Happy Birthday Kong Kong!

Another birthday, another carrot cake.

Cottesloe Beach

Isabelle wearing her Kiwi souvenir straight out of the suitcase.
Working up an appetite for hot chocolates and cookies from Beaches Cafe.

While we're away, the kids play...

The grandmothers took their granddaughters out to Cohunu Wildlife Park. Matilda, animal lover, was in heaven from what we hear.Lucky Isabelle was old enough to hold & cuddle a koala called Banjo. Feeding the kangaroos.

Oh cute, a little joey!

Queenstown, NZ sans kids!!

Brendan and I enjoyed eight days of skiing and no kids! Highly recommended.NZ is so beautiful, don't you think?
Brendan loves putting snow chains on.

Blustery weather. Cool photos though.

Haunting.

We took our skis off and had a little picnic. Breathtakingly beautiful scenery.

My new beanie.

OK, now we're all recharged and looking forward to seeing the kiddies again...

ROTTO!!

On our way to Rottnest Island on the ferry. Matilda and Isabelle catch up on their daily journal on the way (horrible having a teacher mum, hey?)
We're spending a week there in total, which should be uber-relaxing.
Off to rent some bikes and stock up on fish tackle and bait. What a beautiful day!

But, before all that, our first stop is the Rottnest Bakery so obligatory meat pies, choc milk and cream buns.

Isabelle goes for the lamington instead... OMG, have you ever seen such a big one??

Isabelle and Brendan explore Geordie Bay where we have rented a villa.

Houses at Geordie Bay.

Jetty at sunset, so pretty.

Brendan's teaching his girls some life skills... fishing.

Strange looking things those quokkas, the local marsupial residents. Hence, why the island was named "Rat Nest" by the Dutch.

Matilda catches the first fish of the week. Daddy says if you hold it nice and close to the camera, it looks bigger.

On our daily cycling tour, we stop to see if can see any wildlife in the ocean. Here we are at Porpoise Bay.

Look! Dolphins surfing in the waves!

How cool is that??

Baywatch?

Swimming at the Basin. What has Daddy spotted??

Matilda enjoying the winter sunshine while Isabelle's out fishing with Daddy.

You might have to enlarge this picture by clicking on it, but we spotted some whales! What luck!

Having a little rest before tackling some more hills on our bikes.

Another catch for Isabelle!

We received visitors over the weekend with Brendan's parents, sister and niece sleeping over. Pick the Qatari kid who is not used to this coooold weather! Matilda and cousin Eleanor on the beach.
Grandma & Grandpa enjoy (?) endless (and I mean endless) Go Fish games... it's the White competitive streak.

Swordfish for dinner thanks to Isabelle.

After winning the White Family UNO Championship, Matilda gets to choose anything from the local shop. Mr Quokka, meet Mrs Quokka.

Reunited at last!

As soon as we knew the Beales family were home from their winter camping trip, we headed up to their place!! Yippee! It was a long year of waiting, but within seconds it was just like we were never apart.
Ruby & Isabelle, BFFs.

Matilda & Ruby, like sisters.

We stayed on for lunch and dinner... just couldn't get rid of us.

Just like the good old days... villas 42 & 47 Green Village, Doha.

Happy Birthday Aunty Martina

First of all, what have the boys been eating? They're GIANTS!
Matilda says, "If I eat this turkey drumstick, I might have a chance!"

Martina shares her birthday spotlight with serial birthday girl Matilda. What is this? Cake number 7? This is beyond ridiculous.