Princess Abbey

Down in the river bed at Simpsons Gap
Phil and Abbey

Having a paddle

All the princes and princesses (complete with a castle and dragon!) Abbey complete with Tiara and stolen high heels

Abbey's favourite part - cake time!

Lunch time (notice Abbey enjoying a honey joy that she stole of another child's plate....)

Abbey's new 'smile' face - she blinks in anticipation of the flash and thinks that's what we want her to do when we say smile.

Decorating the castle with the party girl Princess Taryn

A shot from behind to show the piggy tails :)

Posing for a photo in the bright backyard

Wearing her big girl nickers! They go up, down, up, down, up down and she often gets frustrated because she can't pull them up over her bottom which looks hilarious.

Abbey went to one of her best buddy Taryn's 3rd birthday yesterday which was a princess party! The tiara was off after about 30 seconds but I still think she looked pretty cute and her first time wearing piggy tails made up for it. In a day of firsts she also had her first drink of juice and her first drink of cordial - so pretty exciting for her!

Phil is recovering from a chest infection and pneumonia(!!) but we still managed to get down to Simpsons Gap in the afternoon for some cheese and bickies and a play in the (very shallow!) river that is flowing past the back of our place.

Everything is going well - Phil is yet to hear back about the Senior District Ranger job and potential move and things are progressing along well with the pregnancy... starting to show already!! I'm also enjoying acting in another job role in the P&W Tourism & Visitor Services Unit for another 4 weeks.

Photos on Request - (for you Stacey!)

A tough day at the office

Above: checking the burn

Below: our house is in the trees in the mid ground

Above: The climb to Brinkley's Bluff

I forgot to put these photos on my last blog. We did some aerial burning last week - hard work I know. You basically fly around and throw incendiaries out the window. It's a little more planned than that, but not much! Anyway, great to see the country looking so green.

Abbey's 2nd Birthday

Abbey had her 2nd birthday last week - she is beginning to understand the concept of presents and cakes! I've also attached Abbey's new kitchen that I built - yet to have some paint. She seems to like it which is the main thing, and I really enjoyed putting it together. Not too many errors thankfully!!

PIZZA!!!!

Above & below: the finished result (don't know why this photo isn't

the right way up - just bend your head)

Above & below: Making pizza is fun

Below: dress ups

We finally got our pizza stone last week so last night was pizza making. Abbey loved helping out, and of course, eating it! We reckon we did pretty well for the first time, maybe we will open an authentic Italian pizza and pasta joint with the name Tony in it....

Food, food & more food

Hey everyone, Abbey and I visited the Desert Park today while Phil is doing some work for a couple of nights at Finke (Palm Valley). When I downloaded my photos, including some from a few weeks ago, it occured to me that they are all surrounding food. So, they are not the best photos, but here's an insight into life with Abbey - FOOD, food and MORE food.... "peeeaaasseee" as she would say.

"Mum are you telling stories about my eating habits again?"

"Mmmmmmm glorious cake mix..... Dad was right, this stuff is awesome"
"I wonder if I can get this entire honey joy in my mouth at once?"
"Yep!"

"Got any more food in here Mum? I'm starving."

"Seriously... are there any snacks?"

"What do you mean I'll look like a feral and get cold feet if I take my shoes off to walk around the Desert Park? You don't know what you're talking about Mum."

"Is it just me or are hills harder to walk up when you've had two cups of milk, water, 4 pizza pin-wheels and 2 honey-joys?..... CARRY ME MUM!!!!!"

Finke Desert Race

Above: The Finke race

Below: Interested onlookers

Above: Abbey & Kylie

Below: He was going fast even if it doesn't look like it...

Above: I risked my life for these photos!

Below: One of these girls is not mine - but both are very cute & cuddly...

Above: Abbey guarding 'my chair'

We went camping in the river at our place on Friday night with Carolyn and Taryn - it was heaps of fun and the girls seemed to enjoy themselves too. Great roast in the camp oven helped a lot!! On Monday morning we had breakfast south of Alice to watch some of the frontrunners drive past in the Finke race. It was great to see the cars fly past although all the kids didn't like the noise too much. Great coffee and pancakes on a beautiful sunny Alice Springs morning - and it was a day off, what more could you want????

Our Holiday

Above: Abbey, Chelsea, Elliot and Tarlia

Below: Kylie with Tarlia

Above: Phil & Abbey at Philip Island
Below: Chelsea not happy to be carried by Grandpa!

Above: Sheep dog at work

Below: Nan, Sue, Tarlia, Phil, Kim, Nath, Abbey, Kylie, Elliot, Kelli, Stacey & Chelsea

Above: Us!

Below: Sue's 50th birthday dinner

Above: Christine, Abbey & John

Below: A wombat - must be on the east coast

Above: Taking a closer look at the wombat

Below: Mum, Kylie, Abbey and Dad in Albury

Above: Papa showing Abbey a moth

Below: I love this swing

Above: We both miss seeing the change in the seasons

Below: Abbey at the playground

Above: Mum winning over Abbey with cake!

Below: Papa's 90th with his grandchildren

Above: Papa's 90th

Below: Alison & Abbey

Above: Papa talking to Craig

Below: Abbey's new cousins from QLD

We got back yesterday - it's nice to be home we must admit, although we will probably change our mind on Monday morning! We had a great time, too much stuff to mention, but the highlights included, Papa's 90th birthday; seeing all the family; Abbey getting to know her grandparents; Philip Island and Wilsons Prom; going to the footy in Melbourne (despite the results); Sue's 50th; and watching some Sheep drafting at Stacey's house by a guy who happens to be the Mayor of Wedderburn - obviosuly not too much on the council agenda that day!! It was great to see everyone again, and we look forward to Christmas if we both get our leave....