Monday

I love rugging up on a Winters day and heading out to the bush for a bonfire and a play.

Yesterday was especially cold, as we were under some snow covered mountains and the wind was very chilling. With beanies, gloves, jackets and boots, the children didn't seem to mind and were happy to warm their little hands by the fire, keep busy on the motorbikes and doing some more work on their bush cubby.

After we lit the huge bonfire, we got a smaller fire pot going ready to cook some lunch on, we cooked some sausages and kebabs and in the morning Poppy asked if we could bring some marshmallows to cook, so the children had a great time cooking (Ok mostly burning) those also.

The children have been working on their bush cubby for about a year now, adding little touches every time we come out for the day. They loved showing their friends and Alexis and Poppy had put Pop to work, gathering more wood to make it even bigger. We were all amazed at how it had stayed in place after all the crazy winds and storms we have had since she started making it.

We love finding different things laying about on that farm, Alexis was very interested in this old animal bone and Rory loved looking at all the mushrooms that had popped up over the last few days.

Rory also was dying to try out the new four wheeler Pop had bought for the children to ride, so even though he still had his arm in plaster, he gave it gave it a go, as it wasn't the hand he needed for the throttle, he also promised me he would go nice and steady (which of course went out the window with in a few seconds of riding.)

It was the perfect way to spend the extra day off, getting some fresh air and exercise with family and friends.

xx

Easter

With Easter falling a little earlier this year, we figured we could squeeze in another camping trip before the weather gets too cold. It was a great excuse to get some more use out of the motor bikes and spend the holiday with great friends.

We chose some where different from our usual spot, which can be hard to do, as there is usually six or more families and it can be hard to find a great spot that we all fit in and is suitable for the bikes, 4x4's and buggy.

Griffin Park, which is about a 10 minute drive from the tiny town of Mathinna, has many large camping spots by the beautiful river, which in the Summer is perfect for a swim.

The boys had planned a motorbike ride through some logging tracks to another small town called Pyengana which would take them about 4 hours and the girls and children took the 4x4's and navigated our way (not an easy task) to Pyengana in about an hour. The little town is famous for it's beautiful cheese factory and little "Pub in the Paddock" where we all met up for lunch.

It is a pretty popular ride and the place was full of dirt bike groups who had all made the trip for the day.

The pub is also famous for it's pig "Priscilla" who loves a beer specially brewed for her.

On Easter morning it was so special to have all 11 children wake up to a magical Easter wonderland, The Easter bunny had made the biggest hunt and it was lovely to see the bigger children help the little ones collect their eggs and show them what it was all about.

I remember coming to Griffin park when I was Poppy's age and riding motorbikes and hunting for easter eggs, so it was so special to now be sharing these memories with my own family and making new memories that will last a life time.

 The mornings were so cold, and one morning there was even a frost, but with a large camp fire, a few layers of clothes and a warm camp coco we were thawed out in no time and it wasn't long before the sun came up and dried everything out.

It was another great few days away, and even though I'm still washing bedding and packing away, I'm looking forward to more camping adventures at the end of the year when the weather warms up again.

Did you get away for Easter?

xx