Kids adventure in John Forrest

We met a load of friends and their kids and headed off out to John Forrest national Park for a kiddy adventure. Ended up with a load of wet, muddy but very happy kids at the end of it. Lovely to get the kids outside and playing with each other exploring their little hearts out.

Quick night away camping in the Dunes at Wilbinga

A quick drive North and into the Sand dunes at Two Rocks and through the Sand dunes north until we found a nice spot to camp for the night. We arrived a little later than we expected, Ellis and I ran around collecting wood for the fire (can you see her? down below). Whilst Lara set about putting our tents up for the night.

I did manly wood chopping and fire lighting whilst Lara drank beer. Sounds like a perfect evening!

Soon the sun started to set, we cooked and ate some dinner, chatted and just enjoyed being out of Perth for a bit of camping.

The now obligatory glow sticks of course were with us! Was lovely to have a fire to keep us warm now it is winter and we are allowed them. Now all I had to worry about was Lara’s turn driving us back out over the sand dunes! Gulp.

BBQ on the beach

A nice winters day going up north to have a BBQ on the beach.

A weekend in Dunsborough to support Denise and her team in the Busso half ironman

The Fords invited us down to Dunsborogh for the weekend so we could help out with Evie and Amara and cheer on Denise in her 90 km stint of the Busso half.

It was an ace weekend of activities with the kids and shouting near the transition for Denise. The team put in a sterling effort and Denise could even walk today!

Representing North Coast TC and raising money for muscular dystrophy.

Evie and Ellis holding hands in the car.

Oh look! Dave is a climbing frame, how unusual!
Saturday was spent at a lighthouse, the beach and drawing in a spectacular location by sugarloaf rock. We also got to watch a seal playing around and pod of dolphins frolicking in the ocean surf. Can’t go past a tree without scaling it…

Many attempts to scale the lighthouse walls.

Dave having a short rest in the sunshine.

Ellis and Amara hunted for shells.

Hunting for beasties in Rockpools was fruitless but fun.

Great friends.

Colouring with a view.

Off to climb.

Ellis and Dave at the top.

We also learned a valuable lesson on beer storage at Occy’s while enjoying lunch!

Ellis still goes in for a kiss with a cracking pout!
Tom still sporting his shiner after using his face as a brake last week on Whore no More.

And we went to feed the farm animals in the rain. Evie was petrified at first but by the time she had been round the bunnies, Guinea pigs and parrots was less fearful of the llamas, goats and sheep!

This parrot never goes near women… So spent most of its time on Dave’s shoulders.

The llama in the background shortly after this was taken barged past the other animals and stole Ellis’ bucket of carrots. We were in fits, she was less impressed!!

Perhaps this sheep had a heavy night.

A great family weekend away.

Ellis Climbs at Rock Face, Northbridge for the first time

we decided that Ellis should do some rock climbing after showing eagerness for climbing anything and everything she sees.

We packed up harnesses and went to Rock Face after Dave finished work. She loved it and Dave and I had to beg her to give us a turn!

Hopefully we’ll get her there every week. I had forgotten how much fun it is to climb, it has been so long! Maybe she will give Katy B a run for her money one day!

Easter weekend 2015

We headed to Dunsborough for the long weekend with a small entourage including Rach, who had come over from Sydney. Ellis and Alfie had a lovely time together and we adults also had a lovely time catching up over biking, wining and camping!

Funny faces 🙂

A hard knock life…

Ellis shows Daddy how it is done.

Excessively tall Dunsborough kids

Camper Trailer living

Not muddling the chain lube and the booze…

Off to the Easter fayre

1st pony ride!

Ellis shows Aunty Rach how to rock hop

Ellis paddles with Daddy

The aftermath of the Easter bunny’s visit

Working off Easter treats in the forest

Pretty run

Cracking camping playground!

Australia Day at Amanda’s

Amanda hosted an awesome Australia Day as usual! Unfortunately Ben had to work. It was super with great food and lovely catching up with old friends!

Thanks for a great day!

Longest ocean swim!

Denise persuaded me to take part in the Sorrento OWS for Australia Day. It was 1.25km which was short compared with the 2.5, 5 and 10km options! We both survived despite a lack of sighting buoys; we both went a little too far out but I think Denise won the off course comp after being repeatedly asked by the boats to “head back towards shore”!

I am very pleased to have made it and not panicked too much (even when tickled by a stinger) and am actually looking forward to this weekend’s Olympic distance in Busso.

Lancelin with the kids

Team pathfinder (as in all the family’s have the same car, we are so trendy) set off for a day at Lancelin. Once there we set off up north of the sand dune area to drive along the beach until we found some peace and quite and set up for some beach time

Here we spent the afternoon playing in the sea, tig, running in and out and building sand castles. Lara bought me a cool ball that bounces on the water that kept me entertained for ages! Love it!

next up was to break out the Boogie board, none of the kids had done it before. They all had a go and loved it. It was pretty short lived and we didn’t want to put them off, so after each had 4 or five runs we called it a day and went back to normal beach playing, they all wanted more so hopefully we can keep up the motivation for it.

On the way back we drive up and throughout eh actual sand dunes. I had never been driving in sand dunes, intact I still haven’t as i had that morning slammed my thumb in a bike rack so couldn’t drive so Lara did all the driving. Not gutted at all.