Oh Deere!

Never on our 'To Do' list Moline Illinois turned out to be an enjoyable trip. Nothing but cornfields and John Deere everything we had pleasant days with hours in the pool and BBQs everynight at the hotel.

How it all began . . .

1837 John Deere develops the steel walking plow. Plows had evolved for thousands of years and worked well in soil previously farmed. Plowing the Illinois prairie for the first time was hampered by soil that stuck to the plow. John Deere curved a broken steel sawmill blade that let the soil slide off the plow. Animal-drawn plows were the heart of John Deere business for the next eight decades.

Still the love of my life

4th of July

After last year's debacle of missing the fireworks at the very last minute we promised the kids a show this year. We spent it with our good friends Robert & Jen, Jason & Alice and their beautiful families. We know our time in the states in nearing an end but we've all decided that denial is the best approach.

Dorothy and her treasured American Girl doll "Rebecca"

He's growing up. Liam got upset that he only had a blue and purple light saber! and wanted a red one like Darth Vader. So we had the ole "money doesn't grow on trees chat" and dubbed him old enough to start some chores. He was very diligent and did everything on the list for day one. Our second serious chat came after he put his hand out and said "can I have my red light saber now?"

It took 4 years!

It took 4 years to really cut off his locks. Liam has always liked 'to feel it shake' but asked repeatedly for a haircut so we did and whilst he looks instantly older we think he looks spunky too.

I'm an ideas woman!

What do you do when you want to spend some quality time with friends and not be interrupted by the kids??
Stick em outside with the hose and a few cans of shaving cream!! I promise you won't hear from them for hours.

Daddy's home

Had Simon home for an unexpected week (he has been on the road for 12 or 13 weeks straight, we've lost count) and we had the most lovely time doing not much at all.

Ladies Night Out

Sam (far right) one of our expat friends is moving on to Canada so of course, we had to have a girl's night out to celebrate. . . our friendship that is, not her leaving!!

Ashley graduates

Ashley had her, ahem, Kindergarten (our Prep) Graduation at the beginning of June. She had her grade 6 buddy walk her to the stage where the principal handed Ashley her, ahem, graduation certificate. We are very proud of Ashley who has worked hard and got her first good report card. She fluffs her feathers a little at the thought of being a '1st grader' now.

Fort Worth, Texas

I'm a little behind on updates!! After Mum and Dad went home we drove to Fort Worth Texas (4hrs from home and a sister town to Dallas) to spend a w/e with Simon. Didn't do much 'cept laze in the hotel pool and eat out.

A certain miss was grumpy and not wanting to partake in the making of memories so we made one without her (almost anyway)

Ahh the old ice-down-the-shirt trick!

I'm sure we've shown you pictures of the freeway systems here before but its always good for a look

oops

got things a little out of order. These are some people shots from our time in Denver.

Mum, Dad, Ashley, me, Liam and Kellen

The kids - ?2nd cousins or 3rd? not sure

Me with my little!! cousin Simon

Aloha

Liam had his end of year Aloha program today where the 3 yo and 4 yo classes stand up and sing songs they've learnt throughout the year. Liam was not at all happy about wearing the 'flower necklace' cos it itches but sang his lungs out to make up for it. Simon was all set to drive 3 hours from Dallas to watch him and then drive all the way back. He is a wonderful Dad and would move heaven and earth for his family but considering he was recovering from gastro and jetlag his marvellous idea got canned. Sorry Liam boy.

We made our way to Loveland Pass, nearly 12,000 ft above sea level and our first taste of altitude sickness. Not too bad but the occasional wave of nausea or need to gulp in air! The pass is right on the Continental Divide which designates the line at which waters flow either to the Atlantic or the Pacific Oceans.
It was pretty breathtaking. Unfortunately Liam slept right through it but Ashley was in awe of the snow and loved the concept of snowball fights!!

Dad, cousin Simon, Kellen, Mum and Ashley (caught red handed)

Mum, Dad & Simon Morwood

Mum & me a little lower down the Rockies

The rockies cont'd

One of our pit stops on the way up to Loveland Pass

We had lunch in a ski town called Breckenridge