Merry Christmas!!!

Well we said Amira has started walking, now here's 8 seconds of proof... It's a shame there is no sound as she and Zac were both cracking up with laughter!

More exciting news... welcome to our "block at the beach", Wedge Island!



Almost 100nm due west of Adelaide, Wedge Island is in the Spencer Gulf. It consists of 114 residential blocks in 3 clusters, a runway, and a large area of National Parkland. It's named because the cross section resembles a wedge, with the northern protected side at sea level and the southern exposed cliffs about 700ft high.

This is the beach! Great for kids as it is so protected with the island to the south, and a reef arcing around to the north. There are no snakes or poisenous spiders around either.



Our block is 1500sqm somewhere in the middle of this photo.



The view from our block... There is a pod of dolphins who are in residence most of the year.



The cliffs as seen from the air.



The southern side of the island.



Apparently it is one of the best fishing locations wordwide, and we are told, this is The Spot to fish from!



Now, off to Google "how to fish"....

Amira's 1st birthday party was, like the party girl herself, not without drama.

The original plan was to hold a BBQ at Waterworld which is a pool 5 mins away that has an awesome kid's area with fountains and a little slide etc.

Things were looking good until the weather forecast was announced - Friday was going to be 33deg and sunny, and Saturday was going to be 23deg and raining....!!!!!

Gunny & I quickly switched to plan B, and then had to work out what plan B was.

Here we are, up late the night before, making Amira's birthday cake.

The finished product! A bit simpler than the picture but hey, it was all going to be eaten by mostly 3 year olds.



Gunny arranged a jumping castle! Zac loved it of course. Amira was beside herself with excitement!



Amira sees the cake for the first time... and works out where her Duplo horses mysteriously disappeared to!



Zac was in charge of issuing lolly bags and he did a great job. I think everyone enjoyed themselves on the day and it was definitely worth all the time, money and effort!

Happy Birthday Amira!!! Our baby girl turned 1 today.



More birthday pics to come. But first, the Christmas party we held for the kids on Saturday night - bowling followed by BBQ & drinks at our house. Who wants presents? "MEEEEEEEE......!" Meg looks like a little angel amongst the boys.



Then on Sunday was the Toy Run. As we weren't actually Running this year, we dressed Peter's bike with Toys instead.



Angel narrowly excaped being mistaken for a soft fluffy toy and being strapped to the exhaust.



And cousin Leia is growing up very quickly too!



Finally the big day arrived. I don't know who was more excited actually, Zac or Amira! The kids had warmed up the day before with Tayla's 5th birthday (she got Vegemite toast for brekky and was allowed on the couch that night!).



Here's the birthday girl with some of her pressies!



By the way, the PJs say, "Dear Santa, I can explain..."

Zac took a photo of Amira playing her new Glockenspiel. Thanks Nana and Michael... no batteries... but it is SOOOO LOUD!!!! And the whacking sticks... great for keeping brothers away while you're playing!

After brekky, presents, and the weekly swimming lesson with Dorothy, a surprise arrived at the door...



Thanks Mud and Ellen! :)



Lastly there were mini carrot cakes for dessert so that we could sing Happy Birthday one last time. I can't believe it's been a year!

Last week my sister Jacqui flew in from Canberra to stay with us!

Amira didn't take long to wrap Jac around her little finger and start bossing her around. She points at what she wants/where she wants to go. Quite cute as it reminds me of Nonie...!



The cute hair elastics are from Nana who wasn't here when we had the Great Hairclip Scare earlier this year (when I thought she had eaten one)... Jac will remember it!



Jac gave Amira her birthday present early. Breaking with tradition, Amira was more excited about the Winnie-the-Pooh card than the present or even the wrapping paper!



It turned out to be a cute little elephant from Jac's trip to Nepal.



While we had an extra set of adult hands, we tried to do a Santa photo shoot for our yearly Christmas cards.

Apparently this is very tiring!



Now that both Gunny and I are riding, there is gear everywhere. Zac can't wait to get his own helmet! He is very excited about it even though I have told him it will be years (maybe decades at the rate he grows).



He is even dressing up his doll to go riding!!! I don't even know whether this is girly or not. Still kind of cute!



Zac relaxes in his above ground pool in a tropical setting. Well, close enough.