spring has sprung the grass is ris

I wonder where the birdies is?
The bird is on the wing they say
But that’s absurd
The wing is on the bird.

The first swim of Spring!  Yes, it’s still a little bit chilly but the girls were very keen to get to the pool.  They have both just started their swimming lessons.  I think it’s really important for kids to learn to swim – especially here in Australia as so much of our lifestyle revolves around the beach.  The International Life Saving Federation says that 1.2 million people around the world die by drowning every year, that is more than two people per minute. From that more than 50 percent are children.

Surf Life Saving Australia runs Nippers, which makes surf life saving fun for kids, and educates them with confidence, knowledge and skills in the beach environment.

DaisyBaby in her Wahu swimming vest, soon to be discarded, we hope!

The Popstar

Australia Day at Catherine Hill Bay

We set out for Cathos at about 8am  – it only takes about 1/2 hour to drive there. Nige, Darren, and Jason decided to ride there, so they left at about 7.15, while we bundled all the bags and kids up in the car. Of course I could NOT find my car keys anywhere {Nige used them last grrrr} but luckily he had left his keys in my bag.

Sarah and Nadine rang to say they were on their way, and Heather & Colin said they’d meet us there. We passed the boys a couple of km’s from the beach, and waited for them in the carpark. They arrived looking sweaty and hot, and definitely ready for a swim. Catherine Hill Bay rock pool is a bit of a hike from the carpark, so we got organised and started out. We walked along to the end of the beach, and then followed the path up over the rocks and around through the bush. It actually wasn’t very far, and the older kids walked the entire way. DaisyBaby wanted to be carried for a bit, but she always does .

The rock pool is really large, for a rock pool. More like a lake! It’s lovely, with fish swimming around in it, and quite clear too. The waves wash up over the rocks and so the water stays fairly fresh. The water temperature was beautiful - cool and refreshing – and the sky was the usual summer day cobalt blue. We put on goggles and masks and went in search of fish. I followed a school of cute little fish around for a while. Saw some pretty, bright yellow striped fish, and some larger ones way down under the rocks. When the girls got tired of the big rock pool, they had a great time splashing around in the smaller, surrounding rock pools.

After our swim we started hiking back to the car. We came out at the end of the beach again, and stayed in there in a sheltered area on the beach for a while. It was just perfect, with large rocks breaking the waves so the kids could play in the water. We headed off at about 1pm, had lunch together at McDonalds, then headed home. Nige and Darren rode home again {insane; the day was SO hot} and, can you believe it, I ran out of petrol just out of Swansea!! Ridiculous, but luckily Sarah was nearby to bail me out. The car said 62km DTE, but obviously that was a load of rubbish! Regardless, we made it home, and then packed up food for a BBQ tea at Heather’s house. Nothing like a sausage sandwich and a pavlova to feel like an Australian haha. Turns out Coles had sold out of double thick cream… I suppose everyone in Australia was having a Pav for desert!

Spent the afternoon eating and watching the kids swim in the pool. I can’t believe they still wanted to swim after being in the water half the morning! Sent the boys home with the kids at about 6.30 and then settled in for Craft Night {Bitch n Stitch} at Heather’s place. One of the best Australia Days yet!

check out the scenery!  just stunning!

Heather, Sarah and Caleb having a swim.

Poppy, thoroughly enjoying herself!

Daisy floating around in her little Wahu vest

Sarah underwater

Daisy harrassing Nige, sneakers and all. Good for climbing out on the rocks, anyway

Darren, Nige and the kids swam to the other side of the pool

I love my underwater macro feature

I found a cute, little school of fish to follow around for a while

and some bigger fish lurking in the depths

Heather entertaining Benzen and some of the other kids in one of the smaller rock pools

Kaelan was worried about ‘sea urchins getting him’ but overcame his fear and had a great time

Elijah all kitted out for a dive

A truly breathtaking day

Poppy and I on an adventure

Daisy amusing herself with little rocks and shells on the edge of one of the smaller rock pools

Colin, Benzen, and Jason

Sarah floating around in her very buoyant wetsuit

The obligatory self-portraits with kids!

Ebony, Olivia, and Poppy on a mission

Nige and Darren having a chat

Nige, telling Jason a good story

and on this note, I’m off to get a pedicure tonight, with the girls!

things I love about summer #2

Another rainy day at the beach! We got there by 8am to make sure we had a good swim before it got too hot. By 10.30 the clouds had cleared away and we were ready to head home. I love these overcast summer days at the beach, and especially because my girls {the Popstar, to be precise} have such albino-esque complexions and I don’t want them to get sunburnt.

We found some ultra-cheap, kids Speedo wetsuits at K-mart so it was a good opportunity to try them out. At $17 a suit I got a couple of sizes to put away for the next few years. After our swim we went to the kiosk at the top of Soldiers beach and bought the kiddles an ice-cream. They chose a rainbow paddle pop mmmmm yum. It was very drippy and melty and messy but they enjoyed themselves.

A bit later on we headed up to Heather’s for a swim in her pool. The Popstar and Kaelan had a great time Synchronised Jumping from the edge. Other favourite things about summer here.

Poppy and Kaelan braving the waves

Poppy watching Nadine and Kaelan on the body board

Nades taking Kaelan for a spin {he had so much fun!}

Benzen and Ebony starting a sand castle

 

A big sand castle with a bit of help from the grandmas

Daisy happily transferring sand from one container to the other

What a beautiful beach, I really should come here more often!

Heather, Nadine, recovering after a chilly {but refreshing!} swim

sand angels

Benzen on the hunt for seagulls

DaisyBaby and I

Synchronised jumping

Poppy under water!

a thumbs-up from Kaelan

the Popstar, practising her jumping and swimming with no floaties! What a legend.

Daisy joining in the fun {Nades, you look very cool, calm and collected in the background!}

Cute little Benzen swimming. Enough floating devices, Benny?

Kaelan, Ahhh the serenity. Until Benny attacks!

Jaws.. nah neh, nah neh

what would a day at the pool be without the gratuitous boob shot?

a rainy day at the beach {priceless!}

After our awesome flying experience, we thought Hmmmm… it’s not even 10am. What should we do now? We decided to get some breakfast, then head down to the Baths at Merewether for a swim. It was raining and overcast, but not too cold. Turns out it was actually warmer in the water {out of the breeze}. Kids had an absolute BALL, Poppy kept saying “that was so much fun” in the car on the way home. Which was better than her previous mantra “hang gliding is so boring” haha.  For some reason, my swimmers were not in the trug of beach stuff we brought so I swam in my clothes – and Sarah had to do the same – but it was heaps of fun. Sitting in a wet towel all the way home, not so much! Nige and Darren did some laps, Elijah and Caleb played in the sand. Poppy, Daisy and Livvy braved the turbulent waters. And all this before lunch time! Such a great morning, thanks for the memories, Mortons!

Nice pose, Sarah!

Darren following Nige to do some laps.

Daisy decided to dip her toes in first… eeeek it’s cold.

Poppy testing out the waters.

Didn’t your mother teach you it’s not polite to point?

Sarah following Livvy to the blocks.

Sarah jumping off the blocks in style.

I look slightly hysterical…must have been the hang gliding high!

Go Livvy!

Daisy contemplating the insanity of it all.

Walking back to get warm & dry.

Nige and I, awww xox

Daisy coming to terms with a shower. Lucky our camera is waterproof!

chillaxin’ by the pool

Or should I say IN the pool?

I’ve been storing the kids outdoor toys in their old paddle pool. It was such a hot day today that I put a bit of water in it for them to splash around in. Of course they wanted their swimmers on, towels…and one thing just led to another until they were pretending they were at the beach.

Daisy {our Little Miss Innovative} decided it would be a great idea to put their camping chairs in the pool and they thought it was just hilarious to sit there and splash their feet. She then decided that wearing her gumboots in the pool would also be a good idea…until they filled up with water and she sloshed her way around the backyard.

The morning was complete with lunch ‘by the pool’ and a cold drink.