Back from WA

We got back from WA late yesterday. It was a great trip despite the rain (only 3 days where it didn't rain at least once!). We spent lots of time with family, went to the beach, took heaps of nice bushwalks, drank lots of wine and coffee, and generally had lots of fun exploring. It's good to be home though, so we'll have to plan our next break away. More to come....

Above: WA family - Ivan, Margaret, Christine, Hedley, John & Kylie

Below: "Is that the last of my food??"

Above: Fishing with the boys - I hate fishing!!

Below: Peaceful Bay on a typically sunny afternoon

Above: Kylie at the Cape Leeuwin lighthouse

Below: A towering Karri tree

Above: Jetty at Rottnest Island

Below: Abbey & I bikeriding around the island

Above: Kangaroo Paw in flower at Kings Park, Perth

Abbey has discovered that it's fun to walk by pushing this cart type thing in front of herself. We reckon' that it's pretty fun too - except when you close the front gate and she gets mad that you are preventing her from wandering down a busy road! Off to WA on Tuesday, will update when we get the chance.

Time for an Update

Phil has just completed a fauna survey at work - they didn't catch alot, but this marbled velvet gecko was pretty cool. The survey was at Hugh Gorge in the West Macs - pretty rugged but beautiful country. Pity the weather is starting to feel like summer already though! We are now only a couple of weeks from going on our holiday to Western Australia. Looking forward to a beer in Fremantle, walks through the forests in Pemberton, and tasting the wines of Margaret River. I sense a theme developing here... We will also catch up with plenty of family, take Abbey to pat some farm animals, play golf (Phil only) and hopefully drink plenty of coffee at some nice little cafes. Can't wait!!

Above: Abbey hanging out on her swing

Below: Let me go!

Above: part of Hugh Gorge

Below: Taking the family for a walk in town

Just thought I'd add a couple of photos to Abbey's 1st Birthday post below :) I had to add this photo because Abbey's expression is hilarious!! This is us enjoying morning tea out at Ormiston Gorge. Chelsea looks less than impressed!!

Dirt and Abbey are the bestest of friends

Proud as punch on her new little car... thanks Aunty Stace....!

Opening presents with a little help from two very helpful cousins!

Abbey's 1st Birthday

Above: Abbey & cake

Below: The cake - mint choc ice cream no less....

Above: Opening presents, well Maia is anyway!
Below: Cup cakes!!!

Above: The joey
Below: The other joey - different from above mammal due to
lack of pouch & unsavoury eating habits

Above: Abbey on her faithful steed waving to the throng

Below: Chelsea enjoying the river

We celebrated Abbey's first birthday on Saturday (actual birthday not until tuesday), which was a great event - mostly due to Kylie and Stacey's cooking skills - see pics for examples! Abbey has been a bit sick but she made an appearance to keep the crowd happy. Stacey, Chelsea and Elliot are staying with us at the moment, so apart from everyone getting sick it has been fun!! We had an orphan red kangaroo joey dropped into the house tonight. We played animal carers for an hour until we palmed it off to the wildcare mob. 2 babies plus one other child is probably all we can handle at the moment, not to mention the dogs were pacing the backyard licking their lips waiting for a snack.

A year of change

I made 'Larry the Lion' for my friend Jodie's son Jacob's birthday... and I'm pretty excited that it worked out!!

Alison at Rainbow Valley

Abbey and Pop

Hi all, long time no post so will add a couple of photos from Phil's family's visit because there is a gorgeous one of Bruce and Abbey + a couple with her toy library toys which have been a big hit. Coming soon.... the big 1st birthday pics!! Can you believe it has been a year? I've been reflecting heaps of this last year, the good, the bad and the absolutely amazing - feeling a bit sad that the years will now fly by and that we no longer have a baby, but a little girl.... I feel like I should be preparing for her 21st speech already :(

In case you're not on facebook, here is a link to an album of Abbey which has a few highlights from the last year: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=35741&id=606507337&l=50e99aef92

Melbourne Holiday

We have just returned from Melbourne and a great little getaway. Abbey travelled really well and the weather held out for most of the time. We caught up with John, Stacey, Kelly and Chelsea and Elliot from Kylie's side, as well as Phil's mum and dad and sister Alison. We also stayed a night with our friend Brett who showed us around Kinglake after the fires, which was interesting. We pretty much walked around everywhere, including all over the CBD, Fitzroy Gardens, Lygon Street, Southbank etc. Phil went to watch the Saints beat the Kangaroo's, and unfortunately saw the Demons get smashed by Collingwood at the MCG. Highlights were Brunetti's cakes, the views of Melbourne from the Observation deck, Japanese tourists taking photos of Abbey in the streets, and coffee and tea in the dark laneways of inner city Melbourne. Phil's mum and dad and Alison are also staying with us in Alice Springs for the next few days, seeing as much of Abbey as possible before they go home.

Above: Collingwood have just kicked the first 8 goals of the game, who wouldn't be upset?

Below: Federation Square

Above: Elliot, Chelsea, Kylie and Abbey, Stacey & John

Below: Fitzroy Gardens

Above: Phil, Kylie and Abbey

Below: Alison & Abbey

Some more pics from Mum's visit

Mum at Ormiston Gorge

Mum and Abbey at Glen Helen (not having a drink of Iced Coffee as much as she would have liked to!)

Phil, Abbey and Mum at Ormiston Gorge

My AMAZING camping birthday cake made by the one and only Phil... what a cake!! That's 'our car', a tent, fire and waterhole on top :)

A visit from Mum

Abbey has just turned 10 months old, can you believe that?!! Only 2 months til the big first b'day which blows my mind. She is going great guns and really loved having Mum (Nana) up for a 1 week visit. We did some bits and pieces around town, had a trip out to Glen Helen and even attended the Desert Knowledge open day and looked at solar panels.....! Looking forward to my birthday tomorrow and think that Phil has something sneaky in store :)

Abbey's new favourite trick is pulling all the dirt out of the pots (and sneaking the occasional handful in the mouth)
That's vegemite on her face, not snot! This is us having drinks and nibblies in the creek down at Simpsons Gap

Having some quality time with Nana

Farmer Abbey in Phil's hat

On Mum's last night we went out for dinner to Oscars to celebrate my b'day. Abbey made it through the night by us feeding her constant pieces of potato.

Democracy at work

Unlike Rudd and his band of spin driven, media managed, debt denying, airline raging flunkeys who can't even say the word 'billion', we here at Phil, Kylie & Abbey's blog aim to tell the truth at all times in the name of democracy and all that stuff. So today, Abbey is asking our dear readers the poll question - should we have a poll? Please take your time reading all the available options and vote with a clear conscience, confident that your vote will make a difference. See the poll to the left of screen. P.S. Kylie is turning 29 on Sunday! Can you believe that she wasn't even born in the 70's, ah, so young. Little wonder she stares at me blankly when I explain the sheer greatness of the 1975 classic album, Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. Sometimes I really feel the generation gap between us.