Putting up the tree

We hope Santa does not mind too because we did put up the Christmas tree a few days before the 1st of December.  Eloise was keen as mustard to put the tree and she cleverly suggested that we should do it whilst Abbey was having a nap. 

Abbey is at an age where she likes to take things off and run away with it.   And Eloise was right, when Abbey finally joined us after her nap we had more decorations taken off the tree that put on !

Here is our very scraggly Christmas tree lovingly decorated by Eloise. I think that it is high time for a new tree next year ! 

Outings with Poh Poh and Gung Gung

Eloise and Abbey are normally with Poh Poh and Gung Gung every Wednesday as that is the day that Mummy is in Sydney for work.  So on Tuesday afternoons, after Eloise's kinder, Poh Poh and Gung Gung will take the girls back to Port Melbourne with them.  On Wednesdays, there is normally an outing to either Scienceworks, the Museum, the Zoo or Collingwood Children's Farm.  The favourite seems to be Scienceworks and the girls have been there at least a dozen times.

Here they are during one of their trips to the Museum, which is the alternative destination for wet rainy days.

Egyptian dressups at the Musuem

Checking out the stuffed animals

What is in there Abbey?

Lego time at the Museum

Scienceworks is truly fantastic for the kids because there are so many interactive displays and lots of interesting facts and figures for inquisitive minds like Eloise's.  Abbey enjoys touching all the buttons on the displays and climbing up and down all the exhibits.

Abbey playing with the telephone exhibit at Scienceworks

Lots of interesting exhibits at Scienceworks

The girls pretending to be rats at Sciencworks

Abbey showing off her balancing skills on the Scienceworks snowboard

Lunchtime at Sciencworks playground

               

Collingwood Children's Farm is also another favourite place for both the girls and Poh Poh and Gung who like the Lentil as Anything restaurant.

And then there is off course the zoo where Poh Poh and Gung Gung are also Friends of the Zoo.  They go so often that the zoo is treated as just another play ground !  Here they are playing under the big tree. Both girls are also very social and are known to charm and distract older school kids who are there on their school excursions

Making friends with the school kids

   
Abbey has a fascination with the wood carving of the orang utan at the orang utan enclosure and without fail on each trip she will give him a kiss and a hug and will always bid him farewell before leaving the area.

Abbey and her favourite orang utan

Abbey also has a fascination with all the stone animal carvings and again without fail she has to clamber on top of them for a ride.  

                        

Plate licking good

By the looks of things Abbey thoroughly enjoyed her lunch today.  It was scrambled eggs with tomatoes and when she asked for more, there was literally none left so she started to lick her plate !   Sorry Abbey, will make sure that it is two eggs in the scrambled eggs from now on !!  

The Motley Crew

We went to visit our friend Kon and Jess who had just had their third child, a baby boy named Spencer. They also have two daughters, Ava and Ruby who are5 and 3 respectively. 

Eloise and Abbey had a great time playing with Ava and Ruby. First they almost destroyed the pool cabana with their painting and then they turned the play room upside down and inside out and came out in some very colorful dress ups.

L to R: Eloise, Ava, Abbey and Ruby. 
Abbey seems to hear better with the phone on her eye  and Eloise looks like an Elvis inspired fairy !

One Hot Day

Summer is nearly upon us and the girls were not quite used to the heat and decided that it would be better to strip off.  Here they are enjoying their bare chested romp.  

As you can see their skin complexions are very different, Eloise has always had very olive skin and tans very easily.  Whereas Abbey has always been very fair. 

They do now play quite well together and whilst there are still fights over the same toy, Eloise is starting to show a little more maturity and will quite often let her little sister have her way and will also help her up and down the stairs or the couch.

Abbey at a loose end and looking pensive when her sister was not yet ready to play ....

.. but as soon as big sister came, an attack was launched ! Check the expression on Abbey's face!

Eloise strikes back !

Who do you think is the aggresor ?

"Gotcha Abbey"

Tickle, tickle, tickle

Playing is such thirsty work

Abbey at 19 months

Eloise at 4 years & 2 months

Gold Coast

We made a last minute decision to join Aunty Ann and Lochie for some mummy and Eloise time on the Gold Coast.  Sorry, Abbey but you were just a little too young to come along on this trip :-(

We stayed at the Surfers Paradise Marriot, mainly because of their salt water pool where you could snorkel amongst their fish.  Unfortunately though there were not many colourful marine fish left as most of them died when the pool filled up with too much fresh water during the Brisbane floods earlier this year. 

Eloise parading by the salt water pool

Fish feeding at the Marriot salt water pool

On Friday before the big weekend crowds we ventured out to Sea World which was only about a 5 minute cab ride from our hotel. However, despite it being Friday there were still plenty of people there !  We managed to take in the Sea Lion show and the Dolphin Show, pat some star fish and sea slugs and go on some rides.

Posing with Cooke Monster & Elmo and not sure who the orange creature is !

 The Calypos when down a treat as it was thirsty work waiting for the sea lion show to start.

The playful dolphins who were always keen to greet you

There was also an incredible underwater viewing gallery and it would have to be one of the worlds largest aquariums, there were so many fish, stingrays and marine fish, it was like looking into Nemo's world !  Eloise and I were both so mesmerised that we spent a long time just sitting and watching the underwater world go by.

The amazing underwater gallery

Whilst Eloise enjoyed the shows and marine life, she was also just as excited about the rides (if not more!).  And she does not seem to have any fear of heights or sudden drops!  Her favourite rides would have to be Big Bird Bounce and Vikings Revenge Flume Ride.

Cable car ride

Eloise looking a little apprehensive on her first 'scary' ride alone

The Big Bird Bounce was a real hit with Eloise and she went on it another 6 more times !

Cooling off with Lochie in the water play area

Eloise convinced Lochie to also have a go on the Big Bird Bounce

This trip has confirmed that Eloise has no fear of heights at all.  Without hesitation she scaled this rope bridge that was at the Castaway Bay section at Seaworld. Whilst mum cautiously and rather reluctantly walked across the bridge that would have been about 2 to 3 storeys high, Eloise ran across it.   It was a great play structure and would put any indoor play centre to shame !  There were so many climbing equipment and ropes that Lochie said that it looked like a place for monkeys !

Walking the 'tight rope' was not a problem for Eloise

We were really spoilt at the Marriot as we had access to their club lounge, so every morning there was a splendid breakfast spread of fresh fruit, cereals, pastries, bread and you could also have the egg special from "Chef". 

The fridge was well stocked with juices and cold water and throughout the day there was always fresh bread and fruit and from 5pm to 7pm it was canape hour with lots of canapes to choose from and some a very welcomed selection of champagne and wines.  The canapes were so varied and abundant that it also doubled as dinner when we were too tired to head out.

Eloise and Lochie enjoying their breakfast

The breakfast fridge filled with fruits, yoghurt, bircher muesli, deli meats & cheese

The fruits were perfect for us to pack as snacks for the day

Smoked salmon

Scrambled eggs with truffle oil

The views from the 27th floor club lounge was spectacular with views out to the oceane  and the pool/marina area.

Ocean view from the 27th floor

View of the hotel pool and river from the 27th floor

Within a 5 minute walk from our hotel was the famous and beautiful Gold Coast beaches.

"Hi Daddy & Abbey Love Eloise & Mummy" - our postcard to Daddy & Abbey

We also managed to catch up with Aunty Lai Kion, Alex and Alex's girls - Ava & Stella. The three girls spent all day in the pool. 

L to R: Ava (5), Eloise (4) & Stella (3)

   

Girls showering off after a day in the pool

                                           
After a hard day play at the pool, we were very lucky to have been taken to dinner by Aunty Lai Kion.  She took us to the Teppenyaki restaurant at the Marriot and it was a great place to take kids as they were thoroughly entertained by the chef.

Waiting patiently for dinner at the Teppanyaki restaurant

                       
    

Eloise and Ava

We also spent a day at Wet n Wild, there were quite a few rides that the kids were still too short for but there were enough to keep them occupied. Eloise loved the wave pool, going in the donut around Calypso Beach and Mammoth Falls.

Buccaneer Bay at Wet n Wild

Swinging at Buccaneer Bay

Floating on donuts on Calypso Beach

Overall we had a fantastic time, thanks Andrea and Lochie for letting us share your holidays !