Things have been a little quite around here ...

I can assure you that is because we have been BUSY!  That and my internet connection dies in the evening :(  Thought a change in service provider would solve all my problems, sadly, they have returned! Looks like i will have to change my blogging habits.

So what have we been up to?

I've been busy in the kitchen mostly.  Some of the recipes have made their way onto the blog some more need refining and then i will post them too.  At the moment i am working on chickpea chocolate biscuits, or maybe that should be chocolate chickpea biscuits.  I'm using some 'different' ingredients as I am trying to fill up Possum (he eats like a bird) and also put some weight on him so we are going for high energy foods.  If he had a full tummy he might actually sleep, that would be bliss!

We ended up taking some time off school over Anzac Day and the following week as my niece came to stay then we had a bunch of appointments both in the city and at home.  We are back to regular programming this week although we are heading to the city Wednesday as i am talking the kids to the symphony cushion concert.  Should be loads of fun!

Anzac Day was great.  The kids enjoyed the march followed by wreath laying.  Then everyone went into the town hall for an hour long presentation.  There were various speakers speaking about their experience at war, playing the last post, hymns, prayers, songs, poems etc.  It was a really lovely way to honour those who fought for us and one of the best services i've been to.  Afterwards everyone had a sausage sizzle for breakfast before heading home.

It's never too early to buy books for next year, right?  Here are some new Anzac books that have arrived.  Many thanks to Jeanne @ A Peaceful Day for recommending these new titles.

Flossy has been busy reading.  No surprises there it's her favourite pastime.  She's recently found the author Michael Morpurgo and is really loving his books.

Bugsy has been busy riding his bike!

Chicky has been busy with her reading and maths.  She read her first I See Sam reader this week!  She's been working more in Miquon too.  Mini Math Monday should be back next week if i can tare Chicky away from Miquon long enough to fit in some living maths!

Possum has been playing and trying to take a few more steps.

Rusty has finished up his local work and has now gone to the city.  It will be hard with him working away but we have been there before.  Hopefully this time it won't be for very long.  We have plans afoot for our move back to the city later in the year.

Sadly our much loved Jasper was hit by a car last night.  He is in surgery as i type having his shattered pelvis and fractured hip repaired.  I'm busying myself waiting for the vet surgeon to call and let me know how it went.

Well, back to the books with the kiddies before packing to go to the city for the concert.

Happy Easter

I hope you are all enjoying a lovely Easter with your families :)

Esperance!

We had an absolutely amazing time in Esperance in January visiting our family and friends!  The pictures would have come much sooner but we've been having problems with our ISP.  We've just changed to a new ISP so fingers crossed the problems are behind us.  Enjoy!

Bugsy, Flossy, Chicky, Possum and their Great Nana. 

Chicky, Miss H, Bugsy, Miss G, Flossy & Mr L on the back of the ute going fishing. 

Mrs L looking at the painting done by my Great Grandmother of Esperance bay which is hanging in the Esperance Museum.  This painting was painted directly onto the wall of my Great Grandmothers house so that she could see the sea from her bed.

Me, Bugsy and the baby Aussie salmon which Bugsy caught off the tanker jetty.  We put it back right after the photo and it happily swam away.

Chinese for dinner.  Me, Possum, Bugsy, Miss H, Chicky, Flossy & Miss G.  Everyone was very well behaved and the food was lovely!

 Me and Possum.  This was the first time Possum had been in a pool!  He loved it!

 Bugsy enjoying the pool.

Flossy enjoying the pool. 

Possum exhausted after his swim in the pool.

Sammy the Australian Sea Lion who likes to visit the Tanker Jetty for all the fishermens scraps. 

Esperance Tanker Jetty.  This view back to the shore was taken almost from the end. 

Beautiful Esperance beaches!

Observatory Point.  My Grandad put that rock on top of the hill.  The hill is actually a piece of land that juts out into the ocean with cliffs to the right and left of the picture.  The vegetation doesn't really show it.  My Grandad almost fell into the sea in his bulldozer putting the rock up there.

Esperance is such a beautiful place even the cruise ships come to visit.  This is the Athena docked for the day.  We watched the ship come in from the Tanker Jetty in the morning and then watched it leave from the deck of my Nana's house in the evening.

<3 Esperance!