Jamieson

Easter this year found us at Jamieson, a small town near Mansfield.  It is a beautiful location and the camp ground was very picturesque being right on the river.  

 

It was not the usual type of park that the kids are used to in that there was no fancy jumping pillow but the kids were happy enough with the little playground that was right on the river.  

 

We spent many hours by the river collecting rocks to throw in the water and to draw on.

In search of the perfect rocks

"Here's some perfect for throwing into the river"

The girls had a ball seeing how far they could throw the rocks and listening for the big "plop" as it hit the water.  Although Abbey is still very lethal as her "throws" can go anywhere ! They did leave some rocks though to draw on. 


We went for a drive around the surrounding countryside to collect firewood and were impressed with the views.

Enjoying the view with Dad

Back at our caravan site, the girls were very impressed with the fire they managed to finally get going and in the absence of any marshmallows we toasted some roti bread on the fire instead.

On Easter Sunday we woke up to find that it had been raining all night but the rains stopped just in time for the girls to see what the Easter Bunny had left them.  We joined our friends Eden and Scarlett and their cousins for the hunt and are still struggling to eat up all the eggs and bunnies.

 

 



The loot

The girls with their share of the loot

Not feeling so good after one too many chocolate eggs and bunnies

After all that chocolate we had to go for a walk around town but that did not take long at all.  The girls found the local primary school and spent some time ringing the school bell and playing in the school playground.  It is such a small town that it is a one class school with only a total of 15 kids for the whole school.

Another favourite pastime was scooting and running down the grassy hill.  Eloise was not game enough to try it on her bike (in fact we are still getting used to balancing on the bike) but loved wheezing down the hill on the scooter and Abbey loved being in the pram as it was being pushed down the hill!

Eloise raising Dad (pushing Abbey) down the hill

There was plenty of time to explore and to throw more rocks in the river !

There was also a café in town which was only a 2 minute walk away and the girls enjoyed hanging out there with Eden and Scarlett and their milkshakes

Easter Bonnet Parade

It was the day of the annual Easter bonnet parade for the Preps and their Grade 6 buddies. Eloise led her class out wearing the bonnet she had made.

Nurse Eloise

As part of the school's fundraising efforts for the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday appeal, the kids were asked to go to school dressed as a doctor, nurse or patient.   Eloise off course wanted to go as a nurse because apparently they were the only ones that got to wear a 'pretty' outfit.   With only a weekend's notice, we managed to find a white dress and worked out how to make a  a headpiece that resembled a nurse's cap, courtesy of Google!

Eloise and her doctor friend, Lucas

Harvest Graze at Monstlavat

We enjoyed a nice afternoon in the sun at Monstlavat one Sunday afternoon listening to live music over a couple of glasses of wine ... well not the kids who were well entertained with the face painting and various games at the grounds of Monstlavat.

Abbey picnicking with her friends Bella and Eva

...whilst the mums wait for Pseudo Echo to perform

Eloise practising her juggling

Poor Julia though did not feel so great by the end of the day!

 

Abbey at kinder

Only a few more weeks to go before Abbey is allowed to go to kinder.... we are waiting patiently for the day she turns 3.  Until then, she can only go if she is fully chaperoned! 

We spent one Tuesday morning there to get Abbey used to kinder and it looks like she has settled right in. This is not surprising given that she has been going to that kinder in the last two years to drop off and pick up Eloise and she also knows a few of the other kids there such as Bella, Eva and Scarlett.

As you can see from these photos, Abbey had no problems joining in with all the kinder activities.

Snack time

 

Watering the herb garden

Chatting when she is supposed to be lining up

Abbey peeking when she is supposed to have her eyes closed in the Postman game.  

Abbey's new friend

Abbey is starting to add to her little social circle and has been quite taken with Eve .... her "yellow  noodle hair friend" !    They see each other quite a bit at school pick up and drop offs and tend to gravitate to each other. Here they are enjoying a book and baby chino at a local café.