Gold Coast

Easter this year was a long long long weekend so we decided to extend it a little and headed to the Gold Coast. Thanks to Uncle Sam and Aunty Lai Kion we had an apartment right on the beach in Broadbeach.  Poh Poh and Gung Gung also went up to catch up with Poh Poh's family.

Surf patrol on Broadbeach

The girls on the beach just in front of our apartment

We flew up Easter Saturday and the Easter Bunny came to visit on Easter Sunday. There was an Easter Egg trail leading from the bedroom door out to the lounge. The girls were very excited seeing the eggs although poor Abbey could not keep up with her big sister in collecting the eggs ... just wait til next year Abbey !  

The girls after collecting all the eggs the Easter Bunny left behind

The girls got to catch up with their Queensland relatives, there was a bbq at Aunty Irene's place where Eloise and Abbey met up with Ava, Stella, Isabella, Sharnie, Ethan an Emily.  There was a lot of pink everywhere, funnily enough.

From L to R: A neighbours granddaughter, Ava, Isabella and Eloise

Start of the Easter Egg Hunt

From L to R: Ava, Stella, Isabella, Eloise, Neighbour, Emily

The girls giving cheek to Uncle Sam

                             

Rub a dub dub - Abbey & Eloise with their cousins Stella and Ava

                             

Girls on the way home after a big day playing with the cousins

The weather was not fantastic, with most days being overcast if not rainy.  We did however get to visit some of the fantastic parks that are everywhere on the Gold Coast.

Southport Park

Abbey's first time on a carousel ... she was very excited !

The girls spent one night with Poh Poh and Gung Gung at Aunty Irene's house and thanks to Emily and Ethan, there were plenty of toys for them to play with. Eloise played very well with Emily and were best friends within no time.

Eloise found a bestie in Emily

                           

There was a water park on Southbank in front of Aunty Lai Kion and Uncle Sam's apartment which the girls loved.



Abbey at the Southbank water park

Waiting for the water jets to spurt out again

Abbey's 1st Birthday Party

  Happy 1st birthday Abbey! 

The birthday girl

Abbey in her first year learnt how to smile at 5 weeks, babble at 7 weeks, laugh and grab at things at 12 weeks, blowing raspberries at 15 weeks, roll over at 19 weeks and consistently rolling over at 6 months, sit at 6.5 months, commando crawling at 8.5 months, crawling on all fours and grew her first tooth at 10.5 months stand and pulling to stand at around 11 months. And we can also wave goodbye and blow kisses and say a few words with the favourites being "no", "dadda", "mumma" and "ball".

We had Abbey's birthday on a Sunday afternoon with lots of family and friends around. There was heaps of food including a spit roast and a beautiful carousel cake made by Aunty Cass. A big big thank you to Aunty Cass who went beyond the call of duty to make this incredible cake.

Aunty Cass' incredible carousel cake

The cake surrounded by a sea of sweets

Clockwise from top left: Cupcake ice cream cones, tea cups, meringues and melting moments

Tea cups made with marshmallows, yoyo biscuits, freckles and lifesaver

                              

The spit

                            

There was an easter egg hunt, but before we could start the hunt we had to decorate our easter egg basket .... glitter and stickers everywhere ! 

                            

Decorating the Easter Egg baskets

Let the Easter Egg hunt begin ....

Any luck girls ?

                            
 

Eloise, have you spotted an egg ? 
 

And then there was silence as the kids tucked into their eggs ....

Eating the spoils of the find

Chomp, chomp, chomp

Cutting the cake was a little heart breaking as it was such a shame to dismantle Aunty Cass' masterpiece

                                                                  

                            

Kids patiently waiting for cake

Thank you everyone for coming to help Abbey celebrate her 1st birthday and a very special thank you to Aunty Cass for your amazing effort. The birthday girl had a great time and was not fused at all about missing her afternoon nap !
 

A very happy birthday girl !

 Happy first birthday Abbey !   Love you to the moon and back xoxox