After our weekend at the beach we returned straight to Matt's to celebrate his birthday. I won't mention exactly how old he is as that would give some indication of how old I am...

A very happy Jack with his dad.
The Kiddie Pack of the night roaming the farm and getting into all sorts of mischief...
Alara tried her very best to keep up but they were just too fast! At least she beat them at the dirty stakes...
Pa with Toby...
...and Toby with Pa!
It was a hot evening so the pool was a much sought after location.
It would have been a nice picture except Nat looks a bit of a dope - can't photoshop that mate!
Josh is being taught the candle blowing basics from the apparent masters.

The weekend we spent down the beach was just idyllic. It made me remember why it is we love the place so much!

Julz and Lexie...
...La La and I going for a spin in the boat.
Our chief babysitters - Nic with Lexie and Ash with La La playing on the beach.
A very windswept Helen and Jacqui.
Aunty Merry and Kerri showing Lexie the fine art of sandcastle building - or is it the art of hole digging?!

Simon and Helen put on a lovely show for Jacqui's 1st birthday down the beach. A beautiful day with lots of family and friends!

Something's funny I'm guessing...
Aunty Cath holding a very new Toby and sharing the moment with Pa and Mum...
...and the rest of the town!
Helen did a marvelous job with the cow cake - Happy Birthday Jacqui!

Not one to high-jack Christmas proceedings - Toby Lucas arrived a convenient few days later on the 29th of December. We are so very proud to welcome him into our wonderful family and can't wait to watch him grow up - well done Steve and Louie!


My first hold - and no, I didn't just have him myself even though it kind of looks like it - boy I look exhausted! It's hard work watching someone else do it all!
The celebratory lunch on Toby's second day. Not that he or Louie were there - sigh, one of the drawbacks of giving birth the previous day.
...and Toby makes 3.

On Boxing Day all the Altus side of the family got together at Aunty Merry's place. For the crew photo check either Laura or Mum's blog. Another hot day and Jacqui was wise enough to bring her pool so it keep all the kiddies entertained.

Matt and Nat committed a fashion faux pas by turning up in the same outfits - Nat looked pretty bummed - Matt's secretly impressed that he at least has some fashion sense at all - bless!
Lexie's plastered...in sunscreen.
Oh oh! Floater in the pool - everyone bail!
I think a few of us could relate to this little scene.
The Triplets chillin' in the shade - feasting from whatever was on the ground. Seriously.

Christmas Day was warm and sunny and with everyone home this year we all had a ball!

Isobel kicked off the day winning the Best Christmas Outfit Award...
...easy to do when you make a stellar T-shirt choice and Darryl is the judge...
The man himself with his own little main man Jack.
Sami and Alara enjoying the fruits of summer.
We tried to make Great Pa stick, but Old Pa has won out. Here he is with Jack watching the present opening proceedings.
Really quite exhausting stuff - for everyone it seems!
Lexie and Louie keeping Miss Patty-O-Green company for the afternoon.
The tradition of poorly played sports continued this year with soccer being the pick - our team won by a goal with my efforts as goal keeper rewarded with one to the face. But my sporting prowess was topped by Uncle Darryl's tactical genius - doggy style defense! You really should have been there...
As of the 25th - the Grands and Grandies.
The Christmas Day Crew.