Fun on the lake with the Rancie's

We made some friends at church, Rob and Rae Rancie. They are from Melbourne area and come up every year to ski the Murray and Ovens rivers with their family out of Bundalong.  They invited us over for a barbecue and some fun on the river.  We did tubing and knee boarding. Liam and Spencer learned to knee board in only one try. We all had a lot of fun. Maeby and Mama enjoying the afternoon boat ride.

Mae and mom taking a ride in the tube. 

Liam cruising the river on a knee board, he's a natural.

Spencer enjoying his turn at knee boarding

 

Happy Birthday Liam!

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY LIAM!

Christmas

Our second Christmas here in Australia. Last year we did fish & chip wrappers for stockings, this year we went out and bought some real stockings to fill with goodies.  Dad and all the kids got Didgeridoo's. Dad got up a bit early and put on his Santa Suit and pretended to be Santa.  The kids loved it, then they all took turns wearing the beard and ho-ho-ho'ing. 

Spencer and Santa

Liam with a little elf behind him.

Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!

Maeby checking out Santa to make sure its really Dad.  Will was hot as in that suit...remember it was the middle of summer and Santa in Australia wears Bermuda Shorts and rides a surf board.

The boys got some stick hands in their stockings, it didn't take long before it became a battle.

Lucky Santa!

Chirstmas Eve

Susan and Justin invited us to have Christmas Eve dinner at their house again this year.  They cooked lots of good food and had tons of treats for all of us.  They had lots of Christmas Party Poppers, they look like a giant piece of candy wrapped up all pretty.  One person holds one end while someone else holds the other and you pull till they pop apart with a bang.  Kind of like a wishbone, the person who ends up with the large side ends up with the gift inside.  Usually some sort of trinket and a paper crown.  They even got nice gifts for all of us. 

After Dinner we all went caroling to an aged care home where Susan works and takes care of people in need.

A Christmas cake and some party poppers.

Melanie's 6th Grade Graduation Dinner

Melanie and her friend Brooke at the 6th grade graduation dinner. 

Melanie receiving her graduation certificate. 

The school had a nice graduation dinner for all 6th graders and their parents. It was yummy!