Time-out in Taree

After Christmas, Cam and I settled in for a relaxing few days in Taree. Below are some shots I took around the property..

A glimpse of the land around Jacaranda Lodge.

This is where PJ feeds the birds.

Chaos erupts as the men of Jacaranda Lodge (with token Damsel, Dianne) fail to figure out how they can turn the gas on..Several crowbars later, we discover that the gas was actually already turned on.... :)

Cam takes control of the salvaged BBQ.

Cam displays his talents on the piano... "No Holly for Miss Quinn" by Enya, anyone?

Cassidy's First Birthday!

December 26 2005, also known fondly as Boxing Day, was soon to mark the more auspicious occasion of Miss Cassidy Donovan's first birthday!

I spent a restless night tossing and turning, wondering if the fried rice with which I had been assigned to make, would meet the required Burgess standards of excellence - as a result of my 'overthinking', I somehow managed to over-saturate the rice, resulting in a white clump of goo. Dianne, ever the calming force, came to my aid and turned my glue into gourmet :)

Next on the agenda was balloon inflation - I just don't have enough air so I attempted to delegate (and was thankfully successful).

Cassidy and Daddy Chris examine the gifts with interest; Cassidy loves her new dolly from Ken and Nora.

Finally, the girl of the moment arrived and the party began! There were plates of delicious food with my personal highlight being Lyn's birthday cake masterpiece in the shape of a number 1 - I have a feeling that Cassidy enjoyed it too! (it was however, an emotional struggle for me to deal with the fact that she smushed more cake on her Face than she allowed to enter her mouth - aah, to be so carefree and reckless).

"I didn't do it" - Cassidy takes off her dress and gets down to some

serious chocolate cake -eating business with Mummy, Dani, watching on.

Honourable mentions go to Dani's Chinese salad (soooo yummy) and let's face it, the two Mrs Burgesses did make a pretty mean fried rice in the end :)

"My work here is done". Cassidy attempts to climb over the back

of her highchair - possbly for more jolly jumping?

Christmas in Taree

On Friday 23rd December, Cam and I hit the road to Taree for a country Christmas. It was quite warm in Taree and on Christmas Eve, the temperature reached 43 degrees Celsius! This coincided nicely with the decision to make Christmas Eve Mass outdoors this year...

Later that evening (and at least 6 swatted-dead flies later), we relaxed and enjoyed a delicious pre-Christmas dinner and later spent the evening enjoying the company of some Taree friends, Erica, Greg and Stevo.

Proud Grandma Dianne with Cassidy "I won't sleep while there's a party on!" Donovan

Christmas morning was spent indulging in some of my white Christmas (made from scratch!! AND it was white!!), fruit and yoghurt, with the exception of some, who chose to hold out for the promising lunch time feast. Present opening was scheduled for 9am and not a minute later; particularly as the enormous mound of pressies under the tree had been generating some interest for the past two days. Fred and Lyn arrived and the flurry began!

Photographic evidence of the White Christmas after a previous attempt saw it turn brown..

Clockwise from top left: Cassidy enjoyed the paper more than the presents; Lyn and Fred work through their pile of presents;a snapshot of the room with Tony delegated as Santa Claus for this year; PJ examines his gifts.

We ate a delicious baked dinner or lunch and then spent the afternoon playing pool, snoozing, reading or just relaxing...and snuggling :)

The prize for the favourite present must have certainly gone to uncle Cam twice: once for Cassidy's Jolly Jumper and secondly for Will's Joey's Jersey - many happy babies!

Cassidy kindly obliges me for a photo despite my having interrupted her jumping..

Christmas in Narellan

'Twas the Saturday before Christmas....' and Cam and Al set off to Narellan for a pre-Christmas Christmas!

A few years ago, Cam and I started sharing Christmas between the families and this year we were to spend Christmas in Taree with Cam's folks - hence, my mum held a Christmas dinner for us prior to this occasion. It was a great evening of putting up the tree, eating baked dinner, opening presents and , for Wendy and I, an opportunity to look at the spectacular Mount Annan Christmas Lights display (they actually block off the street and sell sasage sizzle, among other things!).

The family enjoying dinner - Cam, Wendy, Matt, Nana, Pa , Mum and Dad; The masterpiece - great roast dinner mum!

Wendy and Matt; Mum, myself and dad after unwrapping some gifts (NB. Roses were to be consumed shortly thereafter).

Myself and Cam; Wendy and some of the bikie elves at the Mount Annan lights display - check out the house in the background!

My 25th Birthday

Three days after we returned from my Honeymoon, it was my 25th birthday. Unfortunately, I fell ill the day before, so was looking and feeling quite bleak. Fortunately my new and wonderful husband arranged for a surprise party for me and my family and friends came along to share the day with me. It was a wonderful afternoon and a great end to our 2 week vacation.

Pictures from the day - note my new present direct from Seaworld - a plush polar bear!!

Seaworld - The World of the Polar Bears!!

Our last day on the Honeymoon saw Cam and I head to Seaworld. I had been awaiting this day since we booked the trip - I couldn't wait to see the Polar Bears!

After a rather hectic journey (thanks no doubt to the Indy that was scheduled to commence the following day on the Gold Coast), we arrived at Seaworld and set about scheduling activities to coincide with shows of the dolphins and seals (which conversely starred Nathan Harvey for those playing at home!) and a visit to the impressive Shark Bay.

A Dolphin performs at the show; Nathan Harvey and the talented Seal in 'Quest for the Golden Seal'.

Me posing with a rather large fish; Cam and scary shark at Optus' Shark Bay

But of course, the thrill was building to seeing those Polar Bears - and they didn't disappoint! Cam and I happily spent two hours viewing these gentle giants (they appeared so anyhow, as they frolicked in the water!) and learnt some interesting facts - for example, they enjoy watermelon, like me :)


Clockwise from top left: The twin cubs having a rest after lunchtime; Lutik playing in the water first thing in the morning; Lia enjoys some fish in the afternoon; I pose with Lia; Lia playing in the water with a floaty toy.

As the polar bears could not be on display at the same time, due to mating and territorial issues, we saw the male, Lutik, in the morning, the twin cubs in the afternoon and the female Lia, late afternoon.

Lia cheekily sticks out her tongue!

All in all, I enjoyed Seaworld the most, mainly due to the variety of educational displays and of course, because of my Polar Bears!!