Results of the Rain

All the rain we have had has meant some changes in the garden were inevitable.  The growth has been amazing and it is (almost) possible to stand in the front yard and not see the street or the house.  The Herb Wheel has gone berserk and smells sensational.

Concentration

Sometimes I just like a photo.  Jack was having a little quiet time on the iPad on Christmas evening.  It had been a big day.

Christmas Aquisition

We had a number of interesting entries in the "Under $20 Present Game" this year.  We ended up with this little number.

It has attracted the attention of a number of the Cabbage White butterflies.  They come around and have a look at this exotic solar powered intruder!

Christmas Lunch

Following the opening of all the parcels, the scene was set for a wonderful Christmas Lunch. The table had been prepared;

and Kate had cooked a turkey and ham to perfection.

so we had a magnificent meal.

Grandma was good enough to be able to have a look around the yard and see the things she had been hearing about for the past few months including the chooks and the vegie patch.

We had a brilliant afternoon but very threatening skies were developing and we copped a huge storm that left damage across Melbourne and dumped 52mm on us in an hour or two.

All the photos from the day can be seen as a slideshow by clicking on the following link.

Slideshow - Christmas Day at Adam and Kate's place

Christmas Mid Morning

Kate and Adam hosted the Christmas lunch this year.  But before the lunch, the important item on the agenda was the opening of presents.

Hot items this year (a long way after the iPod Touch) were remote control helicopters

and Whoopee Cushions

Grandma was well enough to come along and also brought along "a little something"

Christmas Day Early

We had a very full Christmas Day with the family with the luxury of not having to do a much work toward it all - such it the lot of the family elders!
We spent the first part of the morning with Lisa and Justin and the boys watching presents being opened and toys being used.

The big hit of the morning appeared to be the electric guitars

A slideshow of all the photos can be seen by clicking the following link:

Jack, Cooper and Lachlan on Christmas Morning

Summer is Here

Jack and Cooper called in to show off their new super cool "Spiderman" sunnies.  Apparently good for watching TV.

Lisa's Birthday - Part 2

Last night we had the family celebration of  Lisa's arrival at the Biblical mid-point.  The Chef de Maison had found a last Chicken Supreme Soup somewhere and so we had the final meal of Chicken Puffs (original recipe).

The sweet was a strawberry shortcake and it is becoming a tradition to have a tea cake as the birthday cake.  (It has to be a big one so James can have plenty).

Patrick (the Master Blaster) had no trouble extinguishing the blaze and as can be seen, Jack was on standby.

But Lachlan is still working on his technique.

Lisa's Birthday

Lisa celebrated her birthday in real style last night. We went to hold the fort while she went with Justin and Jack to the Kinder finale.  It doesn't get better than that!

Dinner was pizza and an ice-cream birthday cake - we did not hear any complaints.

 Granny provided part of the post dinner entertainment

and Jack gave a rap-dancing demonstration.

Adam and Kate Take a Break

We went visiting last night to facilitate a spot of R&R for the workers in the build up to Christmas.  As part of the evening's entertainment, Patrick made a valiant attempt to show us his tonsils.

James Has A Tough Match

James' team went down fighting today.  They played strongly and played as a team but they were beaten on the day.  Accuracy in front of the goals is a problem for them.

There was no shortage of commitment, even playing from the ground but the opposition was too strong.

He had earned a drink at the end of the game.

Patrick's On The Ball

The Coach handed out the instructions -

 

and the Team played well but unfortunately it did not all go according to the script.  They went down fighting.

Visit to Aireys Inlet

We spent the day down at Aireys to get the place ready for the summer rentals.  It is in good shape and ready to roll.

Lookit Me

I was trying to get a photo of Sophie, Cooper and Granny but Lachlan had other ideas.  He really thought that I should get a photo of him and so he kept himself in front of the camera.  So here is Lachlan.

Cars Galore

Sophie and Cooper had an exciting game going this morning.  All the cars were lined up across the living area.  It is amazing how many have accumulated in the boxes.  The fun part comes later - putting them all away!

Christmas Approaches

Cooper likes the idea that it is getting closer to Christmas

and Lachlan is also fine with the idea.

Justin's Birthday Dinner

It was Justin's Birthday celebration tonight.  The menu included the obligatory lamb roast but it also included Bombe Alaska, a dish that was not in the Chef's repertoire at the time of the request.  She rose to the occasion and slaved over the cold ingredients and a hot oven to produce a fantastic result.

Justin's lungs were up to the challenge of the cake -

as were Patrick's -

but Lachlan is still struggling with the concept.

The Old Exakta - Where It Started

Checking some of the stuff in storage I came across my first REAL camera.  I had had a few old box cameras but when I took over my father's old Exakta, I though I had made it.  At the time it was made, (in Germany 1935), it was the coolest thing around.  Apart from being an SLR (Single Lens Reflex), it had a lever to wind the film on and a flash trigger synchronised with the shutter.
It produced beautiful Black and White photos on 127 Roll Film.  While at school I used it to photograph most of the school productions and I also used it to produce most of the photos in a science text book written by one of my teachers.

Sophie's Kinder Concert

We were lucky enough to be invited to attend Sophie's Kinder Concert for the end of the year.  First she and her friends sang some songs then danced for us.

Then the children danced with their parents and finally they made a presentation to their parents of a card and tile that they had painted during the year.

Thanks for the Concert Sophie!

Grandma K Hits 91

Today was Jean K's 91st birthday.  She has not been having such a great time of late.  Her left hand and wrist became massively swollen with what the doc. thinks is rheumatoid arthritis.  The anti-inflammatory drugs seem to have reduced the swelling and and she is in less pain but she is still uncomfortable.  All she wanted for her birthday was some profiteroles filled with REAL cream.  The French Bakery obliged and Grandma was a happy camper.