bubbanoble: Hervey Bay Holiday

Nice and early on Sunday morning we hopped into the car ready to head to head north for our trip to Hervey Bay.

The kids were pretty excited to be up so early and heading north. Alexander and Eliza eventually fell back to sleep but Daniel just sat and watched the cars drive by and the sun rise. We made good time, stopping ever 2 or so hours for a play at the park and a snack.

We managed to make it to Tweed Heads for the night. We headed to a park next to the water for a little play and to stretch our legs and then we went and got dinner.

It was our first night in a motel room together (a 2 room one). The kids did pretty well with going to sleep although Alexander didn't sleep the best at night. He and Daniel shared a bed and Daniel apparently likes to sleep like a starfish which Alexander wasn't too happy about. Next time we will try Eliza and Alexander in the same bed and hopefully it will be a bit of a better night. Fortunately the kids didn't wake each time Alexander did so that was a positive.

The next morning the kids enjoyed having their continental breakfast - cereal, toast, yoghurt. They loved it because they had freedom of choice in their cereals. They also liked having some juice with breakfast. We then headed north, stopping at La Petite Souris in Alexandra Head to visit one of James' school friends' cafe for our morning stop. It was a warmer morning so we decided to stay in the cafe and enjoy our bakery treats of some danishes.

We also bought a few dessert treats to share with Malcolm and Julie one night is Hervey Bay. They are amazing!! James' friend was also kind enough to gift the kids some shortbread biscuits too. She was lovely and said it is adding to the trip memories (last year she gave the kids gingerbread men).

We made the rest of the way to Hervey Bay, arriving for a late lunch. We were excited to see Nana J and Boompa as well as Charlie (although took Alexander a little bit of time to warm to Charlie). The rest of the day was basically settling in, playing with toys and chatting.

The next day (Christmas Eve) Julie continued the tradition of the kids making their gingerbread house. They each got a part of the house to decorate in their own creative way. They loved it! They did find it hard to not eat their lollies for the house. Aunty Jen and Nana J also contributed to the house.

Ready to go

Concentration

Aly did a wreath on the front

Maddie and Daniel started by doing each tile. They lost interest in that after a few rows

Alexander was all about the lollies

Eliza supervising Nana J

Everyone was very pleased with their finished walls.

Aly's wreath came up nicely

I got to put together the house at night. I had a few roof slips but got there in the end.

Christmas Eve we sat down and read our 2nd last Christmas countdown book before bedtime.

Christmas day was a busy day with lots of fun (will write a separate blog post about that one).

On Boxing Day we went and visited Boompa at work and the kids liked looking at the different boats in the marina.

Back at home the kids had fun playing with some of their games - Alexander and Eliza especially enjoyed Daddy's game of the santa hat rings.

We headed to the shops to get Daniel a garmin watch in the sales. He had saved his vouchers from his birthday and used some of his Christmas money (and a little bit from us too) to purchase his garmin watch. The kids were pretty cute walking through the shops holding hands. We do have glimpses of this cuteness. Daniel was so excited to get it!

The kids helped Boompa and Daddy pick and collect the mangos from their trees out the front. Boopa's mango picking stick is very clever - a painters pole, razer blades and a fishing net. He is quite a clever man.

Hervey Bay saw lots of swimming in Nana J and Boompa's pool. Last year the pool sprung a leak so we thought there wouldn't be one, but Boompa kindly went and bought it. The kids had a blast playing in the pool with their sinkies from Christmas.

They were kind enough to pause for a photo

Alexander warmed to Charlie. These moments were big for him. He loved going up and patting Charlie anytime he saw him. Charlie is an amazing and patient dog.

We then had some more present time (Christmas Day the kids were a bit overwhelmed by all the presents that they received so we saved a couple for Boxing Day).

And because we were tired of hearing 'Can we have the gingerbread house?' we pulled out the gingerbread house that the kids made. The couldn't wait to eat it (mainly eat their part of the house. They were each quite possessive of the part they made. It was quite funny to see.

Checking out the finished piece

The artists

Finding their part of the house

Going for the lollies first

Grabbing their parts of the house

Eliza and Alexander found they can do piggy back rides.

And Daniel had the oldest child privilege of staying up late to watch the Big Bash.

With Queensland time, the kids were waking early most mornings. They started pretty early being around 5/5:30am but as the days went by, the kids got better and slept until 6am. Most mornings they just played semi quietly in their rooms. Other mornings James took them out to get a coffee and their babychinos (in their new Christmas keepcups).

I took them out for a scooter ride beside the beach. This was a great idea and was going really well until on our way back, Eliza managed to find the sand patch that I said to avoid and fell down onto the path getting a pretty nasty graze on her knee and elbow. Thank goodness it was later in the morning on our way back because I'm sure her screams when she fell woke up most of Hervey Bay! She was brave though and walked back to the car with me and then we raided Nana J and Boompa's bandaids and cream to cover the cuts.

This trip we did quite a few visits to the beach which I loved. James used the tent the first time but then we lost one of the poles so we went for shorter trips so that the sun didn't get too much. The water was beautiful temperatures. The kids loved playing in the water.

This photo probably doesn't mean very much to most people looking at it but to me, this photo of Eliza is awesome. Before these holidays she wouldn't go out in the water unless I was there, she wouldn't go off the pool step unless she was on the pool noodle or being held by me. When we went to the beach in Hervey Bay she was right out in the water, not hesitant to go out further than before. She would dive under the waves and practice swimming in the water. It just was amazing to see and quite out of nowhere. I knew she could do it, but she just hasn't had the confidence. So proud of her.

Alexander was the same. He would go out further than before without James or I with him. While I am proud of them being able to do this, it does make me a little bit more nervous about going to the beach.

I do enjoy swimming with them though. That feeling of they want me there to help them but also happy to swim near me confidently.

Eliza loved doing her colouring in books that she received at Christmas. Every downtime she would grab them and sit and draw or colour. She liked to do it with others too.

Alexander also liked doing his sticker activity book.

For an adventure we took the kids and Nana J and Aly to see the movie The Queen's Corgi. The kids liked it. It was a cute movie to watch.

Eliza was still desperate to see Frozen 2.

Playdough was again a hit with the kids.

As well as hanging out and just being crazy together.

Eliza taught Aly how to floss.

On Sunday after church we headed out with Nan. The kids were pretty cute in the car holding hands (I know they will grow out of this).

At lunch there was a singer who sang covers. She had bubbles for the kids to make. The kids enjoyed trying to blow the bubbles and pop them. The restaurant was lovely - right next to the water. It even had a little pier that you could walk out along which the kids liked exploring.

Blowing bubbles

At the end of the pier

Blowing bubbles into the wind to no success

The location was beautiful, although hot.

Daddy's little girl

Love my family

Garlic bread smiles

There was more Charlie loving from Alexander.

Afternoon walks down to the beach at the end of Nana J and Boompa's street. The kids were desperate to go to this beach and see it, even though we said it isn't as nice as the other beach we go to. It was very low tide so we spent the time walking along the sand and shallow water, finding fish and crabs in the water, sea snails and shells. The mud was so sticky.

Spotting a sea snail

Building sandcastles

Name writing in the sand

We hung out at Aunty Jen, Uncle Ryan, Maddie and Aly's place a few time. Fun in the pool, cuddles with the guinea pigs and playing TV games. Lots of cousin fun.

We headed to the beach for more beach fun. And had a few stacks off the skim board. Oops.

The kids enjoyed playing their boardgames from Nana J and Boompa. Daniel's game of Eureka is awesome. My type of game. But he doesn't like losing it.

Nana J had a lovely craft idea of making some sun catchers. They used the coloured beads and glue to stick them together - such a simple activity. The kids were all very serious as they designed their own ones. Great to see their creativity.

With their finished designs.

Daniel made the land and the sky

Eliza made a flower

Maddie made a beach

Aunty Jen and I also made our own ones

New Years Eve we all come together to have dinner together and watch the fireworks. It was with some tired kiddies but they had a blast together. The afternoon consisted of hugs, cricket, family photos, tasty dinner, beyblade battles, ice blocks and fireworks.

Orange smiles

New Years Day we headed out for lunch at the boatclub. I taught Maddie how to play boxes and she and Daniel had a great time playing together. Maddie beat Daniel in their first game and turned to him and went "Sorry Daniel. I have some sad news for you. I beat you." It was really cute.

Aly and Eliza played scissors paper rock.

It was nice to catch up with Belinda and Dwayne and the kids. Eliza loved Ariel!

And cricket was a constant game that they played - crazy kids because it was so hot some times.

The boys enjoyed patting Charlie and finding his happy spot.

The kids got DVDs when we were at the shops. Alexander was desperate to get Winnie the Pooh. It did not disappoint.

The next morning we headed to Enzo's for breakfast with Nana J and Boompa. So lovely.

It was our 11th Wedding Anniversary. What better way to spend it with family. I love this guy. I love doing life with him. I couldn't do it without him. He is my best friend, my support, my confidant, he encourages me and grounds me. He is patient with the kids when I am not. He is just amazing!

We visited a few different parks before heading over to Nan's place to say a proper bye to her.

tree climbing

pier walking

We had a lovely morning with Nan. She was very chatty, showed so much interest in the kids and is just beautiful.


This little girl has such a gift of chatting with the older generation. Each great-grandparent that she sees, she will always take the time to talk to them, tell them stories about herself, ask them questions and just be real with them. She has such a beautiful gift and I hope and pray that it grows.

Uncle Ryan and Aunty Jen invited us to a mini trains session. It was so cool. The kids (big and small) loved seeing all the different parts of the model city and trying to spot the 10 things in the city.

Watching the ice skaters

Alexander was so excited to see Thomas

Chasing the trains

Looking at the carnival

But the highlight for Uncle Ryan and the kids was to go on the mini train ride. They are always fun!

Our anniversary was jam packed with family. At night we then headed to the Food and Groove festival for a picnic dinner and a time of dancing. The band that was playing, Soul City, were amazing! They played fun songs that we knew with lots of energy and the kids really enjoyed dancing and I had a great time dancing with them too.

I really would have loved to stay the whole time - the music was just fantastic! But we had organised to take the kids to get ice cream that night too and they were already tired so we left while the band had a break to get ice cream.
Alexander had vanilla (he will be able to choose his own flavour next year), Eliza chose strawberry and Daniel chose hokey pokey. All kiddies were happy and James and I quite enjoyed our icecream too.

Our last day we had as a quiet one. We headed around to Aunty Jen and Uncle Ryan's place again. Eliza sat down and showed Boompa her learning portfolio from preschool and we played games. A nice quiet way to finish out time here.

Sunday morning saw us have an early start to say bye to Boompa before he headed off to work then breakfast and then say bye to Nana J and Charlie.

The kids were pretty good for the trip back home. They enjoyed a play at Eumundi on the new play equipment.

And a tasty stop at their bakery.

We made it safely to Coffs Harbour and the kids had fun playing Eliza's boardgame. Mental note to pack a couple of boardgames future trips for when we get to the motels.