Girlfriends and babies

Last week I met up with some old girlfriends for afternoon tea at a new cafe on the beach called armchair.  It was so great to see them!

Dyllan, Eileen, and Alex

I met Eileen (blond) 4 or 5 years ago when I signed her up for the gym in North Sydney.  We clicked right away- as we were both new to the country- trying to settle in and meet new people.  She had just moved over from New Zealand- and we quickly discovered we had quite a bit in common.  Alex (brunette) I met through another friend and we also clicked right away- and managed to stay in touch over the years as well.  Eileen, Alex and I all got engaged- one right after the other.  So I guess you could say we were at similar stages of our lives.  Just before we moved back to Australia- I got some exciting news from Eileen.  She is pregnant!  Hooray!  The first of my friends who is pregnant!  I was so excited for her- but mostly excited for myself because now I will have a friend with a kid that I can hang out with!  Ok.. I DO have a few friends here with kids.  Just not many (yet)- and I hate to admit it- but I haven't exactly been trying that hard either.  But that's another story..  Anyway- the three of us met for tea - yes, boring as it sounds- it was actually really fun.  When we got there- it was the usual "hi, how are you?" chit chat.. except Alex had a HUGE smile on her face... I asked her - "what.. whats new with you?"  and she said " I'm 13 weeks pregnant!".   Eileen and I were thrilled to hear she was joining the club! I can't believe she was able to keep it quiet for 13 whole weeks- I know you're supposed to wait that long- but it must be hard!  Now I will have not just one... but TWO new cool mom friends to hang out with!    It was a great afternoon with the girls- we sat there talking for hours.. about nothing and everything- from babies to businesses.

Tea at Armchair

Although Alex isn't due for a while- Eileen is about to pop.  I am hosting her shower (I'm so excited- its my first time hosting a shower!) in two weeks.  She's having a girl and she loves candy.. so naturally the theme is pink "fairy floss" (they call cotton candy "fairy floss" over here). 

Pink baby shower lollipops

Congratulations to both of you!  I couldn't be more excited to have two new "mommy" friends!

Bye, Bye

I guess I never posted this.. this was from last month. 

 Dyllan has learned a new trick!  To wave "bye, bye"- its so funny!  She waves at everything.  She has also learned "high-five" which she thinks is pretty cool.  haha.  Just figuring out how her hands can communicate.

Although she waved a few times before- it was more of an accident.. and she didn't realize what she was doing.  Now, she is fully aware that waving means "hi", or "bye".  Pretty neat.

Easter Weekend Away - part two

Saturday we headed up to Dan's family holiday house at Caves Beach.  The weather was perfect and the water was warm- so we took full advantage. 

Caves Beach

Caves Beach

Dyllan's Easter basket.. that we ate all of.

mmm Easter eggs

Ruffling her birds feathers

spotted... an Easter egg..

going to get the Easter egg

Girl on a mission

After breakfast/ Easter basket we decided to get out and see some of the neighboring beaches, parks, and pubs - something we had never done before.  Usually when we go up there- we hang around Caves beach and the house.  We were so glad we ventured off this time- we found an awesome camping spot- on the beach and not very well known (maybe because you have to pay $7 to enter the park- in order to even find it)  We will definitely be going back- during camping season.  Who wants to come?! 

We also found this small town called Catherine Hill Bay- which was gorgeous.  The houses were old and run down- and farm-like (people had chicken coops, 6 dogs, goats type farm..) but so close to this beautiful beach... strange.  Wonder how long it will be before this town is a completely different place?!  Its only 2 hours north of downtown Sydney- which doesn't make it THAT remote..

Catherine Hill Bay Beach

Dan- loving the view.  Seriously was so pretty!

Munmorah State Park

Picnic time

Going for a swim

LOVES the beach!

Perfect temperature for swimming

Look what the tide washed up..Dyllan attempting to body surf.

And almost washed back out..

Waiting for the perfect wave so she can body surf

Budgiwoi Beach

Catho Pub- ACDC cover band (they were actually REALLY good!)- wine- fun Easter evening!

Really into the music..

This is what all the rockers wear, right?

Easter Weekend Away- part one

Happy Easter.  And Anzac Day!  Lucky for us- Easter and Anzac Day fell on the same weekend- meaning that it was an extra long weekend here in Australia.  Dan had Fri-Tues off work so we decided to get out of the city and head for the hills.. and the beach.  Thursday afternoon Dyllan and I packed up the car- picked up Dan from work and headed west to a place called Kenthurst - where Bushy's parents live.  They were away for the weekend so we had the entire ranch to ourselves.  It was so much fun.   We got there around dinner time- and didnt waste any time cracking open the wine and decorating our pizzas.  We talked for hours then headed to bed.  The next morning was a lazy, lounging by the pool, do-nothing in our pajamas kind of morning.  The sun was out and there was plenty of relaxing to be had.  Stacey and I caught up on all the latest celebrity gossip magazines- while the boys watched some bike race on tv.  Perfect.  Around lunch time we decided it was time to get out of the house- so we headed to the Hawksburry river for fish and chips in the park.  We came back home around dinner time- and Bushy and Stacey made a tasty (and SUPER spicy!) chilli prawn fettuccine- and we watched movies till late.  The next morning the boys went on a 60km bike ride up through the Blue Mountains- while Stacey and I  watched reality TV.. haha (hey- someone had to stay with Dyllan, right?  plus it was raining..) 

Someone loved fish and chips...

The Hawksburry River

Their dog- Jess- would circle around and around and around the pool... all day long.. haha!

When the boys got back- Dan and I packed up the car and headed up to Caves Beach (to his parents holiday house).  We spent two nights there- and celebrated Easter with lots of chocolate!  I will have to put the Caves Beach photos on a different blog- because the photos are taking FOREVER to upload.. one.at.a.time.. sooo slow.  Stupid blogger.  Anyway.. hopefully I can do this tomorrow.