Family Trip to the Gold Coast

Andrew had a week off between rotations and we decided to go to the Gold Coast for a night and use up all my airbnb money!  We stayed at the same place we had stayed when my parents came in Burleigh Heads because the pool was so nice!  We headed out and stopped at IKEA on the way and discovered that Charlie was old enough to get dropped off at the play place and he was so excited and loved it, he didn't want to leave!  It was too bad we discovered it towards the end of our time at IKEA...  

We headed down to the Gold Coast and checked in, we spent some time at the beach but it was so windy and therefore kinda cold and the waves were huge!  Not good for swimming at all, I really thought Charlie was going to get washed away! Charlie and Andrew dug holes for a while and Elly and I went to the park for a bit then we all went and got fish and chips, and ate them down at the pool.  You wouldn't think you'd need a heated pool and hot tub in Australia but it was SO NICE!  The kids love swimming, especially doing chop chop timber!

The next morning we didn't have to check out until 12, so we went swimming and then went and got delicious smoothies (with fresh fruit through the straw on the top) and wraps, then drove over to Springbrook National Park, where we let the kids nap in the car for a but before heading on a hike down to Springbrook Falls.  I thought the kids were going to be better hikers than they were, but to be fair it had already been a long day and the sun was getting low!  Andrew was amazing and carried Elly on his back in the carrier and then he had Charlie on his shoulders!  The hike was really neat, with lots of things to see.  Down at the falls with no sun and the falls spray it was chilly!!  We ate a quick snack and played for a bit, then headed back up pretty much in the dark!  We stopped at IKEA again on the way home so Charlie could play (so we could eat dinner - it was gross!  I do not recommend Ikea food lol)  

It was a good little break away!  And it was nice Andrew could see where we had been since he didn't get to come with us when my parents were here.

Ikea is so fun for kids!

As much as I loved the place we were staying, I was a little nervous that we were on the
4th floor and Elly could climb over the edge if she wanted!

Poor Elly - not a very good view! 

Not much water in the falls right now!

Picture Catch-Up and Spring Has Sprung!

I just got the pictures Mary took while she was here, so I'm going to add a few of those in here, along with my newest post.  

We only have 4 days left here in Ipswich, so we've been trying to get everything done "one last time!" before we're gone for good.  Add that in with being pregnant and feeling sick, and also trying to pack and organize everything for the move (so that Andrew doesn't have to do EVERYTHING at the end), we've been quite busy!

.....And I started writing this post more than 2 months ago!  I didn't finish it (obviously) before we went to Canada, and the computer stayed in Australia with Andrew, so I couldn't finish.  But now its not many days before Christmas and I'm determined to catch up the year!

For Elly's 2nd birthday we took her and Charlie to Inflatable world, the kids are HUGE fans of bouncy castles!  So it was a very fun and tiring while with them trying to go on everything they could in their 2 hours! Those two are fearless! 

Charlie was really happy Mary and Brian left their seashells so he could make a road with them!

Baby Cahoon #3 is on its way!

For Fathers Day we made Andrew a feast!  Roast chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, beans,
carrots, corn on the cob and homemade buns!

And for dessert we had angel food cake (specially imported and hidden for this occasion!)
with whipped cream and berries! 

This is Charlie with his transformers!  He has a great imagination 

Fairy Bread at playgroup - its bread with margarine and sprinkles, and I'm told its a
staple at Australian kids birthdays - Charlie and Elly love it!

Springfield Lagoon

Last time to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary!  Andrew had a day off so he got to come too!

I promised the kids we could get happy meals and go to the pool, but the pool was closed!  So we went down to Riverheart Parklands to the splash park and playground where we ate our lunch in a treehouse! 

This picture is a little dark, but Charlie loved it!!

During school break they had an animal show set up at the train museum with all sorts of cool things
like birds, snakes,lizards and even a baby crocodile!

The theme for train museum playgroup was 'working on the railway' so Charlie and Elly
were quite thrilled with the tools to play with!

Teddy Bears Picnic at Playgroup!