Learning numbers

Our little Ella is loving school and at the moment is spending every minute either writing words, numbers or drawing elaborate pictures. Today she practiced and amazed us by writing all the way from one to one hundred on the blackboard.

She was thrilled to suprise us and show off her expertise and declared she now knows all about numbers and doesn't need to learn anything else. As usual we are very proud of her!!!

Mothers Day

I had a lovely mothersday with lots of cuddles and kisses from my precious Ella child.Ella had made me some gorgeous glasses at school - rainbow legs and a sparkly glittery front."Funky glasses for you mum" she said.

How lucky I am!!!

First day of school

Our big school girl getting ready for her first day at big school!!!!

Putting on her school bag (very heavy with lots of books for the first day) ready to go.

Finally at school and about to go in for the day.

Hooray all my buddies are here!!!! Bothe boys believe Ella is their girlfriend!

Ella and Patrick rushed into the classroom and sat down and started "working" as soon as the door was open.
Well could we be prouder of our little girl, I never think we can and then she grows a little and amazes us even more. The first day of school Ella was up just after 6am and fully dressed in her uniform (white socks shoes and blazer on a very hot morning) and ready to go by 7am. We only had to be there at 8:30 and she couldn't wait to leave, asking every few minutes if we were ready.
Once we arrived she was delighted to see her friends, especially Patrick and Thomas Fox, and then couldn't wait to get inside. As soon as she saw her teacher, Miss Angus, she shot over and asked if there was a dictionary in the classroom (she can't read yet but is very keen). Then she and Patrick sat themselves down and started playing with the activities set out. No tears, no fuss, just excitement and delight. It was quite emotional for us seeing our baby taking her first real steps into the real worl but once again it is a real pleasure to be a part of her life.
After school we were chatting about the day and she pipes up "It was the best school ever!"

Long may that feeling last. Her only question was how soon we can drop her at the drop off zone on her own and not come to the classroom with her. Beautiful!!

running in the park

Running in the reserve with a rainbow ribbon.

Chinamans beach buddies

Isn't the beach the best when you have lots of buddies who can get together for breakfast!!!

The Myburghs bring Christmas

A collection of reindeer and Christmas elves came to visit last weekend.

And even better they brought roast lamb dinner!!! Christmas can come around any day!!

So good to have these guys close by.

Redlands North Harbour 2007 concert

We have been very sad to say goodbye to Redlands North Harbour campus, even though Ella will be joining some of her classmates at the Cremorne campus next January.

We have loved the teachers and they sent the kids off with a fabulous seaside inspired concert. All the artwork is the hardwork from the last school term. It has been a wonderful year with lots of fun, friends and new skills learned.

Snorkeling at Manly

We have had another fabulous Sydney weekend with sun and sea featuring high in what we were up to. And this weekend was extra special because Ella had her first snorkel with Brendan!!! We have been waiting for her to be big enough to fit a mask so she could try and finally we found one small enough for her little face, and guess what she is a natural!! Face straight in, breathing and floating like she has always done it, even ducking under the water to get closer to the fish.

We celebrated with a snorkel at Manly's harbour side beach where there is a large netted swimming area. We had been told this was fabulous, not because you need the nets for safety, but because the bottom of the nets are filled with sea life and most particularly the Leafy Sea Dragon, a sea horse type creature without the twisty tail but with lovely dragon like lacy wings.

In th picture below you can just see Brendan's bottom on the surface as he ducks down for another look.

Well unfortunately no Sea Dragons but there were sea horses which we have never seen before and wonderful to see out of the aquariums. Also a cuttlefish snoozing on the sand, a pineapple fish and various other harbour residents. I am constantly amazed at the sea life in this very utilised and busy harbour! Well so many swims to look forward to in the future, so many islands and pools we can now explore as a family, how marvelous!

Ella's first day as a Balmoral Nipper

Brendan and I were so proud of Ella on her first outing as a Balmoral nipper!!

The beach was filled with nippers and lifesavers as far as the eye could see and our little group raced around filling buckets with water, crawling through tunnels on the obstacle course, doing tug of war, and racing for batons in the sand. Sand flying everywhere!!!

Getting ready for the baton race.

The O'Flynn's come to visit

We have just had a wonderful visit from Andrea and Abbie!!!

We all picked up right where we left off, Ella was so excited she just about burst on the way to the train station to fetch them.

We have had lots of fun touring around sydney with visits to the Aquarium and the beach, trips on the ferry and lots of fun, food and laughter.

Come back soon!!!

Ella's fifth birthday

Look what happened to our little girl!!!

She is growing up so fast and celebrated her fifth birthday with special family and friends and enormous excitement at the Manly Aquarium.

We couldn't be proud of our happy and sparkling little treasure!!!