January Catch Up!... yeah yeah, It's April already!

Oh me oh my!  How the year is flying by!

Let's start at the beginning as it's a very good place to start...  January was a month filled with awesome holiday memories and a brief glimpse of what can be the infamous Ozzie Summer!

... yup, that's right!  Mama A's prayers have come true and summer has been cooler, but sadly wetter than most!  And now that it's been so wet.... we reckon we'll be asking Mother Nature for a 'normal' Sydney summer in future!  It may get hot but at least everyone can live outside and THAT, my friends, is worth one hundred thousand wet days!

Anyway, on to some pictures!  We had a fantastic time driving up to the Gold Coast and going to a couple of the parks up there, namely SeaWorld and Wet'n'Wild - the weather was fantastic and barr burning our bare feet on tarmac!, we all came home looking really healthy and feeling relaxed :)

January also saw Miss M's birthday - she took a few friends to the movies and then on her 'real' birthday, she wanted to take us to the Maritime Museum in the city!... oh, and of course, meet with her favourite little ozzie man, Archie!

Happy Happy New Year!

Another STONKING New Year courtesy of our gorgeous buddies Gillian, Simon and Archie!

We stayed for the Midnight fireworks (as opposed to just the Family 9am show) and they BLEW OUR MINDS! 20 minutes of fire-cracking glory!  Just brilliant!

Here's the calm-before-the-storm view from Gillian's place...

And here's the calm-after-the-storm view of our beautiful Megan on Gillian's rug at about 12:25am, Jan 1 2012!...

Have an awesome 2012!

What a Christmas!

Hi everyone and Happy New Year!
Us lucky lucky Anscombes had the most amazing Christmas lead up celebrating the wonderful nuptials of Matt & Mel and then celebrated an awesome festive weekend with many special friends xx

Sharing Matt & Mel's wedding in Sydney was incredible.  Whilst bitter-sweet that Matt's eldest brother Chris was not able to make it from the US due to serious illness, we treasured every second that we were able to share with the Rawbone clan and I think Chris & Michelle's spirit was in me (Mama A) as I captured some magic moments of the day...

A wonderful and amazing day - more photos are on Mama A's facebook page.

Then came Christmas Day and we were thrilled to host Noel & Heather, Greg & Alison with Jacob and Taylor, Dawn and Malcolm, and Lara & Jespa with little James!  Captain A really had his cooking pants on and did us proud with full Roast Chicken Dinner (... with yorkshire puds, of course!).  Noel swam more than he thinks he's ever swum in his life!... and boy, did the children all appreciate his endless and joyous enthusiasm! xx

(above) Mr Rawbone and his googly glasses straw!

(below) Megan & Pippa's awesome Gingerbread House! 

Pippa, conspicuous by her absence, was swimming... all day!

"Touch"

"Pause..."

"ENGAGE!"

Happy happy happy days!

Merry Christmas!

We're rolling rapidly to the end of another speedy year and what better way to celebrate the Winter season?  A picture of the girls at the beach!!

We're definitely acclimatising to Aussie summers... because this one has been quite rubbish so far and we feeling the 'cold' - earlier this week Mama A was wearing her Uggies... and it was a chilly 19 degrees! ha ha ha!  definitely acclimatised!

As 2011 comes to an end, we look back to the highlights of the year...

Miss Pippa started school and her wings have really spread as she confidently manages her way through Big School - Pippa was presented a school medal in term 3 for being a good classmate and working well in all areas; a proud moment indeed!
Pips continues to do gymnastics with real enthusiasm - her goals for 2012?  To be able to do the splits and to climb the high rope!

Miss Megan entered her first cross country event in school... and came first in the girls race!  Her face might have suggested she'd won an olympic gold... priceless!
Megan continues to horse ride and is perfecting her cantering technique beautifully!
Next year, Megan joins the school band playing flute and goes on Band Camp with all her friends early in the new year.  All very exciting for our nearly-8 yr old.

Captain A's job grows onwards and upwards... and indeed outwards as Paul takes on extra roles within his region.  To date, summer has been a little shabby so the boat hasn't been out as much as he would have hoped by this time of year but hopefully the weather will be kind over the Christmas / Summer break and more water hours can be clocked up! Paul does finally have his dream 4x4 car so no more embarrassing off-ramp moments in a front wheel drive car... oh, we haven't told you about that?  We can save that little gem for 2012! (See Day 2... for initial boating hilarity!)

Mama A continues with being a volunteering Vera and enjoys being there at all kids' events and taking up opportunities to help within the school & community.

We all had a fantastic trip to the UK in the middle of this year with great weather and wonderful company. We did lots of great day trips particularly to National Trust sites and supped up the history and age of all-things-UK!

So, in a nutshell, that's us!  We sincerely hope this finds you well and happy.  We wish you a wonderful Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Halloween & Mr Stick

The family A went out for Halloween with our American neighbours - we went to the local RSL and the kids were entertained with Magicians, face painting, lots of laughs and too too too much ice cream!

The only trick-or-treater we had on our front door step, was Mr Stick - a very convincing costume!

Gymkhana

Miss M entered her second Gymkhana last weekend and did really really well!

Riding Sid, a huge but gentle bear of a thing, she showed great control and looked wonderful!

 1/2 way through the girls got to change horses and Megan had her favourite, Lee.

Rusty The Dog

Miss P was lucky enough to take Rusty the Dog, the class pet for the weekend again last week.

He.  Was.  So.  Busy!

Check out his adventures...

Riding Sparkle the Pony.

Meeting Stewart the Blue Tongue Lizard.  We also have Lorna the Blue Tongue Lizard who is smaller, lighter markings and lives the other side of the garden.  Nick appears to be missing!

Having a little dude-time in the pool.

Jumping into the Netball hoop

Having cuddles with the sisters..

8 minute camping with the gals!  Yup... 8 minutes... all it took for the girls to be completely freaked out by cicada song, birds and bats and for them to run back inside for a proper sleep!

The girls had some fun too!

First tooooooth!

YAY!  Pippa has lost her first tooth!  She poked it out when it started annoying her!!  poppet xxxx

Hip Hip Hooray!

*swoon*

Our amazing Miss P was presented with the school medal last term x

We are SO proud of you, Pippa - Mrs W chose you because you are so kind and love learning; and we know both to be true!

Just like your sister, you've received the medal in your first year at school which only leaves you soaring for the skies as you get older.

We love you Miss Pips.
xxxx

Above with Miss Helmore (left) and the utterly-divine Mrs Wagner (right).