Hanging with Julia!

 

Look who we rubbed shoulders with this morning! Australia's Prime Minister, Ms Julia Gillard.

She is up this way doing a two day whirlwind tour. We couldn't miss the opportunity to go down to the local park this morning, watch her plant a tree and say hello. I helped the girls make a quick sign to attract her attention and it worked! Half way through the planting, her media man came over and asked if she had seen the sign Grace was holding. I said she had made eye contact and he said he would make sure she came and said hello. She was very friendly, shook the girls hands and asked them their names. I took the first photo and then she suggested that maybe I would like to be in the next shot. All very exciting!

Ahoy Captain!

 

Look! I have a piece of paper that says I can drive a boat now!
Daz now has to share the boat when we take it out!

Lovely Litchfield.

 

School holidays here and we decided to visit Litchfield Park across the border in the Northern Territory. All our previous trips to Darwin have just been a rush to get to the shops and movies but this trip we decided to meet up with Darren's folks in the sleepy hollow that is Batchelor, make that our base and do a mix of Litchfield sights and shopping! Above is Wangi Falls. So nice we visited it twice! The water was crystal clear.

  

Tolmer Falls was seen from the viewing platform as see that little black hole at the bottom of the falls? Home to several colonies of rare Ghost Bats and Orange Horseshoe Bats apparantly.

Our favourite spot though was a place called Buley Rockhole. A series of waterfalls and rock-holes were you could wander down away from everyone else and find your own little pool. Which was good cause guess who forgot to pack their bathers??! It was cold when we left Kununurra! Didn't think we'd be swimming in the dry season!

Just had to include this photo. Now we know were the girls and Daz get their camera face from!

The other big attraction at Litchfield is Florence Falls. It was very busy here.

The park is also famous for these Magnetic Termite Mounds. The mounds are aligned north to south to minimise the exposure to the sun.

In typical Aussie fashion, we had to take the shots of child trying to push over giant termite mound.

 

And also the shot of the whole family in front of the termite mound.

We also visited Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin.

They had a great reptile display, including this water monitor that was itching to get out of his enclosure.

And lots and lots of crocodiles including this one who was the same length as our boat, 4.9 metres!

Lake Argyle Swim 2012

Remember last year, the Lake Argyle Swim, here? Well this weekend we did it all again! Only one new member of the team. Here they are driving away from the boat ramp. Good luck!

  And then 3 hours and 15 minutes later, here they are, not far from the finish line! They finished the 10kms in 3 hours and 30 minutes, they shaved 16 minutes off last years time.

And over the line they go!

Flying the team flag proudly as they are coming back into the boat ramp.

All smiles but looking a bit tired.

 

I made Daz change out of his Dockers shirt once he had finished he could wear the "I survived the Lake Argyle Swim" tshirt with pride! The fourth swimmer, Mr D is still out on the boat.

Well done Daddy! Hope you had fun Daz because next year you are driving the boat while I do the swim! Two years of standing on the land watching is enough, my turn now!

Zebedee Springs and the Pentacost River.

We are in school holidays at the moment and have had a lazy few days at home. Yesterday we decided to get out the house and went for a dip at Zebedee Springs at El Questro. Its a thermal springs, the water is like a bath. Camera perched on a rock, auto timer on, quick!!It was great too as when we pulled in the carpark there was only 3 other cars and as we walked up the trail two groups were walking down. So we had the place practiacally to ourselves, another few weeks and it will be full of tourists!

Milly photo bombing Grace. Matilda has a grin like her father!

Waterfalls! Work that camera Grace! Then after we were all refreshed, back in the car and down to the Pentacost River.

On the way we stopped for a family snap in front of the impressive Cockburn Ranges.

Spot the crazy fisherman? Daz wanted to perfect his cast net throw.

We caught absolutely nothing. Grace pulled in a catfish which was immediately unhocked and thrown back. Cat fish are yucky! Daz had one that got away..... This one was undersize and was thrown back in as soon as this photo was taken. There was lots of "Hurry up and take the photo!!!!" from Daz. Milly was just happy to get a fish, she didn't mind not keeping it. We went home and had takeaway Chinese for tea!

Happy 9th Birthday Grace.

Grace was nine on Monday. Happy Birthday Gracie Lou! Presents in the morning and lots of phone calls.

Always sharing the camera spotlight our Milly Moo! Even for your big sisters birthday.
Lucky you two get along so well.

We went to Sandy Beach on the boat for lunch. It was her choice where to go for lunch, anywhere in Kununurra, I was hoping she'd pick the Pumphouse! But nope, Sandy Beach on the boat was her wish and when we got there noone was there! We had it all to ourselves!!

Milly having lunch sitting in the water.

Blowing out the candles.Happy Birthday Grace!!

Weekends.....

Our weekends have fallen into a routine. It involves going out on the boat. We have been
looking at waterfalls.

And more waterfalls.

And discovering baby turtles.

Milly seems happy with the weekends!

Grace is happy to float on by.

The children happily playing at Sandy Beach.

 The view from the water of the beach. Latte and a hotcross bun anyone?

Hanging with the T's. Hiliarous bunny ears! Funny guys, very funny!

Daz and I. Hope your weekends have been just as much fun!