Ballarat

The weather finally got warm enough (or so we thought) to do our second trip in our camper trailer. We decided on Ballarat so that we could take the girls to Sovereign Hill. 

We stayed at a Big 4 which was a 5 minute walk to Soverign Hill. After setting up camp  we went for lunch and coffee in town at Such and Such (great little cafe with lots of space and a playroom for the kids) where we met up with Grandma and Aunty Kim. 

After that we headed to Lake Wendouree where there was a fantastic kids adventure playground.  The girls just did not want to leave!

On a very very cold September morning we took the girls for their first visit to Sovereign Hill. It was so cold that we wore all the clothes that we had with us (which was quite a lot!) and despite all those layers we were still feeling the cold !

The olde fashioned lolly shop was a must visit ...

                                            

                         
The girls found the Chinese village section very interesting.         

Eloise with her pocketful of crackers from the chinese shop

                                    

Back at school

Panning for gold

                        

Any luck Eloise ?

Perhaps there is some at the bottom of the well...heave ho...

Whilst some panned for gold, others found it a little too tiring

The Red Coats

Boo hoo hoo .... we've lost the key !

As it happened it was the 2nd annual steam weekend when we were there. There were big ones and some teeny weeny ones. Abbey loved the ride and could be heard for hours later saying "Choo choo, choo choo".

Ringing the old school bell

Seems that at any Big 4 caravan park worth its salt must be a jumping pillow. The one in Ballarat was no exception and was what the girls nominated as the best part of the weekend ! Even though Abbey could not express it in words we know that jumping on the jumping pillow was a highlight because we caught her role playing "ump, ump, ump" with her toys ! 

Eloise was thrilled that there was craft time at the Big 4 park

In Abbey's words, "Ump, ump, ump"...

                                

The Zoo

We are Friends of the Zoo so the girls get to the zoo quite often.  Recently we visited the zoo twice in two weeks.  Firstly with Grandma, Aunty Sally and Elle and the second time with Marina and her littlies.

The Elephant master with Grandma and Aunty Sal

Can you spot the tiger ?

Abbey's favourite sculpture - the orang utan

Abbey also loves jumping on these stone fish

Eloise's favourite is not the animals but the playground at the zoo !

 

The girls seem more interested in climbing on all the animal sculptures or playing the park then looking at the animals.  In terms of animal enclosures, Eloise's favourite exhibit seems to be the butterflies hot house and the hippo.

We also went to the zoo with Marina, Scarlett and Harvey.

Lunchtime ! Abbey, Harvey, Eloise and Scarlett

The carousel was finally open during the school holidays and we managed to sneak in one ride for Abbey before she was told by a very strict attendant that she had to be 80cm or higher to be allowed to sit on the horse (even if her mummy was holding on to her). Abbey was offered the elephant carriage to sit it but there were tears and tantrums for the horse and we had to leave the carousel without getting a second ride.

Abbey's first babycino

Abbey had her first babycino at Vines Cafe in Diamond Creek with Grandma and Mummy. Previously when she has been offered a babycino she would just make a huge mess with it without actually drinking any of it.  The Vines cafe's babycino was very frothy so that might have made a difference.

Hmmm, is that a satisfied look or a "Woe is me, I had too much froth" look ?

Horsham

Grandma was not well the weekend of Eloise's 4th birthday party and unfortunately had to miss it. So the following weekend, we went to Horsham to visit Grandma and Grandpa instead. 

As usual the girls had fun feeding the chooks, collecting googy eggs, throwing rocks in the dam and going for a walk around the farm.

Feeding Grandma's chooks

Throwing rocks in the dam

Walking around the dam looking for treasures

                                        

In front of our favourite carving tree

Picking oranges

Walking down Grandma's driveway

Going for a walk to the letterbox

In front of the old sheds

We also spent a leisurely afternoon walking along the Horsham river and going for a play and walk in the Horsham botanical gardens. 

Walking by the Horsham river

Horsham Botanical Gardens

Hiding in the flowerbeds at the Horsham Botanical gardens

The girls also played dress ups with Grandma and Grandpas' hats

Eloise's Princess & Pirate 4th Birthday Party

It was a sea of pink for Eloise's Princess and Pirate 4th birthday party. Some came dressed as a Princess, some as a Pirate and Abbey came as a combination of both a princess and a

pirate !

Home made Martha Stewart Pom Poms were used as decorations

The girls eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first guest

Eloise and Mackenzie (one of her besties from Kinder & Childcare)

                     

A sea of pink

                         
Eloise is now at an age where she decides who she invites to her party, so in the end there were about 25 kids at the party !! And ever since Abbey's birthday party in April, Eloise has talked and planned her 4th birthday party.

There was plenty of party food ... perhaps a little too much ? There was rice paper rolls, chicken sandwiches, feta and watermelon bites, noodles, hot dogs, fairy bread, ham & tomato mini croissants, chicken bites, ham & pineapple muffins, sausage rolls, lots & lots of chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, princess sugar cookies, fruit kebabs, lemon slice, danishes, cake pops, meringues and melting moments. 

The castle cake was made by Mummy and decorated by Daddy. It was made with 3 square butter cakes, ice-cream cones, loads of pink buttercream icing, some wafers and a few marshmallows.     

Craft time

                            

There were a number of activities for the kids. First up was a craft activity where the girls (or boys) could make and decorate their own crowns whilst the boys could decorate a Pirate's telescope or make a Pirate's sword. But as you can see from the photos it was only the girls that got into the craft activity !

Face painting with Princess Polly

Mirror mirror who is the fairest of them all ?

Pirate Aunty De

Abbey not at all shy to mix it with the big kids

A highlight of the party was Princess Polly.  Apparently Prince Charming had told Princess Polly that Eloise was having a party and she dropped by and did some face painting, magic, dancing and played Pass the Parcel with the kids.

There was also a pinata which proved to be very strong as the pinata stick broke before the pinata cracked!

Eloise seemed to be quite pleased with her cake because it had two of her favourite elements - it was pink and it was a princess castle.




The girls waiting for the cake

                            

There were a number of toddlers around including our own Abbey and they seemed to have enjoyed the food !

Abbey literally stuffing her face !

A party guest (Scarlett) also enjoying the food.

Scarlett still enjoying the food !

The birthday girl was very pleased with her costume which was a Barbie wedding dress and she thoroughly enjoyed being the Birthday Girl and centre of attention of already talking about her 5th birthday party !

Party guests playing in the cubby.



Eloise with London and Carly

The birthday girl having a great time.

Happy 4th Birthday Eloise !!  We are very proud of you and we love you to the moon and back xoxox