John's Birthday

Another year done and dusted.

We celebrated with good friends, great food, vino and music.

Now he's a real boy

Pics from Oli and Connors latest visit.

Easter Lunch

What a great way to spend the day ... Easter lunch at Steve and Wendy's in 88 Valley. Kids had a ball on their scooter...... so did grandad!

Easter Morning

What a great day!
This is what the kids had for breakfast - very happy!

This is what John & Monique had for breakfast - very relaxed! Well it was the morning after the night before and what better way to cement the celebrations.

This is what Mac had for breakfast - very ... ummm ... icky!

'THE Party'

An Engagement Party sounds very starry eyed and 16ish. We did think we were going to have 'a gathering' instead but others had different ideas. Even a gorgeous engagement cake turned up! We are definitely going to keep Rae sweet now because her cake has changed our minds - we will have a wedding cake. Cream filled profiteroles(?) covered a chocolate brownie cake - very decadent!

Mum enjoyed playing grandma to baby Brianna, Girls enjoyed a night of celebration, boys (+ mum and 1 rather noisy sister) enjoyed Rugby - of course. Cake was fabulous, having photo taken of John and I cutting cake - not so fabulous, just made me realise there is not too many weight loss months before the wedding :-( Still - it will be done, it will be done, it will be done!

Glamour Girls

Brianna and Libby having fun with the camera.

John's latest purchase

John has bought a slug gun, much to pyromaniac Jared's delight! They have been out taking pot shots at anything and everything ....... water filled 1.5 litre bottles, cans, solar lights!!!!! and my old metal watering can. They have learnt that when you shoot a steinie bottle it explodes into million of green glass shards!!! Not sure who is the biggest kid!

And now there is...

Little Connor, born 30.12.06. This gorgeous little man has made John a very proud grandad.

Take a walk round our garden

When we bought this home I assured John that I loved gardening and could cope with it. Well as it turns out we have such a wonderful social life that I don't get out there very often and of course I had forgotten that when I used to garden a lot I didn't work at all. Oh well...it still looks ok. Definately need to work it into my life though.

These are our easy family members

Mac is an idiotic 9 year old German Shepard who chases bees, sparks, flames and has an undieing passion for fireworks. He has also been known to steal a roll of toilet paper and shred it - perhaps he has deep seated anxiety - or is maybe just a bit dim!

Charlie is a cute looking but extremely annoying ginger tomcat - the kids love him , the adults hate him. There is something about an animal on the bench, who is constantly scrounging in the rubbish bin and who poo's in the car that makes him very unwelcome.

This is Vino she is the replacement bird for Steinie (right), who the above cat ate - yet another reason to dislike him. She is very ugly but very tame and loves to be out of her cage. Her wings are clipped so she can come outside with us. We thought Vino liked wine (hence the name) as she kept jumping on Monique's glass all the time - we have since found out that as a baby (she is still very young) she was fed soft food from a glass. Steinie was a male - and he did love steinlager.

And this is our family

This is why we need a big home. John has 4 children (Olivia, Toni, Kristy and Scott), Monique has 4 too (Greg, Jared, Brianna and Olivia). Thats right the oldest and youngest are both Olivia - thankfully the older one goes by Oli and the younger by Libby. Also thankfully - they don't all live with us, but there is room for them if they all want to - but please don't tell them.

Nana (Lorraine) & Oli – John & Toni – Kristy (left) & friend Ruby

Greg & uncle & grandma – Jared & Scott – Libby & Brianna

Well this is our home

Just what a big family needs. John & I had one visit and fell in love with this wonderful house. One walk around and we felt completely at home.