Trip to Oz

We headed to Oz with the clan a couple of weeks ago for 8 days near Byron Bay in New South Wales (about 2 hours south of Brisbane). The house we stayed in was a couple of streets from the beach but was equipped with a great heated pool in the garden. Ben and Joe spent many hours each day in the pool with Ash, Indy and Olive. Joe and Indy had a long ongoing game where they were dolphins and seals while Ben adored jumping in yelling 'Tsunami' and trying to create waves to knock Ash off the inflatables.
The beaches (complete with squeaky sand) were beautiful if a little rough for swimming, but they all enjoyed splashing in the surf and collecting shells.
We had a couple of outings. One to the lighthouse at Australia's easternmost point and another to see the animals at "Macadamia Castle'. Highlights were the kangaroos and emus, the cockatoos that shouted 'Hello', petting baby bunnies, feeding goats, a sleeping wombat's bottom, and arguing whether the crocodiles in the lake were real or plastic! (Ben is still convinced they were real, despite Joe's insistence).
We returned back to a chilly Christchurch at nearly midnight so the kids got the Friday off school too! Back this week and then a short one next week for Show Week.
Ben is having grommets fitted on Thursday so we are hoping that goes well. Hopefully it will sort out the glue ear and enable him to hear a little better. Unfortunately it means that he misses out on swimming for a few weeks. He has just started swimming lessons and thoroughly enjoys them. He spends a lot of time bouncing up and down. The teacher is amazed at him sinking and putting his head under the water. Ben is also especially pleased with his new goggles (pink) and a new swim hat for post grommets (a pink cat - photos to follow!). He has now progressed from pink as a favourite colour. When asked he says all the colours are his favourites but when faced with a choice in the shop....... it's pink every time!
Joe is immersed in more touch rugby - he is not so impressed as they have lost some games and he says that it is not as organised as his last team ! - perceptive! He also started athletics club this term and has been enjoying sampling different sports. He has shown an aptitude for sprinting, longer distances, long jump and shot put! Next year he will be able to compete fully and can make more choices - this year is just a little bit of everything. Good luck to the coach who takes twenty 6 year old boys for Javelin!!!!