Wicked

What a WICKED time we had celebrating Yvonne's birthday. 

First it was pulled pork quesadillas, sliders, and smashed potatoes with bacon aioli at the Merrywell. YUM!

Followed by an awesome performance of WICKED the musical. I see why so many folks see this play over and over. It's a good one.

Thanks for such a fun girls' night out, chicas!!

Inflatable World

Wow! I have a new favourite place, Inflatable World!! Ollie, Mommy and I had the best time here at Jareth's birthday party. We jousted and jumped and slid and climbed and didn't stop smiling the whole three hours we were here. No surprise to anyone, my favourite spot was leapfrogging along the massive green balls in true American Ninja Warrior style. But all of it was fun fun fun! ~ Elliot

Throwing sticks in the river

Since the boys were just babies we've had a bit of a game of collecting sticks when out on walks to drop off the bridges and into the Canning River. Now that the boys are getting bigger they've started collecting MUCH BIGGER sticks. They dragged these ones half a kilometer just to launch them into the stream.

 

Boris Bear

It was my week to take home my class's cuddly friend, Boris the Bear. And it was pretty good timing because Boris got to help celebrate Gran's 70th birthday party in the rain.

But that wasn't the only fun Boris had. He also joined me for soccer training and had lots of fun at home with the family. ~ Oliver

Mother's Day

I was totally and completely spoiled this year for Mother's Day. Paul organised a lovely brunch up at the Melville Rose Garden for us all. Yvonne, Keith, the boys and I strolled through the rose gardens smelling all the roses and trying to decide which ones smelled the best, did American Ninja Warrior races at the nature playground, and fed all the greedy, big-mouthed fish down at the koi pond. 

When we finally made it back home, some local burn-offs had made the air around our house so smoky that we decided to can our afternoon plans to do work around the house and instead loaded up the bikes and headed into the city. Our two little cyclists knocked my socks off as we rode nearly six kilometers around a portion of the Swan River, and then we had amazing good fortune and managed to grab a table at one of my favourite pizza spots in the city. The day couldn't have been any better.

And I haven't even mentioned the gifts!! Take a look at this incredible haul that my little boys bought, made and created for me, including some of the hottest pink lipstick I've ever seen:

Not all their creations warmed my heart, however. Really Oliver? 50?:

But one of my favourite gifts by far was Paul's surprise of tidying up our back patio and giving me a beautiful little garden (which Stella keeps trying to tear apart, and I threaten to cook her for dinner, and Elliot ends up in tears and telling me off for wanting to eat part of the family, but other than all of that I love it to death!)

Elliot's Assemby

Elliot nailed his line again this year at his class's assembly.

The theme was Australian animals which led to some interesting dance numbers.

These little kids can really shake their tail feathers (unfortunately the audio was removed from the video because of some stupid copyright nonsense from youtube).

Look who joined us at the dinner table

Minnawarra Festival

After eight and a half years of living in Australia, we finally made it down to the local shire's annual festival, The Minnawarra Festival where the boys and I made art out of recycled bits and bobs, ate yummy international goodies, danced to some live swing music, and participated in a drum circle (which we all really got into). I think the whole family needs djembes.