Tree's Everywhere!

Menacing Monica!

Our Friends House

This is our friends the "Spicers" house. A tree came down crushing their carport causing damage to their car. They are still without power and water.

Trees Down at Jabiru Lake

The New Bush View in our Back Yard

Thank you to all who kept us in your thoughts and prayers. We are all safe and well. Monica arrived about 2am yesterday morning, she lined us up nicely! She hit as a Cat 4 and then weakened to a Cat 3. She lasted for 2 hours before moving on. I had a few "Oh, my god moments!.....but I had to be brave for the kids. Poor Zac was so frightened he almost made himself sick. We were extremely lucky and escaped with no house damage, however outside is a different story! What's that saying "Looks like a Cyclone has hit" We had 5 big trees come down in our yard - one of which hit the roof and has left some nice dents in it. We were lucky and had power back on by 11am, parts of town are still without power or water - so we are lucky! The worst part part of the clean up is the "Green Ants" they are everywhere! There is a chorus of chain saws and mulchers going constantly as they try to clear the roads and get trees off houses. It will probably be months before they can clear the mess! There is no School for the rest of the week, so the kids are most impressed!

Cyclone Monica

We are now on Cyclone Warning as Monica does her little trip around the coast. We are a few hundred kilometres from the coast however with a large Cat 5 system expecting to cross the coast and head straight for us, it is hard to predict what effects we will get. We have done as much cyclone prep as possible and now it is a watch and wait situation.

All is Calm here with only a light shower of rain so far this morning! The kids all want to stay home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! However they are all off to school and if things get worse as the day goes on, they will get an early mark!

Kloe and Jarred

Jarred just wants to be like his big sister Kloe - he wants his teeth to fall out too!

Toothless Kloe

Kloe had a double surprise on Easter Morning as not only had the Easter Bunny been but the tooth fairy also had to make a visit. She lost her 2nd top tooth on Easter Satuday.

It's Hard Work Being a Puppy!

Anzac out cold on the lounge room floor! Life's tough when your a Pup!

Look What I Got

Jarred was really sick with Tonsilitis on Easter Morning, however he can always manage a smile!

We knew he was really sick when he didn't even want to eat his eggs - chocolate would have to be his favorite.

Kloe with her Barbie Eggs

Kloe was so excited when she woke up and found the Easter Bunny had been, especially when he left her a Barbie Bucket with Easter Eggs inside

The Bunny Has Been!

The Easter Bunny has Been!

Easter Saturday

The painting of Easter Eggs is a big event in our house. The kids spent hours painting their eggs. And then they put all of their Easter things on the table ready for the Easter Bunny.

Comfortable Anzac!

Oh! the things a cute puppy can get away with!
With the rain finally stopping after 2 solid months, today was very warm again - 36 degrees and humid! Anzac decided it was too hot outside and barged his way in and made himself very comfortable in Micaela's room. He wasn't moving for anything!

The New Golf Clubs

This is a very proud Zac with his new Golf Clubs. He saved his pocket money up and was very excited when his golf clubs finally arrived on Tuesday. The road to Darwin has been flooded for the past week, so we have been totally isolated. The only way in or out was by air. Still about .4m of water over the road but at least trucks and 4WD's can now get through.

Enjoying Cupcakes

The best part of cooking is the eating!
YUM......Yum!

Making Cupcakes

Kloe and Jarred making "Face" cupcakes!

I think more lollies got eaten, then went on the cupcakes. They had lot's of fun.

The Cool Dude - Don't Touch the HAIR!

Jarred has started wearing his hair spiked. No one is allowed to touch it when it is done.He loves admiring himself in the mirror! The teachers at Kindy tell me he is quite the ladies man, there are twin girls in his class and he has one on each arm!

Toothless Grin

Kloe lost her top tooth at school today. She looks like such a big girl now with her tooth missing.

The Best of Friends

Jarred and Kloe - The Best of Friends

Year 1 - Assembly

Kloe's class had their turn to present assembly today. With the Commonwealth Games on, their theme was "Australian" They sang and did the actions to "Give me a home among the gum trees" They all had to wear yellow and green and had hats with gumnuts on them. It was just great!

Kloe is in the yellow dress - second on the left.

Anzac

Saturday 25th March we took delivery of Anzac a 6 week old pure bred labrador. He was born in Jabiru on February 6th, already he loves to chase the ball and swim in his water. Look out Peppa this guy is gunna wear you out.

From the Back

Outdoor Area

This is our very nice private outdoor area

The Backyard - Lefthand side

Lot's of grass to mow here!

Our New House

This is our new house. Not to bad considering it is a mine house! We live in a Close with only 5 houses. We are number 3

Family Update

Chris has started his Uni study again for another year. He is still enjoying his challenging job(most days anyway!)

Micaela is enjoying school, she was awarded a merit award for her project on Ancient Egyptian Women. She has a very busy social life with friend always coming and going! She is also dog sitting again - big business in Jabiru, she gets $10 a day for feeding and walking dogs.

Zac is cruising in year 4 - he said it is all to easy! He also received an award for "Fantastic helper in the classroom" Shame he can't do the same at home! He is really enjoying his golf and plans on buying himself a set of clubs really soon.

Kloe is enjoying school and is now starting to read, write and knows lots of sight words. She is coming along really well. We now live across the road from her good friend from school - Leah. The girls are the same age and height! Yes..... there is someone else Kloe's size!

Jarred is enjoying Kindy once he is there - he has started playing games with me before he goes- making me feel very guilty! However once he is there he loves it. He is now riding a big bike with training wheels and is very proud of himself.

I am still busy setting up our new home with lots of cleaning and shuffling of things to be done. I am doing reading groups in Kloe's classroom every Wednesday morning(which she thinks is fantastic) and I was asked to take a cooking class every Friday afternoon for Interest Groups - which is for the whole of primary. I have a great group of kids aged from 5 to 12. This week we are making pizza! Oh and of course there is my scrapbooking which I really enjoy - just haven't had much time lately to do!

Other news of the Ams front.................it looks like there will soon be eight of us! NO,NO,NO.... I know what you are thinking! Micaela has begged us to come and look at her friends puppies. Dad finally gave in before Mum, and after looking at them on Friday afternoon, he also was in love! They are pure bred white lab's. The father looks just like Dude but white. Looks like we will have one by the weekend! There goes that really nice yard!

Finally - the moving is done!

We finally finished our move on Thursday with the last ute load of swings and pot plants.

It has been a very long and tiring process. We are all done with moving - three moves in a year in quite enough.The next move will be out of here - with someone else doing all the packing and moving!

We are all enjoying our new home, Micaela and Zac now have a room of their own and Kloe and Jarred are sharing a room which they love! Mum and Dad are loving their ensuite....oh... the small pleasure of a second toilet! We have a bit more living area and a wonderful outdoor area and beautiful yard. We spent yesterday outside tidying and setting up.

We will take some pictures really soon ....promise

Pop's Last Day in Jabiru

The Boys spent the afternoon fishing..... no.... nothing was bought home. Maybe next time.

Pop and Jarred enjoying Nourlangie

Pop at Nourlangie Rock

Dad, Jarred and I enjoyed a warm, beautiful sunny morning climbing Norlangie Rock. The scenery is just beautiful!

Bowali Visitors Centre

Dad and Jarred checking out the visitors centre

I want to be Just Like Pop

Jarred dressing up in Pop's shoes and hat!

Pop takes to the Sky

Dad had the chance to see Kakadu by Air thanks to our friends Anthony and Kay Shern, who run See Kakadu Scenic Flights.

He enjoyed a 1 hour scenic flight - taking in the beauty of Kakadu

"On the Move Again!"

Yes - this will be the third move within a year!

We found out yesterday afternoon, we finally have a four bedroom house to move into!

So, it was all hands on deck and the moving begins!

Wangi Falls - Litchfield National Park

It is not very often we get to have a photo of all of us together

Florence Falls - Litchfield National Park

Buley Rock Hole - Litchfield National Park

Day Two was spent at Litchfield National Park.
This is Buley Rock Hole which is the kids favourite spot in Litchfield.

Just the spot to cool off, in the hot tropical weather

Our Truck

Bush Bashing along the Marrakai Track between Lake Bennett and Adelaide River

Sunset - Lake Bennett

Pop enjoyed his first evening sitting by the Lake watching a gorgeous sunset.

We have "Poppy"

Pop arrived safe and on time into Darwin airport - lunchtime Friday. We spent a lovely weekend visiting Litchfield National Park and the sites of Darwin. Back to Jabiru on Sunday afternoon.

Spent Monday morning doing the school drop off and then the boys went fishing and then a town tour of Jabiru(This taking a whole 5 minutes!) And then the afternoon moving......

Count Down

Only one more sleep until it is Poppy Day! I'm sure the kids could even tell you how many hours........

The house has been rearranged - Micaela, Kloe and Jarred all sharing and Zac and Dad have the other room. Pop was only aloud to share a room with ZAC.

We are off to Darwin early tomorrow morning.................. all very excited!

Bubble Bath Fun

Jarred and Kloe having fun in a big bubble bath

Pop is Comming

Kloe woke up this morning and said "Only two more sleeps until it is Poppy Day"
We are all very excited that Pop is coming on Friday. It has been 11 months since we have seen him.

The kids are having Friday off , so we can all go into Darwin, to pick him up. We are then going to show him the sites of Darwin and Litchfield National Park .

We are spending the weekend at Lake Bennett. Which we are also really excited about!

There is a low sitting in the sea - which is expected to form into a cyclone........ so it may also be a very wet and windy weekend!!

Shrove Tuesday - International Pancake Day

Well, I had the pleasure of spending my afternoon in the Year 1 Classroom helping the kids make pancakes for Shrove Tuesday.

Needless to say after making 8 batches of pancakes, I was well and truely pancaked out!

The kids had a great time - the best part of all was definatly the eating!

The Junior Jabiru Golfers

All the junior golfers were presented with an encouragment award - a golf ball and a bag of tees. Then everybody enjoyed a BBQ Lunch.

The Team

Zac, Andy, Taylor and George - Ready to Tee off

Zac "The Golfer"

Zac has started junior golf on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

Today he played in an Ambrose - they paired two junior golfers up with two adults . They all play a shot and then, continue playing from the best shot.

The idea is to help the kids learn the game.

Dad was the caddy, Mum,Kloe and Jarred the cheer squad.

Tee off was 10.30am in Hot/Humid 35 degree temp.

Yum! Nutella!

All was too quite in the house - something was not quite right.....

Look what Mum found Jarred doing.

Look Mummy Nutella - yummy!

Big Shoes to Fill

Jarred with big sis Micaela's hat and shoes

Jarred's First Day at Kindy

Jarred started at Jabiru Kindy on Thursday 16th Feb - he will be going two days a week - Thursdays and Fridays.

Nourlangie Rock

On the 12th Feb with all went on an adventure and climbed Nourlangie Rock.

It was a very warm, humid Sunday morning but the scenery made the walk and climb well worth it.