Do you like my only photo?

 

You belong

this is my meer cat family. Aren't they cute. I'd like to have a few in my backyard. that would be fun.

this year we joined the zoo with an annual pass whereas last year it was aquarium - good for a change.

I went on the gondola at the zoo for the first time soon. man those views are spectacular. seeing as the family was fairly insistent this was their preferred mode of transport back up, I don't feel I could claim it as a new thing.

No such thing as bad weather

Last weekend while we were down at Kiama and it was raining, a lot.  Bianca was not to be deterred. Beanie and jacket and it's surely beach weather.

Followed by what better activity than playing with water. brrrrr. that forth child on the right is actually not a child but Nana.

We need to get out

Rainy sat morning and we have 3 computers an iPad and an iPhone to keep us amused. Fortunately later on we went down to Nana and Poppy's and played Frisbee on the oval next to their house which is on top of a hill next to the sea so is very windy. which also makes it perfect for kites.

Easy sweet recipe needed for school baking

I like baking. I do. However school baking tends to be due on inconvient days like today, Wednesday requiring late nights or organisation like I did this week, bake weekend, freeze cupcakes, ice last night. Icing cupcakes just before bed is not an ideal preparation for children to calm down and go to sleep though I tell you.
More baking is due for the athletics carnival next Thurday. I know I could stop by the supermarket on the way home and buy some cupcakes but really it's easier to make them than take 3 tired kids into a supermarket at 6pm. Also, the kids love to help. So it's a good family activity.
I need a new recipe. I'm thinking a slice which doesn't involve the individual preparing of each one. One slice, slap it in one container, bake and cut. Preferably one that freezes well. Hit me up.

Queens birthday long weekend - New 21 and 22

 

Now in some ways I did nothing new on the Queens birthday long weekend. I went orienteering. Been there done that a million times before. However I feel I deserve at least two new things.

 

21 - New age group at Orienteering - Womans 35-39 years Long course. This was a bit of a challenge given training lately has been one week in 6 and the week before the event I'd been rather sick. The second day I was out for 70 minutes, it was a long way. Good training, hey. I kind of wished I'd entered a shorter course but I survived it and the distance is another good reason to do some more training. Also saw a koala up a tree.

 

The kids had a ball two. Firstly Nana and Poppy were there and secondly it's just totally awesome playing in the forest when you're a kid. There's a tepee they made above. Took them about an hour or more. great entertainment.

 

22 - Take 3 children away ALL BY YOURSELF for 2 nights. Staying at cousin Collette's certainly took the pain out of this one as she laid on dinner and afternoon teas for us which was lovely. We stayed in the guesthouse - one big room and I went to bed at 8pm or so when the kids did.  It was little tiring looking up these 3 lovelies all by myself.

 

Toby is drawing on a BIG piece of paper above. Check out the boys taking hot chocolate and croissants for arvo tea. Oh what a wonderful life.

Happiness is

> Two chocolate fountains at the one birthday!! Wow. What could be better? For their 2nd-third cousin Alyssa's first birthday. In the 3 hours we were there the boys ate one chicken leg each and a packet of marshmellows with chocolate. Happy days.
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> Almost as crazy as what I'm doing this weekend, going to a three day orienteering event with three children, by myself, because Connah is going to Brisbane. Luckily Nana will be there and we're staying in style at Connah's cousin's house. No camping for us mid winter. I'm not sure that the taking of three children by myself to an event counts as new - I took them to a one day event in Sydney last year but it will never the less be a little challenging, mainly due to the early starts.
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