Saturday Picnic with the Turners

Saturday before last we headed to the water front for some picnicing.

We grabbed some yummy pizzas from our local crust store.

 These photos from POP photography (and all good photos following)

While we were sitting on the green eating Kyle realised we needed to put money in the meter for car parking -- naturally he walked over to the car thinking he had some change in his wallet but when he realised he didn't have any he turned and called out.

I grabbed a two dollar coin from my wallet and threw it over to him (unfortunately due to my lack of throwing skills/un-coordination) the coin landed just shy of his feet. 

Before he had time to bend over and pick it up, the flock of seagulls which had been hassling us for scraps flew over to the coin. 

There was a scuffle - most of the older birds realised it wasn't food and just flew off again but a baby seagull snapped it up and grasped it in its beak.

Horror! (considering it was the only coinage we could find at that moment) thankfully Kyle -- being the pest controller he is,  was in hot pursuit.

The seagull had other ideas and started to run off when suddenly Kyle took his thong off and K.O'd it. (obviously need throwing lessons from Hubby )

feathers flew up everywhere and there were a few disapproving stares. (It had my $2 coin ok!)

Stunned the seagull got up and flew off, probably with the coin in its stomach since we still couldn't find it. (like accidental swallowage)

From there the day just seemed to get crazier..

NEXT: it was off to the merry-go-round

Boy was a little sad at first which is probably due to his grumpiness from missing out on a whole nap rather than being scared considering we go on it all the time because parents with children only pay for the child they are riding with which means its only $3.60!!

Then we were off to take some photos on the pier..

WHEN: I decided I wanted one with us sitting down over the edge - so we start to organise ourselves and Boys thong "plops" into the water below!

horror! (I had spent weeks looking for little thongs that fit and looked nice/supported his little feet and settled on special thongs made in N.Z that had been medically tested for support (meaning they were $25.00 for the pair)

We watched it in shock while it serenely floated out to sea.

I turned to Kyle and said you have to get it.

He agreed, stripped down to his tightey whiteys, and jumped in.

He is SO practically gallant huh?

It was and still is one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed.

Luckily the pier we were on was NOT the main pier and there wasn't anyone around -- also luckily we timed the re-dressing so well that as he was zipping up is fly a family on bikes road around the corner and onto the pier. hahahhaa

After he had retrieved the thong and I had safely stowed it away we took some famiweee shots.

Then it was off to the Ferris Wheel...

 Spud & Jools.. cuties!

 The view of Gee from the top..

The scary ferris wheel.. creaky, non door locking ferris wheel.

We had such an awesome day with the Turners, we are always going to be in for a treat when Kyle starts to undress..

- Thanks for putting up with our craziness!

Wednesday 11th January

On the Wednesday A.H (after holiday) I had the privilege of going to see two of my Besterest friends in the whole world get sealed in the temple.

I arrived (a little early) to pick one of my other bestest friends Milly up.

The bridal party.

sneaky candid shot..

The gorgeous guest book.

The Happy Couple.


I have had the pleasure of knowing these two since we were knee high to grass hoppers. (Well Rach & I were, I doubt Dig ever was..)

I can still remember walking home from school with Rach and plotting for a new school bag.. talking on Milly's lounge room floor about boys.. daring Dig to vs me in a pounder (burger) eating contest and just generally sharing years of love with these two.

Congratulations love birds!

Also:

I am in love with this book I got Boy for Chrissie.

Its a pop up book on temples..

check it out here

Fiji & Food

When we got home  (10 am) we were so full of adrenalin (not) we decided to mooch around.. o.k - really we were starving for some healthy/fatty foods before retiring to our beds.

So while Boy and Hunna tried on their spoils from Collette & Hayden's honeymoon.

I made smashed avacado and lemon with sourdough (recreation from here)

And the biggest big breakfast ever..

Delicious!

The next day Boy discovered that Gran had bought him a pressie he was sure to enjoy..

All wrapped up with a bow before he immediately began to devour it .. yumm (of course he shared a little with his Mumma..)

Spoilt!

Day 18 & 19

The next morning we left the comfy cool of the backpackers and headed to Brisbane.

On the way we stopped in Gympie for some lunch and to grab a couple of postcards for Boy to send to Nan and Aunty Collette.

I had to translate and write as he dictated to me in french but I think the postcards came out pretty well..

Of course once we got to Aunty M's house boy couldn't resist going Ghetto with the bandana that came with some new purchases (yes, we took a second trip to Harbour Town!)

 The next day (DAY 19) was a LOOOOOOnnnggg trip home, which included 21 hours worth of driving and lotsa ipad watching to pass the time.

All in all we had 3 weeks filled with ups and downs - tantrums and tears to laughter and joy.

Horribbly HUGE bugs and spiders-- Mosquitos that bit you even through aero guard and mangoes that were so deliciously huge and juicy they became addictive.

We saw a turtle lay eggs and laughed at a bazillion bogans wearing goodness knows what.

We were busted (while Boy slept in the other room) by an asian housekeeper whilst in a compromising position and laughed for literally hours afterwards. 

We ate and we slept and we drove and we drove.

The experience has made us closer as a family and for that I am thankful to NEVER experience driving to cairns and back in three weeks EVER again.

THE END
(of the trip, not the wanglings)

Day 17

After a super hot night at Smalleys Beach (just above Mackay) we decided to "last minute.com" a backpackers in Hervey Bay to try and get out of the heat a bit.

(Boy couldn't stay asleep because he was sweating like a small pig.)

When the heat broke and it started to rain about 3am we finally got a little rest before getting up the next morning.

We packed up the gear nice and early before it got too hot to move. ( 8 am and it was all-ready heating up again)

Went down to the beach to have a paddle

And look at the gorgeous view.

Then Headed off to Hervey Bay to stay at the Woolshed.

When we arrived we took a walk to find some good nosh and stumbled across 

Cafe Tapas  which offered a selection of simple but EXTRA yummy tapas. 

We were well satisfied with our quick visit to Hervery Bay.

And super thankful for the cheap accommodation which included a fan! (and a resident gecko)

Next stop Brisbane.

Day 16 (pie day)

Monday we departed Townsville, destination - the best pies ever.

driving to get pie.

a short pit stop..

Jessica Andrews

2 January

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Praising the mango God. — at The Big Mango In Bowen

The Big Mango In Bowen

Local business · Bowen, Queensland

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mmmm... pie!! we made it!!

Jessica 

2 January

Eating pie — with Kyle at Pinnacle Hotel.

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Then it was off to camp at Smalleys Beach.. 

Day 14 & Day 15

Day 14 and we woke up, had a shower in our ensuite (yee har!)and headed off to have one of the best breakfasts I have ever had!

avacado, sourdough bread and lemon.

of course we had bought some HUGE mangoes from a farmer on the way to Townsville so Boy happily tucked into them. Delicious and only for $1.00 each!

New years eve. Mango Loving

New years day. Mango Loving

Then we were off to church to bring in the new year.

Day 13 (December 30th)

Friday started the turn around, as we started to head back home.

From Cairns we stopped at Josephine falls.

Then it was to Townsville. Where we found alternate accommodation...

Jessica 

30 December 2011 near Belgian Gardens, Queensland

Check-in closes 7.30pm -- arrive? 7 pm. Desk empty/ Door closed-- call this no. for late check-in.

Call.. Answer, " on holidays, I closed check-in early, not coming down " -- " we're booked for 3 nights?" --
" come back tomorrow " -- me thinks we go somewhere else for the WHOLE 3 nights fat man.. Me has, me did. Me found place with ensuite bathroom. Karma..

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• Shannon , Margaret and 4 others like this.
• • 

    Eloise It really confuses me why people won't go that little bit further to take business around this time of year. A capitalist might say "think of the money that can be made!"

    30 December 2011 at 23:50 · 
  • 

    Jessica  He was just so darn rude without any thought for contacting us and telling us he had decided to change check-in times. I was bewildered to why there was even a number to call on the door considering call or no call no one was going to help us! glad we found somewhere much nicer with much friendlier staff!

    30 December 2011 at 23:55 ·  ·  1
  • 

    Margaret LOL @ fat man!!!

    31 December 2011 at 09:14 ·