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Sneaky Peek : Grumpy Mummy

Little MonkeysHmmmmpph – now I know why you should be having children in your 20’s, not your 40’s!  These little monkeys are making me grumpy!

I guess that’s what happens when you have numerous nights without much sleep.  James’ bottom teeth still haven’t made an appearance yet but ‘appear’ to be giving him lots of pain which equals lots of crying which equals grumpy Mummy.

Airport

On another note – I am thankful that Nick returned home safely from his skiing holiday last Friday.  Poppy was beside herself with excitement at the airport, and couldn’t wait to give her Daddy a big ‘snowy cuddle’.  She was very excited about the Moose he gave her, plus her Jackson Hole lip balm and survival kit!  I was pretty happy with my Chanel No 5 too.

Lip Balm

Moosey

Chanel

Nick couldn’t believe the difference he saw in James with two weeks absence.  James is more like a little boy as he is now on the move and is rolling all over the floor.  He is also self-feeding on toast, carrots, asparagus and potatoes and makes a hell of a mess but loves it!  Poppy has even taken on the big sister role and requests to feed him (whilst making the obligatory airplane noise).

James & Poppy

James

On Monday of the long weekend we had a day trip to Bruny Island on the boat.  Poppy had another super day playing with crabs, making sand castles and idolising her big friends.  James on the other hand refused to have his day time sleep and drove his Mum crazy!  Nothing a little Chanel No 5 won’t fix.  X

Poppy

Bruny Island

Bruny Island

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A Country Wedding

Sally Brown

Nick and I enjoyed a beautiful country wedding on Saturday afternoon when our friend, Richard Hues married Sally Brown on her beautiful property “Elkington” at Evandale.

“Elkington” provided the perfect backdrop for such a happy celebration – a long and windy gravel road leading to a beautiful historic homestead, surrounded by bales of hay, a cheeky dog, and a gathering of family and friends.

It was a very happy day indeed – congratulations Richard and Sally.  Xx

Richard & Sally

Rose petals

Nick & Larni

Nick, Kate, Butsy & Gus

"Elkington"

"Elkington"

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Ten Years On …

Megs & Larn

Here is a blast from the past – my dear friend Megs and I are at the Launceston Cup in 2004!  The Examiner has a feature called ‘Throwback Thursday’ and low and behold this photo re-appeared a couple of weeks ago.  The photo was actually taken by our friend Tim Hughes (I think we had drunk too many bubbles and harassed him into it!).

NB:  Nick’s flight out of Jackson Hole was delayed due to ice build up and so he didn’t get back yesterday, but he will be arriving in Hobart at 2:30 pm today.  Yippee!

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No Vacancy

Poppy

Poppy, James and I said goodbye to Greg & Jackie at the airport on Saturday morning after an amazing week together and returned home to re-group, do the washing, the shopping and have some quiet time.

No sooner had I changed the sheets on the spare bed, my sister Rob and her husband Paul arrived on Saturday afternoon from Castlemaine for the weekend.  I should pop a sign out the front – No Vacancy!

Poppy was very excited to have more visitors staying, with endless games of hide & seek, jigsaws and dancing to the Wonky Donkey.  I love having my family around me, but I’m really missing my man now.  Nick flies home from Jackson Hole on Thursday and then there’s definitely No Vacancy!  Xxx

Poppy shopping

James, Paul & Cath

Paul, Rob & Cath

Paul & Poppy

Where's Poppy - Hide & Seek

James with asparagus

Rice Paper Rolls

Sisters

James & Rob at Smolt

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Bruny Bound

Isthmus Lookout

Here we are on Bruny Island (the ‘bobsy’ twins with our matching tees) showing Greg and Jackie the sights on Friday – an absolutely glorious day.  We had a lovely day, albeit a few meltdowns from James and Poppy!

Poor ‘ol Jackie had to cram into the backseat in between the two car seats and as we were driving off the ferry, James was absolutely screaming due to over-tiredness.  This was complemented by Poppy repeatedly asking ‘Are we there yet‘ and having a tantrum about being able to swim and kicking the back of my seat.  I could feel my blood boiling as I was driving and all I could think was poor Jackie and Greg – this was their Bruny Island experience!

James finally fell asleep as we drove to Dennes Point and I bribed Poppy with an apple.

On the way back to the ferry in the afternoon we were cutting it fine with the time when Poppy said:

Mummy, I need to do a wee!

I piled her out of the car and as she was squatting she said:

Mummy, I need to do a poo!

I yelled out to Jackie and Greg:

We have a ‘Code Brown’!

This could just be the impetus to missing the ferry.  After rushing Poppy to ‘just push harder’ we drove like mad dreading the thought of the hour and a half wait for the next ferry and a repeat of the morning scenario.  Thankfully we were the last car on the ferry!  Phew, we made it!  High fives all round, until Poppy said:

Mummy, I need to do another poo!

I just looked at her and said ‘hold tight’ until we get off the ferry!  A relaxing G&T once we were home and then I bundled my poor babies up again and whisked them out to Rektango where we enjoyed a brief set from Mr Coconut before the wheels (almost) fell off again.  Xx

Bruny Island Ferry

Bruny Island Ferry

Bruny Island Ferry

Georgie the Pig

Isthmus Lookout

IIsthmus Lookout

Isthmus Lookout

Isthmus Lookout

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Isthmus Lookout

Adventure Bay

Adventure Bay

Adventure Bay

Rektango

Rektango

Rektango

Bronte & James at Rektango

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Little Peeps

Here is my Instagram photo from yesterday. Our little peeps have been very adaptable this week with their Daddy being away, my friends staying and being carted around the countryside on our various adventures.

Today we are all off to Bruny Island for a swim and a walk and will be back this afternoon for a little dance at Rektango. Xx

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♥ Old Friends

Jackie with James and Greg

Phew, it’s been a busy week – hence the lack of blog posts!  After meeting each other in Alaska 21 years ago, Greg and Jackie have flown in from the States to stay with us for the week.  It is a shame that Nick isn’t here to meet them, but he is skiing up a storm in Jackson Hole.

Skagway

It has been fabulous catching up with each since our adventures through the ‘Last Frontier’ and reminiscing about our trip all those years ago.

This week I have shown them a piece of our paradise here in Tasmania.  On Tuesday we went for a bush walk on Mt Wellington with James in the backpack (which was a good test out for my legs) and yesterday we drove to Freycinet National Park where Jackie and Greg walked into Wineglass Bay and I sauntered up to the lookout with my little man on my back again. We finished off the day with a dinner at T42.  Bliss. Xx

A cheeky local - Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park

Larni & James - Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park

Tea Tree

James at Wineglass Bay Lookout

My cheeky bush buddy

Larni & James

Burl - Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park

Freycinet National Park

Xanthorrhoea Australis

James in his pack at Mt Wellington

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Farming Faves

Hay ShedPoppy, James and I have been back up to our family farm for the past couple of days where we spent time with Mum and Dad and all of my siblings who were also home.  We ate roast dinners, picked ripe mulberries and drank lots of cups of tea.

I also took lots of photos of the farm as I am helping my brother set up his website – Gibson Ag.  Greg is a clever cookie who has won a Nuffield Farming Scholarship where he is jetting off around the world on three separate trips this year, researching the latest drainage techniques with the aim of increasing production on non-performing ground through better water management.

Silos

Greg

Hay

Trough

John Deere

Poppy with her Poppy flower

Mulberry

Mulberry

Birds Nest

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Danish Drama ♥

The Killing

For the past month I am loving the Danish drama series – The Killing.  Each night I disappear into our Den and to ‘Denmark’ – becoming immersed in the political thriller.  At the end of an episode I am often so intrigued about what will happen next, I watch another one.

I discovered the fantastic Danish thriller through my love of Borgen.

Borgen

Ok, back to another episode (only joking … I better look after my children)!

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Sneaky Peek : Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole

My husband flies out to Jackson Hole in Wyoming tomorrow for two weeks of skiing and I am very excited for him (and maybe very jealous too)!

He is going to catch up with his old mate Pat, who has been living there all winter with his family and I am sure they will have a fantastic time.  Poppy, James and I will look forward to speaking with him via FaceTime.

Here are some of my favourite photos of my man on the slopes on previous trips to New Zealand. Xx

Nick in NZ

New Zealand - Jul Aug 2009 (62)

NZ

New Zealand - Jul Aug 2009 (54)

New Zealand - Jul Aug 2009 (84)

Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole