Yep, I'm 35!

Its official, I'm another year older! The kids and I had fun decorating mini cupcakes. They were most impressed that both there ages were in my cake. They were disappointed when I said it couldn't happen next year. I don't mind ageing but jumping 11 years to 46 is a bit much

We had BBQ chook on bread at the park for lunch and ate out for dinner - I'm pretty good but I'm not cooking my own birthday dinner! Had a great day in all, felt very loved from up close and over the seas. Thank you for all your well wishes and gifts xx

RenAYsance Festival

The day after Thanksgiving (of which the kids and I spent with our good friends the Wrens) we travelled about 30 mins to the annual Rennaisance Festival of which I'm told we butcher the pronounciation. We were transported to a different time and place. Everyone that worked there and half the visitors were dressed accordingly and never broke character.

We got to ride an elephant (not very far and for a ridiculous price) but we did get to ride one.Liam put on a masculine display and hit the platform with all his might. The 3 inch jump the metal puck made didn't quite ring the bell but he was pretty proud of himself anyway.
We were privy to a jousting spectacular in which our allocated green horse lost dismally!

We watched a silent magician who was quite entertaining for the older crowds. The kids attention was in and out and at one point Liam looked up at this guy and incredulously said "Did he get that fat man out of his hat?" . It was one of those embarrassingly funny moments.

Another Mastercard moment. Forget the festival, give me the dead, brown leaves.

Liam wasn't quite sure what to make of this guy but he erred on the side of caution and eventually kept walking.

The kids and I got a good laugh out of this set up. The ironic accuracy in the descriptions did it for me.

These people below were just visitors, it was amazing to see so many people dressed up. And at times a bit creepy. This fairy gave the kids magic gemstones. Liam said right out It's not magic and Ashley fervently exclaimed It is if you believe!

You go girl!

Now I hear Rove is no longer so I may have to start up my own "What the?" segment. Its a bit hard to read but I think you can enlarge it by clicking on the image. My Dad first spotted this is May and said "Now I've seen it all!"

Good Shepherd Thanksgiving Feast

Liam's preschool simplified things and just served tucker! They had still been busy making placemats with turkey handprints and writing down what they were thankful for. Liam was thankful for (verbatim) "a big giant lollipop and a huge baby and a big giant turkey". Good mention of his beloved family hey? BTW have no idea whose big baby he makes mention of - no movement on that front rest assured!

Coulson Tough Thanksgiving Feast

We got ourselves a little squaw this year and watched as Ash & her class mates sang some songs for us. Seriously I never thought I'd be one of those mums getting all choked up but Ashley was just concentrating so hard and singing so earnestly that you couldn't but be proud.

All the parents were allocated food & beverages to bring in and the kids sat down to a traditional Thanksgiving lunch. Well kind of, nuggets replaced turkey, tatertots replaced potatoes etc but they did have pumpkin pie and it turns out Ashley likes it. Not really my thing (not sweet enough!!)

Woodlands Children's Festival

We are quite happy to enjoy the abnormal bubble that is our home. The services, activites and layout is very family focused. We went along to the Woodlands Children's Festival the other week. The kids highlight was making and flying their own kites (amazingly there was some wind in Texas that day!) and seeing Barney perform some songs in the Pavillion, a similar set up to Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Ashley tried her hand at karaoke - 10 points for effort I say.

The kids eyes popped out of their heads when they saw this huge Christmas Tree set up outside.

Halloween

This was, in a sense, our first Halloween. Simon was away last year, I was at home looking after Gastro Boy and Ashley went out with friends but wasn't quite back to her normal self after being Gastro Girl. We ended up at a great party in the afternoon and then on to Trick or Treating in our neighbourhood. I'm sure it's self explanatory but out motley crew consisted of two witches, a pirate and Buzz Lightyear himself.

I'm sending half of this 'candy' back to Oz with Simon next week so you can all rot your teeth instead of our kids!!!!

Simon heads home this weekend for the Australian Masters in Melbourne and then the Open in Sydney. He gets 2 weeks off in between the 2 events to play catch up and I, of course, am vey happy and excited that he has this wonderful opportunity to spend time with family and friends. . . . . well i'm working on it anyway! Take care of him for us love Cara, Ash & Liam xx

Pumpkin Patch

With Fall (Autumn) comes Fall Festivals and Pumpkin Patches. This year we visited a Pumpkin Patch at a Christmas Tree Farm believe it or not. It was a bit woeful from our perspective but the kids had fun which is all that counts. The kids enjoyed climbing over the pumpkin patches, loading up wagons and carting them around.