Remembering Old Nana

On Thur 30th Oct we decided to do something a little different. We took Old Pa to Naracoorte to have lunch with Aunty Cathy & Ash. On the way we visited the cemetery to put some roses on Old Nana's grave and to check out all the other relatives. It was a bit of a history lesson for Will. He was facinated by all the different names. Uncle Bing came with us and we were able to help him celebrate his birthday which was on Wed.

 Old Pa, Lucy and Will  tucking into their lunch

We had a  lovely meal and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine in their outdoor area.

The Old Farm at Miga Lake

A couple of weekends ago we did a field trip with Aunty Ruby & Family to visit the old Heinrich Farm at Miga Lake (Vic).  Grandpa, Nana Heinrich, Uncle Wally & Aunty Jean ran a Dairy on the farm. It was a good day with lots of laughs and with the grand kids remembering many happy family times and gatherings as they walked around the yard and in the old house. Thanks to Aunty Ruby and her family for a wonderful & fun filled day.

 Back of the house

 The old shed. The Pine trees don't look quite so big now!

 Front of the house minus its veranda

 Aunty Ruby with an old Weekly Times (1954) they found under the lino

 Lounge room

 Joel, Merilyn, Tracey, Jayda, Ross, Charlie, Pa

Pa,Charlie & Kym reading the papers in a bedroom

 The Kitchen

 Kym, Wendy, Denise, Pa, Aunty Ruby, Merilyn, Ross

 Merilyn, Wendy, Ross, Kym, Denise,Aunty Ruby

 Mama, Pa & Aunty Ruby

 Aunty Ruby and her newest Great grandie Jayda

4 generations Joel, Merilyn, Aunty Ruby & Jayda

New Zealand

After months of planning we set off on our wonderful adventure. New Zealand here we come. We had 3 weeks of fantastic scenery, visiting lots of wonderful places and best of all having fun. We arrived in Auckland on the Tues evening and picked up our camper the next morning. Then we set off on our adventure.

 This was our little home for the next 3 weeks. Very comfy and some luxury. 

(different from our usual camping experiences!)

 Ma ma & Pa at Cape Reinga 

(northern point on the North Island)

 Pa surfing the big sand dune

 On Pa's birthday we went on the Gondola in Rotorua and 

we were able to have 7 Luge rides each. 

That took us back to our childhood days of go carts & billy carts

 At the Tamaki Maori Village Pa learnt how to do the Huka

 The Wai-O-Tapu Geiser

 The beautiful Huka Falls

 The Wellington Cable Car

 We rode the Trans Alpine Train from Christchurch to Greymouth. 

We stopped at Arthur's Pass

 Pa was in Heaven when we found and did a tour of the Chocolate Factory in Dunedin.

 We boarded the MV Sinbad to cruise Milford Sound

 It was raining while we cruised the Sound so we saw many beautiful waterfalls 

 At Queenstown we sailed across the lake to Walter Peak Station on the TSS Earnslaw Steamship

 Some Highland Cattle at the Farm

 Some Big Things (Fruit)

 Ma ma and Pa up in the snow

 In front of the Franz Josef Glacier

 Coast line near Greymouth

 

A Blow hole at Pancake Rocks

 Ma ma all rugged up to experience a snow storm at the International Antarctic Centre

40 Years Ago

40 years ago I married my best friend and the love of my life. We have been blessed over these years with a wonderful family and have made so many wonderful friends along the way.  As always there have been the good and sad times but there is nothing that we would change. To Matt, Kara, Relle, Sami, Nathan, Julz, Laura and Steve thank you for the wonderful love and support that you all have given us and especially for the beautiful grandies.  We love you heaps!

 1st June 1974

 Ma ma, Pa and the grandies

Our ever growing family

Thank you for the wonderful celebration day you put on for us. We had some much fun, lots of laughter and good food. We are so very proud of you all.

Birthday Time

Come towards the end of May and we have a special little lad's birthday. Beau turned 2 on the 28th May and we went across to help him celebrate with a few of his little cousins.

 Singing Happy Birthday

 It's my birthday so I'm first!

A week later on 4th June it was Will's birthday. He is now 4 years old. We had another little gathering after school to help Will celebrate his birthday.

 Showing Ma ma how fast he can go on his new bike.

 Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Will...................

 Miss Lucy watching on

On the long weekend we ventured down to Naracoorte to help Aunty Verna Altus celebrate her 90th Birthday. We had a lovely catch up with the Altus Family. Plenty of laughs, fun and food.

 Aunty Verna with some of her family

While they were taking photos we thought we should take one of the other Altus Crew (minus a few)

Some one is 50!!

Aunty Cathy had a birthday on the 17th May so Ma ma picked up Old Pa and arranged with Laura, Beau, Davy, Kara, Will and Lucy to take her out for lunch. We were lucky to have Kristen join us as well. We had a lovely lunch at the Hotel and then went back to Aunty Cath's to have her birthday cake. We hope you had a wonderful birthday weekend celebrating your 50th Birthday.  Happy Birthday Cathy!

 Singing Happy Birthday

  the big blow

Aunty Cathy had one of these cakes for her 5th birthday so Ma ma thought it fitting to make her another one for her 50th!

Easter Happenings

 Over the Easter weekend we had a wonderful camp out. While we were having hot cross buns at Laura & Steve's on Good Friday it was decided that we would have a camp out on the cricket pitch at the back of Ma ma & Pa's. It was a great idea close to the house for those who did not wish to sleep in the tents and to all other facilities. The grandies had a wonderful time cooking marshmallows on sticks, riding their bikes going out in the foxing bomb on Sat evening after visiting the Naracoorte caves and celebrating some special events. Congratulations to Julz & Nathan on their 11th Wedding Anniversary.  Happy Birthday to Kara.

Thanks everyone for a great weekend.

 Camping fun

 Master Davy enjoyed the camping delights but found inside the house a better option at night time

 A bed time cuddle for Beau & Davy

 Pa and the grandies trying their hand a yabbying

 Easter Day it was time for the Easter Egg hunt........a great way to get the kids to move fast

 Lexie hurt her leg on Easter morning so her dad did the honours of helping her find the eggs

 Finding more eggs out on the camp site & among the trees

 Aunty Kara trying to blow her candles out with lots of help from the kids. A cake with lots of chocolate, eggs, smarties & freckles. Well done Matt & kids!!

 Family photo

 Old Pa came out on Easter Sunday to help celebrate and to catch up with his great grandies. 

A special time spent with Davy

 Julz, Mitchell and Lexie on Pa's pride and joy

Well done Lexie, you are a very brave young lady, after having an X-ray it revealed she had broken her leg.

3 generations  Mitchell, Nathan & Pa