The London branch were well set up in their stylish Randwick Airbnb during their Sydney stay: lots of pool time for Eddie, fantastic toys to play with, great eating options nearby and plenty of shared time with Nanny and Poppa (and us)! It helped (just) make up for the loss of Eddie and Ivy's Canberra playmates, although I think Eddie lost his Mojo for a bit - it was so quiet ...........
We didn't do too much in Sydney the first two days - it was too hot to venture far from the a/c and the pool. However by Monday we were able to set out on the ferry to Manly Beach - the classic Sydney visitor destination......
Eddie had recovered his Mojo by this and was a very animated traveller....
Manly had all the attributes Eddie looks for in a beach (namely seagulls!!)..........
Ivy had recovered her sleeping Mojo by today and we didn't see much of her until after lunch.
Lunch was truly amazin. We found the best restaurant eva..... chip pizzas on the menu... 3 thumbs up from Eddie!!
Ivy finally woke up - properly - on the ferry ride back to Circular Quay.....
Hope she doesn't forget seeing Sydney Harbour.......
Our last night together (last night) was lovely. We celebrated Eddie's 7th birthday with a cake and presents ..... The rockin rollin laughin kookaburra was a huge hit (yay!) - resulting in big smiles from Eddie....
and great hilarity all around....
... only to be relieved when those batteries wear out (soon I hope)!
Such precious times with these beauties.........
Can't bear to write how it felt to say goodbye!!!
There were two magical days in early January when we saw the London and Canberra cousins together - the last day of the Mollymook Beach holiday...........
Ivy had the Canberra boys wrapped around her little finger!
And Eddie was best buddies with Angus and Ollie........
Then, just the day after, at Randwick in Sydney, Eddie and Ivy met Ella and Abi (just back from their holiday in Bali). Ella hadn't seen Eddie for six years or so, but they got on (both water babies) as though it was only yesterday.......
In all the excitement Abi avoided nap time all afternoon....
but loved story time, tucked up in bed, with Ella and Abi.....
They all found Davey a great playmate.........
Ella set him her handstand challenge (which Davey fulfilled - just!)
Eddie and Ivy have found all their Australian cousins amazin fun!
We'd all been looking forward to this Christmas celebration SO much. The London branch flew into Canberra yesterday so we all pretended today was the 25th and celebrated the whole Christmas thing all over again, but this time with ALL of Maxie and Rod's family together - just amazing!
Eddie's been to Australia before of course (in September 2011 when he was just a baby). This time with the benefit of age and experience he's really looking forward to seeing some cockatoos the most. So he was thrilled to find these cockatoo print boardshorts under the Christmas tree, from his cousins Ella and Abi.
Eddie's found two wonderful playmates here - his two big, handsome boy cousins: Ollie and Angus.
This is Ivy's first visit to Australia - and she can't decide who is her favourite big boy cousin just yet.
But she does like the selection of toys Abi left for her, as well as all the new toys under the Christmas tree.
After lunch Eddie shocked us all by voting to join the big boys (in the charge of Jeremy) to head off down the coast for the night. It's such an Australian thing to do that (he'll be ok Mummy and Daddy)!
Ivy was happy to stay behind and catch up on some quality time with her Nanny (they'll head off to the coast in the morning).............
.. and wear this beautiful hand made dress (exquisite work by her Nanny).
We'll be catching up with this branch of the family again, and another branch too, over the next two weeks - stay tuned!
We were introduced to the newest member of the extended family this month - gorgeous Ivy Rose born at 9.05 London time on the 20th July 2015, 7 pounds 14. What a bundle of sweetness!
An adorable baby sister for Ed....who so far looks very interested in this new addition to his little world! We can't wait to see them both this year (and D & C too of course).
And now to the oldest.......Our Mum was born on 31st July 1914 - making her now ONE HUNDRED AND ONE years old!! And she told us this week - she doesn't feel her age!!
We made up a photobook for her birthday with lots of pictures of her very photogenic grandchildren (5) and great grandchildren (now 8 including Ivy). She took a great interest in the book and will treasure it!
We thought that with the cold winter weather we would not take Mum out for her birthday this year....so we celebrated with a family party at Mirinjani on Saturday afternoon. The staff could not have been nicer - supplying Mum (and her guests) with a lovely afternoon tea with all the trimmings and plenty of space for us to kick up our heels.
Ella and Abi have a ball no matter where they go - and the Mirinjani Activities room proved to be no exception. The girls provided us with lots of laughs especially when they discovered the vibrating "exercise machine"....
and the balloon and fly swat game. They weren't at all daunted by the various elderly people who checked out the "party" throughout the afternoon. They both had a smile and a chat with everyone who came by, no doubt brightening every one's day.
We had some fun sister (and spouses) time too. Canberra turned on a perfect winter day on Friday and we spent quite a bit of it enjoying the Yarralumla lake front.
Eddie had recovered his Mojo by this and was a very animated traveller....
Manly had all the attributes Eddie looks for in a beach (namely seagulls!!)..........
Ivy had recovered her sleeping Mojo by today and we didn't see much of her until after lunch.
Lunch was truly amazin. We found the best restaurant eva..... chip pizzas on the menu... 3 thumbs up from Eddie!!
Ivy finally woke up - properly - on the ferry ride back to Circular Quay.....
Hope she doesn't forget seeing Sydney Harbour.......
and great hilarity all around....
... only to be relieved when those batteries wear out (soon I hope)!
Such precious times with these beauties.........
Can't bear to write how it felt to say goodbye!!!
Our last night together (last night) was lovely. We celebrated Eddie's 7th birthday with a cake and presents ..... The rockin rollin laughin kookaburra was a huge hit (yay!) - resulting in big smiles from Eddie.... 
