What a week it has been

Well this week has flown by.Saturday we woke to a sunny morning but you could see the day was threatened with rain... not that with a drought you can say it was a bad thing. We so need the rain at the moment. And it did pour down from lunchtime till late in the evening.

We spent the morning down in Warrandyte at my fav cafe and took grandma out for lunch, and then took Nate down to feed the ducks, down on the Yarra River.

Nate and daddy feeding the ducks

Great Gran and Tahlia

Later that evening we travelled to my SIL's for her 26th birthday party... oh what it would be like to be 26 again! Nate had his first experience with a sparkler.

Nate and Grandad with the sparkler.

Monday l got the shock of my life when l recieved a phone call to say one of my best friend's Elise died that morning. It was a shock to all of us espically her wonderful husband Chris. So RIP our darling Elise.

Found the kids sitting together on Tuesday night after they had had baths and showers and thought a good oppurtuinty to get some happy snaps of them. Nathan was even happy to sit still so even better to get some pictures. (of course l went camera silly).

Ahhh nothing better then a cuddle.

Tahlia lazing around.

See Tahlia this is how you do it.

Did l tell you how much l love my puppy.

We share lots of secrets.

Nige took Nate hiking over Anzac day down at Weeribee way. Also my dad, uncle, cousion, brother, aunty and family friend all joined them on the adventure. I was a shame Tahlia is still too young to join in. But l will let Nige tell you more about that hike.

They certainly came home tired. They got home at about 8pm, Nate was asleep but came in and l changed him into pj's, gave him a drink and he reached for his dummy and said "Bed". He certainly knew what he wanted.

well so much has happened this week and certainly been a rollercoaster of a week. This weekend is again full or activites so a lot more photos and stories to add for next week.

So stay tuned.

Tour of our home

Well yes the extension is still under way but closer to being completed. Just took some pics and thought you would all like to see the progress.

Study.. there was a wall where the window is. Where you see the sliding cuboard that is where the old window used to be.

Tahlia's room

Nate's room

Our new Family room with polished floorboards.

The builder is here now working on the verandah and patio so will put those picks up at a later stage. We are happy with the results and can't wait for it to be done.

Cooling gets put in next week.

Another week gone by

Not much has happened since our 4x4 travels. But yet it seems so long ago, time certainly does fly by when you are having fun. Or is that just cos l am busy with 3 kids.. lol yep 3 how can you not include Nige. He is the biggest kid of the lot, and the one who makes the most mess.

It's been quiet on the homefront (extension included) but it is slowly getting there. Now we have a patio and verandah deck. Also the beams for the roof have gone on. So it is slowly getting there. Was supposed to be completed last December. *sigh* just as long as it is done for Nathan's 2nd birthday. A good excuse for Nige to get out his BBQ and use it for the first time. It is what l got him for our anniversary back in Feb. Oh well it will get some use, rather then sitting in the house still in it's box.

Spent some time outside the other day with both kids. I do not get much time out there when the builders are here, as Nate love to see what they are doing and does not take him much to watch what they do and copy them later on. I once found him trying to copy the painter and wash the walls down with this broom. He has also been outside copying daddy and painting water on a bit of timber

( and yes it was rain water captured in an unused wheelie bin).

But loves the outdoors, and would spend all day out there. He is great and loves to entertain himself. From pottering around in the veggie patch to torturing the poor cat Oliver. I was out there this morning putting washing on the line, the builder was there doing the deck and there is Nate with some timber offcuts, watching the builder and then copying him with banging and whacking (think he was trying to hammer... Nate that is!).

Peek a boo... l see you.....

Nathan is growing up and is very clever. He is copying our speech a lot more now and will repeat what you say. Also his love for music is clearly there. If in the car or his bedroom he will often ask to put some music on and then sing a long with it. I wonder if he has some future with music.

He attends Mini maestros on Thursday mornings for 1/2 hour and loves it. He is one of about 7, l think he maybe one of the eldest but he loves to go and always has a smile on his face and loves to dance. In fact he does not even sit still. Only when a musical instrument comes out then he will sit down, as he knows when he sits he gets the intrusment.

A boy and his cat in the patch.

I just can't believe he soon will be two!

Tahlia is well and a happy little girl. Just a mummies girl. :) I can't believe she is 5months next week. She can roll and roll and there is nothing stopping her. So certainly makes nappy time challengeing with her wanting to reach out to everything.

When on her playmate she is soon on the move and you can often find her chatting to Nate's toys, under the couch, or stuck in some corner that she has moved into. She is also starting to sit aided, and loves to study her toes.

She had her first taste of mash potato the other night, was watching me eat and making the chewing face so thought l would give her alittle bit on my finger. She seemed to like it. But then do not want her on soilds for at least another month. I think if l do now she is no longer my baby and another milestone to getting older.

Well l should end this now and feed Tahlia her last feed before we go to bed. Hope you have enjoyed the read. Till next time.

The last of our Easter 4x4 trek

Well finally found some more time to finish off our 4x4 journey. Packed up and then thought we would take some time to explore the surrounds of Sheepyard Flat.

Drove over to Fry's hut, only of the many huts in these hills. This was built by Fred Fry they think around the 1940s and he lived here till 1971 when he died. He was pretty much a hermit. It was amazing to see how he lived, he sure did have a beautiful area he lived in.

Fred Fry's Hut

This survived the 2007 bushfires and l think some parts were burnt, but as you can tell from the newer panels of wood it has been fixed up.

Nathan and mummy under the verandah of Fry's hut.

It was certainly what you would call a basic life and living off the land. But if you like the peace and quiet then this is the life for you!

Our trip is slowly ending now, (phew l hear you all say), but we did stop once on the road to take some pictures of the regrowth of the bush after the fires. It (to me) was beautiful to see. And amazing to how something can go thru something so drastic (fire) and then continue to fight on and survive and still thrive (if that makes sense).

Some of the bush... back in growth.

And last

signs of life.

Well l hope you enjoyed our little adventure. I know not as much as we did, sorry you were not there with us. I am sure you would have enjoyed it as much as we did. But thanks for taking the time and sharing a part of our lives with the Murden Clan.

Easter Sunday

Woke up on Easter Sunday rather early and the word l am thinking of is "Freezing". I had on my thermals and clothes and it was so bitterly cold. I could hear Nathan was already up and running around. Tahlia was snuggled up in my sleeping bag nice and content in there.

Nathan had every item of clothing he had with him on.. even his pj's. lol The camp ground was covered in mist and smoke from the campfires. It was a beautiful site, of the sun coming over the hill and mixing in with smoke and mist.

Here is Nate all rugged up with poppy.

No such thing as fashion when camping and keeping warm are mixed. Don't you love my stripey long johns.. lol

The only way to keep warm at 7am in the morning is to go for a walk. So we went to check out the river. What a pretty little place it was.

Nathan at the River.

The river flowing in the mist.

The mist on the river.

Camping buddies Nate and mummy.

Mummies other camping buddy Tahli Bear.



And last our little campsite at Sheepyard Flat.

Our Easter 4x4 trek continued

Finally got down the bottom of Mt Stirling and thought it was time to find a spot to park our butts for the night. Thought Sheepyard Flat would be a good place to stay. It was very popular when we got there and a lot of caravans, tents and even horses.

So while l fed Tahlia, Nige with Nate's help put up our 2 small tents. And then cooked dinner in the dark with the guide of his head torch (gee they are great to keep your hands free).

Soon got cold and had to rug Nathan up to keep warm.

Even had to rug Tahlia up, and here she is having a laugh with nana.

Nige cooking our burgers in the dark. Its amazing when you are in the bush the food you have always looks soooo good.

Tahli bear all rugged up. The flash gave her a fright!

Nige had a challenge in getting Nate to sleep. It was his first time out of his cot and slept in Nige's spare sleeping bag. He thought it would be fun to tackle daddy, play the throw the dummy game, and let's annoy daddy. He went to bed around 7pm (when it got dark) and was still awake at 10pm. Nige had to end up ignoring him. lol

Nate in his tent.

We both had to sleep in seperate tents, the boys in one and us girls in another. Tahlia settled down well but the night got very cold so she grizzled now and then and ended up sharing mummies sleeping bag.

Was funny was lying in my bed listening to my surrounding and heard someone playing the Man from Snowy River sound track. And l must say it really suited the mood and our surroundings. We were in Snowy Mountain Country.

Our Easter 4x4 trek

Our morning started rather early as my folks met us at our place on a brisk cool morning at 7:30am. Headed off to Mansfield (aprox 2.5hours drive). As some of you know the area we were heading too was burnt out in the Jan 07 bushfires. So we were not sure what to expect and how much of it would have been burnt.

Got to the start of our drive at 11am and headed off. A lot of the roads were closed (due to the fires) so made our journey harder (a lot of dead ends). Came to an area that was closed off and found Tomahawk hut (one of many of them around this area) and we were amazed to find it still standing and untouched as all the surrounds were blackened by the fires.

Nate had a ball exploring these huts. Here he is in Tomahawk, you can see the blackened trees outside the door.

After Tomahawk we found we could no longer get thru the roads so had to head back to the main road to find another entrance into Craig's Hut.

First we stopped in the park and ate lunch. Tahlia had to check out what we were having.

Right let the excitement begin. The 4x4 was ready to do some hard work. We drove along to Mt Stirling along the logging road till we reached the Telephone Junction, and followed the logging road for about 1/2 hour till we met the Craig's Hut turnoff. and the real 4x4 track began.

It was a lot like Bourke st here and hard to pull over a few times to let oncoming 4x4 get thru. Kinda hard when the track is only big enough for one car. But that is the fun of off road driving. Reached Craigs Hut to find everyone else who owned a 4x4 thought the same as us, and decieced to come and see where the famous hut once stood, before the fires of 06/07 burnt it down.

Here are some views from Craigs Hut. It is so hard to capture the beauty of the views in photos. But l am sure you can get the image in your head by the pictures.

Hard to see the effect of the fire, but it was like patchwork as far as the eyes could see. Bit here and there.

A pic of the 3 generation of the Girls... To the right is where Craig's hut should have been. It was amazing as it seemed the fire had come up the back of the hut, and hit the hut and then just stopped. As all that remains are the fence and surrounding plants.

Spent some time here just taking in the view around us. Even nate seemed to in awe and kept saying "wow".

I love this photo of him sitting on top of the rock with ash on his face... my little grub.

We then headed to the Mt Stirling area and that is when the real hard yakka journey began. And the fun... hold on as from here the ride gets very bumpy.

Come on mum and dad you can make it.

Breathtaking views... as far as the eye can see....

A burnt marker.

Nige is just in his element.

If you squint you can see the village of Mt Buller on the other mountain.

More views on top of Mt Stirling.

Sun setting over Mt Stirling

it was a wonderful day and its a shame we could not see more of the mountain in our 4x4. We did want to drive over to Mt Buller but then will leave that adventure another day. The best thing about having a 4x4 is getting into terain that you normally can't without a 4x4.


Stay tuned for the rest of our trip at Sheepyard Flat and beyond (running out of time and Nige wants dinner started on..hehe).

Autumn is here

Tahlia is growing up way too quickly. Today she rolled right over. Clever Girl! But did not get a photo as we were all rushing out the door to get Nate. But she now sits up in the car seat (still rear facing) and "talks" to Nate. It is a good game between them.

Here she is in the spirit of Easter. And her first pair of Bunny ears. I got them both a pair and Nate loves to hop around like a rabbit when he has his on. Will have to get some photos of him this weekend with them on.

Nige has slowy been working on Nate's bed and it is getting there. He spent most of Saturday afternoon on the undercoat on it. It will look fantastic when it is done. It is to be like the Wiggles Car. Nate will love to sleep in his big bed.

Here is the bed end.

Of course Nate had to help out. So Nige got him some "wood" and "paint" to help daddy. As you can see he is having a ball.

Here is another one of the "girls"