Flashing at little girls

The weekend before last while Dad was working away all with the kids at Nickelodeon - Alex and I and a few friends went to the Royal National Park, about an hour or so south of where we live.




I'd never been before and discovered a combination of beauty (lagoon, waterfall, secluded beach) with a good dose of practical (toilets, BBQ facilities, picnic areas) thrown in for good measure.

After a super delicious BBQ lunch we wondered down to the beach.




I interrupt this blog post to mention the fact that it's mid Autumn - almost winter and we can all not just have a picnic but also go to the beach and actually swim without earning some sort of 'surviving extreme conditions' badge. This has to be why moved back to Australia.




In an (increasingly frequent) organisational oversight, I failed to bring swimmers for myself or Alex. So I resorted to splashing about in my dress and Alex went nudie (because he's only 2 so can get away with such things). He actually attracted the attention of a little girl who seemed in equal parts fascinated and horrified at his blatant disregard for the conventions of polite society. He responded by splashing in the water with his bum in the air.








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Location:Royal National Park

When I grow up I want to be a...

Rockstar?
Classical Musician?
Electronics store sales person?

Location:Dick smiths store somewhere in western Sydney

He marched them up to the top of the hill...

Catching up on some of our NZ holiday adventures. We bought a backpack for Alex to travel in and christened it with a walk up the beautiful mount maunganui. I'll admit Dad did the heavy lifting in on this one, I'm not sure I'd make it up with the not so little Alex on my back.

Step one 1 heading up





Step 2 picking up the pace





Step 3 the top!





Step 4 heading down





Step 5 look sheep!





Step 6 return to ground level triumphant




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Back in New Zealand

I can hardly believe that it's been over a year since we were living happily in New Zealand - there we were for three long lounging months of summer; going to the beach; walking up the mount and generally having a lovely time with Nanna B with not a care in the world and our Sydney adventures still to come.

So now we return for a couple of well earned weeks rest after lots of work and more tummy bugs, coughs and snotty noses than you can count on one hand, which is perpetually clutching a tissue.

A windy beach walk with Aunty Jan & Nanna B

It's amazing how quickly you can switch off from all the work worries and slip back into doing very little. Alex recognised Nanna at the airport and was immediately very comfortable at her house which makes me thinks he remembers it, even just a little bit. He's spending his time climbing up and down the stairs, chasing the pussy cat every chance he gets and hanging out with his (2nd) cousins Ruby and Jackson. He's becoming very good at saying 'Jaxshon' although 'Boobie' he still struggles with.

The backpack, up and safe from slobbery dogs

We also bought a backpack for him to travel in when we go for walks which he loves. Haydn and I walked up Mount Maunganui with him in it, admittedly I had the easy ride as I didn't have a 12kg+ toddler on by back. Well, I say that he 'loves it' there was one moment where he was strapped into the backpack but dad hadn't picked him up yet and a very friendly dog came up and gave Alex a big lick across the face, he wasn't such a fan of the backpack at that moment....


We've been having daily walks on the beach with Nanna B and Aunty Jan and the weather, which keeps promising storms and rain has been lovely and sunny the whole time we've been here.

Alex's 2nd birthday party stays afloat - just

The pirate ship cake complete Agrrr!

The weekend before we left for New Zealand we had a little birthday party for Alex. Technically speaking it was his 2nd birthday on the 31st but we were flying that morning and didn't fancy squeezing in a birthday celebration to the 30 mins we had before checking at the Airport. So we decided to subtly shift his birthday to the weekend before "he's 2, he doesn't even know what a birthday is so he'll never know" - we said to ourselves. That is until he learns to read and discovers this blog post. Hmm...

So anyway, the all important cake baking started the day before and at about 1.50pm, a whole 10 mins before the guests were due to arrive the cake was done. Due to a um... (rare?)... moment of disorganisation I forgot to book the BBQ area that I'd sent everyone to and had to hastily change plans and have the gathering in our apartment.

Grandpa was a surprise visitor and we had lots of other friends, little and large come by and Alex was very spoilt with some lovely gifts including funky PJs, beautiful books (we love books at the moment), two fantastic toy cars, bubbles, an Elmo balloon (still love Elmo) and lots more.

Alex made sure to run to the door every time the buzzer went to greet his next visitor and was remarkably happy despite all the fuss, noise and people wanting to play with his toys (now is not the age for sharing). There was a tense moment with an altercation between two little people over the little tykes car which ended in tears and a few scratches. More on that here: http://bubbymakesthree.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/party-pooper.html

Harper, just before the incident with little Elliot

Alex loved the kitchen he got from mum and dad

But in the end the party sailed on happily with the Pirate Ship cake going down a treat with grown ups and little people alike. And most importantly Alex had fun!

Birthday song video and candle blowing didn't quite work out...

Boats and birds and booties...

Ok, been meaning to catchup on some recent adventures, where Alex has met Kookaburra's, boats, practiced lots and of steps, lost a shoe in the mangroves and mud, had aforementioned shoe rescued by his heroic mamma and probably other things I can't remember because it's been a while and I really should have done this blog post a few weeks ago.

Anyway, it's really all about the photos isn't it?

Stair master!

 

Alex meets the locals - who get increasingly daring over the weekend, at one stage stealing a sausage straight from the BBQ.

Being swallowed by his life jacket.

It's kind of like the bath... Just much bigger

Special thanks goes to Captain Ian and First Officer Sandra for organisng such a fantastic long weekend and keeping us afloat! We had a ball, even if we didn't catch any fish.

Location:Hawksbury River, NSW