Lucho and Jill came over for dinner before Mum and Dad heading home and of course we were treated to some entertainment of the Lucho and Lexie kind...

For our first act - The Gymnastic Dynamo Lucho!
Next, the interpretative works of Nathan titled "Catching Fish"
A bit of a shamozzle to get all in place, but there was a certain someone who had this posing for pictures bit down pat...

No trip to Sydney would be complete without a visit to Taronga Zoo. There are usually a few who haven't been before and this time it was Mum and Dad - so off we went!

In front of the new elephant enclosure.
One of the best views in Sydney.
Lexie with some kind of animal ears that I can't remember what it was - so much for the education part of visiting a zoo...
All lined up ready to watch the seal show...
...while the little girls get in a quick, restorative nap (yay!)
Up and at 'em again - this is La La's cheesy smile.
"Bunnies are tops!"
Enjoying a moment with Pa.

Cousins Alara and Lexie.

Their friendship has weathered the turbulence of toddlerhood and the sticky fingers of crawlers...

Nothing that a giggle with Dad wouldn't fix...
Or a play with Ma Ma in the great outdoors...
But at the end of the day, it's all about the play...
We really do love each other...really we do!

No trip would be complete without our annual mini golf tournament. We found a new venue, indoors and fantastically outfitted with a tropical rainforest, pirate ship, haunted house, aliens and more. The par was pretty easy but at least that gave Julz a fighting chance...

This year, in Sami's absence, Lexie stepped in and maintained his average...
Alara was the one who decided which ball you could use.
Having a spell by the beach.
Julz started off the round in front - she went first!
Mum had a few obstacles to get around, mostly in the form of Lexie. Alara piked it early on and had a well earned sleep (we certainly earned it!)
Yummy Mummies.
Dad concentrating really hard and looking the part as well. He came a close second, being pipped at the post by Mum in the tiebreak - unfortunately his lucky white ball could not take him all the way.
The Golf Crew - a good way to spend an afternoon.

The arrival of Nathan, Julz and Lexie a day later meant that we could start our celebrations of the birthday kind. As both Lexie and Alara turn 2 and 1 respectively next month, we thought it appropriate to mark the occasion with a little, makeshift party.

The girls are psyched and ready to start! Note the table and chairs - these were their presents that their Pa made for both of them - much like the one he made me all those years ago. Ahhh...
Lexie has 1 boyfriend! We really tried hard to blow out those candles.
Alara is studying hard Lexie's blowing out the candle action for next year. Didn't quite get the jist of it this year...
Beautiful Birthday Girl.
The preliminary presents. Watch out La La - Ma Ma is looking to run off with your ball!
The far away grandies.
The group shot of this years trip - two years in a row now - yay!

Ma Ma and Pa arrived last Saturday, just in time for a playdate with Lucho.

Lucho's a fan of all things musical so we drag out our tuneful chops when he's here and do the Osmonds.
Alara loves to dance and anything that remotely sounds like a beat sets her off.
The key musos.
La La and her Pa.

Alara loves to swim, but she tends to keep her eyes open most of the time (or perhaps her mother tends to put her under most of the time) so we thought we should try some goggles...

First run in the bath...
Funny girl!
She actually keeps them on, we went swimming a few days later and the goggles stayed on and she swam like a fish.

We have had to get savvy when it comes to baby crowd control so Sami utilised that space between his ears to come up with a solution...

The Upstairs Gate - it posed quite a dilemma (of course it would have been easily solved if we were inclined to spend money!)...
...but he made it work with the few available resources (an ill-fitting gate kindly donated for the cause) and a few "research" trips to Bunnings. I swear they must sell beer at that place...
Of course, nothing could be done without prior approval from the Gatekeeper.
She worked her apprentice hard and expected nothing but perfection...
...of course with a few careful suggestions along the way!

There appears to be a wild animal loose in the house...

Rooms are in disarray...
...with a trail of debris leading us to the culprit...

Ah ha! Sightings are rare of this skittish mess-maker...
...the ever elusive La La - the Destroyer!