Today at Bunnings

Just popped in for some soil and mulch...and stayed for the excellent entertainment!
(David pulled up the chair himself!)

(Apparently this guy used to perform on Mr Squiggle!)

Maker Baker!

David had a baking session with Grandma. David loves playing a rhyming game, so loves to call himself "Maker Baker!"




Rubbing the butter into the flour...





















...rolling out the dough...




















...cutting out the shapes...














...onto the tray...

















...drying up while the biscuits are baking...










...looking good!














Plating up...





















...just checking...
















...hosting afternoon tea in the garden!






(Thanks Grandma!)

Thomas Day at Puffing Billy

On Saturday we went to Thomas Day at Puffing Billy. It was GREAT!

I'm having trouble getting these pictures in the order I want - I can't seem to move them about today, so they're just coming as they do.

Here is David enjoying the Puffing Billy steam engine ride through the beautiful Dandenongs. This was before we boarded, watching Puffing Billy getting up steam, them shunting our carriages into place. David is a bit obsessed with steam engines at the moment (his favourite DVD is the made-for-adults "Steam Trains of Australia"), so this was a highlight.
Looking up the train. I enjoyed the ride so much. I knew David would like it but was surprised at how much I did too.

David with The Real Troublesome Trucks. (And The Real Thomas in the background.)

Here is David with Grandma, Grandpa and "Pudda Billy". And here discovering the joys of bouncing castles!

We went for a ride on The Real Green Bulgy Bus.

And saw The Real Trevor (one of David's favourites).

And, of course, saw The Real Thomas!

What a great day!

1st visit to the village (finally!)

It's a few months ago now, but I promised to post some pictures of David's 1st visit to his family in Chiang Mai. So here are some from our first visit (with Seren and Dad also), when we stayed overnight.

Moments after arriving, David meeting his grandparents for the first time...

David with his grandfathers.

All the family together - David with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, mother, and one 1st-cousin-once-removed (his cousin's son)!

Sisters!

Leaving, shattered after so much excitement!

3 Zoos in 3 days!

We've just had a lovely 3 days with Barbara visiting. We decided to visit one of Melbourne's Zoos on each day...

DAY 1: Melbourne Zoo
Highlight: Seeing the baby orangutan - the first day the mother had brought her into the viewing area. Such a treat!
As soon as we mentioned going to the Zoo David began talking about the lions. He was quiet disappointed that they were all just "sleeping"! The lions looked pretty happy about that though.
DAY 2: Healesville Sanctuary
Highlight: For me it was the amazingly beautiful bush setting.
David was not very well this day. It didn't help that he spent the whole day wanting to see the lions, who he was sure were "waking" now. (Healesville Sanctuary is for native animals only.)
He was also keen to see the kangaroos, but no "boing, boing" to be seen.
DAY 3: Werribee Open Range Zoo
Highlight: A close encounter...
Werribee has a great bus tour viewing bison, camels, hippos, adax (and getting to hold the horn of a poor adax who lost it in a fight), zebra, giraffe, rhinos, ostriches...
...and then a walking tour where David finally got up close with a "waking" lion!
He also had great fun with the water sprinklers near the hippos.
At the end of the 3rd day we picked up Jacob from the airport and had some time with him before he and Barbara headed off for Tasmania.
David was very glad to have time with Jacob.

Thanks for coming Barb. We had a wonderful time!

Christmas Eve

2!