Hervey Bay + Christmas Part 3

After having a day of rest to unpack, wash and repack our bags after James' and my time away we hopped back into the car just a bit after 4am and started our drive up to Hervey Bay. James was a champ and drove the first leg to Taree where we had breakfast. Like other years the kids were quite excited and chatty as we left but eventually settled and had some naps. I drove to Coffs Harbour where we stopped for some morning tea and a chance to stretch our legs. We then continued to MacLean for lunch. James and Eliza stayed here last year and it is a very cute town. While the kids were a bit sad that there wasn't any play equipment for them, they were happy to chase birds, watch the water and run around on the grass.

We enjoyed our veges and dip and cheese and bacon rolls as well as our grapes and then hopped back into the car. We made it to Tweed Heads by 3:30pm which was great time! We unpacked the car, went for a little walk around the water then headed to a park so the kids could burn off some energy. They liked exploring the play equipment.

After a play we headed to the shops to get some dinner. We had a cottage pie, salad and then yoghurt for dessert. Nice and simple. Daniel and Eliza shared a bedroom and did quite well with settling and going to sleep without too much fuss. We all didn't sleep too badly which was nice.

In the morning we had some breakfast and then hopped back into the car. James was keen to go to a little French patisserie in Alexandra Headland called La Petite Souris. A friend from his school moved there and opened this patisserie with her husband and it is amazing! So cute and the food looked so beautiful and tasty! James got some pastries for us to take to Hervey Bay to share with his parents and we also got a snack each for morning tea. 

James' friend was so sweet and also gave the kids a gingerbread man to have in the car. They were so excited!

Again they were sad that there wasn't any play equipment but we filled our time and energy with doing some star jumps, stretches and exercise on the grass. We hopped back into the car and headed to Hervey Bay. The kids were straight into their gingerbread men.

Lucky kiddies! We made it to Hervey Bay for lunchtime which we were pleased with. After unpacking the car and trying to help the kids settle with Charlie we had some lunch and Alexander went down for his nap. In the afternoon Auntie Jen, Maddie and Aly came around. The kids (and us) were so excited to see eachother! Aly did some skipping using a long rope. She was heaps good.

Eliza then had a go. She did pretty well for her first time skipping. Will definitley need to get into skipping with her I think.

The kids were all playing so nicely together, I decided to ask if I could get photos of them. Normally it is like herding cats but this time they were very cooperative which was great!. They were keen to get photos with Nana J's clever glass art sculpture.

Cousins!

Crazy kiddies!

The kids had a great time playing together, playing 'gaol', playing board games, cricket and running around. Daniel and Maddie also spent time exploring under the house to find balls and different things. 

At night we did Christmas presents with Nana J and Boompa - part 3 of Christmas. They were quite excited to get their gifts - Daniel got a set of science experiment cards, Eliza got foil art and Alexander got a cute book.

Once the kids were in bed we got out a boardgame that we won last year at one of James' gigs. It was called 'Cat'. In this game it is pictionary but with cats. Such a fun game and there were some great laughs that lead to tears for me. Basically you choose a 'category' then need to choose at least 1 cat to draw the scenario while others guess what it is. Definitely will be a game that we play again.

The next day we just hung around at Nana J and Boompa's place. In the morning the kids wanted to do their different Christmas gifts so Eliza started her foil art with Nana J.

While the boys made James' birthday present of a solar powered helicopter. Very cool!

Daniel and Eliza also enjoyed taking photos on my camera of different things. 

Nana J and Daddy

Christmas tree

I just love Alexander's faces!

Charlie

Malcolm and James were also set up the pool which the kids were very excited about! They enjoyed their swim.

Cricket was a big part of this holiday too. Any spare moment Alexander or Daniel would get the bat and ball and head out to play some cricket.

Maddie and Aly came around in the afternoon and we gave each other Christmas presents. The kids were very excited to get some playdough and playdough tools.

Daniel found a suitable way to carry his bag. Funny kid.

These 2 are gorgeous together

We headed to the beach a few times this trip which was awesome. We went a few times after nap time which was low tide but that meant that the kids swam and played in the water quite easily. The kids also loved playing on the skid board. It was awesome watching them pull each other along (and giving us a break).

Sandcastle building with Nana J

Tim and Rach came down to meet us at the beach too. We were chatting lots while standing in the water and Tim kept wriggling his legs so he was sinking. He then had fun doing some matrix moves.

He couldn't get his legs out so we got the kids onto the task to free him.

Daniel and Eliza were into finding different coral and shells in the water too.

The next morning we decided that we would head down to Enzo's for babychinos, coffee, frappe and raisin toast. It is always so peaceful sitting beside the water, even with kids with you.

Alexander loving his Lachie Wiggle shirt

 We then headed over to the park for a bit of a play. Swings fun!

 We then went for a scoot and walk along the Esplanade. It was a really nice time.

In the afternoon while Alexander had a nap Eliza helped me do some colouring in in my book (I found it hard to let go on my plans for my colouring in page). I had to remind myself that beauty was in the process not the finished product. And it was lovely to sit with her and colour and chat.

James and Daniel had fun playing the giant board game book.

After naptime we headed over to Aunty Jen, Uncle Ryan, Maddie and Aly's place. The kids enjoyed holding their guinea pigs.

When we got back home Daniel decided to help me colour in. Again beauty in the process, not the finished product.

Then the kids wanted to play with their Christmas playdough. What fun!

At night James and I headed out for cocktails with Tim and Rach. So nice to sit and chat with them. Many many many laughs were had, lots of conversations. A really nice time. We miss having these guys around for dinners and fun adventures. After drinks we went and go icecream from the ice creamery. While we were eating, James asked Rach how she is with geckos. She replied saying she is fine with them as long as they don't jump on her. He pointed out that there was one on the wall above her. The next second, that gecko fell off the wall and landed on her head. She jumped up and brushed it off. Oh my word! We all laughed so so so much! What was the timing! We'd never seen a gecko fall down from a wall before. Glad it was Rach who took it in her stride and not me!

The next day we had a quiet morning at home and then headed out for lunch at the boat club with the family. It was nice hanging out with everyone. And I had the most delicious mixed seafood salad. So tasty and so generous with the seafood!

These 2 are so cute! Chatting away as the colour in.

At night we headed out to the Friday night sunset sessions. There was local music, food trucks and some markets. The kids loved dancing to the music and running around and playing together. We took some cheese and bacon rolls and some picnic food. It was a very fun and relaxed night, although slightly more stressful as it got later and there were lots of people.

Another day we headed out to Maryborough to go and see an exhibition about Leonardo DaVinci. Before we went in we got some nice photos of the kids on the gorgeous trees out the front.

The exhibition was so cool! I never knew that he was such an inventor as well as an artist. He invented the life ring! Who would have thought? And different pulleys, ways to fly, etc. Even simple bridges designs and machines that would pull water 'up'. Fascinating man! There were a few hands on parts so the kids were quite engaged at times. Daniel loved having the different information read to him about the different machines which was nice because I wanted to read about them too.
The kids liked getting their photos being the Mona Lisa.

One of the hands on parts was to look at Leonardo's design for a simple stick bridge and then to make your own. James worked with the kids to make it. They were very pleased with their efforts.

Maddie then had a go making the bridge on her own with James giving a little guidance.

The highlight for most of the kids though was the dress up section. Eliza and Aly were definitely in their element! I love that everyone got into it though.

My little knight. He did this pose all on his own!

My brave knight!

There was also opportunities to do some sketching. Maddie was very focussed on drawing a friend and Daniel did a self portrait.

Back at home I played a game of backgammon with Daniel - his first time playing it. He picked it up pretty well considering. 

Eliza and Nana J played Eliza's Charlie and Lola game.

Daniel enjoyed Backgammon so much that he played again James and of course, won. James wasn't too impressed about it, although it was a close game.

After Alexander's nap he wanted to play with the trains. I loved listening to his conversations.

Maddie gave Daniel some Pokemon. Alexander and Eliza really liked playing with them too. I enjoyed listening to Eliza's conversations too while playing with the Pokemon.

Alexander was still keen to play cricket. He's such a cutie.

We headed to have some icecream from the ice creamery. Eliza was so excited! It was her first time choosing her own ice cream. She ended up choosing strawberry and Daniel chose rocky road. Yum! Smiles all around!

The next day we headed out to lunch with Nan to a lovely cafe. The kids were very taken by the fish tank so sat and enjoyed watching the fish swim around. With their meal they got a little activity pack which was great! They also got a free drink (milkshake or juice) with their meals. They chose a milkshake. Woweee! They were big. The kids really enjoyed it. Daniel drank his quite quickly so his stomach hurt. I guess you have to learn one way or another.

The kids really enjoyed their meals too. Eliza got calamari and chips while the boys got burritos. The presentation and size was fantastic! Alexander got quite excited when they brought the meals over.

It was really nice to have lunch with Nan. She's such a sweetie. I do love that the kids get to see her when we come up to Hervey Bay.

We headed to the beach again the next day with the kids. Aunty Jen, Maddie and Aly also came and joined us which was fun. They had a great time on the board, in the water, building sandcastles, playing with each other.

Alexander had a turn on the board. He wasn't so sure about it

Loving my new hat from Hervey Bay!

 While I played in the water with the kids, James went up to have a coffee. Alexander also joined him - to have a water. He definitely has his Daddy's genes.

Showing me the shells she found

Love this photo!

The kids are funny when it comes to dogs. They like to wave to them but are hesitant to pat them. If a dog comes up to them they tend to freak out. When we arrived the kids were quite worried about Charlie, Alexander in particular. He didn't want to have Charlie come near him. As the week and a half went by, the kids definitely warmed to Charlie and enjoyed patting him and cuddling him. Charlie is such a patient dog!

We headed around to Auntie Wendy and Uncle Geoff's place to catch up with them and to see Tim and Rach before they headed back over to Scotland. It was quite nice chatting with them, hearing how they are going, looking at Aunty Wendy's Christmas collection from overseas, playing games and reading books. Always lovely to catch up with them.

We headed around to Aunty Jen and Uncle Ryan's place again. The kids liked cuddling the guinea pigs again.

Eliza had fun with the dress ups and even found some tap shoes. She liked tapping away with them and Uncle Ryan helped her.

In the afternoon the kids did some painting. Fun creativity.

We did a our traditional breakfast out at Enzo's. A lovely morning as always. The kids had massive babychinos! Lucky kiddies.

We then headed over to the park for a play. The kids enjoyed climbing the tree again, although Daniel did get stuck so Boompa climbed up to help him get back down. Then Boompa got stuck too. But all good. They safely made it down.

Daniel and I playing connect 4.

On our last night there we headed to the park for fish and chips. A nice easy way to end our time in Hervey Bay. Even Charlie got to join us.

Swinging into the sunset

In the morning we then hopped into the car and started our trip home. The kids travelled pretty well again, entertaining themselves in their own way and enjoying their own music on the ipods.

We had to stop at the peanut van to get some snacks for James and I. So many nice flavours to choose from!

And at the park I had to climb up the equipment to help Eliza who found the ropes hard toward the top. It was pretty daunting to climb up there. James reckons I wanted an excuse to climb up there.

 
We stopped in to see Auntie Ros and Uncle Mark and had the added bonus of everyone else being there too - Kylie, Trigg, Andrew, Emma, Logan, Ethan and Kimberly. So lovely to see them all. Not enough time to catch up! But we always feel welcome there.

Yet another nice and successful Hervey Bay holiday!