School Holidays in Mandurah

We flew to Perth a day before school finished and we were picked up at the airport by Papa Snow. Grammie and Papa had arrived from Melbourne the day before and the kids were so excited to see them! They hadn't seen Papa since Christmas the year before. We all stayed at the Mandurah house together and the children had plenty of quality time with Grammie and Papa. 

Lots of swimming with cousins in the pool at the new Mandurah house

Snow kids picking on Papa Snow!

Monique stayed in Mandurah here and there with Ava and when Jarom wasn't working he stayed with us too. It was lovely to see them! This cutie pie!!

Lisa and Mark came from the US with the kids because they had to update their Visa's...it worked out perfectly that we were there at the same time. Sienna and Madison are such great friends - all the cousins got along great! It's sad we don't all live closer together. 

Meurs cousins - minus Ava and Lucy

Lisa enjoying fish and chips...one of the many foods she misses in the US.

Charlie taking a nap in the sun

Clinton arrived a day or two early and we were all so excited to see him! He was able to come to my obstetrics appointment and meet Doctor Neppe for the first time. Clinton's parents also babysat for us for two days so we could go away together (much needed before bub number four arrives in January!). We stayed one night at Crown Casino and one night in the city. We ate out at nice restaurants, went shopping, got massages, went to the movies and most importantly we slept in! We had such a great time and were so grateful to Grammie and Papa for babysitting. Trent and Darnae and the boys were also staying in Mandurah that week and we appreciated them helping to look after our kids too. 

Charlie and Harry

Me trying to get an artistic shot in the kangaroo paw...didn't really work! 

Clinton and I took the kids to San Churros one morning in Mandurah...they loved it!

My parents arrived from traveling in the US and Europe (for Dad's work) later in the first week of holidays. We enjoyed some great time together too...more photos to come! 

Harrison's 9th Birthday

I knew we'd be in Perth for Harrison's birthday this year and that Clinton would still be working shut down and wouldn't be with us in Perth until after it. So we gave Harry most of his presents the day before we left and had a little ice-cream cake so that Daddy could be part of the celebrations. 

Clinton bought Harry a rock tumbler to polish all the rocks he's been finding in the Pilbara (ignore the make your own jewellery on the box...he won't be using it for that!)

Meccano! We also got him a Lego set that was still coming in the post.

Harrison's birthday in Mandurah - he was spoilt with presents from Grammie and Papa and Aunties and Uncles. Grandma and Papa were still in America but spoilt Harrison too when they arrived a few days later. Group shot on his birthday!

I'll add these two photos as they were taken at the same time! Alissa had a sore mozzie bite on her face that she kept picking so that's why there's a bandaid on her cheek. 

Harry with Grammie and Papa

I really am so proud of Harrison, he's such a sweet natured little boy who tries so hard to do the right thing. Nine years has gone so fast and I couldn't imagine life without him!

Birthday wrestles with Uncle Jazz

Stacks on Uncle Jazz

We went to Hogs Breath for dinner with Grammie and Papa, Uncle Trent, Renz and Nathan and Uncle Jazz and Aunty Mon. Harry requested my lemon cake for his birthday cake so we came home and all had a piece. Then as a special treat Harrison watched Harry Potter (number four) once the girls were in bed. 

Father's Day

Clinton started night shift for four weeks the night before father's day as work was having a shut down (shut down is where machines are turned off for routine maintenance done on the gas plant). Clinton has never worked a shut down before and hasn't done night shift at the gas plant either...it was a bit of an eye opener for our family! It was hard work for Clinton trying to sleep during the day and hard for me trying to keep the kids quiet! We decided to have father's day the day before because we knew Clinton would be starting night shift that night and would be tired on the real father's day. 

I didn't take many pictures but here are a couple of the kids wrapping presents for daddy. 

Harry has been doing Japanese with the LOTE teacher and he made this sign - it says 'Number One Dad' and his name down the side. 

The girls excited to take their presents to Daddy

Ok...too many photos Mum!

We made Daddy pancakes and eggs benedict with homemade hollandaise for breakfast in bed...so yum!