Holiday with Friends

 When clusters started on the Northern Beaches at Christmas time, all of Sydney became a red zone so we were unable to head up to Hervey Bay as we had originally planned in January. This meant that our holidays would possibly feel like the were going on for a very long time. This is also because of not being keen to really head anywhere outside of our little bubble because the cluster actually got pretty bad. I would normally take the kids up to Umina, but there had been some cases on the central coast so I didn't feel heaps comfortable heading there for a day trip. Then Anne was a massive blessing and offered for us to head up to their holiday house for a couple of days and have a time with them. We were more than keen!

James and I decided that we'd surprise the kids with where we were going. We told them that we were going somewhere for a few nights, but didn't include where. They guessed a few different places but didn't guess going to Lachie, Emily and Flynnie's holiday houses. Alexander surprised me being the first one to work it out when we pulled into their driveway.

The kids were pretty excited! After unpacking the car and having a cuppa we headed off to one of their beaches. The kids were keen to go with their buddy so we had the car with the boys and Anne and Angus took the girls with them. It was quite cold and overcast so we went for a walk along the beach to the rock pools for the kids to have fun exploring. They loved spotting crabs, picking up starfish, finding some cool shells. The water was a bit cold but they still had lots of fun.

starfish!

The kids did love it. Only downside was that our boys got a little bit of oyster shell in their feet which was quite painful and they weren't too keen to have dug out. But they said it was still worth it. 

The afternoon the kids had a lot of fun out the back of their place along the lake front. They enjoyed drawing with chalk, playing along the edge of the lake and playing beach cricket. Even their neighbours joined in with the kids which was awesome.

When cricket eased, Lachie and Daniel were keen to get out the fishing rods so we spent the evening sitting and standing by the lake side fishing. It was so lovely watching Anne show our kids how to do different parts of fishing - casting, holding the line, reeling it in, putting on a prawn for bait. The kids loved it! Each kid caught (or helped catch) their first fish which was really exciting! Daniel surprised me with how patient he was waiting for a fish to have his bait.

Flynnie wasn't too interested in fishing but loved playing in the water with his trucks and with the bait. He was so happy.

Alexander was curious though so came and went between Flynnie and the fishing rods. He was holding one with James when he caught his first fish!

It was pretty cool. I was excited for him.

After seeing Alexander catch one Daniel was even more keen to try. He was really enjoying the task. After a little while he had a big tug on the rod. He started to pull on it but freaked out and called over Lachie. Lachie took over and pulled it in, and Daniel ran to get the net to catch it in. Not a bad catch. I wish that Daniel tried to pull it in himself but that's ok. Nice to see the boys helping each other out.

The fish was big enough to keep too so that was our dinner the next night! Good work boys.

The sunset over the lake was just lovely. So relaxing a time. Anne and Angus did so so well to find this place. Perfect location.

By now, Alexander had also lost interest in the fishing and decided to play in the water with Flynnie. I had a packing fail moment because I only packed 2 lots of clothes for the 2 days thinking that would be fine. I did pack their swimmers but they hadn't changed into them. Oh dear. Once they were wet, there was no turning back. The kids were having fun so that's what counted.

While the kids were playing Anne felt a tug on her line and called Eliza over to see if she wanted to catch a fish. Eliza was keen to and very pleased when she did.

I was impressed that she held the fish! James tried to convince her to give it a kiss and throw it back, Rex Hunt style, but she wasn't keen on that idea.

Then it was more water play, fishing with the last few bits of bait and chats. Eliza and Daniel were keen to have a go at casting their lines so Anne kindly helped them have a go. They didn't do too badly.

The girls were trying to catch little fish with their hands

Alexander and Flynnie were still more than happy playing in the water. Their trucks were perfect to fill and tip and fill and tip.

We headed inside, the kids had a shower and got into their pjs, enjoyed a bbq dinner and then headed to bed. The kids went to sleep pretty quickly because they were so tired. Then we enjoyed sitting with a cuppa and a wine and beer, chatting and just relaxing. The kids were really keen to have a sleepover with Lachie and Daniel sharing a room and the girls were too but we said not this time because someone will be left out. They are really keen though to try and have one next time and I think we will have to work out how to make it work because they would have a blast!

Early morning there were whispers from the kids but they were pretty good. They got up and played the Switch and put on cartoons and had fun together. Eventually we got up too and had breakfast together. Then Angus loaded up the boat and we headed out for a morning on the water. The weather was possibly going to storm in the afternoon so we were keen to get out there early to make the most of it. 

Our kids had been on the boat before, but not on the tube. Daniel was quite keen to have a go, Eliza wasn't so sure. Alexander and Flynnie are still a little bit too young but did enjoy playing in the tube on the waters edge.

The girls went out with Anne and Angus first. They had Eliza get used to the feeling of being in the water with her life jacket on. She then was fine and loved jumping into the water and trying her luck on the biscuit. Anne commented that there were many screams of joy while riding the biscuit.

Meanwhile the boys had fun playing cricket on the seaside and also kicking the ball around.

Next up Alexander wanted to have a turn on the boat so we went out for a drive with Flynnie. It was quite windy on the boat but he really enjoyed it.

Next up Daniel and Lachie went out on the boat and had a turn on the biscuit. Daniel enjoyed jumping into the water and really enjoyed having a turn on the biscuit. He did well with holding on.

The boys then wanted to be driven back to shore together. They are great mates.

We had a nice picnic lunch together beside the water and made it back before the storm hit. The wind just picked up so quickly! We were outside doing some craft (trying to make foam finger puppets with kids - a difficult task in itself) and then the next thing the wind picked up and blew a lot of our craft things away. We ran down and grabbed the clothes that were drying on the line and ran inside and watched the amazing storm roll in and then leave.

We enjoyed a nice dinner and then packed up and headed home, enjoying a lovely sunset.

Exhausted kiddies after a big couple of days

I am so grateful for these beautiful friendships. I'm so grateful that the kids each have an automatic friend and that those friendships have formed naturally. I'm so grateful for the fun that we all have together. I do hope and pray that this friendship is one that lasts a lifetime. I hope that it's one where our kids remain friends until they are old. But time will tell. For now I'm so grateful for this beautiful friendship that helped fill some time these school holidays by spending the night at their place.