New Years Eve 2008

We were lucky to have Allie and Graeme join us for a sleep over (to Ella's total delight - grown ups for a sleep over) and we enjoyed a quiet New Years eve with walks on the beach - a highly illegal beach fire (to the delight of Graeme and Brendan and my own neurotic conviction that the water police would arrive at any moment!!)

I overheard Ella telling Pat about it this morning "we had a fire on the beach, and we stayed up till midnight, and the police didn't come"

Our own very teeny sparklers compared with the $5 million show that the people who braved the traffic got.

Brendan with halo - looks intact too!!!A lovely evening followed by a wonderful new years morning swim.

Best wishes for 2009 everybody!!!!

School concert

The school put on a dinosaur spectacular - Ella was a sparkly eyed brontosaurus (with Noah on her left below)Bringing the first year of school to a close with a noisy and exciting day - phew its the holidays!!!

Patonga revisited

Back to Patonga - in summer this time - for a week of holiday with the lovely Saville-Isaacs clan.
The first day Ella, Levi and I made frangipani garlands in the shady lawn. Its such a beautiful spot and yes I did feel like I was in some kind of glossy lifestyle magazine!

The finished product in its scented glory

Levi shows off his newly built super duper lego world plane!!
Fishing boats on the Patonga river banks
Ella and Levi spend a morning creating team drawings in the gorgeous light of the living room.
Bestest friends

Ella feeds Rafi icecream at an evening at the local pub!

I AM the prettiest chocolatiest girl!!!

Looking forward to another visit in the future!!

surfs up

Ella and nine of her little K-Red mates spent a day at Manley in late November learning to surf.
With the patience of the instructors she is UP!!!


And then on her way again - look at the smile!!!

This is what growing up in Sydney is all about!!

A day out with Heather in Sydney

Brendan and Ella give Heather smooches!!
Sitting in the clover on the lawn outside the gallery.

Today was on of those magical Sydney summer days which started with swimming at the beach, meeting up with fellow beach rat friends, both olds and new, at Chinamans and general lazing in the sun by the adults and leaping around in the water and off the rocks by the kids.

After lunch we went to the National Gallery to see the Monet exhibition which was wonderful, a real treat to see such treasures. Then we had a lovely walk through the botanical gardens in the afternoon sun, tripping our way through the many many weddings that were also enjoying a wonderful sunny afternoon.

We ended the day with dinner at Jimmy Liks. Ella was terribly excited to be in a "very fancy" grown up restaurant and was very well behaved. It was amazing to be able to order off a single menu in a non-family restaurant and we look forward to doing much more family exploring like this.

We can't believe its almost time for Heather to go back already, its been so wonderful having her here and such fun.

Ella's 6th Birthday Party

We celebrated Ella's party with lots of special friends and ofcourse Granny Heather as our special guest!!! Cheeky the clown entertained the kids with games and magic and otherwise there was a lot of running around and playing in the ashes of the firepit. Ella had a blast!!! and so did the rest of us. The birthday feast before the arrival of the guests. Home time treasures waiting to be given away.
Lisa, Levi and Heather enjoy a quiet moment in the meadow.
Ella thinks the breaking wand is hilarious - even funnier was when she figured this one out and fixed it and then handed it back to the magic clown!!!

Ella gets lot of help from her friends blowing out the unstoppable birthday candles (so unstoppable that they set off the smoke alarm!!).

Ella turns SIX!

She is just as gorgeous as ever, she makes us laugh and adore her, she has no front teeth and Ella is SIX!

Ella came up to our room at first dawn and opened her presents in the golden morning sunrise light. She is a pleasure to give things to loving each thing in its turn and rejoicing in each surprise, but she was particularly happy to open the much longed for baby white tiger.

Ella then spent a very happy day with her friends at vacation care but came home to a lovely birthday dinner cooked by Brendan and finished off with candles and cake. And as you can see also much general silliness and fun - observe the three generations of cheeky faces below!!!