December 2014 - Hannah's 11th Birthday

I've been telling Hannah for the last little while that she's not allowed to have a birthday because that means she's getting older and that's just not on! She suggested a compromise of still having the presents and just not calling it a birthday :)

We started off the gift giving with a few things we love about Hannah. I love her helpfulness and the way she looks out for me and is sensitive to how I'm feeling. Daddy loved her bright cheery nature.
Mary loves it when they play together outside in the tree house. Becky just thought she was 'awesome'.

Abbie sent over a cool puzzle vase which she's keen to get started on. Frannie and Frampa sent some fabulous books about Egyptology. (Hannah loves to read up about Egypt....reminds me so much of me at that age)

And then there was assorted books from us, books, books, books, what else for our little bookworm!!

Mary drew a picture of Hannah the bookworm!

A Frozen cake had been requested and I took up the challenge and presented her with this! I'm pretty chuffed how it turned out actually.

Blowing out imaginary candles...we didn't want to ruin the cake by sticking 11 candles in it!

So sad to be eating Olaf!

I don't think Hannah minds though...

December 2014 - Family Photo

To finish off the year we quickly got ready for Church on Sunday so that we could take a family photo while we were all fresh and clean!
Here's the result

and the out takes!!

December 2014 - Cherry shed

After our trip to the Bluff we dried the girls off and headed back home via the Cherry Shed in Latrobe. The cherries were amazing and juicy and you could taste them before you bought them, yum! The girls had some raspberry sorbet and Daddy and I had a cherry ice-cream, so delicious.

December 2014 - A Bluff outing

On Saturday the 27th we headed out to Devonport to the beach at the Bluff. It's a beautiful spot with a fabulous playground and lovely beach. We got some yummy fish and chips and ate on the waterfront. It was super windy and we almost lots the fish and chips a couple of times. We considered going to the pool instead but we're so glad we didn't as the girls had a fantastic time playing in the sand and the waves. They dug holes and buried each other and even got photographed for the local paper's social column, famous hey!

December 2014 - A lovely family visit

These cousins came a rather long distance however, all the way from Cananda!
Lionel's cousin Stephannie and her husband Greg and their two girls Annabelle and Juliette were visiting their Oma and Opa (Ian and Elly Maclean) for Christmas this year and came out for a visit on boxing day.
The younger set got along like a house on fire and when some of the oldies wanted to head off to do some sightseeing the little girls stayed here to play with our girls out under the tree. Elly stayed too so we could have our crafty chat and it was such a lovely afternoon.
It just goes to show that distance is no object when it comes to family :)

December 2014 - Christmas part 2

We had a late lunch this year with a delicious lamb roast that a kind sister in our ward gave us. We roasted some veggies to go with it and it turned out really yummy.
We headed over to the train park after lunch for a play and afterwards we munched on some yummy mini pavalovas and fruit while watching the Christmas Devotional. We were all a bit tuckered out after a big day that only Daddy and Becky stayed awake til the end!
A lovely family Christmas together :)