Rocky Show 2012!!

We headed off to the Rocky Show yesterday.  It was so much fun.  I just love the show even though I don't go on the rides anymore.  The noise and excitement is so cool.

Of course we all entered the baking and craft.  The competition is dwindling which is a shame to see.  It's one of the main reasons I enter.  I think it would be such a shame if that section of the show dwindled out to nothing.  I might have to wrangle and harass some friends into entering next year I think.

Jack and I did pretty well this year.  Jack won first prize for his layered jar...

and his Lego...

and his chocolates...

He also entered the muffins, iced cupcakes and decorated cake but didn't win in those categories.  How cute is his little snowman with a mustache though.  He also received a Highly Commended for his painting.

I won a few things too.  I got third place (out of 3 entries lol) for my decorated cupcakes...

First place for my Pumpkin Scones...thank to Flo Bjelke Petterson's fantastic recipe.

 Second for my Pistacio Hedgehog Slice...

Second for my Banana Crumb Muffins...

I also entered but didn't win in the scrapbooking and chocolate cake and I entered the fudge but forgot to check if I placed in that.  Mind you getting to eat the leftover Salted Caramel Fudge is prize enough, yumm.  Owen entered the Man of the House cake too but didn't place.  Maybe next year...

Here's Jack patting a smelly sheep at the petting zoo.  He looks excited doesn't he.  There was a baby llama and some adorable little baby sheep and goats though and some frizzle chickens which I love.

Ash, Jack and I waiting for the water shooting game to start.

 Ash, Jack and Owen at the start of the Crazy Coaster...

up, up, up...

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!  Jack's face is an absolute classic!!  He really did enjoy the ride though and went back for another ride later even though he looks absolutely petrified in the photo.

This was obviously the latest craze for the young ones this year at the show, there were about 4 of these.  Jack was a little freaked out before it even started as there's hardly any air in at the beginning.  I'm really claustrophobic so I felt uncomfortable just watching it.  They inflate it with a garden leaf blower which is why Jack's hands are over his ears.

He was ok for a while but then started hammering on the side trying to get the attention of the ride attendant to get let out.  You could see his little face in there mouthing "Help, help".  He didn't want a second turn of that one.

As I said it was a fantastic afternoon/night and we had an absolute blast.  Ahhh show time, how I love thee :)

...life...

We have had some goings on going on lately!!  Last Sunday we headed down to Brisbane.  O had an  appointment with an eye specialist and the nearest is down that way so we had our first exciting train trip!!  Jack got a little wriggly towards the end of the 7-8 hour trip but he handled it pretty well really.

We got a taxi to our hotel and checked in.  We stayed at the Hotel Grand Chancellor which was quite nice.  The view was really good.  The hotel overlooks the Roma Street Parklands with the city and river beyond.

Jack had actually chosen where we were going to stay and this is why...

 ...the rooftop pool!!  Of couse as soon as we checked in that is where he wanted to go so we went up and checked it out and then when Owen's brother Ian arrived we went up and O and Jack had a bit of a swim.  Jack kept going between the warm spa and the cold pool.

After the swim we headed down to the Queen Street Mall and had dinner at Jo Jo's.  Interesting decor and interesting menu choices, lol.  Such a mix of cuisines, steaks, oriental, italian...interesting.  The meals were pretty good.

On Monday we headed back down to the Mall for some breaky before having a little browse around the shops before Owen's appointment.  The one shop I wanted to visit, Lush, was closed for renovations.  You can buy their stuff online but it's not the same as getting that olfactory overload of walking into the store.  I LOVE their blue skies and fluffy white clouds.  It is devine!!  I do still have half a piece left from Christmas.

After Owen's appointment we headed back to the Mall and Jack had a ball upstairs in the Myer centre at the kids arcade there and then we met up with O's brother and walked over to Southbank.

First we went to the Brisbane Museum and checked out all the interesting things they have there.  Jack of course loved the dinosaur skeleton replicas and all of the animal displays.  It's a very cool place to visit and I'd definitely recommend it particularly if you have kiddies.

After the Museum we went for a walk along Southbank.  Jack absolutely love the water area.  I tried to find a store that was still open to buy a towel so he could go in but everywhere had just closed so he just had to try not to get too wet.  It was practically deserted when we were there.

We headed back towards the bridge along the rivers edge...

and then Jack and I went up in the big wheel to check out the sites.

For dinner we headed to Beastie Bugers.  O loves burgers!  They were pretty damm good too, nice and juicy but the wedges with aioli were particularly yummo.  It was great to be able to spend so much time with Ian while we were there.

The floods were a bit of an issue for the trip home.  We were due to head back on the train but due to the flooding we had to be bus'ed the inland route up to Bundaberg and then the train the rest of the way to Rockhampton.  It was a long long way home, 12 hours!!  The staff of Queensland Rail were fantastic!!  They were so friendly and apologetic and our meals were all complimentary all the way home which was a bonus.  Jack was actually excited by the late arrival home because he got to stay up past midnight.  We kept him home from school the next day but of course he wouldn't have nap!!  I made him have some quiet time though.

We have had a busy week to follow up the trip away too.  Four parties this weekend!!  Jack's mate Mitchell was the first party on Friday night, a disco party.  The long week I think caught up with both Jack and I that night and we both had little melt downs but Jack tells me it was still the best party of the weekend.

On Saturday we headed to the park to meet up with some of my family for little Bronwyn's 5th Birthday.  The park on the riverside there is just the best place for kids.  There are so many different swings and activities and things and a great track for scootering and good visibility so the parents can just sit back and see where their kids are.

Here's Bronnie trying out her new skipping rope with a helping hand from her Grandma and Great Auntie Marie.

Jack having a scoot...

And pass-the-parcel...

The boys tested out the trees for climbing...

And lastly a photo of my beautiful orchid which is blooming gloriously.  This orchid was a gift from my Grandma so it's bloom at this time is extra special for me.  xoxo

My Beautiful Grandma

Today we farwelled our beautiful Grandma.  She had been in hospital for the last couple of weeks and passed away surrounded by her family on Friday.  I feel so blessed to have been Granddaughter to such a kind, gentle and generous woman and to have learnt so much from both her and my Grandad about so many things but particularly about love.  They were so in love.

They had met on a blind date set up by Grandma's best friend Mimi who was dating Grandad's brother Brian.  Brian and Mimi were married as well and sadly were only parted when Mimi passed away last year.

This is one of my all time favorite photos of Grandma and Grandad.  They say a picture says a thousand words, this one says love, love, love...

My Mum, brother and I lived next door to my Grandparents until I was 11 so I spent a lot of time with my them.  We used to have dinner with them quite regularly and actually we probably had breakfast there just about every morning because Grandma always cooked bacon.  Even when we moved out to the farm I used to leave my bike at my Grandparents house so I still saw them nearly every day.  I can always remember sitting at their table in the afternoon and when Grandad would call out as he walked down the driveway, "Loverboy's Home" and Grandma would giggle every time.  It was beautiful.  

I have so many beautiful memories of growing up and my favorites are all about family.  My Grandparents have a beach house at Cooee Bay where all the families would spend every school holiday...lots and lots and lots of us.  Our days were always the same, get up for breakfast, down to the beach for a swim, hanging out at the house, lunch, the little ones would nap and the older ones would read then back to the beach for another swim, dinner and dishes and then bed.  We would all gather around the littlest ones beds and Grandma would tell us all stories before bed.  My cousins and I all have the best memories of those story times.

As I said before I have been truly blessed to have had such a fantastic Grandma

Our weekend...

I have had a really nice weekend and I'm sure Jack has enjoyed himself as well.  On Saturday morning I had morning tea with my friends Charlene and Ann.  Ann has just moved back to town and bought a fantastic house so we got the grand tour and then kicked back for a catch up chat and coffee.  I love those girls.

On our way home we swung by and picked up Jack's mate Mitchell for a sleepover.  They had a great weekend playing the Wii and swimming.  It's so nice him having mates over.  I feel for him as an only child, I know he feels lonely some times so as I said it's great for him to have time with his friends.

The boys and Coco tried out the new sofa bed. 

This morning we had a lovely morning swim.  The water is so nice in the morning with the sun sparkling off it.  The boys had a fighting monsters game going on and were flipping and swimming all over the place, me well I sat back and had a lovely spa to start off the day.  Ahhhhhhh.  Here's some of their cool dives.

I also gave the gorgeous Coco and shampoo and blow wave.  

This afternoon as Mitchell was leaving Jack's other mate, Jared came over for a play and then later this afternoon my Mum and my friend Kim came over so I have had a great time catching up with lots of people this weekend.  My Grandma Jean has been in hospital since Thursday but she's getting a little better every day too which is great.  She's a beautiful lady.
Hope everyone has a great weekend too.  Ciao

Our first 4WD adventure...

My friend Tricia phoned the other day to invite Jack to go 4WD'ing with her hubby Jason and son Oliver and their friend Mitchell.  Her husband obviously heard my overprotective hesitation in their side of the phone call and offered to let me tag along...as long as I didn't talk hahahahaha.  Now I'm not really one for the wild wilderness (especially no toilets) but I hate the thought of my precious boy missing out on anything fun so we jumped at the chance.

Before we even got a block from their house I was told by the boys that the prediction was that I would scream and then cry like a girl (which was right about where my mindset was as well).  Well...it was fun and I didn't cry or scream.

Before we hit the sandy part of the track we had to stop to let some air out of the tires.  The boys each had a go at letting some air out and then we got ready to head off on the sandy track.  Obviously the boys were very excited.

We headed down to 9 Mile Beach which is a beautiful piece of the world.  Beautiful beach for miles and sand dunes for the kids to climb.

And climb they did...

There's a stream that comes from somewhere and winds it's way through the dunes down onto the beach.  The water was lovely and cool, just great for splashing about.

The dunes are so interesting.  Check out the cool sediment lines along the edge of the dunes.  

And then back to more climbing and boy games on the dunes.

And then a strip down for a rinse off before jumping back in the 4WD for the drive home.

This is the beach we visited...

...and the beautiful view of Five Rocks in the background with the boys rocking the world in the foreground.  It was a fantastic day and obviously they had a blast. 

Thanks Jason.