We helped Julz's Aunty Ruth celebrate her birthday recently with a little morning tea at the park.

Cheese! Always happy to see Aunty Ruth!
Aunty Ruth had some help blowing out her candles from her very special little neices who live nearby, Shamiya and Tamika. (Julz I may have got the girls names wrong - you'll have to correct me!)
Shamiya and La pretending to blow out the candles (it was too windy and they didn't even have a chance of being lit!)

This Mother's Day was no exception in the DIY stakes. Sami and La seconded themselves away in the study with a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door to come up with this...

...a lovely hand made card direct from the US apparently. After this many years in the country you would think he would know how to spell "mum"!
La has taken on another pose for taking pictures which involves a rubber-necked nice smile.


We didn't encourage this honest!!!
Off to the fish markets for lunch - fantastic day for it and the seafood never disappoints.
Sami, Ethan and Hakan tucking in.
Ecmel and his Dad, Serdar in animated conversation. Thanks for the wonderful day - always fantastic company.

All this time I had driven past the local ice skating rink and never thought to enter until Jill suggested it when her sister Dean and their niece Sarah were down for a visit.

La gave it a good go with her weeny, little ice skates that were still too big...
...but she ended up spending most of her time running around off the rink or running around on the rink with her regular shoes.
Mind, we worked out a good way to keep her occupied - on the front of Never-Let-Me-Fall Penguin! Thanks Sarah!
Lucho has had more practice than us but he still loved the penguin.
Dean transformed into quite the ice skater - she'd better take care of those kneecaps!

Sarah and I providing some mutual support.
Sarah started off skirting the edges holding on for dear life and by the end of the session was skating around like a pro!
Action shot of a skating train. Great afternoon everyone - I had loads of fun and surprised myself by letting go of the side and staying upright. Any volunteers for the next time?

Odds and ends of the crew just mucking about...

Headstands...
Posers...
Zoolander?!?

Sami picked up where Dad left off and finished painting the cubby house as the weather permitted. Thanks again Pa!

La Chateau La

Linda is due to have her second little one at the end of the month - seems it's a baby boom in my world - well done girls! We threw a little baby shower for her a little while ago and here are the pics from that morning.

Bit back to front - here's cutting the cake - Linda with her Sienna and of course La is always within 2 feet of a cake.
The fabulous cake made by Kim's friend who has a lot of time and patience. She did such a great job. I think that the teddy shape is made from an actual tin - I learned something new that day (stop the smug chuckling all you cake makers!)
Everyone under 3 was confused about the occasion though - a cake but no candles or singing? They couldn't quite work it out...
Texas posing in front of Sienna's cubby house - this is for all the builders out there. Sienna's dad resurrected this from the dead when they bought their house - he did a great job!
Sienna has a talking, walking Elmo toy that La couldn't get enough of. Was very impressed that it could do all these marvelous things - much like a teddy bear cake tin really....
Cheese!
Linda hasn't found out the sex of baby no 2 so we all contributed to a wishing well this time round.
The very, well worn and used jumping castle that is always a highlight when visiting Sienna.
Jimayne's Billy with Alara - taking it all in.
Sienna deciding if she has room for another one...
La at her favourite place - near the food!
Mum's sausage rolls are always a must at these occasions.
Cutting the cake (again!). Can't wait for baby's arrival Linda - good luck!

Mum has already posted a few photos of their week here in Sydney, I'll just add a few more to mark the occasion. I had a good and productive week away and so it seems did everyone back here...

From humble beginnings the cubby house rose up from the ground...
...with lots of imput from everyone around.
It seemed from the start La believed the window to be a legitimate exit...
...and not even it's height or our rousing is a deterrent.
Lucho came round most days to help and vie for squatters rights.
La eating her scone during her trip on the paddle boat.
Apparently La was a great source of heart attacks to the elderly on board worried if she'll topple into the drink. If you've been around La lately you'd say they have just cause...

La loved her time spent with her Pa.
The inspection upon my return with a few last minute instructions.
Lunch down at the stadium to show Old Pa around.
Moving La's house into it's spot. Carpet's been laid and now just finishing up the painting and it'll be ready to live in. Have you got your bags packed Sami? Kiddding - wait till there's some furniture first...