Summer Time

Mona Vale Beach

Merry Christmas

Our first Christmas in our new house and we just love being here so much.  Everyone asks if we are going away, but its great just being at home.  We are still finishing off lots of bits and pieces around the house, and loving doing it.

Ben finished off year 5 this year, with exciting news that he was elected as a Student Council Representative Leader for year 6 next year.  A huge achievement for our gorgeous boy.

Izzy finished off the year in the Possum Room at kindy, and will go into the Koala Room next year, with school the year after.  She performed in her ballet school's end of year concert and loved it, as well as going to the Wiggles concert with dad.

Peter starts a new job on 14 January, no change with me!

Some photos of the last month or so...

Going to a party

On a pole at Tully's party

Christmas Day

Do you like my Snow White dance???

Chasing bubbles

Stanley in on the action

Ben and a car of course! 

School Leadership - Ben is Student Representative Council Leader and Kai is our Vice Captain

Ben found the Wiggles' Big Red Car while we were riding bikes at Homebush

 Izzy going to the Wiggles Concert

What have we been up to?

Well we've been spending all weekend, most weekends just doing landscaping, planting and house things.  Have built flyscreens for all doors and windows, just about all plants are in now, one path left to do, then we need to tidy up the very back of our block which has had no attention since we knocked the old hosue down.

Izzy had her first ballet concert this past weekend and she was fabulous - no photo opportunities though which is so disappointing.  Only a DVD.

Christmas tree went up to stop Izzy hounding me about Christmas, but I can see that she and Stanley are going to destroy the decorations down low.  Stan the cat doesn't know what to make of it.
The grass is now looking extra lush and green too.
These first three aren't supposed to be sideways but blogger won't let me rotate them.  It's a nice photo of Ben so needs to go in.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

SHOWOFF AS USUAL

Grass looking very lush (we don't normally have a trailer parked at the front door, but it is full of rocks and the temptation to throw them if left on the street is high!
And below, our side path which still needs to be "done",  when we can agree on something we both like (has to be soft surface).

Izzy helping to deliver sand around back.

Show-off... who me?

Special little friends

This week is our three year anniversary for Izzy joining our family, her forever family.  Today we had a very special celebration with Izzy's batch mates to celebrate.

Our beautiful lawn

To really see how beautiful it is, I have to repost the pictures from start to finished.  It is so green and lush, and weed free.  For now anyway.  I'm sure I'll grow some new weeds an bindi.

 Backyard first

 Out the back when we first started the retaining wall

 Out the back when it was still looking like a dump

 

Retaining wall finished out the back and filled in with clay from the front

 Out the back, weeds in the clay

Out the back before hosing in the filler sand

I haven't taken a photo of it now that it has been rolled and hosed.

And now the front yard

 Digging out the front yard to build retaining walls

 Front yard when last of the clay mountain had been moved

 Base for turf arriving

 Front yard with turf base

 mmm, fresh grass - we had three pallets

 Lower section of front yard

 Poppy - the weekend worker

Now for some plants!