Watch out! all you drivers

She's hit the road! Yes, Elsie has had her first official onroad driving lesson. I got scared and organised her professional lessons. After a couple more, I'll be game enough to take her out. Apparently she drove well. Talk about throwing her in the deep end... the weather was shocking today; windy and raining. And while I was sitting on the verandah waiting for her instructor to arrive, I witnessed a postal van doing a u-turn -- straight into the side of a 4WD. Very reassuring.
Elsie will be driving to work with the instructor in the morning. That half hour drive goes through inner city, suburban, highway and rural/bush roads, and finally through the village in which she works. She'll be fine...I keep telling myself...she'll be fine.

slippery slimey

This isn't the best photo, but is shows Benjamin eating. It's actually Josiah's meal of beef stroganoff, which he wasn't real keen on. Benjamin thought he would give it a go, so he dived in, hands, face and all. Within moments he had it spread over the table cloth and himself. Dinner - an experience of textures.

Routine

Doesn't take long to get back into routine. Normal stuff today; lessons, games, crafty stuff.
Beth made some bread rolls to store in the freezer for her and Jess to have. We picked up a whole box of KFC sub rolls, but they aren't 'friendly', so they can't eat them. They'll have Beth's rolls instead.
Elsie took Jess and Billy for a walk to the park which left us to do what we needed to do. It made the house a whole lot quieter.
Emily has been typing out her bible story book onto a word doc just for fun, interspersing pictures of puppy dogs. (Correlation unknown)
Tildy and Lilly are playing raquet ball on the back patio, Beth is rocking and humming to Benjamin, Josiah is helping the little girls play Hangaroo. Elsie may well be snoozing, and dinner needs cooking.
Yep, it doesn't take long to get back into the routine of it all....

Granny and the Grannykids

Josiah

Emily (hiding behind Granma), Jessica (hanging on Granma)

Billy, Matilda, Benjamin, Granma

Lilly

Beth, Elsie

Weekend at Granny's

After many attempts, and everybodies' good suggestions, Josiah got his kite in the air. The rest of us sat back at the picnic table, and continued to hurl suggestions and comments at him. This was at a little coastal town south of Granny's, where we walked out along the boardwalk to the point. You can just make out the start of the wooden boardwalk in the back of the photo. It was a narrow walk, with high railings on both sides. Half way out over the water we met a twin stroller..... Mmm. We ended lifting Benjamin's pram up and over the twin stroller.

Benjamin enjoying his morning tea in the shade of his pram. I put my new big umbrella up to give him more shade, and the wind caught it, and off went Benjamin! Not too far, and it made him laugh.

This was taken half way up the island out from the breakwater. The other children had gone on further when I realised that I didn't have my camera. So I told Tildy and Lilly to run back down and get it from the pram. And they did. It was very windy, but as beautiful as ever.

My Billy.....

Table Manners

Benjamin has graduated to the table. He was beside me in the highchair, but now, he's one of the biggies.

Benjamin on a swing

He loves it!

It's Birthday Time

Considering Dad was going away this week, we tramped down to the local bushland for a birthday picnic. With Dad turning 41 and Lilly turning 10 we had some serious celebrating to do. The traditional food and drinks, with some balloon games, egg and spoon races, and some timed circuit running contributed to a really great afternoon. While the children and I walked up the end of the picnic area to do some bush walking, Dad thought some zzzzzzzz's needed catching. He has suuuuch a hard life?!

Trying to pop balloons.....

Eating lots of lollies...

Jack's present for Dad....

The day was enjoyed by everyone. But now we have said 'good-bye' to Dad for a few weeks while he goes to work. We'll keep busy, though, just you wait and see...

March 2009

Yeah, I know, I got really, really slack, or maybe just very busy. Anyway, my lovely daughter has inspired me to make note of 'stuff'.
So much happens around here. As the children grow older, they seem to do so much, things that I may not even be involved in. But I will maintain, as much as possible, the family unity that has been the hallmark of Gutty's House.
This blog will continue to be a pictorial representation of what happens in our family, with some explanatory notes and comments.
And in all this, may God be praised!