Logan's Birthday, Ballarat, VIC
Sunday 12th March
We were lucky enough to be arriving back in Victoria right in time for Logan's birthday. The kids were buzzing with excitement to see their cousins. We had a great time catching up over the day and night we spent with Kate, Matt, Logan and Jenna.
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| Logan's pool party- everyone had a fantastic time. |
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| Emilia and Jenna enjoying some fairy bread. |
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The inflatable was a big hit.
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| When we got back to Kate and Matt's house, Emilia and Jenna spent hours dressing up as princesses. Jenna even did Emilia's make-up! |
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| Giving Logan his birthday presents (notice Emilia still in the princess dress). |
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| Singing 'Happy Birthday'. Jackson got a cake too (to celebrate his birthday in Feb). Notice Emilia is still in the princess dress- she ended up staying dressed up until bedtime!! |
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| The next morning Daniel, Logan, Jackson and I went blackberry picking in the back block- we ended with 2 ice-cream containers full (as well as purple fingers and lots of scratches!) |
Queenscliff, VIC
Monday 13th - Thursday 23rd March
Back to reality for poor Daniel who had to get up at 4.30am to start back at work on Tuesday 14th March. Whilst he was working hard during the week, the kids and I made the most of the facilities/ entertainment in the caravan park and explored Queenscliff, Geelong and a few other nearby areas.
We filled our days with the following:
- walks/bike-rides into Queenscliff (the car was in getting some checks done so we were car-less for a few days. It turned out the injectors all need replacing, but is a huge and costly job and not worth the money on such an old and well used car.)
- visiting the Sweet Shop in Queenscliff and getting a sugar fix
- catching up with Markus
- exploring a few of the old lighthouses in the area
- learning about the local history of sea use and exploration at the Maritime Museum (we got personal tours each time from 2 very knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteers so we learnt a lot)
- walking along the beach and exploring the rock pools at Point Londsdale
- boogie boarding at the Ocean Grove Surf Beach
- taking sunrise walks along the foreshore track, looking out across to Portsea/Point Nepean (the waling track was just few minutes from the caravan park)
- I did yoga every day as they offered it free at the caravan park for all residents
- The kids enjoyed the indoor heated pool, kids club craft activities, jumping pillow and NEOS interactive playzone
- Visiting a few different libraries - the kids were so excited that they could borrow again.
-Taking a day trip into Geelong
On the weekend Daniel had some time off so we went to visit his parents, where we enjoyed a lovely afternoon/evening in the garden catching up on the last year. The next day we went the Sprague Family reunion where we got to catch up with my parents, siblings and lots of my extended family. It was a great day and the kids had such a good time running wild (hyped up on lollies) with their cousins/second cousins.
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| The White Lighthouse at Queenscliff |
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| Geelong Foreshore |
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| Enjoying a super sized gelato |
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| Emilia had a funny experience getting her ice-cream. 2 huge scoops were placed on the waffle cone but they weren't pushed down. As soon as Emilia got the ice-cream handed to her, chunks of chocolate ice-cream starting falling off to the ground. She caught the top scoop just before it fell to the ground so she was standing there with a cone in one hand and a dripping scoop of chocolate ice-cream in the other. To top it off she was in her roller-skates so she was rolling up and down the shop floor creating chocolate tracks everywhere!! It was so comical. She ended up with a cup with some ice-cream and a cone with the other bit! Apparently it tasted just as good even after all the drama. |
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| Grandma, Pa and all the immediate family at the Sprague Family reunion. |
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| Dinner with friends we met on the road; Jodie, Mark and their boys. |
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| The foamy sea at high tide along the foreshore track near Queenscliff. |
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| Jackson joined me for a few sunrise walks (it was cold so we needed hot chocolate and tea to keep us warm!) |
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| The view of the Queenscliff Jetty from the Harbor Observation Town |
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| Trying on an old diving helmet at the Queenscliff Harbour |
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| Jackson tried on an even older diving helmet at the Maritime Museum |
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| Ready to boogie board at Ocean Grove - we had an awesome time. |
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| We'd set our boards and wetsuits out to dry and I noticed a lady taking a photo, I spoke to her and she said she was from Ireland and she thought our gear just looked 'so Australian' so she had to take a photo! |
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| Exploring the rocks below the Point Londsdale Lighthouse. |
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| Daniel joined us one evening at low tide and we all wandered over the reef exploring the rock pools. |
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| Point Londsdale Jetty just before sunset. |
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| We went back to Point Londsdale a few days later to check out a few more rockpools. |
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| Pastries on the foreshore - lucky children. |
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| Making the most of the heated indoor pool at the caravan park. |
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| Daniel and I snuck off for a sunset walk along the jetty at Queensliff and we got this great photo of the fort through one of the windows |
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| Queenscliff Harbour Observation Tower at sunset. |
