America Trip 2013: Poppy's Birthday

Another "better late than never post.."

Three days into our trip was Dad's birthday.  Lucky for us, we had a reason to go down to the Casita, BBQ more ribs than we could possible snarf down, and swim till way past bedtime.  Its nights like these that make summer in Seattle so special.  The weather is amazing, the lake is warm and inviting and hanging out with the family is the best.  We have the Casita BBQ's down to an art now.. everyone has a job.  Sean is always on the BBQ (the good old fashion charcoal kind- that smells amazing while it takes it sweet time heating up), Dan is in charge of the music, Girls make the guacamole and sides, and Dad strolls around his garden scoping out Sean's lack of gardening while casually socializing with each of us. We usually finish off the night with a boat cruise until the sun goes down.  

Poppy and his granddaughters.
Ellie was pretty excited for her first boat ride!

It looks like the pictures are out of order, and our internet is too crappy to try to change them. It already takes me too long to post.  So oh well.

The morning of dad's birthday we woke up and headed to the park to play.  The kids (and the big kid- Dad) all had a nap.  I should mention that Dad deserved a nap- after doing a massive birthday swim set with the masters at 5:30am.  After naps we walked down the the Shore Club for a swim in the pool before heading down to the Casita for Ribs.

Poppy and Dyllan off to get popcicles.

Cheeky Girl is pretty excited about her yard stick Popsicle.

The Casa got a make-over!  It looked amazing.  And the new owners were so friendly.

Two new Sussex's!

Just a couple of ribs..

Tasting the guac

Ready for the boat ride Ellie?

The perfect birthday present for Rib night.. Bacon flavored floss.  And yes, it tasted like bacon.  It actually tasted like you were flossing with bacon fat.  Gross.

Action shot

Heading out for a sunset cruise and presents.

A Weekend With The Bush Rangers

This weekend Bushy, " Ranger"Stacey and Fynn (aka The Bush Rangers) came up here to visit us.  We had such a fun time showing them our new place.  

Friday night we had dinner on our patio, caught up on stories and hung out by the light of the mosquito candles and torches while the kids slept.  

Saturday morning we woke up early and caught the ferry from Bulimba to South Bank.  We walked around South Bank, had breakfast and took the kids for a swim- all before 10am.  haha.  In the afternoon the boys took the kids swimming while Stacey and I browsed around the shops in Bulimba.  We finished the day with a feast at our local Mexican restaurant.  Ellie was the center of attention as she ate more than all of us.  It was amazing to see her snarf down that much food, that quickly.  Either she is growing or we didn't feed her  during the day!

Sunday we walked to the park  in the next suburb where they had a little carnival/farmers market.  The kids went on pony rides and bounced on trampolines and even won some sweet prizes.  Then we stopped off at The Garage, our favorite sandwich spot, for lunch on our way home.  We spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out in our pool and BBQing before the gang had to head back home.  

Fynn and Dyllan waiting so patiently for the ferry.

Breakfast in South Bank

Fynn, Stacey and Ellie

Bushy, the human raft

Waiting for the boys to arrive.. with margaritas

Ellie inhaling her dinner..

Pony Rides at the Hawthorne carnival

Fynn wasnt so sure..

Carnival games

Hanging out at The Garage

Cooling off in the pool

Two friends sharing treats

Happy Birthday Dan!

Oops I thought this posted the other day.  

Happy Birthday Dan!  Cheers to an amazing father who comes home every night in time for family dinners and bedtime routines, to a loving and passionate husband who inspires me to be a better person, and to a guy people admire and love to be around.  Your energy and enthusiasm is contagious.  Cheers to many more birthdays.  The fun has just begun.

For Dan's birthday we had a family BBQ at our place.  Yunny and Lozzo were supposed to make a surprise appearance and spend the weekend with us, but unfortunately they missed their flight (by 10 min!) from Sydney.  Merin and James (Dan's aunt and uncle) came up from Surfers Paradise- it was great to see them and fun to show them our new life.

Birthday BBQ with Merin and James

Dan requested a banana cake - (mom's banana cake recipe)

ta-da!  decorated by Dyllan

We got a babysitter and took the ferry across the river for cocktails and dinner

Halloween Is Growing

Halloween is becoming bigger and bigger in Australia.

I love Halloween, so this is great news.  The girls had a Halloween party at the Gym in the morning, then a  Halloween Party that our suburb put on at the local park called Hocus Pocus.

This year we were all stocked up with Halloween candy in anticipation of the trick or treaters.  Until Dan and I ate it all.  Luckily I had just enough time in the day to swing by the store and restock.  We only got one group though.. so we are all stocked up for next year (or this week..).

This year the Dyllan dressed up as a Mermaid and Ellie was a Lady Bug.  Lucky that Dyllan's size "24 months" costume fit her perfectly.  They dressed up as these because thats what we had in their dress up box.  They're too young to really care, right?!

A few days before Halloween I asked Dyllan what she wanted to be this year - and she told me "a princess".  Then I asked her what Ellie should be.  Her reply- "a witch".  Haha.. and so it begins.   Later that same day Ellie was crying, and Dyllan, being the caring sister that she is said to me "I think she needs something to choke on, mom!"  and I said "WHAT?"  Then realized that she meant to chew on... I have been using both of those words a lot as Ellie is teething and into everything.. chew, choke, same thing.. I had to laugh out loud.

Costume party at the Gym's kids club

Mermaid Cat and Lady Bug Cat (someone painted their faces at the gym)

Halloween was too much for Ellie.. passed out by 10am..

Swim lessons

Ellie watching Dyllan swim

A creepy snake I found dead down the street from us on our way home. I completely freaked out.  Yes I did email the photos to www.snakecatchers.com.au and the guy informed me that it was just  a Carpet Python.  No big deal.  NOT.

Off to Bulimba's Halloween Party "Hocus Pocus".  Dyllans going through a phase where she hates it when we gush over her or call her "pretty"- so she turned her back on me..  

Dont you love the heals?  

Jumping Castles galore!

Timber!

"Let me in mom!"

a wet sponge (?!) competition.. 

Dyllan the photographer.  And yes, I did have my costume.. but wasn't wearing it.  I had a hula costume (from Dyllan's  3rd birthday party) but none of the other moms were dressed up, so I thought I better keep mine in the stroller too.. ha.

We met up with some friends from Sydney who also moved up here.

Bobbing for Apples.  Boy was Dyllan disappointed when she realized that the actual apple was the prize.. not a piece of candy.

Raiding her sisters candy bucket already! (Dyllan in the background hula hooping)

I wouldnt give her the mega warhead.. so she settled on the apple.  

heading home now

So excited with her candy stash...

... I would have been SO disappointed with this "stash"- but luckily Dyllan didnt know any better.  Also one of those lollipops is sugar free and has some ingredient thats actually good for your teeth.. thanks to the local dentist.