Easter 2011

Easter egg hunting

Good Friday at Araluen Botanical Gardens

Another year, another easter and not much really changes. Both girls were up early and could not wait to start their easter egg hunt.The easter bunny had hid the eggs all over the yard this year and by the end their hunt their baskets were very full. This year for Good Friday we went to Araluen Botanical Gardens for our family get together. It was the first time we had gone and the scenery was absolutley beautiful.We walked along the terraced gardens which are very old and played along the streams and lake. The easter weekend was all in all a lovely time.

By the stream

Clowning around

Sitting on a tree seat

Jayda's 2nd Birthday!

Opening presents

Caterpillar cake and insect cupcakes

Apologies for the lateness of these posts.On the 17th of April Jayda celebrated her second birthday.It was a quite day as family members were coming in the afternoon.Jayda opened her presents from Mum,Dad and Amelia in the morning,Jayda wanted a princess doll and was not dissapointed when she got two.We had a sausage sizzle in the afternoon with all the family and Tiff made a wonderfull cake that was in a caterpillar shape as well as cupcakes.It was a fantastic day with Jayda staying up very late as she didn't want to miss anything.

Aunty Mel and Jayda

The Birthday girl

Dermatology Appointment

Jayda had a Dermatology appointment this week,which for us was exciting as it has been a year since our last one.We were even happier that she saw her regular Dr and not someone unfamiliar with her condition.Dr Halbert was extremely pleased with the involution of Jayda's Hemangioma and was quite happy to start laser therapy soon but was also happy to wait another year to see if even more involution happens.It was decided to wait a year and then start laser therapy under G.A. Jayda will need about two or three of these followed maybe by a couple of touch ups.The plan is to have as much done before Jayda starts kindy and lessen any potential bullying.

Jayda goes to Speech Therapy

After a recommendation from the Neurologist,it was decided Jayda should have a speech assessment.Jayda's expressive and receptive language skills were assessed and supplemented by clinical observations including video taping Jayda playing with her Dad.The key findings were that Jayda presented with a severe delay in expressive language skills and has age appropriate comprehension and understanding skills.Jayda was offered group therapy that provides strategies for us to support her development of language skills and so far we have done four sessions with two more to follow..We start the sessions with singing and signing a hello song to each child that is followed by play time.We then learn a new strategy,play a game and sing a goodbye song.Jayda really enjoys her therapy and is trying a new word every week.If there has not been much improvement we will sit down with her therapist and work on the next strategy.

Australia Day

Cheezy smiles!!

 Fun on the slide!

On the 26th of January every year Australia celebrates it's National Holiday so this year we did a very Aussie tradition of the beach and bbq. We went to the Rockingham foreshore and it was packed but still managed to find a nice spot under a tree and close to a playground. Our lunch was more breakfast like with bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomato and some good ol Aussie lamb chops (YUM). The girls loved the beach and Amelia got her face painted to raise money for the Queensland flood victims.

Face painting and fun on the beach

Amelia's 4th Birthday

 Opening presents

Playing pass the parcel

Jayda's big sister Amelia turned four on the 16th of January. This year Amelia wanted a party and a princess cake. As it was school holidays it was hard to invite her friends from daycare so it was just the family. We played musical chairs, pass the parcel and danced to Amelia's new CD.

Birthday girls blowing out the candles

Christmas Part1 and 2

Opening presents at Nanna and Pops house WA

 

 

As we were going to be on holidays for Christmas we celebrated with Tiff's family the week before. We went for lunch and thankfully it was not too hot. Amelia and Jayda got a Dora play kitchen, play guitars, Barbie dolls and lots lots more. Christmas day was celebrated in Queensland with Matt's family. Again the girls got spoilt as did Mum and Dad (haha). Matt's Dad cooked a traditional hot Christmas lunch soo much food. Both days were fantastic and most importantly it was a time to spend with family.

Opening presents at Grandads house Qld

 

Holidays in Queensland

At Australia Zoo

At Warner Bros Movieworld

For Christmas 2010 we all flew over to Queensland where Matt is from.This was the first time that Matt's family (apart from his Dad) had seen the kids.We stayed at Matt's Dad's house in Deception Bay which is about 30mins from Brisbane. During our stay the weather was not the usual sunny Qld weather, it rained alot of the time but we still managed to get some fine days in which we made the most of. We visited AUSTRALIA ZOO, home of the crocidle hunter Steve Irwin R.I.P and went to Warner Bros MOVIEWORLD. We also went to Bribie Island to swim in the sea and visited lots of family. The day we left Qld to head home was the start of what the world came to know as the terrible Qld floods.

On the beach at Bribie Island

At the Lagoon