A DAY WITH NO RAIN, YEAH!!!!!

Today was a sunny day with no rain but extremely muggy. We decided to go to the Big Banana.

View during the sky walk.

Everyone at the top of the sky walk.

Tony, Dave and the girls except Phoenix decided to go on the taboggan run. They all had the best time. It was a crack up because Maddii was so slow going down that she had 5 people behind her, 2 of which were about 6 years old all yelling hurry up.

We were all very sweaty and sticky from the humidity so we decided to head back to the villa. The next few hours were spent in and around the pool. All of us got in, yes even Nat and myself which is extremely rare. I spent about 1.5 hrs with Phoenix in the water and actually taught her to put her face under the water. I am so proud of her as she has always been really scared of putting her face under the water. By the end of her swim she was happily putting her face in and showing anyone that would watch.

Dave then took her down to the beach to see what had happened to yesterdays castle and to build another one. When she got back, I took her down to Big W to get a Polly Pocket set as a reward for being so brave and not being afraid to put her face in the water anymore. We got back and got ready to go out for dinner.

We went to Coffs Harbour Ex Services Club. Very Yummy. After dinner and a few drinks we went home for a bit of a veg and early bed, well all except me.

TODAY!!

Today was another wet but warm day. I had a bit of a sleep in, got out of bed at 8am, and had a slow start to the day. The Phoenix and the boys went for a splash while me and Nat just potted around. Dave, Nat, Tony and me went for a lovely walk along the beach and up the cliff.

Aanuka Beach Resort from the beach.

Tony and Dave rock climbing.

From the top of the cliff, Aanuka Beach Resort at the other end of the beach.

Whilst walking I got to take some wonderful nature shots. Nature is just so beautiful and amazing when you take the time to stop and look.

The balls the crabs make when they dig holes.

A cluster of bluebottles.

Bubbles left by the sea.

A se sponge.

Got back home and had some yummy lunch and then decided to take Phoenix down to the beach to build sandcastles and take photos.

This was cut short as it started to pour down with rain. Back home and the boys decided to go to the pub for some beers, so I took the girls back to the shops to return something, get some more Midoris for me, and get a diary from officeworks (similar to the one on the house of 3 site).

Got back to the resort, had dinner, Phoenix did some painting and the girls all went back for another swim. I had to call them in at 9.00pm. 

I have spent the last two days watching the flood crisis in QLD on the TV. My eldest sister lives in Brisbane, in one of the flood areas, and I have been very worried as I haven't been able to get her. Today I finally got to talk to her. Hope tonight goes well and her and her husband stay safe thru the night. Thinking of you Monica and Graeme.

THIS IS BLISS!

Another day of total bliss. Woke up at 6.30am with Phoenix and watched cartoons. I had to try and keep her quiet as everyone else was still asleep. As everyone got up, I left for a 30 min power walk on the beach, felt good. When I got back  the kids all went for a swim in the pool just outside our door.

This is literally 10 steps for our house.

After a play in the pool the girls decided to go shopping for a few hours, Phoenix stayed with her two buddies Dad and Dave. It was great to do a bit of retail therapy.

When we got home it was time for another swim and for me to play with my camera again.

All the girls are having a ball. Phoenix just loves the cave spa and having splash fights with her dad.

Phoenix in the spa cave.

splash fight.

A LONG DAY!

Well today began with a 4.30am wake up alarm, we all got ready and at 5.30 we were off to the airport. The Plane left at 6.30am and arrived in Adelaide at 7.15am. We had a 40min stop over there and then we were off to Sydney on the 7.55am flight. Once we arrived we went thru security again( 2nd time) three lap tops out to be scanned, and waited there for about 1 hr and then we were off again to Coffs Harbour.

Waiting at Sydney Airport.

Whilst we were in Sydney my darling Tony went and got me my No 1, absolute favourite food of all time.

Yes its KRISPY KREME DONUTS!!!!!

TOTAL DROOOOOOL!!!!!!!

And the girls got their favourite- A Boost Juice.

We arrived about 15mins late in Coffs Harbour, about 1.15pm, only to discover that the hire car we had ordered didnt receive our booking and Tony's suitcase wasnt on the plane. The funny thing is that Maddii had been worried all day that her luggage hadnt been put on the plane in Adelaide, we got it booked right thru in Lincoln. Tony had been joking and stirring her all day that yes it had been left, as they and Maddii say "Karma's a bitch", and yes she did say it to her Dad.

Anyway long story short, the bag was left in Sydney and was sent up and delivered to the resort, and we managed to get a car.

It is soooo great to be on holidays with our best friends in the world - The Sharmans. Anuka Beach Resort is wonderful, it feels like you are in the middle of a rainforest and no one else is around. It has been raining all day but it is still pretty hot. Everyone has been swimming. There are 3 spa baths in our hut so the girls have taken advantage of it. They go for a swim, go get hot chocolates and then go in the spa. 

An extra bonus for me is that everywhere I look is another opportunity for some photos. Today I took lots of photos of the plants on our balcony and the cute lizards that are everywhere here. 

Here is just a few, I can't wait to play.

DAY AT THE RACES!

Tony, Lavender and Phoenix spent the day at the races today so I could get organised and start packing.

 

It was family day at the races and they all had a good time. 

Im all packed and ready to go and I can't wait.

SLUMBER PARTY!! YEEHA!

Today there has been lots of excitement here. Lavender and Phoenix decided to have a "SLUMBER PARTY".  The night events were dinner, bath, popcorn, movie and Phoenix sleeping in Lavender's bed.

 

This is Phoenix doing her "popcorn dance".

Here are the girls sitting down to watch the Sponge Bob Movie with a large bowl of popcorn.

It so nice to see Lavender doing things for and with Phoenix. She is a great big sister.

Anyway Phoenix feel fast asleep during the movie. When I went to carry her up to Lavender bed she was so tired she didn't even stir. She was so vonked that I ended up putting her in her own bed.

LOVING THE COMPUTER!

With us experiencing our first really hot day this summer, we decided to send the day indoors with the AC on. Much better than outside. Silly me continued on my ironing journey that never seems to end. Only 1 hr and I hit the bottom. At least everything is ironed and I can start packing for our holiday tomorrow.
Phoenix was getting bored inside, she wanted to go the beach or ride her bike, way to hot, so we got out her cool school computer attachment.

This has to be the best present I have ever brought her. She loves playing on it. She writes her name, does spelling, plays word games she can draw and design pictures on it and do maths, although the maths is a bit hard for her yet. Today I was blessed as she was happy to sit there for 1.5hrs and at least it stopped her from practicing how fast she can run in the lounge room.

Along with doing a general 365 photo challenge, i.e one about all of us as a family, I have also been doing one just about me. I haven't been posting the photos here as most of them are not very flattering and are also for my "Move More Eat Less Journal". I am going to include mine today. Along with my camera, it is something that I could not go a day without. Its like another baby.

At the beginning 2010 I started looking into what was so good about mac books. I talked to a few people who had them and talked to an Apple genius when I went to the mac store in New York, an amazing underground store with a glass entrance that takes you to the stairs/ elevator, and was convinced that in the next few years that would be my next purchase.

Tony and the girls surprised me for Mothers day 2010 and brought me this beauty. A wonderful 15 inch macbook pro and I love it. 

I brought the pink cover.

I have to say that this has opened up a whole new world to me. I use to use my old computer about once a fortnight, now Im on my mac at least four hours a day. I am always amazed at how easy they are to use and how much i have learnt since I've had her.  My confidence has grown in leaps and bounds, this is a person that a year ago was afraid to anything on the computer and only used it to store my photos. Anyway in short I love her!!!