Here she is...

Our birthday girl! Happy birthday, darling.


Birthday cake/dessert: banana splits!!!

Five in a flash!

Our darling Beth turns five years old this week. Really. I just can't believe it. What happened to my baby with the chubby mango cheeks and wispy curls?

In honour of the occasion, I took a quick trip down memory lane and put together these 5 photos taken on 20th May each year since 2005.

newborn... I remember nuzzling my cheek against her little head and feeling the softest skin and hair I'd ever felt...

one year old... we took a short morning trip to the Redcliffe Kite Festival that day...

second birthday... I don't know who was more excited about this dolls house - Beth or me?

three today... fun at the playground with mummy. (Those are the mango cheeks I mentioned about - not covered in mango, but firm and fleshy like the cheeks of a mango!)

turning four... what a difference one year makes! Longer hair and very girlie...

Watch out for a five-year-old later this week!

our girls are growing...

After just one week here at home, we can already see our little chickies growing up! They've each lost a fair bit of 'fluff' and developed real feathers, as well as cute little pokey-out tails. They have discovered a use for their wings, which combined with their curiosity means we sometimes find our little escapees in other parts of the laundry besides in their box where they ought to be!

Today we gave them their first outdoor experience, allowing them a little bit of freedom in the backyard while we cleaned and changed the bedding in their box. They pecked and scratched as real hens ought... can't wait to see them grow up already!

Here they are: our new babies!

Aren't they just the cutest little things??!!! We brought home these three cuties from Beth's classroom this morning where a clutch of chicks has been hatching over the last 2 weeks. 'Twill be a long time before they lay any eggs to earn their keep, but in the meantime, we shall just enjoy getting to know our new pets.

After just a few hours, I have already discovered they are basically like newborn babies in that they simply sleep, eat, chirp and poop. They are also terribly messy and have no concept of the fact that the water is meant for drinking and not filling up with the wood shavings off the floor!

Camping weekend...

As we have done for the last few years now, we went camping over the May long weekend. This time we went by ourselves and checked out the Big4 caravan park at Forest Glen. Although more expensive than other camping places, the beauty of this place was the facilities provided for families, as well as the camping sites with ensuites. That's right, we had our OWN bathroom right next to our tent, and got to feel human every morning under a hot shower. Ahhhh...

Camping breakfasts are a big hit with Liam and Beth, as we take the opportunity to buy the little Kellogg's cereal packets which are then eked out over the few days away. Lucky there are TWO packets of coco-pops in each pack!

We really enjoyed making the most of the facilities at the park. The swimming pool with waterslide was a HUGE hit with Liam and Beth, having never been on a waterslide before. The water temperature of the pool was too cold for me, but Andrew and the kids spent hours sliding and splashing and having loads of fun. The other highlights of the park included putt-putt and the giant jumping pillow.

We took a drive on the Saturday afternoon up to Maleny to visit a the Maleny cheese factory and Maleny Dairies. We sampled some divine cheeses and yoghurts at the factory, and then took a tour of the Maleny Dairy farm. Yummmm, their fresh milk is second-to-none, and we also got to sample some more gorgeous yoghurts, flavoured milk and custard. Mmm-mmmmm.