Extreme heat and thunderstorms

The last couple of days have been extremely hot (40+ degrees C) and we have had some pretty amazing storms at night - it feels like summer is well and truly upon us. But I still have some photos to share.

Zac and Fletcher have made a little "base" in the bush behind our house. Last weekend they returned from the base to tell me there had been an intruder - a lizard. Zac took a photo with his iphone and I couldn't believe how big he was. He wasn't leaving either, they tried to tell him to leave but he just sat there.


On Friday night we were going to go to the drive-in to see New Moon but there were thunder storms and it was still so hot, so the plan was canceled. Lucky I had a back up plan to go to the cinemas on Saturday morning with a friend, unfortnately there were problems with the projector so we had to leave after the previews. We rushed over to other cinemas (luckily my sister popped in and purchased our tickets) and I saw New Moon - it took a whole day, but I got to see it.

I enjoyed it but have later realised that some of the scenes from the "trailers" were not in the movie, or maybe I somehow missed them? I may need to go see it again.

While I was away, Zac and Fletcher decided to put the Christmas tree up (as it was too hot outside). Husky (the fluffy dog) even was decorated lol.



Sunday morning we went to the beach, second time already this summer, I just have to remember to take my camera.

After dinner that night, it was still hot, so on went the pop-up sprinklers, for some water fun.
It has been awhile since I have used my telephoto lens, so had a play.


Fletcher giggles the whole time he is playing.


Zac and Fletch run around madly having water battles.




Trying to catch a quick drink from the sprinklers.

Tomorrow is meant to be a little cooler which will provide some welcome relief.
Carol :-)

3 weekends in 1

I started this post a few weeks ago but blogger was not cooperating so left it and then was so busy I forgot to come back. So what has been happening.

One of Fletcher's friends had a birthday party and the special guests were reptiles. Fletcher loved it!

Here Fletch is patting a crocodile. He was pretty feisty so Fletcher kept his distance.


He is not to worried about a snake being draped around him (obviously doesn't take after his mother in that regard).


This is the birthday boy who I can see doing this for a living in a few years time.


The following weekend I went with some friends on a bus trip shopping in Sydney and to see the musical Mama Mia. Fantastic weekend but exhausting - it didn't help staying out to all hours of the morning dancing lol.

This weekend I left on Friday to go back to Sydney with my sister to shop and then see Nickelback.
No good photos to show as I followed the rules on the ticket that said "no cameras or recording devices", (only had my iphone) and I think I was the only one who did, there were little cameras everywhere.

This morning we spent at the beach, loving our warm days.
Time to go get ready for the busy week ahead.

Carol ;-)

music and the moon

This week was the first week back at school for term four and also Fletcher's first keyboard lesson (which is actually piano lessons). He has always loved his music and the music school is right near where we have morning tea often, so one day we stopped in and booked him lessons. Fletcher loved his first lesson and is very keen to practice.

This is at the end of the lesson, not a great photo (cramped room and poor lighting) but I wanted to have a photo anyway.


We have also been spending many nights viewing the skies, I am not sure who is enjoying it the most, we all love it. Zac finds the planet, lines up the telescope, Fletch and I look, planet (and earth) moves so Zac lines up telescope again, and on it goes.

The moon is finally great for viewing and we have had some cloudless nights so we have been looking at the moon too.


I tried getting a shot of the moon and the telescope but found it very difficult.



Below is the moon that we could see with our eyes. With the telescope it was amazing, we could see details such as craters. I really need to work out how to attach my camera to the telescope.

Zac has insisted that I post a photo of what his car really looks like, apparently the photo I put in the last post isn't the exact car :-/. So here it is.

Carol :-)

End of holidays

A quick catch-up of week two of the holidays.

Zac has been loving his new car - the Skoda. This isn't actually the photo of his car, his is blue, I haven't taken a photo yet but thought I better include it before it is old news.

Now to me a car is a car, but this car (according to Zac) has some pretty cool features - like changing gears on the steering wheel. The only thing I really noted is that when you turn the music on it will get louder the faster you drive and quieten when you slow down.


Fletcher made a volcano out of plaster, painted it and then watched it errupt.



Fletcher and his little buddy made cookies (well Fiona actually made the dough) - they cut them with all different cookie cutters and then decorated them.


Here is Jarrod decorating his.

They had a great time doing this and the cookies tasted really good.

Swimming club started and it was cold (and I didn't even get in the water lol).

School is back on Monday for the final term of the year and it is only 7 1/2 weeks for Fletcher. We then have a short holiday (a couple of days) to the Gold Coast, Zac's birthday, Christmas and then back to Canada (in 10 weeks we are in Canada!). I am exhausted thinking of everything that needs to be done. But for now, time to go pack the school bag.

Carol :-)

Sydney Observatory

On Saturday we went for a trip to Sydney to visit the astronomy display at the Powerhouse Museum and go to the observatory. We had never been to the observatory before and it made me wonder why - it was fantastic (and very convenient being just off the harbour bridge).

The building is 150 years old. Unfortunately I couldn't get a great photo as I only took my 50mm lens so I wouldn't have to carry around a heavy camera. The roof opens and spins and Fletcher thought all of this was just amazing.


There were telescopes to look through and see distant landmarks - the clock tower at Balmain.


We also went in to the big telescopes (in with the opening and spinning roof). In the above photo Fletcher is watching people climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

During the night we also got to view Jupiter through the big telescope, but no photos as no flashes were allowed (I didn't want to blind anyone looking through the telescope).

There was also 3D movies about the solar system. Fletcher later told me he didn't actually wear his glasses in one of the movies as it was a bit scary lol.

There were lots of very cool models of the solar system and relative speeds of spinning planets and how the sun, moon and earth all work together.


In the weather room there was a computer that told you what the weather was like on a particular day in history. We all typed in our birth dates but forgot to go back and photograph Zac and mine. Which was most probably a good thing, as we were leaving late that night I spotted the sign in the entrance way that said no cameras oops.

The other great thing about the observatory is the location. It is one of the oldest parts of Sydney in gorgeous surrounds. I could go there for the day just to take photos (which caused eye rolling of the boys when I told them this).

Inside the observatory grounds you could see the harbour bridge, we could have gone outside the grounds but there must have been 6 wedding shoots going on being a Saturday afternoon.


I love all the old sandstone walls of the buildings.


Zac spotted the green door and thought is was a good photo spot!

Fletcher has spent Sunday playing astronomers and space exploration. Balloons became the moon and sun and he has spotted distant trees with his telescope. Tonight we are hoping to spot Jupiter again with his telescope - just hoping those clouds stay away.

Carol :-)

more photos

I had a bit of free time today as Fletcher went out to celebrate his friends birthday (who was actually born on the same day as him). So played around with some photos.

Love how this photo turned out with the texture.


Fletcher with two of his cousins. I had to desaturate the wall as it really clashed with the cousins clothes lol.

It became really windy on the foreshore so Fletcher is hanging onto the pole so he won't blow into the water.


Adding a texture. And to share a little bit of trivia - our wedding photos were taken in the lighthouse you can see in the distance.

Carol :-)

Birthday boy

Today was Fletcher's birthday - his 7th birthday. Where did all the years go? Looking at the photos I can see where each year went, all 7 of his birthdays. (click to enlarge)

He woke very excited to be 7.

Having some photos with his new telescope.
Since it was day time we did put the cap on the end of the lens so he wouldn't look at the sun.



In the afternoon we went into the foreshore and I took a few photos (well lots of photos) before dinner.

I also figured out how to put all three of us in the photo.


The birthday boy before dinner.

More photos and more exciting events to share, but will have to be in another post.
Carol :-)