Growing up, you never think as much of your parents as you should.

I have always loved my parents but the older I get the more gratitude I feel for them and all the sacrifices they made for us. This clip goes out in gratitude to my mum who had six children under the age of five 24/7

... no dates, no breaks.

(try finding a baby-sitter for this lot on a zero budget)

Adalia 4, Chloe 4, Malachi 3, Lachlan 2, Chase 1 and Bailey 1 month.

And this was the easy part with all of them strapped in, the park was more 'fun' even though Stephannie, Vienna and I were all there to chase after and keep track of them. (Not to mention Chloe 'It's ok, I'll get him' as Chase is running toward the water and next thing we see is Chase pinned to the ground with Chloe on top...)

Sometimes I wonder how she did it and came out on the other end mostly sane!

I LOVE YOU MUM, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!

Bailey Cashe

A few photos of our Bailey and his birth.

The fun part...

... and worth every minute to finally meet him!

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10... PHEW!

9 & 1/2 pounds of perfection.

His first bath, equally enjoyed by Chase.

Our precious little Bailey

How blessed we are to have him in our family!

Spring

We have been privileged to live in a home that is coming alive on all sides.

I do my drive by 'oh that's pretty' but I've not really taken the time to have a nice walk with the camera and appreciate all the beauty that is part of this home.

So here are some photos from our garden...

Slumber Party

With Jony having some work up at the great lakes and needing to leave the trailer at Mum and Dad's for half the day, he thought it might be nice if we all went over to spend some time with the family and stay the night!

Fish for dinner, which I love but can't cook (I seem to have to make sure it's really dead). Jony loved having his electric heat blanket back and Chase slept surprisingly well considering he was wrapped and on a single mattress on the floor. (He is still in the cot at home)

Check out that bed hair!

The next morning he got to help Poppy feed the Little Lambies, which aren't so little anymore!

How bogan does he look still wearing that hair-do along with clothes that are too small and boots that are too big. But at least he was dressed, I was still in my flannels, Maxi's crocs and a big coat while taking the photo...

His day sleep wasn't so successful, he faugh being wrapped and let himself out of bed several times before I took him to the lounge and lay with him 'wrapped' in my arms. Poor little guy woke up soaking wet and thirsty... but at least we got rid of that morning hair!

It's nice to have a lazy visit sometimes and just hang out, Thanks for having us!

PS. Vienna, belly is in the back ground! (36 or 37 weeks)

Picking Apples

Picking apples...

Well, it's more like selecting but he enjoyed it all the same!

At the end of my street is an Orchid selling 10 kilos of apples for $10. In my freezer, a whole pile of cherries and blackberries given to me. In the corner of a spare room sat a dehydrator with 14 racks...

Fruit leather was calling!!!

(I was expecting seconds but they turned out to be much nicer than recent apples from the store)

So Stephannie and I got together and turned 10 kilos of fruit into 1 or 2 kilos of very tasty leather, next time we'll strain the seeds out of the black berries to get rid of the 'crunch' but the cherrie one was a winner for Chase!!!

Although Stephannie and I did most of it with little interest from the kids, they did love making twirly-whirly apples and eating as much as they liked.

(All photos are at Stephannie's.)

A Day at the Snow

On the 28th of August we headed to the snow with some of the family.

My parents made a little snowman first thing while Jony's priority was elsewhere...

SNOW CONES!

Then at some point Jony and Dad decided to turn the place into Wonka's out door factory!

And with no objections, Chase too helped himself... continuously!

Max and Jony had a heap of fun... which was nice for the both of them.

(I'm not a good sport when it comes to ice in my clothes, so I'm glad they had each other to save any temptation headed in my direction!)

This little tike just watched and laughed at them most of the time!

He tried to join in but his little fist-fulls of snow were no match for the big boys' snow balls.

We were even lucky enough to meet one of the locals!

And of course we wanted to see if some snow would make it home with us, so Jony placed a lump of snow on our windscreen and off we went... Well he lasted all the way home and overnight, but we lost him on the Highway the next morning!

It was a nice day with the family, some hot chocolates and lots of snow!

Unfortunately no photos of Mammar and Poppy to post, but I'm sure they will.

(I'm still looking forward to Summer sun, beaches and Fish & Chips, that I could do every weekend...)

Family Date

Jony thought it would be nice to have a family date, so on his way home from work Friday he called and told us to get ready...

Not really knowing where to go, we headed to 30mins from home to a place we'd never been.

We got some hot chocolates and headed down to the beach for a play in the sun!

Chase had a great time in the park,

I think being on his feet made all the difference.

He loved digging in the sand, until each time he stopped he got upset when he realised it was sticking to his hands... but it didn't stop him from going back for more after he'd wiped it off.

It's nice to watch Jony and Chase play as they don't get alot of time after work most days.

After our play in the park, we took a walk down the beach and got an early dinner of fish and chips to share in a cafe over looking the the water and the sun setting!

We love our family dates and spending time with each other as we watch Chase enjoy the world around him and how happy it makes him to just be together!

PS. Yes, the blue hand blending into the background is a cast!

What are the chances of breaking the same hand twice in one year?

At least no surgery this time, thankfully.

Wedding 'Fun Booth'

At the beginning of the Reception there was an announcement by the MC letting everyone know there was a 'Fun Booth' at the back and to make our way over during the evening...

But as you can imagine with all the other proceedings and formalities he also announced, the booth was somewhat forgotten about and EMPTY!

Until half way through the evening when he re-announced the fun booth... then there was a continual line up for the remainder of the night! Can't tell you how much fun everyone had or what sort of photos and comments 'FILLED' the album toward the latter of the evening when everyone loosened up!

Dad, Mum & Chase

Ali, Wendy & Scarlett

Jony & Monika

Jony, Scarlett & Our Bump!

What fun for us on the evening and what great memories and I imagine lots of laughter for Kris and Monika when they settle in and look through the Album!

Jony and I sent around polaroids at our wedding which was cute but just doesn't compare to a real photo fun booth!!!

The Wedding...

Kris and Monika

Knowing Monika, we knew her wedding would reflect the beautiful , stylish girl that she is... and it did!!!

Besides the lack of warmth from the sun at the outdoor Parramatta Park Ceremony everything was perfect...

From the view of the Harbour at the WatersEdge reception (where Kris proposed)...

To the very classy looking menu (and the first time Chase and I have ever tried Caviar, it taste like fish... don't know what I was expecting but funny enough I had never thought they would taste like 'fish')...

But the most beautiful part of the day really was Monika!

I love this photo of her laughing, completely unposed, this is the gorgeous girl we adore!

How happy we are for the two of them!

Oh and i forgot to mention the 'almost' perfectly timed fireworks in the Harbour behind Kris as he was giving his speech just before he started talking about his bride!

Chase and his Daddy..

Chase can't get enough of his daddy!

(Unless he is sick, then he wants his mummy... I guess my clothes are just a nicer texture to wipe a sore snotty nose on).

It's nice that our mere presence at times can bring him so much comfort and joy.

This was him only seconds earlier trying his hardest to get his daddy's attention through the lounge-room window while daddy was paying attention to this...

It's nice to have a husband who appreciates some of the simpler things in life in amongst his obsession with the World Cup!

Autumn/ Winter

Splitting logs at the Tolputts

Here is a rare sight of Scarlett out doors doing some work

ha ha ha just kidding

Mummys little helper never too far away

Chase enjoying the sun on Grandmas favorite bench

These guys are still in Sydney after going over for my cousin Monica's wedding on the 4th.

Without them, i haven't been able to function...