Keeping cool in summer

It has been rather warm here reaching up to 41 some days. So when a bit cooler we try and make the most of the paddling pool the kids got for Christmas.

The kids love it, it does take a while for Tahlia to get used to the cool water.. a bit like her mum.. lol

Little Girl

And she is walking, and no stopping her now.

And rather proud of herself too.

Tahlia and her furry friend Oliver.

Nathan.

Tahlia and her swing, she loves the swing.

It's all about keeping cool and some water play (that is what we tell mummy and daddy) but really it is about seeing who gets wetter... mummy or daddy...

A girls best friend (her phone). I have to watch her otherwise she takes off with it and l can never find it. And hard when it is flat and l can't even ring it to find it.

4x4 in the Womat Ranges

Finally now with the weather a bit cooler we made the most of it and headed out for a family day of 4x4 driving. Took us an hour and half to get to the Wombat State park where our journey began.

Headed up to Blue Mountain where there was a huge tower. Found a lovely shady spot and sat out on the picnic rug while Nige cooked up some burgers for lunch. Yum!

Tahlia & some wild flowers.

More wild flowers.

The Tower & Nathan.

The girls!

Our little hiker in the making.

After lunch we headed back down the same track we had come up, but pulled over the side of the road as it said in our book that there was the old Blue Mountain Cemetry. Took a bit of bush bashing over the overgrown bushes and balckberries. Nathan had a ball and thought it was the best thing. When we got there he yelled out "Tatta" and quite proud of his own achievements.

Nate and his binoculars.

We came to this part of the track where it said the road was closed. Seeing this is the road we had to go down we tried it out (as you do when 4x4). We got to the bridge and that was fine but up ahead there was a tree over the road.

I went to check it out and thought we could drive under it. And just... There was about a 10cm gap between the tree and the top of the car. (the one time we were glad we had not lifted the car).

Just as well we made that trip under the tree as up the road was the old site of the mine. Tahlia was sound asleep at this time, so found some shade and Nate, Nige and myself checked it out.

Old mine

Old Battery site

Nate and Renee

Nate and Renee(again) Look how red Nate's hair looks in the sun and with the greenery in the background.

Tahlia asleep.



Nate asleep and holding onto his binoculars.

Happy New Year to all.

Wow 2008 is here. Where has the year gone? Happy New year to you all (l know a little late, but better then never). Hope you all had a good New Year. Well for those in Melbourne l hope it was not too warm for you. I hear you all saying 42 is just too warm. But then is has been quite some time it was this hot.

We had a quiet New Year, just the four of us at home. It was too hot to go anywhere. We did go out for dinner and then to Lilydale lake. But at 8pm the park was dead quiet as it was still in the high 3os.

New Years day we spent the morning at the local pool and the kids had a real ball. It soon tired them out and all was quiet in the afternoon as they had naps and we sat back and enjoyed a book.

Wonder what 2008 has in store for the Murdens. Stay tuned to find out.

An evening at the beach

We took the kids to Mornington one afternoon for tea and then a paddle at the beach. Followed by gelati in the park.

Nathan had us in stiches when we came across stone platform that had a plaque telling us how far certain places were from where we were standing. He was giving us this mighty speech and telling us what was what and where it was... I guess you had to be there.

And then ice creams to finish off the evening.