Tree planting with Elliot and his best mate Connor

This kid can climb!

Whether it's American Ninja Warrioring or Rock Climbing, Elliot is a fearless and natural climber. It's pretty darn cool at the moment, just so long as El's climbing doesn't result in severe head trauma or spinal cord injuries. 

Ollie's first Honour Certificate

This little cutie received an Honour Certificate for "being so interested and enthusiastic towards writing more complex words." The rest of the certificate reads: "We are really impressed with your persistence and use of 'sounding out' in writing most of these words. You are a treasure, Oliver!"

Your dad and I are awfully proud of how well your reading and writing has blossomed this year. At the beginning of the year, you wrote that your goal for the year was to learn how to read. Guess what? You've nailed it, Ollie.

Rainy Footy Tourney

Our first footy tournament of the year coincided with one of the biggest storms of the winter. In true Aussie fashion, they decided to play on. Ollie loved that decision. Elliot, on the other hand, had blue lips and wanted to go home like now!

My family is crazy!!

(And no, that is not really gin that Ollie has got his mouth all over. Just the water bottle at the restaurant table at David's birthday dinner.)

Winter Lights

July means the Winter Light Festival and this year there was a twist: a drum kit that projected lights onto the buildings according to the rhythm and drums played. We all had a great time displaying our musical talent in between the choreographed show.

Mountain Biking

One of my favourite things about my family is that they are always up for an adventure, and today's adventure was single-track mountain biking. Sure there was a bit of whinging when the boys had to ride up hills, but mostly both boys were really brave and fun. Elliot went full speed around the trails, and hardly made a peep when he smashed into a tree or stacked it jumping over some roots. Have we mentioned that the kid is a bit crazy?!

Child labour

When Paul and I got an incredible deal on a whole heap of mulch, it was time to call in some helpers! Elliot, Oliver, Lochie and Mitch had tons of fun playing and climbing on the mulch. They even managed to deliver a couple of loads around the garden.

Bali Bike Tour and Monkey Forest

Paul, Elliot and I had such a good time six years ago when we did a bike tour with Banyan Tree on our last family trip to Bali that we decided to do it again. This time, the boys were both big enough to ride their own bikes the whole way.

And we were so excited to see an Ogoh-Ogoh just like six years ago. Elliot loved them then, and both boys loved them now.

After the bikes, we had a trek through the rice paddies and across a very wobbly bamboo bridge.

We ended the day with a visit to the Monkey Forest in Ubud. Both the boys were very keen to feed the monkeys, that is until they came running up them (not 'to' them, but literally right on up them) to snatch the whole bunch of bananas out of their hands).

We were all so tired when we go home that we decided to do dinner and baths at the same time. You know that if you're eating instant noodles in a bubble bath, then you must be on holidays!