Chesterfield Farm

Last week, we introduced nanny to one of the children's favourite places to visit, Chesterfield Farm. After a sleepover at nanny's, I drove everyone to the farm where we spent most of our time in the animal nursery, the favourite place within the farm. It was nice and warm in the nursery unlike the unseasonally cold,windy weather outside. We have had very diverse weather this summer.

Cherry Picking

Today we went cherry picking in Red Hill and it was a great way to spend the morning and eat too many cherries. There were sour morello cherries and the sweet cherries we are used to eating. Most of us preferred the sweet cherries and we soon found a good supply in the higher branches where we used the ladders provided. James loves his fruit and was in heaven eating cherry after cherry (the owners explained that the entry fee we paid was an 'eating fee'). By the end, he had a deep red stain around his mouth and said that he wouldn't be eating lunch. Sophie collected a good amount of cherries and decided that she would make a "fruit salad" for her friend Scarlett. We left the farm with close to one kilo of cherries to take home.

After a morning tea of cherries, we drove to Morning Sun Winery where we enjoyed an outdoor Italian lunch of quail, polenta fries, bruschetta and pizza. The children surprised us with their good appetite then spent the next couple of hours playing in the gardens and climbing trees.

Following our long lunch, we decided to visit Rickett's Point in Black Rock for some rock climbing (a favourite activity of Kassians) and running around on the beach. After this energetic activity, it was time to eat again, then run around, then take some very tired children home for a bath and bed. Sophie was particularly tired and I had to explain to her that it would be too late to make her "fruit salad" and we would have to make it in the morning.

Rock climbing at Rickett's Point

Sophie's new bike

Yesterday, while the boys were busy playing with friends, Sophie and Adam visited Granny and Pa and had planned to get another fruit tree from Bunnings. When they returned home, there was a new girls bike in the back of the car! Adam explained that he and Sophie agreed that she needed a "girls" bike to ride instead of the old "boys" bike she has been using.

I asked Sophie why she chose the bike: "because dad said it's the monster bike for big girls...it has a pretend flower on the basket and grass on it and a bubba seat and a bell. They are all the things I loved. Adara has one of those bikes with the bubba seat".

That afternoon, Sophie rode her new bike up and down the driveway ensuring that each of her bubbas had a ride in the seat and basket. She cannot wait to go on a real family bike ride on her own bike (she is too old to be sitting on the back of Adam's bike now). Sophie also wants to Holly to know that the bike has a name on it - "Holly".

Our garden

The hot weather and rain have been perfect conditions for our new vegetable garden. We have harvested all the butter lettuce so far and will soon have an abundance of cherry tomatoes and other varieties.

Prior to Christmas, Adam also found time to work on some steps leading from the upper part of the backyard to the lower part. As pictured, there is also a  bench seat at the top of the stairs. Once the hot weather subsides, we will begin planting which will make make the area more appealing. There is always something to do in the backyard!

Patrick's guinea pigs, Homer and and Marg, are enjoying their new home, otherwise known as 'Guinea Pig Mountain'. Patrick visits his pets morning and night with a handful of pellets. We have noticed that they begin to make their squeaking noises when they hear Patrick putting on his boots at the back door with food in hand. In addition to the pellets, they eat the grass and now share vegetable scraps with the chickens. Patrick tried to catch one for a photo but they are very fast and have lots of hiding places amongst the long grass and pipes that run through the 'mountain'.

Our NYE cont'd...

At night, we enjoyed a relaxed evening at Trav and Elina's with Lawrence, Paola and Maddison. The kids enjoyed a swim and managed to stay awake until after midnight. James and Kassian bravely slept  in a tent in the backyard while we opted for the comfort of the air conditioning inside. On New Year's Day, we spent some time at the beach using Trav's catamaran, followed by lunch, another swim in the pool, then fish and chips (as requested by those with a hangover) before getting home with some very tired little (and big!) people.

New Year's Eve

Our New Year's Eve began with lunch in Healesville then a visit to Hedgend Maze. A great day trip, but will visit again when the weather is not 38 degrees! It was too hot to be in the sun for long.

Slip n' Slide

With the hot summer weather lately, it has been perfect to try out Patrick's new slip n' slide which was given to him by Granny and Pa.