On the 23rd of January we celebrated Lucho turning 3 with a Cars theme party. This was Alara's first kiddie party but she slept through the lot - no worries though, more cake for Lucho!

Jill did a great job with the decorations - Lucho is just Cars mad at the moment.

"Happy birthday to you...."

A little bit of help from Dad to blow out the candles - I'll have some cake with my saliva please!

Cheeky Cherub!

While we were away Sami caught up with some old university friends from Turkey. From left Sami, Hakan and Musti met when Musti came to visit from Melbourne.

The "don't ask, don't tell" policy was enacted in this situation, but it all looks pretty tame going so far don't you think?

Here we are around 8 weeks later and still changing everyday. Gazing contently, smiling, sleeping - we left out the crying shot, don't really need reminding of that side of things!

I had so many people come to meet me, give me cuddles and gifts - thanks so much everybody! Love Alara xxo

Aunty Louie is my special second mummy. I have on my hippie tank the Schefe's gave me to beat this hot weather.

I think a few records were broken when Rabbit came to visit and I landed in his lap.

Cousin Brandon and I had a great weekend together down the beach.

Nana hasn't lost her touch - I guess she wouldn't though after 7 of her own!

Mum sometimes got a hold of me, but mostly we met up for dinner and that was about it! Today I was an angel - my wings were given to me by my Aunty Isobel who may have missed the memo of me being a little devil at times!

Me with everyone's Aunty Ruby.

Tracey popped in for a chat during her rounds.

Aunty Louie again...sometimes my mum had to remind me who exactly my mummy was at times!

I put on my full protection gear for Aunty Cath, I had just eaten and sometimes it's a struggle to keep all that liquid gold in!

Truly Aunty Carolyn, you really are quite interesting, it's just that I.....am.....so.....tired!

Joshie gave me so much love it made me want to cry. I'm learning that love can hurt sometimes!

Here I am hanging out with my cuz Jacqui. When we get big, me and her and Holllie are going to rule this town!

Uncle Stevie Excell gets his own holding post, second to Louie in the possession race.

Ahhhhh! Too cute.

Hip hip - hooray! We love being up at extreme times in the morning! Come on Uncle Stevie, let's go play!

Thrown together again, as you see Alara's been into the fertiliser again!

The Altus side of the family enjoyed an influx of babies in the span of just 6 weeks. First Alara, then Troy and Jenni had Hollie a week later and finally Jacqui arrived to Simon and Helen on January 3. This latest intake brings the grandbaby total to 5. We're all trying hard to meet supply Nana and Pa!

The bloodline continues, myself, Simon and Troy bearers of the Altus future creators of Kingston chaos! (I pinched this pic from Helen's facebook page - thanks!)

Alara with her friend Chin looking a little hot and weary!

Time stops for a sleeping Jacqui.

Hollie madly trying to keep up with Jacqui in the sleep stakes, she's all snuggly with her Grandma.

An afternoon tea was organised to officially mark the 80th birthday of our Pa, Ken Altus. The Mundulla Recreation Centre was hired and filled to the brim with all his family and friends.

Mum excelled herself with Pa's cake. A lot of time and energy was spent creating this master piece - a job well done!

Mum and Aunty Cath, members of the organising committee, working hard at mucking about in the kitchen.

A flock of gorgeous granddaughters all pitching in to set up the show.

The beautiful Carter girls - you do us proud!

A round table of adoring faces, what could they be looking at I wonder...?

...Alara of course! She needed to get her limelight early before the other babies came and stole the show!

Chief Candle Blower Josh helping out Pa with his candles.

It was also the Year of the Great-Grandbabies with 3, yes you heard right, 3 new little ones joining the family fray in the last 6 weeks.

All the grandkiddies and the great ones too. A couple are missing but all in all a good turnout.

Our most weeny Altus, Great-grandie Jacqui came out just in time to celebrate with Pa.

This is the year our Pa turned 80, so January was a time of celebration and family get-togethers. Uncle David and I also share his birthday so we combined festivities with a family BBQ.

Mum turned out another spectacular cake for the occaision.

May the force of the Capricornians be with you!

Our Josh was the appointed candle-blower-outerer. In typical toddler style, he escaped unharmed but minus his eyebrows.

Dad's arch nemesis Fire visited once again, although this time round, not coyly invited by intended acts gone wrong - the semi spontaneously combusted.

Poor Matt is still crying into his tea over this one - he was a million miles away in QLD and could only sigh with dismay upon hearing the news about his beloved truck.

The truck was parked in the shed with a full load of grain and Mum and I were the only ones at home when the excitement began. Luckily Dad was close by and after a frantic exercise of moving the nearby machinery and dragging the truck from out of the shed the neighbours and local CFA arrived and quickly put the fire out.

It could have been a whole lot worse and very thankful that if we had to have a truck self-combust, it couldn't have picked a better time.

A black background and a few amateur photography sessions netted us a nice collection of pics of Alara when she was 10 days old.

I love my Baba!

Our little family of 3.