Showtime



This weekend we enjoyed the fun and festivities of our local show.  This being Heidi's first show where participation was the aim of the day. 

 

Magic Shows, jumping castles and ice creams - this little girl had the time of her life.

We caught up with friends and even had Nana and Pop come and stay.  So with all four grandparents on site, Heidi was in for some spoiling!

Both Heidi and I were roped into modelling for the fashion parade.  Enthusiasm made up for experience and we both enjoyed it.  Heidi hit the catwalk with her cousins close by her side. 

 

Heidi sported an outfit which can only be described as interesting, not something her mother picked out that's for sure!

A popular event at our little show is the Dog Jumping Competition, whereby local working dogs are pitted against each other to claim the 'Highest Jump' title.  This year as a last minute decision we entered Jet.  Despite no training or preparation regime whatsoever she put in a gallant effort and took out 5th place.

 

 

As the sun set on what I believe was a wonderful day at the show, the carnival atmosphere had taken its toll on this little trooper. 

Sorghum Silage

 At this time every year, we plant a crop, pray for rain then cut it into silage to be fed to our feedlot cattle later in the year. 

Darryn does the planting and praying...

 

 

 

...and we out-source the chopping of the crop.  This week we had the 'choppers' turn up for 24hrs of silage making.

 

The kids and I were in charge of all things food related.  And keeping six men fed and watered is no mean feat!  The smoko van arrived smiles and all. 

We stayed to watch the process of piling and compacting the silage in the pits.

The lunch van arrived as the last of the trucks dumped their load.  Lewis took his job of ensuring everyone got a sandwich and scone very seriously.

 

 

As the diesel engines powered down it was time for the sandwich-powered engines to crank up.  The most integral part of silage making is to exclude all oxygen from the pit.  A large plastic sheet is laid over the pit and held in place by countless tyres - this ensures an anaerobic environment.  

The tyre throwing began and as always, many hands make light work, so it was all hands on deck.

 

 

Heidi opted for a supervisory role in the tractor with Poppa, but unfortunately the lure of her afternoon sleep proved too much and she succumbed.  Lucky Poppa can drive the tractor with only one hand! 

As the last tyre was thrown, we were able to reflect on a job well done.  We even found time for our first ever family selfie :-)

So until next year...this job is done.

 

An Engagement

370 days before the main event we celebrated Dane & Morgan's Engagement.

A Christmas Day beach proposal got everyone off their backs with the "when are you going to get married" harassment.

So surrounded by their many wonderful friends and family an engagement was celebrated.  Due to much talk and laughter, I didn't manage to capture too many photos.  Here, however are a few of what was a wonderful night.

 

 

 

I managed to catch this crew on our way into the party.  Again I must reiterate how tricky it is to photograph children, particularly more than one.  So this, Absolon family, is the best I could get.

 

I also managed to recruit a photographer to get this lovely snap of us in our party clothes :-)

It was a beautiful night for a lovely couple.  We wish you all the best Dane & Morgan and look forward to doing it all again in 370 days. xoxox

Photo Shoot

One day last week I was home alone with the kids, so took the opportunity to set up a photo shoot with my two favourite subjects.  No distractions or interruptions for the entire day meant I could focus on getting the perfect picture.  Well, what a circus!  I can now see why people in the entertainment industry say never work with children or animals.  Although animals are in abundance here, I could barely control the kids so thought it best to save the animals for another day.

 

So in between baby nap times, phone calls, toddler sabotage and dog sabotage I managed to get a few snaps that made it worth the effort.

 

 

This is the bouquet from my wedding.  I have it up on a high shelf in the house and Heidi is forever asking to touch it - today she got her chance...

Heidi - 2yrs

Lewis - 5 months

 This is the only decent sibling snap I could get.  I had enough trouble getting one child to sit still, look in the general direction of the camera and smile - let alone two!!

Yes, Tayla, I know the hat is on backwards ;-) This is actually the 'before' shot.  He face planted into the ground shortly after I took this.  I guess that's one of the perils of being a model.

I think this shot is the best I got all day, just wish he was smiling a little more...

So after a big day on set, my littlest star had had all he could take.  That's ok little man, time to feed the animals anyway.

My sanity survived the day and so did Heidi (most of these shots of just Lewis are taken as I am trying to hold Heidi back from stomping on him).  Enjoy, as there won't be another post like this for at least 6 months!!

Easter In The Country

Doesn't quite have the same ring to it as "Easter At the Beach", but we had a nice stay-at-home Easter this year.

The main reason for our staycation was the arrival of the newest member to our menagerie - Po.

So far she has proved to be a great babysitter and these two have worn each other out every afternoon since Po's arrival.  Of course Darryn has greater aspirations for her, but for now she is a welcome addition to my afternoon feed list.  Po brings our canine numbers to double figures - more than enough for any man I say!

We also spent the Easter weekend baking up some yummy smoko's.  Heidi has mastered (as much as a two year old can) the art of cracking eggs and now every time I open the fridge she is at my side 'crack egg Mum'.  Sometimes the eggs make it into the bowl, sometimes they don't.  Sometimes our cakes/quiches/pikelets have eggshell in them, sometimes they don't.  But I am happy to have her in the kitchen with me, most of the time...

Darryn hunted and gathered for us, so we enjoyed some local caught fish over the weekend.  Heidi was also right on hand to help with the filleting - although I could hear many exclamations of 'bit smelly Dad'.

 

 

We rested...

 

We played...

 

 

We helped Dad in the shed, building Mum a new chook pen.  Some were more helpful than others.

 

 

 

And finally, on Sunday night, yes Sunday night, the Easter Bunny called in and left some chocolate for a special little girl.

 

Maybe the Mater should look into giving out a pamphlet on when the Easter Bunny comes with their take home instructions on pelvic floor exercises and breastfeeding advice! Luckily chocolate is yummy whichever day you eat it...

HAPPY EASTER