Home for a Visit

Last weekend we headed home for the weekend.  I refer to ‘home’ as the country town Andrew and I grew up in – Chinchilla (four hours inland from Brisbane in Queensland Australia).  Even though Andrew, Ben and I have made a new home there is still something about this town that feels like we are home……. I’m certain it is family.  Our reason for the trip out west was to celebrate our nephew Tom’s 9th birthday and to spend the weekend amongst family.  Ben was just bursting with excitement the whole week prior to the trip.  There was some major counting down of sleeps.   Each day (a number of times in the day!) we would look at the calendar and count how many sleeps we had left until Tom’s party.  Ben made the  trip home a  long one!  Here is a text I sent to Tina  –

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Ben didn’t even look like having a little nap in the car on the way.  I don’t even think he blinked his eyes.  He was way excited!

When we did arrive it didn’t take long for Ben and his cousin Tom to get down to some serious ‘Boy Business’.  Tom had bought Ben a yabbie net so it was down to the pond.

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I have to mention that we were also pulling the yabbie nets in the next morning  before 6.00am!!  I’m certain I am not a morning person but there we all were in the middle of the park in our pj’s catching yabbies and having a ball, especially Ben.

The serious ‘Boy Business’ also involved sling shots.  I was having a mild heart attack but didn’t want to look like the crazy over protective parent I am……. so just went with it as best I could.  There was very strict supervision.  Now Ben wants his very own sling shot….. not sure about that!

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Tom’s party was at the Weir.  It was a Jet Ski Party.  The boys all headed out to the weir early Sunday to secure a good position.

I was left searching the house everywhere for the keys to the car.  I thought that Andrew must have had them in his pocket.  But after a quick talk with Andrew’s brother I found them here.

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Cameron (Andrew’s brother) couldn’t get used to me locking the car….hilarious!  Who locks the car??!!

The boys (big and little) had all been in the water by the time we arrived just after ten (Ben went in fully dressed).  The kids had a fabulous day on the tube, boards, wave ski and jet ski.  I think the big kids had a good day driving the ski too! I have never seen Ben having so much fun ….EVER!!!

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To finish a wonderful day  there was cake….. chocolate cake and lots of it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMBO!

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As you can gather we had a lovely time.  It was great to catch up with family, old friends and met some new ones.  It was also pretty special to see Ben grow in confidence amongst it all and having the time of his life.  He was so warn out on the drive home he was asleep before we hit the grid (well maybe a couple of km’s out of town).  We promise we won’t leave it two and a half years before we visit again…… PROMISE!

There is no picture of Tom’s sister Maggie.  She was sick with the worst gastro virus I have seen.  Poor Missy Moo (that is what Ben calls her) even spent Sunday and Monday night in hospital.  We send you big hugs Maggie xo.

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Linking up with Paisley Jade – Things I am Loving xo and Life Made Lovely Monday

A Big Day in the City xo

We had a day out on Saturday in the city.  Cousin Tom and Cousin Maggie joined us on a trip to the Queensland Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art.

I had to giggle to myself on our way there.  Tom and Ben wanted to listen to the Star Wars sound track and this was the result. (Excuse the filming – just close your eyes and listen…. just a bit cute).

We arrived at the Museum and vooom everyone seemed to head in a different direction – all excited to explore. We wandered through two floors.  Our favorite exhibition was the Animal Zoo.

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We then headed into GOMA – Gallery of Modern Art.  Ohhhh it was so lovely.  My sister-in-law has been telling me how wonderful it is.  And you know….. it was all that wonderful and more.  The exhibition was ‘Art in the 21st Century’….. fabulous.  We quickly lost Tom, Ben and Andrew at the Lego table – a sea of white lego.

There is so much to see and do –  a slide from the top floor to the bottom, quiet nooks to explore,  fabulous art and a wishing wall straight from heaven!! Maggie and I made our way to the wishing wall to see what it was all about.  Artist Rivane Neuenschwander has developed an amazing interactive art piece called ‘I Wish, You Wish’.  An ancient and spiritual tradition from the depths of Brazil has found its way into a modern art installation in the heart of Brisbane.  Neuenschwander’s installation bedazzles you with over 10,000 brightly coloured ribbons hanging from the walls. Each ribbon has one of approximately sixty wishes printed on it, such as “I wish for a lovely family,”  “I wish I had more time for myself,” and “I wish I had magical powers.”  You are invited to take a ribbon and then in return you are expected to write your own wish on a piece of paper and put it in the hole on the wall from which you took the ribbon. In following with the tradition, you are supposed to wear the ribbon until it wears away, and then your wish is said to come true. Neuenschwander then prints the written wishes onto new ribbons and so the project sustains itself.

Maggie  had no trouble coming up with a wish ‘We wish my Daddy all BETTER’.  We wrote it on a piece of paper and rolled it up ready to put in the wall.  We scanned the colourful wall for a wish to take.  Maggie chose ‘I with for a lovely family’.  I really had to hold back the tears.  What a beautiful gorgeous girl.  This amazing piece of art was just the wish that we needed.  Maggie and Tom’s Daddy- Ben’s Uncle Cam-Andrew’s brother is doing fabulously.  He has jumped one massive hurdle and still has a few more to go for a full recovery.  Every wish helps xo

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After our amazing wish, we headed back to the boys at the lego table.  What amazing creations!!  We will definitely be heading back to GOMA soon!!

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On the way back to the car Ben spotted an ice-cream van….. and did the bolt!  Andrew chased after him and returned with Ben and  ice-cream to share.  When  driving home Tom commented that the Brisbane skyline looked like the one made of Lego…… so I took a snap out of the windscreen – it was a beautiful day.

There really is something special about family.  Watching Tom, Maggie and Ben together is a joy xoxo.

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Linking up with Life Made Lovely Monday xo

Cousin’s Day!

Don’t you  just love  adventures!  It was  lovely that all the cousins could meet up for a play today.    They traveled  from Chinchilla, Gold Coast and Ipswich for a play at Queens Park Toowoomba. Fortunately Toowoomba (a city not known for its fabulous weather) blessed us with her very best today!!!  The kids had a ball – we had swings, sausages rolls and sabers!!  It’s funny that they don’t see each other often  but they really do have a connection.  There is something very special about family xoxo

I dusted off my Nikon today.  Here they are – the youngest Lattimore to the oldest Lattimore:

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Evie (with her Mummy)

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Hugo

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Ben

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Maggie

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Tom

Here’s hoping for many more adventures at the park!

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Super Hero Surprises

Much to Ben’s excitement a parcel arrived in the mail for him last week.  It was full of Super Hero goodies from his cousins Tom and Maggie.  There was also an ‘I love NZ’ shirt in there…… thanks Aunty Tina!! Ben could not rip open the Batman figurine fast enough.  It has been everywhere with us.   Maggie had drawn and labeled the most gorgeous picture of Ben as a Super Hero. It is spectacular.  Thanks so much Uncle Cam, Aunty Tina, Tom and Maggie.  We love surprises xoxoxo

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Family xoxo

FAMILY, n.-The ones you live with, laugh with and love.

Ben-Maggie-Tom-Hugo.jpgHow do children know who there extended family are?  It must be innate or maybe they sense a feeling of belonging.  Ben is pretty reserved around people he doesn’t know or see often.  But not this weekend as  I watched him play and interact with his Cousins, Aunts and Uncles, and Grandparents.   Ben just adored having his cousins Tom and Maggie stay on the weekend.  It was magic to watch them play together.  Andrew and I just loved the house being full with family.

Our house was a pit stop on the way to a very special event.  All that could make it were heading to  Cousin Hugo’s first birthday.  It was wonderful to be able to share in Al, Claire and Hugo’s special day.  We enjoyed catching up with family and friends new and old.  Ben certainly enjoyed the party.  He ate  the entire bowl of cheezels by himself!   Hugo was an absolute delight and had enough cuddles to go around for everyone.  Happy Birthday Little Man – we hope to celebrate many more with you. xoxox

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