Our wonderful friends the Foreman's who married here earlier in the year have made the leap across the ocean to come and live here in Oz. La and I drove up to Avoca Beach to visit after they arrived and it just so happened that it coincided with Charlie's birthday...

It was time for a beach party - La is ready to go!
Our present to Charlie was a typical aussie favourite - totem tennis (not sure what it's called?)
Charlie the birthday boy - a big 4.
La eating her fish and chips on the beach. The poms do aussie better than we do!
Nearly everyone - where's Christina?!?
Larissa's wonderful cake - a masterpiece!
The end of the day - around at Sally and Simon's for dinner - thanks for having us everyone, can't wait till we can do it again!

Sami and Morgs made some plans the other day to take the kiddies out somewhere. Not sure where they went or really what they did because still haven't really asked (!) but here's some pictorial evidence of some sort of activity...


...Of course!!! Football is the obvious choice of activity for these guys.

On a fine sunny Sunday we headed halfway into town to spend the afternoon with a group of Turkish Australians that Sami has recently made contact with.

We already knew Hakan and his family so La was right at home playing with his boys Ethan...
...and Adem.
A picture of almost everyone - I don't know where I was at the time - guessing the call to pose got lost in translation (!)
The motivation to get together was in part to do with graduates from Sami's university who like to catch up and on this occasion they were joined by a Turkish American adventurer (centre) who is kayaking around the globe.

It's fun when our friend's come over to play - today Sienna and I played with the blocks and built towers.

We shared really well... (surprise!)
...concentrated really hard...
...and smiled for the camera!

We're still on the weekend that Nat and Julz visited and now it's Sunday and time to celebrate all the dad's in the house and a wee little pressie and a BBQ.

Our rule for the day of the folks is hand-made only - here's La handing over her (my) efforts.
A custom-made box full of a special fruit slice. So special that I don't think it was really very nice to eat - oh well, back to the drawing board!
Sami with his "it's-really-not-too-bad" face on.
Jill, Morgs and Lucho came around for a BBQ lunch in honour of the dad folk.
Lucky for us there was a fireman in the house when the BBQ caught alight - unlucky for us that there was a fireman in the house who actually started it...
Nat and Morg's having a D and M.
Lucho brought over his own special dessert - jelly and icecream.You will be proud to know Ma Ma that even La had some icecream on this day.

Alara and I went to her friend Sienna's 2nd birthday party the other day. It was a lovely sunny day spent with friends enjoying a BBQ and watching the kiddies get their fill of party food and cake. Unfortunately my batteries died halfway thought so I haven't much to show for it.

La perfecting her latest skill - jumping.
Sienna the birthday girl. Happy Birthday to you....thanks for the invite - we had a wonderful time!

Nathan, Julz and Lexie popped in for a flying visit on their way through to Coffs Harbour on their holiday. We spent a wonderful couple of days of catching up with friends and family, eating and laughing way too much!

So far we all still fit on the couch...
Julz' Aunty Ruth and Bill came over for a very funny and entertaining dinner.
This is what it looks like in between takes - Julz wondering where her baby left her brain and Nathan playing cars (!?)
This looks familiar....see "Out and About" July.
Lexie the Charmer and Bill.

Alara has a new activity that has been keeping her busy the last few weeks - kindergym. It's held in an actual gymnasium and we parents get to have as much fun jumping around on the equipment as the kiddies.

Ma Ma and Pa came this week to help out and watch La do her very best to not concentrate very well.
La getting ready for cheer squad.
Lining up with Ma for the next turn.
Even Pa got in there and helped out with the scarf song.
The stage mother herself alongside La doing her somersalt - perfect 10 here we come!

No visit of parents is complete without catching up with Honor and Luke at their place in Manly. We enjoyed a lovely pub meal nearby and went back to theirs for hot chocolates before driving home.

Hon and Ma catching up on all the goss.
Hairy, scary Mr Luke - aka The Slap-the-Table man according to La.
"Me - turn the camera to me!"
Good quality pub fare.
Bubbles and hot choccies at Hon's house.

The moment we have all been waiting for has finally arrived...with the help of Mum and Dad we have finally broken the back of this painting gig and are now on the run home down the hill. Dad proved invaluable on the brush and Mum played Mary Poppins to a tee and kept Alara entertained and paint-free.

The boys hard at work...
...discussing the finer points of what I just told them to do.
Mum documenting Alara's every move while I was busy.
Team-work - again, it all worked really well when everyone was doing what I told them to do (!)
A part of the finished product. Sami has since been hard at work fixing and repainting what needed to be done outside and now the garage also painted and I am currently finishing off the doors and the laundry. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...