Family in Victoria

We were fortunate enough to spend time with our family who live in Victoria. Aunty Helen is actually my Mum's Aunty but I have always thought of her as my Aunty too as I have spent a fair amount of time with her over the years. Aunty Helen & Uncle Jim have three beautiful daughters: Jane, Julie & Carolyn. Most of them now live in Wangaratta with their respective families but Jane still lives in Melbourne with her daughter Shardia. They really are a beautiful family and it is always emotional for me and Mum saying goodbye to Aunty Helen & Uncle Jim (Jimbo as Noah calls him).

Noah & Shardia

Beautiful Shardia. Richard and I didn't actually get to see Jane or Shardia this time. Mum and Noah went out to dinner with them while in Melbourne. I have a beautiful picture of the kids with Jane too but I can't find it right now :(

Mum & I holding the latest additions to the Hancock family. These are Carolyn & Stephen's precious baby girls. They were nearly 4 weeks old in these photos. I have Charli and Mum is holding Holly.

Beautiful Carolyn and again me holding Charli. She looked so good for someone who delivered twins only 4 weeks ago.

Carolyn opening her gifts that came all the way from WA. She absolutely loved the jewellery boxes for her girls.

Carolyn in the girl's room with little Charli.

Uncle Jim with tiny Holly.

The washing line full to the brim with little girl clothes.

Carolyn & Stephen's house.

Julie & Gerard's house. In this house lives 5 teenagers + an 11 year old. Julie & Gerard both had children from previous marriages so when they married last year they became a real-life Brady bunch family.

This is Mats, he is Julie's youngest child and he is absolutely adorable. I want him to come live with me or at least come visit some time!

Noah eating Pizza with Mats & Anders. Julie & Gerard in the background.

Madison & Mats. Julie's 3 kids were the most loveliest teenagers I have ever met. If Noah grows up to be half as gorgeous, polite, mature and intelligent as them then I will be a very proud Mum.

Jimbo & Aunty Helen with Noah.

A special time for Mum and I. We will treasure these photo for years to come.

Charli

Holly

More of Victoria

Noah enjoying mini pancakes at the Victoria Markets.

Leaving Perth airport to fly out @ 6am.

Taking a stroll with Dad at the markets. We hadn't seen Noah for 3 days so we were pretty thrilled to be reunited with him on Sunday morning. He changed so much in such a short amount of time and he had some fabulous new sayings to share with us.

 Markets again.

With Nanna Dee in Melbourne CDB. I had to buy this $30 pink stroller for Noah as he was whinging that Mum and Nanna were making him walk too far! Turns out this cheap little stroller is fantastic so we have brought it all the way back to WA. Noah is quite attached to his new pink stroller.

 Stamford hotel pool area.

 A chilly night in Wangaratta.

 First night in Wangaratta. We stayed in a little hotel near Aunty Helen and Uncle Jim's house.

Noah and Richard having a moment together in Beechworth.

 In Wangaratta.

 Richard's big breakfast @ the markets. Noah exclaimed "Daddy got a BIG snagga".

Old tree log in Wangaratta.

Build-a-bear

While Nanna Dee was looking after Noah she took him to the build-a-bear factory so he could make his very own teddy; it was something that she promised him they would do while in Melbourne together. Noah chose to dress his teddy in a Sheriff Woody outfit and he also put a special heart + voice box in his teddy. Noah named his Teddy Jimbo after our Uncle Jim who he stayed with in Melbourne.

 Mum said the boy who helped Noah was so nice to him.

 The heart.

We are in Melbourne

Richard, Noah, Mum and I flew to Melbourne last Thursday. When we arrived in Melbourne we said goodbye to Mum and Noah who went off to spend time with some relatives of mine. Meanwhile Richard and I went to the Stamford Hotel where we met up with some of our friends. We had such a fantastic time with them all. My cheeks were sore from smiling by the end of the weekend. Here are just a few pics from Melbourne so far.

Chop chop. See you later big ugly pepper tree

Richard went to town on this big old tree a few weekends ago. Once he started chopping he just couldn't stop. We worked pretty hard all day carting the wood away and clearing the tree off the back fence, meanwhile Noah plonked himself in front of the tv for the day. It was a little disappointing that Noah excluded himself from all the action. The smell of wood being cut brought back heaps of childhood memories for myself; my Dad would spend many a weekend chopping trees down when I was little.