Lord Ben

Watch-out!

Lately

The San Francisco Giants! They do it AGAIN! We were here cheering along the entire time.

Sunday fun at Nippers.

Ben - my coffee buddy - crashed out after a day at the beach - "take my picture" in front of the lightening - beach time.

switching hats - Fete fun

Halloween (Ben is thunder and lightening) 

knit, knit, knit

Time for a new passport.

Nine

Jamie and I celebrated nine years of marriage back in September. Jamie was in Singapore on our actual anniversary, but a week later we got away for the night. We headed down the South Coast (a first for both of us) to Jervis Bay. We stayed at Paperbark Camp, a rustic.... sort of glamorous camping type of experience. Let's just say for what we paid, I thought we would have electricity. It was very charming, don't get me wrong, they brought as hot water canteens to make tea and hot water bottles to cozy up with at night and the bedding was great. And the best part, no kids allowed. Jamie actually said at one point, I think it's too quiet.

We drove down first thing in the morning (about a three hour drive). We made it to Jervis Bay and had lunch at a place over looking the bay. The bay is massive, none of of my pictures really capture how big it is and the water is crystal clear. Jervis Bay is popular for it's long white sand beaches.

We checked into our tent.

We explored the grounds a bit.

Very Australian here with the gums, roos and sheep.

We had a great degustation dinner at the camp.

We didn't have any plans the next day, so over brekky we decided to go whale watching. One of the largest whale migrations happens along the east coast at this time, so if we wanted to see some whales live, now was the time.  So I knew there was the possibility of getting sea sick, but the last time that happened was nine years ago...um when we got married (two days before the wedding). But I wanted to do this.

Everything starts out fine, we're primarily in the bay saying hi to sea lions.

Checking out the coast.

Saying hi to more sea lions.

And then BAM! We see a baby whale (in the open sea, not the bay) and this happens really quickly and we don't get a picture, because as the baby starts showing off and the mama whales almost pulls it under and tells it to stop showing off. So at this point the boat kills it's engines and we are just sitting there and probably not more than a minute goes by and I lose it. I'm sea sick. Thankfully, everyone is so into looking at the whales that they really don't notice me (the only person getting sick). Jamie has the camera and the mama whale makes a few appearances. The pictures don't really do it justice. They truly are majestic creatures.

And so my whale watching days are numbered. I'l have to be happy with what I can see from off the coast.

Solid ground. The best.

There you go. Something we'll always remember.
Cheers to nine years.
Love you too much, Jamie
xx

Nana Visits

Nana came for a visit at the end of September during Annmarie's school holidays. We all loved having her here, but the kids couldn't get enough of her.

We:
Had lots of trips to the beach
A trip to the Koala Park
Went and saw The Planes movie
Some fun dinners out
The excitement of SF Giants was beginning
I had some time to myself (Yay for the best babysitter)
Jamie and I got away for a night (Yay again)
Time at home
And more.

As soon as she arrived it was game on.  They never really left her alone. There were many early wake up calls.

We had a sun filled day at the basin.

Nana thought this spider may have been fake. It wasn't. Good morning huntsman.

Annmarie and I had some time together just the two of us, a couple of times. Here we are walking back from the village.

Jamie and I had lunch at the new brewery in town.

Here are the Koala Park pictures. I stayed back and enjoyed some time alone in my own house, a rare occurrence.

Dinner out.

Lucky Nana.

Pony rides at the Farmer's Market

Nipper season has started and Nana was here for the first one.

It was a great two plus weeks and lucky for us we'll be back visiting in CA soon. It made the goodbyes a bit easier.

xx