A Corowa tradition on the January long weekend, they hold a parade celebrating Australia Day.

The boys were on the Scout float, they actually won it…so they were all pleased.

Dad drove his old tractor in the parade alongside the other historical society members.

After the parade we went to have a swim and tea down the river, where some friends were camping.

For my week off, I took the kids to Mildura ( Gwynfor didn’t have any time off) . Car was packed the night before and we had planned to set of at about 7am Tuesday morning we were loading into the car when we noticed that the rear right hand wheel was flat as a tack. Seriously that car!!!!! Anyway after NRMA put enough air in it to get to tyre place and it was fixed ,we didn’t head off until 9:30 only a couple of hours behind schedule. The trip over was luckily uneventful.We made it in about 5 and half hours. Always lovely to catch up with Kate ,Mitch,Lucy and Will.

On Wednesday morning we went to the Irymple pool for a few hours for a bit of a relaxing swim and for lunch.Good way to cool down when it’s 43 degrees…

Another day we spent at the Mildura Aqua Coaster, it was the first time Will had been on it and he LOVED it! So much fun watching their faces as the come down.

We also fitted in a bit of shopping and managed to catch up with a few friends that live there. A nice time away.

Day off yay! The kids and I packed a picnic and headed off to Yarrawonga, we met some friends there that live in Echuca.

On the fore shore in Yarrawonga they have a waterslide and a great swimming area and nice shady trees.It was really nice afternoon.

We had a lovely evening with our friends on their new house boat, pontoony, party bargy thingy! Not sure what the official name of it is , but it’s very comfortable. Luckily we live very near to the river ,so we just met them at the closest spot to us on the river , and they pulled in and collected us, few drinkies and no car to drive home……

We pulled up a couple of times ,one for a swim and the kids had fun trying to swing off this rope, and then we stopped for a BBQ tea.

we came across some very scarey pirates

the breeze cooled slightly on the way home, very nice thanks Floss and Brett.

Christmas Day I was still umming and aring whether I would drive with the kids to Warnnambool (7hrs) to camp at the beach. I got up boxing day morning and said to Dad did he and Mum want just to go locally, so i whipped out to Granthems bend and found a spot. I raced home and got the boys tent and the shade area to put up and claim our spot. went home and packed to go and we set up, nothing like spare of the moment decisions….Gwynfor worked boxing day but had the Sunday and Monday off , so he got to have a chill out as well.

The ooohla accomodation, and the NOT so ooohla !

Lots of swimming, relaxing, bikeriding, and game playing was done by all.

On Sunday we went over to a near by winery for lunch, that does woodfired pizzas and of course great wine!

Last night Dad went and got his boat ,and we went for a sunset cruise from camp.

Then thismorning, the worst bit about camping ,which is the packing up and washing when you get home.

Ella woke at 4am to go to the toilet, and saw the present at the end of her bed, I heard her opening it and we told her to try and go back to sleep. The others got at 5.45am so early start for the James household.

Santa was very kind to the James children, they got lots of surprises. Rhys’ main present was an ipod nano, Ella got her long awaited little pink camera, Jack got Lego police HQ, Aislin got Lego house, along with other bits and pieces.

at 8:30, Evan and Tan, Nana and Pa arrived for more presents and yummy breakfast. Gwynfor went off to work at 10, and we spent the rest off the day at our house building lego, flying remote control helicopters that, Jack, Rhys, Evan and Pa got, there was a bit of sabotage with frequencies that they were flying on etc. There was alot of chocolate and lollies consumed as well. Nice and relaxing afternoon. Gwynfor got home from work at about 4:30pm the the next phase started which was at Mum and Dads for Tea.

We had some lovely food and nice wine over our three courses.The day was just perfect.

Wow ! we have grown with 20 children between us, now, The kids love getting together as much as the adults do which is lovely, to see. They danced and mucked around all night.

A nice catch up for the Adults too!

We were quite controlled tonight, sometimes it can get way out of hand.

Every year the year 5s put on a farewell for the year 6 students, it’s a very big deal, what your wearing and how your going to wear your hair etc…

Our year sixer and our year fiver, looking very smart and gorgeous.

They had such a great time ,and danced the night away….

This is Rhys very good friend Ashley. Rhys receiving his year 6 graduation certificate.

OMG! my first baby to head off to high school….

Well I am skipping a few months in between, but I thought if I don’t get December up to date, it’s going to be another 6 months before I get any done….so here we go.

Rhys’ Birthday landed on a Friday, but he had his birthday on the Saturday at the Corowa pool(beauty of having his birthday in summer). I can’t believe how grown up being 12 is….

Everyone arrived at our house and scoffed some food down then they walked down the pool where I met them.

there were lots of acrobatics off the diving boards…

plenty of testosterone while the piggy back wars were on….

all the gang.

How funny, Petrea rang and said that she was coming home from Adelaide with hubby and little Belle. While they were here, the Rennie Ball was on. I hadn’t been to a Rennie Ball since late teens! My girlfriends and I used to hang out there when we were teenagers. We organised tickets and Gwynfor managed to get the night off and came as well. We had a really great night and what a blast from the past, nice to get spruced up as well…..