Home from NZ

Good to be back after a wonderful holiday and Christmas. Many wonderful experiences...from penguins to bungy jumping. Really enjoyed the lovely scenery. Happy New Year

Christmas - URGENT!

Hello there family!!

This year we have decided to de-stress Nanna! So I'm wondering if we could all put in a few dollars to sent her on a trip to Tahiti?.....
Ok, no, maybe that's not a great idea!

Instead, how about we all do some cooking for Christmas day?

We thought it might be fun and if everyone contributed a dish to Christmas...and when I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE!! Boys included! So to be clear, a little something from Merryl, a little something from Doug, a little something from Mitchell, a little something from Kimberley etc etc!!
It doesn't have to be anything really flash.  Nanna is going to take care of the ham and we are going to fill in the rest of the gaps...salads, desserts, nibblies etc.  Please give Nanna a ring and let her know what you're bringing so we don't end up with 17 potato salads!

Dad is already planning his dish...ok I can't lie.  I should really say Mum has already planned what Dad is going to put together the night before!

Have a bit of fun with it....maybe we should have a competition to see  who can bring the most creative dish? Then again, maybe that's dangerous!

And don't forget your old photos...were you organising that Aunty Nellie? Is the idea we bring them on disc or email them to you beforehand??

Anna xoxo
 PS - This is what I'm going to bring...

Dear Lord Jesus

The last week or so Ever has started actually contributing to our bedtime prayers.  It is so gorgeous and truly thrilling to start to see her have some understanding of what we're doing.  The first night her contribution was thanking Jesus for the christmas tree, and then a couple of nights later it was for Dora.  But this is how it has gone the last two nights in a row...
Mummy - 'Ok Ever, let's pray...dear Lord Jesus...'
Ever - 'Daddy!'
Mummy - 'ok - dear lord Jesus, we thank you for Daddy.  Anyone else Ever?'
Ever - 'tank for Mewwyl'
Mummy - ok!? thank you for Aunty Merryl...'
Ever - 'AND KIMBERWEE!'

Two nights in a row!! You two have made quite the impression! Or maybe she just senses you need the extra prayer:)

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Hi everyone! Guess what? 32 days till Christmas and two weeks till I see you all in Brisbane! Well, it is the last week of gr8 for me and I have got a math and english exam tomorrow, so mum is tutoring me and I am on my break at the moment! I can't wait until I see you all soon! Well, I had better go now! Love you all so much!

Love, Kimberley

P.S. Anna, Chloe showed us your video of Ever on Facebook! How adorable! I wonder if she'll know my name when I come down in a couple of weeks?!? Please Say I love her heaps to her for me!

how embarrassing

Today, Nana and I went shopping at DFO. Kimberley asked me to buy her some material to make a maids outfit for a school play she was in. We thought it would be just as economical to buy one so Nana goes to the counter of the gift shop and asks if they sell maids outfits. The girl replied, you mean a french maids outfit? Yes , Nana Replied. With that a 55 yr old customer said "good on ya Love!". The shop errupted into laughter. No , its not for me, I'm 75, its for my 13 year old grand daughter. I have just finished explaining french maid outfits are used for stripping! Poppa is getting excited.

Love is in the air

Thought I'd share a few special photos with you all

Christmas List 2010!

Here it is! The awesome, magnificent 2010 christmas list!

Janelle is buying for .......... Dean
Kerry Janine

Leetice Chelsea

Kent Lyndal

Chloe Maibry

Merryl Geoffrey

Doug Anna

Maibry Nanna

Graham Chloe

Lauren Kerry

Janine Kent

Nanna Merryl

Poppa Steven

Geoffrey Poppa

Lyndal Doug

Anna Janelle

Dean Leetice

Chelsea Graham

Steven Lauren

Remember that these names were drawn out of a hat! Don't forget the under 18's!
ENJOY!

Tim McGraw in Townsville

I made my way up to Townsville with 2 other friends to visit Janine for the weekend (only 6hrs drive) and to go and see Tim McGraw in concert. It was great catching up, proper shopping, checking out the uni lifestyle and going to the concert for the afternoon/night. We had great seats very close to the stage which made it even better.

Wildlife spotted at Chloes

Thought Chloe would love to see this one

Florences Birthday Bash

Here are some pics of the 13th birthday sleepover held last night. What a blast!

Where Am I?

Clues are that the water is very salty (tastes and smells), Im standing on sand, and I can hear cows in the background. Usually this lake is bone dry, but because of some good rainfall its almost full at this stage.


Not sure if you will be able to read this map too well, but it may give you some idea of the kilometres we traveled one week a few weeks back. Started off in Emerald on Tuesday morning, then up to point B where we valued a very large property (79,000ha), staying overnight, then up to Point C, where the photos above were taken, then to Point E, which was Richmond, where we stayed Wednesday night. On Thursday, we made it to Mt Isa, where it was really cold and rainy, which I wasnt expecting 12 degrees in the middle of the day in Mt Isa of all places, so I kinda froze, but we were only there a few hours, before we hit the road again, and made it to Winton that night (Point G). Friday was heading home, but we had about 11 houses to value between Winton and Emerald, which was why we made the detour to Tambo (Point H) before getting back to Emerald late Friday night. It was a very long week, and including a day trip to a property south of Springsure which is located on the northern edge of the Carnarvons on Monday before we left.

A normal week isnt usually so busy, but we have done a lot of kilometres this last month.

Oh yeah, the lake is called Lake Buchanan, located high up on the Aramac Range in pretty much the middle of no where. It is a lake where a number of creeks drain into it, but there is no outlet, so when it dries up, all the salt is left and contaminates the waterso it is too salty to drink, even for cattle. Its very unusual to see it full, especially at this time of year.

news from the far north

The cleaning lady from down the road just arrived . Note the outfit she is wearing. We had a sleepover last night in the shed for youth group...skating, basketball, movies, music,etc

Mitchell is still recovering.

Christened the spa bath this afternoon ..Kimberley thought it was alright...not quite big enough.

THought I'd post a few pictures on our recent happenings.

new shed, cubby house paint, guest room view etc

Love to all

Merryl

Sister Love

                                 

News from the north

Hello everyone,

The camera battery is flat so sorry I haven't got any photos to attach.

Mitchell now has his learners licence.

Doug has his new shed

Merryl has just seen the cleaners drive away from the new section of the house...it's time to move in.

After 10 years of waiting patiently, some of my kitchen gear will be uncovered from the shipping container. I no longer have to dive into a plastic box on wheels for my groceries.

Doug finished the kitchen Bi-fold window today...sawdust over the clean house of course!!!

I am not going to complain as he has done a wonderful job with all the joinery.

We are having a youth group sleepover next Friday night. They are all bringing their wheels to have a skate night in the new shed before the dirt and diesel move in.

I'm sending Doug to town tomorrow to pick up the new bed so I can be assured of some sleep next Friday night. Kimberley is having twelve girls sleep over the next week for her birthday.

In The second week of the holidays I'm helping Mary in the kitchen at a scripture Union camp.

Hope all is well in the south

Love Merryl

The Things Granddad's Do!

Ever thought it was fantastic that Granddad would wear her 'hat'....

...10 minutes later where, to my delight, he had obviously forgotten he had it on!!

Lolly Annabelle

For all the faraway cousins, aunties and uncles....

Lolly 4 minutes old.

The girls having their first proper cuddles.

Teeny-tiny earmuffs to keep out the deafening noise of the jackhammer outside Mummy's room!

First cuddles with Great Nanna & Poppa

Love this photo of Uncle Dean

Having some skin on skin time with Mummy...best part of the day!

Sleepy sleepy

And the kisses keep on coming!...

The view from my hospital room window!

A special welcome home

Uncle Steve flew in for a whirlwind visit and brought us some beautiful flowers!