Sunday, 19 August 2012

A week to remember – Good friends and good times


I had a good trip over to Brisbane and was met at the airport by my good friend Kirstie (who I met at Uni during my first year of occupational therapy) and her two little girls – Abigail who is two turning three end of September and Sarah who is one turning two beginning of December.  Last time I caught up with Kirstie, her husband Jonathan and their girls was in February when we spent a few nights together in Wellington and I always love catching up with them.  

So I arrived on the Wednesday, and Thursday morning we had a nice relaxing morning as we packed up to go camping.  We headed to Murphy’s Creek which is near Toowoomba about an hour and a half from Brisbane.    We set up tent and explored our surroundings a bit.  We spent two nights sleeping in the tent.  During the day we spent our time playing, exploring Toowoomba, did a bit of geocaching which I have recently introduced to Kirstie and Jonathan and they have really taken to, playing pole tennis, throwing Frisbees, reading books, walks around the creek by the campsite and walks to the facilities and to collect water from the drinking water taps.  We had a campfire every morning and night and they were a great source of light and warmth.  In the evenings we had some awesome meals cooked by Kirstie on the camp stove and we toasted marshmallows on the campfire.  Abigail loved toasting the marshmallows and loved eating them as well which was awesome.  Once the girls were in bed us big kids kept our selves entertained by playing Rummikub, reading and playing Super Stickman Golf on the ipad and ipods.   


We packed up camp on Saturday and returned to Brisbane.  I cleaned the car with the help of the girls – bubbles and scrubbing the wheels with toothbrushes had Abigail engaged for wee while.  Sunday after church we went for a meal at Sizzlers and I have to say I do love that place – all you can eat salad bar but the salad bar has all sorts including nachos and seafood, and lots of desert :).  We all did the all you can eat justice and after that it was home for a well-earned nap.  Monday we went and played some pitch and putt golf, congrats to Jono who won that, Kirstie and I came a tied close second (well maybe not so close) and then it was off to explore another playground in Brisbane – They live in Underwood and I have to say I was extremely impressed by the playgrounds that we found and played on while I was there, something for all ages including us big kids.   

Tuesday I went with Kirstie and the girls to Kirstie’s appointment at the hospital and helped keep the girls entertained while we were waiting.
I had a great week in Brisbane; it is always good to catch up with Kirstie, Jono and the girls.  I love spending time with Kirstie; she is a real inspiration as a woman, as a wife and as a mother to her beautiful girls.  I love spending time talking gadgets and technology with Jonathan.  And the girls – well, I am proud to be ‘Auntie’ to them.  I love spending time with them and watching them as they grow up, getting to play with them and explore and learn new things, I love being woken up in the morning by them both and love my morning cuddles with Abigail when she hops into bed with me just to lie there, they are both well behaved and polite little girls and so much fun to be around.


Wednesday morning Kirstie and the girls took me to the airport for me to start my next journey.  It was hard saying goodbye as I love spending time with them and they are going to grow so much while I am gone.  They like talking to me on Skype though so I take comfort knowing I will continue to get my ‘fix’ of Abigail and Sarah (and the new addition due late December) via Skype and through our letters we exchange.

 
Story time with Auntie Kim


Playing in the dirt

More stories while camp is being setup

Jonathan and Kirstie

Abigail

Kookabura sits on the old man's head (not that I'm calling you old Jono!)



Girl's time

Doing a bit of caching

Checking out the horsey after church

I want to fly high!

Flying - I think she likes it!

Pitch and Putt

Sarah enjoying the slide


Playground fun
Messy play - playing with shaving cream (or eating it)




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