Abi is 6

Abi had a very extended birthday celebration this year (the best kind). She celebrated with 13 of her very best friends at Inflatable World last weekend and then with a family "do" today.

 She lost her other front tooth yesterday (finally) just in time for a cute, but toothless birthday smile!

 Ella is the family cake maker these days. This beauty was gf and had yummy lemon buttercream icing - cooked in Granny K's Bundt tin - very fancy - and moist and delicious!

 This pic below was of Ella around about her 6th birthday - with front teeth well on their way!

During the week we headed out to Murrumbateman for sunset in the vineyard.

 Jennie and Wayne's vineyard was hit by a devastating hailstorm early this year - at just the wrong time in the growing cycle. The majority of the crop this year is damaged. They are trying to keep the birds scared off what remains before picking next week.

 Like farmers everywhere they take the good with the bad and remain strong!

Christmas 2 & 3

We've had one of our busiest Christmas weeks ever: dinners and drinks with various friends, a spectacular Indian themed party on Friday night, breakfast with neighbours here at Saint Germain on Saturday...... then our traditional pre-Christmas celebration at the vineyard near Murrumbateman on Saturday night..... and then actual Christmas Day of course

We took these two gorgeous young women to drinks at the Hyatt on Wednesday night, a great way to kick off a busy week of revelry.

.... and out to Murrumbateman on Saturday night........

 The vineyard looks particularly lush and beautiful at this time of day.........

Our meal was another triumph: Clyde River oysters and Riesling , slow roasted pork belly (with potatoes and cabbage) served with a very special French cider and a delicious tea smoked duck (with bok choy), followed by Anke's chocolate cake from Berrima and hand dipped chocolate strawberries - YUM! Another wonderful night at Murrumbateman!

We were lucky enough to be invited to actual Christmas day with my dear friend Irene and her family and friends.. Irene found lots of necklaces under the Christmas tree this year and wore them all for this pic......

We started with oysters and sashimi in the garden (served with a beautiful Joseph sparkling Cabernet Merlot from MacLaren Vale) before moving inside for lunch: stuffed veal roast, ham and pork, lots of vegetables and my mango salad. It was a big happy crowded table with lots of laughter and a great mix of generations .....

 Rob was best mates with Kim (two cool, old dudes) by the end of this beautiful, happy lunch.............