Rainy days and fun times...

We've had more rainy weather here on the Sunshine Coast. We've had two floods in two weeks. Seems like it should be called the Rainy Coast!

But it is so beautiful and the trees are all growing so well this year.





The creek flowing over the road again.






And I can't keep the kids inside. They love playing in all the puddles... it just means more muddy clothes to wash and try to get dry...








Even Tui sat at the door calling to be allowed out in the water to play. Eventually big brother came to the rescue and Zan splashed in a puddle with her for a little while.
Luckily even when it rains the temperature is still in the mid-twenties! (celcius)







Here's another beautiful Rain!





Then when the Sun finally came we were all keen to get into the garden. The kids built a wigwam with apple tree prunings, vines and branches.





Tui helped too!

The finished wigwam!

Well almost finished, because Rain decided to weave some mats for the floor.

Peace has bolted some rock climbing holds onto the big pecan tree over in the playground.

And made a rope bridge from the Pecan over to the platform tree.

Mr T loves climbing anything, he is such a monkey.

And Rain's friend had a go too...

I even climbed up but unfortunately no photos ;)

BigCity Life

Wow! Our weekend in the city was so busy and soooo much fun.

We started off on Friday at White water world on the Gold Coast...

It's just so big and bright...

Zan got wet...

...in fact we all got wet!

Mr T was very excited to see Sponge Bob...

I got scared on this water-slide. It felt like I was being flushed down a giant toilet!!!

There were water slides everywhere.

Then off to my brother's place to bond with the family.

Sweet cousins...

Saturday we took my nephew rock climbing at the Kangaroo Point cliffs.

They are right in the center of the city but you wouldn't know from this photo

First the kids all climbed the art work...I guess it was a warm up for the cliff.

My beautiful girls

Happy 13Th Birthday number 1 nephew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zan relaxing under a tree

And Sunday we caught a train into the Valley (Rain and Mr T have never been on a train before so were impressed) We went to the markets and to China town where I finally found a place that sells Po Sum On...an awesome chinese herbal tincture that you can use for just about anything.
Then all tired and worn out we headed for home...
ahhh...it's quiet here.

Happy Birthday Mungbean!

It was my darling partner's birthday earlier in the week. There are so many reasons why I love this man. He is a great father, a wonderful partner, so kind and caring...











He started the day with this special breakfast in bed.

French Toast with strawberries, blueberries, banana, maple syrup and cream

Then we went shopping to buy him a new rock climbing rope.









And then home for the Ultimate Chocolate cake. As you can probably guess MB is a bit of a sweet tooth!

The mud cake decorated with TimTams and Marshmellow bickies...yum.

May you have a beautiful year MB.

We're back...

We had a wonderful time camping. I really enjoyed some quality time together without any distractions, TV and no house work (that might have to be my favourite bit of camping!)

We didn't go far, just an hour from home, north to Glastonbury Creek Camping area in the Brooyar State Forest.

It's a beautiful spot and wasn't busy. And best of all dogs ARE allowed! So Xena came with us and we didn't have to worry about dog sitters.

The kids had a go at gold panning (we didn't find enough to get rich but we found some nice stones.) This led to an impromptu lesson about gold mining and history and I've promised to take the children back up to Gympie in a couple of weeks to the gold mining museum.

We went bush walking and swimming relaxed around camp. Tui loved having everyone living at her level.

Rain and Zan cooked lots of meals on the fire while I lazed around.

MB was estatic to check out the local abseiling/ rock climbing cliffs. There are 36 climbs and it's a beautiful rock formation, a huge escsrpment over looking a beautiful valley.

The layers in the rocks led to another school lesson for the children about Geology and history.

Mb found me a little piece of rose quartz in the rock wall...the stone of love.

Although after a bit too much 'teacherliness' from me they kids decided to tape me up and gag me with gaffer tape.

This morning on our way home we went for a quick climb...we ended up staying a couple of hours.

It was the first climb I've done in years and it was soooo much fun! We'll be going again soon.

And I saw some beautiful trees...

But we are all nicely tired out now and glad to be home.