What we've been up to

Hi,
I must find a way to update this more often. In the meantime, here's a very abbreviated one-off catch-up on what we've been up to this year!

We've now had 4 bank holidays (Australia Day 26th Jan, Labour Day 10th Mar, and the 2 for Easter) and have been making the most of the weather, getting out and about.

On Australia Day long weekend we went over to Geelong, an hour along the coast to stay over with some friends (also from the UK but newer to Oz than we are). They have two kids (one older than Maddie) and as usual when she has an older kid to play with, she had a great time. She would have made a brilliant little sister!
The adults had a good time too, cracking open a few bottles (er, of wine that is not beer!) outside once the kids were in bed.
Next day we took in some of the waterfront activities going on for Scandia Week (based in Geelong and Australia's biggest regatta I think), generally free music and so on along the waterfront.
Maddie also got quite attached to their trampoline, resulting in Daddy going out to buy one when we got home...

Maddie has also been communing with nature at Collingwood Children's Farm which is a great place really close in to the city. Lots of animals and plenty of chances to get in really close to them, as you can see from the pic with the goat below!




I (Dom) have also been travelling quite a lot less with work (only been away 5 nights this year!) which makes a nice change. I am probably working harder, but I can still get home
for 5:30 on the days when Maddie is at home, and on the 2 days she's in childcare I pick her up around 5:15. Can't complain about that for work-life balance!

What else...Maddie is changing by the day and is now starting to communicate more in sentences. Her favourite things are:
1. Bossing Mummy and Daddy around
2. Bossing other people around
3. Dressing up
4. Baking (particularly mixing things together)
5. Being on the bike
6. Tickling Mummy and Daddy (and being tickled back)
Below she has managed to combine nos. 3 & 4 in one go!



My (Dom's) Mum and Dad have been over for 10 days (8th-18th March) and back-to-back with that Toni Maddie and I have all been over to Perth for a week over Easter to visit Nadine.
We got back a few hours ago, and tomorrow we're off to see Jack Johnson in Melbourne - it's all go! but more on all of that another time, I need to get the photos off the camera first.

Hope everyone's well
Dom