Ponies and parks

We have just finished a fantastic family weekend.

Saturday morning we went to the preview of the Gold Coast show. It was just a taste tester for the show, but the bonus was everything was free.

Grace heard a rumour that there was to be ponies, so she was eager to get there and have a ride. Lucky the first thing we saw as we walked in were 3 gentle ponies being led around the oval so we shoved the kids into the line before it got too long. We weren't sure if Xav would go on or not but he did us proud. He hoped on the pony (with a little help of course!) and held on the whole way round, didn't say a peep just sat very still. Grace lapped it all up, sitting nice and tall on her pony with a wide grin on her face. She loves pony rides, its her absolute favourite thing to do.

After the pony ride we headed over to the baby animals. Xav wandered through them, stealing a pat of the lambs and goats as they passed him. He was fascinated with the goats tails, he would poke it then stand back and chuckle as the tail flipped side to side. Grace, being Grace, wanted to PICK up all the animals. She was carrying them around, taking them up to other little kids to pat. Some of them got the shock of there life, having a baby goat or chicken dumped in their lap. It was like she was hosting the damn thing, wanting everyone to enjoy them selves and get lots of pats!

After terrorising the animals we sent Duane to line up for the balloon man to get Grace a lovely arrangement of flowers, I took the kids over to have their face painted. Grace is a seasoned pro at this so after picking out what she wanted her and Xav to have (a spider!) she sat there and got made up. Xav had never had his painted before, so I wasn't sure how he would go. He surprised us all and just sat there, he didn't move a muscle, even looked like he was falling asleep at one stage.

Duane was desperate for a Dagwood dog, but me being the tight bum had packed lunch for me and the kids. He did sneak off and get his "heart attack on a stick", whilst the kids and I munched on sandwiches and fruit.

We then all headed home for a nice relaxing snooze.

Saturday afternoon was spent doing stuff around the garden. The kids are both at such a great age that we can all go in the backyard and get stuff done with out worrying about what the kids are getting into. Grace mainly wanders between helping us, the trampoline and the swing. Xav just toddles around, trying desperately to find mischief to get into. Usually means the dog water bowl (if we haven't preempted and moved it!) or running up the drive to the top gate to play with rocks. Apart from that they have a great time outside, everything is safe for them so leaves us to get on with the hard jobs.

Duane pottered around the garden ripping out dead palm fronds and finished off the chook fence. I did the laundry and then folded it on the table, all spread out like a mini city. We have a dryer but I refuse to use it for 2 reasons, 1 being environmental and the other is my obsession with the clothes line. I absolutely love putting clothes on the line and then going back to find them all nice and dry with the smell of sunshine and fresh air sprinkled through them. I am a pathetic housewife, but my laundry is always done. I am not as crazy as my Mum though, she has colour coded pegs for certain clothes, heaven forbid if I try to help her and stuff up the routine!

We then went to Bunnings to price up our plans for the chook palace. Seems we are aiming a little fancy for the humble chook, it came it at just under $300. Bit too much to just spend on them I think! So I'm going to look at the salvage yards on Monday to see if we can get cheaper materials.

Sunday I got a sleep in! Pathetic isn't it that I now think a sleep in is 7am. I then got up and made a yummy pancake breakfast with kiwi fruit and maple syrup.

The dogs were looking a bit sorry for themselves so we packed everyone in the car and went to the dog park. It's better now that Xav is walking, we can fit the 2 dogs in the back of the rav. It was a bit hard before when we had to worry about prams etc.

The kids and dogs both had a great time running around and burning off some energy. Every time another dog or person came up, Daisy would circle the kids, making sure no-one got too close. Grace insisted on putting Daisy on a lead and walking her around, even though Daisy kept running off and dragging Grace behind her. Was it wrong off me to laugh at the toddler trying to keep up with a

Duane took the kids up to the park for a play and the dogs and I went for a serious walk, none of this meandering crap. Poor puppies were buggered before it and reluctantly came with me. I want to take them out more, they do love it and it guarantees they crash for the rest of the day.

The rest of the day was spent pottering around the garden, sorting our chicken areas and vegie areas.

A nice relaxing, family weekend. Simple.