Avoca Beach - November 2008

Well finally I have got around to posting some photos of our new home in Avoca Beach. It has only taken me 12 months, but better late then never. With a nearly 3 year old, working full time and a business we don't get much time to do things like updating Blogs.

Looking at front of house Pool area

lounge

We have had a busy - but very quick - year. The business is doing well and James is now working full time on it. No more corporate world for James.......bring on business success so that i can join the fun also.

Main bedroom

Charlottes Room


Spare Room

We haven't done anything major to the house in the last 12 months. We have thrown a bit of paint around and put in plantation shutter but that is about it. We do have plans for both the yard and house but haven't had the time or money to do it yet. The house and gardens don't really need any major changes - just a few Raeisims that we want to add, but they can wait.

downstairs family room

Kitchen & Dinning Room

View down the back

Talkingstones head office

View of back of house

Deck off kitchen

Top level of back yard

August - September 2008

We have reached another mile stone this month.......which is worth recording in the blog. My baby is finally out of nappies - boo hoo

It was quite funny really - we have been trying to seriously since we moved into Avoca Beach (Aug 07). We have had at least 12 months of tantrums - not interested in the toilet what so ever, however very interested in watching toilet training videos - just not interested into putting it into practice. She was more then happy to wear pull ups.....which she was very pleased that she could do herself. What she would do is put a new pull up on, do her wee then change to a new set of pull ups - all by herself. Each time we suggested the toilet she would say "me not like the toilet, me like nappies".

I tried treats if she could do it......stars if she could use the toilet but no luck - then all of a sudden.....

On Monday 1st Sept I said to her 'let try the toilet' and she agreed, she actually did something and I made such a fuss of her (smarties, cuddles everything) that she hasn't gone back.

She has even started to use the toilet at school. The teachers have paired her with a little friend and everytime that friend goes to the toilet she takes Charlotte with her. We only had problems the second day of training - 6 outfit changes - then since then she has been great.

I now have to fight with her to put a nappy on to go to bed......not sure she can get through the night yet without an accident - so that is the only time she is wearing one now. So proud of her.

In August we brought CJ a cubby house as part of the overall Xmas experience - every girl should have a cubby - it is just so cute and like a mini version of our place - same colour and everything. She can spend hrs in there making cups of coffee and ice creams for everyone. We have brought her a little kitchen / laundry for xmas so it can be added to the house.

We also went to a Hi 5 concert - she really loved it - was up dancing and singing. I took Mum with us also and we had a lot of fun (except that we had a fire evacuation half way through which made the whole thing very interesting).

Charlotte's 2nd Birthday

2nd Birthday

My little girl is now two.....hard to believe how quick the last few years have gone. She is very independant now, doesn't like help and also talks very well. In fact a few people have commented on how well developed her speach is for her age. Actually sometimes I wish she would stop talking....gives me a headache - ha ha ha.

Crazy Hair

HI 5 Bag for School


What could this be?

Check out the Bling

Witches dress up

We had a lovely simple birthday party for Charlotte this year with family and close friends - she was very excited about a cake and candles. She helped me make the cake (Hi 5) the night before. Charlotte put on the sprinkles and icing herself.

Look at all the presents

Happy Birthday to me....

She got clothes, table and chairs, a pop up tent and toys. Her birthday actually fell on the Friday and her party wasn't until Saturday. On the Friday I took her down to the coffee shop and we had a friand with a candle in it. The following week was her first time at the new pre-school (Hillside - Avoca Beach) so I took a cake down and they all sang Happy Birthday to her and she got to blow out candles again. In fact Xmas and her Birthday celebrates seem to go on for weeks with visitor coming all over the holiday period.

Helping to make the cake

Oh wow - a kitchen

The presents just keep coming

Gone shy while we sing..

Dec 2007 Holiday Photos

Just a few photos taken during the Xmas holiday break 2007.

Bonnie enjoying the beach

Coffee anyone?

large surf Avoca rock pool

Large surf - Avoca Beach

Lilly & Charlotte

crowds on Avoca Beach

Nanny and Charlotte on the beach


Commando crawl along the beach

Making friends on the beach

Xmas 2007

Rae Xmas 2007

Better late then never - it has taken me months to get the time to sit down and update the blog with photos of Xmas 2007 and beyond. So please read on....


We had a wonderful family Xmas in our new Avoca Beach home. It was Charlotte most interactive Xmas so far. We put up a advent calendar and counted down the days leading up to Xmas day. I made the mistake of putting large chocolates in the pockets and discovered that chocolate makes Charlotte very hyperactive. So I changed a few pockets to hair clips and Xmas decorations/broaches.

Everytime we went to the shopping centre Charlotte would call out "SANTA!!!!" - it was quite funny. She loved watching him (from a distance) but when it actually came to sitting on him lap, she started crying so the whole family had to get involved. For a quick photo I am very happy with how it came out.

She got spoilt rotten this year - we went a bit mad - In the past she has had a lot of hand-me-down baby toys, but it was time to get her some more advanced toys to play with. We brought her puzzles, play-doh, dolls/cradles, lots of dress up clothes (witches, snow white, doctor) a trampoline and a bike. She loves reading so we brought new books - we read three books ever night before bed.

As it was our first Xmas in Avoca we decided to host Xmas this year - as we have a lot more room. We planned to have a pool party type of day, however Xmas day turned out to be cold and raining. We also had a problem with the pool - we are novice pool maintence people and it actually turned green and took until new year to clear. So much for swimming over Xmas holidays.

For the first year I left a sack of presents in her room from Santa - and the rest went under the tree. We couldn't put any presents out early as some kept opening them - she even found the hiding place and I discovered her on the floor with all the presents unwrapped. I had to re-wrap everthing on Xmas eve after she had gone to bed and put everything under the tree and into her sack. Her face in the morning when she saw all the presents under the tree was priceless.

We had a great time - with family and friends - Xmas is getting very special and exciting now.....